Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with CalliSpheres drug-loaded microspheres followed by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of patients with primary liver cancer (PLC). Methods 79 patients with PLC were enrolled in our hospital between January 2019 and January 2021, and were divided into observation (n=43) and control group (n=36), receiving TACE with CalliSpheres drug-loaded microspheres followed by RFA, or the routine TACE followed by RFA. All patients were followed-up for two years. The disease control rate in the two groups after treatment was evaluated according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human heat shock protein 90α (HSP90α) levels were detected by electrochemiluminescence analyzer. Results At the end of one month after treatment, the complete remission, partial remission, stable disease and the total disease control rate in the observation group were 23.3%, 46.5%, 16.3% and 86.1%, while they were 11.1%, 36.1%, 19.4% and 66.7% in the control, with the latter significantly different (P<0.05) between the two groups; at the end of three months after treatment, serum AFP and HSP90α levels in the observation group were (87.5±14.5)μg/L and (126.1±13.3)ng/mL, both significantly lower than [(164.6±17.2)μg/L and (150.8±19.7)ng/mL, respectively, P<0.05] in the control; during the period of treatment, the incidence of side effects in the two groups were 48.8% and 50.0%, not significantly different (P>0.05); the one-year survival rates in the observation and control groups were 83.7% and 72.2%, not significantly different (P>0.05), while the two-year survival rates were 69.8% and 47.2%, significantly different (P<0.05). Conclusion The TACE with CalliSpheres drug-loaded microspheres followed by RFA has a definite efficacy in the treatment of patients with PLC, which might prolong the survival rates.

Key words: Hepatoma, CalliSpheres drug-loaded microspheres, Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, Radiofrequency ablation, Therapy