Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Complete Radiologic Response to Trans-Arterial Embolization: A Retrospective Study on Patterns, Treatments, and Prognoses.

Background: There is limited information about the long-term outcomes and patterns of progression in patients who have unresectable, liver-confined hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with complete response (CR) to transarterial embolization and do not undergo resection or transplantation (LT).

Methods: A retrospective review analyzed participants in a randomized trial comparing hepatic artery embolization (HAE) and drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) with doxorubicin who had CR according to modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST). The overall survival (OS), incidence and patterns of progression, and factors associated with progression were assessed.