A pre-operative chemoembolization therapy using lipiodol, cisplatin and gelatin sponge for hepatocellular carcinoma.

The significance of pre-operative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization therapy using lipiodol, cisplatin and gelatin sponge (Gelfoam) for the prevention of the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was evaluated. On the 103 patients who underwent radical operations for HCC with a tumor size less than 10 cm, 52 patients received no pre-operative therapy (group C), and 51 patients received pre-operative chemoembolization using lipiodol, a chemotherapeutic agent and Gelfoam. Of these 51 patients, 37 patients received a combination of lipiodol, cisplatin and Gelfoam (group A), while the remaining 14 patients received lipiodol, adriamycin and Gelfoam (group B). The disease-free survival rates after surgery were compared between group A, group B and group C. The 2-year disease-free survival rates in group A, group B and group C were 72%, 46% and 54%, respectively. These rates therefore suggest that pre-operative chemoembolization using lipiodol, cisplatin and Gelfoam is a useful method to prevent the recurrence of HCC after surgery.