Current research status and future directions of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

The rapid evolution of systemic therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most common types of liver cancer, has attracted significant attention especially to hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) as a highly promising treatment approach. This method, which delivers chemotherapy directly into the liver's arterial supply, is designed to maximize the concentration of anti-cancer drugs at the tumor site while minimizing systemic side effects. Despite the potential and the encouraging results observed in various studies, HAIC has not yet achieved widespread acceptance and utilization. Sorafenib is a widely used systemic therapy that targets multiple pathways involved in tumor growth and angiogenesis, while transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a locoregional therapy that combines arterial embolization with chemotherapy. These treatments have been the mainstay of HCC management, yet they have limitations that HAIC may potentially overcome. This article specifically comments on the network meta-analysis that examined the current research status of HAIC, highlighting its effectiveness and safety profile in comparison to established standard treatments such as Sorafenib and TACE. Through an extensive review of existing studies, the authors conclude that patients receiving HAIC often experience better survival rates and longer periods without disease progression compared to those receiving Sorafenib or TACE.