Transarterial chemoembolization plus lenvatinib with or without protein-1 inhibitor for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus

Table 1 Baseline characteristics and clinical data of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus patients before and after propensity score matching, n (%)

Variables	Before PSM			After PSM
	TACE-L-P group (n = 42)	TACE-L group (n = 68)	P value	TACE-L group (n = 42)	Adjusted P value
Patient characteristics
Sex (male)	34 (81.0)	51 (75.0)	0.624	32 (76.2)	0.790
Age (years)	53.0 ± 14.1	52.8 ± 15.1	0.963	51.02 ± 13.4	0.513
Hepatitis B surface antigen (positive)	32 (76.2)	48 (70.6)	0.674	27 (64.3)	0.340
Liver cirrhosis (yes)	23 (54.8)	30 (44.1)	0.374	20 (47.6)	0.662
Recurrent tumor (yes)	12 (28.6)	8 (11.8)	0.049	7 (16.7)	0.296
Imaging parameters
Largest tumor size (cm)	13.6 ± 5.1	12.5 ± 4.9	0.294	12.7 ± 4.8	0.402
Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Tumor staging
B	15 (35.7)	33 (48.5)	0.263	18 (42.9)	0.655
C	27 (64.3)	35 (51.5)		24 (57.1)
Portal vein tumor thrombus classification
VP 1-2	10 (23.8)	10 (14.7)	0.343	7 (16.7)	0.587
VP 3-4	32 (76.2)	58 (85.3)		35 (83.3)
Biochemical parameters
Hemoglobin (g/L)	120.9 ± 18.4	123.1 ± 22.8	0.579	122.9 ± 21.6	0.652
Serum albumin (g/L)	34.2 ± 5.58	36.2 ± 5.2	0.040	34.9 ± 5.2	0.492
Alpha-fetoprotein ≥ 400 ng/mL (yes)	33 (78.6)	49 (72.1)	0.592	33 (78.6)	1.000
Child–Pugh classification
A	20 (47.6)	37 (57.4)	0.620	26 (61.9)	0.273
B	22 (52.4)	31 (45.6)		16 (38.1)
Total bilirubin > 17.1 μmol/L (yes)	5 (11.9)	13 (19.1)	0.467	6 (16.3)	> 0.999
Alanine aminotransferase > 50 (U/L)	8 (19.0)	18 (26.5)	0.509	11 (26.2)	0.602
Aspartate aminotransferase > 40 (U/L)	7 (16.7)	17 (25.0)	0.430	11 (26.2)	0.425
Creatinine > 97 (μmol/L)	7 (16.7)	19 (27.9)	0.262	13 (31.0)	0.200
Histopathological parameters
Extrahepatic invasion (yes)	22 (52.4)	21 (30.8)	0.041	20 (47.6)	0.827
Tumor type
Nodular	10 (23.8)	11 (16.7)	0.459	9 (21.4)	> 0.999
Infiltrative	32 (76.2)	57 (83.8)		33 (78.6)

PSM: Propensity score matching; TACE-L: Transarterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib; TACE-L-P: Transarterial arterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib plus death protein-1 inhibitors; VP: Vascular invasion type according to Cheng's classification.

Table 2 Treatment-related adverse events, n (%)

Category	Adverse events	Any grade			3 grade
		TACE-L-P	TACE-L	P value	TACE-L-P	TACE-L	P value
Total	Overall	34 (81.0)	37 (88.1)	0.546	9 (21.4)	6 (14.3)	0.569
Related to transarterial chemoembolization	Inguinal hematoma	3 (7.1)	2 (4.8)	> 0.999	1 (2.4)	0	> 0.999
	Nausea and vomiting	1 (2.4)	3 (7.1)	0.616	0 (0)	0 (0)	-
	Fever	2 (4.8)	4 (9.5)	0.676	0 (0)	1 (2.4)	> 0.999
	Abdominal pain	9 (21.4)	8 (16.7)	0.782	4 (9.5)	2 (4.8)	0.735
	Biliary injury	0	1 (2.4)	> 0.999	0 (0)	0 (0)	-
	New ascites	1 (2.4)	0	> 0.999	0 (0)	0 (0)	-
Related to drug	Diarrhea	12 (28.6)	8 (19.0)	0.442	4 (9.5)	3 (7.1)	> 0.999
	Thrombocytopenia	8 (19.0)	10 (23.8)	0.790	2 (4.8)	4 (9.5)	0.676
	Leukopenia	7 (16.7)	10 (23.8)	0.587	2 (4.8)	3 (7.1)	> 0.999
	Proteinuria	2 (4.8)	1 (2.4)	> 0.999	1 (2.4)	0 (0)	> 0.999
	Fatigue	9 (21.4)	7 (16.7)	0.755	2 (4.8)	4 (9.5)	0.675
	Hyperbilirubinemia	5 (11.9)	2 (4.8)	0.433	1 (2.4)	0 (0)	> 0.999
	Hypoalbuminemia	6 (14.3)	8 (19.0)	0.770	2 (4.8)	3 (7.1)	> 0.999
	Elevated aspartate aminotransferase	3 (7.1)	4 (9.5)	> 0.999	1 (2.4)	1 (2.4)	-
	Elevated alanine aminotransferase	4 (9.5)	3 (7.1)	> 0.999	1 (2.4)	0 (0)	> 0.999
	Oral ulcer	2 (4.8)	1 (2.4)	> 0.999	0 (0)	0 (0)	-
	Pneumonia	1 (2.4)	0 (0)	> 0.999	0 (0)	0 (0)	--
	Decreased appetite	6 (14.3)	3 (7.1)	0.483	2 (4.8)	1 (2.4)	> 0.999
	Elevated uric acid	2 (4.8)	0 (0)	0.493	1 (2.4)	0	> 0.999
	Insomnia	3 (7.1)	3 (7.1)	1.000	0 (0)	0 (0)	-
	Hyperglycemia	0 (0)	1 (2.4)	> 0.999	0 (0)	0 (0)	-
	Dysphonia	1 (2.4)	0 (0)	> 0.999	0 (0)	0 (0)	-
	Arthralgia	1 (2.4)	0 (0)	> 0.999	0 (0)	0 (0)	-
	Ventosity	2 (4.8)	0 (0)	0.494	0 (0)	0 (0)	-
	Hypertension	3 (7.1)	1 (2.4)	0.616	0 (0)	0 (0)	-

TACE-L: Transarterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib; TACE-L-P: Transarterial arterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib plus death protein-1 inhibitors.