AUTHOR=Zhang Xia , Cai Lirong , Fang Jian , Chen Fengsui , Pan Fan , Zhang Kun , Huang Qian , Huang Yuju , Li Dongliang , Lv Lizhi , Chen Man , Yan Ruiying , Lai Yanhua , Peng Yonghai , Wu Zhixian 

TITLE=Efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization plus sorafenib in patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.1101351

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2022.1101351

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Objectives</title><p>To explore the benefit and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in combination with sorafenib in patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>In this multi-center retrospective study, 106 patients with recurrent HCC after OLT were included. Fifty-two patients were treated with TACE plus sorafenib (TS group) and 54 were treated with TACE alone (TC group). Primary and secondary endpoints including overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and safety were assessed.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The median OS (17 vs 10 months, <italic>P</italic>=0.035) and PFS (12 vs 6 months, <italic>P</italic>=0.004) in the TS group were longer than those in the TC group. On multivariate analysis, BCLC stage (HR [hazard ratio]=0.73 [95% CI, 0.27–0.99], <italic>P</italic>=0.036) and sorafenib medication (HR=2.26 [95% CI, 1.35–3.69], <italic>P</italic>=0.01) were identified as independent prognostic risk factors for OS. No severe adverse events related to sorafenib were noted in the TS group. Four patients discontinued sorafenib due to intolerance.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>TACE in combination with sorafenib is a feasible regimen to improve the survival with mild toxicity in patients with recurrent HCC after OLT.</p></sec>