Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with or without lenvatinib for unresectable cholangiocarcinoma: a single-center retrospective study

AIM: The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) of oxaliplatin, fluorouracil and leucovorin (FOLFOX) plus lenvatinib and FOLFOX-HAIC alone in patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma. PATIENTS & METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients receiving FOLFOX-HAIC with or without lenvatinib. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were included, with 22 patients receiving HAIC alone and 19 patients receiving HAIC plus lenvatinib. Combination treatment significantly prolonged overall survival and progression-free survival compared with HAIC alone. Grade 1–2 adverse events were more frequent in the combination group but manageable. No severe AEs or treatment-related deaths were reported. CONCLUSION: FOLFOX-HAIC plus lenvatinib has the potential to be a treatment option for unresectable cholangiocarcinoma.