Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Outcomes of Transarterial Chemoembolization in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Single Center Experience from a Developing Country.

Background and Objectives: Treatment of cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge worldwide. In accordance with the current recommendations for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) management during the COVID-19 pandemic, loco-regional therapy such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was proposed with the purpose of achieving local tumor control and improving overall survival. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate the outcomes of TACE treatment in patients with HCC during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison with the outcomes of patients treated in the pre-pandemic period. Materials and Methods: Between September 2018 and December 2021, 154 patients were managed by serial TACE procedures for different liver tumors. Ninety-seven patients met the study criteria and were divided into two groups: the study group n = 49 (patients treated from May 2020 to December 2021); the control group n = 48 (patients treated from September 2018 to May 2020). Results: The mean waiting time for TACE was significantly longer in the study group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). No significant difference in survival between the groups is noted (log-rank test p = 0.823). In multivariate analysis, the MELD score (HR 1.329, 95% CI 1.140−1.548, p < 0.001) remained a significant predictor of mortality. Conclusions: COVID-19 pandemic did not affect the final outcome of TACE treatment.