To compare the two groups, the Mann–Whitney U-test was used for continuous variables and the χ2-test for categorical variables. In addition, the cumulative survival rate and the recurrence-free survival rate were evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier estimator. Differences in the cumulative survival rate and recurrence-free survival rate were analyzed using the log–rank test. Multivariate

analysis was performed with some categories using Cox’s proportional hazards model. For each statistical test, P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The statistical software used was JMP version 9.0.2 (SAS Institute, Tokyo, Japan). TABLE 1 SUMMARIZES THE patient Mitomycin C ic50 characteristics of each group. The mean (± standard deviation) age was 67 ± 8 years in the HR group and 69 ± 10 years in the RF group. The HR group consisted of 14 male 5-Fluoracil mouse patients and one female patient and the RF group

consisted of 21 male patients and 12 female patients. There were significantly more female patients in the RF group than in the HR group (P = 0.03). In the HR group, positive results were obtained for hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen in two patients and hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody in 12 patients, whereas one patient indicated a negative result for both the HBV surface antigen and HCV antibody. In the RF group, positive results were obtained for HBV surface antigen in five Immune system patients and HCV antibody in 22 patients, whereas six patients indicated a negative result for both the HBV surface antigen and HCV antibody. The rate of preoperative TAE was significantly different between the groups (40.0% in the HR group and 81.8%

in the RF group; P = 0.006). The mean maximum tumor diameter was 2.5 ± 0.4 cm in the HR group and 2.0 ± 1.1 cm in the RF group (P = 0.003), whereas the mean number of tumors was 1.2 ± 0.6 in the HR group and 1.5 ± 0.9 in the RF group (P = 0.39). None of the biochemical and hematology test results were significantly different between the two groups, with the exception of the mean PT levels that differed significantly between the groups (94% ± 8% in the HR group and 86% ± 9% in the RF group; P = 0.008). Fourteen patients had a Child–Pugh score of A and one patient had a score of B in the HR group, whereas 28 patients had a Child–Pugh score of A and five patients had a score of B in the RF group. None of the patients had a Child–Pugh score of C. In the HR group, only one patient experienced a significant bile leak after the procedure; however, in the RF group, none of the patients developed any complications after the procedure. The 1-, 3- and 5-year cumulative survival rates for the HR group were 89.1%, 68.7% and 68.