ABT score based clinical model predicts prognosis in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with TACE combined with bevacizumab and sintilimab therapy
4 affiliations
- 1Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Infectious Disease and Hepatology Center of Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing International Cooperation Base for Science and Technology on NAFLD Diagnosis
- 2Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University
- 3Department of General Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University
- 4Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University
Abstract
Background: Transarterial chemoembolization combined with Bevacizumab and Sintilimab (T-B-S) therapy demonstrated promising treatment effects and improved prognosis in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). However, biomarkers for predicting the treatment efficacy remain to be further explored. In this study, we aimed to construct a noninvasive and easily assessable clinical model, in order to predict prognosis of uHCC receiving T-B-S therapy.
Methods: 156 uHCC patients received T-B-S therapy were retrospectively recruited from three medical centers. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). Model prediction potential was assessed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and C-index. Survival curves were compared by Kaplan-Meier method.
Results: 156 uHCC patients were divided into training and validation cohorts (86 and 70 cases), and among all patients, 43 achieved complete response, 53 showed partial response, 32 had stable disease and 28 had progressive disease. The objective response and disease control rate were 61.5% and 82.1%, respectively. 23 patients underwent sequential resection (12 in training cohort and 11 in validation cohort). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses identified alkaline phosphatase to prealbumin ratio (APR) > 0.96, BCLC-C stage and TBIL > 17 μmol/L as independent predictors of poor survival, which consist of the ABT score. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of ABT model for predicting overall survival (OS) was 0.823 in training cohort and 0.828 in validation cohort. In training cohort, 2-year OS of different risk groups defined by ABT based clinical model were 89.8%, 43.7%, and 12.9%, respectively ( p < 0.0001). Progression free survival (PFS) of different risk groups was analyzed either.
Conclusion: The T-B-S therapy showed promising treatment efficacy. ABT based clinical model was constructed to predict survival of uHCC receiving T-B-S treatment and the ABT model performed well in risk stratification.
Related
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- Early antibiotic exposure, but not late exposure, negatively affects the clinical outcomes of first-line atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma
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- Pathological Complete Response and Successful Conversion Hepatectomy in Initially Unresectable Giant Hepatocellular Carcinoma Following Triple Therapy With HAIC, Bevacizumab, and Tislelizumab: A Case Report
BibTeX
@article{liao2026score,
title = {{ABT score based clinical model predicts prognosis in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with TACE combined with bevacizumab and sintilimab therapy}},
author = {Minjun Liao and Xiaoxiao Wang and Zilong Wang and Xin Ai and Zhao Chen and Xin Wang and Kai Wang and Xudong Fei and Wanying Qin and Feng Liu and Huiying Rao},
journal = {Frontiers in Pharmacology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fphar.2026.1756451},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1756451/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - ABT score based clinical model predicts prognosis in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with TACE combined with bevacizumab and sintilimab therapy
AU - Minjun Liao
AU - Xiaoxiao Wang
AU - Zilong Wang
AU - Xin Ai
AU - Zhao Chen
AU - Xin Wang
AU - Kai Wang
AU - Xudong Fei
AU - Wanying Qin
AU - Feng Liu
AU - Huiying Rao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - Frontiers in Pharmacology
DO - 10.3389/fphar.2026.1756451
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1756451/full
AB - Background: Transarterial chemoembolization combined with Bevacizumab and Sintilimab (T-B-S) therapy demonstrated promising treatment effects and improved prognosis in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). However, biomarkers for predicting the treatment efficacy remain to be further explored. In this study, we aimed to construct a noninvasive and easily assessable clinical model, in order to predict prognosis of uHCC receiving T-B-S therapy. Methods: 156 uHCC patients received T-B-S therapy were retrospectively recruited from three medical centers. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). Model prediction potential was assessed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and C-index. Survival curves were compared by Kaplan-Meier method. Results: 156 uHCC patients were divided into training and validation cohorts (86 and 70 cases), and among all patients, 43 achieved complete response, 53 showed partial response, 32 had stable disease and 28 had progressive disease. The objective response and disease control rate were 61.5% and 82.1%, respectively. 23 patients underwent sequential resection (12 in training cohort and 11 in validation cohort). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses identified alkaline phosphatase to prealbumin ratio (APR) > 0.96, BCLC-C stage and TBIL > 17 μmol/L as independent predictors of poor survival, which consist of the ABT score. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of ABT model for predicting overall survival (OS) was 0.823 in training cohort and 0.828 in validation cohort. In training cohort, 2-year OS of different risk groups defined by ABT based clinical model were 89.8%, 43.7%, and 12.9%, respectively ( p < 0.0001). Progression free survival (PFS) of different risk groups was analyzed either. Conclusion: The T-B-S therapy showed promising treatment efficacy. ABT based clinical model was constructed to predict survival of uHCC receiving T-B-S treatment and the ABT model performed well in risk stratification.
SN - 1663-9812
ER -