Arterial chemoembolization with mitomycin C microcapsules followed by transcatheter hepatic artery embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

Of 66 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, 32 were treated by intraarterial injection of mitomycin C microcapsules (group A) and 34 patients by intraarterial injection of mitomycin C microcapsules followed by transcatheter hepatic artery embolization (group B). Measurable tumor regression greater than 50% in area on liver image occurred in 28% of group A and 57% of group B (p less than 0.05). A decrease of serum alpha-fetoprotein to less than half the initial level was demonstrated in 59% of group A and 91% of group B (p less than 0.05). The survival rate was better in group B compared with group A (p less than 0.05). These results indicate that arterial chemoembolization with mitomycin C microcapsules plus transcatheter hepatic artery embolization will be an improvement over arterial chemoembolization with mitomycin C microcapsules alone in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.