Significance of preventive transcatheter arterial immue-chemoembolization in primary liver cancer after operation

Objective To make clear of the mechanism of metastasis and recurrence of primary liver cancer, and to make sure of the preventive value of transeatheter arterial immun- ehemoembolization (ICE) in treatment of liver cancer. Methods The study is a double-blinded, controlled, prospective, randomized trial. 146 patients were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group A: regular surgery of primary liver cancer;group B: TACE 1month after surgery, treatment proposal was: ADM + DDP + 5-Fu + LP; group C:transeatheter arterial immun-chemoembolization 1 month after surgery, treatment proposal : ADM + DDP +5-Fu+LP+Octreotide+IFN. Results CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ increased 1 month after surgery in group A; In group B: CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ decreased but CD8+ increased 1 week after TACE; CD3+, CD4+, CD4+ /CD8+ increased but CD8+ decreased 4 weeks after TACE(P<0.05); In group C: CD3+ , CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ increased slightly 1 week after TACE, but increased significantly 4 weeks later(P<0.05). In group A, the level of VEGF was high before surgery but decreased 1 month after surgery; In group B, the level of VEGF decreased 1 week after TACE, decreased more significantly 4 weeks after TACE than that in group B(P <0.05). 1 year survival rate, 2 year survival rate and 3 year survival rate in group C ware higher than those in group A; 1 year survival rate was higher in group B than that in group A, however, 2 year survival had and 3 year survival rate had no differ-ences between group B and group A. Conclusion Transcatheter arterial ICE can prevent metastasis and recurrence after surgery of primary liver cancer increase the 1,2,3 year survival rate. It not only has the role of TACE,but can increase the immunefunction,and inhibit tumor angiogenesis, then increase the therapeutic effect. Key words: Chemoembolization, theraputic;  Liver neoplasms;  Hepatic artery;  Immunotherapy;  Octreotide