Interventional chemoembolization with hepasphere-loaded microspheres for the treatment of unresec-table hepatocellular carcinoma:preliminary results in 15 cases / 介入放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the safety and clinical short-term efficacy of interventional emboliz-ation with hepasphere-loaded microspheres in treating inoperable hepatocellular carcinomas. Methods A total of 15 patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization ( TACE ) using hepasphere-loaded microspheres as embolic agent . The clinical data , imaging follow-up materials, complications of interventional treatment, prognosis, etc. were summarized and analyzed. The results were evaluated with modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST); monthly follow-up was made for all patients. A total of 23 TACE procedures were performed in 15 patients. Results The following-up period ranged from 6 months to 15 months , the median follow-up time being 10 months . According to mRECIST, the 3-month objective response rate (CR+PR) was 73.3% and disease control rate (CR+PR+SD) was 93.3%;the 6-month objective response rate (CR+PR) was 73.3%and the disease control rate (CR+PR+SD) was 86.7%. No severe complications, such as bile leak complicated by infection, liver abscess, abdominal hemorrhage, bleeding due to tumor rupture, gastrointestinal bleeding, etc. occurred in all patients . Conclusion In treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinomas , TACE using newly-developed hepasphere microspheres carries satisfactory clinical short-term efficacy and safety, although thelog-term results need to be further investigated with larger sample trial.