Chonnam Med J.  2003 Mar;39(1):20-28.

Survival Analysis after Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

• Park CH
• Yoon KW
• Noh DY
• Joo SY
• Park SY
• Park MH
• Sohn YH
• Lee WS
• Joo YE
• Choi SK
• Rew JS
• Kim JK
• Kim SJ

Abstract

Despite the high antitumoral effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the beneficial effect on survival has not been fully investigated and the consensus regarding the most suitable time schedule of TACE has not yet been established. Thus we made this study to compare the survival rate according to schedule of TACE and to determine the prognostic factors contributing to long-term survival after TACE in HCC. The subjects consisted of 721 patients who were diagnosed with HCC from July, 1989 to June, 1999. Treatment schedules of TACE were classified into 4 groups; group 1, 1 time; group 2, 2 times; group 3, >2 times with interval of p 2 times with interval of > 3 months. The overall median survival time after TACE was 8.5 months. The median survival times were 5.5 months in group 1; 6.9 months in group 2; 13.7 months in group 3; 22.3 months in group 4 (p < 0.0001). In Child-Pugh A, survival probabilities at 1 year and 2 years were 39.0% and 18.7% for groups 1 and 2; 67.8% and 33.9%, group 3; 84.6% and 38.4% for group 4 (p < 0.0001). In Child-Pugh B or C, survival probabilities at 1 year and 2 years were 18.4% and 7.8% for group 1-2; 58.3% and 0% for Group 3; 71.4% and 42.8% for Group 4 (p=0.0001). The significant prognostic factors were frequency of TACE, AFP, Child-Pugh class, TNM stage, age, and ascites (p < 0.05). Timely repeated TACE according to tumor response and liver function may improve survival rate in patients with HCC.

Keyword

Carcinoma; Hepatocellular; Chemoembolization; Therapeutic; Prognosis; Survival rate

MeSH Terms

Appointments and Schedules
Ascites
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*
Consensus
Humans
Liver
Prognosis
Survival Analysis*
Survival Rate