Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41188791›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2025

Effect of AFP and PIVKA-II secretion status on prognosis of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients receiving TACE combined with systemic therapy.

Jinfeng Bai, Jinmei Zhou, Xin Zhao, Jianjie Hua, Wenqi Li, Fangfang Xiong, Rong Ding

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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.

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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

7 authors.

Jinfeng BaiMinimally invasive intervention department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan CancerHospital, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, 650118, China.
Jinmei ZhouMinimally invasive intervention department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan CancerHospital, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, 650118, China.
Xin ZhaoMinimally invasive intervention department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan CancerHospital, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, 650118, China.
Jianjie HuaMinimally invasive intervention department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan CancerHospital, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, 650118, China.
Wenqi LiMinimally invasive intervention department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan CancerHospital, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, 650118, China.
Fangfang XiongMinimally invasive intervention department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan CancerHospital, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, 650118, China.
Rong DingMinimally invasive intervention department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan CancerHospital, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, 650118, China. dingrong2@kmmu.edu.cn.

Funding

Yunnan Science and Technology Plan Project NO.202401AT070015Yunnan Science and Technology Talent and Platform Program NO.202305AD160013
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFew biomarkers can predict the effectiveness of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in combination with systemic therapies for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of changes in alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and prothrombin induced by vitamin K absence-II (PIVKA-II), as well as their clinical utility in patients undergoing TACE combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

methodsThis retrospective cohort study included advanced HCC patients who underwent TACE in combination with ICIs and TKIs at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University between May 2021 and March 2024. Based on changes in serum AFP and PIVKA-II levels before and after treatment, patients were classified into four groups: AFP (↓) PIVKA-II (↓) (status 1), AFP (↓) PIVKA-II (↑) (status 2), AFP (↑) PIVKA-II (↓) (status 3), and AFP (↑) PIVKA-II (↑) (status 4). Kaplan-Meier analyses were conducted to compare the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) across the four groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify potential prognostic factors for OS and PFS.

resultsA total of 215 patients were included in the study. Among them, 55.3% (119/215) achieved a complete or partial response. Significant differences in OS and PFS were observed among the various AFP-PIV status groups (P < 0.001). Patients with elevated AFP and PIVKA-II had the poorest OS and PFS compared to the other groups. Both elevated AFP alone and elevated PIVKA-II alone were associated with an increased risk of disease progression and death. In comparison, patients with reduced levels of both AFP and PIVKA-II showed a better prognosis. The AFP-PIV status was identified as an independent risk factor for OS and PFS in patients with advanced HCC.

conclusionIn summary, the findings of this study indicate that the AFP-PIV status serves as a significant prognostic marker, independently predicting OS and PFS in advanced HCC patients undergoing TACE in combination with systemic therapy.

Indexed as

alpha-FetoproteinsBiomarkersCarcinoma, HepatocellularChemoembolization, TherapeuticLiver NeoplasmsProtein PrecursorsProthrombinAgedBiomarkers, TumorCombined Modality TherapyFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisProtein Kinase InhibitorsacarboxyprothrombinAFP protein, humanalpha-FetoproteinsBiomarkersBiomarkers, TumorProtein Kinase InhibitorsProtein PrecursorsProthrombinAFPHepatocellular carcinomaPIVKA-IISurvivalSystemic therapyTACE

Identifiers

PMID41188791
PMCPMC12584303

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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.