Adjuvant transcatheter arterial chemoembolization improves efficacy of hepatectomy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein tumor thrombus.
OBJECTIVE
To study the value of postoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) to improve the efficacy of hepatectomy and tumor thrombus removal for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT).


METHODS
From January 1996 to December 2004, 126 patients with HCC and PVTT were randomly assigned into 2 groups: a control group and a TACE group. The control group underwent liver resection combined with PVTT removal, and the TACE group underwent liver resection combined with adjuvant TACE after surgery. Survival time in the 2 groups was studied.


RESULTS
The 2 groups were comparable with regard to all clinicopathologic data. The median survival time was 13 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.25 to 19.75 months) for the TACE group and 9 months (95% CI 6.90 to 11.10 months) for the control group. Estimated survival rates for 1, 3 and 5 years were better in the TACE group (50.9%, 33.8%, 21.5%; respectively) than the control group (33.3%, 17.0%, 8.5%, respectively; log rank P = .0094).


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative TACE enhances the effect of liver resection combined with PVTT removal for HCC patients with PVTT.
Peng
Bao-Gang
BG
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. pengbaogang@medmail.com.cn
He
Qiang
Q
Li
Jia-Ping
JP
Zhou
Fan
F
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005781:Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000628:therapy*