Efficacy of combined modality conversion therapy for HCC with portal vein tumor thrombus: a retrospective cohort study.

Jian Huang, Fu-Chen Liu, Li Li, Wei Dong, Sheng-Xian Yuan, Fang-Ming Gu, Bei-Ge Jiang, Ze-Ya Pan

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Article in Frontiers in immunology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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8 authors.

Jian Huang *The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.

Fu-Chen Liu *The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.

Li Li *Department of Nephrology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.

Wei DongThe Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.

Sheng-Xian YuanThe Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.

Fang-Ming GuThe Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.

Bei-Ge JiangThe Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.

Ze-Ya PanThe Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) have a substandard prognosis. This study elucidated whether conversion therapy can alleviate unresectable tumors and increase the rate of salvage hepatectomy, as well as identify predictors of better prognosis. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 159 patients with uHCC and PVTT who underwent conversion therapy, predominantly combining systemic treatments with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included tumor response, surgical conversion rate, and outcomes in the surgical cohort. Results: The data showed that the objective response rates (ORR) for the entire cohort (n = 159) were 42.1%, while the disease control rate was 62.3%. The median PFS and OS were respectively determined to be 9.6 and 17.7 months. Moreover, 40 patients (25.2%) were successfully converted and underwent salvage hepatectomy. In addition, the surgical subgroup indicated a markedly improved median recurrence-free survival (RFS; 10.1 months) and OS (30 months). Multivariate analysis revealed that salvage hepatectomy was an independent protective factor for both PFS (95% CI: 0.341 - 0.845, HR = 0.537, Conclusion: This retrospective study evaluated the combined effect of systemic therapy and TACE as an efficient conversion therapy for uHCC patients with PVTT. The findings revealed a substantial response rate, facilitating curative-intent surgery in a substantial percentage of patients. Salvage hepatectomy was associated with improved survival in selected patients who responded to conversion therapy.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularLiver NeoplasmsPortal VeinVenous ThrombosisAdultAgedChemoembolization, TherapeuticCombined Modality TherapyFemaleHepatectomyHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisRetrospective StudiesSalvage Therapyconversion therapyhepatocellular carcinomaportal vein tumor thrombussalvage hepatectomysurvival

Identifiers

PMID42396444

DOI10.3389/fimmu.2026.1749090

PMCPMC13323150

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.