Anticipation for hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Abstract

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) is an advanced targeted therapeutic approach for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer. HAIC has demonstrated significant potential in managing advanced HCC, particularly in regions with high prevalence rates. Despite its promise, several challenges and areas for future research remain. Clinical studies have substantiated the efficacy of HAIC in enhancing survival outcomes for patients with advanced hepatic carcinoma. Notably, combination therapies involving immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as lenvatinib and programmed death-1 inhibitors, have shown substantial improvements in median overall survival and progression-free survival compared to systemic chemotherapy. These combination therapies have also exhibited superior response rates and disease control, with manageable and often less severe adverse events relative to systemic treatments. This article is based on the review by Zhou et al and aims to discuss the current status and future directions in the treatment of HCC, emphasizing the role of HAIC and its integration with novel therapeutic agents.