Factors affecting prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients post-transarterial chemoembolization

To evaluate the factors influencing the achievement of a sustained complete response (CR) and overall survival (OS) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

We retrospectively reviewed the records of HCC patients who underwent TACE as the first modality of treatment between 2014 and 2019. We investigated the factors affecting sustained CR (no recurrence within 6 months) and OS (time from diagnosis until either death or last follow-up).

The study enrolled 161 patients; 159 (98.8%) had cirrhosis. Post-TACE, 19.9% (32/161) achieved sustained CR. In the multivariate analysis, a tumor size < 5 cm was a positive factor for achieving sustained CR (odds ratio, 5.012; p = 0.006). In the proportional hazards model, the factors associated with decreased survival included alcohol-related liver disease (hazards ratio [HR] 1.683; p = 0.036), presence of symptoms (HR 1.816; p = 0.005) and portal hypertension (HR 1.608; p = 0.038) at initial diagnosis, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) > 100 ng/mL (HR 2.082; p < 0.001), and higher Child-Pugh classification (HR 1.1.639; p = 0.024). Achievement of sustained CR (HR, 0.355; p = 0.002) was independently associated with increased survival.

The tumor size was a predictive factor for sustained CR. Alcohol-related liver disease, presence of symptoms and portal hypertension at initial diagnosis, elevated serum AFP, liver reserve status, and achieved sustained CR were independent factors affecting survival. We demonstrated the effect of alcohol-related liver disease on survival after TACE. Our results will aid physicians in the management and prognostication of HCC.