TACE Plus Drug Combination Effective in Liver Cancer
Combining TACE with pembrolizumab and lenvatinib, or with durvalumab and bevacizumab, improves progression‑free survival in intermediate‑stage hepatocellular carcinoma.
Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with dual‑drug regimens—pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib or durvalumab plus bevacizumab—has been shown in two large randomized phase‑II trials (LEAP‑012 and EMERALD‑1) to significantly extend progression‑free survival (PFS) in patients with intermediate‑stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Median PFS increased from 10‑12 months with TACE alone to 14.6‑15 months with the combination therapies. Although overall survival data are pending, 2‑year progression‑free rates improved to 75–32% versus 69–25% for TACE monotherapy. Adverse events were common but manageable, with high blood pressure and anemia being the most frequent serious toxicities.
Improved progression‑free survival in intermediate‑stage HCC offers a meaningful clinical benefit where conventional TACE alone has limited efficacy. These combination strategies may become standard care, potentially extending durable disease control and informing the design of further trials incorporating immunotherapy and anti‑angiogenic agents.
Evidence level: Állatkísérletes. Állatmodellben vizsgálták.
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