Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma on liver cirrhosis in patients awaiting liver transplantation

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma on liver cirrhosis in patients awaiting liver transplantation OBJECTIVE. To evaluate the role of TACE as a method of neoadjuvant antitumor therapy of HCC before LT. METHODS AND MATERIALS. From January 1998 to April 2020, we performed 245 OLTs in 229 patients, among them in 25 (10.2 %) for HCC associated with LC. We analyzed treatment results of 16 patients who received 49 TACE sessions as neoadjuvant therapy. 10 (62.5 %) patients fell under Milan criteria, 6 (37.5 %) – beyond them. According to the Child – Pugh score of LC, two (12.5 %) patients matched A stage, 12 (75 %) – B stage, two (12.5 %) – C stage. According to the BCLC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer) staging system, 10 patients matched A 1 –A 4 stage and 6 – B stage. Totally, we performed 49 TACE sessions, both classical with lipiodol and hemostatic sponge, and with drug-eluting beads from 1 to 7 (on average 3) times. In all cases Doxorubicin was used. RESULTS. Technical success was 100 %. There were no complications. We performed RFA in three patients as an adjunct, in two patients – laparoscopic RFA-assisted atypical liver resection and in one patient – sequential resection and RFA. According to the m-Recist criteria, a complete response was observed in 6 (37.5 %), partial – in 7 (43.75 %), and stabilization – in 3 (18.75 %) patients. It was possible to achieve a tumor response to the treatment in 4 patients and return them to the Milan criteria. LT was performed in all 16 patients, among them – 14 (87.5 %) within the Milan criteria. The waiting periods for LT from the beginning of TACE were from 2 to 30 (on average 12.5) months. According to the histological studies, in 13 (81 %) patients, total and subtotal necrosis of HCC was revealed in excised organs. CONCLUSION. The results of the performed study indicate that neoadjuvant TACE delays the growth of HCC masses and prolongs (up to 30 months) a safe waiting period for the donor liver.