[Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on the result and the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at systemic, cellular, genetic and molecular levels.

Methods: Patients with histologically proven HCC were divided into two groups: 81 patients in Group A undergoing TACE before operation and 58 patients in Group B treated with surgical resection alone. The degree of apoptosis was analyzed by transferase -mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) stain. The expressions of bcl-2, bax, p53, Ki-67 and PCNA proteins were detected by immunohistochemical method. The changes of these markers, tumor necrosis, encapsulation, volume, metastasis, recurrence and cumulative survival in each group were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: The more tumor necrosis, apoptosis, encapsulation and tumor shrinkage observed, and the less recurrence resulted from TACE in group A than in group B. The cumulative 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates and median survival time were 84.0%, 67.9%, 40.7%, and 803.3 days in group A patients; they were 72.4%, 55.2%, 24.1%, and 742.5 days in group B patients (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization is safe and effective as an auxiliary preparatory means before surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma as it may improve the survival of HCC patients.