[Transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization and thymosin alpha1 in postoperative treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of postoperative transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and thymosin alpha(1) (T(alpha1)) treatment on recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
From Jan 2000 to Dec 2002, 57 patients with HCC were randomly divided into three groups: group A (n = 18) received hepatectomy plus postoperative TACE and T(alpha1), group B (n = 23) received hepatectomy plus postoperative TACE and group C (n = 16) received hepatectomy only. The recurrence rate, the time to tumor recurrence and the median survival for the three groups were investigated.


RESULTS
For group A, B and C, the 1 year recurrence rate was 83.3%, 87.0% and 87.5% (P = 0.926), respectively. The time to tumor recurrence was 7.0, 5.0 and 4.0 months (P = 0.039), respectively. The median survival was 10.0, 7.0 and 8.0 months (P = 0.002), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative TACE plus Talpha(1) treatment for HCC patients does not decrease the recurrence rate but may delay its occurrence and prolong surviving time.
Cheng
Shu-qun
SQ
East Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China. chengshuqun@yahoo.com.cn
Wu
Meng-chao
MC
Chen
Han
H
Shen
Feng
F
Yang
Jia-he
JH
Cong
Wen-ming
WM
Zhao
Yu-xiang
YX
Wang
Pei-jun
PJ
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D007459:Iodized Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D015996:Survival Rate; D000077596:Thymalfasin; D013947:Thymosin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016685:Mitomycin; D013947:Thymosin; D007459:Iodized Oil; D004317:Doxorubicin; D016190:Carboplatin; D000077596:Thymalfasin