Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization using CalliSpheres beads loaded with arsenic trioxide for unresectable large or huge hepatocellular carcinoma: A prospective study.

Abstract

e16204 Background: To determine the safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with CalliSpheres beads loaded with arsenic trioxide (CBATO-TACE) in the first-line treatment of patients with large (5 cm ≤ maximum diameter＜10 cm) or huge (maximum diameter ≥10 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Patients were randomly allocated to the CBATO-TACE group and the cTACE group. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoint was overall survival (OS), treatment response, and treatment- related adverse events (TRAEs). The extrahepatic collateral arteries, liver function, and liver fibrosis after the first TACE were also evaluated. Results: From September 2018 to September 2020, a total of 207 patients underwent TACE were consecutively enrolled in this study. The median PFS was 9.5 months (range: 8.0-11.0) in the CBATO group, which was significantly longer than that in the cTACE group (6.0 months, range: 4.0-6.0) ( P< 0.0001). Patients in the CBATO group had a median OS of 22 months (range: 20.0-27.0) compared with 16 months (range:15.0-20.0）in the cTACE group ( P= 0.0084). The most common TRAEs were fever ( P= 0.043), nausea and vomiting ( P= 0.002), which were more observed in the cTACE group. In addition, the progressive disease time, pulmonary metastasis rate ( P= 0.01), the mean number of EHC arteries ( P= 0.01) and average number of TACE sessions ( P= 0.025) were significantly decreased in the CBATO group. Conclusions: CBATO-TACE achieved better therapeutic outcomes and similar safety profile compared to cTACE in large or huge HCC patients. Furthermore, CBATO-TACE was able to reduce extrahepatic collateral arteries production and extrahepatic lung metastasis. Clinical trial information: ChiCTR1800018418 .