Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of hepatic artery and portal vein dual perfusion chemotherapy (AVPC) in combination with intratumoral injection of lipiodol-ethanol (IILE) on advanced primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC).
Methods: A total of 138 patients with pathologically proven and unresectable PHC were divided into two groups. In group A (n = 80), the patients were treated with PVPC through a hypodermic implanted drug delivery pump. In group B (n = 58), the patients were treated with PVPC + IILE.
Results: The total effective rate was 12.6% and 25.9% in group A and group B, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The secondary resectable rate was 2.5% and 12.1% in group A and group B, respectively (P < 0.05). The half-, 1- and 2-year survival rates were 56.3%, 45.0% and 21.2% in group A but 81.0%, 61.2% and 39.6% in group B, respectively. There were significant differences bet ween the two groups (P < 0.05). However, there was no marked difference in incidence rate of complications between the two groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of AVPC + IILE on advanced PHC is better than that of PVPC alone.