Transarterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib and sintilimab vs lenvatinib alone in intermediate-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Table 1 Patient characteristics before and after propensity score matching

Characteristic		Before PSM			After PSM
		TACE + L	TACE + SL	P value	TACE + L	TACE + SL	P value
Gender				1.00			1.00
	Female	3	3		2	1
	Male	24	27		13	14
Age (year)				0.66			1.00
	≥ 60	16	15		8	8
	< 60	11	15		7	7
ECOG				1.00			0.43
	0	7	8		3	6
	1	20	22		12	9
Etiology				0.49			0.65
	HBV	22	21		13	11
	Other	5	9		2	4
Cirrhosis				1.00			1.00
	No	4	4		2	2
	Yes	23	26		13	13
Tumor number				0.35			0.71
	≥ 3	11	17		6	8
	< 3	16	13		9	7
Tumor size (cm)				0.43			1.00
	≥ 7	8	13		4	5
	< 7	19	17		11	10
PVTT				0.05			1.00
	No	22	16		11	11
	Yes	5	14		4	4
Metastases				1.00			0.33
	No	23	26		11	14
	Yes	4	4		4	1
BCLC				0.03			1.00
	B	22	15		11	11
	C	5	15		4	4
Child-Pugh class				1.00			1.00
	A	25	27		14	15
	B	2	3		1	0
AFP (ng/mL)				0.00			1.00
	≥ 100	2	17		2	2
	< 100	25	13		13	13

PSM: Propensity score matching; TACE + L: Transarterial chemoembolization with lenvatinib alone; TACE + SL: Transarterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib and sintilimab; ECOG: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; PVTT: Portal vein tumour thrombosis; BCLC: Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein; HBV: Hepatitis B virus.

Table 2 Tumor response at 1 year based on modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors, n (%)

	Unmatched group		Matched group
	TACE + L (n = 27)	TACE + SL (n = 30)	TACE + L (n = 15)	TACE + SL (n = 15)
CR	4 (14.8)	6 (20.0)	1 (6.7)	2 (13.3)
PR	11 (40.7)	15 (50.0)	7 (46.7)	9 (60.0)
SD	2 (7.4)	6 (20.0)	1 (6.7)	3 (20.0)
PD	10 (37.0)	3 (10.0)	6 (40.0)	1 (6.7)
ORR	15 (55.6)	21 (70.0)	8 (53.3)	11 (73.3)
DCR	17 (63.0)	27 (90.0)	9 (60.0)	14 (93.3)
1-year OS	19 (70.4)	26 (86.7)	12 (80)	14 (93.3)

TACE + L: Transarterial chemoembolization with lenvatinib alone; TACE + SL: Transarterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib and sintilimab; CR: Complete response; PR: Partial response; SD: Stable response; PD: Progressive disease; ORR: Objective response rate; DCR: Disease control rate; OS: Overall survival.

Table 3 Treatment-related adverse events, n (%)

Adverse events	TACE + SL (n = 30)			TACE + L (n = 27)
Toxicity grade	/	1/2	3/4	/	1/2	3/4
Diarrhea	6 (20.0)	4	2	5 (18.5)	3	2
Transaminitis	14 (46.7)	12	2	13 (48.1)	8	5
Hand-foot skin reactions	10 (33.3)	7	3	7 (25.9)	6	1
Nausea with/without vomiting	23 (76.7)	20	3	17 (63.0)	15	2
Abdominal pain	22 (73.3)	18	4	22 (81.5)	19	3
Fatigue	9 (30.0)	6	3	7 (25.9)	5	2
Fever	23 (76.7)	20	3	17 (63.0)	15	2
Decreased WBC/PLT count	7 (23.3)	5	2	9 (33.3)	7	2
Thrombopenia	8 (26.7)	7	1	3 (11.1)	2	1
Decreased appetite	5 (16.7)	5	0	8 (30.0)	8	0
Hypertension	12 (40.0)	9	3	7 (26.0)	4	3
Hypothyroidism	7 (23.3)	6	1	/	/	/
Proteinuria	0 (0.0)	0	0	1 (3.7)	0	1

TACE + L: Transarterial chemoembolization with lenvatinib alone; TACE + SL: Transarterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib and sintilimab; WBC: White blood cell; PLT: Platelet.