Factors predicting survival in advanced T-staged hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with reduction hepatectomy followed by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy of reduction hepatectomy followed by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for advanced T-Staged hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 39 consecutive patients who underwent reduction hepatectomy followed by TACE for advanced T-Staged HCCs was undertaken. RESULTS: Reduction hepatectomies, including 20 major ones, were performed. After a median interval of 30 days, the hepatectomies were followed by TACE using farmorubicin. Actual overall 3-year survival after surgery was 32%. Indocyanine green R(15) > or =15%, preoperative AFP > or =2000 ng/ml, and tumour reduction rate <98% were predictive of decreased overall survival. When the three prognostic factors were used in a scoring system, with one point assigned for each factor, the 3-year survival rates of patients with scores of 0, 1, 2, and 3 were 71%, 40%, 0%, and 0% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction hepatectomy followed by TACE is effective in patients with advanced T-Staged HCCs who have none of the 3 poor prognostic factors. Reduction surgery followed by TACE is one of the options for controlling advanced T-Staged HCCs in patients who are not candidates for curative resection or TACE alone.