Evaluating the best treatment for multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma: A propensity score-matched analysis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common tumour often diagnosed with a multifocal presentation. Patients with multifocal HCC represent a heterogeneous group. Although Trans-Arterial ChemoEmbolization (TACE) is the most frequently employed treatment for these patients, previous data suggested that liver resection (LR) could be a safe and effective procedure.

To compare LR and TACE in patients with multifocal HCC in terms of procedure-related morbidity and oncologic outcomes.

All patients with multifocal HCC who underwent LR or TACE as the first procedure between May 2011 and March 2021 were enrolled. The decision to perform surgery or TACE was made after a multidisciplinary team evaluation. Only patients in Child-Pugh class A or B7 and stage B (according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system, without severe portal hypertension, vascular invasion, or extrahepatic spread) were included in the final analysis. Propensity score matching was used to adjust the baseline differences between patients undergoing LR and the TACE group [number and diameter of lesions, presence of cirrhosis, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score]. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). The outcomes of LR and TACE were compared using the log-rank test.

After matching, 30 patients were eligible for the final analysis, 15 in each group. Morbidity rates were 42.9% and 40% for LR and TACE, respectively (P = 0.876). Median OS was not different in the LR and TACE groups (53 mo vs 18 mo, P = 0.312), while DFS was significantly longer with LR (19 mo vs 0 mo, P = 0.0001). Subgroup analysis showed that patients in the Italian Liver Cancer (ITA.LI.CA) B2 stage, with AFP levels lower than 400 ng/mL, less than 3 lesions, and lesions bigger than 41 mm, benefited more from LR in terms of DFS. Patients classified as ITA.LI.CA B3, with AFP levels higher than 400 ng/mL and with more than 3 lesions, appeared to receive more benefit from TACE in terms of OS.

In a small cohort of patients with multifocal HCC, LR confers longer DFS compared with TACE, with similar OS and post-procedural morbidity.