Comparison of efficacy between the group receiving ICI and the group not receiving ICI
After inclusion and exclusion criteria, 127 patients were enrolled in the study, including 65 patients who received immunotherapy and 62 patients who did not receive immunotherapy. Patients in both groups were evaluated retrospectively by imaging with enhanced CT at 2-month intervals. Refer to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1(RECIST version 1.1)20, Complete Response (CR): Disappearance of all target lesions, any pathological lymph nodes (whether target or non-target) must have reduction in short axis to sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters; Progressive Disease (PD): At least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum on study (this includes the baseline sum if that is the smallest on study). In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5 mm. (Note: the appearance of one or more new lesions is also considered progression); Stable Disease (SD): Neither sufficient shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for PD, taking as reference the smallest sum diameters while on study. The results showed that of the 65 patients in the group receiving immunotherapy, 21 patients with PD, 40 patients with SD, 4 patients with PR, 4 patients met the criteria for objective response, and 44 patients met the criteria for disease control; and of the 62 patients in the group not receiving immunotherapy, 17 patients with PD, 43 patients with SD, 2 patients with PR, 2 patients met the criteria for objective response, and 45 patients met the criteria for disease control. The results of the different evaluations of the two groups of patients were statistically analysed separately, and the results using the Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were as follows: in the case of PD or not, there was no statistical difference between the two groups, P =0.548; in the case of SD or not, there was no statistical difference between the two groups, P =0.355; in the case of PR or not, there was no statistical difference between the two groups, P =0.680; in the case of objective response or not, there is no statistical difference between the two groups,P =0.680; in the case of disease control or not, there is no statistical difference between the two groups, P =0.548, as shown in Table 2.
Table 2 Comparison of efficacy between the group with ICI and the group without ICI