TACE Plus Camrelizumab Demonstrates Efficacy in the Treatment of HCC

An analysis evaluating the effectiveness of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus camrelizumab in treating patients with advanced, recurrent, and unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has shed light on new therapies for the disease.

The study, led by Dr. Fatema Tashrifwala and published in Cureus, determined that TACE plus camrelizumab is a beneficial treatment for patients with HCC.

With prior research showing that TACE plus immune checkpoint inhibitors led to improved results in HCC treatment, Dr. Tashrifwala and colleagues sought to examine the efficacy of TACE in combination with camrelizumab.

The researchers analyzed data from a variety of databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Elsevier, Scopus, American Transplant Congress abstracts, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. They evaluated the data from 250 full-text articles, with 6 articles comprising the last study cohort.

The complete response rate of the 288 patients whose data were considered was 7.35% (95% CI, 1.69-13.01). Researchers noted a partial response in 37.1% (95% CI, 23.31-50.89). Of the participating patients, 28.76% presented with stable disease (95% CI, 22.93-34.59). The objective response rate was 46.13% (95% CI, 29.33-62.93).

In the 6 articles studied in the final cohort, the disease control rate for all patients was 77.19% (95% CI, 61.72-92.66).

Using data from 4 studies, the investigators determined that progression-free survival for patients who received TACE plus camrelizumab was 6.2 months (95% CI, 1.86-10.50).

Patients reported moderate adverse effects, including fatigue, fever, and nausea.

Researchers concluded that TACE plus camrelizumab is an effective therapeutic strategy for patients with advanced, recurrent, and unresectable HCC. “Clinicians should consider integrating this combination therapy into their treatment strategies, especially for patients with advanced or unresectable HCC,” they wrote.