External Beam Radiation Therapy and Immunotherapy in the Management of Hepatobiliary Malignancies: A Meta-analysis of Treatment Response Rates.
Juan Jose Juarez Vignon Whaley, Mary Linton Peters, Matthew J Abrams
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In 30 seconds
This meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) combined with immunotherapy (IO) in patients with advanced hepatobiliary malignancies, specifically hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). The study found a pooled objective response rate (ORR) of 58% for HCC and 32% for CCA, indicating favorable treatment responses, particularly in HCC. The analysis included 22 studies on HCC and 3 on CCA.
Key findings
- Pooled ORR for HCC was 58% (95% CI, 50%-65%) and DCR was 79% (95% CI, 71%-85%).
- For CCA, pooled ORR was 32% and DCR was 70%.
- Higher biologically effective dose (BED) correlated with a 1.14% increase in ORR per Gy in clinical trials (P = .021).
Why it matters
The findings suggest that combining EBRT with immunotherapy may enhance treatment responses in advanced hepatobiliary malignancies, particularly for HCC. Understanding these response rates can inform treatment planning and patient management strategies.