Table 2 Univariate and multivariate logistic regression comparing patients with and without complete radiological response to TACE. Significance levels, odds ratios (OR), and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) are shown for predictors of non-response

Age (years)

  < 65

9 (18.8%)

12 (25.0%)

1 (Ref.)

0.912

  ≥ 65

12 (25.0%)

15 (31.3%)

1.1 (0.3–3.4)

Sex (male)

18 (37.5%)

23 (47.9%)

1.0 (0.2–4.8)

0.959

Etiology

 Hepatitis C (yes), n (%)

8 (16.7%)

11 (22.9%)

1.1 (0.3–3.6)

0.853

 Hepatitis B (yes), n (%)

3 (6.3%)

3 (6.3%)

0.8 (0.1–4.2)

0.742

 Alcohol (yes), n (%)

15 (31.3%)

21 (43.8%)

1.4 (0.4–5.2)

0.615

 MAFLD (yes), n (%)

3 (6.3%)

2 (4.2%)

0.5 (0.1–3.2)

0.446

Child–Pugh score, n (%)

 A

18 (37.5%)

22 (45.8%)

1 (Ref.)

0.697

 B

3 (6.3%)

5 (10.4%)

1.4 (0.3–6.5)

MELD score, n (%)

9.0 (IQR 7.0–11.0)

8.0 (IQR 7.0–11.0)

1.0 (0.8–1.2)

0.642

BCLC stage, n (%)

 0–A

18 (37.5%)

16 (33.3%)

1 (Ref.)

0.054

 B–C

3 (6.3%)

11 (22.9%)

4.1 (1.0–17.5)

Portal Hypertension (yes), n (%)

19 (39.6%)

23 (47.9%)

0.6 (0.1–3.7)

0.585

Number of nodules, n (%)

 Single nodule

13 (27.1%)

12 (25.0%)

1 (Ref.)

0.232

 Multinodular

8 (16.7%)

15 (31.3%)

2.0 (0.6–6.5)

Main nodule diameter (cm)

2.5 (IQR 2.0–3.2)

3.4 (IQR 2.2–4.3)

1.7 (1.0–3.1)

0.062

Total tumor diameter (cm)

3.2 (IQR 2.9–4.2)

4.6 (IQR 3.4–6.0)

1.8 (1.1–2.9)

0.017

1.9 (1.1–3.3)

0.020

Number of treated nodules, n (%)

 Single nodule

13 (27.1%)

16 (33.3%)

1 (Ref.)

0.853

  > 1 nodule

8 (16.7%)

11 (22.9%)

1.1 (0.3–3.6)

Tumor vascularity, n (%)

 Medium/Hypo-vascular

9 (18.8%)

8 (16.7%)

1 (Ref.)

0.344

 Hypervascular

12 (25.0%)

19 (39.6%)

1.8 (0.5–5.9)

AFP (ng/ml)

10.5 (IQR 3.1–33.3)

11.1 (IQR 4.2–57.8)

1.0 (1.0–1.0)

0.952

 Missing, n (%)

1 (2.1%)

1 (2.1%)

AST (U/L)

34.0 (IQR 24.0–43.5)

41.0 (IQR 31.0–69.0)

1.0 (1.0–1.0)

0.176

ALT (U/L)

26.0 (IQR 17.0–35.0)

26.0 (IQR 17.0–41.0)

1.0 (1.0–1.0)

0.566

GGT (U/L)

90.0 (IQR 45–159.5)

75.0 (IQR 52.0–169.0)

1.0 (1.0–1.0)

0.381

CTC count_Basal

55.0 (IQR 28.0–118.0)

31.0 (IQR 16.0–83.0)

1.0 (1.0–1.0)

0.414

CTC count_D1

44.0 (IQR 27.5–181.0)

46.0 (IQR 22.0–73.0)

1.0 (1.0–1.0)

0.939

CTC count_D30

44.0 (IQR 22.0–63.5)

19.0 (IQR 10.0–37.0)

1.0 (1.0–1.0)

0.996

 Missing, n (%)

4 (8.3%)

8 (16.7%)

CTC increase_D1.vs.Basal, n (%)

 Non-increase (< 15%)

15 (31.3%)

9 (18.8%)

1 (Ref.)

0.011

5.3 (1.3–21.0)

0.017

 Increase (≥ 15%)

6 (12.5%)

18 (37.5%)

5.0 (1.4–17.3)

CTC increase_D30.vs.Basal, n (%)

 Non-increase (< 15%)

12 (25.0%)

14 (29.2%)

1 (Ref.)

0.836

 Increase (≥ 15%)

5 (10.4%)

5 (10.4%)

0.9 (0.2–3.7)

 Missing, n (%)

4 (8.3%)

8 (16.7%)

CTC increase_D30.vs.D1, n (%)

 Non-increase (< 15%)

11 (22.9%)

16 (33.3%)

1 (Ref.)

0.186

 Increase (≥ 15%)

6 (12.5%)

3 (6.3%)

0.3 (0.1 −1.7)

 Missing, n (%)

4 (8.3%)

8 (16.7%)

CTC cluster absence_Basal (yes), n (%)

5 (10.4%)

15 (31.3%)

4.0 (1.1–14.1)

0.031

-

-

CTC cluster absence _D1 (yes), n (%)

8 (16.7%)

12 (25.0%)

1.3 (0.4–4.2)

0.658

CTC cluster absence _D30 (yes), n (%)

6 (12.5%)

13 (27.1%)

4.0 (1.0–15.9)

0.051

 Missing, n (%)

4 (8.3%)

8 (16.7%)