Investigating synergy between beta-blockers and transarterial chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: preliminary data from a propensity matched analysis

Purpose: Favorable clinical outcomes have been reported with the adjunct use of beta-blockers in cancer treatment, hypothetically secondary to their anti-angiogenic/anti-proliferative effects. Hereby, we investigate whether there is synergy between beta-blockers and TACE in the treatment of HCC.

Methods: 36 HCC patients on beta-blockers (mean dose of 48 mg daily) at the time of first-line treatment with TACE at our institution were retrospectively identified out of a cohort of 221 patients between 2008 and 2019. Using propensity scoring, a matched cohort of 36 patients not exposed to beta-blockers was generated based on age, gender, ethnicity, etiology of liver disease, BCLC, child Pugh score, PS/ECOG, cirrhosis, largest mass treated, type of TACE and treated liver segments. Tumor response was assessed at 1st and 2nd post-TACE imaging timepoints (1.4 and 4.1 months on average respectively). Variables were compared using chi-square test and Student's t-test. Kaplan-Meier transplant-free survival plots were generated using IBM® SPSS® software. Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate survival predictors. A p values < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Comparing the control and beta-blocker cohorts, there were no differences in baseline characteristics, post-TACE imaging timepoints, tumor response or transplant free survival (p > 0.05). Tumor size was found to be a predictor of survival when the two cohorts were combined (p = 0.03).

Conclusion: Transplant-free survival and HCC response to first-line TACE treatment were similar in the control and beta-blocker groups. Large tumor sizes were associated with higher mortality in combined analysis of the cohorts.