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The comparison of outcomes between hypofractionated and conventional 3D-CRT regimens used in combination with TACE as first-line treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

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Tumor Biology

Abstract

Treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) achieves good short-term but poor long-term survival. We retrospectively assessed whether outcomes differ between hypofractionated and conventional 3D-CRT regimens. Patients were treated in our institution between June 2005 and October 2009. All patients received two cycles of TACE followed by either hypofractionated 3D-CRT (6–8 Gy fractions for 3–4 weeks to 48–64 Gy) or conventional 3D-CRT (2 Gy fractions for 6–7 weeks to 60–70 Gy) 4 weeks later. We assessed data from 110 patients (55 in each 3D-CRT group). Overall response rates were similar in the two groups. Acute adverse event rates were not significantly higher in the hypofractionated 3D-CRT group than in the conventional 3D-CRT group; two patients and one patient, respectively, died of late radiation-induced liver failure. Overall survival at 1 year was 83.6 % in the hypofractionated 3D-CRT group versus 68.8 % in the conventional 3D-CRT group (P = 0.019), and at 3 years, it was 31.7 versus 13.9 % (P = 0.004). Median survival was 27.97 versus 16.13 months (P = 0.002). Hypofractionated 3D-CRT seemed to provide better overall survival than conventional 3D-CRT regimens combined with TACE as a first-line treatment for advanced HCC.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (nos. 30772530 and 81272507) and the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (2009ZRC03099 and BS2013YY048) and a grant provided by Jinan, Shandong Province (201221015).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, 324 Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, China

    Chuanxi Wang, Rongxiang Liang, Guanzhen Li & Junqing Han

  2. Institution of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China

    Suping Li

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China

    Aimin Sun & Longhua Chen

Authors
  1. Chuanxi Wang
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  2. Suping Li
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  3. Aimin Sun
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  4. Longhua Chen
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  5. Rongxiang Liang
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  6. Guanzhen Li
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  7. Junqing Han
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Guanzhen Li or Junqing Han.

Additional information

Chuanxi Wang and Suping Li contributed equally to this study.

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Wang, C., Li, S., Sun, A. et al. The comparison of outcomes between hypofractionated and conventional 3D-CRT regimens used in combination with TACE as first-line treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Tumor Biol. 36, 4967–4972 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-015-3144-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-015-3144-5

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