Volume 31, Issue 2 pp. 442-449
Original Article - Hepatology

Comparison of transarterial chemoembolization with radiofrequency ablation for unresectable Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage 0/A hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score matching

Rong-xin Chen

Rong-xin Chen

Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital

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Yu-hong Gan

Yu-hong Gan

Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital

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Ning-lin Ge

Ning-lin Ge

Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital

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Yi Chen

Yi Chen

Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital

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Hui Ma

Hui Ma

Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital

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Yan Wang

Yan Wang

Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital

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Bo-heng Zhang

Bo-heng Zhang

Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital

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Yan-hong Wang

Yan-hong Wang

Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital

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Sheng-long Ye

Sheng-long Ye

Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital

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Jian-feng Luo

Jian-feng Luo

Department of Health Statistics and Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

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Zheng-gang Ren

Corresponding Author

Zheng-gang Ren

Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital

Correspondence

Dr Zheng-gang Ren, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. Email: [email protected]

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First published: 11 August 2015
Citations: 14
Declaration of conflict of interest:
None.

Abstract

Background and Aim:

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is recommended as one of the standard treatments for early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Because of high-risk tumor locations unfit for RFA, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is served as an alternative option in these settings. To define the role of TACE on early HCC, we retrospectively compared the efficacies of TACE with RFA in patients with unresectable Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage 0/A HCC.

Materials and Methods:

Treatment-naïve patients with unresectable BCLC stage 0/A HCC who underwent TACE or RFA were recruited from 2007 to 2011. In all, 208 patients who underwent TACE and 235 patients who underwent RFA were included in the final analysis. Using the propensity model to correct selection bias, 103 patients were selected from each treatment arm. Cumulative overall survival (OS) as the primary end point was compared after adjustment with propensity score matching.

Results:

In all patients, the OS rate was significantly higher in patients treated with RFA than that in those who received TACE (1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates, 93.7%, 72.6%, and 58.1% vs 88.1%, 50.3%, and 30.4%, respectively; P < 0.001). However, adjustment with propensity score matching yielded comparable OS between the two groups (P = 0.207). Subgroup analysis showed that RFA provided better OS than TACE in patients with serum γ-glutamyltranspeptidase < 75 IU/L (P = 0.035). Univariate and subsequent multivariate analyses revealed that Child-Pugh class B (hazard ratio = 1.805; 95% confidence interval, 1.805–3.003; P = 0.023) and hepatitis C virus positivity (hazard ratio = 2.478; 95% confidence interval, 1.136–5.404; P = 0.023) were independent predictors of poor prognosis.

Conclusion:

Transarterial chemoembolization is an effective alternative treatment for unresectable BCLC stage 0/A HCC when RFA is not feasible.

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