Volume 29, Issue 4, 2020
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.890
Feasibility of Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Combined with Microwave Ablation for Treating Primary Large Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Abstract
Objective: To explore the feasibility of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with microwave ablation for treating primary large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods: Thirty patients with primary large HCC receiving TACE (control group) and another thirty cases undergoing TACE combined with microwave ablation (observation group) in our hospital from January 2015 to January 2017 were selected, and the clinical data of the two groups of patients were retrospectively analyzed. The objective response rate, serum tumor markers, incidence rates of adverse reactions, long-term survival rate, long-term recurrence rate and long-term quality-of-life score were compared between the two groups.
Results: The objective response rate was 66.67% in observation group, which was higher than that in control group (40.00%) (P<0.05). The levels of serum carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha fetoprotein and carbohydrate antigen 125 declined in both groups after treatment compared with those before treatment, and they were lower in observation group than those in control group (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence rates of adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia and transaminase elevation between the two groups (P>0.05). After 1 and 3 years of follow-up, observation group had higher survival rate and quality-of-life score but lower recurrence rate than those of control group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The combined application of TACE and microwave ablation to patients with primary large HCC can augment the short-term therapeutic effects, regulate the expressions of serum tumor markers and reduce adverse reactions. This method can raise the long-term survival rate, decrease recurrence and enhance the long-term quality of life of surviving patients.
Keywords
primary large hepatocellular carcinoma; transcatheter arterial chemoembolization; microwave ablation