A meta-analysis comparing hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy and sorafenib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The majority of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are diagnosed in an advanced stage. Although sorafenib is recommended as the standard treatment for advanced HCC, its efficacy is limited. In some studies, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy has demonstrated a significant therapeutic benefit for advanced HCC compared with sorafenib. We systematically evaluated and compared the efficacy and safety of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy and sorafenib for advanced HCC. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library up to December 31, 2020 was conducted. Study outcomes included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and adverse effects. The hazard ratio and odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to measure the pooled effect. RESULTS: Eighteen retrospective or prospective cohort studies and one prospective controlled study were included, with 1,339 patients treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and 1,060 patients treated with sorafenib. We found that hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy was superior to sorafenib in terms of OS [hazard ratio (HR): 0.66, 95% CI: 0.46–0.95, P=0.027], PFS (HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.44–0.69, P<0.001), ORR [assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST): OR: 9.02, 95% CI: 6.01–13.53, P<0.001; assessed using modified RECIST: odds ratio (OR): 3.71, 95% CI: 1.92–7.16, P<0.001], and DCR (assessed using RECIST: OR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.40–3.83, P=0.001; assessed by modified RECIST: OR: 2.28, 95% CI: 1.22–4.28, P=0.01). Dermatological adverse effects and hypertension were significantly higher in the sorafenib group for all grades of adverse effects. However, regarding severe adverse effects, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy was associated with more frequent leukocytopenia and thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy demonstrated favorable efficacy and safety for advanced HCC compared with sorafenib and should be recommended for suitable patients with advanced HCC.