Characteristics | Objective response | Progressive disease | P value |
n=20 | n=21 | ||
Age, years | 58.8 (55.0–68.4) | 67.3 (55.6–74.5) | 0.211 |
Sex (male), n (%) | 18 (90.0) | 17 (81.0) | 0.663 |
HBsAg-positive, n (%) | 14 (70.0) | 12 (57.1) | 0.393 |
Anti-HCV-positive, n (%) | 6 (30.0) | 5 (23.8) | 0.655 |
Max. tumor size, cm | 6.2 (3.3–9.8) | 3.8 (2.0–8.2) | 0.192 |
Tumor >50% liver volume, n (%) | 4 (20.0) | 6 (28.6) | 0.719 |
Multiple tumors, n (%) | 18 (90.0) | 19 (90.5) | 1.000 |
Portal vein invasion, n (%) | 9 (45.0) | 9 (42.9) | 0.890 |
Extrahepatic metastasis, n (%) | 7 (35.0) | 11 (52.4) | 0.262 |
AFP, ng/mL | 67.4 (5.9–3118.4) | 469.7 (40.5–6492.5) | 0.175 |
≥400 ng/mL, n (%) | 7 (35.0) | 11 (52.4) | 0.262 |
BCLC stage B/C, n (%) | 6/14 (30.0/70.0) | 7/14 (33.3/66.7) | 0.819 |
Prothrombin time, INR | 1.13 (1.05–1.20) | 1.08 (1.01–1.27) | 0.705 |
Platelet count, K/cumm | 144 (107–213) | 139 (71–180) | 0.268 |
ALT, U/L | 32 (18–48) | 47 (30–70) | 0.124 |
AST, U/L | 49 (30–71) | 64 (39–123) | 0.267 |
Total bilirubin, mg/dL | 0.69 (0.52–0.89) | 0.81 (0.45–1.56) | 0.754 |
Albumin, g/dL | 3.7 (3.2–4.1) | 3.8 (3.6–4.0) | 0.440 |
Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio | 3.47 (2.15–5.69) | 3.07 (2.37–4.52) | 0.958 |
Presence of ascites, n (%) | 8 (40.0) | 7 (33.3) | 0.658 |
Child-Pugh score | 6 (5–6) | 5 (5–6) | 0.346 |
Child-Pugh class A/B/C, n (%) | 17/3/0 (85.0/15.0/0) | 17/4/0 (81.0/19.0/0) | 1.000 |
ALBI grade 1/2/3, n (%) | 8/11/1 (40.0/55.0/5.0) | 7/14/0 (33.3/66.7/0) | 0.496 |
First line systemic therapy, n (%) | 12 (60.0) | 6 (28.6) | 0.043 |
Prior therapy to ICI, n (%) | |||
Surgical resection | 8 (40.0) | 12 (57.1) | 0.272 |
RFA | 5 (25.0) | 12 (57.1) | 0.058 |
TACE | 11 (55.0) | 12 (57.1) | 0.890 |
Sorafenib | 8 (40.0) | 15 (71.4) | 0.043 |
Nivolumab/pembrolizumab, n (%) | 8/12 (40.0/60.0) | 16/5 (76.2/23.8) | 0.019 |
Combined ICI with TKI, n (%) | 12 (60.0) | 5 (23.8) | 0.019 |
Immune-related AEs | 4 (20.0) | 6 (28.6) | 0.523 |
The values of continuous variables are presented with median and IQR.
AEs, adverse events; AFP, alpha fetoprotein; ALBI grade, albumin-bilirubin grade; AL(S)T, alanine(aspartate) aminotransferase; BCLC stage, Barcelona-Clinic liver cancer stage; HBsAg, hepatitis B virus surface antigen; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; HCV, hepatitis C; ICI, immune checkpoint inhibitors; INR, international normalized ratio; NLR, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio; RFA, radiofrequency ablation; TACE, trans-arterial chemoembolization; TKI, tyrosine kinase inhibitor.