Multi-Target Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors as Adjuvant Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Who Achieve Complete Response After Transarterial Chemoembolization: A Real-World Study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the role of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as adjuvant therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma HCC patients who achieved complete response (CR) after Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study retrospectively enrolled 96 patients with HCC who achieved complete response following TACE at a tertiary medical center in Zhejiang Province, China, between January 2016 and December 2024, including 55 patients in the adjuvant TKI group and 41 patients in the active surveillance group. The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival (RFS), and the secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and safety. RESULTS: The 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year RFS rates were 82.80%, 47.80%, and 32% in the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) adjuvant therapy group, compared with 63.80%, 18.20%, and 0.00% in the surveillance group, respectively. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS rates were 98%, 69.8%, and 54.10% in the TKI adjuvant therapy group, versus 92.60%, 51.30%, and 21.50% in the surveillance group, respectively. Compared to the surveillance group, the TKI adjuvant therapy group demonstrated significantly better RFS (P < 0.001) and OS (P = 0.011). The most common adverse event associated with TKI treatment was proteinuria, occurring in 14 (25.5%) cases, and all adverse events were graded as 1-2. CONCLUSION: Compared with surveillance alone, adjuvant therapy with TKIs prolonged RFS and OS in HCC patients who achieved CR after TACE.