Epidemiological profile of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with indication for chemoembolization: Retrospective analysis in a tertiary level hospital

• Grant number: 25/03093-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Simone Reges Perales
• Grantee: Beatriz Piaulino de Araujo
• Host Institution: Hospital de Clínicas (HC). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver tumor with high prevalence in the world population and develops mainly due to chronic liver diseases. In this population, routine screening for this type of lesion should be performed every six months with ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein measurement, a serum marker that may be altered in the presence of this type of lesion. In the presence of lesions or an increase in this marker, abdominal tomography or MRI is performed; and, through the characteristics of the lesion and contrast behavior, it is possible to confirm the diagnosis. For staging and treatment of HCC, the BCLC system is used; and, in certain stages, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), which consists of the infusion of chemotherapy associated with embolization of the vessels that feed the tumor, can be used, with different objectives. Objectives: To evaluate the epidemiological profile of patients with HCC and indication for TACE at the Hospital de Clínicas da UNICAMP from 2020 to 2024. Methodology: This is an observational, retrospective, cross-sectional cohort study. Medical records of patients with HCC and indication for TACE during the study period will be analyzed. For the epidemiological analysis, the following will be investigated: patient's age at the time of TACE; race; sex; etiology of liver disease; Child-Pugh, BCLC and MELD scores before the procedure; inclusion or not on the liver transplant list; serum alpha-fetoprotein value before and after TACE; purpose of TACE; size and number of lesions before and after TACE; LI-RADS of lesions before and after TACE.