Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy enhances the efficacy of lenvatinib and PD-1 inhibitors for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis

Background: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) was an effective treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and its effectiveness in combination with targeted immunotherapy regimens was controversial. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of adding HAIC to lenvatinib in combination with programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors.

Methods: Literature related to the efficacy of HAIC in combination with lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitors in the treatment of advanced HCC was searched through PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases. TSA was used to control for the risk of random error and assess whether the meta-analysis evidence was conclusive.

Results: Eight relevant papers with a total of 1244 patients. Compared with the L-P treatment group, the H-L-P treatment group significantly prolonged OS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.11 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.82-2.44]; p < 0.001) and PFS (HR 1.91 [95 % CI 1.67-2.17]; p < 0.001) and improved ORR (risk ratio [RR] 2.20 [95 % CI 1.74-2.78]; p < 0.001) and DCR (RR 1.28 [95 % CI 1.15-1.42]; p < 0.001) in patients with advanced HCC. TSA analysis indicated that further trials were unnecessary, preliminary positive results were promptly obtained. Prognostic factor analysis demonstrated that extrahepatic metastasis were common independent risk factor for OS and PFS. The rate of adverse events (AEs) was higher in the H-L-P treatment group than in the L-P treatment group.

Conclusion: HAIC combined with lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitors markedly extended OS and PFS, particularly in patients without extrahepatic metastases. Furthermore, it markedly enhanced ORR and DCR in patients with HCC.