The time interval between TACE and ablation therapy: A single-center retrospective study on the treatment efficacy for early stage hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To compare the efficacy of combined radiofrequency ablation (RFA) at 0-14 or 15-30 days after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for the treatment of early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with early HCC who underwent combined TACE and RFA treatment at Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, between 2011 and 2013. Based on the time interval between TACE and RFA treatment, the study was divided into two groups: Group A (0-14 days) and Group B (15-30 days). The primary endpoints of the study were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), with a multifactorial analysis of factors influencing patient prognosis. Results A total of 56 patients were included in this study. Among them, 22 were classified as BCLC stage 0 and 34 as stage A. By univariate analysis it was indicated that the tumor stage and the degree of liver cirrhosis were correlated with the prognosis of liver cancers (P<0.05). By multifactorial analysis it was identified that the tumor stage (RR=0.045, 95% CI:0.003-0.623, P=0.021) as an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of HCC treated with combined TACE and RFA therapy. By subgroup analysis it was showed a 5-year survival rate of 78% for Group A and 75% for Group B; the 5-year progression-free survival rates were 14% and 11% for Groups A and B, respectively. The median progression-free survival times were 23 months for Group A and 31 months for Group B, with median overall survival times of 60 months for both groups. There were no statistically significant differences in progression-free1 survival (HR=1.085, P=0.795) and overall survival (HR=0.514, P=0.416) between Groups A and B. Conclusion For HCC patients treated with combined TACE and RFA, better prognosis is associated with earlier tumor staging. The timing interval between TACE and ablation therapy, whether within 14 days or more than 14 days (15-30 days), does not significantly affect the efficacy against hepatocellular carcinoma. RFA within 30 days after TACE is safe and effective.

Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Radiofrequency ablation, Time interval, Transarterial chemoembolization

JING Chang-you, ZHU Tong, ZHANG Yong-hong, LI Jian-jun. The time interval between TACE and ablation therapy: A single-center retrospective study on the treatment efficacy for early stage hepatocellular carcinoma[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2024, 29(7): 777-801.

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