title: Pilot study of stereotactic body radiation therapy combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for small hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We retrospectively evaluated the local tumor control and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) followed by stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in this pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight patients not for the indication of hepatectomy or ablation procedures were enrolled in this study. Eligible criteria was as followed: i) less than 3 hypervascular HCC nodules, each up to 30 mm in diameter; ii) not suitable for the hepatic resection or ablative therapy; iii) Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score < or = 7. SBRT was performed within 1-2 months after TACE. Treatment efficacy was evaluated, according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Cancer of the Liver (RECICL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median local tumor control time was not reached. The 1-year cumulative local tumor control rate was 96.3%. The median disease-free survival time was 18 months. The 1- year cumulative overall survival rate was 92.6%. One patient (3.6%) died due to intrahepatic ectopic multiple recurrence and systemic metastasis and one (3.6%) due to cerebral hemorrhage. No patients experienced severe acute hematologic or physical toxicity or radiation induced liver damage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrated SBRT combined with TACE is a safe and effective modality of the locoregional therapy for small primary HCC.
authors.forename: Yohji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Tomoki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aikata
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakahara
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naeshiro
authors.forename: Mio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miyaki
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagaoki
authors.forename: Tomokazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawaoka
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takaki
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hiramatsu
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Waki
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kakizawa
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kenjo
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Awai
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chayama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome