TACE plus radiotherapy improves outcomes in poor-prognosis hepatocellular carcinoma
FROM JAMA ONCOLOGY
The TACE plus radiotherapy group also had a significantly longer overall survival (55.0 vs. 43.0 weeks; P = .04), as well as a significantly higher radiologic response rate and significantly longer median time to progression, the authors reported.
Five patients (11.1%) in the TACE plus radiotherapy group were able to undergo curative surgical resection due to downstaging.
The risk of TACE-induced liver failure is a concern based on results of previous studies in patients with HCC and macroscopic vascular invasion, but in this study, there were no discontinuations due to adverse events in the TACE-radiation group, the authors noted.
“Our study may not be large enough to accurately establish the incidence of adverse events,” they wrote. “However, considering the dismal prognosis, the superior efficacy of TACE plus RT vs. sorafenib may justify its use for these patients.”
Dr. Yoon reported no disclosures related to the study. One coauthor reported research funding and advisory board membership with Bayer Healthcare and Gilead Sciences.
SOURCE: Yoon SM et al. 2018 Mar 15 JAMA Oncol. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2017.5847.
