Title: Identification of Immune-Related Target and Prognostic Biomarkers in PBMC of
hepatocellular carcinoma
Version: 3 Date: 17 Apr 2023
Reviewer's report:
PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS:
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses a testable research
question(s) (brief or other article types: is there a clear objective)?
Yes - there is a clear objective
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols) appropriate for
the objective?
Yes - the approach is appropriate
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with technical rigor to allow
confidence in the results?
Yes - experiments and analyses were performed appropriately
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?
Yes - appropriate statistical analyses have been used in the study
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results reasonable and not
overstated?
Yes - the author's interpretation is reasonable
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Is the current version of this work technically
sound? If not, can revisions be made to make the work technically sound?
Yes - current version is technically sound
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS:
GENERAL COMMENTS: Authors aim to evaluate the possible prognostic and predictive role
of transcriptome of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). They report the result of
12 patients with HCC. They  made both survival correlation and stage correlation tests with
appropriate statistical analysis. They showed that CLDN18 was associated with poor prognosis,
BCLC staging and survival analysis. They also stated that CLDN18 related with TME and can
be a predictive factor for the IO agents. They showed their results with appropriate graphics and
outlines. On the other hand, they tested transcriptome of peripheral blood mononuclear cells
(PBMCs) in only 12 patients. And drawing conclusions from 12 patients may not be appropriate.
Therefore, this hypothesis must be studied in a wider population of HCC.
They used transcriptome analysis from blood and tissue; these analyses and implementation
into clinics is a novel method. HCC is a cancer that derives little benefit from the single agent
immunotherapy agents--most responded to combinational therapy ( anti-VEGF and IO agents).
To show predictive role of this test, authors may choose the HCC only BCLC-C that had been
treated with IO+ anti-VEGF combination treatment.
Title: Identification of Immune-Related Target and Prognostic Biomarkers in PBMC of
hepatocellular carcinoma
Version: 3 Date: 17 Apr 2023
Reviewer's report:
PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS:
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses a testable research
question(s) (brief or other article types: is there a clear objective)?
Yes - there is a clear objective
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols) appropriate for
the objective?
Yes - the approach is appropriate
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with technical rigor to allow
confidence in the results?
Yes - experiments and analyses were performed appropriately
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?
Yes - appropriate statistical analyses have been used in the study
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results reasonable and not
overstated?
Yes - the author's interpretation is reasonable
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Is the current version of this work technically
sound? If not, can revisions be made to make the work technically sound?
Yes - current version is technically sound
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS:
GENERAL COMMENTS: Authors aim to evaluate the possible prognostic and predictive role
of transcriptome of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). They report the result of
12 patients with HCC. They  made both survival correlation and stage correlation tests with
appropriate statistical analysis. They showed that CLDN18 was associated with poor prognosis,
BCLC staging and survival analysis. They also stated that CLDN18 related with TME and can
be a predictive factor for the IO agents. They showed their results with appropriate graphics and
outlines. On the other hand, they tested transcriptome of peripheral blood mononuclear cells
(PBMCs) in only 12 patients. And drawing conclusions from 12 patients may not be appropriate.
Therefore, this hypothesis must be studied in a wider population of HCC.
They used transcriptome analysis from blood and tissue; these analyses and implementation
into clinics is a novel method. HCC is a cancer that derives little benefit from the single agent
immunotherapy agents--most responded to combinational therapy ( anti-VEGF and IO agents).
To show predictive role of this test, authors may choose the HCC only BCLC-C that had been
treated with IO+ anti-VEGF combination treatment.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Identification of Immune-Related Target and Prognostic Biomarkers in PBMC of
hepatocellular carcinoma
Version: 3 Date: 17 Apr 2023
Reviewer's report:
PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS:
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses a testable research
question(s) (brief or other article types: is there a clear objective)?
Yes - there is a clear objective
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols) appropriate for
the objective?
Yes - the approach is appropriate
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with technical rigor to allow
confidence in the results?
Yes - experiments and analyses were performed appropriately
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?
Yes - appropriate statistical analyses have been used in the study
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results reasonable and not
overstated?
Yes - the author's interpretation is reasonable
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Is the current version of this work technically
sound? If not, can revisions be made to make the work technically sound?
Yes - current version is technically sound
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS:
GENERAL COMMENTS: Authors aim to evaluate the possible prognostic and predictive role
of transcriptome of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). They report the result of
12 patients with HCC. They  made both survival correlation and stage correlation tests with
appropriate statistical analysis. They showed that CLDN18 was associated with poor prognosis,
BCLC staging and survival analysis. They also stated that CLDN18 related with TME and can
be a predictive factor for the IO agents. They showed their results with appropriate graphics and
outlines. On the other hand, they tested transcriptome of peripheral blood mononuclear cells
(PBMCs) in only 12 patients. And drawing conclusions from 12 patients may not be appropriate.
Therefore, this hypothesis must be studied in a wider population of HCC.
They used transcriptome analysis from blood and tissue; these analyses and implementation
into clinics is a novel method. HCC is a cancer that derives little benefit from the single agent
immunotherapy agents--most responded to combinational therapy ( anti-VEGF and IO agents).
To show predictive role of this test, authors may choose the HCC only BCLC-C that had been
treated with IO+ anti-VEGF combination treatment.
assistant