The safety and effectiveness of sintilimab versus camrelizumab, both plus targeted drugs, in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

ObjectivesWe aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of sintilimab versus camrelizumab, both plus targeted drugs, for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the real world. Then the effectiveness was compared between sintilimab-lenvatinib and camrelizumab-apatinib.MethodsPatients diagnose...

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Main Authors: Chenglong Zhao, Qiongni Zhu, Xiaoyan Qian, Zhonghua Fu, Wei Zhang, Yaqin Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1585956/full
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author Chenglong Zhao
Qiongni Zhu
Xiaoyan Qian
Zhonghua Fu
Wei Zhang
Yaqin Wang
author_facet Chenglong Zhao
Qiongni Zhu
Xiaoyan Qian
Zhonghua Fu
Wei Zhang
Yaqin Wang
author_sort Chenglong Zhao
collection DOAJ
description ObjectivesWe aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of sintilimab versus camrelizumab, both plus targeted drugs, for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the real world. Then the effectiveness was compared between sintilimab-lenvatinib and camrelizumab-apatinib.MethodsPatients diagnosed as advanced HCC were included from January 2017 to December 2023. They were concurrently treated with targeted drugs and sintilimab or camrelizumab. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs) were assessed. The subgroups analysis of PFS and OS based on baseline characteristics and univariate and multivariate COX analysis were done to test for heterogeneity of data and correct for confounding factors. Then subgroup analysis of sintilimab-lenvatinib versus camrelizumab-apatinib was conducted.ResultsA total of 300 eligible HCC patients (199 in sintilimab group and 101 in camrelizumab group) were included in our study. No significant difference in PFS (p=0.47) and OS (p=0.51) was observed between sintilimab and camrelizumab groups. The median PFS (mPFS) was 262 days in sintilimab group, and 220 days in camrelizumab group, and neither group has reached the median OS. There was no difference in AEs between two groups also. The effect of sintilimab and camrelizumab on PFS and OS based on baseline characteristics was consistent with primary outcomes, except for other metastatic sites and lenvatinib in terms of OS. Multivariable Cox analysis identified the number of metastatic sites ≥2 and AFP level ≥400ng/mL as independent predictors of shorter PFS and OS, but they had no effect on the primary outcomes. In subgroup analysis, the PFS and OS of sintilimab -lenvatinib and camrelizumab-apatinib in first-line treatment of advanced HCC were not clinically different, although sintilimab-lenvatinib had a longer mPFS (301 days in sintilimab-lenvatinib group vs. 194 days in camrelizumab-apatinib group).ConclusionsSintilimab and camrelizumab, both plus targeted agents, have equal clinical effectiveness and incidences of AEs. The effectiveness of sintilimab-lenvatinib and camrelizumab-apatinib are similar in first-line treatment of advanced HCC, despite a slight superiority in sintilimab-lenvatinib is observed.
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spelling doaj-art-39590400c37549f8a6fec83232fbac3c2025-08-20T03:47:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-06-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15859561585956The safety and effectiveness of sintilimab versus camrelizumab, both plus targeted drugs, in advanced hepatocellular carcinomaChenglong Zhao0Qiongni Zhu1Xiaoyan Qian2Zhonghua Fu3Wei Zhang4Yaqin Wang5Department of Pharmacy, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, People’s Hospital of Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaObjectivesWe aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of sintilimab versus camrelizumab, both plus targeted drugs, for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the real world. Then the effectiveness was compared between sintilimab-lenvatinib and camrelizumab-apatinib.MethodsPatients diagnosed as advanced HCC were included from January 2017 to December 2023. They were concurrently treated with targeted drugs and sintilimab or camrelizumab. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs) were assessed. The subgroups analysis of PFS and OS based on baseline characteristics and univariate and multivariate COX analysis were done to test for heterogeneity of data and correct for confounding factors. Then subgroup analysis of sintilimab-lenvatinib versus camrelizumab-apatinib was conducted.ResultsA total of 300 eligible HCC patients (199 in sintilimab group and 101 in camrelizumab group) were included in our study. No significant difference in PFS (p=0.47) and OS (p=0.51) was observed between sintilimab and camrelizumab groups. The median PFS (mPFS) was 262 days in sintilimab group, and 220 days in camrelizumab group, and neither group has reached the median OS. There was no difference in AEs between two groups also. The effect of sintilimab and camrelizumab on PFS and OS based on baseline characteristics was consistent with primary outcomes, except for other metastatic sites and lenvatinib in terms of OS. Multivariable Cox analysis identified the number of metastatic sites ≥2 and AFP level ≥400ng/mL as independent predictors of shorter PFS and OS, but they had no effect on the primary outcomes. In subgroup analysis, the PFS and OS of sintilimab -lenvatinib and camrelizumab-apatinib in first-line treatment of advanced HCC were not clinically different, although sintilimab-lenvatinib had a longer mPFS (301 days in sintilimab-lenvatinib group vs. 194 days in camrelizumab-apatinib group).ConclusionsSintilimab and camrelizumab, both plus targeted agents, have equal clinical effectiveness and incidences of AEs. The effectiveness of sintilimab-lenvatinib and camrelizumab-apatinib are similar in first-line treatment of advanced HCC, despite a slight superiority in sintilimab-lenvatinib is observed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1585956/fullsintilimabcamrelizumabhepatocellular carcinomasurvival analysisreal-world study
spellingShingle Chenglong Zhao
Qiongni Zhu
Xiaoyan Qian
Zhonghua Fu
Wei Zhang
Yaqin Wang
The safety and effectiveness of sintilimab versus camrelizumab, both plus targeted drugs, in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Frontiers in Immunology
sintilimab
camrelizumab
hepatocellular carcinoma
survival analysis
real-world study
title The safety and effectiveness of sintilimab versus camrelizumab, both plus targeted drugs, in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
title_full The safety and effectiveness of sintilimab versus camrelizumab, both plus targeted drugs, in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
title_fullStr The safety and effectiveness of sintilimab versus camrelizumab, both plus targeted drugs, in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed The safety and effectiveness of sintilimab versus camrelizumab, both plus targeted drugs, in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
title_short The safety and effectiveness of sintilimab versus camrelizumab, both plus targeted drugs, in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
title_sort safety and effectiveness of sintilimab versus camrelizumab both plus targeted drugs in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
topic sintilimab
camrelizumab
hepatocellular carcinoma
survival analysis
real-world study
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1585956/full
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