Optimal subsequent treatments for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma resistant to anti-PD-1 treatment.

The subsequent treatments for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resistant to immunotherapy remain unclear. This study aimed to identify optimal treatments for HCC patients with progression after anti-PD-1 therapy. The authors retrospectively analyzed 197 HCC patients with progressive disease after anti-PD-1 treatment. These patients were classified into initial resistant and secondary resistant groups. In the initial resistant group, subsequent treatment with PD-1 antibody plus locoregional therapy prolonged post-progression survival and overall survival (p = 0.025 and 0.029, respectively). In the secondary resistant group, subsequent treatment did not improve the prognosis of patients. Subsequent PD-1 antibody plus locoregional therapy could achieve survival benefits in HCC patients initially resistant to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.