Comparison of Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy and Chemoembolization for Locally Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: a Multicenter Retrospective Study

Background Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor prognosis. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) for locally advanced HCC compared to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods A propensity score–matched cohort study was performed in patients with locally advanced HCC with ≥ 4 tumors or portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) who underwent either HAIC using oxaliplatin plus raltitrexed or TACE at three institutions between June 2015 and December 2021. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rates (ORR), and adverse events (AEs) were compared between the groups. Results After propensity score matching, 62 pairs of patients were evaluated. The HAIC group had longer OS (15.0 [95% CI: 12.1–17.9] vs. 9.0 [95% CI: 5.1–12.9] months; P = 0.034), better PFS (6.7 [95% CI: 5.1–8.3] vs. 4.0 [95% CI: 2.6–5.4] months; P = 0.020), and a higher ORR (RECIST 1.1: 54.8% vs. 11.3%; P < 0.001) than the TACE group in the intention-to-treat population. Compared with the TACE group, Grade 1–2 nausea and vomiting occurred significantly more frequently in the HAIC group. Conclusion Compared to TACE, HAIC significantly increased the ORR of locally advanced HCC with multiple tumors or portal invasion and prolonged survival without causing a significant increase in severe AEs.