Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy after radical hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
OBJECTIVE
This prospective randomized study was aimed to clarify the efficacy of epirubicin after radical hepatic resection for hepatcellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
One hundred and one patients entered the present study and were randomly allocated to Group A in which UFT (300 mg/day) was given from 5th postoperative week for one year, or Group B in which a bolus injection of epirubicin (40 mg/m2) was given arterially, in addition to the same UFT administration, on day 28. Groups A and B included 40 and 48 eligible cases, respectively.


RESULTS
No obvious intergroup differences were observed including prescribed dose of UFT. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates (Groups A vs B) were 82 vs 90%, 50 vs 49% and 35 vs 30% (p = 0.2162). Excluding 4 operative deaths, the recurrence-free survival rates were 65 vs 70%, 32 vs 37% and 14 vs 17% (p = 0.3843). Initial recurrence sites were also similar.


CONCLUSIONS
A bolus arterial injection of epirubicin does not change the long term results after radical hepatic resection for HCC.
Kohno
H
H
Second Department of Surgery, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.
Nagasue
N
N
Hayashi
T
T
Yamanoi
A
A
Uchida
M
M
Ono
T
T
Yukaya
H
H
Kimura
N
N
Nakamura
T
T
D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011446:Prospective Studies; D005641:Tegafur / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014498:Uracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D004338:Drug Combinations; C096910:UFT(R) drug; D005641:Tegafur; D015251:Epirubicin; D014498:Uracil