Immunotherapy Responses in Viral Hepatitis-Induced HCC: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

<b>Background</b>: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent liver cancer with poor prognosis, often linked to hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) infections. This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of immunotherapy in HCC, particularly in cases arising from viral hepatitis. <b>Met...

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Main Authors: Junaid Anwar, Hafiz Muhammad Arslan, Zouina Sarfraz, Juwairiya Shuroog, Ahmed Abdelhakeem, Ali Saeed, Anwaar Saeed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Current Oncology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/31/11/532
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author Junaid Anwar
Hafiz Muhammad Arslan
Zouina Sarfraz
Juwairiya Shuroog
Ahmed Abdelhakeem
Ali Saeed
Anwaar Saeed
author_facet Junaid Anwar
Hafiz Muhammad Arslan
Zouina Sarfraz
Juwairiya Shuroog
Ahmed Abdelhakeem
Ali Saeed
Anwaar Saeed
author_sort Junaid Anwar
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background</b>: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent liver cancer with poor prognosis, often linked to hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) infections. This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of immunotherapy in HCC, particularly in cases arising from viral hepatitis. <b>Methods</b>: In adherence to PRISMA Statement 2020 guidelines, the immunotherapeutic outcomes comprised objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Data were analyzed from randomized controlled trials up to April 2024 using the fixed-effects models in R (V.4.3.3.) and RevMan (Cochrane). <b>Results</b>: This study included 9 trials with 5316 patients. The ORR was slightly higher in the viral group at 27.93% compared to 24.07% in the non-viral group, though this difference was not significant (<i>p</i> = 0.15). Viral HCC patients exhibited a median PFS of 7.3 months (IQR: 6.2–8.4) compared to 5.8 months (IQR: 5.48–6.13) in non-viral patients, a significant improvement (<i>p</i> = 0.005). Similarly, median OS was longer in the viral group at 16.8 months (IQR: 12.99–20.61) versus 15.2 months (IQR: 13.25–17.15) for non-viral HCC, which was also significant (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). The median OS for viral HCC was 16.8 months (IQR: 14.11–19.49 months), with HBV patients experiencing slightly higher survival at 17.15 months (IQR: 14.3–20 months) compared to 16.8 months (IQR: 12.99–20.61 months) for HCV patients; this difference was not statistically significant (<i>p</i> = 0.89). <b>Conclusions</b>: Immunotherapy shows potential in treating HCC, with significantly better outcomes in viral HCC, particularly HBV-associated cases. The heterogeneity highlights the need for personalized treatment approaches based on the viral background of HCC patients. Further research should aim to optimize these therapies to improve survival rates.
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spelling doaj-art-bedc4954cf7842f9a663f2a8a8f4b2522024-11-26T17:59:02ZengMDPI AGCurrent Oncology1198-00521718-77292024-11-0131117204722510.3390/curroncol31110532Immunotherapy Responses in Viral Hepatitis-Induced HCC: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisJunaid Anwar0Hafiz Muhammad Arslan1Zouina Sarfraz2Juwairiya Shuroog3Ahmed Abdelhakeem4Ali Saeed5Anwaar Saeed6Department of Medicine, Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, Beaumont, TX 77701, USADepartment of Medicine, Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, Bronx, NY 10451, USADepartment of Medicine, Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Lahore 54000, PakistanDepartment of Medicine, TidalHealth Peninsula Regional, Salisbury, MD 21801, USADepartment of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USADepartment of Medicine, Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, Lafayette, LA 70503, USADepartment of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA<b>Background</b>: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent liver cancer with poor prognosis, often linked to hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) infections. This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of immunotherapy in HCC, particularly in cases arising from viral hepatitis. <b>Methods</b>: In adherence to PRISMA Statement 2020 guidelines, the immunotherapeutic outcomes comprised objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Data were analyzed from randomized controlled trials up to April 2024 using the fixed-effects models in R (V.4.3.3.) and RevMan (Cochrane). <b>Results</b>: This study included 9 trials with 5316 patients. The ORR was slightly higher in the viral group at 27.93% compared to 24.07% in the non-viral group, though this difference was not significant (<i>p</i> = 0.15). Viral HCC patients exhibited a median PFS of 7.3 months (IQR: 6.2–8.4) compared to 5.8 months (IQR: 5.48–6.13) in non-viral patients, a significant improvement (<i>p</i> = 0.005). Similarly, median OS was longer in the viral group at 16.8 months (IQR: 12.99–20.61) versus 15.2 months (IQR: 13.25–17.15) for non-viral HCC, which was also significant (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). The median OS for viral HCC was 16.8 months (IQR: 14.11–19.49 months), with HBV patients experiencing slightly higher survival at 17.15 months (IQR: 14.3–20 months) compared to 16.8 months (IQR: 12.99–20.61 months) for HCV patients; this difference was not statistically significant (<i>p</i> = 0.89). <b>Conclusions</b>: Immunotherapy shows potential in treating HCC, with significantly better outcomes in viral HCC, particularly HBV-associated cases. The heterogeneity highlights the need for personalized treatment approaches based on the viral background of HCC patients. Further research should aim to optimize these therapies to improve survival rates.https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/31/11/532hepatocellular carcinomaimmunotherapyhepatitis Bhepatitis Cobjective responsesurvival
spellingShingle Junaid Anwar
Hafiz Muhammad Arslan
Zouina Sarfraz
Juwairiya Shuroog
Ahmed Abdelhakeem
Ali Saeed
Anwaar Saeed
Immunotherapy Responses in Viral Hepatitis-Induced HCC: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Current Oncology
hepatocellular carcinoma
immunotherapy
hepatitis B
hepatitis C
objective response
survival
title Immunotherapy Responses in Viral Hepatitis-Induced HCC: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_full Immunotherapy Responses in Viral Hepatitis-Induced HCC: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_fullStr Immunotherapy Responses in Viral Hepatitis-Induced HCC: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Immunotherapy Responses in Viral Hepatitis-Induced HCC: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_short Immunotherapy Responses in Viral Hepatitis-Induced HCC: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_sort immunotherapy responses in viral hepatitis induced hcc a systematic review and meta analysis
topic hepatocellular carcinoma
immunotherapy
hepatitis B
hepatitis C
objective response
survival
url https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/31/11/532
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AT zouinasarfraz immunotherapyresponsesinviralhepatitisinducedhccasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT juwairiyashuroog immunotherapyresponsesinviralhepatitisinducedhccasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT ahmedabdelhakeem immunotherapyresponsesinviralhepatitisinducedhccasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT alisaeed immunotherapyresponsesinviralhepatitisinducedhccasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
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