Transarterial chemoembolization combined with radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of large hepatocellular carcinoma with stage C

BACKGROUND The combination therapy of transarterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation (TACE-RFA) shows promising efficacy in large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Data on the clinical efficacy and safety of TACE-RFA for large HCC with barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) stage C are lacking in China. AIM To determine the safetyand efficacy of TACE-RFA for large, advanced HCC. METHODS Patients of HCC with BCLC stage C who were treated with TACE-RFA or TACE alone at our institute from August 2008 to January 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. The complications were observed. The associations between overall survival (OS) and treatment method were analysed. RESULTS Data were collected from 102 HCC patients. Among them, 64 underwent TACE-RFA and 38 underwent TACE. The combination of TACE and RFA was safe. All complications were controllable. The median OS in the TACE-RFA group was significantly longer than that in the TACE group (8.0 mo vs 4.0 mo, P = 0.000). The 6-, 12- and 24-mo survival rates of the combination group were 68.8%, 34.4%, and 10.9%, respectively, while those of the TACE group were 36.8%, 7.9%, and 0% (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION TACE-RFA has an advantage over TACE alone in improving OS in large HCC patients with BCLC stage C.