Liver resection or combined chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation improve survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Background/ Aims: To evaluate the long-term outcome of surgical and
non-surgical local treatments of patients with hepatocellular
carcinoma (HCC). Methods: We stratified a cohort of 278 HCC
patients using six independent predictors of survival according to
the Vienna survival model for HCC (VISUM- HCC). Results: Prior to
therapy, 224 HCC patients presented with VISUM stage 1 (median
survival 18 months) while 29 patients were classified as VISUM
stage 2 (median survival 4 months) and 25 patients as VISUM stage 3
(median survival 3 months). A highly significant (p < 0.001)
improved survival time was observed in VISUM stage 1 patients
treated with liver resection ( n = 52; median survival 37 months)
or chemoembolization (TACE) and subsequent radiofrequency ablation
( RFA) ( n = 44; median survival 45 months) as compared to patients
receiving chemoembolization alone (n = 107; median survival 13
months) or patients treated by tamoxifen only (n = 21; median
survival 6 months). Chemoembolization alone significantly (p