BACKGROUND/AIMS: Main portal branch embolization was developed several years before in an attempt to improve prognosis and outcome for patients suffering from advanced liver malignancies. METHODOLOGY: From September 1993 to September 2000 43 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma underwent main portal branch transection and neo- and adjuvant transarterial immunochemotherapy. Forty days after initial surgery, all patients underwent a phase II surgical exploration for liver resection. RESULTS: Survival ranged from 18 months to 64 months with a median of 41 months. Two- and 5-year survival was 75% and 57%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Main portal branch transection combined with major liver resection and neoadjuvant and adjuvant locoregional immunochemotherapy fulfilled our expectations firstly for increasing the resectability rate and secondly for increasing the overall survival and the disease-free survival.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Main portal branch embolization was developed several years before in an attempt to improve prognosis and outcome for patients suffering from advanced liver malignancies. METHODOLOGY: From September 1993 to September 2000 43 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma underwent main portal branch transection and neo- and adjuvant transarterial immunochemotherapy. Forty days after initial surgery, all patients underwent a phase II surgical exploration for liver resection. RESULTS: Survival ranged from 18 months to 64 months with a median of 41 months. Two- and 5-year survival was 75% and 57%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Main portal branch transection combined with major liver resection and neoadjuvant and adjuvant locoregional immunochemotherapy fulfilled our expectations firstly for increasing the resectability rate and secondly for increasing the overall survival and the disease-free survival.