Hepatic radioembolization with epirubicin mixed microspheres for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of epirubicin mixed micmspheres in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through hepatic artery perfusion and embolism.Methods:136 subjects were divided randomly into two groups (68 cases in either group):treatment group (Group A),in which the microglobule (TACE and epirubicin mixed microspheres) was given and control group(Group B),in which the first therapy plan(TACE) was implemented alone.By seldinger's procedure, super-selctive catheterization was performed to the end of proper artery for instilling the epirubicin mixed microspheres,maked by 10～60 mg epirubicin mixed with 0.5～2.0 ml microspheres (300～500μm).The tumor size,AFP,leucocyte count,liver function,and correlated complications were observed before and after treatment.Results:After treatment,the average size of tu- mor decreased by (81±3)% in group A;(70±3)% in group B.The necrotic percentage of tumor was (76±8)% in group A;(61±8)% in group B.The incidence of AFP was decresed by (88±3)% in group A;(70±3)% in group B;As to the the one year survival rate,group A was superior to group B.But the toxicity of treatment group was significantly higher than that in control group (P0.05).Conclusion:Superselective intraarterial radioembolization with epirubicin mixed microspheres is effective and safe for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma,but the dosage of mixed microspheres should be chosen carefully because of the hepatic dysfunction.