Transhepatic Arterial Chemoembolizations With Lobaplatin-Eluting Microspheres For The Treatment Of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective: To assess the clinical safety and efficacy of Transhepatic Arterial Chemoembolizations (TACE) with lobaplatin-eluting microspheres in treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: A total of 70 patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma and preserved liver function, who were treated with TACE using lobaplatin-eluting microspheres (Group-LEM, as experimental group) or using lobaplatin-lipiodol mixtures (Group-LLM, as control group), were evaluated retrospectively. Tumor response was determined with follow-up computed tomography after each chemoembolized procedure according to modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST). The side effects and complications were evaluated by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.0. Results: A database of 70 patients with advanced HCC admitted to Guangdong General Hospital between January 2016 and October 2016 was evaluated retrospectively. Four weeks after TACE procedure, radiological evaluation of tumour response was available in all patients, According to mRECIST, disease control rate (DCR) and objective response rate (ORR) differed significantly between Group-LEM and Group-LLM (60.00% vs 31.43%, and 22.86% vs 2.86%). The most common adverse event was postembolization syndrome (PES), with 18 in Group-LEM and 24 in Group-LLM respectively. Liver dysfunction and thrombocytopenia also had significant difference through comparative analysis between Group-LEM and Group-LLM (8 vs 16, and 1 vs 8). There were neither periprocedural deaths nor adverse events (AEs) of grade 5 documented in all patients. Conclusion: TACE with lobaplatin-eluting microspheres is a safe and feasible treatment without major adverse events in treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the long-term effects of this treatment need further observation.