Thymosin alpha-1 · research summary

The efficacy and safety of thymosin alpha-1 combined with lenvatinib plus sintilimab in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective study.

Scientific reports · 2025. Summary drawn from the study's full text. Each statement is followed by the exact sentence it comes from. This is a research summary, not medical advice.

Study type

Single-center retrospective cohort study
“This is a single center retrospective cohort study that collected the data of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma who were hospitalized in the People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from January 2020 to June 2022 and were treated with lenvatinib combined with sintilimab.”

Subjects

Patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma
“Patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with lenvatinib plus sintilimab at the People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from January 2020 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.”

Sample size

92 patients (43 in experimental group, 49 in control group)
“Between January 2020 and June 2022, a total of 92 patients who met the study criteria were included, with 43 patients in the experimental group (lenvatinib + sintilimab + thymosin α-1) and 49 patients in the control group (lenvatinib + sintilimab).”

Reported findings

The experimental group had a significantly longer median overall survival (16 months) compared to the control group (11 months).
“The experimental group had a longer median overall survival than the control group (16 months vs. 11 months, P = 0.018).”
The experimental group had a significantly longer median progression-free survival (7 months) compared to the control group (4 months).
“The experimental group had a longer median progression-free survival than the control group (7 months vs. 4 months, P = 0.006).”
There was no significant difference in the incidence of grade 1–2 or grade 3–4 adverse events between the two groups.
“There was no significant difference in the incidence of grade 1–2 adverse events or grade 3–4 adverse events between the two groups (P > 0.05).”

Limitations stated by the authors

Single-center retrospective design with limited sample size and short follow-up period
“First, it was a single center retrospective study with a limited sample size and a short follow-up period, which may lead to bias.”

Source: PubMed 40263352 · DOI 10.1038/s41598-025-97160-7 · all study summaries

Study type

Single-center retrospective cohort study

“This is a single center retrospective cohort study that collected the data of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma who were hospitalized in the People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from January 2020 to June 2022 and were treated with lenvatinib combined with sintilimab.”

Sample size

92 patients (43 in experimental group, 49 in control group)

“Between January 2020 and June 2022, a total of 92 patients who met the study criteria were included, with 43 patients in the experimental group (lenvatinib + sintilimab + thymosin α-1) and 49 patients in the control group (lenvatinib + sintilimab).”

Reported findings

The experimental group had a significantly longer median overall survival (16 months) compared to the control group (11 months).

“The experimental group had a longer median overall survival than the control group (16 months vs. 11 months, P = 0.018).”

The experimental group had a significantly longer median progression-free survival (7 months) compared to the control group (4 months).

“The experimental group had a longer median progression-free survival than the control group (7 months vs. 4 months, P = 0.006).”

There was no significant difference in the incidence of grade 1–2 or grade 3–4 adverse events between the two groups.

“There was no significant difference in the incidence of grade 1–2 adverse events or grade 3–4 adverse events between the two groups (P > 0.05).”