AIM:To examine the significance of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) treatment before transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS:This study included 99 patients who under...AIM:To examine the significance of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) treatment before transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS:This study included 99 patients who underwent TACE therapy for HCC at our hospital and were followed up without treatment for at least 6 mo between January 2004 and January 2010.They were divided into 2 groups:those receiving BCAA granules (n=40) or regular diet (n=59,control).Data obtained were retrospectively analyzed (prior to TACE,and 1 wk,1,3,and 6 mo after TACE) in terms of nutritional condition and clinical laboratory parameters (serum albumin level and Child-Pugh score),both of which are determinants of hepatic functional reserve.RESULTS:The BCAA group comprised 27 males and 13 females with a mean age of 69.9 ± 8.8 years.The patients of the BCAA group were classified as follows:Child-Pugh A/B/C in 22/15/3 patients,and Stage Ⅱ/Ⅲ /ⅣA HCC in 12/23/5 patients,respectively.The controlgroup comprised 32 males and 27 females with a mean age of 73.2 ± 10.1 years.In the control group,9 patients had chronic hepatitis,Child-Pugh A/B/C in 39/10/1 patients,and StageⅠ/Ⅱ/Ⅲ/ⅣA HCC in 1/11/35/12 patients,respectively.Overall,both serum albumin level and Child-Pugh score improved significantly in the BCAA group as compared with the control 3 and 6 mo after TACE (P < 0.05).Further analysis was performed by the following categorization:(1) child-Pugh classification;(2) liver cirrhosis subgroup with a serum albumin level > 3.5 g/dL;and (3) epirubicin dose.A similar trend indicating a significant improvement of all variables in the BCAA group was noted (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION:Treatment with BCAA granules in patients who have undergone TACE for HCC is considered useful to maintain their hepatic functional reserve.展开更多
Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the second most lethal malignancy worldwide,and the prognosis of advanced HCC is especially dismal.After the SHARP trial reported in 2007,a number of phase III trials of molecular targe...Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the second most lethal malignancy worldwide,and the prognosis of advanced HCC is especially dismal.After the SHARP trial reported in 2007,a number of phase III trials of molecular targeting agents for advanced HCC have been conducted,but most of them have failed to achieve their primary endpoint,and sorafenib has been the only first-line systemic therapy approved for HCC in this decade(1).展开更多
文摘AIM:To examine the significance of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) treatment before transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS:This study included 99 patients who underwent TACE therapy for HCC at our hospital and were followed up without treatment for at least 6 mo between January 2004 and January 2010.They were divided into 2 groups:those receiving BCAA granules (n=40) or regular diet (n=59,control).Data obtained were retrospectively analyzed (prior to TACE,and 1 wk,1,3,and 6 mo after TACE) in terms of nutritional condition and clinical laboratory parameters (serum albumin level and Child-Pugh score),both of which are determinants of hepatic functional reserve.RESULTS:The BCAA group comprised 27 males and 13 females with a mean age of 69.9 ± 8.8 years.The patients of the BCAA group were classified as follows:Child-Pugh A/B/C in 22/15/3 patients,and Stage Ⅱ/Ⅲ /ⅣA HCC in 12/23/5 patients,respectively.The controlgroup comprised 32 males and 27 females with a mean age of 73.2 ± 10.1 years.In the control group,9 patients had chronic hepatitis,Child-Pugh A/B/C in 39/10/1 patients,and StageⅠ/Ⅱ/Ⅲ/ⅣA HCC in 1/11/35/12 patients,respectively.Overall,both serum albumin level and Child-Pugh score improved significantly in the BCAA group as compared with the control 3 and 6 mo after TACE (P < 0.05).Further analysis was performed by the following categorization:(1) child-Pugh classification;(2) liver cirrhosis subgroup with a serum albumin level > 3.5 g/dL;and (3) epirubicin dose.A similar trend indicating a significant improvement of all variables in the BCAA group was noted (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION:Treatment with BCAA granules in patients who have undergone TACE for HCC is considered useful to maintain their hepatic functional reserve.
文摘Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the second most lethal malignancy worldwide,and the prognosis of advanced HCC is especially dismal.After the SHARP trial reported in 2007,a number of phase III trials of molecular targeting agents for advanced HCC have been conducted,but most of them have failed to achieve their primary endpoint,and sorafenib has been the only first-line systemic therapy approved for HCC in this decade(1).
