Transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma with drug-eluting microspheres

To investigate the efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with microspheres (HepaSphere) loaded with doxorubicin in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). From April to December 2013, 50 patients with HCC were treated by selective TACE using HepaSphere microspheres loaded with doxorubicin. The size of the lesions was from 2 to 9 cm (mean 5.2). All of the procedures were technically successful, and there were no major complications. At 1-month follow-up, there was complete tumor response in 48%, partial response in 42%, stable disease in 10%, and there were no cases of disease progression. At 3-month follow-up, complete tumor response was observed in 42%, partial response in 38%, stable disease in 16%, and progressive disease in 4%. At 6-month follow-up, there was complete response in 40%, partial response in 36%, stable disease in 10% and progressive disease in 14%.Within the initial 6-month follow-up, TACE with HepaSphere was successfully repeated once in 3 patients, whereas 2 patients underwent the procedure twice. Chemoembolization using doxorubicin-loaded HepaSphere is a safe and effective treatment of HCC as demonstrated by the low complication rate, and increased tumor response. When complete tumor response is not achieved, additional treatments can be performed without difficulties.