Background
Liver metastases from colorectal cancer are a common and serious complication that significantly impacts patient survival. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of liver metastases from colorectal cancer.
Methods
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 120 patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer who were treated in our hospital from January 2018 to January 2023. The patients were divided into two groups based on the treatment they received: the TACE group (n = 60) and the TACE combined with RFA group (n = 60). The overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR) were compared between the two groups, and treatment-related adverse effects were recorded.
Results
The TACE combined with RFA group showed significantly better OS (22 months vs. 18 months) and PFS (13 months vs. 10 months) compared to the TACE alone group (P < 0.05). The ORR in the TACE combined with RFA group was 61.7%, significantly higher than 40% in the TACE alone group (P < 0.05). The DCR showed no significant difference between the two groups, with 86.7% (52/60) in the TACE combined with RFA group and 78.3% (47/60) in the TACE alone group (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in treatment-related adverse effects between the two groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion
These findings suggest that TACE combined with RFA may offer a potential option for improving OS, PFS, and ORR in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer, without increasing significant adverse effects, setting a new potential standard of care in the treatment of this disease.