Whether Adjuvant TACE Plus TKI Therapy is More Effective Than TACE Alone in HCC Patients at High Risks of Recurrence Following Radical Hepatectomy

Before PSM, the cohort comprised 141 patients receiving TPT and 123 patients treated with TACE alone. After PSM, 81 well-balanced patients were selected per group (all p > 0.05). The TPT group exhibited significantly prolonged median recurrence-free survival (mRFS: 37.1 vs 27.7 months; p < 0.05) and median overall survival (mOS: 41.3 vs 38.3 months; p < 0.05) compared to the TACE alone group. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year RFS rates in the TPT group were 95.1%, 67.9%, and 48.1%, respectively, significantly higher than those in the TACE alone group (76.5%, 55.6%, and 40.7%; all p < 0.05). Similarly, the corresponding OS rates were 95.1%, 75.3%, and 54.3% (TPT) versus 81.5%, 66.7%, and 53.1% (TACE alone; all p < 0.05). Multivariable Cox regression analyses confirmed TPT as an independent protective factor for both RFS and OS. No significant increase in treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) was observed with the TPT regimen compared to TACE alone. The overall TRAE rate was 51.8% in the TPT group, with grade ≥3 events occurring in 14.8% of patients, indicating an acceptable safety profile.