Clinical comparison of stereotactic body radiotherapy and radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of liver cancer

ZHANG Tao; XIE Hui; SUN Jing; HE Wei-ping; LI Huan; XUE Hui; XU Hui-jun; WANG Hua-ming; DUAN Xue-zhang

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1007-8134.2016.04.007

Abstract：ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma.MethodsFrom Jan 2011 to Dec 2012, 77 patients with inoperable single hepatocellular carcinoma 5cm or smaller underwent SBRT (n=37) or RFA (n=40).ResultsThe follow-up period was 3~58 months. In SBRT group, complete response (CR) was attained in 19 cases (51.35%),partial response (PR) was attained in 13 cases (35.13%),stable disease(SD) was attained in 4 cases (10.81%), progression disease (PD) was attained in one case (2.71%), the response rate(CR+PR) was 86.48%. In RFA group,CR was attained in 23 cases (57.50%), PR was attained in 13 cases (32.50%), SD was attained in 1 case (2.50%), PD was attained in three cases (7.50%) , and the response rate was 90.00%. There weren’t significant differences between two groups(P>0.0). Overall survival rate (OS) ,1, 2 and 3 years after treatment were 94.59%, 81.08% and 70.27% after SBRT and 97.50%, 87.50% and 82.50% after RFA, there weren’t significant difference between two groups (P=0.209). Local control (LC) rate 1, 2 and 3 years after treatment were 94.59%, 91.89% and 89.19% after SBRT and 90.00%, 85.00% and 82.50% after RFA, there weren’t significant difference between two groups(P=0.394).ConclusionsBoth SBRT and RFA are effective local treatment options for inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (single, diameter less than 5 cm). SBRT should be considered as an alternative treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma which is unsuitable for surgical treatment.