Transarterial interventional therapy combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors with or without anti-PD-1 antibodies as initial treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma with major portal vein tumor thrombosis: a single-center retrospective study

Transarterial interventional therapy combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and anti-Pd-1 antibodies (triplet regimen) has shown promising results in advanced HCC. However, the clinical utility of the triplet regimen in patients with HCC and major portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) remains unclear. This study compared the efficacy and safety of the triplet regimen versus transarterial interventional therapy combined with TKIs (double regimen) for such patients. Thirty-nine patients treated with the triplet regimen were retrospectively compared with 37 patients treated with the double regimen. The objective response rate (ORR), the response rate of PVTT treatment, and safety were observed; progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed using the Kaplan‒Meier method and log-rank test. Predictors of survival were identified using multivariate analysis. Median OS and median PFS were significantly improved in the Triplet Group compared with the Double Group (482 vs. 310 days; 208 vs. 85 days). The ORR and the response rate of PVTT were significantly higher in the Triplet Group than in the Double Group (59% vs. 35%; 62% vs. 35%). There was no significant difference in the incidence of grade 3/4 adverse events between the two groups (33% vs. 21%). The most frequent grade 3/4 adverse events were thrombocytopenia (10%) in the Triplet Group and hand–foot syndrome (14%) in the Double Group. Multivariable analysis showed that treatment method and PVTT treatment response were significant predictors of OS. The triplet regimen showed superiority over the doublet regimen in improving OS and PFS and had acceptable safety in patients with HCC and major PVTT.