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Multicenter randomized controlled trial of percutaneous cryoablation versus radiofrequency ablation in hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Wang Chunping,
Wang Huaming,
Yang Wuwei,
Hu Kaiwen,
Xie Hui,
Hu KeQin,
Bai Wenlin,
Dong Zheng,
Lu Yinying,
Zeng Zhen,
Lou Min,
Wang Hong,
Gao Xudong,
Chang Xiujuan,
An Linjing,
Qu Jianhui,
Li Jin,
Yang Yongping
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.27548
Subject(s) - cryoablation , medicine , radiofrequency ablation , hepatocellular carcinoma , randomized controlled trial , percutaneous , ablation , cirrhosis , radiology , surgery
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is considered a curative treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Growing data have demonstrated that cryoablation represents a safe and effective alternative therapy for HCC, but no randomized controlled trial (RCT) has been reported to compare cryoablation with RFA in HCC treatment. The present study was a multicenter RCT aimed to compare the outcomes of percutaneous cryoablation with RFA for the treatment of HCC. In all, 360 patients with Child‐Pugh class A or B cirrhosis and one or two HCC lesions ≤ 4 cm, treatment‐naïve, without metastasis were randomly assigned to cryoablation (n = 180) or RFA (n = 180). The primary endpoints were local tumor progression at 3 years after treatment and safety. Local tumor progression rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 3%, 7%, and 7% for cryoablation and 9%, 11%, and 11% for RFA, respectively ( P = 0.043). For lesions >3 cm in diameter, the local tumor progression rate was significantly lower in the cryoablation group versus the RFA group (7.7% versus 18.2%, P = 0.041). The 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year overall survival rates were 97%, 67%, and 40% for cryoablation and 97%, 66%, and 38% for RFA, respectively ( P = 0.747). The 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year tumor‐free survival rates were 89%, 54%, and 35% in the cryoablation group and 84%, 50%, and 34% in the RFA group, respectively ( P = 0.628). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that Child‐Pugh class B and distant intrahepatic recurrence were significant negative predictors for overall survival. Major complications occurred in seven patients (3.9%) following cryoablation and in six patients (3.3%) following RFA ( P = 0.776). Conclusion : Cryoablation resulted in a significantly lower local tumor progression than RFA, although both cryoablation and RFA were equally safe and effective, with similar 5‐year survival rates. (H epatology 2015;61:1579–1590)