ObjectiveTo explore the safety and effectiveness of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with lenvatinib and programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) antibody in the conversion resection for intermediate and advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to provide new treatment strategies for the treatment of intermediate and advanced unresectable HCC. MethodThirty-eight intermediate and advanced unresectable HCC patients treated at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from October 2020 to June 2021 were prospectively included in our study, all patients treated with TACE + lenvatinib + PD-1 antibody, and the clinical data of these 38 patients were summarized. ResultsThe last evaluation time for the 38 patients was October 20, 2021. According to the mRECIST standard for tumor efficacy evaluation, the objective response rate was 84.2% (32/38), the disease control rate was 94.7% (36/38); the conversion success rate based on imaging was 55.3% (21/38), the actual conversion resection rate was 52.6% (20/38). The incidence of adverse events was 100%, of which 22 patients had grade 3 adverse events, and there was no ≥ grade 4 adverse events. All patients were followed up, the follow-up time was 16–52 weeks, and the median follow-up time was 33.5 weeks. During the follow-up period, only two patients had tumor progression, of which one patient died due to disease progression, and there was no postoperative recurrence. ConclusionsLenvatinib combined with TACE and PD-1 antibody is safe for the treatment of intermediate and advanced unresectable HCC. Triple therapy can achieve satisfactory conversion resection rate of intermediate and advanced unresectable HCC, which will provide a new treatment strategy for it.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of lenvatinib combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and programmed death protein-1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody (Abbreviated as LEN-TAP regimen) on residual liver volume and surgical safety in intermediate and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MethodsThe clinicopathologic data of patients with intermediate and advanced HCC were collected retrospectively, who underwent the LEN-TAP conversion therapy and surgical resection in the Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University from October 2020 to December 2021. The total liver volume, tumor volume, and residual liver volume of the patients before and after conversion therapy were analyzed. ResultsA total of 48 patients were included, 26 of whom had partial remission and 22 had stable disease, the objective response rate was 54.2% (26/48) according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours 1.1 after conversion therapy. Before and after conversion therapy, the total liver volumes including tumor were (1 607.15±712.22) mL and (1 558.03±573.89) mL [mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI)=–57.42(–134.30, 19.46), t=–1.503, P=0.140], the total liver volumes excluding tumor tissue were (1 095.28±227.60) mL and (1 260.31±270.71) mL [MD(95%CI)=165.03(128.13, 201.93), t=8.997, P<0.001], the tumor volumes were 260.25(107.75, 699.50) mL and 121.73 (33.00, 332.88) mL [MD(95%CI)=–222.45(–296.46, –148.44), Z=–5.641, P<0.001], and the residual liver volumes were (493.62±154.51) mL and (567.83±172.23) mL [MD(95%CI)=74.21(54.64, 93.79), t=7.627, P<0.001], respectively. The increase rates of tumor volume and residual liver volume after conversion therapy were (–53.34±33.05)% and (16.34±15.16)%, respectively. The conversional resections were successfully completed in all patients, with 13 (27.1%) cases experiencing postoperative complications and without occurrence of postoperative liver failure. ConclusionThe data analysis results of this study indicate that the LEN-TAP conversion therapy can shrink tumor volume and increase the residual liver volume for patients with intermediate and advanced HCC, which helps to improve the safety of conversion resection.