In these groups a statistically significant difference was noted for overall survival (p = 0.003) (Figure 6) and time to progression (p = 0.0042) (Figure 7). No correlations could be noticed between the

number of treatments performed, stage of disease and liver function. Figure 6 Median overall survival for global patients population SU5402 mouse according to the number of TACE treatments delivered: 1TACE treatment (—), 2 TACE treatments (———) and ≥ 3 TACE treatments (………) (74 vs 31 vs 27 months, p = 0.0029). Figure 7 Median time to progression for global patients population according to the number of TACE treatments delivered: 1TACE treatment (—), 2TACE treatments (——–) and ≥ 3 TACE treatments (………) (p = 0.0042). Fifteen (19%) patients who received traditional TACE or

pTACE only were treated with at least 3 TACE sessions and showed a median survival of 74 months, 24 (29%) received 2 treatments with a median survival of 29 months (range 3-43) and 43 (52%) were subjected to a single treatment with a survival of 25 months (range 3-87) (p = 0.0286). The difference in time to progression was not statistically significant (p = 0.057). In the whole patients population statistically significant differences were noted in relation to the dose STA-9090 price of chemotherapy administered (< 53 mg or ≥53 mg) at the time of the first TACE or pTACE, for both median overall survival (46 months, vs 24 months, p < 0.0001) and time to progression (30 months vs 17 months, p = 0.0061). Discussion Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of TACE with lipiodol, for the treatment of HCC. However comparative assessment of results is often hampered by the considerable variability in patients selection criteria and in modalities of treatment administration. Favorable results on overall survival for treatments with lipiodol TACE, reported by retrospective studies were initially questioned by randomized controlled clinical trials with groups of patients treated conservatively [10–12] with subsequent meta-analyses of previous clinical trials

suggesting a favorable impact of this procedure on survival [13, 14]. More recently Farnesyltransferase the reports of Lo and Llovet independently showed a significant survival improvement for patients treated with TACE compared to control groups [15, 16]. These results are Selleck MAPK inhibitor probably attributable to the stringent criteria for patient selection and to the maintenance of results over time through repetition of the procedure, with an average of 2.8 TACE treatment per patient. In the last years the treatment of pTACE with microspheres is increasingly arguing for the management of patients with HCC and recent studies have validated the effectiveness of pTACE with microspheres, in terms of objective response rate [17].