[Hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombi in the portal vein. A comparison of therapeutic effects by different treatments].
Cheng. Shu-qun SQ; Wu. Meng-chao MC; Chen. Han H; Shen. Feng F; Yang. Jia-he JH; Cong. Wen-ming WM; Zhao. Yu-xiang YX; Wang. Pei-jun PJ; Ding. Guang-hui GH
Key Findings
- Thymosin‑alpha‑1 was given after liver tumor removal, portal vein clot removal, and TACE in 9 patients
- Median survival rose to 10 months with thymosin‑alpha‑1 versus 7 months without it
- One‑year survival was 44% with thymosin‑alpha‑1 versus 15% without it
Practical Outcomes
- The data hint that thymosin‑alpha‑1 might boost survival after aggressive liver cancer treatment, but the study is very small and only applies to cancer patients, not healthy individuals. For biohackers, it’s not a ready‑to‑use longevity or performance protocol, but it adds a modest piece of evidence for its potential use in oncology settings.
Summary
In a small study of liver cancer patients with portal vein tumor clots, adding the peptide thymosin‑alpha‑1 after surgery and chemo‑embolisation seemed to lengthen survival compared to the same treatment without the peptide, though the sample was tiny.
Abstract
To investigate the effects of different treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumor thrombus in the portal vein (PVTT). From Jan. 2000 to Jan. 2003, a total of 84 HCC patients with PVTT were divided into five groups based on methed of treatment: Group A (n = 9), HCC resection + PVTT removal + postoperative TACE + thymosin alpha(1); Group B (n = 20), HCC resection + PVTT removal + postoperative TACE; Group C (n = 7), HCC resection + PVTT removal; Group D (n = 38), TACE only; Group E (n = 10), conservative treatment only. The rate of PVTT shrinkage or disappearance of groups A, B, C, D and E was 66.7%, 70.0%, 57.1%, 7.9% and 0, respectively with respective median survival time of 10.0, 7.0, 8.0, 5.0 and 2.0 months. The one year survival rate was 44.4%, 15.0%, 14.3%, 10.5% and 0. Resection of HCC and removal of tumor thrombus in the portal vein may have the tumor thrombus cleared in most of the patients and postoperative TACE and thymisin alpha(1) treatment may improve their survival.
Study Information
pubmed
2005