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SIR 2025

Interventional Oncology

Scientific Session

Session: Interventional Oncology - Basic Science

Lenvatinib Ameliorates the Immunosuppressive Microenvironment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Transarterial Chemoembolization

Wednesday, April 2, 2025
11:06 AM – 11:15 AM CT
Location: Music City Center, 207 CD

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Shen Zhang, MD

    Resident doctor
    The first affiliated hospital of soochow university, China (People's Republic)

    • Author/Co-author(s)

  • hl

    han si liang, PhD

    Resident doctor
    The first affiliated hospital of soochow university, China (People's Republic)

  • LX

    Lin Xu, MD

    Resident doctor
    The first affiliated hospital of soochow university, China (People's Republic)

  • JL

    Jia Qing Li, MD

    Resident doctor
    The first affiliated hospital of soochow university, China (People's Republic)

  • BZ

    Bin-Yan Zhong, n/a

    n/a
    Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, China (People's Republic)

  • XZ

    Xiaoli Zhu, MD, PhD

    Chief Physician
    The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, China (People's Republic)

Purpose: To explore the effects of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE) and TACE combined with lenvatinib on microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Materials and Methods:

An in situ HCC rat model was established via laparotomy, confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). Rats underwent TACE or sham (normal saline) via tail artery under DSA guidance. The combined therapy group received lenvatinib post-TACE. Tumor response was monitored via serial MRI. On day 8, rats were euthanized for pathological assessment, focusing on immune-cell alterations in HCC tissues. Statistical significance (P< 0.05) was determined using one-way ANOVA.

Results:

MRI exhibited a pronounced reduction in tumor volume in the combined treatment group versus TACE and sham groups on day 7 post embolization(P< 0.001), accompanied by significantly increased HCC necrosis (P=0.008). After embolization, the number of CD8+T cells declined compared to the sham group(P< 0.001), yet lenvatinib enhanced CD8+T cell infiltration after TACE (P=0.004). The combined group also significantly elevated the number of Granzyme B+ cells(P=0.001). Notably, CD68+CD163+ monocytes increased after TACE (P< 0.001), but declined after the administration of lenvatinib (P=0.155). Similarly, CD25+Foxp3+T lymphocytes surged after TACE (P< 0.001) and subsided slightly with the treatment of lenvatinib (P=0.286).

Conclusion: Lenvatinib ameliorated the immunosuppressive milieu in residual HCC tissue following TACE.