Postoperative adjuvant IMRT for patients with HCC and portal vein tumor thrombus: An open-label randomized controlled trial

Radiother Oncol. 2019 Nov:140:20-25. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2019.05.006. Epub 2019 Jun 5.

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the impact of postoperative intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) after partial hepatectomy +/- thrombectomy.

Methods: From July 2013 to June 2016, consecutive patients with HCC and PVTT who underwent partial hepatectomy were randomly assigned to 2 groups: a control group and an adjuvant IMRT group. Survival outcomes in the 2 groups were studied.

Results: The 52 patients in this study were equally randomized into 2 groups with comparable clinicopathological data. The median disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 9.1 ± 1.6 months, 18.9 ± 1.8 months for the adjuvant RT group and 4.1 ± 0.5 months, 10.8 ± 1.3 months for the control group, respectively. The 1-, 2- and 3-years overall survival rates were significantly better in the adjuvant IMRT group (76.9%, 19.2%, and 11.5%; respectively) than the control group (26.9%, 11.5% and 0%, respectively; p = 0.005).

Conclusions: Postoperative IMRT significantly improved the overall survival outcomes in patients with HCC and PVTT after partial hepatectomy +/- thrombectomy.

Keywords: Hepatectomy; IMRT; Overall survival; Portal vein tumor thrombus.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / therapy*
  • Female
  • Hepatectomy
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / mortality
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Portal Vein*
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / methods*
  • Thrombectomy
  • Venous Thrombosis / therapy*

Associated data

  • ChiCTR/ChiCTR-TRC-13003258