Introduction
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite advancements in treatment, the prognosis for advanced HCC remains poor. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of combining transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with lenvatinib and a PD-1 inhibitor (TACE-L-P) versus TACE combined with lenvatinib alone (TACE-L) in patients with advanced HCC.
Materials and Methods
From January 2019 to December 2020, data from 81 patients with advanced HCC treated with either TACE-L-P or TACE-L were analyzed. The study compared overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), tumor responses, and adverse events (AEs) between the two groups.
Results
Patients treated with TACE-L-P had significantly longer median OS (16.9 vs. 12.1 months, P=0.009) and PFS (7.3 vs. 4.0 months, P=0.002) compared to those treated with TACE-L. The TACE-L-P group also showed higher objective response rates (56.1% vs. 32.5%, P=0.033) and disease control rates (85.4% vs. 62.5%, P=0.019). The incidence and severity of AEs were comparable between the two groups.
Conclusion
The combination of TACE, lenvatinib, and a PD-1 inhibitor significantly improves survival outcomes in patients with advanced HCC, especially those with extrahepatic metastasis or multiple tumors, without significantly increasing the risk of adverse events. This suggests that TACE-L-P could be a superior treatment option for advanced HCC patients.
Keywords
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
- Transarterial chemoembolization
- Lenvatinib
- PD-1 inhibitor
- Combined therapy
