Efficacy and safety of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy combined with lenvatinib and sequential ablation in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Purpose: Evaluate the efficacy and safety of triple therapeutic method (Hepatic Aarterial Infusion Chemotherapy—HAIC, lenvatinib and sequential ablation) in the treatment for Advanced Hepatocellular carcinoma (Ad-HCC). Materials and Methods: From November 2018 to June 2021, data from 150 consecutive Ad-HCC patients were collected. All patients received HAIC combined with lenvatinib (H-L group, n = 97) or HAIC combined with lenvatinib and sequential ablation (H-L-A group, n = 53). Complications, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and intrahepatic progression-free survival (IPFS) were compared between both groups. Results: No significant differences of baseline characteristics were found between groups. The time of median follow-up was 17.8 months (range, 6.8, 37.6 months). In comparison to the H-L group, the H-L-A group patients showed significantly longer median OS (>30 months vs 13.6 months, respectively; p = 0.010), PFS (12.8 vs. 5.6 months, respectively; p < 0.001), and IPFS (14.6 vs. 6.8 months, respectively; p = 0.002). According to the results from uni- and multivariable analyses, we considered α-fetoprotein and treatment modality as two survival independent prognostic factors. No significant change of the complication incidences was observed between H-L group and H-L-A group (12.4% vs. 11.3%, p = 0.890). Conclusion: Compared to HAIC combined with lenvatinib only, HAIC combined with lenvatinib and sequential ablation was safer and more effective, improving survival outcomes of Ad-HCC patients. A prospective study will be designed validate the retrospective results.