title: [Long-term outcomes of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization before liver transplantation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the long-term therapeutic effects of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) before liver transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing liver transplantation in our department between November, 2009 and November, 2011 were analyzed. Of these patients, 24 received TACE before the surgery while the other 22 did not. We compared the liver graft function (ALT and AST levels), immune function (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, NK cells, activated T cells), cumulative survival rate and disease-free survival rate between the two groups at 1 year and 2 years after the operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients receiving preoperative TACE showed significantly better liver functions and immune function than those who did not receive TACE (P<0.01 and 0.05). The cumulative disease-free survival rate in the two groups were 72% and 46% at 1 year, and were 57% and 33% at two years, respectively (P<0.05); the cumulative survival rate in the two groups were 84% and 55% at 1 year, and 63% and 34% at two years, respectively (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TACE prior to liver transplantation can significantly improve the postoperative liver function, immune function, disease-free survival and cumulative survival rates in patients with HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.E-mail: daiminhappy@126.com.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zhonglin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D011184:Postoperative Period; D015996:Survival Rate