title: Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in combination with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in combination with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) in the treatment for locally advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  From March 2000 to March 2009 a total of 158 patients with unresectable HCC treated and followed at our hospital were divided into TACE group (N=80) and TACE combined with 3D-CRT group (N=78). The TACE group was treated 3-6 times. In the combination group, 2-3 TACE courses were administered and 3D-CRT was performed 2 weeks after the last TACE. Three months after the end of treatment, imaging and serum AFP were carried out to assess the treatment efficacy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rates of TACE and the combination groups were 53.7% (43/80) and 71.8% (58/78) (p<0.05). The 1, 2, and 3-year survival rates of patients in the TACE and combination groups were 58.75, 36.25, 16.25%, and 78.48, 55.12 and 25.64% (p<0.05), respectively. Treatment compliance was good, with at least 2 TACE administrations for each case and at least 52 Gy for radiotherapy. In the TACE and the combination group, there were 2 and 3 cases with grade III/IV toxicity, respectively, without treatment-related death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3D-CRT in combination with TACE significantly improve the therapeutic outcome in patients with locally advanced unresectable HCC, without creating severe toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou 325200, China.
authors.forename: Wen-jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shao-fei
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Lin-jia
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xiao-nan
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Weie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*