[Effect of postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization upon early recurrence after radical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) upon early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after radical resection.


METHODS
Between November 2000 and December 2007, 2591 HCC patients undergoing radical resection were retrospectively recruited. Patients undergoing resection alone were selected as control group while those receiving post-operative adjuvant TACE as intervention group. The patients were further stratified into tumor < or = 5 cm with low or high risk factors for residual tumor and tumor > 5 cm with low or high risk factors for residual tumor. A low risk factor for residual tumor was defined as single tumor and without microscopic tumor thrombus while a high risk factor for residual tumor was defined as 2 - 3 nodules or with the presence of microscopic tumor thrombus. The effect of adjuvant TACE upon early (< or = 2 years) recurrence was evaluated.


RESULTS
Recurrent rates of tumor < or = 5 cm with low or high risk factors for residual tumor and tumor > 5 cm with low or high risk factors for residual tumor at Month 3 post-resection were 1.34%, 3.17%, 5.33% and 8.43% in the control group versus 4.14% (P = 0.002), 8.15% (P = 0.011), 12.88% (P = 0.002) and 14.29% (P = 0.045) respectively in the intervention group; recurrence rates at Month 6 post-resection were 4.63%, 8.73%, 11.50% and 19.46% in the control group versus 6.71% (P = 0.133), 13.48% (P = 0.070), 21.02% (P = 0.052) and 23.94% (P = 0.210) respectively in the intervention group. For patients remaining recurrence free within the first 6 months post-resection, there were no significant differences in recurrence rates at Months 9, 12, 18 and 24 post-operation between each intervention group and control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative adjuvant TACE has no preventive effect upon early recurrence, but may be of benefit to detect residual tumor and early recurrence.
Chen
Xiao-hong
XH
Department of Liver Medical Oncology, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Zhang
Bo-heng
BH
Yin
Xin
X
Qiu
Shuang-jian
SJ
Fan
Jia
J
Ren
Zheng-gang
ZG
Xia
Jing-lin
JL
Wang
Yan-hong
YH
Ye
Sheng-long
SL
Gan
Yu-Hong
YH
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000628:therapy*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies