Downstaging and laparoscopic hepatectomy plus intraoperative radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of initially unresectable multifocal hepatocellular carcinomas.

Background: Using TKIs plus anti-PD-1 antibodies combined with TACE in the treatment of patients with initially unresectable multiple HCCs has a high tumour response rate, and using laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) combined with intraoperative RFA for radical treatment of multiple HCCs after successful downstaging treatment has not been reported. Methods: Consecutive patients with multiple HCCs (≤4 lesions) who were downstaged with TKIs plus anti-PD-1 antibodies combined with TACE were analysed. Imaging examinations were performed monthly, and RECIST v1.1 criteria were used to evaluate treatment effect and resectability. Results: Forty-five consecutive patients with multiple HCCs who met the inclusion criteria received downstaging treatment with TKIs plus anti-PD-1 antibodies combined with TACE. Nine patients were successfully downstaged and met the R0 resection criteria, and 8 patients underwent surgery. Among the patients, 5 patients had BCLC stage C, and 3 patients had BCLC stage B. There were 2 lesions in 5 patients, 3 lesions in 2 patients, and 4 lesions in 1 patient. The average size of the main HCC was 8.5 cm (range: 5.4-9.1 cm), and the diameter of the remaining HCCs was 1.6 cm (range: 0.8-2.9 cm). The average time from the start of downstaging therapy to surgery was 81 days (range: 60-210 days). All 8 patients underwent LH of the main HCC, and the remaining HCCs were targeted with RFA. The mean operation time was 220 min (range 150-370 min), the average intraoperative blood loss was 260 ml (range 100-750 ml), there was no case conversion to laparotomy, and the average postoperative hospital stay was 9 days (range 7-25 days). The incidence of postoperative complications was 37.5% and there were no deaths. The average follow-up time was 18.2 months (range 6.1-22.4 months), 5 patients survived tumour-free, 2 patients had tumour recurrence, and 1 patient died. Conclusions: After successful downstaging of multiple HCCs by treatment with TKIs plus anti-PD-1 antibodies and TACE, LH combined with RFA for radical surgery is safe and feasible, and the treatment effect is satisfactory. It is worthy of clinical reference, and its long-term effects require further research for confirmation.