EFFICACY OF CHEMOEMBOLIZATION FOR HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMAS - EXPERIENCE FROM THE GUSTAVE-ROUSSY-INSTITUTE AND THE BICETRE-HOSPITAL

Chemoembolization (CE) has been used for more than 10 years to treat h epatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in our departments, and three studies ha ve been done. The first was a retrospective study on 232 patients in w hich CE was performed with doxorubicin and Gelfoam with or without Lip iodol; the response rate was 41% (34.7-47.3%) and survival was better for Okuda stage I disease than for stages II and III (2-year survival 82, 29, and 0% respectively); for patients with Lipiodol retention the response rate was over 50%. The second study compared CE with doxorub icin and Gelfoam to symptomatic treatment in a randomized manner; it i ncluded 42 patients and failed to demonstrate a survival advantage (1- year survival: CE 24% vs. control 31%; NS). The third study is ongoing and tests CE with cis-platinum, Lipiodol, and Gelfoam. According to o ur experience prospective randomized studies are warranted to define c learly the best indications for CE in HCC.