Combinations of lenvatinib and immune checkpoint inhibitors plus transarterial chemoembolization, is it the prime time for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma?

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal disease and unfortunately, most patients will be diagnosed with unresectable/advanced stages and the overall prognosis is poor. For patients with initially unresectable HCC (uHCC), transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was the mainstream treatment. Lately, the incorporation of immune checkpoint inhibitors and antiangiogenics for the treatment of metastatic disease has paved the way for significant improvements in the treatment of initially uHCC. In this editorial we will discuss an article that evaluated ICI combinations with lenvatinib and TACE for the treatment of uHCC patients, and highlight future advances in the field.