Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40181694›Full record

ArticleAlimentary pharmacology & therapeutics2025

Therapeutic Sequences of Systemic Therapy After Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Real-World Analysis of the IMMUreal Cohort.

Najib Ben Khaled, Valentina Zarka, Bernard Hobeika, Julia Schneider, Monika Rau, Alexander Weich, Hans Benno Leicht, Liangtao Ye, Ignazio Piseddu, Michael T Dill and 9 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

Najib Ben KhaledDepartment of Medicine II, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9681-2542
Valentina ZarkaDivision of Hepatology, Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Bernard HobeikaDepartment of Medicine II, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Julia SchneiderDepartment of Medicine II, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Monika RauDivision of Hepatology, Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Alexander WeichDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Hans Benno LeichtDivision of Hepatology, Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Liangtao YeDepartment of Medicine II, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4364-9494
Ignazio PisedduDepartment of Medicine II, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Michael T DillDepartment of Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases and Intoxication, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Arne KandulskiGastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Matthias PinterDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7260-532X
Ursula EhmerClinical Department for Internal Medicine II, Department of Clinical Medicine, TUM School of Medicine and Health, University Medical Center, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Peter SchirmacherInstitute of Pathology, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Jens U MarquardtDepartment of Medicine I, University Medical Center, Lübeck, Germany.
Julia MayerleDepartment of Medicine II, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Enrico N De ToniDepartment of Medicine II, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8101-8207
Andreas GeierDivision of Hepatology, Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Florian P ReiterDivision of Hepatology, Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3807-1456

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe introduction of several new systemic therapies in recent years has significantly altered the treatment landscape for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. However, while the approval of the combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab as the preferred first-line therapy over sorafenib represents progress, it has also raised uncertainties regarding optimal treatment sequencing for advanced disease.

aimsThis study evaluates the sequential treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma following therapy with atezolizumab and bevacizumab, providing evidence from a prospective real-world cohort.

methodsData were derived from the ongoing IMMUreal cohort, which investigates immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma across two tertiary centres in Bavaria. A total of 124 patients treated with atezolizumab and bevacizumab as first-line therapy between June 2020 and December 2023 were analysed. Feasibility, treatment patterns, and outcomes of sequential therapy were assessed, with a focus on defined prognostic subgroups.

resultsThe median overall survival under real-world conditions was 19.8 months. Less than half of the patients (41.2%) proceeded to second-line therapy, and only 19.2% were eligible for third-line treatment. This decline in treatment eligibility corresponded to a marked reduction in therapy duration and progressive deterioration in liver function, as indicated by Albumin-Bilirubin and Child-Pugh scores. While patients with worse baseline liver function, such as patients with Child-Pugh B or ALBI > 1, had a significantly lower probability of transitioning to 2nd line therapy, no significant association was found between the number of treatment lines and factors such as liver cirrhosis, poor physical condition, extrahepatic disease, or macrovascular invasion.

conclusionsSequential therapy following atezolizumab and bevacizumab is feasible only for selected patients. However, preserving liver function seems crucial to optimising multi-line therapy and improving outcomes in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Indexed as

Antibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedAntineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsBevacizumabCarcinoma, HepatocellularLiver NeoplasmsAdultAgedCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesTreatment OutcomeAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedatezolizumabBevacizumabhepatocellular carcinomaimmunotherapytyrosine kinase inhibition

Identifiers

PMID40181694
PMCPMC12074566

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Registered trials

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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 OpenQuestion graph.