ENHANCING OUTCOMES FOR ATHLETES WITH PRIMARY LIVER CANCER: EFFICACY AND PROGNOSTIC ANALYSIS OF TACE COMBINED WITH RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION FOR TUMORS IN CHALLENGING LOCATIONS

Abstract

To assess the effectiveness and prognostic impact of combined Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) and Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) in athletes diagnosed with primary liver cancer located at challenging anatomical sites. Method: Between 2020 and 2023, 79 athletes diagnosed with advanced primary liver cancer at unusual sites were retrospectively examined at our facility. They were divided into two groups: a combined treatment group receiving both TACE and RFA (37 athletes) and a control group receiving only TACE (42 athletes). Clinical efficacy was assessed by comparing liver function markers (ALT, AST), tumor marker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and quality of life scores (SF-36) between the groups. Additionally, postoperative complications, recurrence rates, and survival rates were evaluated. Results: The combined treatment group demonstrated significantly better clinical outcomes than the control group (78.37% vs. 57.14%, P<0.05). Post-treatment, both groups showed elevated ALT and AST levels, but these were significantly lower in the combined group compared to the control group. AFP levels were also significantly reduced in the combined group one week post-treatment (P<0.05). Quality of life assessed by SF-36 scores showed significant improvement three months post-treatment in both groups, with the combined group scoring higher than the control group (P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications was lower in the combined group (10.71% vs. 38.19%, P<0.05), as was the recurrence rate (8.11% vs. 26.19%), while the survival rate was higher (94.59% vs. 78.57%, P<0.05). Conclusion: The synergistic approach of TACE combined with RFA significantly enhances therapeutic outcomes for athletes with challenging primary liver cancers, minimizing liver damage, reducing tumor activity, and improving survival rates while also enhancing overall quality of life. This combined modality offers a promising treatment pathway for improving long-term prognosis in this specialized patient cohort.