Transarterial chemoembolization with radioactive seed implantation for multitumor hepatocellular carcinoma

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with radioactive seed implantation has emerged as an effective locoregional strategy for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nevertheless, evidence supporting the use of this combined approach in patients with multitumor HCC remains limited.

We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of TACE in combination with radioactive seed implantation for multitumor HCC.

This retrospective study analyzed consecutive patients with multitumor HCC who underwent TACE with or without radioactive seed implantation at our institutions between January 2022 and December 2024. Clinical data, therapeutic responses, long-term outcomes, and treatment-related adverse events were collected and compared between the 2 cohorts.

A total of 120 individuals were enrolled, of whom 59 were treated with TACE alone, and 61 with TACE combined with radioactive seed implantation. The 2 groups were comparable in terms of demographics and clinical characteristics at baseline. As compared with TACE monotherapy, the combined treatment group demonstrated better total response rate (49.2% vs 30.5%; P = 0.04), objective response rate (83.6% vs 61%; P = 0.01), progression-free survival (PFS; 14 vs 11 mo; P = 0.001), and overall survival (OS; 24 vs 20 mo; P = 0.02). The multivariable analysis showed that the combined treatment was independently predictive of better PFS and OS. Adverse event incidence was comparable between the groups.

In comparison with TACE alone, TACE combined with radioactive seed implantation significantly enhances treatment efficacy without compromising safety in patients with multitumor HCC.