[Randomized trial-comparing UFT and FT in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (second report: well controlled study on patients with transcatheter arterial embolization) Osaka Research Society for Liver, Gallbladder and Pancreas].

In a randomized trial Tegafur (FT) or Tegafur.Uracil (UFT) was administrated to 90 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma for whom transcatheter arterial embolization was applied. Efficacy in the reduction of tumor size, subjective symptoms and clinical laboratory findings was comparable in both groups. However, survival rate in the UFT group was significantly higher than in the FT group in only 2 limited subgroups of patients without prior chemotherapy and with tumors found in both lobes of the liver. With respect to adverse effects, complaints about gastrointestinal tract were often noted in the UFT group, but no significant difference was found between the two groups.