Rate and Predictive Factors for Sustained Complete Response after Selective Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, 15 Kanchanavanit Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.

2 Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, 15 Kanchanavanit Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.

Abstract

Background: To determine the effectiveness and performance of selective conventional transarterial
chemoembolization (TACE) and analyze the potential predictive factors of sustained complete response (CR) for
patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: Total of 52 patients with HCC (33 males,
19 females; mean age 64.0 ± 9.6 years) who underwent 81 sessions of selective TACE between November 2015 and
March 2017 at Songklanagarind hospital were reviewed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to describe CR rates at
various time points. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were performed to determine the predictive
factors for sustained CR at six months. Results: The CR rates after selective TACE at 1, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months were
87%, 81%, 62%, 40% and 31%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that alpha fetoprotein
level <100ng/ml, a tumor size in summation ≤ 30 mm, ≤ 2 sessions of selective TACE and unilobar involvement had a
significantly higher odds of sustaining complete response at six months (p =0.018, 0.031, 0.032, and 0.044, respectively).
Conclusions: Selective TACE has a good therapeutic results and can sustained complete response in selected HCC
patients. Serum AFP≤ 100 ng/ml, a few sessions of selective TACE, tumor size in summation ≤ 30 mm and unilobar
involvement were favorable predictive factors for sustained complete response of HCC patients.

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