Survival Advantage of Radiofrequency Ablation Over Transarterial Chemoembolization for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Good Performance Status Within the Milan Criteria

Background

Performance status is closely linked with survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated the impact of performance status on patients with small HCC receiving radiofrequency ablation (RFA) versus transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods

A total of 424 and 282 patients within the Milan criteria undergoing RFA and TACE, respectively, were analyzed. Patients were classified as performance status 0 (n = 516) and performance status ≥1 (n = 190) groups. A propensity-score matching analysis with preset caliper width was used. A total of 167 and 68 matched pairs were selected from patients with a performance status of 0 and ≥1, respectively.

Results

Radiofrequency ablation provided significantly better long-term survival than TACE for patients within the Milan criteria (p < 0.01). After being stratified by performance status and matched in the propensity model, the baseline characteristics were similar between the RFA and TACE groups for patients with a performance status of 0 or ≥1. RFA provided significantly better long-term survival than TACE in patients with a performance status of 0 in the propensity model (p < 0.05); TACE was significantly associated with 1.784-fold increased risk of mortality (95 % confidence interval 1.075–2.506) by using the Cox proportional hazards model. TACE was not a significant prognostic predictor in patients with a performance status ≥1 in the propensity model.

Conclusions

For HCC patients within the Milan criteria with a performance status of 0, RFA provides better long-term survival than TACE. RFA should be considered a priority treatment in inoperable HCC patients within the Milan criteria. Performance status is a feasible surrogate marker to enhance treatment allocation.