Ruggero Vercelli, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Rocco Corso MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Antonio Rampoldi, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Claudio Zavaglia, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Davide Leni, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Angelo Vanzulli MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The objective of this non-randomized controlled trial was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of ¹³¹I-labeled Lipiodol for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to evaluate prognostic variables associated with survival.

From January 1997 to May 2000, 40 patients with advanced HCC, who were not suitable for surgery, percutaneous ablative therapies or transarterial chemoembolization, were treated with a fixed dose of ¹³¹I-labeled Lipiodol (2.2 Mbq), given transarterially into the hepatic artery. Eighty-two patients untreated, who fullfilled to the same exclusion/inclusion criteria used for the treated patients, served as controls. The two groups were comparable for sex, age, severity of cirrhosis and tumor stage. Tumor response was assessed on the basis of contrast-enhanced CT measurement of tumor size.

One month after the first treatment, a partial or complete response was observed in 15 (37.5%) patients, but no change or a minor response was found in 25 (62.5%). In the univariate analysis, the 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates of treated patients (52%, 40% and 30%) were significantly different from the control group (40%, 14% and 0%, pOn the contrary, the estimated probability of death at 6 months for untreated patients with bilirubin levels >=2mg/dL and with portal vein obstruction is 100%.

In patients with advanced HCC, who are not amenable to any potentially curative treatment, treatment with ¹³¹I-labeled Lipiodol has an appreciable antitumoral effect in a third about of cases and shows partial or complete responses after a single course of therapy. Moreover treatment with ¹³¹I-labeled Lipiodol can prolong survival in patients without portal vein thrombosis and serum bilirubin levels within normal limits.

Vercelli, R, Corso, R, Rampoldi, A, Zavaglia, C, Leni, D, Vanzulli, A, Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Selective Intra-arterial Injection of Iodine-131-labeled Lipiodol: Univariate and Multivariate Analysis of Prognostic Variable Associated with Survival.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4404470.html