Table 4. The univariable and multivariable analysis of PFS on all patients and two subgroups.
| Covariates | All patients (n=201) | Reduced-dose subgroup (n=66) | Normal-dose subgroup (n=135) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numbers | HR (95% CI) | P | Numbers | HR (95% CI) | P | Numbers | HR (95% CI) | P | |||
| Univariable analysis | |||||||||||
| Sex (men vs. women) | 182 vs. 19 | 1.06 (0.64–1.78) | 0.820 | 62 vs. 4 | 1.22 (0.38–3.92) | 0.740 | 120 vs. 15 | 0.92 (0.52–1.64) | 0.773 | ||
| Age (≥52 vs. <52 years) | 106 vs. 95 | 0.65 (0.49–0.88) | 0.005 | 28 vs. 38 | 0.61 (0.36–1.04) | 0.068 | 78 vs. 57 | 0.73 (0.51–1.04) | 0.083 | ||
| AFP level (≥400 vs. <400 ng/mL) | 108 vs. 93 | 1.30 (0.96–1.75) | 0.087 | 31 vs. 35 | 1.32 (0.79–2.20) | 0.294 | 77 vs. 58 | 1.39 (0.96–2.01) | 0.083 | ||
| HBV status (positive vs. negative) | 179 vs. 22 | 0.92 (0.58–1.47) | 0.721 | 60 vs. 6 | 0.85 (0.36–1.98) | 0.705 | 119 vs. 16 | 0.91 (0.52–1.58) | 0.719 | ||
| Child Pugh Class (B vs. A) | 35 vs. 166 | 1.42 (0.97–2.08) | 0.069 | 14 vs. 52 | 2.50 (1.34–4.66) | 0.004 | 21 vs. 114 | 1.11 (0.68–1.82) | 0.686 | ||
| Tumor size (≥5 vs. <5 cm) | 134 vs. 67 | 1.38 (1.01–1.89) | 0.043 | 47 vs. 19 | 1.13 (0.66–1.96) | 0.657 | 87 vs. 48 | 1.48 (1.01–2.17) | 0.044 | ||
| Tumor number (multiple vs. single) | 134 vs. 67 | 1.20 (0.88–1.64) | 0.258 | 45 vs. 21 | 1.00 (0.58–1.73) | 0.997 | 89 vs. 46 | 1.28 (0.87–1.88) | 0.206 | ||
| Vascular invasion (present vs. absent) | 126 vs. 75 | 1.07 (0.79–1.45) | 0.666 | 43 vs. 23 | 1.17 (0.68–2.00) | 0.578 | 83 vs. 52 | 1.01 (0.69–1.46) | 0.976 | ||
| Distant metastasis (present vs. absent) | 116 vs. 85 | 1.24 (0.92–1.67) | 0.159 | 39 vs. 27 | 1.18 (0.70–1.99) | 0.539 | 77 vs. 58 | 1.25 (0.87–1.80) | 0.234 | ||
| Treatments (TACE-apatinib vs. TACE-sorafenib) | 86 vs. 115 | 1.57 (1.16–2.12) | 0.004 | 46 vs. 20 | 2.83 (1.48–5.43) | 0.002 | 40 vs. 95 | 1.02 (0.68–1.54) | 0.922 | ||
| Dose reduction (reduced vs. normal) | 66 vs. 135 | 1.85 (1.35–2.54) | <0.001 | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| Multivariable analysis | |||||||||||
| Age (≥52 vs. <52 years) | 106 vs. 95 | 0.68 (0.51–0.92) | 0.012 | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| AFP level (≥400 vs. <400 ng/mL) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| Child Pugh Class (B vs. A) | – | – | – | 14 vs. 52 | 2.82 (1.49–5.33) | 0.001 | – | – | – | ||
| Tumor size (≥5 vs. <5 cm) | 134 vs. 67 | 1.44 (1.04–1.99) | 0.026 | – | – | – | 87 vs. 48 | 1.48 (1.01–2.17) | 0.044 | ||
| Treatments (TACE-apatinib vs. TACE-sorafenib) | 86 vs. 115 | 1.53 (1.11–2.10) | 0.010 | 46 vs. 20 | 3.07 (1.59–5.92) | 0.001 | – | – | – | ||
| Dose reduction (reduced vs. normal) | 66 vs. 135 | 1.65 (1.19–2.28) | 0.003 | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
PFS, progression free survival; HR, hazard ratio; CI, confidence interval; AFP, alpha fetoprotein; HBV, hepatitis B virus; TACE, transarterial chemoembolization.