Effect of Apatinib Mesylate on Clinical Remission Rate and Adverse Reactions in Patients with Advanced Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective: To investigate the effect of apatinib mesylate on the clinical remission rate and adverse reactions in patients with advanced primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: A total of 60 patients with advanced primary hepatocellular carcinoma admitted to our hospital from January 2021 to September 2022 were selected. They were divided into two groups using a random number table. The control group (n=30) underwent drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE), while the observation group (n=30) was treated with apatinib mesylate in combination with the treatment method of the control group. The short-term clinical effects, adverse reaction rates, pre- and post-treatment serum levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α (HIF-1α), and survival times were compared between the two groups. Results: The short-term clinical efficacy in the observation group was significantly better than in the control group (P<0.05). The incidence rates of fever, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and bone marrow suppression were comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). The observation group had a higher incidence of general fatigue, hypertension, proteinuria, hand-foot syndrome, and rash than the control group (P<0.05). Before treatment, the levels of VEGF and HIF-1α were comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, the VEGF and HIF-1α levels in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The survival time of patients in the observation group was longer than that of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Treatment of patients with advanced primary hepatocellular carcinoma with apatinib mesylate can improve clinical outcomes, reduce the incidence of adverse reactions, and extend patient survival. The effect is promising and worth promoting.