TACE+SBRT for HCC (Kubo)

Background

Retrospective analysis (Japan). Patients with HCC treated with sequential TACE followed by SBRT at a Japanese institution. Evaluated safety and efficacy of this combination approach for patients not amenable to surgery or RFA. SBRT doses and fractionation varied per normal tissue constraints.

Interventions and follow up

Arm A: Sequential TACE → SBRT (variable doses)
Arm B: N/A — single-arm retrospective analysi
Primary endpoint: Local control and overall survival
mFollow up: Reported in cohort analysi

Results

Local control: High rates consistent with other TACE+SBRT series
OS: Reported at 2–3 years

Adverse events

Toxicity: Acceptable
Main adverse events: Hepatic and GI toxicities at rates comparable to other TACE+SBRT series; no unexpected severe toxicities.

Conclusions

TACE followed by SBRT is safe and achieves effective local control for HCC not amenable to surgery or RFA, contributing additional institutional evidence supporting this sequential combination approach in Japanese-practice settings.

Key Limitations

Key Limitations: Retrospective design with potential selection bias. Single-institution Japanese series; results may not generalize to Western HCC populations or practice settings. Heterogeneous SBRT dosing. Short follow-up in some analyses. No randomized comparison to TACE alone, RFA, or SBRT alone.

Clinical Context

Adds to the growing Japanese institutional experience with TACE+SBRT for HCC. Consistent with findings from Kang (Cancer 2012), Takeda (Cancer 2016), and Yoon (JAMA Oncol 2018), supporting sequential TACE+SBRT as an effective locoregional strategy. The combination is particularly well-suited for HCC with residual viable tumor after TACE or for patients with portal vein involvement where RFA is not feasible.

References

References: Kubo K et al, Hepatol Res 2018 (TACE+SBRT for HCC)