Therapeutic efficacy of TACE I seed implantation and its combination with intra-tumor injection of cisplatin for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: This study aimed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with either I seed implantation or I seed implantation and intra-tumor injection of cisplatin in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: A total of 100 patients with HCC were analyzed. The control group (n = 50) received TACE combined with I seed implantation therapy. The therapy group (n = 50) was treated with an intra-tumor injection of cisplatin along with TACE and I seed implantation therapy. After treatment, routine blood, liver and kidney function, tumor volume, T lymphocyte subset count (CD3, CD4, and CD8), implanted metastases, and survival were studied.

Results: The tumor volume decreased by 27.4% on average in the control group, and by 38.6% in the therapy group. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) level decreased in all cases, and it was significantly lower in the therapy group than in the control group. Remote metastasis was observed in both groups (7 in the control group and 3 in the therapy group). No significant difference in routine blood, liver and kidney function, and T-lymphocyte subset counts were found between the two groups. Eight patients died of metastases in the control group and 2 in the therapy group at 1-year follow-up (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: TACE combined with either I seed implantation or I seed implantation and intra-tumor injection of cisplatin was effective for the treatment of HCC. Of the 2 combination therapies, TACE combined with I seed implantation and intra-tumor injection of cisplatin was more effective for the treatment of HCC.