Role of Transarterial Chemoembolization in the Era of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Combination Therapy for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Propensity Score Matched Analysis.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: As an effective locoregional therapy, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) can induce vascular endothelial growth factor and PD-1/PDL-1 upregulation, accompanied by a reduction in tumor burden. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of TACE combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) plus immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) (TACE-TKI-ICIs) versus TKIs plus ICIs (TKI-ICIs) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical data of 198 patients diagnosed with unresectable HCC who received a TKI (lenvatinib or sorafenib) plus an ICI (sintilimab or camrelizumab) with or without TACE were retrospectively reviewed between October 2019 and April 2022. Baseline characteristics of the TACE-TKI-ICI group and the TKI-ICI group were matched by propensity score matching in a 1:1 ratio. The tumor response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After matching, 54 patients were enrolled in each group. The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were higher in the TACE-TKI-ICI group (ORR: 63.0% vs. 29.6%, P < 0.001; DCR: 85.2% vs. 53.7%, P < 0.001). The median PFS was significantly longer in the TACE-TKI-ICI group (9.9 vs. 5.8 months; P = 0.026). The median OS between the two groups also reached a significant difference (not reached vs. 18.5 months; P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study, the results indicated that the addition of TACE to TKI-ICI therapy could contribute to better tumor control, PFS, and OS benefits in patients with unresectable HCC.

A Prediction Model Based on the Risk Factors Associated with Pathological Upgrading in Patients with Early-Stage Gastric Neoplasms Diagnosed by Endoscopic Forceps Biopsy.

Background/Aims: The discrepancies between the diagnosis of preoperative endoscopic forceps biopsy (EFB) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in patients with early gastric neoplasm (EGN) exist objectively. Among them, pathological upgrading directly influences the accuracy and appropriateness of clinical decisions. The aims of this study were to investigate the risk factors for the discrepancies, with a particular focus on pathological upgrading and to establish a prediction model for estimating the risk of pathological upgrading after EFB. Methods: We retrospectively collected the records of 978 patients who underwent ESD from December 1, 2017 to July 31, 2021 and who had a final histopathology determination of EGN. A nomogram to predict the risk of pathological upgrading was constructed after analyzing subgroup differences among the 901 lesions enrolled. Results: The ratio of pathological upgrading was 510 of 953 (53.5%). Clinical, laboratorial and endoscopic characteristics were analyzed using univariable and binary multivariable logistic regression analyses. A nomogram was constructed by including age, history of chronic atrophic gastritis, symptoms of digestive system, blood high density lipoprotein concentration, macroscopic type, pathological diagnosis of EFB, uneven surface, remarkable redness, and lesion size. The C-statistics were 0.804 (95% confidence interval, 0.774 to 0.834) and 0.748 (95% confidence interval, 0.664 to 0.832) in the training and validation set, respectively. We also built an online webserver based on the proposed nomogram for convenient clinical use. Conclusions: The clinical value of identifying the preoperative diagnosis of EGN lesions is limited when using EFB separately. We have developed a nomogram that can predict the probability of pathological upgrading with good calibration and discrimination value.