Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40604723›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2025

Trajectories of α-fetoprotein and unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma outcomes receiving lenvatinib: a retrospective, multicenter cohort study.

Yitao Zheng, Jingna Hu, Yingna Mei, Yanjun Xiang, Haofeng Lu, Jiuting Zhu, Kaile Pan, Shuqun Cheng, Yang Liu

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
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.

Yitao Zheng *Department of Pancreatic and Gastrointestinal Surgery Division, Ningbo No.2 Hospital, 41 Xibei Street, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Jingna Hu *Department of Pancreatic and Gastrointestinal Surgery Division, Ningbo No.2 Hospital, 41 Xibei Street, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Yingna MeiDepartment of Liver Diseases, Ningbo No.2 Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Yanjun XiangDepartment of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Haofeng LuDepartment of Colorectal Anal Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China.
Jiuting ZhuDepartment of Pancreatic and Gastrointestinal Surgery Division, Ningbo No.2 Hospital, 41 Xibei Street, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Kaile PanDepartment of Pancreatic and Gastrointestinal Surgery Division, Ningbo No.2 Hospital, 41 Xibei Street, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Shuqun ChengDepartment of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China. chengshuqun@smmu.edu.cn.
Yang LiuDepartment of Pancreatic and Gastrointestinal Surgery Division, Ningbo No.2 Hospital, 41 Xibei Street, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. lyang712@icloud.com.

Funding

Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China U23A20458Key Laboratory of Intestinal Microecology and Major Human Diseases in Ningbo 2023016Ningbo Top Medical and Health Research Program 2022010101Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation Q23H030002
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDynamic changes in alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels may serve as biomarkers for systemic therapy response in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study investigates the AFP trajectories in patients receiving lenvatinib treatment and their relationship with survival. MATERIALS AND

methodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 553 patients diagnosed with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) who received lenvatinib as a first-line systemic treatment at four centers between March 2019 and March 2022. The latent class linear mixed model was used to fit the dynamic changes of AFP and generate AFP trajectories. Multivariable Cox models were utilized to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for survival. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), while the secondary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS).

resultsFour distinct AFP trajectories were identified among patients with unresectable HCC: High-stable (n = 100), High-rising (n = 91), Sharp-falling (n = 117), and Low-stable (n = 245). Using the High-stable group as the reference, no statistically significant differences in OS and PFS were observed for the High-rising group. However, the Sharp-falling and Low-stable groups exhibited a reduced risk of death, with HRs of 0.28 (95% CI: 0.18-0.42, p < 0.001) and 0.42 (95% CI: 0.25-0.71, p = 0.001), respectively. Similarly, the risk of disease progression was lower in these groups, with HRs of 0.34 (95% CI: 0.24-0.47, p < 0.001) and 0.36 (95% CI: 0.23-0.55, p < 0.001), respectively.

conclusionFour distinct AFP trajectories exist in uHCC patients receiving lenvatinib, serving as independent biomarkers for clinical outcomes. AFP trajectories provide valuable biomarkers for assessing treatment efficacy and optimizing therapeutic strategies.

Indexed as

alpha-FetoproteinsAntineoplastic AgentsCarcinoma, HepatocellularLiver NeoplasmsPhenylurea CompoundsQuinolinesAdultAgedBiomarkers, TumorFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeAFP protein, humanalpha-FetoproteinsAntineoplastic AgentsBiomarkers, TumorlenvatinibPhenylurea CompoundsQuinolinesAFP change rateAFP serological responseAFP trajectoryHepatocellular carcinomaLatent class linear mixed modelOverall survivalProgression-free survivalTyrosine kinase inhibitors

Identifiers

PMID40604723
PMCPMC12220427

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.