ArticleFrontiers in oncology2026
Outcomes of transarterial chemoembolization plus percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor diameter > 3 cm versus ≤ 3 cm: a single-center retrospective study.
Article in Frontiers in oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Background/objective: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (pRFA) (TACE-pRFA) for very early/early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumor diameters >3 cm versus ≤ 3 cm. Methods: In this retrospective study, we enrolled 118 patients who underwent TACE-pRFA for a single HCC (≤ 5 cm) from February 2014 to December 2021. Patients were divided into two groups according to the maximum tumor diameter (≤ 3 cm versus > 3 cm). Regular follow-up was conducted after pRFA to assess progression-free survival (PFS). TACE-pRFA-related complications were evaluated. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for PFS. Results: The median PFS of the total cohort was 35.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 24.3-45.7). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative PFS rates in the whole cohort were 84.7% (95% CI, 78.1-91.9%), 47.5% (95% CI, 38.2-59.0%), and 31.5% (95% CI, 22.2-44.9%), respectively. Univariable and multivariable analyses showed that the maximum tumor diameter (p = 0.023) was an independent prognostic factor for PFS after TACE-pRFA. Treatment-related complications were comparable between the ≤ 3 cm group and the > 3 cm group. Conclusion: TACE combined with pRFA is safe for very early/early-stage single HCC ≤5 cm. Maximum tumor diameter is an independent prognostic factor for PFS, while treatment-related complications are comparable between tumors ≤3 cm and >3 cm.
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