Intra-arterial lidocaine improves long-term survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation: a retrospective propensity score-matched study

Lidocaine, the most widely used local anaesthetic, has anticancer effects in both laboratory findings and retrospective clinical studies. We explored the potential benefits of intra-arterial lidocaine on long-term survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation (TACE). This retrospective cohort study included patients with HCC who received TACE as initial treatment from August 2011 to October 2016. Eligible patients were categorised into no lidocaine and lidocaine groups. Propensity score matching was undertaken. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival were compared between the two groups. Subgroup analysis was performed to explore the survival benefit of combining intra-arterial lidocaine with platinum-based chemotherapy during TACE. Of 374 eligible patients, 96 were in the lidocaine group and 278 were in the no lidocaine group. Survival analysis showed that intra-arterial lidocaine was associated with longer PFS (P=0.004) and overall survival (P<0.001). After propensity score matching, PFS (P<0.001) and overall survival (P=0.001) benefits of lidocaine remained. Multivariate analysis showed that intra-arterial lidocaine was an independent prognostic factor for PFS (P=0.011) and overall survival (P=0.044). The impact of intra-arterial lidocaine was similar in patients receiving the TACE regimen with platinum (PFS: P=0.014; overall survival: P=0.023). Intra-arterial lidocaine might improve long-term survival in patients with HCC undergoing TACE and in the subgroup of patients receiving platinum. The study highlights the potential antitumour benefits of combining lidocaine and chemotherapeutics in patients with cancer.