Combined radiofrequency and chemoembolization vs. chemoembolization in management of hepatocellular carcinoma

Aim: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers in the world. If left untreated, liver cancer has a poor prognosis with more than 90% of patients dying of the disease within 5 years of diagnosis. The aim of this study is to assess the value of combined radiofrequency ablation (RFA), followed by trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the management of HCC.Methods: Fifty HCC patients with chronic liver disease were categorized into two groups according to the modality of locoregional treatment: 25 HCC patients treated with RFA followed by TACE within 5 days and 25 HCC patients treated with TACE only.Results: Complete response was achieved in 100% and 84% of the HCC patients after 1 month from combined RFA-TACE therapy and TACE only respectively. The rate of objective response after 7 months was 84% and 44% in the RFA-TACE and TACE groups respectively. One year disease free survival rate was 56% and 24% in RFA-TACE and TACE groups respectively, and overall survival rate was 88% in the RFA-TACE group and 80% in the TACE only group.Conclusion: Combined RFA-TACE appears to be an effective modality and superior to TACE only for the treatment of HCC