Effectiveness and safety of DEB-TACE combined with apatinib and anti-PD-1 antibody in patients with moderate and advanced liver cancer

Objective To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of DEB-TACE combined with apatinib and anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) antibody in patients with moderate and advanced liver cancer.Methods Patients with moderate and advanced liver cancer who underwent drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) plus apatinib and PD-1 monoclonal antibody in the Affiliated Xuzhou Municipal Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from June 2019 to February 2021 were enrolled, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Their hepatic function and tumor marker changes before and after treatment were compared. The objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were recorded.Results There were totally 20 patients included in this study. At postoperative 1, 3, and 6 months, the ORR was 70%, 60%, 40% respectively, while the DCR was 90%, 80%, and 75%, respectively. The median PFS and OS was 9.0 months(95%CI 7.1-11.0 months) and 11.0 months(95%CI 8.3-13.7 months), respectively. Compared with those before treatment, the patients showed up-regulated levels of ALT, AST, and TBIL, and down-regulated levels of ALB and AFP. The most common adverse events were hand-foot syndrome and hypertension.Conclusions The combination of DEB-TACE, apatinib and anti-PD-1 antibody is effective and safe for patients with moderate and advanced liver cancer.