Initial Experience of Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Clinical Practice

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-88
Author(s):  
TEIJI KUZUYA ◽  
NAOTO KAWABE ◽  
SENJU HASHIMOTO ◽  
RYOJI MIYAHARA ◽  
TAKUJI NAKANO ◽  
...  

Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including those with disease refractory to lenvatinib, in clinical practice. Patients and Methods: Of 34 patients treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, a total of 23, including 16 with lenvatinib failure, were enrolled in this retrospective study. The adverse events, changes in liver function and antitumor responses at 6 weeks after starting therapy were evaluated. Results: The incidence of grade 3 adverse events was low, at 13.0%. Albumin–bilirubin scores did not worsen at 3 and 6 weeks compared to baseline. The objective response rate and disease control rate at 6 weeks were 17.4% and 78.3% according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), and 30.4% and 78.3% according to modified RECIST, respectively. Conclusion: Our results suggest that atezolizumab plus bevacizumab might have potential therapeutic safety and efficacy in patients with advanced HCC, including those with disease refractory to lenvatinib. Further studies are needed to confirm the outcomes of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab after lenvatinib failure.

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuomi Ueshima ◽  
Naoshi Nishida ◽  
Satoru Hagiwara ◽  
Tomoko Aoki ◽  
Tomohiro Minami ◽  
...  

Background: This study investigated the impact of baseline liver function according to the Child–Pugh score and ALBI (albumin-bilirubin) grade on the outcomes of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with lenvatinib. Methods: A total of 82 lenvatinib treated patients were included. The correlations of baseline liver function according to the Child–Pugh score and ALBI grade with treatment outcomes, including objective response rate per mRECIST (modified Response Evaluation Criteria in the Solid Tumor), time to treatment failure, treatment duration, and likelihood of treatment discontinuation due to adverse events, were assessed in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with lenvatinib. Patients were divided into four groups: (1) Child–Pugh score 5 and ALBI grade 1 (group 1), (2) Child–Pugh score 5 and ALBI grade 2 (group 2), (3) Child–Pugh score 6 (group 3), and (4) Child–Pugh score ≥7 (group 4). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the factors contributing to the objective response rate and likelihood of discontinuation due to adverse events. Results: Among the 82 patients analyzed, group 1 had the highest objective response rate (57.1%) and the lowest likelihood of treatment discontinuation because of adverse events (11.1%) among the four groups (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified ALBI grade 1 and baseline AFP level <200 ng/mL as the significant predictors of a high objective response rate (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01), and confirmed that patients with ALBI grade 1 had the lowest probability of treatment discontinuation due to adverse events (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Patients with Child–Pugh score of 5 and ALBI grade 1 predicted a higher response rate and lower treatment discontinuation due to adverse events by lenvatinib treatment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 93 (1110) ◽  
pp. 20190407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsushi Hori ◽  
Ryosuke Ohira ◽  
Tomoyuki Nakamura ◽  
Yasushi Kimura ◽  
Shota Ueda ◽  
...  

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with HepaSphere for patients with pulmonary or mediastinal metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Between June 2009 and January 2018, 14 patients with pulmonary or mediastinal metastases from HCC were treated with TACE with a combination of 1–3 chemotherapeutic drugs followed by HepaSphere embolization. As first end point, local tumor response and adverse events were evaluated after the first session of TACE, with Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors v. 1.1 and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v. 4 criteria, respectively. Overall survival was evaluated as secondary end point. TACE was repeated on-demand. Results: TACE with HepaSphere was well tolerated with acceptable safety profile and no 30 day mortality. 1 month objective response and disease control rate were calculated to be 7.1 and 100%, respectively. Mean tumor size reduction rate was 15.6±9.5% at the first month. Two Grade 3 cytopenia events were seen (14.3 %), however none of the Grade 2 or more post-embolization syndrome was observed. The median overall survival time was 15.0 months and the 1 year, 3 year and 5 year survival rate were, 57.1%, 28.6%, 19.1%, respectively. Conclusion: Early experience showed that the transarterial treatment with HepaSphere is safe and effective treatment for patients with pulmonary or mediastinal metastases from HCC. Advances in knowledge: Currently, the effects of molecular targeted drugs on HCC metastases are limited and side-effects are relatively frequent. In the present study, transarterial treatment might be a promising treatment for HCC metastasis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Sun ◽  
Yanqiao Ren ◽  
Xuefeng Kan ◽  
Lei Chen ◽  
Weihua Zhang ◽  
...  

Object: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combining with apatinib (TACE-apatinib) and TACE-alone for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with hepatic arterioportal shunts (APS).Materials and Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the medical records of patients with advanced HCC with APS who underwent TACE-apatinib or TACE-alone from June 2015 to January 2019. The occlusion of the shunt was performed during the TACE procedure. The time to tumor progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) of study patients were evaluated. The modified Response Evaluation Criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST) was used to evaluate the treatment response. The apatinib-related adverse events were recorded.Results: Fifty-eight patients were included in this study. Twenty-seven patients underwent the treatment of TACE-apatinib, and 31 received TACE-alone treatment. The median overall survival (OS) and median time of tumor progression (TTP) in the TACE-apatinib group were significantly longer than those of the TACE-alone group (OS: 12.0 vs. 9.0 months, P = 0.000; TTP: 9.0 vs. 5.0 months, P = 0.041). Multivariate analysis revealed that TACE-apatinib was a protective factor for OS, and there was no independent risk factor for TTP. In the TACE-apatinib group, the grade 3 apatinib-related adverse events occurred in four patients.Conclusion: TACE-apatinib was an efficacious and safe treatment for patients with advanced HCC with APS, and apatinib improved the efficacy of TACE in the treatment of these patients.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjun Huang ◽  
Yongjian Guo ◽  
Wensou Huang ◽  
Zining Xu ◽  
Liteng Lin ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of regorafenib combined with immune checkpoint inhibitor sintilimab (rego-sintilimab) as second-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who failed prior sorafenib or lenvatinib.Methods: This retrospective study evaluated consecutive patients with advanced HCC who received rego-sintilimab (rego-sintilimab group) or regorafenib alone (regorafenib group) as second-line treatment from January 2019 to December 2020. Adverse events, objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were compared between the two groups. Results: Eighty-three patients were included: 48 received rego-sintilimab and 35 received regorafenib. Rego-sintilimab group had higher ORR (33.3% vs 14.3%, P =.049), longer PFS (median, 5.1 vs 3.0 months; P =.001), and better OS (median, 13.3 vs 9.1 months; P =.001) than regorafenib group. Regorafenib alone, Child-Pugh B, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) >3.5 were independent prognostic factors for poor OS in uni- and multi-variable analyses. Subgroup analyses showed that, in patients with Child-Pugh A (16.4 vs 11.5 months; P =.005), Child-Pugh B (8.8 vs 6.4 months; P =.032), or NLR ≤3.5 (16.3 vs 11.5 months; P =.012), rego-sintilimab group had significantly better median OS than regorafenib group, whereas median OS was not significantly different between the two groups in patients with NLR >3.5 (8.4 vs 7.0 months; P =.288). The incidences of grade 3/4 adverse events were similar between the two groups (39.4% vs 34.1%; P =.445).Conclusion: Rego-sintilimab was tolerable and led to better OS than regorafenib as second-line treatment for advanced HCC patients, especially in those with NLR ≤3.5.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e15611-e15611
Author(s):  
A. I. Masood ◽  
A. A. Javed ◽  
A. Mateen ◽  
S. A. Gurchani

e15611 Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most common malignancies in Pakistan. There is currently no standard management for advanced HCC. Non-surgical modalities have demonstrated minimal improvements in survival. The aim of present study is to assess response rate and toxicity of concomitant gemcitabine and external radiation therapy (ERT) in locally advanced HCC. Methods: Thirty three biopsy proven advanced HCC patients having Okuda stage I and II disease were enrolled. 70 mg/m2 gemcitabine was given once weekly for three weeks during ERT. Partial liver ERT was delivered with 60Co upto 30 gray (Gy), 1.8 Gy/fraction and five fractions in a week. Tumor response was assessed by computed tomography (CT) eight weeks after completion of treatment. Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) was used to assess complete and partial response (CR, PR); progressive and stable disease (PD, SD). Hematological [neutropenia and thrombocytopenia], gastrointestinal (vomiting and diarrhea) and liver [encephalopathy, bilirubin, alanine and aspartate transferases (ALT and AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)] toxicities were assessed weekly during treatment and then fortnightly upto 2 months according to Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events version (3.0). Primary end point was to assess response rate at eight weeks after completion of treatment and Grade 3 or 4 toxicity during this period. Results: 28/33 patients were evaluable. No CR was seen. PR, SD and PD (%) were seen in 36, 39 and 25 of patients respectively. No grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was observed. 7/28 (25%) of patients developed grade 3 thrombocytopenia during treatment and needed a delay of one week for gemcitabine administration. Grade 3/4 toxicity (%) related to vomiting, diarrhea, encephalopathy, bilirubin, ALT, AST and ALP was seen in 18, 29, 21, 18, 14, 29 and 32 of the patients. Conclusions: The study showed that concomitant chemoradiation using 70mg/m2 gemcitabine is a feasible option with acceptable toxicity in locally advanced HCC. A larger study will be appropriate to define its definite role. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e16127-e16127
Author(s):  
Zhen Zeng ◽  
Linzhi Zhang ◽  
Tong Wu ◽  
Jiamin Cheng ◽  
Yan Chen ◽  
...  

e16127 Background: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sorafenib or lenvatinib combined with sintilimab in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with advanced/metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma who received sintilimab (iv. 200 mg, Q3W) combined with sorafenib (oral, 400 mg twice-daily) (cohort A) or lenvatinib (oral, 12 mg/day for bodyweight≥60 kg or 8 mg/day for bodyweight < 60 kg) (cohort B) as first line therapy between March 2019 to December 2020 in the 5th medical center of the PLA general hospital of China. The primary endpoint was Progression-Free Survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints included the Objective Response Rate (ORR), Disease Control Rate (DCR), Overall Survival (OS), Time to Progression (TTP) and safety. Results: 45 patients were enrolled, of which 29 were in the cohort A and 16 were in the cohort B. Except for the extrahepatic metastasis (62.1% vs 25.0%, P= 0.029), there were no significant differences in age, gender, weight, ECOG performance status, Child-Pugh, BCLC staging, and the proportion of previous treatment regimens between the two cohorts. The mean (±SD) exposure cycles in the two cohorts were 7.2±6.7 vs 7.1±4.7 ( P= 0.584). The median PFS of cohort A (8.2 months, 95%CI 3.1-19.5) was longer than that of cohort B (5.2 months, 95%CI 2.0-10.8), but there was no significant difference (HR 0.55, 95%CI 0.24-1.29, P = 0.161). However, there was no significant difference between the two cohorts in ORR (24.1% vs 6.3%, P= 0.226), DCR (82.8% vs 75.0%, P= 0.700) and median TTF (8.2 vs 4.6months, HR 0.49, 95%CI 0.21- 1.10, P= 0.074). OS data were not yet mature. There was no significant difference in the incidence of all grades and grade 3-4 adverse events between the two cohorts. The most common grade 3-4 adverse events in the two cohorts were hand-foot syndrome (17.2%, 5/29) and lung infection (12.5%, 2/16). There was 1 patient (immune hepatitis) in cohort A and 2 patients (pulmonary infection) in cohort B leading to treatment interruption due to adverse events, and no deaths due to treatment. Conclusions: Sorafenib or lenvatinib combined with sintilimab showed a good efficacy and safety in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, the safety and tolerability profiles were consistent with those previously observed. Sorafenib plus sintilimab provided an improved PFS versus lenvatinib, which requires a large sample of randomized controlled trial to confirm.[Table: see text]


2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 472 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Salman ◽  
E. Simoneau ◽  
M. Hassanain ◽  
P. Chaudhury ◽  
L.M. Boucher ◽  
...  

Background and Aims In this pilot study, we assessed the safety and tolerability of combining sorafenib with 90Y radioembolization for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (hcc).Methods The study, conducted prospectively during 2009–2012, included eligible patients with unresectable hcc and a life expectancy of at least 12 weeks. Each patient received sorafenib (400 mg twice daily) for 6–8 weeks before 90Y treatment. Safety and tolerability were assessed.Results Of the 40 patients enrolled, 29 completed treatment (combined therapy). In the initial cohort, the most common cause of hcc was hepatitis C (32.5%), and most patients were staged Child A (82.5%). The 29 patients who completed the study had similar  baseline characteristics. Grades 1 and 2 toxicities accounted for 77.8% of all adverse events reported. The most common toxicities reported were fatigue (19.0%), alteration in liver function (7.9%), and diarrhea (6.3%). There were 12 grade 3 and 2 grade 4 toxicity events reported. One patient died of liver failure within 30 days after treatment. During the study, the sorafenib dose was reduced in 6 patients (20.7%), and sorafenib had to be interrupted in 4 patients (13.8%) and discontinued in 4 patients (13.8%). The disease control rate was 72.4% per the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, and tumour necrosis was observed in 82.8% of patients. Overall survival in patients undergoing combined therapy was 12.4 months.Conclusions Preliminary results demonstrate the safety and tolerability of combining 90Y radioembolization and sorafenib for advanced hcc. A larger prospective study is needed to determine the extent of the survival benefit.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 611-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuomi Ueshima ◽  
Naoshi Nishida ◽  
Masatoshi Kudo

Objectives: Previously, no therapeutic agent has been known to improve the overall survival compared with placebo in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), who have progressed after sorafenib. In this patient population, regorafenib was first demonstrated to confer a survival benefit in the RESORCE trial, and subsequently it was approved as a second-line treatment for patients with advanced HCC. An open-label expanded access program (EAP) of regorafenib was implemented for compassionate use. We investigated the efficacy and safety of regorafenib based on our experience of the RESORCE trial and the EAP. Methods: Data from 5 patients from the RESORCE trial and 6 from the EAP were analyzed retrospectively. All patients had tolerated prior sorafenib and were progressing during sorafenib treatment. Results: The median progression-free survival was 9.2 months (95% CI 2.3-16.1). One patient achieved a partial response and 7 achieved stable disease. The objective response rate was 9.1%, and the disease control rate was 72.7%. No treatment-associated mortalities were observed. Grade 3 hypophosphatemia was observed in 2 patients, grade 2 anorexia was observed in 5 patients, and grade 3 neutropenia was observed in 2 patients. Grade 2 and grade 3 thrombocytopenia were observed in 2 and 3 patients, respectively. All treatment-related adverse events were improved by reduction or interruption of regorafenib. Five patients showed decreased serum albumin levels. Conclusion: Sorafenib and regorafenib sequential therapy presents a safe and effective treatment option for patients with advanced HCC.


Liver Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Masatoshi Kudo ◽  
Kenta Motomura ◽  
Yoshiyuki Wada ◽  
Yoshitaka Inaba ◽  
Yasunari Sakamoto ◽  
...  

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Combining an immune checkpoint inhibitor with a targeted antiangiogenic agent may leverage complementary mechanisms of action for the treatment of advanced/metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC). Avelumab is a human anti-PD-L1 IgG1 antibody with clinical activity in various tumor types; axitinib is a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1, 2, and 3. We report the final analysis from VEGF Liver 100 (NCT03289533), a phase 1b study evaluating safety and efficacy of avelumab plus axitinib in treatment-naive patients with aHCC. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Eligible patients had confirmed aHCC, no prior systemic therapy, ≥1 measurable lesion, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤1, and Child-Pugh class A disease. Patients received avelumab 10 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks plus axitinib 5 mg orally twice daily until progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal. Endpoints included safety and investigator-assessed objective response per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 and modified RECIST (mRECIST) for HCC. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Twenty-two Japanese patients were enrolled and treated with avelumab plus axitinib. The minimum follow-up was 18 months as of October 25, 2019 (data cutoff). Grade 3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 16 patients (72.7%); the most common (≥3 patients) were hypertension (<i>n</i> = 11 [50.0%]), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (<i>n</i> = 5 [22.7%]), and decreased appetite (<i>n</i> = 3 [13.6%]). No grade 4 TRAEs or treatment-related deaths occurred. Ten patients (45.5%) had an immune-related AE (irAE) of any grade; 3 patients (13.6%) had an infusion-related reaction (IRR) of any grade, and no grade ≥3 irAE and IRR were observed. The objective response rate was 13.6% (95% CI: 2.9–34.9%) per RECIST 1.1 and 31.8% (95% CI: 13.9–54.9%) per mRECIST for HCC. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Treatment with avelumab plus axitinib was associated with a manageable toxicity profile and showed antitumor activity in patients with aHCC.


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