PREDICTIVE FACTORS FOR TUMOR RESPONSE TO SYSTEMIC CHEMOTHERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA

Chemotherapy is of limited value in the treatment of hepatocellular ca rcinoma (HCC), since there are no established chemotherapeutic regimen s proven to be effective, The aim of the present study was to determin e predictive factors for tumor response to systemic chemotherapy in HC C patients, The relationship between patients' characteristics and tum or response was examined in 147 previously untreated HCC patients rece iving systemic chemotherapy. Ten patients showed partial response (PR) and none showed complete response (CR), The response rate for all sin gle anticancer agents was less than 10% and the overall response rate was 6.8%, The response rate in patients with unilateral HCC was signif icantly higher than in those with bilateral HCC. However, there were n o responders among patients with a performance status of 2-3, ascites, a tumor occupying more than 50% of the entire liver, tumor thrombus i n the main portal trunk or a serum bilirubin level of more than 2.0 mg /dl, There was a close relationship between patients' characteristics and tumor response. It is concluded that patients with fairly advanced HCC and/or poor hepatic reserve should not be given systemic chemothe rapy.