Consolidative repeat radiofrequency ablation for alpha-fetoprotein negative hepatocellular carcinoma: does it have a role in local tumor control

Abstract

Objective To retrospectively evaluate the role of consolidative repeat radiofrequency ablation (CRRFA) based on safety margin (SM) analyses in local tumor control for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) negative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who had been shown to have radiological complete ablation (CA) with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Methods From July 2002 to July 2009,152 AFP negative HCC patients who were shown to have radiological CA with RFA therapy were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 110 patients had a SM of less than 1 cm and the other 42 patients had a SM of 1cm or more. Among 110 patients with SM less than 1 cm, fifty nine patients accepted CRRFA within 6 months after the first RFA and 51 did not. From these patients, a narrow SM-CRRFA group (n=41) and a narrow SM-single RFA group (n=37) were enrolled respectively. The wide SM-single RFA group (n= 30) was enrolled from the 42 patients with a SM of 1 cm or more.The LTP (local tumor progression)-free survival rate of the 3 groups were compared with a log-rank test. Results One-, two-, three-, four-, and five-year LTP-free survival rates respectively were 97. 1%, 90.9%, 69.6%, 47.2%, and 33. 0% in the narrow SM-CRRFA patients. 85.9%, 66. 5%,43.5%, 15.8%, and 0. 0%, in the narrow SM-single RFA patients, and were 92.7%, 83.7%,59.3%, 36. 9%, and 9.2% in the wide SM-single RFA patients. There were statistically significant differences (χ2 = 14. 789, P= 0. 001) between the groups. Conclusions An ablation zone with an SM of 1 cm or greater was the most important factor for local control of AFP negative HCC ranging from 3 to 5 cm in diameter. For these patients with a SM of less than 1 cm, CRRFA improved the overall local control outcomes. Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Radiofrequency ablation; Alpha fetoprotein; Safety margin; Local tumor progression