Clinical variables examined resulted balanced between the group of patients with high lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) serum levels (LDH>450 U/l) and those with a low value (LDH<450 U/l) and in those with a decreased or increased LDH serum level after transarterial-chemoembolization (TACE) treatment.

<p>ECOG PS (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status), BCLC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer), MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease), MELD-Na (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease – Sodium).</p

Survival analysis according to lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) serum levels in HCC patients undergoing transarterial-chemoembolization.

<p>Panel 1) Median time to progression (TTP) according to LDH serum levels: LDH≤450 U/l (–––), LDH>450 U/l (--------) (p = 0.0085). Panel 2) Median overall survival (OS) according to LDH serum levels: LDH≤450 U/l (–––), LDH>450 U/l (--------) (p = 0.0049). Panel 3) Median TTP according to the LDH serum levels variations pre- and post-treatment: LDH decreased post-treatment (–––), LDH increased post-treatment (--------) (p = 0.0087). Panel 4) Median OS according to the LDH serum levels variations pre- and post-treatment: LDH decreased post-treatment (–––), LDH increased post-treatment (--------) (p<0.0001).</p

Objective response evaluated with RECIST criteria (New Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1), no statistically significant difference was found between the groups of patients analyzed: lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) major or minor of 450 U/l and LDH decreased or increased after treatment.

<p>Objective response evaluated with RECIST criteria (New Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1), no statistically significant difference was found between the groups of patients analyzed: lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) major or minor of 450 U/l and LDH decreased or increased after treatment.</p

Baseline factors orienting physician choices FOR TVR or BOC.

<p>*IL28B rs12979860 undetermined in 40 patients treated with TVR and 1 treated with BOC; ^§not available in 13 cases among patients treated with TVR and in 9 patients treated with BOC</p><p>Baseline factors orienting physician choices FOR TVR or BOC.</p

Characteristics of patients treated with triple or dual combination.

<p>*IL28B rs12979860 undetermined in 41 and 6 patients treated with TT or DT, respectively;</p>§<p>not available in 22 cases among patients receiving TT.</p><p>Characteristics of patients treated with triple or dual combination.</p

Characteristics of naïve candidate patients by physician decision to treat or not.

<p>*IL28B rs12979860 undetermined in 47 cases among treated patients; ^§ not available in 22 cases among treated patients.</p><p>Characteristics of naïve candidate patients by physician decision to treat or not.</p

Association between SVR and IL28B genotype.

<p>All treated patients (gray) or patients receiving triple therapy (white) were analysed by cirrhosis status and IL28 CC or non CC.</p

Patient disposition in the study.

<p>Patient disposition in the study.</p

Expected versus observed survival in the external validation cohort.

<p>Patients were divided into quartiles at the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles of the risk score. Quartile 1 coincided with ITA.LI.CA score ≤ 1, quartile 2 with score 2–3, quartile 3 with score 4–5, quartile 4 with score > 5.</p

Expected versus observed survival in the internal validation cohort.

<p>Patients were divided into quartiles at the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles of the risk score. Quartile 1 coincided with ITA.LI.CA score ≤ 1, quartile 2 with score 2–3, quartile 3 with score 4–5, quartile 4 with score > 5.</p