Efficacy of drug-loaded microspheres combined with iodinated oil TACE and apatinib in the treatment of primary liver cancer
Objective To investigate the efficacy of drug-loaded microspheres combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation with iodinated oil(transarterial chemoembolization,TACE)and apatinib in primary hepatocellular carcinoma(primary hepatic carcinoma,PHC).Methods A total of 136 PHC patients meeting the criteria were selected and divided into two groups.The study group(n = 89)was treated with drug-loaded microspheres in combination with iodinated oil TACE and apatinib.The control group(n = 47)was treated with iodinated oil TACE combined with apatinib.Differences in efficacy,liver function,tumour-related indexes,adverse reactions,and prognosis were compared between the 2 groups.Results Before treatment,the differences in the indicators were not of statistical interest(P>0.05).Liver function indices were higher in both groups after treatment compared to before treatment[TBIL(25.9±3.6)vs(25.6±3.5)μmol·L-1,ALT(72.5±7.6)vs(71.9±7.2)U·L-1,AST(58.5±4.6)vs(58.8±4.2)U·L-1](t = 3.326、3.219,4.182,4.110,3.281,3.261,P = 0.032,0.036,0.027,0.030,0.032,0.035),but the difference between groups was not statistically significant(t = 1.282、1.227,1.362,P = 0.288,0.182,0.362).Improvement in tumour indices was even greater in the study group after treatment[HIF-1α(112.1±16.2)vs(158.8±18.4)pg·mL-1,AFP(130.1±22.2)vs(192.4±29.4)ng·mL-1](t = 3.330、4.315,P = 0.037,0.025).The adverse event rate of the two groups after therapy was not significant(P>0.05);the overall survival rate of the study group was higher than that of the control group after the operation(80.9%vs.63.8%)(P<0.05).Conclusion Drug-eluting microspheres combined with iodized oil TACE and apatinib showed better efficacy in patients with PHC without increasing liver toxicity or adverse reactions.It also contributed to the improvement of prognosis.