Still awaiting evidence on the effect of radiofrequency thermal ablation for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Galandi D, Antes G

Published Online:

January 21, 2009

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Only a minority of the patients can be treated by surgery. Several minimally invasive treatment techniques have been developed to treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Among these, heat coagulation (thermal ablation) induced by radiofrequency is commonly used. At present there is no sufficient evidence to recommend radiofrequency thermal ablation for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Only one trial of good quality shows higher rates of recurrence-free survival compared with percutaneous ethanol injection. According to one small trial, radiofrequency and microwave coagulation of hepatocellular carcinoma caused no significant differences regarding efficacy and safety.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignant diseases worldwide. A potential curative option is surgical resection. Due to impaired liver function and/or anatomical reasons only few patients can be treated surgically. For the majority of patients, several interventions have been developed. Among these, local radiofrequency inducing heat production has been used to coagulate the cancer.

Objectives:

To evaluate the effects of radiofrequency thermal ablation in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with respect to clinically relevant outcomes (mortality, rate of recurrences, adverse events, quality of life, and duration of hospital stay) versus sham intervention, no intervention, or other interventions.

Search strategy:

We searched The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register on The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CancerLit, and Current Contents until October 2003. Handsearches were also conducted. Reference lists of the identified articles were checked for further trials.

Selection criteria:

All randomised trials investigating radiofrequency thermal ablation versus placebo, no intervention, or any other therapeutic approach were considered for inclusion, regardless of blinding, language, and publication status.

Data collection and analysis:

Trial inclusion, quality assessment, and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers. Principal investigators were contacted for further information.

Main results:

Only two randomised clinical trials were identified. One trial including 102 patients compared radiofrequency thermal ablation versus percutaneous ethanol injection for small hepatocellular carcinoma. Radiofrequency thermal ablation significantly increased recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio 0.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.27 to 0.85) but did not significantly influence overall survival (hazard ratio 0.20, 95% CI 0.02 to 1.69). The rate of complications and side effects did not differ significantly between the two groups. Another trial with methodological flaws compared radiofrequency thermal ablation versus percutaneous microwave coagulation for 72 patients with 94 hepatocellular carcinoma lesions. The main outcome criterion was the rate of recurrences in both groups; no significant difference was detected. The rate of side effects did not differ significantly, but significantly more treatment sessions were needed with percutaneous microwave coagulation to achieve complete tumour ablation.

Authors' conclusions:

Radiofrequency thermal ablation seems a potentially promising technique for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma. However, more randomised clinical trials are needed.

This record should be cited as:

Galandi D, Antes G. Radiofrequency thermal ablation versus other interventions for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD003046. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003046.pub2

Assessed as up to date:

February 25, 2004

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Primary Review Group:

Hepato-Biliary Group

Cochrane Summaries^beta

Independent high-quality evidence for health care decision making

Still awaiting evidence on the effect of radiofrequency thermal ablation for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

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