Clinical observation of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with hyperthermia in treatment of mid and advanced primary hepatic carcinoma.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of hyperthermia and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in the treatment of mid and advanced primary hepatic carcinoma.Methods Eighty patients of mid and advanced primary hepatic carcinoma were randomly divided into two groups,with 40 cases in each one,Group A was treated with transcatheter arterial chemoebolization in combination with hyperthermia.Group B was treated with interventional arterial chemoembolization alone.Treatment response in both groups were evaluated as well as side effects after one or two cycles.Results As to Group A,Karnofsky score had been improved in 32 cases,accounting for 80%(32/40);compared with 47.5%(19/40)in Group B.There was significant difference(P0.05).The immediate respone of both groups after treatment were CR 0%,0%;PR72.5%,45%;SD 20%,37.5%;PD7.5%,17.5%,in group A vs.group B,respectively.There was significant difference(P0.05).There was no significant difference of side effects in both groups.T lymphocytes CD3+,CD4+ proportion and CD4+/CD8+ ratio and NK cell activity increased markedly in Group A,and decreased in Group B.There were significant difference(P0.05).Conclusion The combination of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and hyperthemia in the treatment of the mid and advanced primary hepatic carcinoma is more effective and less detrimental than transcatheter arterial chemoembolization alone,which can protect immune function of the patients.