title: Comparison of combination therapies in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma: transarterial chemoembolization with radiofrequency ablation versus microwave ablation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare retrospectively the outcomes and complications of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting embolic agents combined with radiofrequency (RF) ablation or microwave (MW) ablation in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2003-2011, 89 patients with HCC received a combination therapy-transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus RF ablation in 38 patients and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus MW ablation in 51 patients. Local tumor response, tumor progression-free survival (PFS), overall PFS, overall survival (OS), and complications were compared. Overall PFS and OS were compared between the two treatment groups in multivariate analysis controlling for Child-Pugh class, Barcelona Clinic Liver Classification stage, and index tumor size.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete local tumor response was achieved in 37 (80.4%) of the tumors treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus RF ablation and 49 (76.6%) of the tumors treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus MW ablation (P = .67). The median tumor PFS and overall PFS were 20.8 months and 9.3 months (P = .72) for transarterial chemoembolization plus RF ablation and 21.8 months and 9.2 months for transarterial chemoembolization plus MW ablation (P = .32). The median OS of the transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus RF ablation group was 23.3 months, and the median OS of the transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus MW ablation group was 42.6 months, with no significant difference in the survival experience between the two groups (log-rank test, P = .10). In the multivariate analysis, Barcelona Clinic Liver Classification stage was the only factor associated with overall PFS and OS. One patient in the transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus RF ablation cohort (3%) and two patients in the transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus MW ablation cohort (4%) required prolonged hospitalization (< 48 h) for pain management after the procedure (P = 1.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on similar safety and efficacy outcomes, both combination therapies, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus RF ablation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus MW ablation, are effective treatments for HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Interventional Radiology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.. Electronic address: ginsburg.misha@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ginsburg
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Interventional Radiology, University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Sean P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Zivin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Interventional Radiology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wroblewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Interventional Radiology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Taral
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Doshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Interventional Radiology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Raj J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Vasnani
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Interventional Radiology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Thuong G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Van Ha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents