Abstract: Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of carrelizumab or sintilimab combined with lenvatinib in the treatment of liver cancer and its influence on tumor markers. Methods Ninety-five patients with primary liver cancer admitted to our hospital from June 2018 to June 2021 were selected as the research objects. According to the treatment method, the patients were divided into lenvatinib group (lenvatinib, 33 cases), carrelizumab group (carrelizumab combined with lenvatinib, 30 cases), and sintilimab group (sintilimab combined with lenvatinib, 32 cases). The clinical therapeutic efficacy, side effects, liver function [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil)] and tumor markers [alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), α-L-fucosidase (AFU), carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199)] among the 3 groups after treatment were compared. Results The clinical efficacy of carrelizumab group and sintilimab group were significantly higher than lenvatinib group (P<0.05). The levels of ALT, AST and TBil in the 3 groups were all significantly decreased after treatment, the liver function of carrelizumab group and sintilimab group were significantly lower than lenvatinib group (P<0.05). The levels of AFP, CEA, AFU, and CA199 in the 3 groups were significantly decreased after treatment, the tumor markers levels of carrelizumab group and sintilimab group were significantly lower than lenvatinib group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in side effects among the 3 groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Carrelizumab or sintilimab combined with lenvatinib in the treatment of liver cancer can effectively improve the therapeutic efficacy and liver function, reduce the levels of tumor markers, with good safety.

Key words: Carrelizumab, Sintilimab, Lenvatinib, Liver cancer, Immunotherapy