Percutaneous microwave ablation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for serum tumor markers and prognostics of middle-late primary hepatic carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) has an insidious onset and is usually diagnosed in the middle and late stages. Although transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the preferred option for treating middle- and advanced-stage PHC, it has limited efficacy in killing tumor cells and poor long-term efficacy. TACE plus percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) is more effective than interventional therapy alone and can improve survival time. However, there are few reports on the effects of TACE and PMCT on serum marker levels and the prognosis of patients with advanced PHC. AIM: To investigate the effect of PMCT + TACE on serum tumor markers and the prognosis of middle-late PHC. METHODS: This retrospective study included 150 patients with middle-late PHC admitted to Zhongshan People's Hospital between March 2018 and February 2021. Patients were divided into a single group (treated with TACE, n = 75) and a combined group (treated with TACE + PMCT, n = 75). Before and after treatment, the clinical efficacy and serum tumor marker levels [carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)] of both groups were observed. The 1-year survival rates and prognostic factors of the two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: The combined group had 21 and 35 cases of complete remission (CR) and partial remission (PR), respectively. The single group had 13 and 25 cases of CR and PR, respectively. After 4 wk of treatment, the serum CA19-9, CEA, and AFP levels in the single and combined groups decreased, with the decrease in the combined group being more significant (P < 0.05). The 1-year survival rate of the combined group (80.00%) was higher than that of the single group (60.00%) (P < 0.05). The average survival time within 1 year in the combined group was 299.38 ± 61.13 d, longer than that in the single group (214.41 ± 72.97 d, P < 0.05). COX analysis revealed that tumor diameter, tumor number, and the treatment method were prognostic factors for patients with middle-late PHC (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TACE + PMCT is effective in treating patients with mid-late PHC. It reduces the levels of tumor markers, prolongs survival, and improves prognosis.

Effect of Severity of Liver Cirrhosis on Surgical Outcomes of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Liver Resection and Microwave Coagulation.

BACKGROUND: Liver resection (LR) and percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) are both considered as radical treatments for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it is still unclear whether to select LR or PMCT in HCC patients with different degrees of liver cirrhosis. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of LR and PMCT in the treatment of solitary and small HCC accompanied with different degrees of liver cirrhosis. METHODS: In this study, 230 patients with solitary HCC lesions ≤ 3 cm and Child-Pugh A liver function were retrospectively reviewed. Among these patients, 122 patients underwent LR, and 108 received PMCT. The short- and long-term outcomes were compared between these two procedures. Severity of liver cirrhosis was evaluated by using clinical scoring system (CSS) as previously published. Subgroup analysis based on CSS was performed to evaluate the effect of severity of liver cirrhosis on surgical outcomes after LR and PMCT. RESULTS: There was no mortality within 90 days in both groups. Major complications were significantly more frequent in the LR group than in the PMCT group (18.8% vs. 4.6%, p<0.001). However, LR provided better surgical outcomes than PMCT. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for the LR and PMCT groups were 65.2% and 42%, respectively (p=0.006), and the corresponding disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 51.7% and 31.5%, respectively (p=0.004). Nevertheless, subgroup analysis showed that PMCT provided long-term outcomes that were similar to LR and lower surgical complications in HCC patients with CSS score≥4. CONCLUSIONS: LR may provide better OS and DFS rates than PMCT for patients with solitary HCC lesions ≤ 3 cm and Child-Pugh A liver function irrespective of liver cirrhosis. PMCT should be viewed as the optimal treatment for solitary and small HCC with severe cirrhosis.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization monotherapy vs combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization-percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy for massive hepatocellular carcinoma (≥10 cm).

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of massive hepatocellular carcinomas (MHCCs; ≥10 cm) remains worse. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical benefits of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) or TACE combined with percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) and the long-term survival rate of MHCC patients treated with these techniques. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed using data involving 102 MHCC patients admitted to the Second Hospital of Nanjing from September 2010 to August 2015. The median interval between treatments and overall survival (OS) was hierarchically analyzed using log-rank tests. Multivariate analysis was done using Cox regression model analysis. RESULTS: The median survival time of MHCC patients was 3 months (range, 1-10 months) in the palliative group, 3 months (range, 1-39 months) in the TACE group, and 7.5 months (range, 3-30 months) in the TACE-PMCT group (P=0.038). The 6-, 12-, and 18-month OS rates for MHCC patients were 15%, 0%, and 0% in the palliative group, 30%, 25.63%, and 17.97% in the TACE group, and 50%, 41.67%, and 16.67% in the TACE-PMCT group, respectively (P=0.0467). In addition, TACE sessions had positive correlation with the survival time of MHCC patients (rho = 0.462, P<0.001). TACE treatment more than three times (HR =0.145, P<0.001) was an independent predictor of the survival of MHCC patients, which was identified by the Cox regression model analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that TACE-PMCT treatment in MHCC patients had advantages in prolonging OS and improving liver function. Multiple TACE treatments might be a suitable treatment for the MHCC patients.

Impact of local tumor lesion treatments and preoperative indicators on the survival of patients with small hepatocellular carcinomas.

The prognosis for small hepatocellular carcinomas (SHCC) remains uncertain. The aim of the present study was to compare three local tumor lesion treatments and identify the prognostic factors in patients with SHCC by analyzing preoperative indicators. A retrospective study was performed using data from 206 patients with SHCC from 2006-2015. All of the patients had undergone transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) alone, TACE plus percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) or surgical resection (SR). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival rates. Multivariate analysis was conducted using Cox regression analysis. The median survival time of patients with SHCC was 27 (range, 14-49) months in the TACE group, 29.5 (range, 16-52) months in the TACE-PMCT group and 36.5 (range, 26-52) months in the SR group (P=0.091). The 1, 3 and 5-year survival rates for patients with SHCC were 82.4, 64.9 and 46.8% in the TACE group; 89.0, 72.6 and 58.3% in the TACE-PMCT group and 88.8, 72.3 and 58.6% in the SR group (P=0.181), respectively. Analysis from the Cox regression model demonstrated that preoperative α-fetoprotein (AFP; <400 ng/ml vs. ≥400 ng/ml; HR=0.548; P=0.036) was an independent predictor of the survival time of patients with SHCC. Analysis of patients with preoperative AFP levels of ≥400 ng/ml revealed that the median survival time in the SR group was 36 (range, 28.25-52) months, significantly longer than the TACE (17 months; range, 12-44 months) and TACE-PMCT group (27 months; range, 14-55 months; P=0.035). The 1, 2 and 3-year survival rates for patients with SHCC with ≥400 ng/ml AFP were: 70.8, 55.5 and 49.9% in the TACE group; 83.7, 68.0 and 60.8% in the TACE-PMCT group; and 90.9, 81.8 and 61.0% in SR group, respectively (P=0.664). However, there was no significant difference among the three groups in the survival time of patients with SHCC with <400 ng/ml preoperative AFP. The observations indicated that SR is not significantly different for overall survival time in the patients with SHCC between the two groups; this method can be employed for patients with SHCC. This was based on the median survival time of patients with ≥400 ng/ml AFP in the SR group who had a longer survival time and a higher survival rate than in the TACE and TACE-PMCT group.

The effect of lipiodol deposition in HCC after TACE on the necrosis range of PMCT.

OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of lipiodol deposition in the lesion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) on the necrosis area of percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 44 patients with HCC with 56 nodules, with a size ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 cm, was selected in our study. About 23 patients (26 nodules) underwent PMCT treatment only as Group A and 21 patients (30 nodules) were treated by PMCT-combined TACE as Group B. All patients underwent PMCT with single-electrode and one-point ablation. Paired t-test was used to analyze pre- and postoperatively the volume of tumor and the necrosis volume after PMCT. Independent t-test was used to compare the difference in the necrosis area between two groups (α=0.05). RESULTS: All patients underwent PMCT or PMCT combined with TACE successfully. The tumor and necrosis size of Group A was 16.29±19.23 cm3 and 17.98±18.49 cm3 (P=0.650), and 11.95±12.78 cm3 and 16.60±11.70 cm3 of Group B (P=0.017). There was no significant difference on necrosis volume between the two groups (P=0.581). The necrosis area of Group B was larger than the size of the tumor (P=0.017), but the ablation area of the two groups was smaller than the theoretic area (P=0.001). (The theoretic area means that the necrosis area of ablation should be 1.0 cm larger than the tumor in diameter.). CONCLUSION: PMCT combined with TACE could enlarge the ablation area, but will not lead to an ideal necrosis area than the PMCT alone. The lipiodol deposition in the tumor lesion may hinder the expansion of the heating field. Therefore, further research was needed.

Therapeutic efficacy of percutaneous microwave coagulation versus liver resection for single hepatocellular carcinoma ≤3 cm with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis.

AIMS: This study aimed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of liver resection (LR) and percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) for single hepatocellular carcinoma ≤3 cm (HCC) in cirrhotic livers. METHODS: In this study, 190 patients with single HCC ≤3 cm and Child-Pugh A cirrhosis were retrospectively reviewed. Among these patients, 122 patients underwent LR, and 68 patients received PMCT. The therapeutic efficacy and complications were compared between the two procedures. RESULTS: There was no treatment-related hospital mortality in either group. Major complications were significantly more frequent in the LR group compared to the PMCT group (22.1% vs 5.9%, p = 0.004). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates for the LR group and PMCT group were 98.4%, 93.6%, 55.2% and 97.1%, 87.7%, 51%, respectively. There was no significant difference in OS rates between the LR group and PMCT group (p = 0.153). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year DFS rates were 96.7%, 70.5% and 43.7%, respectively, in the LR group, which were significantly higher compared to the PMCT group (92.6%, 50.5% and 26.3%, p = 0.006). Subgroup analyses revealed that HCC patients with portal hypertension (PH), OS and DFS were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: LR may provide better DFS and lower recurrence rates than PMCT for single HCC ≤3 cm and Child-Pugh A cirrhosis. For HCC patients with PH, PMCT may provide therapeutic effects that are similar to LR.

Sequential therapy of TACE followed by percutaneous microwave coagulation for early-stage primary hepatocellular carcinomas：curative effect and prognostic factors / 介入放射学杂志

Objective To explore the effect of sequential therapy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) followed by percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) in treating early-stage primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC), and to analyze the factors that may affect the prognosis. Methods During the period from Jan. 2011 to Apr. 2014, a total of 66 patients with early-stage PHC were admitted to authors’ hospital. TACE was carried out in all patients, which was followed by PMCT in 5 -7 days. All patients were followed up regularly. CT, MR, ultrasonography, AFP, liver function and other related laboratory tests were performed. Kaplan-Meier estimation was used for the analysis of disease-free survival time. The high-risk factors were analyzed by Chi-square test. Multivariate analysis was conducted by using logistic analysis method. Results After TACE the serum levels of ALT, TBIL and DBIL were increased significantly when compared with preoperative ones (P< 0.01). After sequential PMCT the serum levels of AST, ALT and DBIL were increased significantly when compared with preoperative ones (P< 0.01). When compared with TACE, after sequential PMCT the serum level of AST was increased (P< 0.01), while serum levels of TBIL and DBIL were decreased (P< 0.01). Compared with TACE and preoperative data, the post-PMCT AFP level was decreased (P < 0.01). During the follow-up period one patient died. The 3-year cumulative survival rate was 98.5%. Recurrence was seen in 19 cases. The one-year, 2-year and 3-year disease-free cumulative survival rate was 70.3%, 50.8% and 41.6% respectively. Univariate and multivariate analysis indicated that the risk factors of recurrence in early-stage PHC included AFP ≥ 100 μg/L, viral load≥103 copies/ml and irregularity of tumor border (P<0.05). Conclusion Sequential therapy of TACE followed by PMCT is an ideal treatment for early-stage PHC, sequential PMCT after TACE does not affect liver recovery process. AFP ≥ 100 μg/L, viral load ≥ 103 copies/ml and irregularity of tumor border are the risk factors of recurrence.

Research on clinical effect observation of TACE combined with percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy on treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma / 中国医学装备

Objective:To explore the effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy(PMCT) on treatment of patients with hepatic carcinoma.Methods: The clinical data of 60 cases of liver cancer patients in our hospital in TACE combined with PMCT were analyzed. Results:The operation was successfully performed, no serious complications and death. Efficacy: 4 CR cases, 38 PR cases, 16 SD cases, 2 PD cases, the total efficiency of treatment was 70.0%; After 1, 2, 3 year, survival cases (ratio) were respectively: 46(76.7%), 35(58.3%), 31(51.7%); The levels of Serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) after operation was significantly reduced, after treatment, the patient's liver function improved significantly; The diameter of the lesions was significantly reduced.Conclusion: TACE combined with PMCT is an effective therapy for hepatic carcinoma.

Advances in non-surgical management of primary liver cancer.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. There have been great improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC in recent years, but the problems, including difficult diagnosis at early stage, quick progression, and poor prognosis remain unsolved. Surgical resection is the mainstay of the treatment for HCC. However, 70%-80% of HCC patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage when most are ineligible for potentially curative therapies such as surgical resection and liver transplantation. In recent years, non-surgical management for unrespectable HCC, such as percutaneous ethanol injection, percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy, percutaneous radiofrequency ablation, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, biotherapy, and hormonal therapy have been developed. These therapeutic options, either alone or in combination, have been shown to control tumor growth, prolong survival time, and improve quality of life to some extent. This review covers the current status and progress of non-surgical management for HCC.

Recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after partial hepatectomy: treatment with repeat hepatectomy,followed by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy but with or without portal vein chemotherapy / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective To study the results of repeat hepatectomy,followed by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT),but with or without portal vein chemotherapy (PVC) in patients with recurrence of hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC) after partial hepatectomy.Methods The data of 33 patients were analyzed retrospectively.All these patients received repeat hepatectomy.They were then divided into two groups:the PVC group (n =19) was treated with PVC + TACE + PMCT,and the non-PVC group (n =14) with TACE + PMCT.Results For the 33 patients,13 (39.4％) developed tumor recurrence ＞2 years from the initial resection while 20 patients (60.6％) developed recurrence within ≤ 2 years.The tumor recurrence consisted of local recurrence in 14 patients (42.4％),and heterochronous recurrence in 19 patients (57.6％).There was a significantly difference in the cumulative survival rates between the two groups (x2 =4.319; P =0.038).The 1y,3y,5y survival rates were 84.2％,42.1％,31.6％ in the PVC Group,and 71.4％,28.6％,14.3％ in the Non-PVC Group respectively.28 sessions of PMCT and 97 sessions of TACE were performed postoperatively (the medians were 1,0.5; 3,3 respectively,the mean ranks were 17.68,16.07; 15.05,19.64 respectively,and the P values were 0.612,0.163 respectively between the two groups).Conclusions For patients with recurrence of HCC after hepatic resection,after repeat hepatectomy PVC + TACE + PMCT gave better survival than those with TACE + PMCT but without PVC.

Percutaneous microwave coagulation for treating peripheral non-small-cell lung cancer / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy for peripheral non-small-cell lung cancer. Methods:We evaluated 35 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who received percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy and 35 patients who received radiotherapy from March 2004 to September 2006;the patients were sex-matched, age-matched, and had the same pathology and clinical staging. Clinical effects were observed and assessed. Survival rate were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The difference in survival rate between the two treatment methods was analyzed using a log-rank test. Results:The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates for the microwave coagulation therapy group (71.4%, 40.0%, and 20.0%, respectively) were significantly higher than those for the radiation therapy (51.4%, 22.9%, and 11.4%, respectively) (P<0.05). Conclusion:Percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective alternative for patients with peripheral non-small-cell lung cancer who cannot undergo routine surgery because of poor heart and lung function or fear of surgical trauma.

Clinical analysis of operation-related complications of CT-guided percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy of liver malignancies / 中国介入影像与治疗学

Objective To analyze the causes,treatment and prevention of operation-related complications in liver malignancy patients after CT-guided percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT).Methods A total of 68 patients with liver malignancy underwent CT-guided PMCT and their complications were analyzed retrospectively.Results The tumor diameter was 2.0-13.8 cm,mean 6.2 cm.Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) was performed before PMCT in 64 patients,and 68 patients received 120 times of PMCT (1-8 times per patient).The main untoward reaction of PMCT was vagus nerve accentuation.Seven patients (7/120,5.83%) had complications including needle-tract implantation (n=2),liver abscess (n=2),pneumatothorax (n=1),cardiovascular accident (n=l) and enormous biloma with infection (n=l),6 were treated finally,and implanted tumor advanced in 1 patient.Conclusion CT-guided PMCT in liver malignancies is a safe therapeutic option with low rate of operation-related complications,which can be prevented and treated.Complications of PMCT are associated with the needle tract,frequency,coagulation range and perioperative management.

Clinical value of B ultrasound-guided psychro-circulation percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) in treating liver cancer:a report of 116 cases / 中国普通外科杂志

Objective To explore the clinical value of B ultrasound-guided psychro-circulation percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy(PMCT) in the treatment of liver cancer.Methods One hundred and sixteen liver cancer patients with 154 lesions were selected to receive psychro-circulation PMCT in our department from July 2004 to December 2007.The pre-and postoperative alpha fetoprotein(AFP) levels were detected.The diameters and blood flow state of the tumors were measured and compared by use of B ultrasound and computerized tomographic scanning(CT).The postoperative 1,2 and 3 y survival rate of those patients was followed up and recorded.Results No mortality or severe complications occurred in this series.Preoperative serum AFP level of the patients was(421.6?36.5)?g/L and decreased obviously to(232.5?25.6)?g/L at 1 month after psychro-circulation PMCT(P