Development and Prospective Validation of a Heterogeneous Treatment Effect-Based Decision Model for Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined With or Without Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) constitutes a significant health burden in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, particularly in China, where it is frequently associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and diagnosed at advanced stages. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) remains the standard treatment for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), though its effectiveness diminishes in unresectable HCC (uHCC) with intermediate-to-high tumor burden. The IMbrave150 trial established atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atezo+Bev) as a superior alternative to sorafenib, demonstrating significant survival advantages in uHCC. Given the marked heterogeneity of intermediate-stage HCC, TACE may not benefit all patients equally. The TALENTACE study investigated on-demand TACE combined with Atezo+Bev versus TACE alone in treatment-naïve uHCC patients with intermediate-to-high tumor burden across China and Japan. Results revealed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in the primary endpoint, TACE- progression-free survival (PFS), though overall survival (OS) remained immature at the time of analysis. This situation establishes a critical and unmet need for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) combined with extensive real-world evidence (RWE) to facilitate the assessment of individualized treatment heterogeneity and provide precise treatment recommendations in China and select Asia-Pacific regions.