Retrospective analysis of the efficacy and survival associated with cTACE and DEB-TACE in the palliative treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: experience of a tertiary care hospital in southern Brazil / Análise retrospectiva da eficácia e sobrevida associadas a cTACE e DEB-TACE no tratamento paliativo do carcinoma hepatocelular: experiência de um hospital de cuidado terciário no sul do Brasil

ABSTRACT

Abstract Objective: To compare conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) and drug-eluting bead TACE (DEB-TACE) in terms of efficacy, survival, and adverse effects in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who are not candidates for curative therapy. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent cTACE or DEB-TACE for palliative treatment between January 2009 and December 2021. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: We evaluated 268 patients, of whom 70 underwent DEB-TACE and 198 underwent cTACE. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding sex, age, or etiology of cirrhosis. The proportion of patients achieving a complete response on imaging examinations was higher in the cTACE group (31.8% vs. 16.1%), whereas that of patients achieving a partial response was higher in the DEB-TACE group (33.9% vs.19.7%), and the differences were significant (p = 0.014). The mortality rate was similar between the groups. The survival rate in the DEB-TACE and cTACE groups, respectively, was 87.0% and 87.9% at one year, 35.1% and 32.9% at three years, and 20.5% and 18.1% at five years (p = 0.661). There was no significant difference between the DEB-TACE and cTACE groups in terms of the frequency of adverse events (7.1% vs. 17.8%; p = 0.052). The most common complication in both groups was post-embolization syndrome. Conclusion: Although a complete response was more common among the patients who underwent cTACE, there was no difference in survival between the groups and the frequency of adverse events was similar.

RESUMO

Resumo Objetivo: Comparar a eficácia, sobrevida e efeitos adversos entre cTACE e DEB-TACE em pacientes com carcinoma hepatocelular não candidatos a terapia curativa. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo de pacientes com carcinoma hepatocelular submetidos a cTACE ou DEB-TACE para tratamento paliativo entre janeiro de 2009 e dezembro de 2021. Foi utilizado o método Kaplan-Meier para análise de sobrevida. Valor de p < 0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significante. Resultados: Foram avaliados 268 pacientes, dos quais 70 foram submetidos a DEB-TACE e 198 foram submetidos a cTACE. Não houve diferença em relação ao sexo, idade e etiologia da cirrose. O grupo cTACE apresentou maior porcentual de resposta completa em exames de imagem (31,8% vs. 16,1%) e o grupo DEB-TACE apresentou maior porcentual de resposta parcial (33,9% vs.19,7%), com valor de p = 0,014. A mortalidade foi semelhante. As taxas de sobrevivência para os grupos DEB-TACE e cTACE foram 87,0% e 87,9% em um ano, 35,1% e 32,9% em três anos e 20,5% e 18,1% em cinco anos, respectivamente (p = 0,661). Em relação à frequência de eventos adversos, não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos (7,1% na DEB-TACE vs. 17,8% na cTACE; p = 0,052). A complicação mais comum, em ambos os grupos, foi a síndrome pós-embolização. Conclusão: Embora tenha sido observada maior frequência de resposta completa em pacientes submetidos a cTACE, não houve diferença na sobrevida dos pacientes entre os grupos. A taxa de eventos adversos também foi semelhante.