Table 2 Baseline characteristics split by pathological response

Age, mean ± SD, years

56.6 ± 9.85

56.13 ± 8.4

0.881

Sex, n (%)

0.496

 Female

2 (10)

0 (0)

 Male

18 (90)

15 (100)

HBsAg, n (%)

0.207

 Negative

5 (25)

1 (7)

 Positive

15 (75)

14 (93)

Child–Pugh grade, n (%)

-

 A

20 (100)

15 (100)

AFP at baseline, n (%)

0.449

  ≤ 400 ng/mL

9 (45)

4 (27)

  > 400 ng/mL

11 (55)

11 (73)

AFP at baseline, n (%)

0.458

  ≤ ULN

7 (35)

3 (20)

  > ULN

13 (65)

12 (80)

AFP before surgery, n (%)

0.043

  ≤ ULN

8 (40)

12 (80)

  > ULN

12 (60)

3 (20)

AFP response^a, n (%)

0.009

 No

11 (85)

3 (25)

 Yes

2 (15)

9 (75)

BCLC stage, n (%)

0.867

 A

2 (10)

1 (7)

 B

6 (30)

3 (20)

 C

12 (60)

11 (73)

CNLC stage, n (%)

0.525

 Ib

2 (10)

1 (7)

 IIa

1 (5)

0 (0)

 IIb

5 (25)

3 (20)

 IIIa

5 (25)

8 (53)

 IIIb

7 (35)

3 (20)

Macrovascular invasion, n (%)

0.081

 No

15 (75)

6 (40)

 Yes

5 (25)

9 (60)

Extrahepatic disease, n (%)

0.458

 No

13 (65)

12 (80)

 Yes

7 (35)

3 (20)

Location of extrahepatic disease, n (%)

0.320

 Abdominal cavity

0 (0)

1 (7)

 Adrenal gland

1 (5)

0 (0)

 Bone^b

3 (15)

0 (0)

 Lung

1 (5)

1 (7)

 Lymph node^b

3 (15)

1 (7)

Anti–PD-1 antibody treatment cycle before surgery, median (IQR)

5 (3.75–7.25

4 (3, 9)

0.867

Time to surgery, median (IQR), months

4.42 (3.04–5.68)

3.73 (2.6–7.48)

0.907

Radiographic response^c, median (IQR)

59% (38–77)

87% (58–95)

0.023