Liver Cancer Tumor Rapidly Grows After One Intervention – Does It Mean Treatment Failure?

When a liver cancer tumor grows rapidly after a single interventional procedure, it often suggests that the treatment did not achieve the desired effect. However, it is important not to immediately conclude that the intervention has failed. Interventional therapy remains the preferred treatment option for many patients with intermediate to advanced stage liver cancer, and a large number of patients, including those with massive tumors, can still experience positive responses to this approach.

One session of interventional therapy may not be sufficient to control all tumor areas. Some tumor regions may respond well to treatment, with successful deposition of embolic agents and subsequent tumor shrinkage – a clear sign that the intervention had some effectiveness. However, while certain areas may decrease in size, others may continue to grow. This uneven response is not uncommon and does not necessarily indicate complete treatment failure.

If the patient's overall health permits and liver function remains relatively stable, a second interventional procedure may be considered. Repeating the treatment can help target residual or progressing tumor areas that were not fully affected during the first session.

Combining interventional therapy with systemic treatments can enhance outcomes. For advanced liver cancer, systemic therapies – particularly targeted drugs – play a crucial role. In many cases, combining targeted therapy with immunotherapy has shown to produce a synergistic effect, often described as "1+1>2", especially in certain patient populations. This combined approach may significantly improve tumor control and overall prognosis. Therefore, even if tumor progression is observed after an initial intervention, there are still multiple therapeutic strategies available to manage the disease effectively.