Portal vein tumour thrombosis radiotherapy improves the treatment outcomes of immunotherapy plus bevacizumab in hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicentre real-world analysis with propensity score matching

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sequential immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) plus bevacizumab therapy after radiotherapy for portal vein tumour thrombosis (PVTT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Retrospective data were collected from 113 patients with HCC with PVTT. Patients in the PVTT radiotherapy (radiotherapy + ICIs + bevacizumab) and control groups (ICIs + bevacizumab) were enrolled according to propensity score matching (PSM) analysis (1:1). The differences in progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and potential factors affecting PFS between the groups were analysed. The adverse events (AEs) were compared between the two groups. Results: < 0.05). Conclusions: Sequential ICIs plus bevacizumab therapy after radiotherapy for PVTT in patients with HCC is safe and feasible and may further prolong the PFS of patients.