Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization could improve the hepatic hemodynamics of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective cohort study

[摘要] Background: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is widely used for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, previous studies have demonstrated that conventional TACE (cTACE) might affect hepatic hemodynamics, which both associate with liver cirrhosis and survival. Drug-eluting bead TACE (DEB-TACE) improves treatment efficacy and safety, but its effects on the hepatic hemodynamics of HCC patients with cirrhosis remain unknown. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included unresectable HCC patients treated with DEB-TACE from April 2018 to September 2020, who had limited tumor burden and liver function. The hepatic hemodynamics was measured by hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) using occlusion balloon catheter before and after treatment. Baseline characteristics of demography, laboratory (tumoral and liver-function) and hepatic hemodynamics were compared between patients with and without clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH). Laboratory examination and imaging assessments were performed 4–6 weeks; overall survival (OS) was defined as the time from DEB-TACE initiation until death or last follow-up. Results: 10, and albumin (ALB) <35 g/L were prognostic factors for decreased OS (P<0.05). Importantly, hepatic hemodynamics were significantly improved in patients after treatment with DEB-TACE (7.5 vs. 5.3 mmHg of HVPG, P<0.001), especially for those with CSPH (13.6 vs. 10.2 mmHg of HVPG, P=0.014). Conclusions: DEB-TACE can improve hepatic hemodynamics in HCC patients, especially those with CSPH. Combing these findings with its effects on tumor, DEB-TACE might be more suitable for HCC patients with cirrhosis.

[学科分类] 肿瘤学

[关键词] Clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH);drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE);hepatic hemodynamics;hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG);hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)