Tumor Location Influences Oncologic Outcomes of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Radiofrequency Ablation

Abstract

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is recommended as a first-line therapy for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Tumor location is a potential factor influencing the procedure of RFA. To compare oncologic outcomes of RFA for different tumor locations, this retrospective study enrolled 194 patients with small HCC who had undertaken RFA. The HCC nodules were classified as peri-hepatic-vein (pHV) or non-pHV, peri-portal-vein (pPV) or non-pPV, and subcapsular or non-subcapsular HCC. The regional recurrence-free survival (rRFS), overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (recurrence in any location, RFS) and distant recurrence-free survival (dRFS) were compared. Operation failures were recorded in five pPV HCC patients, which was more frequent than in non-pPV HCC patients (p = 0.041). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year rRFS was 68.7%, 53.7%, and 53.7% for pHV patients and 85.1%, 76.1%, and 71.9% for non-pHV patients, respectively (p = 0.012). After propensity score matching, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year rRFS was still worse than that of non-pHV patients (p = 0.013). The OS, RFS, and dRFS were not significantly different between groups. Conclusions: A pHV location was a risk factor for the regional recurrence after RFA in small HCC patients. The tumor location may not influence OS, RFS, and dRFS. Additionally, a pPV location was a potential high-risk factor for incomplete ablation.

Tescalcin is an unfavorable prognosis factor that regulats cell proliferation and survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

“…Some previous studies demonstrated that AFP level was one of the prognostic factors of HCC [31,32]. However, AFP level was not found to be a prognostic factor for HCC in the present study and some other studies [33,34]. The discrepancy may have been resulted from the relatively small sample size of the present study.…”

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy vs. Radiofrequency Ablation in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis

“…Moreover, Wahl et al (10) and Hara et al (21) reached significantly favorable results for SBRT in treating inoperable and earlystage HCC, respectively. However, only Kim et al (17) clarified the information of HCC location; others did not refer to this critical factor, which might influence the local control of RFA in our previous study (34). Additionally, treatment allocation was not a significance prognostic factor on the basis of prognostic analysis.…”

Stereotactic body radiotherapy vs radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis

“…In detail, there were 5 and 4 studies enrolled the 1-and 3-year LP rate analysis, respectively. Among these studies, studies from Wahl et al 17, others did not refer this critical factor which might influence the local control of RFA in our previous study (34). Additionally, treatment allocation was not a significance prognostic factor based on prognostic analysis.…”