Characterizing immune profiles in hepatocellular carcinoma patients benefiting from pembrolizumab and lenvatinib using machine learning.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Combination immunotherapies, such as pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib (PL), are commonly used in treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). However, it remains challenging to predict which patients will benefit from this therapy. This study aimed to address this issue by comparing immune cell profiles (ICPs) between uHCC patients with objective response (responders, R) and those with tumor progression (non-responders, NR) following PL therapy, and to identify the key contributors to ICPs.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 51 uHCC patients between July 2019 and July 2023. Peripheral blood samples were collected prior to initiating PL therapy, and ICPs were analyzed according to tumor response according to RECIST 1.1 criteria. A machine learning (ML) m

SUBMITTER: Lee PC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12553244 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature