Potential of neoadjuvant hepatic artery perfusion chemotherapy in improving surgical outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of adjuvant treatment with new hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) prior to hepatic resection in patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: A systematic review was conducted utilizing established databases and registries as of January 15, 2025, without imposing restrictions based on language, publication date, or status. The inclusion criteria were met by studies that examined the effects of HAlC, with or without surgical intervention, in comparison to surgical treatment alone. The primary outcomes encompassed overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), while secondary outcomes included recurrence rate and adverse events. A random effects model was employed to analyze the data.

Results: A total of 10 studies involving 1,014 patients were included. The results showed that preoperative HAlC improved patient survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and recurrence rates compared with surgical treatment alone. The most common grade 3 and higher adverse reactions in patients treated with preoperative HAIC included vomiting, leukopenia, neutropenia, hypothyroidism, and diarrhea.

Conclusion: Preoperative HAIC has been demonstrated to enhance survival outcomes in patients with resectable HCC; however, the clinical efficacy of this approach requires further validation through large-scale design studies.