Radiol Med. 2025 Aug 6. doi: 10.1007/s11547-025-02069-w. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study aims to compare palliative cTACE, DEB-TACE and DSM-TACE in patients affected by HCC in intermediate BCLC stage in terms of efficacy and patient tolerance.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients treated with palliative TACE were prospectively enrolled in two centers during 9 months. Procedures were performed superselectively in all patients. Inclusion criteria were: HCC diagnosis, intermediate BCLC stage, portal tree patency, preserved hepatic-renal-coagulation functions, palliative procedural aim, follow-up available up to 6-month post-TACE intervention. Exclusion criteria were: previous TACE treatments, alone or in combination with ablation in the same session, ascites, bilirubin > 2mg/dL, age < 18years, bridge to transplant procedural aim, concomitant infectious diseases. Primary endpoint was to compare efficacy and patients tolerance among the 3 different TACE techniques; secondary endpoint was to compare post-procedural complications occurrence.
RESULTS: Seventy patients were included and divided into three groups according to the TACE technique: 24 were treated with cTACE, 25 with DEB-TACE, 21 with DSM-TACE. According to mRECIST criteria at 1-, 3- and 6-month follow-up, DEB-TACE presented better local response rates but without statistically significant differences. Patients treated with DSM-TACE showed significantly better tolerance, considering post-procedural transaminases and INR values together with clinical adverse events occurrence monitored up to 7 days. There were no differences in post-procedural complications and no major complications occurred.
CONCLUSIONS: In this study, in patients with intermediate-stage HCC undergoing palliative treatments, no significant differences emerged comparing cTACE, DEB-TACE and DSM-TACE in terms of procedural efficacy; however, patients treated with DSM-TACE showed significant better procedural tolerance.
PMID:40768186 | DOI:10.1007/s11547-025-02069-w
