Long-term outcomes of second treatment after initial transarterial chemoembolization in patients with hepatocellular...

All outcome studies concerning the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are based on the initial treatment. However, remaining, progressing or recurring tumours (RPRTs) after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) are common; therefore, various second treatments are administered to HCC patients. Here, we investigated the long-term outcomes of second treatments for RPRT after initial TACE.

We enrolled 855 consecutive HCC patients who underwent TACE as the initial treatment at the National Cancer Center, Korea, from January 2004 to December 2010.

The median follow-up was 43.4 months, and the median progression-free survival following initial TACE was 4.0 months, being 18.1 and 1.0 months for complete remission and progressive disease respectively. Second treatments were administered to 790 RPRT patients (92.4%); the most common was TACE (56.4%), followed by best supportive care (22.8%), systemic chemotherapy (9.4%), external radiotherapy (4.4%), radiation ablation (RFA; 2.9%), resection (2.0%) and liver transplantation (1.4%). Median overall survival (mOS) for initial TACE was 18.8 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 16.6-21.0 months]; after second treatments, it was 12.4 (95% CI, 10.6-14.2) months, differing significantly by mRECIST assessment, BCLC stage and RPRT type (28.0, 5.0 and 3.9 months for intrahepatic, vascular and extrahepatic RPRT, respectively; P < 0.001). Intrahepatic RPRT with a curative treatment as a second treatment showed the best OS.

These novel insights into the patterns and long-term outcomes of second treatments for RPRT in HCC patients who underwent initial TACE are expected to aid in formulating treatment strategies for HCC patients.