Comparing transarterial chemoembolization alone to combined transarterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation in primary hepatocellular carcinoma treatment

Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients in the transarterial chemoembolization and transarterial chemoembolization + radiofrequency ablation treatment groups

Parameter	TACE group (n = 56)	TACE + RFA group (n = 50)
Male	35	31
Female	21	19
Child-Pugh class A	42	39
Child-Pugh class B	14	11
BCLC stage B	31	25
BCLC stage C	18	18
BCLC stage D	7	7
AFP > 200 μg/L	23	19
Mean tumor diameter (cm)	6.9 ± 1.08	7.01 ± 1.18
Median age (years)	56	53
Age range (years)	39-71	35-73

TACE: Transarterial chemoembolization; RFA: Radiofrequency ablation; BCLC: Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein.

Table 2 Comparison of treatment response rates between transarterial chemoembolization and transarterial chemoembolization + radiofrequency ablation groups, n (%)

Factors	TACE group (n = 56)	TACE + RFA group (n = 50)	χ² value	P value
Complete response	4 (7.1)	15 (30.0)	19.036	< 0.01
Partial response	15 (26.8)	23 (46.0)	3.992	0.046
Stable disease	25 (44.6)	7 (14.0)	9.413	< 0.01
Progressive disease	12 (21.4)	5 (10.0)	13.518	< 0.01

TACE: Transarterial chemoembolization; RFA: Radiofrequency ablation.

Table 3 Changes in serum alpha-fetoprotein levels before and after treatment in transarterial chemoembolization and transarterial chemoembolization + radiofrequency ablation groups, mean ± SD

Group	Time point	Number	Serum AFP (μg/L)
TACE group	Before treatment	56	543.4 ± 196.7
	After 1 year	28	639.1 ± 190.9
	After 2 years	6	623.4 ± 234.6
	After 3 years	2	674.4 ± 300.2
TACE + RFA group	Before treatment	50	565.2 ± 206.7
	After 1 year	32	475.4 ± 200.7
	After 2 years	15	416.4 ± 229.0
	After 3 years	9	320.4 ± 243.5

TACE: Transarterial chemoembolization; RFA: Radiofrequency ablation; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein.