Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment by Using TACE: a literature review

Abstract

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent liver malignancy. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the gold standard treatment for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B patients, who are considered to have unresectable HCC. In the following review, it is shown that the BCLC stage B group is too heterogenous, at the same time some patients may present a better outcome by receiving a more aggressive procedure, while others may benefit from systemic therapy. Those methods suggest which is the optimal treatment for BCLC stage B patients and when to apply it. Apart from alternatives to TACE, this review has highlighted other situations when TACE may be used – BCLC stage A or C.