Comparison of Chemoembolization Outcomes Using 70–150 µm and 100–300 µm Drug-Eluting Beads in Treating Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Korean Multicenter Study
- Author:
Byung Chan LEE
1
;
Gyoung Min KIM
;
Juil PARK
;
Jin Wook CHUNG
;
Jin Woo CHOI
;
Ho Jong CHUN
;
Jung Suk OH
;
Dong Ho HYUN
;
Jung Ho YANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology 2024;25(8):715-725
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective:To evaluate the outcomes of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) according to the size of the beads for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Materials and Methods:This retrospective study included 212 patients with a single HCC ≤5 cm from five tertiary institutions. One hundred and nine patients were treated with 70–150-µm doxorubicin DEBs (group A), and 103 patients received 100–300-µm doxorubicin DEBs (group B). The initial tumor response (assessed between 3 weeks and 2 months after DEB-TACE), time to local tumor progression (TTLTP), restricted mean duration of complete response (RMDCR), rate of complications, incidence of post-embolization syndrome, and length of hospital stay were compared between the two groups.Logistic regression was used to analyze prognostic factors for initial tumor response.
Results:The initial objective response rates were 91.7% (100/109) and 84.5% (87/103) for groups A and B, respectively (P = 0.101). In the subgroup analysis of tumors ≤3 cm, the initial objective response rates were 94.6% (53/56) and 78.0% (39/50) for groups A and B, respectively (P = 0.012). There was no significant difference in the TTLTP (median, 23.7 months for group A vs. 19.0 months for group B; P = 0.278 [log-rank], 0.190 [multivariable Cox regression]) or RMDCR at 24 months (11.4 months vs. 8.5 months, respectively; P = 0.088). In the subgroup analysis of tumors >3-cm, the RMDCR at 24 months was significantly longer in group A than in group B (11.8 months vs. 5.7 months, P = 0.024). The incidence of mild bile duct dilatation after DEB-TACE was significantly higher in group B than in group A (5.5% [6/109] vs. 18.4% [19/103], P = 0.003).
Conclusion:DEB-TACE using 70–150-µm microspheres demonstrated a higher initial objective response rate in ≤3-cm HCCs and a longer RMDCR at 24 months in 3.1–5-cm HCCs compared to larger DEBs (100–300-μm).
