TACE-HAIC Combined With TKIs and Immunotherapy Versus TACE Alone for Hepatocellular Carcinoma With PVTT

The TACE-HAIC which was performed using 30 mg/m2 of epirubicin mixed with 2-5 mL lipiodol, followed by pure lipiodol. Then, a catheter was placed and fixed in the tumor feeding artery for the FOLFOX-based chemotherapy infusion at the following dosage: 85 mg/m2 of oxaliplatin infusion for 2 hours; leucovorin, 400 mg/m2 infusion for 2 hours; 400 mg/m2 of 5-FU bolus; and 2400 mg/m2 of continuous 5-FU infusion for 46 hours or 1200mg/m2 of continuous 5-FU infusion for 23 hours, respectively. Repeated TACE-HAIC was performed at intervals of 3-4 weeks.

TACE was performed using 30 mg/m2 of epirubicin, 200 mg/m2 of carboplatin, and 4mg/m2 of MMC, mixed with 2-5 mL lipiodol. Up to 20 mL of additional pure lipiodol were injected into the tumor-feeding artery until stasis of blood flow was observed in the target artery. Repeated TACE was performed at intervals of 3-4 weeks.

The TKI therapy used in this study were lenvatinib (12 mg/d for bodyweight ⩾ 60 kg or 8 mg/d for bodyweight <60 kg), sorafenib (400 mg twice a day) or apatinib (250-500 mg orally once daily). Administration of lenvatinib, apatinib or sorafenib was started on the first post-TACE day, and continually administered until disease progression developed or serious treatment-related toxicity occurred.

PD-1 inhibitors were intravenously administered on the first post-TACE day as follows: camrelizumab 200 mg or sintilimab 200 mg or toripalimab 240 mg or tislelizumab 200 mg, every 3-4 weeks.