Clinical effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with tegafur, gimeracil, and oteracil potassium in treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization ( TACE) alone or combined with tegafur, gimeracil, and oteracil potassium ( S- 1) in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC) . Methods Sixty patients with unresectable advanced HCC, who were admitted to our hospital from August 2009 to October 2010, were randomly divided into treatment group ( n =30) and control group ( n =30) . The treatment group was treated with TACE combined with oral S-1, and the control group with TACE alone. The response rates, disease control rates, survival rates, and adverse reactions of both groups were evaluated. Categorical data were analyzed by chi- square test; survival analysis was performed by Log- rank test. Results Compared with the control group, the treatment group had a significantly higher response rate ( 63. 3% vs 33. 3%, χ2= 5. 406, P = 0. 020) , a significantly higher disease control rate ( 86. 7% vs 43. 3%, χ2= 12. 308, P = 0. 000) , a significantly higher 1- year survival rate ( 77. 3% vs 51. 5%, χ2= 4. 593, P = 0. 032) , and a significantly higher 2- year survival rate ( 34. 8% vs 10. 4%, χ2= 4. 812, P = 0. 028) . Mild adverse reactions ( grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ) were seen in the two groups, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and bone marrow suppression. These adverse reactions could be reduced by symptomatic treatment and showed no significant differences between the two groups ( P > 0. 05) . Conclusion The combination therapy with S- 1 plus TACE is effective in the treatment of advanced HCC and is worth further study.