survival analysis of intrahepatic arterial infusion of endostar combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy of intrahepatic arterial infusion of Endostar (rh-endostatin, YH-16) combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC). MethodsThe study enrolled 76 aHCC patients who were admitted to and treated at the Petroleum Hospital Affiliated to Tianjin Medical University during September 2009 to June 2011. Of these, 44 patients were treated with TACE plus Endostar, and the other 32 (the control group) with TACE alone. After treatment, all patients were subjected to non-scheduled re-examination by computed tomography (or magnetic resonance imaging), in order to check tumor recurrence (or metastasis) and angiogenesis. Count data were compared between groups using the χ2 test. Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method, and postoperative survival differences were analyzed using the log-rank test. ResultsCompared with the control group, the experimental group treated with TACE plus Endostar had significantly increased response rate (7045% vs. 43.75%, χ2=5.47, P＜0.05) and disease control rate (84.09% vs. 56.25%, χ2=7.18, P＜0.01). The median progression-free survival significantly differed between groups (9.00 vs. 5.00 months , P=0.044), whereas the median overall survival showed no significant difference (10.64 vs. 8.11 months, P=0.448). ConclusionTACE plus Endostar significantly improves the short-term outcome and progression-free survival but has little effect on the overall survival span in patients with aHCC.