Intervention of raltitrexed combined with epirubicin in hepatic arterial infusion and embolization in treatment of primary liver cancer

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of intervention of raltitrexed combined with epirubicin in hepatic arterial infusion and embolization in the treatment of advanced primary liver cancer.Methods A total of 80 patients with advanced primary liver cancer who were admitted to the Central Hospital of China National Petroleum Corporation from January 2011 to May 2013 and not suitable for surgical treatment were selected and randomly divided into study group(n = 40) and control group(n = 40).The study group was treated with intervention of raltitrexed combined with epirubicin in hepatic arterial infusion and embolization,while the control group was treated with intervention of fluorouracil(5-FU) combined with epirubicin in hepatic arterial infusion and embolization.The treatment was given once every four weeks for a total of three to six circles.The response rate(RR),disease control rate(DCR),median time to progression,survival rate,and the decreases in alpha fetoprotein(AFP),carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),transaminase,and bilirubin of the two groups were observed.Comparison of categorical data between the two groups was made by chi-square test,and comparison of continuous data was made by t test.Results The RRs of the study group and control group were 52.5% and 22.5%,respectively,and the difference was significant(χ2= 7.680,P = 0.006); the DCRs of the study group and control group were 87.5% and 60.0%,respectively,and the difference was significant(χ2= 7.813,P = 0.005); the median time to progression of the study group and control group was 12.2 and 8.0 months,respectively,and the difference was significant(t = 5.118,P = 0.00); the 1-and 2-year survival rates of the study group were 85.0% and60.0%,respectively,with the control group being 65.0% and 37.5%,and the difference was significant(χ2= 4.267,P = 0.039; χ2= 4.053,P = 0.044).One month after chemoembolization,the number of patients whose AFP,transaminase,and bilirubin levels decreased more than 50% in the study group was significantly larger than that of the control group(χ2= 4.381,4.114,and 5.000,P = 0.036,0.043,and 0.025).Conclusion The intervention of raltitrexed combined with epirubicin in hepatic arterial infusion and embolization is of good value in the treatment of advanced primary liver cancer,and should be applied clinically.