Abstract
PURPOSE: To determine which prognostic factors contribute to long-term survival after transcatheter arterialchemoembolization(TACE) of hepatocellular carcinoma.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 100 patients who expired withinone year and 84 who survived or have survived for more than 3 years after TACE, prognostic factors wereretrospectively evaluated. TACE was accomplished by hepatic arterial infusion of a suspension of Lipiodol andanticancer drugs(Mitomycin-C and Adriamycin), either alone or followed by gelfoam embolization. Fisher 's exacttest of probability was used to determine which prognostic factors were statistically significant.
RESULTS:Statistically significant prognostic factors were as follows: Child classification(p<0.01), alpha-fetopro-teinvalue(p<0.05), type of tumor(p<0.01), portal vein status(p<0.01), and vascularity of the tumor(p<0.05). HBsAg,tumor size, and method of chemoembolization were not statistically significant(p>0.05).
CONCLUSION: The prognosisof patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated by TACE was affected favorably by good liver function(Childclassification A), low alphafetoprotein value, nodular or massive-type tumor, patent main and first-order portalvein, and hypervascular tumor.