Clinical outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma patients after hepatectomy treated with TACE in combination with sorafenib: a propensity score matched analysis

BACKGROUND: To assess the long-term effects of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with sorafenib versus TACE alone procedures in recurrent patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: A total of 381 recurrent patients treated with partial hepatectomy undergoing either TACE + sorafenib treatment or TACE alone were included in this retrospective research. To minimize bias brought on by confounding factors, propensity score matching (PSM) was used. The clinical effectiveness, complications, and negative responses of two groups were noted. Overall survival (OS) was the main result. The secondary outcome was time to target tumor progression (TTTP). The risk variables for OS were investigated using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: There were 32 individuals in each group following PSM. According to mRECIST (modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors), patients receiving TACE + sorafenib had a significantly longer TTTP compared to patients receiving sorafenib alone (P=0.017). The median OS was 48.5 months with TACE plus sorafenib and 41.0 months with TACE alone. At 5 years, however, survival was comparable between groups (P=0.300). In the combination group, the most frequent side effect was hand-foot skin reaction (81.3%), whereas, in the monotherapy group, the most frequent side effect was fatigue (71.9%). In neither group were there any treatment-related fatalities. CONCLUSIONS: Although TACE plus sorafenib did not significantly lengthen OS compared to TACE alone, it did considerably enhance TTTP.