Transarterial chemoembolization combined with radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of large hepatocellular carcinoma with stage C

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients

Variables	TACE-RFA (n = 64)	TACE (n = 38)	P value
Sex (male/female)	51/13	33/5	0.359
Age (yr)	53.0 ± 9.5 (25-72)	52.7 ± 8.5 (39-75)	0.876
HBsAg (+/-)	54/10	35/3	0.409
HCV (+/-)	3/61	4/34	0.470
ALB (g/L)	38.1 ± 4.6 (25.0-53.0)	36.4 ± 5.8 (25.0-52.0)	0.103
AFP/(ng/mL)			0.628
< 400	11	8
≥ 400	53	30
Child-Pugh class			0.036
A	51	23
B	13	15
Tumour number			0.987
< 3	22	13
3	42	25
TBIL (μmol/L)	18.2 ± 7.9 (4.9-49.5)	21.2 ± 9.2 (5.3-45.3)	0.081
Max-diameter (cm)	9.5 ± 3.1 (5.0-18.0)	10.2 ± 3.5 (5.1-17.0)	0.267

TACE: Transarterial chemoembolization; RFA: Radiofrequency ablation; HBsAg: Hepatitis B surface antigen; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; ALB: Albumin; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein; TBIL: Total bilirubin.

Table 2 Mean and median overall survival

Group	Mean (mo)	Estimate SD	95%CI	Median (mo)	Estimate SD	95%CI
TACE	5.385	0.657	4.096-6.673	4.000	0.743	2.544-5.456
TACE-RFA	12.504	1.939	8.704-16.304	8.000	1.327	5.398-10.602

TACE: Transarterial chemoembolization; TACE-RFA: Transarterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation; CI: Confidence interval; SD: Standard deviation.

Table 3 Survival rates of the transarterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation group and transarterial chemoembolization group

Mo	TACE (%)	TACE-RFA (%)	χ2	P value
6	36.8	68.8	9.986	0.002
12	7.9	34.4	9.036	0.003
24	0	10.9	4.462	0.035

TACE: Transarterial chemoembolization; RFA: Radiofrequency ablation.

Table 4 Treatment-related adverse events

Parameter	TACE-RFA (n = 64)	TACE (n = 38)
	Grade 1-2/3-4	Grade 1-2/3-4
Fever	48/2	31/1
Omitting	28/3	16/1
Pain	45/3	26/2
Liver function injury	52/2	30/1
Ascites	2/0	0/0
Gastric haemorrhage	1/0	1/0
Fatigue	53/0	29/0

TACE: Transarterial chemoembolization; RFA: Radiofrequency ablation.