|
2
|
Ielasi L, Tovoli F, Tonnini M, Tortora R, Magini G, Sacco R, Pressiani T, Trevisani F, Sansone V, Marasco G, Piscaglia F, Granito A. Beneficial Prognostic Effects of Aspirin in Patients Receiving Sorafenib for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Tale of Multiple Confounders. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13246376. [PMID: 34944996 PMCID: PMC8699252 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Case-control observational studies suggested that aspirin might prevent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients, even if randomized clinical trials are lacking. Information regarding aspirin in subjects who already developed HCC, especially in its advanced stage, are scarce. While aspirin might be a low-cost option to improve the prognosis, multiple confounders and safety concerns are to be considered. In our retrospective analyses of a prospective dataset (n = 699), after assessing the factors associated with aspirin prescription, we applied an inverse probability treatment weight analysis to address the prescription bias. Analyses of post-sorafenib survival were also performed to reduce the influence of subsequent medications. Among the study population, 133 (19%) patients were receiving aspirin at the time of sorafenib prescription. Aspirin users had a higher platelet count and a lower prevalence of esophageal varices, macrovascular invasion, and Child-Pugh B status. The benefit of aspirin was confirmed in terms of overall survival (HR 0.702, 95% CI 0.543-0.908), progression-free survival, disease control rate (58.6 vs. 49.5%, p < 0.001), and post-sorafenib survival even after weighting. Minor bleeding events were more frequent in the aspirin group. Aspirin use was associated with better outcomes, even after the correction for confounders. While safety concerns arguably remain a problem, prospective trials for patients at low risk of bleeding are warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luca Ielasi
- Division of Internal Medicine, Hepatobiliary and Immunoallergic Diseases, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (L.I.); (M.T.); (V.S.); (F.P.); (A.G.)
| | - Francesco Tovoli
- Division of Internal Medicine, Hepatobiliary and Immunoallergic Diseases, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (L.I.); (M.T.); (V.S.); (F.P.); (A.G.)
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (F.T.); (G.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-051-214-2214; Fax: +39-051-214-2725
| | - Matteo Tonnini
- Division of Internal Medicine, Hepatobiliary and Immunoallergic Diseases, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (L.I.); (M.T.); (V.S.); (F.P.); (A.G.)
| | - Raffaella Tortora
- Liver Unit, Department of Transplantation, Cardarelli Hospital, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Giulia Magini
- Department of Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, 24127 Bergamo, Italy;
| | - Rodolfo Sacco
- Gastroenterology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Foggia University Hospital, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Tiziana Pressiani
- Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy;
| | - Franco Trevisani
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (F.T.); (G.M.)
- Semeiotica Medica, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Vito Sansone
- Division of Internal Medicine, Hepatobiliary and Immunoallergic Diseases, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (L.I.); (M.T.); (V.S.); (F.P.); (A.G.)
| | - Giovanni Marasco
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (F.T.); (G.M.)
- Internal Medicine and Digestive Physiopathology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Piscaglia
- Division of Internal Medicine, Hepatobiliary and Immunoallergic Diseases, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (L.I.); (M.T.); (V.S.); (F.P.); (A.G.)
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (F.T.); (G.M.)
| | - Alessandro Granito
- Division of Internal Medicine, Hepatobiliary and Immunoallergic Diseases, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (L.I.); (M.T.); (V.S.); (F.P.); (A.G.)
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (F.T.); (G.M.)
| |
Collapse
|