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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Hepatocellular Carcinoma | Research

Utility and predictive value of the CRAFITY score in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with transarterial chemoembolization plus tyrosine kinase inhibitors and PD-1 inhibitor

Authors: Lijie Zhang, Tao Sun, Bo Sun, Kailu Zhang, Yuting Zheng, Na Li, Lei Chen, Chuansheng Zheng, Bin Liang, Heshui Shi

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

Background

The prognostic significance of the CRAFITY score (CRP and AFP in ImmunoTherapY) has been demonstrated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients receiving immunotherapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility and the predictive value of CRAFITY score in HCC after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in combination with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immunotherapy.

Materials and methods

Data from patients with advanced HCC treated with TACE plus TKIs and PD-1 inhibitor from January 2019 to June 2022 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Patients with AFP ≥ 100 ng/mL and those with CRP ≥ 1 mg/dL were assigned a CRAFITY score of 1 point. Patients were divided into three groups according to their CRAFITY score (CRAFITY-low, 0 points; CRAFITY-intermediate, 1 point; and CRAFITY-high, 2 points). The differences in overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and adverse events (AEs) were compared among the three groups. Tumor response was evaluated at 3, 6 and 12 months after the first combination treatment. Risk factors for OS and PFS were assessed.

Results

A total of 70 patients were included. The patients were assigned CRAFITY scores of 0 points (CRAFITY-low, n = 25 [35.71%]), 1 point (CRAFITY-intermediate, n = 29 [41.42%]), and 2 points (CRAFITY-high, n = 16 [22.81%]). Multivariate analysis showed that lower CRAFITY score was an independent factor for the improved OS (P =.045) and PFS (P <.001). TACE session was also associated with the OS (P =.048) in the multivariate analysis. The CRAFITY-low cohort achieved a higher objective response rate (ORR) at the 3-month evaluation of tumor response. However, there was no significant difference in ORR and disease control rate (DCR) observed at the 6-month follow-up. DCR showed a statistically significant difference among three groups during the 12-month follow-up period. The percentage of patients with protein urea was highest in the CRAFITY-high group. No significance differences were observed in grade ≥ 3 AEs in three groups.

Conclusion

The CRAFITY score is simple and could be useful for predicting treatment outcomes, tumor response and AEs of the HCC patients receiving TACE plus TKIs and PD-1 inhibitor therapy.

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Title: Utility and predictive value of the CRAFITY score in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with transarterial chemoembolization plus tyrosine kinase inhibitors and PD-1 inhibitor
Authors: Lijie Zhang
Tao Sun
Bo Sun
Kailu Zhang
Yuting Zheng
Na Li
Lei Chen
Chuansheng Zheng
Bin Liang
Heshui Shi
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
Published in: BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-11936-0

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