Anticancer effects of vitamin K combined with transarterial chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma, a randomized controlled trial

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#humans #carcinoma-hepatocellular #chemoembolization-therapeutic #liver-neoplasms #male

Anticancer effects of vitamin K combined with transarterial chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma, a randomized controlled trial

Haruna et al., 2025 | Br J Cancer | Rct

Citation

Haruna Yoshimichi, Yakushijin Takayuki, ... Nakazawa Tetsuo. Anticancer effects of vitamin K combined with transarterial chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma, a randomized controlled trial. Br J Cancer. 2025-Jun;132(12):1141-1147. doi:10.1038/s41416-025-03022-4

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We have previously reported that vitamin K dosing augments the anticancer effects of sorafenib by suppressing levels of des-γ-carboxy prothrombin, a known tumor growth and angiogenesis factor produced in HCC under sorafenib-induced ischemia. Herein, we aimed to establish whether vitamin K dosing could afford a similar anticancer effect when combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). METHODS: We performed a randomized controlled trial, assigning patients with unresectable HCC (1:1) to TACE + vitamin K or TACE alone groups. Co-primary endpoints were objective response rate and PFS; the secondary endpoint was safety. RESULTS: The TACE + vitamin K group (n = 50) exhibited a significantly higher objective response rate than the TACE alone group (n = 51) (96.0% vs. 82.4%, p = 0.028). The PFS was significantly longer in the TACE + vitamin K group than that in the TACE alone group (median time: 262 days [95% confidence interval (CI), 35.8-488.2 days] vs. 146 days [95% CI, 111.6-180.4 days]; p = 0.013, hazard ratio: 0.55 [95% CI, 0.34-0.89]). There were no significant differences in the incidence of adverse events between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with TACE alone, vitamin K dosing combined with TACE improved anticancer outcomes. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: UMIN000026404.

Key Findings

The TACE + vitamin K group (n = 50) exhibited a significantly higher objective response rate than the TACE alone group (n = 51) (96.0% vs. 82.4%, p = 0.028). The PFS was significantly longer in the TACE + vitamin K group than that in the TACE alone group (median time: 262 days [95% confidence interval (CI), 35.8-488.2 days] vs. 146 days [95% CI, 111.6-180.4 days]; p = 0.013, hazard ratio: 0.55 [95% CI, 0.34-0.89]). There were no significant differences in the incidence of adverse events between

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population unresectable hcc
Sample Size 50
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
  • Chemoembolization, Therapeutic
  • Liver Neoplasms
  • Male
  • Female
  • Middle Aged
  • Vitamin K
  • Aged
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Adult
  • Sorafenib
  • Protein Precursors
  • Prothrombin
  • Biomarkers

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Rct
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Vertical: vitamin-k-cancer

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09