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Adjuvant lenvatinib in combination with transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with high risk of postoperative recurrence: A multicenter prospective cohort study

Jin-Hong Chen, Lu Lu, Xiao-Yun Zhang, B. Xiang, Xiao Xu, Xiang-Cheng Li, Zhi-Yong Huang, Tian-Fu Wen et al.

Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases International, 2025

297 participants · 6 citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND

The high recurrent rate after surgery hinders the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib plus transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as an adjuvant therapy in HCC patients with high risk of recurrence.

METHODS

Patients were enrolled from eight hepatobiliary centers in China. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS). The secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and safety. Additionally, propensity score matching (PSM) and other three propensity score analyses were performed to balance the potential baseline bias to validate the conclusion. The adverse events (AEs) were recorded throughout the study. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03838796).

RESULTS

A total of 297 patients were enrolled, with 147 in the LEN + TACE group and 150 in the TACE group. Before PSM, the LEN + TACE group achieved significantly better DFS than the TACE group (19.0 vs. 10.0 months, P = 0.011). PSM analysis identified 111 matched pairs. After PSM, the LEN + TACE group also showed better DFS (19.0 vs. 9.0 months, P = 0.018). Other three propensity score analyses yielded similar DFS benefit tendency. Furthermore, favorable OS was also obtained in the LEN + TACE group before PSM. Lenvatinib related AEs of grade 3 or 4 occurred in 28.6 % of the patients in the LEN + TACE group.

CONCLUSIONS

Adjuvant lenvatinib plus TACE might be a promising adjuvant approach…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 297 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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