The Korean journal of internal medicine

The Korean Association of Internal Medicine (대한내과학회)
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Combination transarterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation therapy for early hepatocellular carcinoma

  • Song, Myeong Jun (Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Bae, Si Hyun (Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Lee, June Sung (Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Sung Won (Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Song, Do Seon (Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • You, Chan Ran (Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Choi, Jong Young (Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Yoon, Seung Kew (Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea)
  • Received : 2014.04.26
  • Accepted : 2015.11.18
  • Published : 2016.03.01
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Abstract

Background/Aims: We compared the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the survival of patients who received radiofrequency ablation (RFA) after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with patients treated with TACE or RFA alone. Methods: This study included 201 patients with HCC, who were consecutively enrolled at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital between December 2004 and February 2010. Inclusion criteria were a single $HCC{\leq}5.0cm$ or up to three $HCCs{\leq}3.0cm$. We used a propensity score model to compare HCC patients (n = 87) who received RFA after TACE (TACE + RFA) with those who received TACE (n = 71) or RFA alone (n = 43). Results: The median follow-up period was 33.3 months (range, 6.8 to 80.9). The TACE + RFA group showed significantly lower local recurrence than the RFA or TACE groups (hazard ratio [HR], 0.309; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.130 to 0.736; p = 0.008; and HR, 0.352; 95% CI, 0.158 to 0.787; p = 0.011, respectively). The overall survival was significantly better in the TACE + RFA group compared to the RFA group (HR, 0.422; 95% CI, 0.185 to 0.964; p = 0.041). However, the survival benefit was not different between the TACE + RFA and TACE groups (p = 0.124). Subgroup analysis showed that among patients with a tumor size < 3 cm, the TACE + RFA group had significantly better long-term survival than those in the TACE or RFA groups (p = 0.017, p = 0.004, respectively). Conclusions: TACE + RFA combination treatment showed favorable local recurrence and better overall survival rates in early-stage HCC patients. Patients with tumors < 3 cm are likely to benefit more from TACE + RFA combination treatment. Additional studies are needed for the selection of suitable HCC patients for TACE + RFA treatment.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs

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