Biochemical Changes of Liver Function in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Following Radiotherapy and Hyperthermia

Oh,  Young Taek; Seong,  Jinsil; Shin,  Hyun Soo; Kim,  Gwi Eon

J Korean Soc Ther Radiol > Volume 11(1); 1993 > Article

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society for Therapeutic Radiology 1993;11(1): 109-128.

Biochemical Changes of Liver Function in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Following Radiotherapy and Hyperthermia

Young Taek Oh, Jinsil Seong, Hyun Soo Shin, Gwi Eon Kim

Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, yonsei Cancel Center, Korea.

ABSTRACT

To analyze biochemical changes of liver function following combined radiotherapy and hyperthermia, we reviewed retrospectively 37 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with radiotherapy and hyperthermia between July 1988 and December 1990 at Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine. Mean age was 52.7 years and male to female ratio was 11:1. The patients were classified as follows; to A and B group by Child's classification, to M and L group by irradiated volume, and subclassified into BM, BL, AM and AL group according to the combination of Child's classification and irradiated volume. Radiation dose to the primary tumor was 3060 cGy with daily 180 cGy, 5 fraction per week using 10 MV or 4 MV linear accelerator. Hyperthermia (Thermotron RF-8) was performed more than 4 times in all patients. Biochemical parameters including albHmin (Alb), total bilirubin(T. Bil), aspartate aminotransferase (AST or SGOT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT or SGPT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were regularly followed from 1 week before the treatment to 3 months after the treatment. The results are summerized as follows; 1) In all the patient, mean ALP level peaked at 1 month, decreased at 2 months, slightly increased at 3 months after the treatment. Mean SGOT and SGPT levels peaked at 1 month after the treatment. Mean T. Bil level increased continuously and highest at 3 months after the treatment. Mean Alb level did not show significant changes.; 2) Mean ALP level retired to normal level at 3 month after the treatment in A but increased in B group and the differences were statistically significant(p<0.01). Mean SGOT and SGPT levels peaked 1 month in A and 2 months after the treatment in B group. All the biochemical parameters did not show significant difference between M and L group. Mean ALP level increased at 3 months after the treatment in BM and BL groups and decreased in AM and AL groups. Mean SGOT level increased at 3 months after the treatment in BL groups.; 3) Hepatic failure occurred within 3 months after the treatment in 4 patients, all of whom were in BL group. It is suggested that pre-treatment 1iver function and irradiated volume influence biochemical changes of liver in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma following combined radiotherapy and hyperthermia, and this treatment modality appears generally to be safe but might cause hepatic failure particularly in patient with poor liver function and large treatment volume.