Cyproheptadine significantly improves the overall and progression-free survival of sorafenib-treated advanced HCC patients.

Abstract

ObjectiveSorafenib is a recommended treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. The study is to evaluate the efficacy of sorafenib plus cyproheptadine compared with sorafenib alone in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.MethodsA retrospective cohort study reviewed all consecutive advanced hepatocellular carcinoma cases with Child-Pugh Class A disease starting sorafenib treatment at our hospital from August 2012 to March 2013. They were followed up until 31 December 2013. A total of 52 patients were enrolled: 32 patients in the combination (sorafenib–cyproheptadine) group and 20 patients in the control (sorafenib alone) group. The response to treatment, overall survival and progression-free survival were compared.ResultsThe median overall survival was 11.0 months (95% confidence interval: 6.8–15.1 months) in the combination group compared with 4.8 months (95% confidence interval: 3.1–6.6 months) in the control group (crude hazard ratio = 0.45, 95% confidence interval: 0.22–0.82). The median progression-free survival time was 7.5 months (95% confidence interval: 5.1–10.0 months) in the combination group compared with 1.7 months (95% confidence interval: 1.4–2.1 months) in the control group (crude hazard ratio = 0.43, 95% confidence interval: 0.22–0.86). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis revealed that both overall survival and progression-free survival in the combination group were significantly longer than that in the control group. The multivariate model found patients in the combination group were 76% less likely to die (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.24, 95% confidence interval: 0.10–0.58) and 82% less likely to have progression (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.18, 95% confidence interval: 0.08–0.44) during the 17 months of follow-up.ConclusionCyproheptadine may significantly improve survival outcomes of sorafenib-treated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients.