Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42503051›Full record

ArticleTargeted oncology2026

Changing Treatment Landscape of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Real-World Retrospective Analysis of Treatment Algorithms and Outcomes of Patients over 10 Years.

Melanie Bathon, Nele Binder, Sabrina Welland, Christoph Gerdes, Thomas Wirth, Kristina I Ringe, Markus Quante, Arndt Vogel, Anna Saborowski

Abstract read
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Article in Targeted oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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.

Melanie Bathon *Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. bathon.melanie@mh-hannover.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-1308-4656
Nele Binder *Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Sabrina WellandDepartment of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Christoph GerdesDepartment of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Thomas WirthDepartment of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Kristina I RingeDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Markus QuanteDepartment of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Arndt Vogel *Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Anna Saborowski *Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common cancers worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The therapeutic landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma, especially systemic therapies, is constantly changing and characterized by a multimodal approach.

objectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate whether and how treatment sequencing according to tumor stage and liver function has changed over time and if the introduction of new therapeutic options has led to improved survival rates.

methodsTherapy concepts were retrospectively recorded and evaluated in a cohort of 1288 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with a first diagnosis between January 2013 and December 2022 who were divided into two cohorts with a cut-off for dividing in 2020 owing to the approval of atezolizumab and bevacizumab for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma by the European Medicines Agency (Cohort A initial diagnosis 2013-19, Cohort B initial diagnosis 2020-22). All patients were treated at Hannover Medical School, Germany.

resultsBaseline characteristics differed significantly between cohorts, with Cohort B presenting at earlier tumor stages and with better preserved liver function. Across all treatment modalities, liver function emerged as the primary determinant of prognosis, independent of tumor stage and performance status. Over time, a treatment shift from transarterial chemoembolization towards systemic therapies was observed. Median overall survival from initial diagnosis did not differ between cohorts. In unadjusted analyses, patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor-based regimens demonstrated longer median overall survival compared with those receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, after multivariable adjustment for baseline imbalances, no independent survival difference between treatment groups remained.

conclusionsThis study provides a detailed longitudinal assessment of evolving treatment patterns and outcomes, highlighting a clear shift in therapeutic strategies over time with the increasing adoption of systemic therapies. Despite evolving treatment strategies and increased use of systemic therapies, liver function remained the dominant prognostic factor across treatment settings. Observed survival differences between treatment modalities were strongly influenced by baseline patient characteristics and treatment selection.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularLiver NeoplasmsAgedAlgorithmsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID42503051
PMCPMC13630903

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