Radiofrequency ablation combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for recurrent liver cancer

BACKGROUND The recurrence rate of liver cancer after surgery is high.Radiofrequency ablation(RFA)combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)is an effective treatment for liver cancer;however,its efficacy in recurrent liver cancer remains unclear.AIM To investigate the clinical effect of TACE combined with RFA in the treatment of recurrent liver cancer.METHODS Ninety patients with recurrent liver cancer were divided into 2 groups according to treatment plan:Control(RFA alone);and experimental[TACE combined with RFA(TACE+RFA)].The incidence of increased alanine aminotransferase levels,complications,and other indices were compared between the two groups before and after the procedures.RESULTS One month after the procedures,the short-term efficacy rate and Karnofsky Performance Status scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group(P<0.05).Alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)and total bilirubin levels were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05);The overall response rate was 82.22%and 66.67%in the experimental and control groups,respectively;The disease control rate was 93.33%and 82.22%in the experimental and control groups,respectively,the differences are statistically significant(P<0.05).And there were no statistical differences in complications between the two groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION TACE+RFA was effective for the treatment of recurrent liver cancer and significantly reduced AFP levels and improved various indices of liver function.

Efficacy of radiofrequency ablation combined with sorafenib for treating liver cancer complicated with portal hypertension and prognostic factors

BACKGROUND Patients with liver cancer complicated by portal hypertension present complex challenges in treatment.AIM To evaluate the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation in combination with sorafenib for improving liver function and its impact on the prognosis of patients with this condition.METHODS Data from 100 patients with liver cancer complicated with portal hypertension from May 2014 to March 2019 were analyzed and divided into a study group(n=50)and a control group(n=50)according to the treatment regimen.The research group received radiofrequency ablation(RFA)in combination with sorafenib,and the control group only received RFA.The short-term efficacy of both the research and control groups was observed.Liver function and portal hypertension were compared before and after treatment.Alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),glypican-3(GPC-3),and AFP-L3 levels were compared between the two groups prior to and after treatment.The occurrence of adverse reactions in both groups was observed.The 3-year survival rate was compared between the two groups.Basic data were compared between the survival and non-surviving groups.To identify the independent risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with liver cancer complicated by portal hypertension,multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed.RESULTS When comparing the two groups,the research group's total effective rate(82.00%)was significantly greater than that of the control group(56.00%;P<0.05).Following treatment,alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels increased,and portal vein pressure decreased in both groups.The degree of improvement for every index was substantially greater in the research group than in the control group(P<0.05).Following treatment,the AFP,GPC-3,and AFP-L3 levels in both groups decreased,with the research group having significantly lower levels than the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of diarrhea,rash,nausea and vomiting,and fatigue in the research group was significantly greater than that in the control group(P<0.05).The 1-,2-,and 3-year survival rates of the research group(94.00%,84.00%,and 72.00%,respectively)were significantly greater than those of the control group(80.00%,64.00%,and 40.00%,respectively;P<0.05).Significant differences were observed between the survival group and the non-surviving group in terms of Child-Pugh grade,history of hepatitis,number of tumors,tumor size,use of sorafenib,stage of liver cancer,histological differentiation,history of splenectomy and other basic data(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that high Child-Pugh grade,tumor size(6–10 cm),history of hepatitis,no use of sorafenib,liver cancer stage IIIC,and previous splenectomy were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with liver cancer complicated with portal hypertension(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Patients suffering from liver cancer complicated by portal hypertension benefit from the combination of RFA and sorafenib therapy because it effectively restores liver function and increases survival rates.The prognosis of patients suffering from liver cancer complicated by portal hypertension is strongly associated with factors such as high Child-Pugh grade,tumor size(6-10 cm),history of hepatitis,lack of sorafenib use,liver cancer at stage IIIC,and prior splenectomy.

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography:An effective option for endo-biliary radiofrequency ablation before stent insertion in unresectable biliary cancer?

Biliary cancer is a highly aggressive disease that is typically diagnosed at advanced stages when surgical removal is no longer an option.In these cases,palliative care and mechanical widening of the blocked biliary system are preferred.The insertion of a stent is often necessary to prevent the recurrence of blockages caused by cancer progression.Prior to stent placement,endo-biliary radiofrequency ablation(EB-RFA)appears to result in longer-lasting stent effectiveness without increasing the risk of severe complications.However,its impact on overall survival is not yet clear.Additionally,while endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is the most common method for performing EB-RFA,percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage seems to be a safe and potentially more efficient alternative,particularly for long,angulated,or significantly narrowed bile ducts.

Nomogram predicting the prognosis of primary liver cancer after radiofrequency ablation combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

BACKGROUND The incidence and mortality rates of primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)are high,and the conventional treatment is radiofrequency ablation(RFA)with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE);however,the 3-year survival rate is still low.Further,there are no visual methods to effectively predict their prognosis.AIM To explore the factors influencing the prognosis of HCC after RFA and TACE and develop a nomogram prediction model.METHODS Clinical and follow-up information of 150 patients with HCC treated using RFA and TACE in the Hangzhou Linping Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from May 2020 to December 2022 was retrospectively collected and recorded.We examined their prognostic factors using multivariate logistic regression and created a nomogram prognosis prediction model using the R software(version 4.1.2).Internal verification was performed using the bootstrapping technique.The prognostic efficacy of the nomogram prediction model was evaluated using the concordance index(CI),calibration curve,and receiver operating characteristic RESULTS Of the 150 patients treated with RFA and TACE,92(61.33%)developed recurrence and metastasis.Logistic regression analysis identified six variables,and a predictive model was created.The internal validation results of the model showed a CI of 0.882.The correction curve trend of the prognosis prediction model was always near the diagonal,and the mean absolute error before and after internal validation was 0.021.The area under the curve of the prediction model after internal verification was 0.882[95%confidence interval(95%CI):0.820-0.945],with a specificity of 0.828 and sensitivity of 0.656.According to the Hosmer-Lemeshow test,χ^(2)=3.552 and P=0.895.The predictive model demonstrated a satisfactory calibration,and the decision curve analysis demonstrated its clinical applicability.CONCLUSION The prognosis of patients with HCC after RFA and TACE is affected by several factors.The developed prediction model based on the influencing parameters shows a good prognosis predictive efficacy.

Analysis of alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyltransferase after radiofrequency ablation of primary liver cancer: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND Changes in alkaline phosphatase(ALP)andγ-glutamyltransferase(GGT)levels in patients with primary liver cancer(PLC)after radiofrequency ablation(RFA).Hepatocellular carcinoma is a malignant tumor with high incidence worldwide.As a common local treatment,RFA has attracted much attention for its efficacy and influence on liver function.AIM To investigate the effect of serum ALP and GGT levels on the prognosis of patients with PLC treated by RFA.METHODS The preoperative clinical data of 165 patients who were pathologically or clinically diagnosed with PLC and who received RFA in our hospital between October 2018 and June 2023 were collected.The chi-square test was used to compare the data between groups.The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression were used to analyze the associ-ations between serum ALP and GGT levels and overall survival,progression-free survival(PFS)and clinical characteristics of patients before treatment.RESULTS The 1-year survival rates of patients with normal(≤135 U/L)and abnormal(>135 U/L)serum ALP before treatment were 91%and 79%,respectively;the 2-year survival rates were 90%and 68%,respectively;and the 5-year survival rates were 35%and 18%,respectively.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P=0.01).Before treatment,the 1-year survival rates of patients with normal serum GGT levels(≤45 U/L)and abnormal serum GGT levels(>45 U/L)were 95%and 87%,the 2-year survival rates were 85%and 71%,and the 5-year survival rates were 37%and 21%,respectively.The difference between the two groups was statist-ically significant(P<0.001).Serum ALP[hazard ratio(HR)=1.766,95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.068-2.921,P=0.027]and GGT(HR=2.312,95%CI:1.367-3.912,P=0.002)is closely related to the overall survival of PLC patients after RF ablation and is an independent prognostic factor.The 1-year PFS rates were 72%and 50%,the 2-year PFS rates were 52%and 21%,and the 5-year PFS rates were 14%and 3%,respectively.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0001).The 1-year PFS rates were 81%and 56%in patients with normal and abnormal serum GGT levels before treatment,respectively;the 2-year PFS rates were 62%and 35%,respectively;and the 5-year PFS rates were 18%and 7%,respectively,with statistical significance between the two groups(P<0.001).The serum ALP concentration(HR=1.653,95%CI:1.001-2.729,P=0.049)and GGT(HR=1.949,95%CI:1.296-2.930,P=0.001)was closely associated with PFS after RFA in patients with PLC.The proportion of male patients with abnormal ALP levels is high,the Child-Pugh grade of liver function is poor,and the incidence of ascites is high.Among GGT-abnormal patients,the Child-Pugh grade of liver function was poor,the tumor stage was late,the proportion of patients with tumors≥5 cm was high,and the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy was high.CONCLUSION Serum ALP and GGT levels before treatment can be used to predict the prognosis of patients with PLC after RFA,and they have certain guiding significance for the long-term survival of patients with PLC after radiofrequency therapy.

Efficacy and safety of B-ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of primary liver cancer: Systematic review and metaanalysis

BACKGROUND Primary liver cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies in the world.Tradi-tional treatment methods have limitations in terms of efficacy and safety.Ra-diofrequency ablation(RFA)guided by B-ultrasound,as a minimally invasive treatment,has attracted increasing attention in the treatment of primary liver cancer in recent years.AIM To study the efficacy and safety of RFA were compared with those of traditional surgery(TS)for treating small liver cancer.METHODS At least 2 people were required to search domestic and foreign public databases,including foreign databases such as EMBASE,PubMed and the Cochrane Library,and Chinese databases such as the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database,China Biomedical Literature database,Wanfang database and VIP database.Controlled trials of RFA vs conventional surgery for small liver cancer were retrieved from January 2008 to January 2023.They were screened and eva-luated according to the quality evaluation criteria in the Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Reviews.The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 soft-ware.RESULTS A total of 10 studies were included in this study,including 1503 patients in the RFA group and 1657 patients in the surgery group.The results of the meta-ana-lysis showed that there was no significant difference in 1-year overall survival between the two groups(P>0.05),while the 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates and 1-year,3-year and 5-year tumor-free survival rates in the surgery group were greater than those in the RFA group(P<0.05).In terms of complications,the incidence of complications in the RFA group was lower than that in the surgery group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION In terms of long-term survival,TS is better than RFA for small liver cancer patients.However,RFA has fewer complications and is safer.

Radiofrequency ablation or percutaneous ethanol injection for the treatment of liver tumors

The liver is a common location of both primary and secondary malignancies. For unresectable liver cancer, many local ablative therapies have been developed. These include e.g., percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), percutaneous acetic acid injection, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cryoablation, microwave ablation, laserinduced thermotherapy, and high-intensity focused ultrasound. RFA has recently gained interest and is the most widely applied thermoablative technique. RFA allows more effective tumor control in fewer treatment sessions compared with PEI, but with a higher rate of complications. However, there are certain circumstances where PEI therapy represents a better strategy to control liver tumors than RFA, especially in situations where RFA is difficult, for example when large vessels surround the tumor. In the context of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), both RFA and PEI are feasible and of benefit in non-operable patients. RFA seems superior to PEI in HCC > 2 cm, and the combination of interventions may be of benefit in selected patients. Liver resection is superior to RFA for patients with HCC meeting the Milan criteria, but RFA can be employed in tumors ≤ 3 cm and where there is an increased expected operative mortality. In addition, some lines of evidence indicate that RFA and PEI can be employed as a bridge to liver transplantation. The use of RFA in colorectal liver metastases is currently limited to unresectable disease and for patients unfit for surgery. The aim of this article is to summarize the current status of RFA in the management of liver tumors and compare it to the cheap and readily available technique of PEI.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablationfor small liver cancers adjacent to large vessels：long-term outcomes and strategies

Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of percutaneous microwave ablation(MWA) for small hepatic cancers adjacent to large vessels and to investigate the treatment strategies.Methods From March 2009 to July 2015,a total of 86 patients with 94 tumors underwent ultrasound(US)-guided percutaneous MWA,with pathologically proven or clinically diagnosed liver cancers measuring ≤ 3 cm in diameter and located ≤ 10 mm from a major vessel(n = 94).Regular follow-up after MWA was performed to assess treatment efficacy and perioperative complications.Results The complete ablation rate at 1 month after MWA was 93.3%(84/90).The 6-,9-,12-,24-,36-,48-,60-,72-,and 84-month local recurrence rates were 2.4%,2.4%,3.7%,6.6%,8.4%,8.4%,8.4%,8.4%,and 8.4%,respectively.There were no major complications.The perioperative special complication rate was 5.32%(5/94),including 3 cases of moderate liver function damage and 2 cases of limited sub-capsular hematoma.Conclusion Percutaneous MWA for small hepatic cancers adjacent to large vessels is feasible,effective,and safe with an acceptable rate of complications.The key point is to strictly follow operative indications and adopt proper treatment strategies.

Radiofrequency Ablation Combined with Transarterial Chemoembolization for Liver Metastases from Gastrointestinal Cancers

Transarterial chemoembolization（TACE） combined with radiofrequency ablation（RFA） has been reported to be effective for local control of different-sized hepatocellular carcinomas. However, it is unclear if these benefits could also be applicable to different-sized liver metastases from gastrointestinal cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of TACE combined with RFA for liver metastases from gastrointestinal cancers. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 19 consecutive patients who had a total of 26 liver metastatic lesions from gastrointestinal cancers and underwent RFA followed by first-time TACE treatment. The tumor recurrence, overall survival rate and procedure-related complications were evaluated. Moreover, patients＇ demographics and tumor characteristics were analyzed to determine their impact on the outcomes. The technical success of TACE plus RFA was achieved with 2 major procedure-related complications found. The mean follow-up was 21.3 months. The total 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rate was 89.4%, 52.6%, and 35.1%, respectively. It was found that the tumor size and the ratio of enhancement area were significant factors that influenced the overall survival. In conclusion, patients with gastrointestinal cancer-derived liver metastatic lesions of smaller size and larger enhancement area are considered appropriate candidates for TACE plus RFA.

Effect of Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation and Surgical Resection on Treating of Primary Small Liver Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Objective:To analyze the clinical effect of primary small liver cancer under radiofrequency ablation(RFA)and surgical resection(SR)treatment,and to explore the best application timing of the two treatment methods.Methods:Randomly controlled clinical trials(RCT)of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation and surgical resection for the treatment of small liver cancer in various databases were searched according to the established search strategy,and Meta data was analyzed based on RevMan5.3 software provided by Cochrane collaborative organization.Results:A total of 10 articles were included in this study,including 1396 patients,699 in the RFA group and 697 in the SR group.Meta-analysis results showed that the two groups had no statistical difference in overall survival rate at 1 and 3 years,1-year disease-free survival rate,and 1-year recurrence rate(P>0.05).The 3-year disease-free survival rate of the RFA group was lower than that of the SR group,and the 3-year recurrence rate was higher than that of the SR group.The higher postoperative complication rate tended to the SR group,and the differences were statistically significant.(P<0.05).Conclusion:For short-term efficacy,radiofrequency ablation and surgical resection show consistency;for long-term efficacy,surgical resection is more effective.

A clinical study on salvage hepatectomy for treating recurrent liver cancer after radiofrequency ablation

Objective We studied the efficacy of salvage hepatectomy for treating recurrent hepatic cancer after radiofrequency ablation （RFA）. Methods A retrospective analysis of 67 patients who had recurrent liver cancer after RFA treatment and received salvage hepatectomy in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Mili- tary Medical University （China）, from January 2006 to January 2014, was performed. The analysis included patient gender, age, hepatitis type, alpha-fetoprotein （AFP）, and TNM stage prior to RFA and salvage hepatectomy, overall survival rates, and tumor-free survival rates after salvage hepatectomy. Results Among the 67 patients, there were 57 cases of hepatitis B, two cases of hepatitis C, and eight cases did not have hepatitis. AFP levels in patients ranged from 3 to 4521 ng/mL （median 33 ng/mL）. Before RFA, 54 cases were stage I tumors, and 13 were stage II tumors. Tumor sizes varied from 0.82 to 4.83 cm （median 3.0 cm）. In 20 cases, one RFA was performed, and for 47 cases, RFA was repeated. RFA- ablated region diameters ranged from 3.8 to 5.2 cm （median 4.5 cm）. The interval between the salvage surgical resection and RFA was 3-37 months. Before salvage hepatectomy, 23 stage I tumors, 12 stage II tumors, and 32 stage III tumors were present （size ranged 4.83-11.84 cm; median 6.3 cm）. For salvage hepatectomy, laparotomy was performed for 56 cases, and laparoscopy was performed for 28 cases. Inflow clamping was performed for 39 cases （15-45 rain）. Surgery was 219-370 rain and intraoperative blood loss was 100-2100 mL. For 13 cases, intraoperative blood transfusion was required. Tumor pathological data revealed 31,35, and 1 poorly, moderately, and well differentiated tumors, respectively. No patients died due to operative complications, and hospital stays were 8-10 days. Overall and tumor-free survival rates were 85% and 79% for 1 year, 50% and 20% for 3 years, and 39% and 19% for 5 years, respectively. Kaplan- Meier analysis and Cox regression confirmed that tumor number and size prior to salvage liver cancer were risk factors affecting survival. Conclusion Patients who received RFA to treat early-stage liver cancer with postoperative recurrent stage I tumors have satisfactory outcomes with salvage hepatectomy.

Application of ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in treatment of liver cancer.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic efficacy and its influencing factors of ultrasoundguided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) in the treatment of liver carcinoma. Methods With a temperature-controlled multi-electrode needle, ultrasound-guided PRFA was employed to treat forty-seven patients with 67 tumor nodules, with a diameterof 2.6 ± 1.1 cm (1.0 - 5.5 cm). Results A complete ablation (CA) rate of 80. 6% was achieved in the present series, with a CA rate of 91.7 % in the tumors ≤3 cm in diameter,75. 0% in tumors from 3.1 to 4. 0 cm,and 14. 3% in tumors 】4 cm. The CA rate was significantly greater in tumors with a temperature rising up to 70℃ within the initial 2 minutes at ablation as compared with that longer than 2 minutes (P 【 0.05). A markedly higher CA rate was obtained in tumors with an ablation-maintaining temperature of over 80℃ than that between 70℃ and 80℃ ( P 【 0. 01). All patients were followed up with a mean time of 11. 3 months. The local recurrence rate was 9.3% (5/

Combination of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation with transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: observation of clinical effects

Objective： To observe the clinical effect of radiofrequency ablation （RFA） combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization （TACE） for advanced hepatocellnlar carcinoma （HCC）. Methods： A total of 92 eases of advanced primary liver cancer underwent TACE and RFA treatment from June 2005 to 2011 at the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College. A total of 88 cases with complete clinical treatment and follow-up data were divided into two groups： 43 patients treated with TACE （TACE group） and 45 patients that received TACE combined with RFA treatment （TACE ＋ RFA group）. After clinical data assessment, tumor size and survival status were not significantly different between the groups as determined by stratified analysis. Results： Before and after surgery, spiral CT radiography and color comparison observed ablation conditions. The tumor necrosis rates after treatment （CR ＋ PR） were 67.4% （29/43） and 91.1% （41/45） for the TACE and combined treatment groups, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant （P〈0.05）. The quality of life was significantly improved for patients undergoing TACE ~ RFA compared with the control group. Survival duration was not significantly different in patients undergoing TACE ~ RFA compared with the control group. Conclusions： In this study, the effect of RFA combined with TACE treatment was better than TACE alone in treating advanced HCC.

Chemotherapy plus percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in patients with inoperable colorectal liver metastases

AIM:To access the efficacy of chemotherapy plus radiofrequency ablation(RFA)as one line of treatment in inoperable colorectal liver metastases.METHODS:Eligible patients were included in three PhaseⅡstudies.In the first study percutaneous RFA was used first followed by 6 cycles of 5-fluorouracil,leucovorin and irinotecan combination(FOLFIRI)(adjunctive chemotherapy trial).In the other two,chemotherapy(FOLFIRI or 5-fluorouracil,leucovorin and oxaliplatin combination)up to 12 cycles was used first with percutaneous RFA offered to responding patients (primary chemotherapy trials).RESULTS:Thirteen patients were included in the adjunctive chemotherapy trial and 17 in the other two.At inclusion they had 1-4 liver metastases(up to 6.5 cm in size).Two patients died during chemotherapy.All patients in the adjunctive chemotherapy trial and 44%in the primary chemotherapy studies had their metastases ablated.Median PFS and overall survival in the adjunctive study were 13 and 24 mo respectively while in the primary chemotherapy studies they were 10 and 21 mo respectively.Eighty one percent of the patients had tumour relapse in at least one previously ablated lesion.CONCLUSION:Chemotherapy plus RFA in patients with low volume inoperable colorectal liver metastases seems safe and relatively effective.The high local recurrence rate is of concern.

Incomplete radiofrequency ablation provokes colorectal cancer liver metastases through heat shock response by PKCα/Fra-1 pathway

Objective: Incomplete radiofrequency ablation(ICR) has been proposed as a major cause of recurrence in the treatment of hepatic metastatic tumors.We tried to determine the mechanisms of this progression in colorectal cancer(CRC) liver metastasis(CRLMs)Methods: We have established a mouse model of radiofrequency ablation(RFA) therapy to demonstrate increased risk of recurrence of CRLMs with ICR.Here we focused on heat shock-induced CRC malignancy.Sub-lethal heat shock(HS) in CRC cell lines provoked cell growth, invasion, and tumor initiation in vitro and in vivo.Results: We found that Fra-1, which lies downstream of PKCα-ERK1/2 signaling, was significantly increased by HS compared with the untreated CRC cells.Silencing Fra-1 reversed the tumor promoting effects of HS.Furthermore, proliferation and tumor initiation inducer c-Myc, together with tumor invasion inducer matrix-metalloprotase 1(MMP-1) expression were up-regulated by AP-1/Fra-1 induced genes transcription.Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that ICR generated HS induces CRC malignancy by targeting Fra-1, which could be a potential prognostic marker and a promising therapeutic strategy to prevent disease recurrence after radiofrequency ablation treatment.

Evaluation of short-and medium-term efficacy and complications of ultrasound-guided ablation for small liver cancer

BACKGROUND To ensure clinical efficacy and prolong patient survival,treatments such as surgery and microwave ablation(MWA)are used for early liver cancer.MWA is preferred because it effectively preserves the normal liver tissue and causes transient coagulation necrosis of local liver tumor cells.However,due to technical limitations,the cancerous liver tissue cannot be completely ablated;therefore,the probability of local tumor recurrence is high.AIM To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous MWA in the treatment of small liver cancer.METHODS A total of 118 patients treated for small liver cancer in The Central Hospital of Yongzhou from January 2018 to April 2019 were selected.Sixty-six patients received ultrasound-guided percutaneous MWA(MWA group)and 52 received laparoscopic surgery(laparoscope group).The operation time,blood loss,hospital stay,and medical expenses of both groups were statistically analyzed.Serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),total bilirubin(TBIL),albumin(ALB),alpha fetal protein(AFP),carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),and peripheral blood regulatory T lymphocytes(Treg)levels were evaluated pre-and post-operatively.The cross-sectional area of tumors measured before and after ablation was analyzed statistically;the therapeutic effect was compared between both groups in terms of surgical complications,2-year progression-free survival rate,and overall survival rate.RESULTS The operation time,blood loss,hospital stay,and medical expenses in the MWA group were lower than those of the laparoscope group,and the differences were significant(P<0.05);these parameters,and ALT,AST,TBIL,and ALB levels were compared preoperatively between both groups,and there was no significance(P>0.05).The operation time,blood loss,hospital stay,and medical expenses for 2 d and 1 wk after surgery,the ALT and AST of the MWA group were lower than those of the laparoscope group,and the difference was significant(P<0.05).The operation time,blood loss,hospital stay,and medical expenses,and serum AFP,CEA,and Treg levels were measured preoperatively and 4 and 8 wk postoperatively,and there were no significant differences between the two groups(P>0.05).Compared with preoperative levels,serum AFP,CEA,and Treg levels in both groups were decreased(P<0.05).The lesion in the MWA group had a maximum area of 4.86±0.90 cm2,1.24±0.57 cm2,and 0.31±0.11 cm2 preoperatively,1 and 3 mo postoperatively,respectively.Fifty-eight of them achieved complete response and eight achieved a partial response.After 2 years of followup,the progression-free and overall survival rates in the MWA group were 37.88%and 66.67%,respectively,compared with 44.23%and 76.92%in the laparoscope group,with no significant difference(P>0.05).CONCLUSION The effects of ultrasound-guided percutaneous MWA in the treatment of small liver cancer are similar to those of laparoscopic surgery.However,ablation causes less trauma and liver dysfunction.

Oncological outcomes and predictors of radiofrequency ablation of colorectal cancer liver metastases

BACKGROUND Surgical resection is considered the standard treatment option for long-term survival in colorectal cancer liver metastasis(CRLM)patients,but only a small number of patients are suitable for resection following diagnosis.Radiofrequency ablation(RFA)is an accepted alternative therapy for CRLM patients who are not suitable for resection.However,the relatively high rate of local tumor progression(LTP)is an obstacle to the more widespread use of RFA.AIM To determine the oncological outcomes and predictors of RFA in CRLM patients.METHODS A retrospective analyze was performed on the clinical data of 85 consecutive CRLM patients with a combined total of 138 liver metastases,who had received percutaneous RFA treatment at our institution from January 2013 to December 2018.Contrast-enhanced computed tomography was performed the first month after RFA to assess the technique effectiveness of the RFA and to serve as a baseline for subsequent evaluations.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate overall survival(OS)and LTP-free survival(LTPFS).The log-rank test and Cox regression model were used for univariate and multivariate analyses to determine the predictors of the oncological outcomes.RESULTS There were no RFA procedure-related deaths,and the technique effectiveness of the treatment was 89.1%(123/138).The median follow-up time was 30 mo.The LTP rate was 32.6%(45/138),and the median OS was 36 mo.The 1-,3-,and 5-year OS rates were 90.6%,45.6%,and 22.9%,respectively.Univariate analysis revealed that tumor size and ablative margin were the factors influencing LTPFS,while extrahepatic disease(EHD),tumor number,and tumor size were the factors influencing OS.Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size larger than 3 cm and ablative margin of 5 mm or smaller were the independent predictors of shorter LTPFS,while tumor number greater than 1,size larger than 3 cm,and presence of EHD were the independent predictors of shorter OS.CONCLUSION RFA is a safe and effective treatment method for CRLM.Tumor size and ablative margin are the important factors affecting LTPFS.Tumor number,tumor size,and EHD are also critical factors for OS.

The Efficacy of Different Interventiona|Che moembolization Regiments Combined with Radiofrequency Ablation in the Treatment of Primary Liver Cancer and its Effects on Patients’Immune Function

Objective:To study and compare the clinical effects of the combination of different interventional embolization chemotherapy and radiofrequency ablation in patients with primary liver cancer.Methods:In this paper,based on the target data validation of those 60 patients with primary liver cancer treated in the hospital during the period from May 2017 to May 2018,the double-blind method was used for the comparison between groups.Patients in the reference group were treated with the combination of cisplatinum interventional chemoembolization regimen and radiofrequency ablation,while those in the experimental group were treated with the combination of lobaplatin interventional chemoembolization regimen and radiofrequency ablation.Then,the efficacy of both groups was compared.Results:After the treatment,the clinically effective total value,the calculation value of adverse reactions,and the value of IgA,IgM,IgG and AFP of the experimental group were compared with those of the reference group.In addition,the value of IgA,IgM,IgG and AFP of both groups after and before the treatment were compared.The experimental results showed that the data was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:The combination of lobaplatin and cisplatin interventional embolization chemotherapy and radiofrequency ablation has some effects in patients with primary liver cancer,but the former one showed more significant effects.

Effect of radiofrequency ablation combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization on inflammatory factors, oxidative stress response factors and tumor activity factors in patients with primary liver cancer

Objective:To investigate the effects of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on inflammatory factors, oxidative stress response factors and tumor activity factors in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.Methods:A total of 100 cases of primary liver cancer patients from January 2014 to June 2016 were selected and randomly divided into observation group and control group with 50 cases in each group, the observation group was treated with RFA combined with TACE treatment, the control group was given TACE treatment, compared two groups before treatment (T0), 1 weeks of treatment (T1), 2 weeks (T2) inflammation factor, oxidative stress factor and tumor activity index.Results:(1) The hs-CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α levels of T1 in two groups were significantly increased, T2 decreased significantly, T1>T1>T2, but the observation group hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-α levels of T1 were higher than the control group and the difference was statistically significant, hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-α levels of T2 had no statistically significant;(2) The ROS level of T1 in the observation group was higher than the control group, while the SOD and T-AOC levels were lower than the control group, the ROS level of T2 in the observation group was lower than the control group, SOD and T-AOC were higher than the control group, there was significant difference. (3) Serum AFP, CA199 and MMP levels in T1 and T2 of the observation group were lower than the control group, the difference was statistically significant.Conclusion:RFA treatment of HCC may lead to inflammation and increased oxidative stress in the early stage . However, TACE combined with TACE can improve the micro inflammatory state, especially enhance the antioxidant function and decrease the level of tumor active factor.

Radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors: Actual limitations and potential solutions in the future

Over the past decade,radiofrequency ablation(RFA) has evolved into an important therapeutical tool for the treatment of non resectable primary and secondary liver tumors.The clinical benefit of RFA is represented in several clinical studies.They underline the safety and feasibility of this new and modern concept in treating liver tumors.RFA has proven its clinical impact not only in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) but also in metastatic disease such as colorectal cancer(CRC).Due to the increasing number of HCC and CRC,RFA might play an even more important role in the future.Therefore,the refinement of RFA technology is as important as the evaluation of data of prospective randomized trials that will help define guidelines for good clinical practice in RFA application in the future.The combination of hepatic resection and RFA extends the feasibility of open surgical procedures in patients with extensive tumors.Adverse effects of RFA such as biliary tract damage,liver failure and local recurrence remain an important task today but overall the long term results of RFA application in treating liver tumors are promising.Incomplete ablation of liver tumors due to insufficient technology of ablation needles,tissue cooling by the neighbouring blood vessels,large tumor masses and ablation of tumors in close vicinity to heat sensitive organs remain difficult tasks for RFA.Future solutions to overcome these limitations of RFA will include refinement of ultrasonographic guidance(accuracy of probe placement),improvements in needle technology(e.g.needles preventing charring)and intraductal cooling techniques.