Key clinical point: The combination of sorafenib, an immune checkpoint inhibitor (camrelizumab/tislelizumab), transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SITS) is more effective than sorafenib plus TACE (ST) in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT), especially as a downstaging strategy.
Major finding: The SITS vs ST group had a significantly higher objective response rate (53.3% vs 25.0%; P = .036) and longer median progression-free survival (10.4 vs 6.3 months; P = .015) and overall survival (13.8 vs 8.8 months; P = .013), with 12 patients vs none experiencing successful downstaging.
Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study including 62 patients with advanced HCC and PVTT who received SITS (n = 30) or ST (n = 32).
Disclosures: This study was supported by the Hubei Chen Xiaoping Science and Technology Development Foundation, China, and the Autonomous Exploration and Innovation Fund Subject for Graduate Student of Central South University, China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Zhang Z et al. A Combination of sorafenib, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, TACE and stereotactic body radiation therapy versus sorafenib and TACE in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma accompanied by portal vein tumor thrombus. Cancers (Basel). 2022;14(15):3619 (Jul 25). Doi: 10.3390/cancers14153619
