Comparison of the Efficacy, Immune Function and Survival Rate of Sorafenib and Apatinib in the Treatment of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Objective: To explore the influence of sorafenib combined with apatinib in treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its influence on immune function. Methods: One hundred and ninety-nine patients with advanced HCC who received treatment in our hospital were collected. Ninety-eight patients were treated with sorafenib and included in the control group (CG). One hundred and one patients received sorafenib combined with apatinib and they were included in the study group (SG). After therapy, the therapeutic effect, immune function and other indexes were compared between the two groups. Results: After therapy, the total effective rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) in SG were obviously higher than those in CG (P<0.05). After therapy, the serum interleukin -10 (IL-10) and interleukin -18 (IL-18) were obviously declined in both groups (P<0.05), and the decline of IL-10 and IL-18 in SG was obviously greater than that in CG (P<0.05). After therapy, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) declined obviously in both groups (P<0.05), and the reduction of VEGF in SG was obviously greater than that in CG (P<0.05). After therapy, the number of alpha fetal protein (AFP) decreased in SG was obviously higher than that in CG (P<0.05). In SG, it could obviously ameliorate the progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients with advanced HCC (P = 0.01, P<0.05), and there were no obvious differences in the incidence rate of adverse reactions in both groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Sorafenib combined with apatinib can obviously improve the therapeutic effect, immune function and survival rate in treating patients with advanced HCC, and it is safe and worthy of clinical promotion.