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Sequential transarterial chemoembolization for unresectable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of sequential transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for patients with unresectable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Twenty-one consecutive patients with unresectable T3 and T4 HCC were treated by sequential TACE (median time interval between treatments 7 weeks) up to six times with an emulsion of lipiodol, epirubicin, and cisplatin. All TACE procedures were performed as unilobar or whole-liver chemoembolization.

Results

An average of 3.9 TACE procedures were performed per patient. One primary and two secondary technical failures occurred. No procedural death was observed. After exclusion of the patient with the primary technical failure and 3 patients with extrahepatic disease, the survival rates for the remaining 17 patients at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months were 70.6%, 52.9%, 44.1%, and 33.1%, respectively.

Conclusion

Sequential TACE is a safe procedure in patients with unresectable advanced HCC and feasible in most cases. It seems to prolong the survival time compared with historical series of untreated patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, City Hospital Dortmund, Beuerhausstrasse 40, D-44137, Dortmund, Germany

    Horst J. Jaeger, Ulrich-Martin Mehring & Klaus D. Mathias

  2. Department of Surgery, City Hospital Dortmund, Beurhausstrasse 40, D-44137, Dortmund, Germany

    Francisco Castañeda, Frank Hasse, Gerhard Blumhardt & Dietrich Loehlein

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  1. Horst J. Jaeger
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  2. Ulrich-Martin Mehring
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  3. Francisco Castañeda
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  4. Frank Hasse
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  6. Dietrich Loehlein
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  7. Klaus D. Mathias
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Jaeger, H.J., Mehring, UM., Castañeda, F. et al. Sequential transarterial chemoembolization for unresectable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 19, 388–396 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02577625

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