Abstract

To evaluate the safety and short-term efficacy of Licartin combined with conventional transcatheterheaptic arterial chemoembolization for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, 13 patients with unresectable primary liver cancer treated with Licartin combined with conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization at the First Affiliated Hospital from January 2012 to December 2014, were retrospectively analyzed. Licartin was infused via hepatic artery at a dose of 27.75 MBq/kg prior to conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (pirarubicin 20 mg and iodized oil), supplemented with poly vinyl alcohol particles. Here, the iodized oil is used as an embolic agent and carrier of anticancer drugs. After entering into the small arteries and peritumoral sinusoid of hepatocellular carcinoma through a catheter, the iodized oil gets retained there to block the terminal blood flow. According to mRECIST evaluation criteria, the remission and control rates after 1, 3, 6, and 9 mo were 69.3 and 100; 69.3 and 84.6; 61.5 and 76.9 and 60 % and 80 %, respectively. The survival rate was 100 % after 6 mo. The 1 y and 2 y survival rates estimated with Life Tables were 68 and 45 %, respectively. Liver and kidney function showed no significant difference pre- and posttreatment. No serious infections, jaundice, gastrointestinal bleeding or bone marrow suppression occurred. Licartin combined with conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization showed short-term efficacy and minimal side-effects in patients afflicted with unresectable primary liver cancer. Long-term follow-up involving large cohorts is needed to determine the long-term efficacy of the intervention.