TACE with radioactive seeds implantation for multi-tumor hepatocellular carcinoma

Introduction Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with radioactive seed implantation has emerged as an effective locoregional strategy for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Nevertheless, evidence supporting the use of this combined approach in patients with multi-tumor HCC remains limited.Aim To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of TACE in combination with radioactive seed implantation for multi-tumor HCC. Materials and methodsThis retrospective investigation analyzed consecutive cases of multi-tumor HCC who underwent TACE with or without radioactive seed implantation at our institutions between January 2022 and December 2024.Clinical data, therapeutic responses, long-term outcomes, and treatment-related adverse events were collected and compared between the two cohorts. ResultsOne hundred and twenty individuals were enrolled, of whom 59 had been treatedwith TACE alone and 61 with combined TACE and radioactive seed implantation.The two groups were comparable in terms of demographics and clinical features at baseline.Compared with TACE monotherapy, the combined treatment group demonstrated significantly improved total response rate (49.2% vs. 30.5%,P = 0.04), objective response rate (83.6% vs. 61.0%,P = 0.01), progression-free survival (PFS; 14 months vs. 11 months, P = 0.001), and overall survival (OS; 24 months vs. 20 months, P = 0.02).Multivariable analysis showed that the treatment combination was independently predictive of PFS and OS prolongation.Adverse event incidence was comparable between the treatments. ConclusionsCompared with TACE alone, the combination of TACE and radioactive seed implantation significantly enhances treatment efficacy without compromising safety in patients with multi-tumor HCC.