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Correlation between Immunohistochemical Markers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells and In Vitro High-Throughput Drug Sensitivity Screening. Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 2022:5969716. [PMID: 35127582 PMCID: PMC8808116 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5969716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM This study analyzed the correlation between immunohistochemical markers in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the results of in vitro high-throughput drug sensitivity screening, to provide a reference for individualized drug treatment in patients with liver cancer. METHODS Seventy-four patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were included in this study from December 2019 to June 2021, and their liver cancer cells were used for in vitro high-throughput drug sensitivity screening. According to the screening results, the patients were divided into relatively sensitive and insensitive groups, and the correlations between sensitivity and immunohistochemistry results were analyzed statistically. RESULTS Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-positive liver cancer cells were significantly more sensitive to gemcitabine than AFP-negative cells (χ 2 = 6.102, P=0.014). AFP was also positively correlated with sensitivity of liver cancer cells to three combined regimens containing oxaliplatin (L-OHP) and epirubicin (EPI) : L-OHP + EPI + irinotecan + 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), L-OHP + irinotecan + EPI, and L-OHP + EPI (χ 2 = 8.168, P=0.004, χ 2 = 5.705, P=0.017, and χ 2 = 8.275, P=0.004, respectively). CONCLUSION Gemcitabine and L-OHP + EPI + irinotecan + 5-FU, L-OHP + EPI, and L-OHP + irinotecan + EPI were more effective against AFP-positive compared with AFP-negative liver cancer cells according to in vitro high-throughput drug sensitivity screening. These results may guide the selection of personalized drug treatments for patients with advanced liver cancer in the future but still need further clinical studies to confirm.
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Nagano H, Obi S, Hatano E, Kaneko S, Kanai F, Omata M, Tsuji A, Itamoto T, Yamamoto K, Tanaka M, Kubo S, Hirata K, Nakamura H, Tomimaru Y, Yamanaka T, Kojima S, Monden M. Multicenter, randomized, controlled trial of S-1 monotherapy versus S-1 and interferon-α combination therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with extrahepatic metastases. Hepatol Res 2018; 48:717-726. [PMID: 29377364 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.13067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Revised: 01/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
AIM No effective therapies for extrahepatic metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have yet been identified. Previous studies suggested a potentially promising antitumor effect of combination therapy of S-1, a novel oral dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase inhibitor, and interferon (IFN)-α. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of single agent S-1 and S-1/IFN-α for HCC patients with extrahepatic metastases in a randomized, open-label, multicenter trial. METHODS A total of 103 patients with HCC with extrahepatic metastases were randomly assigned to the S-1/IFN-α group, receiving the combination of S-1 and IFN-α, or the S-1 group, receiving the single agent of S-1. Clinical efficacy and adverse events were compared between the two groups. RESULTS A total of 49 patients in the S-1/IFN-α group and 51 patients in the S-1 group were included in the efficacy analysis. The response rate was 22.4% (11/49) in the S-1/IFN-α group and 13.7% (7/51) in the S-1 group; there was no significant difference. Overall and progression-free survival in the two groups were also not significantly different (1-year overall survival 50.8% vs. 72.4%, median progression-free survival 127 days vs. 157 days). The incidence of grade ≥3 adverse events in the S-1/IFN-α group was 62.7% (32/51), which tended to be higher than in the S-1 group (43.1% [22/51]). CONCLUSIONS Oncological outcomes in both treatment groups were favorable compared with previous reports, though there was no significant beneficial effect of adding IFN-α to S-1 for the treatment of HCC patients with extrahepatic metastases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Nagano
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.,Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan
| | - Shuntaro Obi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoundo Hospital of the Sasaki Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Etsuro Hatano
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shuichi Kaneko
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Fumihiko Kanai
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masao Omata
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihito Tsuji
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Kochi Health Science Center, Kochi, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Itamoto
- Department of Surgery, Division of Frontier Medical Science, Programs for Biomedical Research, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kazuhide Yamamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Tanaka
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
| | - Shoji Kubo
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Koichi Hirata
- Department of Surgery, Surgical Oncology & Science, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hideji Nakamura
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan
| | - Yoshito Tomimaru
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Takeharu Yamanaka
- Department of Biostatistics, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Kojima
- Translational Research Informatics Center, Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Morito Monden
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
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Yamaguchi Y, Yamamoto K, Sato Y, Inoue S, Morinaga T, Hirano E. Combination of aspartic acid and glutamic acid inhibits tumor cell proliferation. Biomed Res 2017; 37:153-9. [PMID: 27108884 DOI: 10.2220/biomedres.37.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Placental extract contains several biologically active compounds, and pharmacological induction of placental extract has therapeutic effects, such as improving liver function in patients with hepatitis or cirrhosis. Here, we searched for novel molecules with an anti-tumor activity in placental extracts. Active molecules were separated by chromatographic analysis, and their antiproliferative activities were determined by a colorimetric assay. We identified aspartic acid and glutamic acid to possess the antiproliferative activity against human hepatoma cells. Furthermore, we showed that the combination of aspartic acid and glutamic acid exhibited enhanced antiproliferative activity, and inhibited Akt phosphorylation. We also examined in vivo tumor inhibition activity using the rabbit VX2 liver tumor model. The treatment mixture (emulsion of the amino acids with Lipiodol) administered by hepatic artery injection inhibited tumor cell growth of the rabbit VX2 liver. These results suggest that the combination of aspartic acid and glutamic acid may be useful for induction of tumor cell death, and has the potential for clinical use as a cancer therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshie Yamaguchi
- Department of Placenta avenir research institute, Japan Bio Products Co., Ltd
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Liu Y, Yue H, Xu S, Wang F, Ma N, Li K, Qiao L, Wang J. First-line gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GEMOX) plus sorafenib, followed by sorafenib as maintenance therapy, for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a preliminary study. Int J Clin Oncol 2015; 20:952-9. [PMID: 25712158 DOI: 10.1007/s10147-015-0796-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Because of the poor prognosis of unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma there is a need for effective systemic therapy. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GEMOX) combined with sorafenib, as first-line therapy, followed by sorafenib as maintenance therapy for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS In this open-label, multicenter, single-group, prospective study, eligible patients with advanced HCC received oral sorafenib 400 mg twice daily, gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) intravenously (i.v.) on day 1 and oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) i.v. on day 2 every 14 days for up to six cycles. Patients without disease progression were then treated further with sorafenib as maintenance therapy until disease progression. RESULTS All forty-nine patients completed six cycles of combined GEMOX and sorafenib therapy. The objective response was 26.5 %. The median time to progression was 10.3 months (95 % CI: 8.7-11.9 months) and median overall survival was 15.7 months (95 % CI: 13.0-18.4 months). During the combination therapy, the most common grade 3/4 hematologic toxicity was neutropenia (22.4 %, 11/49 patients) and thrombocytopenia (14.3 %, 7/49 patients); grade 3/4 non-hematologic toxicity was fatigue (22.4 %, 11/49 patients) and appetite loss (18.4 %, 9/49 patients). During the maintenance therapy, grade 3/4 adverse events were nonhematologic toxicity, for example fatigue (16.0 %, 4/25 patients) and appetite loss (16.0 %, 4/25 patients). CONCLUSIONS GEMOX combined with sorafenib as first-line therapy followed by sorafenib as maintenance therapy was effective with manageable toxicity for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the results should be further validated in controlled phase II trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Department of Oncology, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, 127th Dongming Rd, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, China
| | - Han Yue
- Department of Oncology, The First People's Hospital of Zhengzhou City, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Shuning Xu
- Department of Oncology, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, 127th Dongming Rd, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ning Ma
- Department of Oncology, Henan Provincial People Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ke Li
- Department of Oncology, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, 127th Dongming Rd, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, China
| | - Lei Qiao
- Department of Oncology, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, 127th Dongming Rd, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, China
| | - Jufeng Wang
- Department of Oncology, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, 127th Dongming Rd, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, China.
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Zhong J, Xiang B, Ma L, Li L. Conventional oral systemic chemotherapy for postoperative hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review. Mol Clin Oncol 2014; 2:1091-1096. [PMID: 25279203 DOI: 10.3892/mco.2014.337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2012] [Accepted: 06/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The findings of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) regarding the efficacy of adjuvant conventional oral systemic chemotherapy (COSC) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following curative hepatic resection (HR) are contradictory. Therefore, a systematic review of RCTs is required to evaluate the clinical efficacy of adjuvant COSC. Sources such as Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched and all the RCTs comparing curative HR alone to HR plus COSC for HCC were identified. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. No treatment-related mortality was reported by the included RCTs and the adverse effects of COSC were generally mild. However, adjuvant COSC did not achieve a statistically significant improvement in the 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival (OR=1.43, 95% CI: 0.58-3.56, P=0.44; OR=1.39, 95% CI: 0.75-2.55, P=0.29; and OR=1.20, 95% CI: 0.46-3.16, P=0.71, respectively). In addition, adjuvant COSC did not achieve a statistically significant decrease in the incidence of 1-, 3- and 5-year tumor recurrence, with pooled ORs of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.26-1.35, P=0.66); 0.82 (95% CI: 0.66-1.01, P=0.06); and 0.84 (95% CI: 0.71-1.01, P=0.06), respectively. Narrative reviews offer no evidence supporting the use of COSC. Adjuvant COSC has provided marginal benefits for HCC patients following curative HR. Considering the efficacy of sorafenib for advanced HCC and the results of this systematic review, no further trials should be performed to assess the efficacy of adjuvant COSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhong Zhong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
| | - Bangde Xiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
| | - Liang Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
| | - Lequn Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
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Systemic combination therapy of intravenous continuous 5-fluorouracil and subcutaneous pegylated interferon alfa-2a for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. J Gastroenterol 2012; 47:1152-9. [PMID: 22438097 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-012-0574-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2011] [Accepted: 02/27/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Japan, sorafenib is now the first-line therapy for individuals with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but no other treatment is available for such patients. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with systemic continuous intravenous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and subcutaneous peginterferon alfa-2a, which was used before sorafenib was introduced to Japan. METHODS Two hundred and twenty-three HCC patients, who were not amenable to curative surgery, percutaneous ablation, or transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), and for whom intraarterial chemotherapy was not indicated because of the presence of extrahepatic metastasis or stenosis of the common hepatic artery, received peginterferon alfa-2a (90 μg subcutaneously on days 1, 8, 15, and 22) and 5-FU (500 mg/day intravenously given continuously on days 1-5 and 8-12). We assessed their response to treatment and survival, and treatment safety. RESULTS The response rate was 9.4 % (including six patients with complete response) and the disease-control rate was 32.7 %. The median time to progression was 2.0 months. The overall median survival time was 6.5 months (Child-Pugh class A: 9.2 months vs. Child-Pugh class B: 2.8 months). In a multivariate analysis, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status >0, Child-Pugh class B, and the presence of macroscopic vascular invasion were independent predictors of poor prognosis. The major grade 3-4 adverse events were leucopenia (13.9 %) and thrombocytopenia (5.8 %). No treatment-related deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS This combination therapy was well tolerated and showed promising efficacy. Further studies are needed to establish the usefulness of this treatment.
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Final results of a prematurely discontinued Phase 1/2 study of eniluracil with escalating doses of 5-fluorouracil administered orally in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2011; 68:1067-73. [DOI: 10.1007/s00280-011-1588-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2010] [Accepted: 02/08/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Masuzaki R, Yoshida H, Tateishi R, Shiina S, Omata M. Hepatocellular carcinoma in viral hepatitis: improving standard therapy. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2008; 22:1137-51. [PMID: 19187872 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpg.2008.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy worldwide, and its incidence is increasing in the United States and elsewhere. The prognosis of HCC patients depends not only on tumour stage but also on the background liver function reservoir. Current options for the treatment of HCC are surgical resection, liver transplantation, transcatheter arterial embolization, chemotherapy, and percutaneous ablation therapy. The choice of optimal treatment for individual patients, especially those at an earlier cancer stage, is sometimes controversial. Short-term prognosis of HCC patients has been much improved recently due to advances in early diagnosis and treatment, although long-term prognosis is as yet far from satisfactory as indicated by the overall survival at 10 years after apparently curative treatment of only 22-35%. Prevention of HCC recurrence, or tertiary prevention, is one of the most challenging tasks in current hepatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Masuzaki
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Yen-Revollo JL, Goldberg RM, McLeod HL. Can inhibiting dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase limit hand-foot syndrome caused by fluoropyrimidines? Clin Cancer Res 2008; 14:8-13. [PMID: 18172246 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-07-1225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) is a cutaneous adverse event that occurs in some patients treated with fluoropyrimidines. Although it is not life threatening, HFS can severely disrupt the daily lives of patients. HFS appears more frequently with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) delivered by continuous infusion or with the 5-FU oral derivative capecitabine than with bolus 5-FU therapy. HFS is a leading cause of treatment interruption, dosage reduction, or, even, therapy discontinuation for patients on a capecitabine regimen. Interestingly, addition of a dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) inhibitor, such as uracil, 5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine, or eniluracil, to the fluoropyrimidine treatment regimen significantly diminishes the incidence of HFS. DPD inhibitors were initially combined with fluoropyrimidines to increase the efficacy of the drugs by impairing the DPD-mediated catabolism of 5-FU. However, with the accumulating findings from clinical trials that show the benefits of DPD inhibition on decreasing the risk of HFS, consideration should be given to changing the recommendations for the treatment of cancer patients with fluoropyrimidines to include DPD inhibitor components as standard therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane L Yen-Revollo
- University of North Carolina Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Institute for Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7360, USA
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10
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Cancer of the Liver and Bile Ducts. Oncology 2007. [DOI: 10.1007/0-387-31056-8_44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Abstract
This article reviews the current developments and significant trends in the treatment of hepatocarcinoma (HCC). Prevention programs should be based on large vaccination campaigns and the use of immunologic or biologic molecules to delay the onset of HCC in already cirrhotic patients. Surgery remains the therapy of choice in patients with a small and limited number of tumor nodules. To date, no preoperative treatment has been proven useful. Adjuvant treatments involving systemic chemotherapy, intra-arterial infusion, or chemoembolization failed to improve survival, whereas immune therapy, retinoids, radiolabeled isotopes, and antiangiogenic agents seem promising. Such local treatments as percutaneous ethanol injection, cryotherapy, and radiofrequency are proposed for patients with limited hepatic function and should be combined with other treatment modalities to optimize their efficacy and limit their toxicity. Regional therapy should take a selective, subsegmental approach at intervals depending on tumor response and possibly combined with other treatment modalities. Systemic therapy with cytotoxic agents remains disappointing. Hormonal therapy with tamoxifen or antiandrogens has shown no efficacy and might even be detrimental. Further progress may be expected from targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Gerard
- Institut Jules Bordet, 1 Rue Heger-Bordet, Brussels, 1000, Belgium
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Thomas MB, Chadha R, Glover K, Wang X, Morris J, Brown T, Rashid A, Dancey J, Abbruzzese JL. Phase 2 study of erlotinib in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer 2007; 110:1059-67. [PMID: 17623837 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.22886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 228] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growth factor overexpression, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression, is common in hepatocellular cancers. Erlotinib is a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor with specificity for EGFR. The primary objective of this study was to determine the proportion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with erlotinib who were alive and progression-free (PFS) at 16 weeks of continuous treatment. METHODS Patients with unresectable HCC, no prior systemic therapy, performance status (PS) of 0, 1, or 2, and Childs-Pugh (CP) cirrhosis A or B received oral erlotinib 150 mg daily for 28-day cycles. Tumor response was assessed every 2 cycles by using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST; National Cancer Institute Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Bethesda, Md) criteria. Patients accrued to either "low" or "high" EGFR expression cohorts; each cohort had stopping rules applied when there was a lack of efficacy. RESULTS Forty HCC patients were enrolled. Median age was 64 years (range, 33-83 years), sex distribution was 32 males and 8 females, performance scores were 40% PS 0, 55% PS 1, Childs-Pugh distribution was 75% A and 20% B. There were no complete or partial responses; however, 17 of 40 patients achieved stable disease at 16 weeks of continuous therapy. The PFS at 16 weeks was 43%, and the median overall survival (OS) was 43 weeks (10.75 months). No patients required dose reductions of erlotinib. No correlation between EGFR expression and outcome was found. CONCLUSIONS Results of this study indicated that single-agent erlotinib is well tolerated and has modest disease-control benefit in HCC, manifested as modestly prolonged PFS and OS when compared with historical controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie B Thomas
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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Nowak AK, Chow PKH, Findlay M. Systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a review. Eur J Cancer 2004; 40:1474-84. [PMID: 15196530 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2004.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2004] [Accepted: 02/13/2004] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Whilst local treatments are useful in selected patients, they are not suitable for many with advanced disease. Here, we review phase II and III trials for systemic therapy of advanced disease, finding no strong evidence that any chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or immunotherapy regimen trialled to date benefits survival in this setting. Many trials were inadequately powered, single centre, and enrolled highly selected patients. From this review, we cannot recommend any therapeutic approach in these patients outside of a clinical trial setting. Including an untreated control arm in clinical trials in HCC is still justified. Every effort should be made to enroll these patients into adequately powered trials, and promising phase II results must be tested in a multicentre phase III setting, preferably against a placebo control arm. Prevention of hepatitis B and C remains vital to decrease deaths from HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K Nowak
- NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Locked Bag 77 Camperdown, NSW 1450, Australia.
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15
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Guan Z, Wang Y, Maoleekoonpairoj S, Chen Z, Kim WS, Ratanatharathorn V, Reece WHH, Kim TW, Lehnert M. Prospective randomised phase II study of gemcitabine at standard or fixed dose rate schedule in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Br J Cancer 2003; 89:1865-9. [PMID: 14612894 PMCID: PMC2394454 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6601369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2003] [Revised: 09/09/2003] [Accepted: 09/10/2003] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The present randomised phase II study was an effort to evaluate single-agent gemcitabine as a first-line systemic treatment of Asian patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Gemcitabine was given via intravenous infusion at 1250 mg m(-2) on days 1 and 8 of 3-week cycles. Patients were randomised to receive gemcitabine as a 30-min intravenous infusion (standard schedule) or at a fixed dose rate (FDR) of 10 mg m(-2) min(-1). A total of 50 patients were enrolled in the study, of whom 48 received study therapy. One patient on standard schedule had a partial response, for an overall response rate of 2.1% (95% CI: 0.05-11.1%). The median time to progression and survival time were 46 and 97 days, respectively. The overall rates of Grade 3 or 4 haematological and nonhaematological toxicities were 39.6 and 64.6%, respectively, with no significant difference between the two treatment arms. There were no drug-related deaths and severe clinical toxicities were rare. Both schedules of gemcitabine were safe and toxicity was well manageable in this patient population. However, gemcitabine seems no more active than other cytotoxic agents when used alone for systemic treatment of advanced HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Guan
- Tumor Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Medical Sciences, East Dongfeng Road, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Y Wang
- Shanghai Changhai Hospital, The 2nd Military Medical University, No. 174, Changhai Road, Shanghai 200433, PR China
| | - S Maoleekoonpairoj
- Pra Mongkutklao Hospital of the Royal Thai Army, 315 Rajavithi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Z Chen
- Fuzhou General Hospital, No. 156, Xi Huan Bei Road, Fuzhou, Fujiang 350025, PR China
| | - W S Kim
- Samsung Medical Center, Sung Kyun Kwan University School of Medicine, 50, Ilwon-Dong, Kangnam-Gu, Seoul 135-710, Korea
| | | | - W H H Reece
- Clinical Outcomes and Research Institute, Eli Lilly Australia, Level 1/16 Giffnock Ave., Macquarie Park, NSW 2113, Australia
| | - T W Kim
- Asan Medical Center, 388-1 Poong Nap-Dong, Song Pa-Gu, Seoul 138-736, Korea
| | - M Lehnert
- Eli Lilly Asian Operations, Limited, 27th Floor, CITIC Tower, 1 Tim Mei Avenue, Central, Hong Kong, SAR China
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Fuchs CS, Clark JW, Ryan DP, Kulke MH, Kim H, Earle CC, Vincitore M, Mayer RJ, Stuart KE. A phase II trial of gemcitabine in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer 2002; 94:3186-91. [PMID: 12115351 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.10607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is no effective systemic therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. A recent trial reported a moderate antitumor activity for gemcitabine among Asian patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. This led to our examination of the efficacy and tolerability of the drug in a population of U.S. patients. METHODS Thirty patients with measurable, unresectable, or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma who had received at least one previous form of systemic therapy were enrolled. All patients were required to have adequate major organ function and performance status. Patients received gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2) intravenously over 30 minutes weekly) for 3 consecutive weeks followed by a 1-week rest. Patients were assessed radiographically every 8 weeks. RESULTS All 30 patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. Ninety cycles of therapy were administered (median 2, range 1-8). No complete or partial responses were observed. Nine patients (30%) had stable disease (median duration 7.4 months, range 2-17). Median survival for all 30 patients was 6.9 months (95% confidence interval, 4.5-13.5) and the 1-year survival rate was 40%. Mild hematologic toxicity occurred. Two patients (7%) developed Grade 4 neutropenia and one patient (3%) experienced Grade 3 thrombocytopenia. There were no episodes of febrile neutropenia. One patient who had previously undergone orthotopic liver transplantation developed hemolytic-uremic syndrome that resolved with discontinuation of chemotherapy and plasmapheresis. CONCLUSIONS Although generally well tolerated, gemcitabine had minimal effect in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles S Fuchs
- Department of Adult Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
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Abstract
The number of papers published regarding hepatocellular carcinoma increased remarkably over the previous year. The 1-year survival for hepatocellular carcinoma has only improved slightly over the past 20 years, while the overall survival has remained unchanged. Hepatitis B genotypes, specifically genotype B, correlate with better response and survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma caused by this chronic infection. A consensus conference recommended that patients with Child-Turcotte-Pugh class A or B cirrhosis should be screened with ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein measurement every 6 months. Using microarray technology, several groups established the gene expression for human hepatocellular carcinoma including the identification of potential genes involved in hepatic carcinogenesis. Dynamic gadolinium MRI is the preferred imaging of choice for the evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma, but contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasound is a new imaging technique able to differentiate neoplastic from nonneoplastic liver lesions. Overall, transplantation is the best long-term therapeutic option, but in patients without portal hypertension and well-preserved liver function, resection may be preferable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Ann Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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