Clinical efficacy of camrelizumab combined with TACE in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy, survival prognosis, and safety of camrelizumab combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods A total of 90 patients with HCC admitted to our hospital from September 2021 to September 2022 were selected and divided into two groups by random number table method. There were 45 cases in each of the control group (treated with TACE alone) and the study group (treated with camrelizumab combined with TACE). The two groups underwent comparison regarding clinical efficacy, variations in serum PEG10, CA15-3 and AFP concentrations, survival results, and the incidence of adverse events. Results After 6 months of treatment, the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) in the study group were 73.3% and 93.3%, respectively, significantly higher than those in the control group (46.7% and 80.0%, P<0.05). Post-treatment serum levels of PEG10, CA15-3, and AFP in the study group were (519.4±65.1) ng/L, (7.6±1.0) U/mL, and (313.2±22.2) μg/L, respectively, significantly lower than those in the control group [(550.6±69.3) ng/L, (10.1±1.2) U/mL, and (327.0±27.2) μg/L; P<0.05]. During a 30-month follow-up, the median overall survival (OS) and median progression-free survival (PFS) were significantly longer in the study group (26.7 months and 21.0 months) than in the control group (21.4 months and 15.9 months) (P<0.05). The incidence rates of grade 1、2 (57.8% vs. 66.7%) and grade 3、4 (26.7% vs. 20.0%) adverse events did not differ significantly between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Camrelizumab combined with TACE significantly improves clinical efficacy and prolongs survival in patients with primary HCC, with an acceptable safety profile.

Key words: Hepatocelluar carcinoma, Camrelizumab, Transarterial chemoembolization, Survival analysis, Safety

LI Chun-ling, ZHANG Xiao-juan, SONG Yan-qi, CHENG LI, NIU Bo-yu. Clinical efficacy of camrelizumab combined with TACE in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2026, 31(4): 532-535.

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