Transarterial chemoembolization with or without microwave ablation in the treatment of intermediate (BCLC B) hepatocellular carcinoma.

Abstract

e15635 Background: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is currently the first-line treatment for patients with intermediate (BCLC stage B) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the prognosis of patients with intermediate HCC remains unsatisfactory, because TACE was limited by its lack of ability to achieve complete tumor necrosis. In this study, we retrospectively compare the outcome of TACE with or without microwave ablation (MWA) in the treatment of intermediate HCC. Methods: Included in this study were 140 patients with intermediate stage HCC who underwent initial TACE and were potentially amendable for MWA (the sum of the size of the largest tumor in centimeters and the number of tumors should be no more than nine; and a total tumor diameter ≤11 cm) between January 2005 and February 2015. 75 patients were treated with following MWA (TACE-MWA), and the remaining 65 patients were treated with TACE alone. Cumulative overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were compared. Results: The respective 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 80%, 30%, and 20% in the TACE group; and 96%, 69%, and 48% in the TACE-MWA group (Fig. 2). The OS was statistically significantly better in the TACE-MWA group compared with the TACE group (P < 0.001). The respective 1-, 3-, and 5-year PFS rates were 53%, 13%, and 0% in the TACE group; and 59%, 27%, and 17% in the TACE-MWA group (Fig. 3B). PFS rates between the two groups did not differ significantly (P = 0.069). Conclusions: MWA following initial TACE prolongs OS and PFS of patients with potentially amendable intermediate HCC.