Brief Article
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 21, 2013; 19(47): 9104-9110
Published online Dec 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i47.9104
131I-labeled metuximab combined with chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma
Qing He, Wu-Sheng Lu, Yang Liu, Yong-Song Guan, An-Ren Kuang
Qing He, Yong-Song Guan, Oncology Department, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Wu-Sheng Lu, Department of Vascular Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Yang Liu, Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
An-Ren Kuang, Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: He Q and Kuang AR conceived and designed the study, and prepared the manuscript; Lu WS, Guan YS and Liu Y acquired and analyzed the data.
Correspondence to: Dr. An-Ren Kuang, Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, No. 37, Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. kuanganren@263.net
Telephone: +86-28-85423270 Fax: +86-28-85423278
Received: September 4, 2013
Revised: October 8, 2013
Accepted: November 2, 2013
Published online: December 21, 2013
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the safety and effectiveness of combined 131I-metuximab and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS: One hundred and eighty-five patients (159 men and 26 women) with advanced HCC were enrolled in this study from February 2009 to July 2011. There were 95 patients in the combined metuximab and TACE group, and 90 patients in the TACE only group. The patients were followed for 12 mo. Clinical symptoms, blood cell counts, Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) evaluation and therapeutic effects according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors were recorded and evaluated.

RESULTS: The 1-mo effective rates (complete response + partial response + stable disease) of the test group and control group were 71.23% and 38.89%, respectively (P < 0.001). The 6-, 9- and 12-mo survival rates were 86.42%, 74.07% and 60.49% for the test group and 60.0%, 42.22% and 34.44% for the control group (P < 0.001). The incidence of adverse events (gastrointestinal symptoms, fever and pain) and blood cell toxicity were significantly higher for the test group than for the control group (P < 0.001). No severe 131I-metuximab-related complications were identified. With respect to efficacy, patients in the test group had greater improvement in tumor-related pain (P = 0.014) and increase in KPS (P < 0.001) than those in the control group.

CONCLUSION: Combination of 131I-metuximab and TACE prolonged the survival time in patients with HCC compared with TACE alone. The combination treatment was safe and effective.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma, 131I-metuximab, Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, Radioimmunotherapy

Core tip:131I-metuximab has high affinity with a target antigen highly expressed on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and a limited area of action. The combination of metuximab and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization had a synergistic effect in the treatment of HCC. It may represent a promising treatment modality for patients with advanced HCC, especially for those patients with multiple nodules who have a heavy tumor burden.