Background/aims: This prospective randomized study was aimed to clarify the efficacy of epirubicin after radical hepatic resection for hepatcellular carcinoma (HCC).
Materials and methods: One hundred and one patients entered the present study and were randomly allocated to Group A in which UFT (300 mg/day) was given from 5th postoperative week for one year, or Group B in which a bolus injection of epirubicin (40 mg/m2) was given arterially, in addition to the same UFT administration, on day 28. Groups A and B included 40 and 48 eligible cases, respectively.
Results: No obvious intergroup differences were observed including prescribed dose of UFT. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates (Groups A vs B) were 82 vs 90%, 50 vs 49% and 35 vs 30% (p = 0.2162). Excluding 4 operative deaths, the recurrence-free survival rates were 65 vs 70%, 32 vs 37% and 14 vs 17% (p = 0.3843). Initial recurrence sites were also similar.
Conclusions: A bolus arterial injection of epirubicin does not change the long term results after radical hepatic resection for HCC.