title: Radiofrequency ablation plus drug-eluting beads transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for the treatment of single large hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the single-step combined therapy with radiofrequency ablation and drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization in single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) larger than 3cm. Secondary aim was to compare the results with those obtained in a matched population treated with drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 consecutive cirrhotic patients with single HCC were prospectively enrolled and treated. Twenty-three patients had tumours between 3 and 5cm (Group A), and 17 larger than 5cm (Group B). Twenty cirrhotic patients with single HCC treated only with chemoembolization formed the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete response at 1 month was achieved in 32/40 tumours (80%). During follow-up, complete response was maintained in 25 patients (25/40, 62.5%), and this rate was higher in Group A (69.6% vs 53%, p=0.008). The group treated with combined therapy showed a significantly lower 2-year recurrence (48.1% vs 78.2%, p<0.001) and significantly higher survival (91.1% vs 60.6%, p=0.004) than the group treated with chemoembolization alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Balloon-occluded-radiofrequency ablation plus drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization is an effective treatment of HCC larger than 3cm not amenable to surgical resection, providing better results than transarterial chemoembolization alone. The best results are achieved in tumours up to 5cm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioimaging and Radiological Sciences, Institute of Radiology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: iezzir@virgilio.it.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iezzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pompili
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioimaging and Radiological Sciences, Institute of Radiology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele Fabio
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: La Torre
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Campanale
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montagna
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saviano
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cesario
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siciliano
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Annicchiarico
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Organ Transplantation, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agnes
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hepatobiliary Surgery Unit, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giuliante
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grieco
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Lodovico
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Rapaccini
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioimaging and Radiological Sciences, Institute of Radiology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: De Gaetano
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioimaging and Radiological Sciences, Institute of Radiology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, "A. Gemelli" Hospital - Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonomo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Ablation; Chemoembolization; Combined therapy; HCC; RFA