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A comparative study between sorafenib and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis

  • Original Article—Liver, Pancreas, and Biliary Tract
  • Published:
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Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and sorafenib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT).

Methods

A total of 110 patients were observed between February 2008 and May 2013 in seven Korean centers. Fifty patients were treated with HAIC, and 60 patients were treated with sorafenib.

Results

The disease control rate in the HAIC was significantly higher than that in the sorafenib group (p < 0.001), although there was no significant difference in the objective response rate (p = 0.214). The median overall survival (OS) was significantly longer in the HAIC group than in the sorafenib group (7.1 vs. 5.5 months, p = 0.011). The median time to-progression (TTP) was also significantly longer in the HAIC group than in the sorafenib group (3.3 vs. 2.1 months, p = 0.034). In the multivariate analysis, tumor diameter (≥ 10 cm) and the absence of combined loco-regional treatment were significant prognostic factors influencing OS (p = 0.002 and p = 0.010, respectively) and TTP (p = 0.017 and p = 0.006, respectively). The treatment modality tended to be a significant prognostic factor for survival (p = 0.052), but not for tumor progression (p = 0.121).

Conclusions

HAIC is comparable with sorafenib in terms of OS and TTP in advanced HCC patients with PVTT. HAIC shows more favorable treatment responses compared with sorafenib. Therefore, HAIC might be an alternative treatment modality to sorafenib in advanced HCC patients with PVTT.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a National R & D Program grant for cancer control from the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Family Affairs, Republic of Korea (R0620390-1).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Korean Liver Cancer Study Group, Seoul, Korea

    Do Seon Song, Myeong Jun Song, Si Hyun Bae, Woo Jin Chung, Jae Young Jang, Young Seok Kim, Sae Hwan Lee, Jun Yong Park, Hyung Joon Yim, Sung Bum Cho, Soo Young Park & Jin Mo Yang

  2. The Catholic University Liver Research Center, Seoul, Korea

    Do Seon Song, Myeong Jun Song, Si Hyun Bae & Jin Mo Yang

  3. Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-041, Korea

    Do Seon Song, Myeong Jun Song, Si Hyun Bae & Jin Mo Yang

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea

    Woo Jin Chung

  5. Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Ansan, South Korea

    Jae Young Jang, Young Seok Kim & Sae Hwan Lee

  6. Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    Jun Yong Park

  7. Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea

    Hyung Joon Yim

  8. Department of Internal Medicine, Hwasoon Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, South Korea

    Sung Bum Cho

  9. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, South Korea

    Soo Young Park

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  1. Do Seon Song
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Si Hyun Bae.

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Song, D.S., Song, M.J., Bae, S.H. et al. A comparative study between sorafenib and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis. J Gastroenterol 50, 445–454 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-014-0978-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-014-0978-3

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