Long-term results of lipiodol-transcatheter arterial embolization with cisplatin or doxorubicin for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

The long-term effects of Lipiodol-transcatheter arterial embolization (Lp-T AE) combined with cisplatin (CDDP) or doxo-rubicin (ADM) on unresectable he patocellular carcinoma (HCC) were analyzed. Eighty-four consecutive patient s with unresectable HCC were treated with TAE. Of the 84, 38 patients were treated with CDDP-Lp-TAE (CDDP group), whereas the remaining 46 patients we re treated with ADM-Lp-TAE (ADM group). No significant difference in charac teristics of patients and tumors was noted between the groups. CDDP (50 mg) or ADM (20-50 mg) was administered with Lp followed by embolization of the feeding arteries using gelatin sponge particles. The mean number of TAE tr eatments was 3.3 in the CDDP group and 1.9 in the ADM group (p < 0.01). The 5-year overall survival rates of the CDDP group and the ADM group were 19% and 6%, respectively. The overall survival rate of the CDDP group was sign ificantly higher than that of the ADM group (p < 0.05). No serious side eff ects were observed in either group. CDDP-Lp-TAE improved the prognosis of u nresectable HCC compared with ADM-Lp-TAE, which may be attributable to the fact that CDDP-Lp-TAE treatment could be repeated more times than ADM-Lp-TA E.