Comparison of two techniques of transarterial chemoembolization before liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: a case-control study.
Supraselective transarterial chemoembolization (STACE) more efficiently targets chemotherapy delivered via the feeding arterial branches of the tumor than does conventional transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). However, the hypothesis of its greater efficacy compared with the latter is subject to controversy. The aim of the present study was to compare STACE to conventional TACE in a controlled study of candidates for liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients were matched for factors associated with HCC recurrence and survival. Sixty patients were included: 30 who were treated with STACE and 30 treated with conventional TACE. The 2 groups were similar in terms of matched criteria. In the overall population (uni- and multinodular HCC), there was no marked difference between the 2 groups in 5-year disease-free survival: 76.8% vs. 74.8%. In sensitivity analysis of patients considered to be the best candidates for TACE (uninodular HCC < or =5 cm), there was a trend toward significance between STACE and TACE in 5-year disease-free survival: 87% vs. 64% (P = 0.09). The only factor associated with complete tumor necrosis was STACE in the overall population (30.8% vs. 6.9%, P = 0.02), with a similar trend in the subgroup of patients with a single nodule (33.3% vs. 6.7%, P = 0.06), whereas the mean number of procedures was similar in the 2 groups (mean, 1.3 procedures; range 1-5 procedures; P = NS). STACE is more efficient at inducing complete tumor necrosis in the liver. This study observed trends toward improvement in the disease-free survival of patients with uninodular HCC < or =5 cm. Future studies focusing on such patients are warranted.
Dharancy
Sébastien
S
Service des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif et de la Nutrition, Hôpital Huriez, CHU Lille, France. s6@chru-lille.fr
Boitard
Jeanne
J
Decaens
Thomas
T
Sergent
Géraldine
G
Boleslawski
Emmanuel
E
Duvoux
Christophe
C
Vanlemmens
Claire
C
Meyer
Carole
C
Gugenheim
Jean
J
Durand
François
F
Boillot
Olivier
O
Declerck
Nicole
N
Louvet
Alexandre
A
Canva
Valérie
V
Romano
Olivier
O
Ernst
Olivier
O
Mathurin
Philippe
P
Pruvot
François René
FR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D011300:Preoperative Care