Survival and Tolerability of Transarterial Chemoembolization in Greater Versus less than 70 Years of Age Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Score Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The number of elderly patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is progressively increasing. The aim of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of conventional transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in elderly HCC patients compared with younger adults. METHODS: A consecutive cohort of unresectable HCC patients treated with TACE as a first-line treatment was retrospectively analyzed. Patients were categorized into "elderly" (>/= 70 years, 80 patients) and "younger" ( /= 70 years and primarily predicted by tumor multifocality, Child-Pugh class B and an increased alpha-fetoprotein value (> 31 ng/ml).