Argon-helium cryoablation combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for the treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma / 介入放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate argon-helium cryoablation combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in treating primary hepatocellular carcinoma by comparing the changes of AFP level and T cell immunity after the therapy with that obtained after the treatment of argon-helium cryoablation alone and with that obtained after the treatment of TACE alone. Methods (1) Ninety-nine patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma were randomly divided into three groups group A (n=30), treated with argon-helium cryoablation; group B (n=34), treated with TACE; and group C (n=35), treated with argon-helium cryoablation together with TACE. The patients' gender, age and pathology of three groups were comparable with each other. (2) The peripheral blood T cell immunity and AFP level both before and after the treatment were determined and the results were statistically compared. Results After the treatment the AFP level in all 3 groups was significantly reduced when compared to that determined before the treatment (P < 0.05). And the difference in the decrease of AFP level between group C and A, also between group C and B, was statistically significant (P < 0.05). After the treatment the T cell immunity, including Th, TS and Th / TS, in all 3 groups was significantly different from that determined before the treatment (P < 0.01), and significant difference also existed between group C and A and between group C and B (P < 0.01). Conclusion The statistic analysis of AFP and T cell immunity, which are regarded as the index of therapeutic efficacy, indicates that argon-helium cryoablation combined with TACE is superior to simple argon-helium cryoablation and also to simple TACE in the treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.