Comparison of treatment response, survival profiles as well as safety profiles between CalliSpheres® microspheres transarterial chemoembolization and conventional transarterial chemoembolization in huge hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract Background: This study aimed to compare treatment response, survival and safety profiles between drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) with CalliSpheres® microspheres (CSM) and conventional TACE (cTACE) in huge hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.Methods: 71 patients with huge HCC underwent DEB-TACE or cTACE were consecutively enrolled. Treatment response was assessed at first month (M1), third month (M3) and sixth month (M6) after TACE therapy; progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated; liver function indexes were recorded before TACE operation (M0), at first week (W1), M1 and M6 after TACE therapy; adverse events which occurred after TACE operation were recorded. Results: DEB-TACE presented with higher objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) compared to cTACE. Regarding survival profiles, the short-term mortality rate was lower, and PFS as well as OS were longer in DEB-TACE group compared with cTACE group. Multivariate Cox’s regression further illustrated that DEB-TACE vs cTACE was an independent protective factor for PFS and OS. As for safety profiles, patients’ liver function injury was reduced in DEB-TACE group compared with cTACE group. The incidence of fever was lower and CINV were less severe in DEB-TACE group compared with cTACE group, while no difference in occurrence of liver abscess, increase of ascites or moderate pain between two groups was observed. Conclusion: DEB-TACE with CSM presents with better treatment response, survival profiles as well as safety profiles compared to cTACE in treatment for huge HCC patients.