Biomarker analysis and immunophenotyping revealed high C-reactive protein, reduced lymphocyte frequencies, increased CD44 expression on regulatory T cells and elevated PD-L1 levels on CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells to be associated with EM.<h4>Conclusions</h4>EM rate was 15.8% in patients with HCC treated with atezo/bev. This evidence concerns the gene CD44 and hepatocellular carcinoma.