Short-term efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization with epirubicin-loaded superabsorbent polymer microspheres for hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison with conventional transarterial chemoembolization.
This study aimed to compare the short-term efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with epirubicin-loaded superabsorbent polymer embolics (SAP) and conventional TACE in TACE-naïve patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).



Fifty consecutive patients (mean age, 72.8 years; hepatitis C, 46%; BCLC-A or B, 52% or 48%) treated with TACE with SAP during 2013-2015 and 55 consecutive patients (mean age, 71.8 years; hepatitis C, 40%; BCLC-A or B, 51% or 49%) treated with conventional TACE during 2011-2013 were evaluated. Safety evaluations were based on CTCAE ver. 4.0. Short-term efficacies, i.e., at 1 month after TACE, were assessed using the European Association for the Study of the Liver criteria. Overall survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Short-term response markers were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses.



There was no significant difference in the incidence of any grade of adverse events. The objective response rates were 50% and 62% in patients treated with TACE with SAP and with conventional TACE, respectively (P = 0.358). The overall survival rates were not significantly different (P = 0.810); the 1-year survival rates and the median survival time of the patients treated with TACE with SAP and with conventional TACE were 76% and 74%, and 18 months and 21 months, respectively. Overall survival was related to the short-term response. An alpha-fetoprotein level <1,000 ng/mL was a significant short-term response marker on multivariate analysis.



For TACE-naïve patients, TACE with SAP and conventional TACE had comparable safety and short-term efficacies.
Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, 2-3-2 Nakao, Asahi-ku, Yokohama, 241-8515, Japan. m-morimoto@kcch.jp.
Manabu
M
Morimoto
Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, 2-3-2 Nakao, Asahi-ku, Yokohama, 241-8515, Japan.
Satoshi
S
Kobayashi
Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, 2-3-2 Nakao, Asahi-ku, Yokohama, 241-8515, Japan.
Satoshi
S
Moriya
Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, 2-3-2 Nakao, Asahi-ku, Yokohama, 241-8515, Japan.
Makoto
M
Ueno
Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, 2-3-2 Nakao, Asahi-ku, Yokohama, 241-8515, Japan.
Shun
S
Tezuka
Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, 2-3-2 Nakao, Asahi-ku, Yokohama, 241-8515, Japan.
Kuniyasu
K
Irie
Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, 2-3-2 Nakao, Asahi-ku, Yokohama, 241-8515, Japan.
Yoshihiro
Y
Goda
Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, 2-3-2 Nakao, Asahi-ku, Yokohama, 241-8515, Japan.
Shinichi
S
Ohkawa
D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015251:Epirubicin
Beads; DEB; Embolization; Intermediate; SAP; TACE