Abstract
Background
Salvage surgery after conversion therapy with a combination of tyrosine kinase inhibitor
and anti-programmed death-1 antibody has shown improved survival benefits in patients
with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT). We aimed
to compare the survival benefits in a retrospective cohort of patients with HCC with
PVTT who underwent salvage surgery after conversion therapy and surgery alone.
Methods
From January 2015 to October 2021, we selected patients diagnosed with HCC with PVTT
who underwent liver resection at Chinese PLA General Hospital. The primary endpoint
in the comparison of survival benefits between conversion therapy and surgery-alone
groups was recurrence-free survival. Propensity score matching was applied to reduce
any potential bias in the study.
Results
The 6-, 12-, and 24-month recurrence-free survival rates in the conversion and surgery
alone groups were 80.3% vs 36.5%, 65.4% vs 29.4%, and 56% vs 21%, respectively. On
multivariable Cox regression analyses, conversion therapy significantly reduced HCC-related
mortality and HCC recurrence rates compared with surgery alone.
Conclusions
For patients with HCC with PVTT, surgery after conversion therapy is in relationship
with increased survival in comparison with surgery alone.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 07, 2023
Accepted:
March 3,
2023
Received:
August 3,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2023 International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
