Abstract:Objective To investigate the predictive value of the initial response evaluation for prognosis of patients with advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(iCCA) after first-line chemotherapy. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of 107 patients diagnosed with advanced iCCA, who received chemotherapy at the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital Affiliated to Naval Medical University between October 2018 and December 2022. According to the RECIST1.1 criteria, the sum of the largest tumor diameters(SLD) before and after chemotherapy were compared to divide into three groups. The SLD(1) group included cases reduction in SLD by at least 30%. Cases with an increased in SLD by more than 20% were classified as the SLD(3) group. The intermediate category was referred to as the SLD(2) group. Kaplan-Meier curve was used to analyze the overall survival(OS) of the three groups. Prognostic value of efficacy and survival time were determined through univariate and multivariate Cox risk regression analyses. Results Kaplan-Meier curve analysis revealed that the median OS in SLD(1) group, SLD(2) group and SLD(3) group were 16.3 months, 13.2 months, and 7.4 months respectively(P<0.001). Furthermore, the OS rates progressively decreased at 6, 12, and 24 months. The 6-month, 12-month and 24-month survival rates in SLD(1) group were 100%, 72.2% and 16.7%, respectively. The 6-month, 12-month and 24-month survival rates of SLD(2) were 90.7%, 53.7% and 7.4%, respectively. The 6-month, 12-month and 24-month survival rates in the SLD(3) group were 57.1%, 20% and 0%, respectively. To further investigate the impact of changes in the degree of SLD enlargement or contraction on patient prognosis, we categorized patients with increased SLD into the SLD(2+) group and those with reduced SLD into the SLD(2-) group. The median overall survival(OS) for the SLD(2+) and SLD(3) groups were 11.3 months and 7.4 months, respectively, with a statistically significant difference(P=0.012). However, the median OS in the SLD(2-) and SLD(1) groups were 13.9 months and 16.4 months, respectively, P=0.053. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were demonstrated that both SLD(1) [hazard ratio(HR)=0.564; 95% confidence interval: 0.321-0.991; P=0.046] and SLD(3) [HR=3.012; 95%CI: 1.873-4.842; P<0 .001] were independent prognostic factors for overall survival in patients with advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Conclusion The initial therapeutic response played a crucial role in the survival prognosis of patients with advanced iCCA received first-line chemotherapy. Specifically, a greater increase in tumor SLD was associated with a poorer survival prognosis. However, in the reduction of tumor SLD, there was no significant difference between SLD(1) and SDL(2-) in the survival prognosis of patients.