Efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization in recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after curative surgical resection.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection and to examine the factors associated with the prognosis in a single center.


METHODS
Between January 1995 and July 2006, 169 patients who had undergone curative resection were diagnosed with recurrent HCC. Of these, 114 patients underwent TACE as first-line therapy and were followed until July 2007.


RESULTS
At the time of resection, the mean tumor size was 4.8 + or - 2.9 cm, and 96 (84.2%) patients had a single tumor. Single nodular recurrence was observed in 53 (46.5%) patients. The mean size of the recurrent HCC was 2.1 + or - 1.2 cm. The disease-free survival after TACE was 46.0%, 16.7%, and 13.4% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. The overall survival after TACE was 77.8%, 53.6%, and 31.6% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Cox regression analysis revealed that the Edmonson grade and time to recurrence (>6 months) independently affected the disease-free survival (both P < 0.05). The time to recurrence (>6 months) and tumor-node-metastasis stage were associated with overall survival (both P < 0.05). Only 1 lethal complication (biliary sepsis) occurred after TACE.


CONCLUSIONS
TACE seems to be a safe, effective treatment for recurrent HCC after curative resection.
Choi
Jong Won
JW
Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Park
Jun Yong
JY
Ahn
Sang Hoon
SH
Yoon
Ki Tae
KT
Ko
Heung-Kyu
HK
Lee
Do Yun
DY
Lee
Jong Tae
JT
Kim
Kyung Sik
KS
Choi
Jin Sub
JS
Han
Kwang-Hyub
KH
Chon
Chae Yoon
CY
Kim
Do Young
DY
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012449:Safety; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents