Efficacy of Chemotherapy versus Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization in Patients with Advanced Primary Hepatic Neuroendocrine Carcinoma and an Analysis of the Prognostic Factors: A Retrospective Study.

Abstract

BackgroundPrimary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma (PHNEC) is a rare liver tumor, and there is no clear therapeutic recommendation for patients with advanced PHNEC. This study aims to compare the efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy (etoposide combined with cisplatin/carboplatin, EP/EC) and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with advanced PHNEC, and to evaluate the relevant prognostic factors.Patients and MethodsThe clinical data of 41 patients with advanced PHNEC from June 2014 to October 2019 were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsAt a median follow-up time of 13.9 months, the median overall survival (OS) was 14.8 months in the EP/EC group and 12.2 months in the TACE group (P = 0.040). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.4 months and 2.7 months in the EP/EC group and the TACE group, respectively (P = 0.005). No significant differences in the overall response rate and disease control rate were observed between the EP/EC group and the TACE group (26.1% vs 11.1%, P = 0.429; 73.9% vs 44.4%, P = 0.055, respectively). A univariate analysis indicated that the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS), Ki-67, tumor number, and treatment options were prognostic factors for OS. A multivariate analysis further showed that ECOG PS (P < 0.001), Ki-67 (P = 0.003), and treatment options (P = 0.022) were independent prognostic factors for OS.ConclusionKi-67, ECOG PS, and treatment options were the independent prognostic factors for OS in patients with advanced PHNEC. EP/EC may be a better choice for patients with advanced PHNEC.