Table 3 Comparative Analysis of prognostic models for HAIC in HCC: applicability, advantages, and limitations

Chen et al., 2023 [187]

Vp4 PVTT, high tumor burden (≥ 50% liver volume involvement)

based on 5 clinical and radiological factors, included the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio analysis

single center retrospective study, HBV-related HCC, lack of external validation

Mei et al., 2024 [193]

large(≥ 5 cm), unresectable HCC, undergone at least 2 cycles of HAIC, without macrovascular invasion or EM

based on 3 clinical and radiological factors, predictive survival Stratification, helps avoid ineffective chemotherapy, reduces patient burden and healthcare costs, validated in an independent external cohort

single center retrospective study, limited Validation cohort, variability in HAIC regimens

Saeki et al., 2018 [194]

unresectable HCC, EM, PVTT, or locally advanced HCC

based on 3 clinical factors, effective survival stratification, early identification of non-responders, validated in internal cohort

single center retrospective study, hepatitis C related HCC,

variability in HAIC regimens

Liu et al., 2023 [100]

unresectable HCC

based on 6 clinical factors, better predictive performance than BCLC, and TNM, large sample size

single center retrospective study, lack of external validation

Du et al., 2024 [195]

advanced unresectable HCC

based on 5 clinical factors, better predictive performance than CNLC and BCLC, effective risk stratification for personalized treatment

single center retrospective study, lack of HAIC protocol, lack of external validation

Yao et al., 2023 [196]

large(≥ 5 cm) HCC

based on 5 clinical factors, effective risk stratification, robust validation, large sample size

retrospective study, variability in HAIC combination therapy

Wu et al., 2023 [165]

advanced HCC

based on inflammatory and clinical factors, better predictive performance than BCLC, robust internal validation

single center retrospective study, lack of external validation, potential influence of non-tumor inflammatory conditions

Mei et al., 2021 [197]

HCC received HAIC

based on 6 clinical factors, effective risk stratification, robust internal validation

single center retrospective study, lack of external validation