Radiofrequency Ablation Combined With Non-Specific Sequential Immunotherapy For Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective To investigate the effect of radiofrequency ablation(RFA)combined with non-specific sequential immunotherapy(Thymalfasin plus IL-2)for hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods The clinical data of 79 patients who underwent RFA therapy at the people's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from January 2009 to December 2015 were propectively analyzed.Patients were divided into 3 groups randomly,group A:single RFA therapy,group B:RFA+IM(1-3 courses of treatment),group C:RFA+IM(?4 courses of treatment).The recurrence time of tumor and the survival time of patients for the 3 groups were recorded.measurement data were presented as x±s,and comparison among groups was analyzed using the one way ANOVA.Count data were presented as the frequency and percentage,and comparison was analyzed using the chi-square test.The median time to recurrence and survival were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier,prognostic factors of patients after treating with RFA was analyzed using Cox proportional hazard model.Results A total of 79 patients were accepted,3 3patients in group A,24 patients in group B,22 patients in group C.7 patients dropped out of the study(2 in group A,2 in group B,3 in group C).For group A,B and C,the 1 year recurrence rate was 19.4%,13.6%and 10.5%(X2=0.714,P=0.772),the median reccurence time was 24.0,30.0 and 33.0 months respectively(P=0.194),the median survival time was 46.0,56.0 and 57.0 months respectively(P=0.029).The result of univariate analysis indicated that immunotherapy,-recurrence tumor,the number of tumors and BCLC stages were prognostic factors of patients after treating with RFA.The results of multivariate analysis indicated that immunotherapy,BCLC stages and the number of tumors were the independent prognostic factors for the long-term survival of patients after treating with RFA.Conclusion Immunotherapy of thymalfasin plus IL-2 can prolong survival time of patients after treating with RFA.Immunotherapy,BCLC stages and the number of tumors were the independent prognostic factors for the long-term survival of patients after treating with RFA.