The Therapeutic Benefits of Combined Sorafenib and Transarterial Chemoembolization for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Systemic therapy, such as sorafenib, is clinically adapted to treat the patients with advanced stage, or BCLC stage C hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic benefit of combined sorafenib and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) to this group of patients. METHODS: Data on patients with BCLC stage C HCC from August 2012 to September 2017 was collected. The cases who accepted sorafenib alone or sorafenib and TACE were classified as the monotherapy group and the combined therapy group respectively. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients were enrolled. 65 and 53 cases were belonged to the monotherapy group and the combined therapy group, respectively. The general characteristic between these two groups were similar. Prolonged time-to-progression (TTP) (mean 6.42 vs. 3.63 months, p=0.003), and overall survival (OS) (mean 11.21 vs. 5.98 months, p=0.001) were observed in the patients of the combined therapy group comparing with those of the monotherapy group. Subgroup analysis found the subjects with macroscopic vascular invasion (MVI) also had similar results (mean TTP, 7.93 vs. 3.43 months, p=0.007; mean OS, 9.20 vs. 4.37 months, p=0.001), however these significant differences did not exist for those with extrahepatic spread (EHS). CONCLUSION: Combined sorafenib and TACE therapy has significant better outcomes than the use of sorafenib alone, for the patients with advanced stage C HCC, particularly those experiencing MVI. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.