Sorafenib plus partial splenic embolism for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma Barcelona stage C combined with hypersplenism: a case series

BACKGROUND: Sorafenib is mainly used to treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage C, many of whom also have severe cirrhosis. However, hypersplenism and digestive tract hemorrhage are common complications of cirrhosis, which increase the risk and difficulty of treatment. METHODS: Nineteen patients with HCC BCLC stage C with hypersplenism were treated with sorafenib plus partial splenic embolism at Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China, between January 2015 and June 2018. We analyzed the therapeutic effect and clinical safety of this treatment in these patients. RESULT: Hypersplenism was rectified in all patients. The incidence rates of hemorrhage and myelosuppression were 0%, and the mean survival time was 11.2 months. CONCLUSION: Sorafenib plus partial splenic embolism could relieve hypersplenism and prolong survival in patients with BCLC stage C HCC.