Efficacy And Safety Of Raltitrexed Plus Oxaliplatin-Based Transarterial Chemoembolization In Patients With Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

• Main Authors: Shao W, Li C, Tang J, Song J, Li Z, Sun J, Xu Y, Zheng Z, Cao J, Zhang L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2019-11-01
• Series: Cancer Management and Research
• Subjects: raltitrexed; oxaliplatin; hepatocellular carcinoma; transarterial chemoembolization
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/efficacy-and-safety-of-raltitrexed-plus-oxaliplatin-based-transarteria-peer-reviewed-article-CMAR

Wenbo Shao,1,* Caixia Li,2,* Jun Tang,3 Jinlong Song,1 Zixiang Li,4 Jize Sun,5 Yili Xu,6 Zhaomin Zheng,7 Jingqin Cao,8 Lei Zhang3 1Department of Surgical Oncology (Interventional Therapy), Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Interventional Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Interventional Radiology, Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Jinan, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Interventional Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Interventional Radiology, Qingdao Central Hospital, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Interventional Radiology, 960 Hospital of People’s Liberation Army, Tai’an, People’s Republic of China; 7Department of Interventional Radiology, Qianfoshan Hospital of Shandong Province, Jinan, People’s Republic of China; 8Department of Interventional Radiology, People’s Hospital of Jining City, Jining, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jun TangDepartment of Interventional Radiology, Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, 324 Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong 250021, People’s Republic of ChinaTel [phone]Email [e-mail] SongDepartment of Surgical Oncology (Interventional Therapy), Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 440 Jiyan Road, Jinan, Shandong 250117, People’s Republic of ChinaTel [phone]Email [e-mail]: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of raltitrexed plus oxaliplatin-based transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods: A total of 123 patients with unresectable HCC were recruited into the prospective cohort study. Raltitrexed plus oxaliplatin-based TACE was performed according to the traditional method at monthly intervals and was repeated for up to 4 cycles if no disease progression or intolerable toxicity occurred. The primary efficacy endpoint was overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and tumor response rate. The Cox proportional-hazards regression model was used to assess the independent prognostic factors of OS. Adverse events were also observed.Results: The median OS time and PFS were 623 days (95% CI: 461, 785) and 338 days (95% CI: 302, 704), respectively. The disease control rate was 95.5% (118/123). The Cox proportional-hazards regression model indicated that age, ECOG performance status and response to TACE as independent prognostic factors of OS. No treatment-related mortality occurred within 30 days of treatment procedure. The most common complications included postembolization syndrome, liver dysfunction and hematological toxicity. Grade 3 pain, transglutaminase abnormality and thrombocytopenia were observed in 16 (13%), 15 (12.2%) and 3 (2.4%) patients, respectively. No grade 4 adverse events were observed.Conclusion: Raltitrexed plus oxaliplatin-based TACE led to high tumor response rate and promising PFS and OS, and was considered safe and tolerable in patients with unresectable HCC.Keywords: raltitrexed, oxaliplatin, hepatocellular carcinoma, transarterial chemoembolization