Open Access

Repeated transarterial chemoembolization with epirubicin‑loaded superabsorbent polymer microspheres vs. conventional transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

  • Authors:
    • Taito Fukushima
    • Manabu Morimoto
    • Satoshi Kobayashi
    • Makoto Ueno
    • Yusuke Sano
    • Kuniyuki Kawano
    • Hiroyuki Asama
    • Shuhei Nagashima
    • Shin Maeda
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: April 12, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2021.2281
  • Article Number: 119
  • Copyright: © Fukushima et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long‑term outcomes and the impact of repeated conventional transarterial chemoembolization (C‑TACE) and transarterial chemoembolization with epirubicin‑loaded superabsorbent polymer embolics (SAP‑TACE) on liver function in TACE‑naïve patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Overall, 155 consecutive patients with HCC received either C‑TACE or SAP‑TACE. The first cohort (n=71), treated between 2011 and 2014, received C‑TACE; the second cohort (n=84), treated between 2014 and 2016, received SAP‑TACE. Overall survival and deterioration of liver function were compared between the two cohorts. The 1‑, 2‑ and 3‑year overall survival rates and median survival times were 74, 50, 35% and 26 months in the C‑TACE cohort and 75, 60, 39% and 28 months in the SAP‑TACE cohort, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups (P=0.289). Age <70 years, Child‑Pugh class A, alpha‑fetoprotein <400 ng/ml and des‑gamma‑carboxy prothrombin <1,000 mAU/ml were identified as favorable prognostic factors in multivariate analysis. In the subgroup of patients with a Child‑Pugh score of 5, survival was 29 months for C‑TACE vs. 55 months for SAP‑TACE (P<0.05). In the C‑TACE cohort, the median Child‑Pugh score was 6 after 3 cycles and 7 after 5 cycles of TACE, and the score worsened significantly (before vs. 3 cycles, P<0.05; before vs. 5 cycles, P<0.05). In the SAP‑TACE cohort, the median Child‑Pugh score was 6 after 3 and 5 cycles of TACE, and the score did not worsen during the treatment cycles. There were no differences in overall survival between repeated C‑TACE and SAP‑TACE in TACE‑naïve patients with HCC. However, liver function deterioration was more evident in patients treated with C‑TACE than in those treated with SAP‑TACE.
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Spandidos Publications style
Fukushima T, Morimoto M, Kobayashi S, Ueno M, Sano Y, Kawano K, Asama H, Nagashima S and Maeda S: Repeated transarterial chemoembolization with epirubicin‑loaded superabsorbent polymer microspheres vs. conventional transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Clin Oncol 14: 119, 2021
APA
Fukushima, T., Morimoto, M., Kobayashi, S., Ueno, M., Sano, Y., Kawano, K. ... Maeda, S. (2021). Repeated transarterial chemoembolization with epirubicin‑loaded superabsorbent polymer microspheres vs. conventional transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma. Molecular and Clinical Oncology, 14, 119. https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2021.2281
MLA
Fukushima, T., Morimoto, M., Kobayashi, S., Ueno, M., Sano, Y., Kawano, K., Asama, H., Nagashima, S., Maeda, S."Repeated transarterial chemoembolization with epirubicin‑loaded superabsorbent polymer microspheres vs. conventional transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma". Molecular and Clinical Oncology 14.6 (2021): 119.
Chicago
Fukushima, T., Morimoto, M., Kobayashi, S., Ueno, M., Sano, Y., Kawano, K., Asama, H., Nagashima, S., Maeda, S."Repeated transarterial chemoembolization with epirubicin‑loaded superabsorbent polymer microspheres vs. conventional transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma". Molecular and Clinical Oncology 14, no. 6 (2021): 119. https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2021.2281