Abstract:
Objective To investigate the efficacy of nucleos(t)ide analogue (NAs) plus transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) on the overall survival of the patients with postoperative hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods We retrospectively analyzed a total of 345 patients with HBV-related HCC and the risk factors of recurrence. Among them, 89 patients received NAs plus TACE therapy, while other 256 patients received adjuvant TACE therapy alone. Propensity-score matching analysis was used to balance the bias between groups.
Results The 90-day mortality of the combination therapy group was slightly lower than that of the adjuvant TACE group (2.2% vs. 3.1%, P=0.672). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival were significantly higher in the combination therapy group than those in the adjuvant TACE group (93%, 66%, 45% vs. 90%, 54%, 36%, P=0.014). Moreover, the combination therapy group also had significantly higher overall survival than the adjuvant TACE group after propensity-score analysis (93%, 67%, 45% vs. 87%, 46%, 24%, P<0.001). However, the subgroup analysis based on tumor stage revealed that the combination therapy group had significantly higher overall survival than the adjuvant TACE group of those with BCLC-A/B HCC.
Conclusion Postoperative NAs plus TACE treatment modality is effective in reducing the perioperative mortality and improving the overall survival of HBV-related HCC patients with preoperative HBV DNA≥103 IU/ml and the risk factors of recurrence.