# Changes in serum cholyglycine and prealbumin levels, glutamyl transpeptidase, and Alpha-fetoprotein after transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation combined with microwave ablation of liver cancer

## TL;DR

Combining TACE with MWA improves survival and liver function in middle- or advanced-stage liver cancer patients compared to TACE alone.

## Contribution

Demonstrates that combining TACE and MWA leads to better clinical outcomes in liver cancer treatment.

## Key findings

- The combination group showed higher survival rates and better liver function markers than the TACE-only group.
- Patients in the combination group had improved quality of life and lower complication rates.
- Post-treatment levels of cholyglycine and prealbumin were significantly higher in the combination group.

## Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation (TACE) alone and in combination with microwave ablation (MWA) for patients with middle- or advanced-stage primary liver cancer (PLC) and analyse the causes of complications.

A total of 100 patients with middle or advancedstage PLC were divided into two groups: the TACE group (TACEG, n = 50), which received TACE alone, and the combination group (CG, n = 50), which underwent TACE combined with MWA. Clinical parameters were evaluated before and after treatment, including the quality of life (QoL) assessed by the SF-36 score, serum liver function indices, treatment response, 1-year overall survival (OS) rate, and complication rates.

Compared to the TACEG, the CG demonstrated significantly higher SF-36 scores, objective response rate (ORR) (32% vs 50%), disease control rate (Dc R) (82% vs 90%), and 1-year OS (60% vs 84%), while exhibiting a lower 1-year complication rate (34% vs 16%). Additionally, post-treatment levels of cholyglycine (CG) and prealbumin (PAB) were significantly higher in the CG, whereas total bilirubin (TBil), direct bilirubin (DBil), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were significantly lower (all P< 0.05).

TACE combined with MWA is an effective and safe treatment for middle or advanced PLC, significantly improving liver function and postoperative survival rates.