Complete response at first chemoembolization is still the most robust predictor for favorable outcome in hepatocellular carcinoma

• Published in: Journal of hepatology 2015-06, Vol.62 (6), p.1304-1310
• Main Authors: Kim, Beom Kyung, Kim, Seung Up, Kim, Kyung Ah, Chung, Yong Eun, Kim, Myeong-Jin, Park, Mi-Suk, Park, Jun Yong, Kim, Do Young, Ahn, Sang Hoon, Kim, Man Deuk, Park, Sung Il, Won, Jong Yoon, Lee, Do Yun, Han, Kwang-Hyub
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Best response; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - mortality; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - therapy; Chemoembolization; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic - methods; Female; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Humans; Initial response; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Liver Neoplasms - mortality; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Liver Neoplasms - therapy; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Portal Vein - pathology; Prognosis; Proportional Hazards Models; Remission Induction
• ISSN: 0168-8278; 1600-0641
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2015.01.022

Backgrounds & Aims The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic significances of not only the initial and the best response during repeated transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but if eligible, also the time point of achieving treatment responses. Methods Three hundred and fourteen treatment-naïve patients with well-preserved liver function undergoing TACE were recruited. Treatment responses were assessed using modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Overall survival (OS) was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier methods, and Cox regression analysis was performed for multivariate analysis. Results After adjusting other variables, objective response (complete response [CR] and partial response [PR]) as the initial response (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.410) and the best response (adjusted HR 0.335) had independent prognostic significances for OS, respectively (both p