Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41546382›Full record

ArticleThe oncologist2026

Enhanced efficacy and long-term survival with SBRT plus PD-1 inhibitors versus SBRT alone in unresectable HCC: a multicenter PSM study.

Xubiao Wei, Yabo Jiang, Yong Li, Hong Shi, Weixing Guo, Jie Shi, Zhaochong Zeng, Tianfu Wen, Yang Jiao, Miaomiao Wang and 1 more

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

Article in The oncologist, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

11 authors.

Xubiao WeiDepartment of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Yabo JiangDepartment of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Yong LiDepartment of Radiotherapy, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Hong ShiDepartment of Ultrasound, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200082, China.
Weixing GuoDepartment of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Jie ShiDepartment of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Zhaochong ZengDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Tianfu WenDepartment of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Sichuan 610041, China.
Yang JiaoSchool of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China.
Miaomiao WangDepartment of Radiotherapy, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Shuqun ChengDepartment of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.ORCID 0000-0001-6760-7470

Funding

National Key R&D Program of China 2022YFC2503700National Key R&D Program of China 2022YFC2503705Project of Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission 20Y11908800San Hang Program of Navy Medical University (2025)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRadiotherapy (RT) provides meaningful local control for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but is limited by radio-resistance. Preclinical and clinical data suggest that adding programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) blockade may enhance radiosensitivity in various malignancies. We compared outcomes of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) plus PD-1 inhibitors vs SBRT alone in unresectable HCC.

methodsWe retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients treated with SBRT (January 2019-December 2024) from 3 centers. Key exclusions removed confounding from recent systemic/locoregional therapies. Propensity score matching (PSM, 1:1) balanced demographics, liver function, tumor characteristics, and prior therapy. Tumor responses were assessed by RECIST 1.1, while survival was estimated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox models.

resultsOf 540 eligible patients, 157 received RT+PD-1 and 383 received RT alone; after PSM, 314 patients remained (157/157). Median follow-up was 29.9 months (IQR 21-36). After matching, RT+PD-1 showed a higher objective response rate (ORR) that approached significance (48.4% vs 37.6%, P = .053). Progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly prolonged with RT+PD-1 (median 11.0 vs 8.5 months; 1-year 69.9% vs 54.1%; HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.58-0.96, P = .024). OS also favored RT+PD-1 (median 33.9 vs 26.3 months; 3-year 41.9% vs 23.0%; HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.54-1.02, P = .066). On multivariable analysis after PSM, RT+PD-1 independently reduced risks of progression (HR 0.69, P = .005) and death (HR 0.70, P = .029). Adverse events (AEs) were similar overall, but grade ≥3 AEs were more frequent with RT+PD-1 (15.2% vs 7.0%, P = .020).

conclusionsIn unresectable HCC, adding PD-1 blockade to SBRT enhances anti-tumor activity and improves long-term survival outcomes.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsLiver NeoplasmsRadiosurgeryAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorRetrospective StudiesImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsPDCD1 protein, humanProgrammed Cell Death 1 Receptorhepatocellular carcinomaPD-1 inhibitorpropensity matching scoreradio-resistanceradiotherapy

Identifiers

PMID41546382
PMCPMC12923107

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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.