TACE combined with Apatinib in treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma / 中国介入影像与治疗学

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of TACE combined with Apatinib versus TACE monothcrapy in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods A total of 44 patients with advanced HCC were enrolled and divided randomly into group A (n=22) and group B (n=22).The patients in group A were treated with TACE monotherapy while group B were treated with TACE combined with Apatinib.The serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) levels were compared between the two groups three months after treatment.The objective response rate (ORR) after 3,6,9 and 12 months,the progression-free survival (PFS) and incidence of adverse reactions were also compared.Results The serum AFP levels decreased apparently in two groups three months after treatment,and statistic differences were observed in each group (Z=-2.289,-2.953,both P ＜0.05),while no statistic differences was obtained between the two groups after treatment (Z=-0.126,P＞0.05).No statistic differences were found in ORR between the two groups 3 and 6 months after treatment (both P ＞0.05),while statistic differences were manifested after 9 and 12 months (both P ＜0.05).The medium PFS in group A significantly lower than that in group B (x2 =6.576,P=0.01).The apatinib-related adverse reactions including hypertension,hand-foot syndrome and proteinuria in group B were higher than those in group A,and statistically significant difference were obtained (allP＜0.05).The adverse reactions were relieved after symptomatic treatment.Conclusion TACE combined with apatinib may improve the mid-long term efficacy in patients with advanced HCC.And the relatively safety of TACE combined with apatinib is confirmed.