To evaluate the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting bead-transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) combined with sorafenib in the treatment of unresectable middle/advanced-stage primary liver cancer (PLC).

Clinical data of 31 patients with unresectable middle/advanced-stage PLC treated with DEB-TACE combined with sorafenib in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from April 2017 to September 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 24 patients were male and 7 female, aged from 35 to 78 years with a median age of 55 years. The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the local ethical committee approval was received. According to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST), the tumor response was evaluated. The adverse events of DEB-TACE combined with sorafenib were observed. The overall survival and disease-free survival of patients were analyzed.

2 patients developed liver abscess after operation, which were mitigated after drainage. 2 cases suffered from grade Ⅲ hypertension and 1 case of grade Ⅲ diarrhea, which could be tolerated after symptomatic treatments and half-dose medication. The remaining cases experienced tolerable adverse events. The follow-up time was 7-37 months, with a median time of 24 months. 27 cases died and 4 cases survived. The objective response rate and disease control rate at postoperative 1, 3, 6, 12 months were 61.3%, 67.8%, 64.5%, 42.9%, and 96.8%, 90.3%, 87.1%, 71.4%, respectively. The median overall survival and disease-free progression time were 25 and 14 months, respectively.

DEB-TACE combined with sorafenib yields good safety and tolerance in the treatment of unresectable middle/advanced-stage PLC, which can bring favorable clinical benefits.