Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40534866›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in immunology2025

Tumor marker pseudoprogression and immune-related cholangitis during conversion therapy for massive hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report.

Xiaodong Zhang, Luyi Zhang, Shuangying Zhao, Lingling Dai, Huayu Li, Xudong Wu, Huanjun Yan, Rongfeng Lin, Kelei Zhu

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article 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.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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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

9 authors.

Xiaodong ZhangDepartment of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Luyi ZhangZhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Shuangying ZhaoDepartment of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Lingling DaiDepartment of Pathology, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Huayu LiDepartment of Radiology, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Xudong WuDepartment of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Huanjun YanDepartment of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Rongfeng LinDepartment of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Kelei ZhuDepartment of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cases with massive (diameter ≥10 cm) hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are uncommon and typically have poor outcomes; however, conversion therapy offers a beacon of hope for remission in patients with massive unresectable HCCs. Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been used in combination with other treatment modalities to improve the response rates to conversion therapies, yet the safety and generalizability of this combination have not been extensively validated. Herein, we report a man with a chief complaint of abdominal pain who was diagnosed with massive unresectable HCC. Notably, the patient successfully underwent curative surgery after quadruple conversion therapy using tislelizumab (an ICI), lenvatinib, transarterial chemoembolization, and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy directed by a multidisciplinary team. With a complete response achieved, this case demonstrated the major potential of this combination regimen for HCC, and the remarkable efficacy was also reflected by substantial reductions in both alpha-fetoprotein and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin overall. Nevertheless, transient increases in both biomarkers (tumor marker pseudoprogression) were observed within the first three weeks after initiating ICI treatment. Furthermore, the patient developed a biliary stricture, which resolved after discontinuing the ICI and was ultimately assessed as an immune-related adverse event. Therefore, in the context of combination therapy, further evaluation of the robustness of tumor markers is warranted, and it is crucial for clinicians to be mindful of potential immune-related adverse events.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorCarcinoma, HepatocellularCholangitisImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsLiver NeoplasmsAdultalpha-FetoproteinsAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedAntineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsChemoembolization, TherapeuticCombined Modality TherapyDisease ProgressionHumansMalePhenylurea CompoundsQuinolinesalpha-FetoproteinsAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedBiomarkers, TumorImmune Checkpoint InhibitorslenvatinibPhenylurea CompoundsQuinolinestislelizumabcase reportconversion therapyhepatocellular carcinomaimmune checkpoint inhibitorimmune-related adverse eventpseudoprogressiontislelizumabtumor marker

Identifiers

PMID40534866
PMCPMC12174441

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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.