Comparative assessment of standard and immune response criteria for evaluation of response to PD-1 monotherapy in unresectable HCC

Comparative efficacy of novel combination strategies for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: A network metanalysis of phase III trials

“…In addition, international guidelines advise to adopt both RECIST and mRECIST criteria to assess response in HCC [35]. However, not all the studies utilised mRECIST assessment and NMA was based on RECIST and RECIST 1.1 criteria, which were originally validated to define response to cytotoxic chemotherapy [35] and might not be appropriate to adequately assess the response of intra-hepatic lesions [36].…”

2022 KLCA-NCC Korea practice guidelines for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma

“…990,993 These pro- in any case in this study. 996 If the rate of pseudo-progression turns out to be very low for HCC, 997 it may be more advantageous and cost-effective to switch patients with HCC over to new drugs immediately when PD is observed after immunotherapy. However, a large-scale prospective study is necessary and the new response assessment criteria must be continuously verified and revised for the new immunotherapy drugs.…”

“…A recent study that retrospectively analyzed patients with HCC who underwent nivolumab treatment reported that, of the 22 patients classified as having UPDs in the initial response assessment, 21 (95.5%) were classified as having CPDs in the second response assessment, while UPD was maintained in only one patient; in other words, pseudo-progression was not observed in any case in this study. 996 If the rate of pseudo-progression turns out to be very low for HCC, 997 it may be more advantageous and cost-effective to switch patients with HCC over to new drugs immediately when PD is observed after immunotherapy. However, a large-scale prospective study is necessary and the new response assessment criteria must be continuously verified and revised for the new immunotherapy drugs.…”

Unraveling the Complexities of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

“…For example, Qin et al 110 reported a PsP rate of over 10% in HCC patients treated with camrelizumab, while Rimola et al 111 found a significantly lower PsP incidence of only 2.5% in 118 patients receiving nivolumab monotherapy. Similarly, a published report noted the absence of PsP in patients enrolled in clinical trials of ICIs, 112 possibly due to the relatively short observation period. Consistent with these findings, Lee et al 113 observed no cases of PsP among 158 nivolumab-treated HCC patients who underwent two rounds of response assessment.…”