Data from: In vitro properties of patient serum predict clinical outcome after high dose rate brachytherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma

This study aimed to investigate whether induced factors that appear in patient serum after HDR-BT alter HCC growth in vitro, and whether this correlates with outcome. In total, 23 HCC patients [Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) stage A or B] were treated by HDR‑BT (1×15 Gy) and classified as responders in case of no progression within 6 months and no diffuse systemic progression within 2 years (n=12), or non-responders with recurrence within 6 months and/or diffuse systemic tumor progression or extrahepatic disease within 2 years (n=11).

Patient serum was obtained at baseline and 48 h post-procedure. Two hepatoma cell lines (HepG2, Huh7) were incubated for 72 h in the presence of 20% serum. BrdU incorporation was assessed for serum incubation at baseline and 48 h post-HDR‑BT.