Published in:
01-07-2017 | Research Article
Radiofrequency ablation combined with transarterial chemoembolization versus hepatectomy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma within Milan criteria: a retrospective case–control study
Authors:
A. K. Bholee, K. Peng, Z. Zhou, J. Chen, L. Xu, Y. Zhang, M. Chen
Published in:
Clinical and Translational Oncology
|
Issue 7/2017
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Abstract
Proposal
To compare the effectiveness of TACE + RFA with hepatectomy in patients with HCC within Milan criteria.
Methods
It is a retrospective matched case–control study from January 2006 to December 2010 in a tertiary cancer center. 74 patients with HCC within Milan criteria initially treated with TACE + RFA were identified and compared with 148 matched controls selected from a pool of 782 patients who received hepatectomy. Patients were matched with respect to age, gender, tumor size and number, AFP and liver function test.
Results
The 1, 3, and 5 years overall survival (OS) was 94.6, 75.1 and 55.3%, respectively, in the combination group, and 91.2, 64.4, and 47.7%, respectively, in the hepatectomy group (P = 0.488). The 1, 3, and 5 years disease-free survival (DFS) in the combination group was 87.8, 48.3, and 33.5%, respectively, and 68.9, 49.2, and 40.9%, respectively, in the hepatectomy group (P = 0.619). In subgroups analyses according to the tumor size and number, no significant difference was identified in either OS or DFS for patients with single tumor smaller than 3.0 cm, 3.0–5.0 cm, and multiple tumors. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size, ALT, and CLIP score were significant prognostic factors for OS, and ALT and Child–Pugh class were significant prognostic factors for DFS.
Conclusion
TACE + RFA is safe and as effective as hepatectomy for patients with HCC within Milan criteria.