title: [Clinical outcomes of radiofrequency ablation combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: a single-center experience].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effect of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with radiofrequency ablation alone for the treatment of 3 - 5 cm hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2006 to March 2010, sixty-two HCC patients were randomly treated with RFA combined with TACE (n = 32) or RFA alone (n = 30). This group included the patients who had Child-Pugh class A or B with three or fewer tumors, in which just one tumor size was 3 - 5 cm in diameter, and no evidence of extrahepatic tumor metastasis or macrovascular invasion. The follow up ranged from 9 to 39 months. Survival probabilities were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences between survival curves were evaluated with the Log rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the study, the 1-, 2- and 3-year overall survival rates in the combined treatment group were 90.6%, 72%, and 53.1%, respectively, and in the radiofrequency ablation alone group were 83.3%, 56.75%, and 23.3%, respectively. The differences between the survival curves of the two groups were not statistically significant (P = 0.176). The 1-, 2-, and 3-year progress-free survival rates in the combined treatment group were 75.0%, 50.0%, and 34.3%, respectively, and in the radiofrequency ablation alone group were 63.3%, 33.3%, and 16.7%, respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P = 0.027). The 1-, 2-, and 3-year local tumor progression rates in the combined treatment group were 12.5%, 18.75%, and 18.75% vs. 16.7%, 30%, and 36.6% in the radiofrequency ablation alone group, with a significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.047).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiofrequency ablation plus TACE is better than radiofrequency ablation alone for the treatment of 3 - 5 cm hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Wenzhou Central Hospital, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jie-jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiao-fen
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xiao-jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Li-jie
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Luo-wen
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Bao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate; D047368:Tumor Burden
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin; D005472:Fluorouracil