Published online Sep 26, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i27.9650
Peer-review started: May 16, 2022
First decision: July 11, 2022
Revised: July 19, 2022
Accepted: August 16, 2022
Article in press: August 16, 2022
Published online: September 26, 2022
Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) using microspheres as the drug carrier and embolization agent shows good efficacy and safety for the treatment of liver cancer compared with conventional chemotherapy.
Data on the clinical efficacy of TACE using pirarubicin-loaded microspheres combined with lobaplatin is rare in China.
This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of TACE using pirarubicin-loaded microspheres combined with lobaplatin for treatment of primary liver cancer.
In this observational study, patients with primary liver cancer undergoing TACE were recruited at Hebei North University Affiliated First Hospital. Patients were categorized into an observation group and a control group based on different types of embolic agents. The observation group received pirarubicin-loaded microspheres combined with lobaplatin, and the control group received conventional pirarubicin emulsion with lipiodol combined with lobaplatin. The primary outcomes included progression-free survival, overall survival, clinical response rate, disease control rate, liver and kidney function and adverse reactions.
In general, the treatment efficacy was better in the observation group than in the control group. Progression-free survival was higher in the observation group than in the control group. After the treatment, alpha-fetoprotein, which represents hepatic function, was lower in the observation group than in the control group. For the primary adverse reactions, the incidence of nausea and vomiting was lower in the observation group than in the control group. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of pain and fever between the two groups.
Pirarubicin-loaded microspheres combined with lobaplatin can extend survival and improve hepatic function in patients undergoing TACE compared with those receiving pirarubicin emulsion with lipiodol combined with lobaplatin.
Further research is needed to better investigate the long-term efficacy and safety of cancer microsphere intervention in patients with primary liver cancer.