[Capecitabine combined with TACE for advanced liver cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical efficacy of capecitabine combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for advanced liver cancer.


METHODS
Forty-nine patients with liver cancer were retrospectively divided into two groups: Treatment group, on the basis of TACE, 23 patients received oral capecitabine at 2500 mg/m(2), twice-daily for 14 days followed by 7-day rest period and repeated in every three week intervals for more than two cycles. Control group, 26 patients received TACE only at 2-month intervals for at least two cycles.


RESULTS
In capecitabine and TACE group: there were 1 CR, 14 PR, 5 SD and 3 PD; the overall response rate was 65.2%; the AFP and tumor reduction rates were 68.8% and 73.9%; the median survival time was 11.9 months. In the TACE only group: there were 0 CR, 7 PR, 12 SD and 7 PD; the overall response rate was 26.9%; the AFP and tumor reduction rates were 31.6 % and 30.8%; the median survival time was 8.3 months. The most common side-effects of capecitabine were hand-foot syndrome and diarrhea.


CONCLUSIONS
Capecitabine combined with TACE is safe and effective for advanced liver cancer.
Li
Li
L
Department of Hepatoductopancreas, Second Hospital, Kunming Medical College, Kunming 650101, China. ynkmlili@yahoo.com.cn
Sun
Feng
F
Chen
Ai-jun
AJ
Li
Xiao-yan
XY
Hu
Ming-dao
MD
Ran
Jiang-hua
JH
Tang
Ji-hong
JH
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D016685:Mitomycin; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil