The value of DEB-TACE in the preoperative application of hepatocellular carcinoma liver transplantation beyond Milan criteria / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of drug-eluting beads transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in preoperative liver transplantation application of hepatocellular carcinoma beyond Milan standard.Methods:A total of 100 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who were underwent liver transplantation exceeding Milan criteria were retrospectively analyzed from April 2013 to March 2019 at the Tianjin First Central Hospital. Of 72 males and 28 females were included, aged (50.3±7.8) years. Fifty patients who received preoperative DEB-TACE treatment were included in the DEB-TACE group. According to the tumor necrosis rate after liver transplantation, they were further divided into group A (complete tumor necrosis), group B (50%≤ tumor necrosis rate <100%) and group C (tumor necrosis rate <50%). Fifty patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who did not receive any preoperative treatment were included in the control group. DEB-TACE complications were analyzed. Their survival and recurrence were followed up. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method and survival rates were compared by log-rank test.Results:In the DEB-TACE group, the technical success rate of interventions was 100%(50/50) and 1 to 4(1.8±1.2) interventions were received. Post-DEB-TACE complications, included post-embolization syndrome in 18 cases (36.0%). Cumulative survival rates at 1, 2 and 3 years after liver transplantation in the DEB-TACE group were 96.0%, 90.0%, and 76.0%, respectively, which were better than the control group with 94.0%, 78.0%, and 54.0%. The differences were statistically significant (χ 2=6.62, P=0.015). The cumulative survival rates at 1, 2 and 3 years after liver transplantation for patients in group A+ B ( n=30) were 100.0%, 96.7% and 93.3% respectively, which were better than 94.0%, 78.0% and 54.0% for the control group, with statistically significant differences (χ 2=6.99, P=0.012). The cumulative survival rates after liver transplantation for group C compared with the control group were not statistically significant (χ 2=0.56, P=0.130). The results of the comparison of cumulative recurrence-free survival rates were consistent with the comparison of cumulative survival rates. Conclusion:In patients with liver cancer exceeding Milan criteria, DEB-TACE before liver transplantation is beneficial in improving the prognosis of patients.