Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with targeted therapy for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC). METHODS: This was a retrospective study. Retrospective selection of 150 PHC patients admitted to the Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine January 2019 and June 2021 were included. The patients were divided into the control group and the experimental group according to their treatment regimens. The control group received TACE treatment, while the experimental group received TACE combined with targeted therapy. We analyze the relevant data of two groups of patients and evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of TACE combined with targeted therapy. RESULTS: The tumor remission rate and control rate in the control group were 41.89% and 75.68%, respectively, while those in the experimental group were 77.63% and 90.79%, with statistically significant differences (p<0.05). The 1-year and 3-year recurrence rates in the control group were 52.71% and 98.65%, respectively, while those in the experimental group were 39.47% and 61.84%, with statistically significant differences (p<0.05). After treatment, the AFP, VEGF, ALT, and AST in the experimental group were significantly reduced compared to the control group (p<0.05). During the treatment period, the incidence and severity of nausea, vomiting, and fever in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The clinical efficacy of TACE combined with targeted therapy for PHC is superior to that of TACE alone, with improved disease control rate, improved long-term survival rate, and good safety.