[Remission state and five-year survival after transcatheter arterial embolization therapy in patients with...

Repeated transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) therapy was done for 138 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma. Relationship was investigated between long term survival more than 3 years and tumor necrosis rate estimated on radiological images (superselective angiogram and/or computerized tomography) after therapy. Excellent tumor necrosis (radiological disappearance of viable tumor) was attained in 35 out of 138 cases through repeated TAE. When "remission" is defined as excellent tumor necrosis and normal alphafetoprotein value lasting for more than one year, remission state was attained in 17 cases (12.3%). Cumulative three-year survival rate was 37.0%, and 5-year survival was 26.5%. Out of 37 three-year-survivors, only 12 cases (32.4%) experienced remission state in their clinical course. On the other hand, 7 cases (77.7%) of 9 five-year-survivors experienced remission at least one time. Though good tumor necrosis and 3-year survival were achieved by only performing repeated TAE therapy, "remission" state was important and necessary to get 5-year survival.