RESUMO
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) by combination use of lobaplatin and arsenic trioxide in treating primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) in elderly patients.Methods Based on the different medication program,a total of 95 PHC patients,whose liver function belonged to Child-Pugh A or B grade (middle-late stage PHC) or who suffered from early-stage PHC and were unwilling to undergo surgical treatment,were divided into the observation group (n=48) and the control group (n=47).TACE was performed in all patients of both groups.Lobaplatin (40 mg/m2) and arsenic trioxide (10 mg/m2) were adopted for patients of the observation group,while arsenic trioxide (10 mg/m2) was employed for patients of the control group.TACE was carried out once every 6 weeks.The objective response rate (ORR),disease control rate (DCR),the median progression free survival time (mPFS) and the incidence of adverse reactions of both groups were analyzed.Results The ORR of the observation group and the control group was 50.0％ and 48.9％ respectively,and the difference was not statistically significant (P＞0.05).The DCR of the observation group and the control group was 85.4％ and 80.9％ respectively,and the difference was not statistically significant (P＞0.05).The mPFS of the study group and the control group was 9 months and 6 months respectively,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.001).The main adverse reactions in the two groups were nausea,vomiting,fever,elevation of aminotransferase,etc.,but the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant (P＞ 0.05).Conclusion For the treatment of PHC in elderly patients,TACE by combination use of lobaplatin and arsenic trioxide can prolong mPFS,and the adverse reactions can be well tolerated by patients.This therapeutic regimen may be a better treatment means for PHC in elderly patients.However,large sample randomized and controlled studies are needed to further confirm its curative effect before it can be reliably used as a routine clinical medication regimen.