Key clinical point: Lenvatinib (LEN)-transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (LEN-TACE) sequential therapy may be more clinically beneficial than LEN monotherapy in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) responsive to initial LEN treatment without exerting any additional adverse effects.
Major finding: The LEN-TACE vs. LEN monotherapy group showed a significantly higher median overall survival (31.2 months vs. 13.9 months; P = .002) and progression-free survival (12.2 months vs. 7.1 months; P = .037). The LEN-TACE group had an acceptable safety profile, with only liver dysfunction being significantly higher ( P = .04).
Study details: Findings are from a retrospective, multicenter cohort study on patients with intermediate- or advanced-stage unresectable HCC who responded to initial LEN treatment. Among these, 63 patients receiving LEN-TACE sequential therapy were propensity-score matched to those receiving LEN monotherapy.
Disclosures: The authors declared no source of funding or conflict of interests.
Source: Kuroda H et al. Objective response by mRECIST to initial lenvatinib therapy is an independent factor contributing to deep response in hepatocellular carcinoma treated with lenvatinib-transcatheter arterial chemoembolization sequential therapy. Liver Cancer. 2022 (Feb 15). Doi: 10.1159/000522424
