[The palliative treatment of hepatocarcinoma: chemoembolization vs. the combination of tamoxifen plus beta-interferon].
Clinical and experimental data show that beta-IFN enhances the effect of tamoxifen on advanced breast cancer. There is a similarity between breast and liver as far as the proliferating effect on normal and neoplastic tissue of estrogen and progestin receptors is concerned. The authors tested this pharmacological association in unresectable liver neoplasms. They considered 76 (not randomized) patients affected with HCC; 38 were treated by trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and 38 to beta-INF and tamoxifen (the 2 groups were comparable according to age, sex, Child-Pugh score, Okuda and TNM stages, cirrhosis etiology). The treatment response (positive when a tumor diameter decreased or stabilization was observed) was similar in the two groups; in the TACE group, the presence of a peritumoral capsula had a significant influence on survival (p < 0.02); on the other hand, in the patients treated with beta-INF and tamoxifen important factors for a better prognosis were the TNM stage (I and II, p < 0.02) and a symptom-free condition (p < 0.04). The authors believe the beta-INF and tamoxifen treatment could represent an effective alternative in the management of unresectable HCC. A better knowledge of the presence and meaning of estrogen and progestin receptors in the neoplastic tissue may allow a better selection of patients.
Maffei Faccioli
A
A
Istituto di Chirurgia Generale Ia, Università degli Studi, Padova.
Gerunda
G E
GE
Neri
D
D
Zangrandi
F
F
Merenda
R
R
Bruttocao
A
A
Meduri
F
F
Barbazza
F
F
Bisello
M
M
Dimarzio
E
E
D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015993:Life Tables; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013629:Tamoxifen; D016899:Interferon-beta