Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Based Downstaging Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

In patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that is initially beyond the Milan criteria, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based regimens have been explored before liver transplant (LT) to improve tumor control as part of downstaging strategies that most often involve locoregional therapy, but associations with posttransplant oncologic and survival benefit remain uncertain.

To evaluate the associations of an ICI-based multimodal pretransplant strategy with posttransplant oncologic outcomes and acute rejection among patients with HCC that was initially beyond the Milan criteria who underwent LT.

This multicenter, retrospective, matched cohort study included adults (≥18 years) with HCC that was initially beyond the Milan criteria who underwent LT at 8 high-volume LT centers (>55 LTs annually) in China between January 2019 and December 2024. Propensity score matching balanced measured covariates between ICI and non-ICI groups. The data were analyzed in February 2026.

ICI-based multimodal pretransplant strategy (typically combined with locoregional and/or targeted therapies) vs therapy without ICIs.

Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) from LT. Secondary outcomes were posttransplant recurrence and acute rejection within 90 days.

Among 416 matched recipients, 208 (50.5%) received ICI-based multimodal therapy and 208 (50.0%) did not. The median age was 53 years (IQR, 46-59 years), 39 recipients (9.4%) were female, and 377 (90.6%) were male. Median OS was 4.57 years (95% CI, 4.34 to not estimable) in the ICI group and 2.53 years (95% CI, 2.17-3.10; P < .001) in the non-ICI group. Median RFS was 1.47 years (95% CI, 1.18-4.34) in the ICI group and 0.89 years (95% CI, 0.75-1.39; P = .02) in the non-ICI group. In multivariable Cox models, the ICI-based multimodal strategy was associated with better OS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.63; 95% CI, 0.43-0.92) and RFS (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.44-0.80). In a Fine-Gray model, the ICI-based multimodal strategy was associated with lower posttransplant recurrence risk (subdistribution HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.40-0.72). Acute rejection within 90 days after transplant was more frequent in the ICI group (34 [16.3%] vs 17 [8.2%]; P = .01).

The results of this cohort study suggest that an ICI-based multimodal pretransplant strategy was associated with better posttransplant oncologic outcomes and survival in selected patients with HCC that was initially beyond the Milan criteria, despite more frequent acute rejection.