Selective and sequential transarterial chemoembolization: survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose

To assess the survival time of patients with HCC following transarterial chemoembolization performed in a highly selective and sequential way.

Patients and methods

124 HCC patients (102 male, 22 female; mean age 63 ± 11 years) treated with selective and sequential chemoembolization at a single center were included. Selective chemoembolization was performed through a coaxially introduced microcatheter in a segmental or subsegmental hepatic artery. Treatment was stopped after complete stasis of the blood flow in the tumor-feeding vessel. The primary endpoint of the study was overall survival.

Results

The median overall survival of the entire patient population was 27.2 months (mo) (±8.9 mo, 95% CI 9.8 mo, 44.6 mo). When stratified according to liver function the median survival was 46.1 mo (±9.0 mo; 95% CI 28.5 mo, 63.7 mo) for Child-Pugh A and 11.1 mo (±4.3 mo; 95% CI 2.7 mo, 19.5 mo) for Child-Pugh B (p < .001). The median survival was 46.1 mo (±16.6 mo; 95% CI 13.5 mo, 78.7 mo) for BCLC stage A, 19.7 mo (±2.6 mo; 95% CI 14.6 mo, 24.8 mo) for BCLC stage B, and 14.4 mo (±5.0 mo; 95% CI 4.5 mo, 24.3 mo) for BCLC stage C (p < .01).

Conclusion

Selective and sequential chemoembolization offers long survival times in patients with HCC. Those patients with preserved liver function benefit more than patients with limited liver reserve.