The effect of gene therapy on postoperative recurrence of small hepatocellular carcinoma (less than 5cm).

To observe the curative effect of surgery combined with gene therapy on small hepatocellular carcinoma. Seventy-seven patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (diameter < 5 cm) underwent surgical resection. The tumor located at the edge of the liver was treated by local excision or irregular hepatectomy. The tumor in the center of the liver was resected by hepatic lobectomy in order to ensure at least a 2-cm safety margin. Fifty-four patients underwent gene therapy (gene group) one or two times before operation, whereas 23 patients underwent surgery alone (control group) selected by themselves. The injectable gene was made of ADV-TK (adenovirus containing thymidine kinase suicide gene, with a concentration of 5 × 1012 /ml). The prognosis of patients was analyzed by imaging twice a year. In the gene group, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 91.4, 63.6, and 52.1%. In the control group, the survival rates were 84.3, 54.4, and 32.6%, respectively. There was a significant difference in the overall survival rates between two groups. Factors associated with overall survival in univariate analysis included bilirubin, prothrombin activity, cirrhosis, and gene therapy (P < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, it included cirrhosis, gene therapy, and bilirubin. The gene therapy hepatocellular carcinoma patients with a diameter < 5 cm could significantly reduce recurrence after operation. It was worthy of being popularized.