To explore the clinical efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with blank microspheres for liver cancer.

Clinical data of 80 patients with liver cancer who underwent TACE from January 2016 to June 2018 at the First People's Hospital of Foshan were retrospectively analyzed. The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the local ethical committee approval was received. Among them, 53 patients were male and 27 female, aged 38-82 years with a median of 56 years. The patients were assigned to blank microsphere group and control group according to different treatments, with 40 cases in each group. Patients in blank microsphere group received treatments of blank microsphere + epirubicin and patients in control group received treatments of traditional lipiodol emulsion + epirubicin. Comparisons of short-term outcome, tumor necrosis rate and incidence of adverse reaction between two groups were performed using Chi-square test. Comparison of scores of life quality after cancer survivorship was conducted using t test.

The objective response rate and tumor necrosis rate at postoperative 6 months in blank microsphere group were 83%(33/40) and 85%(34/40), respectively, which were significantly higher than 60%(24/40) and 65%(26/40) in control group (χ²=4.943, 4.267; P<0.05). At postoperative 6 month, the scores of physical health, mental health, social functioning, and general well-being in blank microsphere group were 87±8, 86±8, 87±8 and 87±8 respectively, which were significantly higher than 78±7, 77±7, 79±7 and 78±7 in control group (t=5.137, 4.785, 4.774, 4.835; P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative adverse reactions was 5%(2/40) in blank microsphere group, which was significantly lower than 20%(8/40) in control group (χ²=4.114, P<0.05).

TACE with blank microsphere for liver cancer can elevate the short-term curative efficacy and tumor necrosis rate and decrease the incidence of postoperative adverse reactions.