TACE-HAIC Combined With TKIs and Immunotherapy Versus TACE Alone for Hepatocellular Carcinoma With PVTT

TACE-HAIC Combined With Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy Versus TACE Alone for Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus: A Propensity Score Matching Study

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized with vascular invasion, particularly of the portal vein, resulting in portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) in 10%-40% of HCC patients at the time of HCC diagnosis. The prognosis of these patients is extremely poor.Treatment efficacy and safety using a combined therapy (TACE-HAIC combined with TKIs and PD-1 inhibitors) were compared with TACE alone in treatment of HCC patients with PVTT.

Inclusion Criteria:

• (a) HCC patients with PVTT (Vp1-4) treated by TACE, or the combination therapy (TACE-HAIC combined with TKIs or an PD-1 inhibitors) as initial treatment; (b) age between 18 and 75 years; (c) Child-Pugh A or B liver function; (d) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1; (e) adequate hematologic blood counts (white blood cell count >3ⅹ109/L, absolute neutrophil count >1.5ⅹ109/L, platelet count >10ⅹ109/L, hemoglobin concentration >85 g/L); (f) no extrahepatic metastasis.

Exclusion Criteria:

• (a) severe underlying cardiac, pulmonary, or renal diseases; (b) history of a second primary malignant tumor; (c) incomplete medical data; (d) loss to follow-up.