[Capecitabine combined with TACE for advanced liver cancer]

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of capecitabine combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for advanced liver cancer.

Forty-nine patients with liver cancer were retrospectively divided into two groups: Treatment group, on the basis of TACE, 23 patients received oral capecitabine at 2500 mg/m(2), twice-daily for 14 days followed by 7-day rest period and repeated in every three week intervals for more than two cycles. Control group, 26 patients received TACE only at 2-month intervals for at least two cycles.

In capecitabine and TACE group: there were 1 CR, 14 PR, 5 SD and 3 PD; the overall response rate was 65.2%; the AFP and tumor reduction rates were 68.8% and 73.9%; the median survival time was 11.9 months. In the TACE only group: there were 0 CR, 7 PR, 12 SD and 7 PD; the overall response rate was 26.9%; the AFP and tumor reduction rates were 31.6 % and 30.8%; the median survival time was 8.3 months. The most common side-effects of capecitabine were hand-foot syndrome and diarrhea.

Capecitabine combined with TACE is safe and effective for advanced liver cancer.