Authors’ Reply to “Re: Hepatic Artery Infusion Chemotherapy using Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and Oxaliplatin versus Transarterial Chemoembolization as Initial Treatment for Locally Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Score-Matching Analysis”

We thank Dr. Xu and his colleagues for their interest in our study. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the efficacy and safety of first-line hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) with modified fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX) with that of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in real clinical practice. In China, TACE is recommended for use in patients with HCC with incomplete obstruction of the main portal vein, adequate collateralization, or recanalized portal vein by portal vein stent placement ( 1 Zhou J. Sun H. Wang Z. et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (2019 edition). Liver Cancer. 2020; 9: 682-720 Google Scholar ). In real clinical practice, minimal or undetected extrahepatic disease may be eventually or retrospectively diagnosed in some patients when these nodules grow in size and are confirmed to be metastases during follow-up; in our retrospective analysis, we also included these patients, who were considered to have locally advanced HCC at the time of diagnosis. Re: “Hepatic Artery Infusion Chemotherapy Using Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and Oxaliplatin versus Transarterial Chemoembolization as Initial Treatment for Locally Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Score–Matching Analysis”Journal of Vascular and Interventional RadiologyVol. 33Issue 4PreviewWe read with great interest the recently published article by Li et al (1) in which the investigators reported that hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) with mFOLFOX is a promising locoregional therapy for the initial treatment of patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The investigators of the study reported that this treatment demonstrated favorable response rates, survival outcomes, and safety compared with transarterial chemoembolization. However, the authors have comments regarding several aspects of the study by Li et al (1). Full-Text PDF Re: “Hepatic Artery Infusion Chemotherapy Using Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and Oxaliplatin versus Transarterial Chemoembolization as Initial Treatment for Locally Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Score–Matching Analysis”Journal of Vascular and Interventional RadiologyVol. 33Issue 4PreviewThe authors have read with great interest the article “Hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy using fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin versus transarterial chemoembolization as initial treatment for locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score–matching analysis” by Li et al (1). The investigators of the study (1) concluded that, compared with transarterial chemoembolization, hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) with fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX) is a potentially safer and more effective locoregional therapy for patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Full-Text PDF Authors’ Reply to “Re: Hepatic Artery Infusion Chemotherapy Using Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and Oxaliplatin versus Transarterial Chemoembolization as Initial Treatment for Locally Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A propensity Score-Matching Analysis”Journal of Vascular and Interventional RadiologyVol. 33Issue 4PreviewWe thank Mei et al for the comments on our study. In East Asia, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is often recommended by local guidelines for use in patients with HCC and portal vein tumor thrombosis (1). Recent studies have suggested that hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) is also an effective treatment for these patients. Therefore, the authors designed this study to compare the efficacy and safety of these 2 transarterial treatments. Because neither of the 2 approaches is the first-line treatment recommended by international guidelines, it is difficult to design a prospective study with standardized protocols and wide generalizability. Full-Text PDF