This is a multicenter, prospective and nonrandomized study to evaluate the efficacy of DEB-TACE (with DC Bead) compared with cTACE as the conversion therapy for unresectable large HCC.~At least 216 patients (≥ 108 patients in each arm) with initially unresectable large HCC (> 7cm) will be enrolled in this study. The patients will receive either DEB-TACE or cTACE as the primary treatment according to their won will. TACE can be repeated on demand based on the evaluation of follow-up laboratory and imaging examination by the multidisciplinary team, and the technique method of each TACE procedure (i.e. DEB-TACE or cTACE) for the same patient should be consistent. During follow-up, the potential resectability of the tumor will be assessed by the multidisciplinary team (MDT). Once the tumors become resectable, curative surgical resection will be recommended for the patients.~The primary end point of this study is success rate of conversion to resection. The secondary endpoints are objective response rate (ORR) of TACE, progression-free survival (PFS), times of TACE procedure to achieve conversion, conversion time, success rate of surgical resection, tumor recurrence rate after resection, tumor-free survival (TFS) of patients who undergo surgical resection, adverse events (AEs) and overall survival (OS).
This study is conducted to evaluate the efficacy of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) compared with conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) as the conversion therapy for unresectable large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).