SynthesisFrontiers in immunology2025
First-line immune checkpoint inhibitors plus targeted therapy versus sorafenib or lenvatinib monotherapy for unresectable or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis of phase 3 trials.
Synthesis in Frontiers in immunology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- COVID-19 vaccination and clinical outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitors therapy in cancer patients: a meta-analysis of real-world studies.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Pooled it
- Transarterial chemoembolization combined with immunotherapy and targeted therapy as first-line treatment for unresectable and non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis of phase III trials.Therapeutic advances in gastroenterology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) and targeted therapy (TT) combinations have emerged as promising first-line treatments for unresectable or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (u/aHCC), leveraging synergistic anti-tumor effects. However, the comparative efficacy and safety of ICI-TT regimens Methods: We conducted systematic searches in PubMed and major oncology conference proceedings up to June 10, 2025. Eligible studies were randomized phase 3 trials comparing first-line ICI-TT Results: Eight phase 3 trials (IMbrave150, ORIENT-32, COSMIC-312, CARES-310, LEAP-002, SCT-I10A-C301, HEPATORCH, APOLLO) involving 4,379 patients were included. Compared with S/L monotherapy, ICI-TT combination therapy demonstrated significantly improved ORR (OR 3.93; 95% CI 2.64-5.85), PFS (HR 0.62; 95% CI 0.54-0.71), and OS (HR 0.71; 95% CI 0.62-0.82). The risk of grade 3-5 TRAEs was not significantly increased with combination therapy (RR 1.13; 95% CI 0.96-1.33). However, combination therapy was associated with a significantly higher risk of serious TRAEs (RR 1.97; 95% CI 1.50-2.60). Conclusion: First-line ICI-plus-TT combination therapy demonstrates superior efficacy in ORR, PFS, and OS compared to S/L monotherapy for u/aHCC, without a significant increase in grade 3-5 TRAEs. Clinicians should be aware of the elevated risk of serious TRAEs associated with combination regimens. These findings support ICI-TT as a preferred first-line strategy for eligible patients, although individualized risk-benefit assessment remains crucial. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD420251053588.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.