title: Nonsurgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: 1. Outcome from nonsurgical treatment is directly related to stage of hepatocellular cancer (HCC) and degree of liver function impairment. 2. Ablative percutaneous procedures, such as alcohol injection or radiofrequency thermal therapy, are most effective in the destruction of solitary tumors of 3 cm or less. 3. In most cases, nonsurgical treatments are not curative, but may slow tumor progression and can provide palliation. 4. Arterial embolization or chemoembolization has an antitumor effect, but it has not been shown to affect patient outcome. 5. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal manipulation, and interferon have not been consistently effective in HCC. 6. Ablative procedures, embolization, and systemic chemotherapy should be avoided in patients with advanced cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Barcelona-Clínic Liver Cancer Group, the Liver Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Llovet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bruix
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000431:Ethanol; D007372:Interferons