1
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Chan YT, Zhang C, Wu J, Lu P, Xu L, Yuan H, Feng Y, Chen ZS, Wang N. Biomarkers for diagnosis and therapeutic options in hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:189. [PMID: 39242496 PMCID: PMC11378508 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02101-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is a global health challenge, causing a significant social-economic burden. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant type of primary liver cancer, which is highly heterogeneous in terms of molecular and cellular signatures. Early-stage or small tumors are typically treated with surgery or ablation. Currently, chemotherapies and immunotherapies are the best treatments for unresectable tumors or advanced HCC. However, drug response and acquired resistance are not predictable with the existing systematic guidelines regarding mutation patterns and molecular biomarkers, resulting in sub-optimal treatment outcomes for many patients with atypical molecular profiles. With advanced technological platforms, valuable information such as tumor genetic alterations, epigenetic data, and tumor microenvironments can be obtained from liquid biopsy. The inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity of HCC are illustrated, and these collective data provide solid evidence in the decision-making process of treatment regimens. This article reviews the current understanding of HCC detection methods and aims to update the development of HCC surveillance using liquid biopsy. Recent critical findings on the molecular basis, epigenetic profiles, circulating tumor cells, circulating DNAs, and omics studies are elaborated for HCC diagnosis. Besides, biomarkers related to the choice of therapeutic options are discussed. Some notable recent clinical trials working on targeted therapies are also highlighted. Insights are provided to translate the knowledge into potential biomarkers for detection and diagnosis, prognosis, treatment response, and drug resistance indicators in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yau-Tuen Chan
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Cheng Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Junyu Wu
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Pengde Lu
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Lin Xu
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Hongchao Yuan
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Yibin Feng
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Zhe-Sheng Chen
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, NY, 11439, USA.
| | - Ning Wang
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
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Sun R, Wu C, Gou Y, Zhao Y, Huang P. Advancements in second-line treatment research for hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Transl Oncol 2024:10.1007/s12094-024-03653-8. [PMID: 39162977 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-024-03653-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors, characterized by high incidence and mortality rates. Due to its insidious onset, most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, often missing the opportunity for surgical resection. Consequently, systemic treatments play a pivotal role. In recent years, an increasing number of drugs have been approved for first-line systemic treatment of HCC. However, their efficacy is limited, and some patients develop drug resistance after a period of treatment. For such patients, there is currently a lack of standard second-line systemic treatment options. This review summarizes the latest advancements in second-line systemic treatment research for HCC patients who have developed resistance to various first-line systemic treatments, aiming to provide more rational and personalized second-line treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruirui Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.1, Youyi Road, Yuanjiagang, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400000, China
| | - Chenrui Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.1, Youyi Road, Yuanjiagang, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400000, China
| | - Yang Gou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.1, Youyi Road, Yuanjiagang, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400000, China
| | - Yaowu Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.1, Youyi Road, Yuanjiagang, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400000, China
| | - Ping Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.1, Youyi Road, Yuanjiagang, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400000, China.
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3
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Lu F, Zhao K, Ye M, Xing G, Liu B, Li X, Ran Y, Wu F, Chen W, Hu S. Efficacy and safety of second-line therapies for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:1023. [PMID: 39160484 PMCID: PMC11331808 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12780-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The selection of appropriate second-line therapy for liver cancer after first-line treatment failure poses a significant clinical challenge due to the lack of direct comparative studies and standard treatment protocols. A network meta-analysis (NMA) provides a robust method to systematically evaluate the clinical outcomes and adverse effects of various second-line treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library to identify phase III/IV randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to March 11, 2024. The outcomes extracted were median overall survival (OS), median progression-free survival (PFS), time to disease progression (TTP), disease control rate (DCR), objective response rate (ORR), and adverse reactions. This study was registered in the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42023427843) to ensure transparency, novelty, and reliability. RESULTS We included 16 RCTs involving 7,005 patients and 10 second-line treatments. For advanced HCC patients, regorafenib (HR = 0.62, 95%CI: 0.53-0.73) and cabozantinib (HR = 0.74, 95%CI: 0.63-0.85) provided the best OS benefits compared to placebo. Cabozantinib (HR = 0.42, 95%CI: 0.32-0.55) and regorafenib (HR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.31-0.68) also offered the most significant PFS benefits. For TTP, apatinib (HR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.33-0.57), ramucirumab (HR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.34-0.57), and regorafenib (HR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.38-0.51) showed significant benefits over placebo. Regarding ORR, ramucirumab (OR = 9.90, 95% CI: 3.40-42.98) and S-1 (OR = 8.68, 95% CI: 1.4-154.68) showed the most significant increases over placebo. Apatinib (OR = 3.88, 95% CI: 2.48-6.10) and cabozantinib (OR = 3.53, 95% CI: 2.54-4.90) provided the best DCR benefits compared to placebo. Tivantinib showed the most significant advantages in terms of three different safety outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that, in terms of overall efficacy and safety, regorafenib and cabozantinib are the optimal second-line treatment options for patients with advanced HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenping Lu
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kai Zhao
- Shaanxi Shuangbo Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Liver and Kidney Diseases, Xi'an, China
| | - Miaoqing Ye
- Shaanxi Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, China
| | - Guangyan Xing
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bowen Liu
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaobin Li
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yun Ran
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fenfang Wu
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Emergency General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shiping Hu
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
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Liu J, Xia S, Zhang B, Mohammed DM, Yang X, Zhu Y, Jiang X. Small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors approved for systemic therapy of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: recent advances and future perspectives. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:259. [PMID: 38960980 PMCID: PMC11222362 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01110-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in the world, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer. More than half of the HCC patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage and often require systemic therapy. Dysregulation of the activity of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) is involved in the development and progress of HCC, RTKs are therefore the potential targets for systemic therapy of advanced HCC (aHCC). Currently, a total of six small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been approved for aHCC, including first-line sorafenib, lenvatinib, and donafenib, and second-line regorafenib, cabozantinib, and apatinib. These TKIs improved patients survival, which are associated with disease stage, etiology, liver function, tumor burden, baseline levels of alpha-fetoprotein, and treatment history. This review focuses on the clinical outcomes of these TKIs in key clinical trials, retrospective and real-world studies and discusses the future perspectives of TKIs for aHCC, with an aim to provide up-to-date evidence for decision-making in the treatment of aHCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhong Liu
- Clinical Laboratory, Wuhan No.7 Hospital, Zhong Nan 2nd Road, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Shuai Xia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jining Medical University, Jining, 272067, Shandong, China
| | - Baoyi Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Dina Mostafa Mohammed
- Nutrition and Food Sciences Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Xiangliang Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Yanhong Zhu
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Xinnong Jiang
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, China.
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5
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Majeed A, Alaparthi S, Halegoua-DeMarzio D, Eberle-Singh J, Jiang W, Anne PR, Shah AP, Bowne WB, Lin D. Complete Pathologic Response to Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin Chemotherapy After Prior Therapies in a Patient With Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Peritoneal Metastases Undergoing Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy. World J Oncol 2024; 15:511-520. [PMID: 38751709 PMCID: PMC11092419 DOI: 10.14740/wjon1840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often diagnosed at a late stage and frequently recurs despite curative intervention, leading to poor survival outcomes. Frontline systemic therapies include combination immunotherapy regimens and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We report a case of a 38-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis B and C coinfection-associated non-cirrhotic HCC, which recurred in the peritoneum after initial resection of her primary tumor. Disease progression occurred on both atezolizumab/bevacizumab and lenvatinib, and she was subsequently treated with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GEMOX) chemotherapy and exhibited a profound clinical response on imaging with normalization of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) after several months. Following extensive multidisciplinary discussion, she underwent cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) that removed all visible macroscopic tumor. Her pathology demonstrated a complete pathologic response. She received two additional months of postoperative chemotherapy, and then proceeded with close monitoring off therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a complete pathologic response to GEMOX chemotherapy in the context of CRS/HIPEC for peritoneal metastases in HCC, after progression on standard immunotherapy and tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatments. In this report, we review the current systemic treatment landscape in HCC. We highlight potential consideration of cytotoxic chemotherapy, which is less frequently utilized in current practice, in selected patients with HCC, and discuss the role of CRS/HIPEC in the management of peritoneal metastases. Further investigation regarding predictors of response to systemic treatments is strongly needed. Multidisciplinary management may ultimately prolong survival in patients with advanced HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amry Majeed
- Department of Internal Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sneha Alaparthi
- Department of General Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Dina Halegoua-DeMarzio
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jaime Eberle-Singh
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Wei Jiang
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Pramila Rani Anne
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ashesh P. Shah
- Department of General Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Wilbur B. Bowne
- Department of General Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Daniel Lin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Yalcin S, Lacin S, Kaseb AO, Peynircioğlu B, Cantasdemir M, Çil BE, Hurmuz P, Doğrul AB, Bozkurt MF, Abali H, Akhan O, Şimşek H, Sahin B, Aykan FN, Yücel İ, Tellioğlu G, Selçukbiricik F, Philip PA. A Post-International Gastrointestinal Cancers' Conference (IGICC) Position Statements. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:953-974. [PMID: 38832120 PMCID: PMC11144653 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s449540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most prevalent liver tumor, is usually linked with chronic liver diseases, particularly cirrhosis. As per the 2020 statistics, this cancer ranks 6th in the list of most common cancers worldwide and is the third primary source of cancer-related deaths. Asia holds the record for the highest occurrence of HCC. HCC is found three times more frequently in men than in women. The primary risk factors for HCC include chronic viral infections, excessive alcohol intake, steatotic liver disease conditions, as well as genetic and family predispositions. Roughly 40-50% of patients are identified in the late stages of the disease. Recently, there have been significant advancements in the treatment methods for advanced HCC. The selection of treatment for HCC hinges on the stage of the disease and the patient's medical status. Factors such as pre-existing liver conditions, etiology, portal hypertension, and portal vein thrombosis need critical evaluation, monitoring, and appropriate treatment. Depending on the patient and the characteristics of the disease, liver resection, ablation, or transplantation may be deemed potentially curative. For inoperable lesions, arterially directed therapy might be an option, or systemic treatment might be deemed more suitable. In specific cases, the recommendation might extend to external beam radiation therapy. For all individuals, a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach should be adopted when considering HCC treatment options. The main treatment strategies for advanced HCC patients are typically combination treatments such as immunotherapy and anti-VEGFR inhibitor, or a combination of immunotherapy and immunotherapy where appropriate, as a first-line treatment. Furthermore, some TKIs and immune checkpoint inhibitors may be used as single agents in cases where patients are not fit for the combination therapies. As second-line treatments, some treatment agents have been reported and can be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suayib Yalcin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sahin Lacin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Koç University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Ahmed Omar Kaseb
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bora Peynircioğlu
- Department of Radiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Barbaros Erhan Çil
- Department of Radiology, Koç University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Pervin Hurmuz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Bülent Doğrul
- Department of General Surgery, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Murat Fani Bozkurt
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Hüseyin Abali
- Department of Medical Oncology, Bahrain Oncology Center, Muharraq, Bahrain
| | - Okan Akhan
- Department of Radiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Halis Şimşek
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Berksoy Sahin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Türkiye
| | - Faruk N Aykan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Istinye University Faculty of Medicine Bahçeşehir Liv Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - İdris Yücel
- Medicana International Hospital Samsun, Department of Medical Oncology, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Gürkan Tellioğlu
- Department of General Surgery, Koç University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Fatih Selçukbiricik
- Department of Medical Oncology, Koç University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Philip A Philip
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
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7
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Zarlashat Y, Abbas S, Ghaffar A. Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Beyond the Border of Advanced Stage Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2034. [PMID: 38893154 PMCID: PMC11171154 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16112034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the deadliest emergent health issue around the globe. The stronger oncogenic effect, proteins, and weakened immune response are precisely linked with a significant prospect of developing HCC. Several conventional systemic therapies, antiangiogenic therapy, and immunotherapy techniques have significantly improved the outcomes for early-, intermediate-, and advanced-stage HCC patients, giving new hope for effective HCC management and prolonged survival rates. Innovative therapeutic approaches beyond conventional treatments have altered the landscape of managing HCC, particularly focusing on targeted therapies and immunotherapies. The advancement in HCC treatment suggested by the Food and Drug Administration is multidimensional treatment options, including multikinase inhibitors (sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, ramucirumab, and cabozantinib) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (atezolizumab, pembrolizumab, durvalumab, tremelimumab, ipilimumab, and nivolumab), in monotherapy and in combination therapy to increase life expectancy of HCC patients. This review highlights the efficacy of multikinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors in monotherapy and combination therapy through the analysis of phase II, and III clinical trials, targeting the key molecular pathways involved in cellular signaling and immune response for the prospective treatment of advanced and unresectable HCC and discusses the upcoming combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors-tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors-vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors. Finally, the hidden challenges with pharmacological therapy for HCC, feasible solutions for the future, and implications of possible presumptions to develop drugs for HCC treatment are reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusra Zarlashat
- Department of Biochemistry, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan;
| | - Shakil Abbas
- Gomal Center of Biotechnology and Biochemistry (GCBB), Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan 29050, Pakistan;
| | - Abdul Ghaffar
- Department of Biochemistry, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan;
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8
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Heumann P, Albert A, Gülow K, Tümen D, Müller M, Kandulski A. Insights in Molecular Therapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1831. [PMID: 38791911 PMCID: PMC11120383 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
We conducted a comprehensive review of the current literature of published data and clinical trials (MEDLINE), as well as published congress contributions and active recruiting clinical trials on targeted therapies in hepatocellular carcinoma. Combinations of different agents and medical therapy along with radiological interventions were analyzed for the setting of advanced HCC. Those settings were also analyzed in combination with adjuvant situations after resection or radiological treatments. We summarized the current knowledge for each therapeutic setting and combination that currently is or has been under clinical evaluation. We further discuss the results in the background of current treatment guidelines. In addition, we review the pathophysiological mechanisms and pathways for each of these investigated targets and drugs to further elucidate the molecular background and underlying mechanisms of action. Established and recommended targeted treatment options that already exist for patients are considered for systemic treatment: atezolizumab/bevacizumab, durvalumab/tremelimumab, sorafenib, lenvatinib, cabozantinib, regorafenib, and ramucirumab. Combination treatment for systemic treatment and local ablative treatment or transarterial chemoembolization and adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment strategies are under clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Heumann
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany (K.G.); (D.T.)
| | | | | | | | | | - Arne Kandulski
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany (K.G.); (D.T.)
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9
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Kato H, Hayami S, Ueno M, Suzaki N, Nakamura M, Yoshimura T, Miyamoto A, Shigekawa Y, Okada K, Miyazawa M, Kitahata Y, Ehata S, Hamamoto R, Yamaue H, Kawai M. Histone methyltransferase SUV420H1/KMT5B contributes to poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Sci 2024; 115:385-400. [PMID: 38082550 PMCID: PMC10859612 DOI: 10.1111/cas.16038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high rate of recurrence and poor prognosis, even after curative surgery. Multikinase inhibitors have been applied for HCC patients, but their effect has been restricted. This study aims to clarify the clinical impact of SUV420H1/KMT5B, one of the methyltransferases for histone H4 at lysine 20, and elucidate the novel mechanisms of HCC progression. We retrospectively investigated SUV420H1 expression using HCC clinical tissue samples employing immunohistochemical analysis (n = 350). We then performed loss-of-function analysis of SUV420H1 with cell cycle analysis, migration assay, invasion assay and RNA sequence for Gene Ontology (GO) pathway analysis in vitro, and animal experiments with xenograft mice in vivo. The SUV420H1-high-score group (n = 154) had significantly poorer prognosis for both 5-year overall and 2-year/5-year disease-free survival than the SUV420H1-low-score group (n = 196) (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). The SUV420H1-high-score group had pathologically larger tumor size, more tumors, poorer differentiation, and more positive vascular invasion than the SUV420H1-low-score group. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that SUV420H1 high score was the poorest independent factor for overall survival. SUV420H1 knockdown could suppress cell cycle from G1 to S phase and cell invasion. GO pathway analysis showed that SUV420H1 contributed to cell proliferation, cell invasion, and/or metastasis. Overexpression of SUV420H1 clinically contributed to poor prognosis in HCC, and the inhibition of SUV420H1 could repress tumor progression and invasion both in vitro and in vivo; thus, further analyses of SUV420H1 are necessary for the discovery of future molecularly targeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirotaka Kato
- Second Department of Surgery, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Shinya Hayami
- Second Department of Surgery, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Masaki Ueno
- Second Department of Surgery, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Norihiko Suzaki
- Second Department of Surgery, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Masashi Nakamura
- Second Department of Surgery, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Tomohiro Yoshimura
- Second Department of Surgery, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Atsushi Miyamoto
- Second Department of Surgery, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Yoshinobu Shigekawa
- Second Department of Surgery, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Ken‐Ichi Okada
- Second Department of Surgery, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Motoki Miyazawa
- Second Department of Surgery, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Yuji Kitahata
- Second Department of Surgery, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Shogo Ehata
- Department of Pathology, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Ryuji Hamamoto
- Division of Medical AI Research and DevelopmentNational Cancer Center Research InstituteTokyoJapan
| | - Hiroki Yamaue
- Second Department of Surgery, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
| | - Manabu Kawai
- Second Department of Surgery, School of MedicineWakayama Medical UniversityWakayamaJapan
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10
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Selene II, Ozen M, Patel RA. Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Advances in Systemic Therapy. Semin Intervent Radiol 2024; 41:56-62. [PMID: 38495258 PMCID: PMC10940040 DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1779713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent primary liver cancer, representing over 90% of cases globally and ranking as the third leading cause of cancer-related death. This article reviews the evolving landscape of systemic therapies for advanced HCC, emphasizing recent advancements and their impact on patient outcomes. The advent of molecular targeted therapies has transformed HCC management, with sorafenib being the first FDA-approved molecular targeted therapy, setting a standard for a decade. However, recent breakthroughs involve the combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab, demonstrating superior outcomes over sorafenib, leading to FDA approval in 2020. Another notable combination is tremelimumab and durvalumab, showing efficacy in a multinational phase III trial. Beyond these combinations, this article explores the role of other first-line treatments and subsequent therapies after progression. The evolving landscape of systemic therapies for HCC reflects a paradigm shift, with immunotherapy combinations emerging as key players alongside targeted therapies. This article highlights the complexity of treatment decisions, considering individual patient characteristics and disease etiology, and underscores the ongoing quest to optimize both systemic and local-regional therapies for improved long-term outcomes in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Insija Ilyas Selene
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Merve Ozen
- Department of Radiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Reema A. Patel
- Department of Radiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
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Wu Q, Li X, Yang Y, Huang J, Yao M, Li J, Huang Y, Cai X, Geller DA, Yan Y. MICA+ Tumor Cell Upregulated Macrophage-Secreted MMP9 via PROS1-AXL Axis to Induce Tumor Immune Escape in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:269. [PMID: 38254761 PMCID: PMC10813556 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) constitute a significant proportion of non-cancerous cells within the intricate tumor microenvironment (TME) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Understanding the communication between macrophages and tumor cells, as well as investigating potential signaling pathways, holds promise for enhancing therapeutic responses in HCC. METHODS single-cell RNA-sequencing data and bulk RNA-sequencing data were derived from open source databases Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Through this analysis, we elucidated the interactions between MICA+ tumor cells and MMP9+ macrophages, primarily mediated via the PROS1-AXL axis in advanced HCC. Subsequently, we employed a range of experimental techniques including lentivirus infection, recombinant protein stimulation, and AXL inhibition experiments to validate these interactions and unravel the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS we presented a single-cell atlas of advanced HCC, highlighting the expression patterns of MICA and MMP9 in tumor cells and macrophages, respectively. Activation of the interferon gamma (IFN-γ) signaling pathway was observed in MICA+ tumor cells and MMP9+ macrophages. We identified the existence of an interaction between MICA+ tumor cells and MMP9+ macrophages mediated via the PROS1-AXL axis. Additionally, we found MMP9+ macrophages had a positive correlation with M2-like macrophages. Subsequently, experiments validated that DNA damage not only induced MICA expression in tumor cells via IRF1, but also upregulated PROS1 levels in HCC cells, stimulating macrophages to secrete MMP9. Consequently, MMP9 led to the proteolysis of MICA. CONCLUSION MICA+ HCC cells secreted PROS1, which upregulated MMP9 expression in macrophages through AXL receptors. The increased MMP9 activity resulted in the proteolytic shedding of MICA, leading to the release of soluble MICA (sMICA) and the subsequent facilitation of tumor immune escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiulin Wu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
| | - Xicai Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
| | - Yan Yang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
| | - Jingquan Huang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
| | - Ming Yao
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
| | - Jianjun Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
| | - Yubin Huang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
| | - Xiaoyong Cai
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
| | - David A. Geller
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Yihe Yan
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
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Zanuso V, Rimassa L, Braconi C. The rapidly evolving landscape of HCC: Selecting the optimal systemic therapy. Hepatology 2023:01515467-990000000-00559. [PMID: 37695554 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Over the past years, there has been a remarkable advance in the systemic treatment options for advanced HCC. The overall survival has gradually increased over time, with larger benefits for patients with sensitive tumors and preserved liver function, the latter being an essential condition for the delivery of sequential lines of treatment and optimization of clinical outcomes. With the approval of new first-line agents and the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitor-based therapies, the treatment landscape of advanced HCC is becoming wider than ever. Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and, more recently, durvalumab plus tremelimumab have entered the clinical practice and are the current standard of care for treatment-naïve patients, surpassing sorafenib and lenvatinib monopoly. As no head-to-head comparisons are available among all the first-line treatment options, the recommendation for the most appropriate choice and sequence is patient-driven and integrates efficacy data with clinical comorbidities, background liver disease, and the safety profile of available drugs. In addition, predictive biomarkers for successful patients' stratification are yet to be available and constitute the focus of ongoing research. The treatment algorithm is likely to become even more complex since systemic therapeutic approaches are now being translated into earlier stages of the disease, with an impact on the evolution of the sequential treatment of patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Zanuso
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Braconi
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Glasgow, UK
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Takeuchi Y, Nouso K, Fujioka S, Kariyama K, Kobashi H, Uematsu S, Moriya A, Hagihara H, Takabatake H, Nakamura S, Yabushita K, Kikuchi T, Oyama A, Adachi T, Wada N, Onishi H, Shiraha H, Takaki A. The prediction of early progressive disease in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. Cancer Med 2023; 12:17559-17568. [PMID: 37537956 PMCID: PMC10523973 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The IMbrave 150 trial revealed the usefulness of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab therapy in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), making it now considered the first-line systemic chemotherapy agent for HCC. The present study investigated factors associated with early tumor progression of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in patients with advanced HCC in real-world clinical practice. METHODS A total of 184 HCC patients who received atezolizumab plus bevacizumab therapy were studied. We investigated the frequency of early progressive disease (e-PD; PD within 9 weeks) and analyzed the risk factors for e-PD. RESULTS There were 47 patients (25.5%) diagnosed as e-PD. Patients with e-PD had a worse performance status (PS) and albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) and Child-Pugh (C-P) scores and a significantly higher rate of a systemic therapy than those with non-e-PD. A multivariate analysis showed that PS ≥1 (odds ratio [OR] = 4.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.9-10, p < 0.001), ALBI score ≥-2.30 (OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.0-4.5, p = 0.044) and the history of a systemic therapy (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.4-6.4, p = 0.0038) were significant and independent determinants of e-PD. When examining the liver function trends in e-PD patients, the ALBI scores at 3 and 6 weeks after starting therapy were significantly higher than before the treatment (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The liver function and systemic therapy are useful predictors of e-PD in HCC patients treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in real-world clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuto Takeuchi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Innovative Clinical MedicineOkayama University HospitalOkayamaJapan
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Kazuhiro Nouso
- Department of GastroenterologyOkayama City HospitalOkayamaJapan
| | - Shin‐ichi Fujioka
- Department of GastroenterologyOkayama Saiseikai General HospitalOkayamaJapan
| | - Kazuya Kariyama
- Department of GastroenterologyOkayama City HospitalOkayamaJapan
| | - Haruhiko Kobashi
- Department of GastroenterologyJapanese Red Cross Okayama HospitalOkayamaJapan
| | - Shuji Uematsu
- Department of GastroenterologyHiroshima City HospitalOkayamaJapan
| | - Akio Moriya
- Department of GastroenterologyMitoyo General HospitalOkayamaJapan
| | - Hiroaki Hagihara
- Department of GastroenterologySumitomo Besshi HospitalOkayamaJapan
| | | | - Shinichiro Nakamura
- Department of GastroenterologyJapanese Red Cross Himeji HospitalOkayamaJapan
| | | | - Tatsuya Kikuchi
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Atsushi Oyama
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Takuya Adachi
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Nozomu Wada
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Hideki Onishi
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Hidenori Shiraha
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Akinobu Takaki
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
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Coffin P, He A. Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Past and Present Challenges and Progress in Molecular Classification and Precision Oncology. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13274. [PMID: 37686079 PMCID: PMC10487618 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common solid tumor malignancies in the world and represents roughly 90% of all primary malignancies of the liver. The most common risk factors for HCC include hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, alcohol, and increasingly, fatty liver. Most HCC is diagnosed at advanced stages, excluding the possibility of curative resection, which leaves systemic therapy as the only treatment option. However, given the extreme mutational diversity and heterogenous nature of HCC, efforts to develop new targeted systemic therapies were largely unsuccessful until recently. HCC pathogenesis is thought to be a multistage process driven by a wide array of nonmutually exclusive driver mutations accompanied by many passenger mutations, with the average tumor possessing approximately 40 genomic aberrations. Over the past two decades, several efforts to categorize HCC prognostically and therapeutically according to different molecular subclassifications with the intent to guide treatment and identify drug targets have emerged, though, no single consensus has been reached. Recent breakthroughs in drug development have greatly expanded treatment options, but the ideal of uniting each patient's unique HCC with a targeted systemic therapy remains elusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Coffin
- MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Lombardi Cancer Center, 3800 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA;
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15
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Shannon AH, Manne A, Diaz Pardo DA, Pawlik TM. Combined radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibition for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1193762. [PMID: 37554167 PMCID: PMC10405730 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1193762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers and a leading cause of cancer related death worldwide. Until recently, systemic therapy for advanced HCC, defined as Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B or C, was limited and ineffective in terms of long-term survival. However, over the past decade, immune check point inhibitors (ICI) combinations have emerged as a potential therapeutic option for patients with nonresectable disease. ICI modulate the tumor microenvironment to prevent progression of the tumor. Radiotherapy is a crucial tool in treating unresectable HCC and may enhance the efficacy of ICI by manipulating the tumor microenvironment and decreasing tumor resistance to certain therapies. We herein review developments in the field of ICI combined with radiotherapy for the treatment of HCC, as well as look at challenges associated with these treatment modalities, and review future directions of combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander H. Shannon
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Ashish Manne
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology at the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Dayssy A. Diaz Pardo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University, Comprehensive Cancer Center-James Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Timothy M. Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
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Merle P, Kudo M, Krotneva S, Ozgurdal K, Su Y, Proskorovsky I. Regorafenib versus Cabozantinib as a Second-Line Treatment for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Anchored Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparison of Efficacy and Safety. Liver Cancer 2023; 12:145-155. [PMID: 37325487 PMCID: PMC10267565 DOI: 10.1159/000527403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The tyrosine kinase inhibitors regorafenib and cabozantinib remain the mainstay in second-line treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There is currently no clear evidence of superiority in efficacy or safety to guide choice between the two treatments. METHODS We conducted an anchored matching-adjusted indirect comparison using individual patient data from the RESORCE trial of regorafenib and published aggregate data from the CELESTIAL trial of cabozantinib. Second-line HCC patients with prior sorafenib exposure of ≥3 months were included in the analyses. Hazard ratios (HRs) and restricted mean survival time (RMST) were estimated to quantify differences in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Safety outcomes compared were rates of grade 3 or 4 adverse events (AEs), occurring in >10% of patients, and discontinuation or dose reduction due to treatment-related AEs. RESULTS After matching adjustment for differences in baseline patient characteristics, regorafenib showed a favorable OS (HR, 0.80; 95% CI: 0.54, 1.20) and ∼3-month-longer RMST over cabozantinib (RMST difference, 2.76 months; 95% CI: -1.03, 6.54), although not statistically significant. For PFS, there was no numerical difference in HR (HR, 1.00; 95% CI: 0.68, 1.49) and no clinically meaningful difference based on RMST analyses (RMST difference, -0.59 months; 95% CI: -1.83, 0.65). Regorafenib showed a significantly lower incidence of discontinuation (risk difference, -9.2%; 95% CI: -17.7%, -0.6%) and dose reductions (-15.2%; 95% CI: -29.0%, -1.5%) due to treatment-related AEs (any grade). Regorafenib was also associated with a lower incidence (not statistically significant) of grade 3 or 4 diarrhea (risk difference, -7.1%; 95% CI: -14.7%, 0.4%) and fatigue (-6.3%; 95% CI: -14.6%, 2.0%). CONCLUSION This indirect treatment comparison suggests, relative to cabozantinib, that regorafenib could be associated with favorable OS (not statistically significant), lower rates of dose reductions and discontinuation due to treatment-related AEs, and lower rates of severe diarrhea and fatigue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Merle
- Hepatology and Gastroenterology Unit, Croix-Rousse Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France, INSERM U1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Masatoshi Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | | | | | - Yun Su
- Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Whippany, New Jersey, USA
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Kuzuya T, Kawabe N, Ariga M, Ohno E, Funasaka K, Nagasaka M, Nakagawa Y, Miyahara R, Shibata T, Takahara T, Kato Y, Hirooka Y. Clinical Outcomes of Cabozantinib in Patients Previously Treated with Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma-Importance of Good Liver Function and Good Performance Status. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15112952. [PMID: 37296914 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15112952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: This study aimed to investigate clinical outcomes for cabozantinib in clinical practice in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) previously treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atz/Bev), with a focus on whether patients met criteria of Child-Pugh Class A and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS) score 0/1 at baseline. (2) Methods: Eleven patients (57.9%) met the criteria of both Child-Pugh class A and ECOG-PS score 0/1 (CP-A+PS-0/1 group) and eight patients (42.1%) did not (Non-CP-A+PS-0/1 group); efficacy and safety were retrospectively evaluated. (3) Results: Disease control rate was significantly higher in the CP-A+PS-0/1 group (81.1%) than in the non-CP-A+PS-0/1 group (12.5%). Median progression-free survival, overall survival and duration of cabozantinib treatment were significantly longer in the CP-A+PS-0/1 group (3.9 months, 13.4 months, and 8.3 months, respectively) than in the Non-CP-A+PS-0/1 group (1.2 months, 1.7 months, and 0.8 months, respectively). Median daily dose of cabozantinib was significantly higher in the CP-A+PS-0/1 group (22.9 mg/day) than in the non-CP-A+PS-0/1 group (16.9 mg/day). (4) Conclusions: Cabozantinib in patients previously treated with Atz/Bev has potential therapeutic efficacy and safety if patients have good liver function (Child-Pugh A) and are in good general condition (ECOG-PS 0/1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Teiji Kuzuya
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-Cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan
| | - Naoto Kawabe
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-Cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan
| | - Mizuki Ariga
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-Cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan
| | - Eizaburo Ohno
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-Cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kohei Funasaka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-Cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan
| | - Mitsuo Nagasaka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-Cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yoshihito Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-Cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan
| | - Ryoji Miyahara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-Cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Shibata
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-Cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takeshi Takahara
- Department of Surgery, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-Cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yutaro Kato
- Department of Surgery, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-Cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Hirooka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-Cho, Toyoake 470-1192, Aichi, Japan
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Lazzaro A, Hartshorn KL. A Comprehensive Narrative Review on the History, Current Landscape, and Future Directions of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Systemic Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15092506. [PMID: 37173972 PMCID: PMC10177076 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
We provide a comprehensive review of current approved systemic treatment strategies for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), starting with the phase III clinical trial of sorafenib which was the first to definitively show a survival benefit. After this trial, there was an initial period of little progress. However, in recent years, an explosion of new agents and combinations of agents has resulted in a markedly improved outlook for patients. We then provide the authors' current approach to therapy, i.e., "How We Treat HCC". Promising future directions and important gaps in therapy that persist are finally reviewed. HCC is a highly prevalent cancer worldwide and the incidence is growing due not only to alcoholism, hepatitis B and C, but also to steatohepatitis. HCC, like renal cell carcinoma and melanoma, is a cancer largely resistant to chemotherapy but the advent of anti-angiogenic, targeted and immune therapies have improved survival for all of these cancers. We hope this review will heighten interest in the field of HCC therapies, provide a clear outline of the current data and strategy for treatment, and sensitize readers to new developments that are likely to emerge in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Lazzaro
- Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Kevan L Hartshorn
- Section of Hematology Oncology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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Systemic Therapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Stand and Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15061680. [PMID: 36980566 PMCID: PMC10046570 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma often develops in the context of chronic liver disease. It is the sixth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Although the mainstay of therapy is surgical resection, most patients are not eligible because of liver dysfunction or tumor extent. Sorafenib was the first tyrosine kinase inhibitor that improved the overall survival of patients who failed to respond to local therapies or had advanced disease, and for many years, it was the only treatment approved for the first-line setting. However, in recent years, trials have demonstrated an improvement in survival with treatments based on immunotherapy and new targeting agents, thereby extending the treatment options. A phase III trial showed that a combination of immunotherapy and targeted therapy, including atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, improved survival in the first-line setting, and is now considered the new standard of care. Other agents and combinations are being tested, including the combination of nivolumab plus ipilimumab and tremelimumab plus durvalumab, and they reportedly have clinical benefits. The aim of this manuscript is to review the latest approved therapeutic options in first- and second-line settings for advanced HCC and discuss future perspectives.
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Talbot T, D'Alessio A, Pinter M, Balcar L, Scheiner B, Marron TU, Jun T, Dharmapuri S, Ang C, Saeed A, Hildebrand H, Muzaffar M, Fulgenzi CAM, Amara S, Naqash AR, Gampa A, Pillai A, Wang Y, Khan U, Lee P, Huang Y, Bengsch B, Bettinger D, Mohamed YI, Kaseb A, Pressiani T, Personeni N, Rimassa L, Nishida N, Kudo M, Weinmann A, Galle PR, Muhammed A, Cortellini A, Vogel A, Pinato DJ. Progression patterns and therapeutic sequencing following immune checkpoint inhibition for hepatocellular carcinoma: An international observational study. Liver Int 2023; 43:695-707. [PMID: 36577703 PMCID: PMC10947007 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Different approaches are available after the progression of disease (PD) to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including the continuation of ICI, treatment switching to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and cessation of anticancer therapy. We sought to characterise the relationship between radiological patterns of progression and survival post-ICI, also appraising treatment strategies. METHODS We screened 604 HCC patients treated with ICIs, including only those who experienced PD by data cut-off. We evaluated post-progression survival (PPS) according to the treatment strategy at PD and verified its relationship with radiological patterns of progression: intrahepatic growth (IHG), new intrahepatic lesion (NIH), extrahepatic growth (EHG), new extrahepatic lesion (NEH) and new vascular invasion (nVI). RESULTS Of 604 patients, 364 (60.3%) experienced PD during observation. Median PPS was 5.3 months (95% CI: 4.4-6.9; 271 events). At the data cut-off, 165 patients (45%) received no post-progression anticancer therapy; 64 patients (17.6%) continued ICI beyond PD. IHG (HR 1.64 [95% CI: 1.21-2.22]; p = .0013) and nVI (HR 2.15 [95% CI: 1.38-3.35]; p = .0007) were associated with shorter PPS. Multivariate models adjusted for progression patterns, treatment line and albumin-bilirubin grade and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status at PD confirmed receipt of ICI beyond PD with (HR 0.17, 95% CI: 0.09-0.32; p < .0001) or without subsequent TKI (HR 0.39, 95% CI: 0.26-0.58; p < .0001) as predictors of prolonged PPS versus no anticancer therapy. CONCLUSIONS ICI-TKI sequencing is a consolidated option in advanced HCC. nVI and IHG predict a poorer prognosis. Despite lack of recommendation, the continuation of ICI beyond progression in HCC is adopted clinically: future efforts should appraise which patients benefit from this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Talbot
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College LondonHammersmith HospitalLondonUK
| | - Antonio D'Alessio
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College LondonHammersmith HospitalLondonUK
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityMilanItaly
| | - Matthias Pinter
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine IIIMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Lorenz Balcar
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine IIIMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Bernhard Scheiner
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine IIIMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Thomas U. Marron
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tisch Cancer InstituteMount Sinai HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | | | - Sirish Dharmapuri
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tisch Cancer InstituteMount Sinai HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Celina Ang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tisch Cancer InstituteMount Sinai HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Anwaar Saeed
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of MedicineKansas University Cancer CenterWestwoodKansasUSA
| | - Hannah Hildebrand
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of MedicineKansas University Cancer CenterWestwoodKansasUSA
| | - Mahvish Muzaffar
- Division of Hematology/OncologyEast Carolina UniversityGreenvilleNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Claudia A. M. Fulgenzi
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College LondonHammersmith HospitalLondonUK
- Department of Medical OncologyUniversity Campus Bio‐MedicoRomeItaly
| | - Suneetha Amara
- Division of Hematology/OncologyEast Carolina UniversityGreenvilleNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Abdul Rafeh Naqash
- Division of Hematology/OncologyEast Carolina UniversityGreenvilleNorth CarolinaUSA
- Division of Cancer Treatment and DiagnosisNational Cancer InstituteBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Anuhya Gampa
- Section of GastroenterologyHepatology & Nutrition, the University of Chicago MedicineChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Anjana Pillai
- Section of GastroenterologyHepatology & Nutrition, the University of Chicago MedicineChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Yinghong Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & NutritionThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Uqba Khan
- Division of Hematology and OncologyWeill Cornell Medicine/New York Presbyterian HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Pei‐Chang Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of MedicineTaipei Veterans General HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Yi‐Hsiang Huang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of MedicineTaipei Veterans General HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
- Institute of Clinical MedicineNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung University School of MedicineTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Bertram Bengsch
- Department of Medicine II, Faculty of MedicineMedical Center University of Freiburg, University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Dominik Bettinger
- Department of Medicine II, Faculty of MedicineMedical Center University of Freiburg, University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Yehia I. Mohamed
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical OncologyThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Ahmed Kaseb
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical OncologyThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Tiziana Pressiani
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer CenterIRCCS Humanitas Research HospitalMilanItaly
| | - Nicola Personeni
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityMilanItaly
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer CenterIRCCS Humanitas Research HospitalMilanItaly
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityMilanItaly
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer CenterIRCCS Humanitas Research HospitalMilanItaly
| | - Naoshi Nishida
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyKindai University Faculty of MedicineOsaka‐SayamaJapan
| | - Masatoshi Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyKindai University Faculty of MedicineOsaka‐SayamaJapan
| | - Arndt Weinmann
- 1st Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and HepatologyUniversity Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg‐University MainzMainzGermany
| | - Peter R. Galle
- 1st Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and HepatologyUniversity Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg‐University MainzMainzGermany
| | - Ambreen Muhammed
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College LondonHammersmith HospitalLondonUK
| | - Alessio Cortellini
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College LondonHammersmith HospitalLondonUK
| | - Arndt Vogel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and EndocrinologyHannover Medical SchoolHannoverGermany
| | - David J. Pinato
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College LondonHammersmith HospitalLondonUK
- Division of Oncology, Department of Translational MedicineUniversity of Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”NovaraItaly
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21
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Sorafenib versus nivolumab after lenvatinib treatment failure in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 35:191-197. [PMID: 36574310 DOI: 10.1097/meg.0000000000002466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM An optimal sequential anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) agent that can be used after failed lenvatinib treatment has not been established. Here, we compared the outcomes of sorafenib and nivolumab as second-line agents after failed lenvatinib treatment in patients with advanced HCC. METHODS Patients with advanced HCC who had received sorafenib or nivolumab as second-line agents after failed lenvatinib treatment were recruited from two Korean tertiary institutions between November 2018 and June 2020. RESULTS The median age of the 60 participants (52 treated with sorafenib and eight treated with nivolumab) at baseline was 56.8 years. The demographic, laboratory and tumor variables, as well as lenvatinib treatment duration, were similar between the two groups. The median durations of sorafenib and nivolumab treatment were 1.2 and 2.6 months, respectively ( P = 0.164). Twenty-four (40.0%) patients died during the follow-up period (median, 15.8 months). The median overall survival (OS) of the study population was 5.8 months. The median OS of patients treated with sorafenib was significantly longer than the median OS of patients treated with nivolumab (8.7 vs. 3.0 months; P = 0.046). Sorafenib treatment (vs. nivolumab) was independently associated with a lower risk of mortality (hazard ratio = 0.194; 95% confidence interval, 0.053-0.708; P = 0.013). Worse Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, larger maximal tumor size, lymph node metastases and higher total bilirubin levels were independently associated with increased mortality risk (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Lenvatinib-sorafenib sequential treatment resulted in significantly better survival did than lenvatinib-nivolumab sequential treatment in patients with advanced HCC. Larger studies are needed to validate our results.
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Cammarota A, Zanuso V, Manfredi GF, Murphy R, Pinato DJ, Rimassa L. Immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma: how will it reshape treatment sequencing? Ther Adv Med Oncol 2023; 15:17588359221148029. [PMID: 36643654 PMCID: PMC9837292 DOI: 10.1177/17588359221148029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The treatment landscape of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has broadened with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) setting a novel standard of care. With the increased number of therapies either in first or in further line, disentangling the possible treatment sequences has become much more complex. Yet, all the second-line therapies have been evaluated after sorafenib. After ICIs, offering multikinase inhibitors is a widespread approach, either shifting forward sorafenib or lenvatinib, or choosing among regorafenib or cabozantinib, already approved in the refractory setting. Under specific circumstances, ICIs could be maintained beyond disease progression in patients with proven clinical benefit, as supported by some data emerging from phase III clinical trials with immunotherapy in HCC. Rechallenge with ICIs is an additional attractive alternative, although requiring careful and individual evaluation as efficacy and safety of such a strategy have not been yet clarified. Still, a considerable number of patients displays primary resistance to ICIs and might benefit from antiangiogenics either alone or in addition to ICIs instead. Hopefully, the ongoing clinical trials will enlighten regarding the most effective treatment pathways. The identification of predictive correlates of response to immunotherapy will help treatment allocation at each stage, thus representing an urgent matter to address in HCC research. With programmed death ligand 1 expression, tumor mutational burden, and microsatellite status being inadequate biomarkers in HCC, patient characteristics, drug safety profile, and regulatory approval remain key elements to acknowledge in routine practice. Despite the tissue remaining a preferred source, biomarkers discovery could take advantage of liquid biopsy to overcome the matter of tissue availability and track tumor changes. Lastly, tumor genetic phenotypes, tumor microenvironment features, gut microbiome, and markers of immune response and systemic inflammation are all potential emergent predictors of response to ICIs, pending validation in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Cammarota
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (Milan), Italy
- Drug Development Unit, Sarah Cannon Research Institute UK, London, UK
| | - Valentina Zanuso
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (Milan), Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano (Milan), Italy
| | - Giulia Francesca Manfredi
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Ravindhi Murphy
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - David James Pinato
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Division of Oncology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele (Milan), Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano (Milan), Italy
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Uchikawa S, Kawaoka T, Fujino H, Ono A, Nakahara T, Murakami E, Yamauchi M, Miki D, Imamura M, Aikata H. Evaluation of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab combination therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. J Med Ultrason (2001) 2023; 50:57-62. [PMID: 36169740 PMCID: PMC10912139 DOI: 10.1007/s10396-022-01260-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Previous reports suggest that contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is useful for predicting the efficacy of sorafenib and lenvatinib treatment. However, there are no reports on the utility of CEUS for predicting the efficacy of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab combination therapy (Atezo + Bev). This study aimed to identify CEUS parameters for predicting the efficacy of Atezo + Bev. METHODS A total of 30 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with Atezo + Bev who underwent CEUS before and 5 weeks after treatment initiation were included. RESULTS Post area under the curve (post AUC) was identified as a predictive factor for early progressive disease (PD). The optimal cut-off value of post AUC for predicting progression-free survival (PFS) was 61.3. CONCLUSION The results of this study suggest that CEUS at 5 weeks after initiation of Atezo + Bev may predict PFS in HCC patients. Changes to the treatment plan may need to be considered in patients with post AUC > 61.3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinsuke Uchikawa
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Division of Frontier Medical Science Programs for Biomedical Research Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Tomokazu Kawaoka
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Division of Frontier Medical Science Programs for Biomedical Research Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.
| | - Hatsue Fujino
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Division of Frontier Medical Science Programs for Biomedical Research Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Atsushi Ono
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Division of Frontier Medical Science Programs for Biomedical Research Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Takashi Nakahara
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Division of Frontier Medical Science Programs for Biomedical Research Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Eisuke Murakami
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Division of Frontier Medical Science Programs for Biomedical Research Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Masami Yamauchi
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Division of Frontier Medical Science Programs for Biomedical Research Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Daiki Miki
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Division of Frontier Medical Science Programs for Biomedical Research Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Michio Imamura
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Division of Frontier Medical Science Programs for Biomedical Research Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Aikata
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Division of Frontier Medical Science Programs for Biomedical Research Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
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24
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Lei J, Chen B, Song M, Zhang L, Zhang X, Gao X, Li Y, Lu Y, Zuo S. TKI or TKI combined with PD-1 inhibitors as second-line treatment for HCC patients after sorafenib failure. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1026337. [PMID: 36569315 PMCID: PMC9782409 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1026337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in combination with programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors become the potential treatment modality for patients undergoing unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) in the first-line setting. However, the efficacy and safety of this combination regimen in patients after sorafenib failure remains unclear. Methods: Participants in this study included patients with uHCC after sorafenib failure who received TKI monotherapy (TKI group) or TKI combined with PD-1 inhibitors therapy (combination group) in our center from July 2018 to July 2021. The overall survival (OS) was used to be the primary efficacy endpoint, while progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR) were applied to be secondary endpoints. In addition, the adverse events are recorded and evaluated. Results: Among the 92 patients contained in this work, 50 patients were categorized into the TKI group, while 42 patients were in the combination group. There existed no evident differences between the two groups concerning the ORR (8.0% vs. 9.5%, p = 1.000). However, the DCR in the combined group was better in relative to that in the TKI group (71.4% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.037). In comparison with the TKI group, it was found that the combination group presented notably better median PFS (8.1 months vs. 4.7 months, p = 0.005) and median OS (21.9 months vs. 16.6 months, p = 0.042). According to multivariate analysis, PFS (HR 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-0.8, p = 0.005) and OS (HR 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-1.0, p = 0.051) were improved in the combination group in relative to the TKI group after the adjustment for some risk factors. Additionally, the incidence rates of grade ≥1 adverse event in the TKI group and the combination group were 96.0% and 97.6%, respectively. The most normal adverse event in the TKI group was neutropenia (n = 24,48.0%) and the combination group was hypoalbuminemia (n = 23,54.8%). All of these adverse events improved after symptomatic treatment, and no new toxic events were found to occur. Conclusion: TKI combined with PD-1 inhibitors showed better prognosis with manageable toxicity in uHCC patients after sorafenib failure compared with TKI monotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Lei
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Bowen Chen
- Peking University 302 Clinical Medical School, Beijing, China
| | - Meiru Song
- The Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, The Fifth School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Linzhi Zhang
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Center, The Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospita, Beijing, China
| | - Xinfeng Zhang
- The Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, The Fifth School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yinyin Li
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Center, The Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospita, Beijing, China
| | - Yinying Lu
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Center, The Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospita, Beijing, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shi Zuo
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
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25
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Shannon AH, Ruff SM, Pawlik TM. Expert Insights on Current Treatments for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Clinical and Molecular Approaches and Bottlenecks to Progress. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2022; 9:1247-1261. [PMID: 36514693 PMCID: PMC9741819 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s383922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver tumor that typically occurs in the setting of chronic liver disease/cirrhosis. Treatment modalities for HCC have evolved and given the variety of treatment options, a multi-disciplinary approach requiring input from surgical, medical, and radiation oncology, hepatology, and interventional radiology is necessary. Multiple advances have been made over the last decade regarding treatment of HCC, especially advanced disease. Resection and transplantation remain as cornerstone curative-intent treatment options. For patients who are not candidates for curative-intent therapy, exciting progress has been made in molecular and cellular approaches to systemic therapy for HCC including immunotherapies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Although the prognosis for advanced HCC remains poor, the armamentarium of therapies has increased, and valuable years of life can be gained with these therapies. While the main therapeutic modality for early-stage disease remains resection, multimodal immunotherapy has emerged as first-line treatment for advanced disease. We herein review different clinical and molecular treatment modalities related to the treatment of HCC, as well as provide insights into future directions for HCC treatment. We highlight how research and progress are needed to move into a new era of molecular and cellular treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander H Shannon
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Samantha M Ruff
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Timothy M Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA,Correspondence: Timothy M Pawlik, Department of Surgery, The Urban Meyer III and Shelley Meyer Chair for Cancer Research, Professor of Surgery, Oncology, Health Services Management and Policy, The Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Suite 670, Columbus, OH, USA, Tel +1 614 293 8701, Fax +1 614 293 4063, Email
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Qin HN, Ning Z, Sun R, Jin CX, Guo X, Wang AM, Liu JW. Lenvatinib as second-line treatment in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: A retrospective analysis. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1003426. [PMID: 36483048 PMCID: PMC9723230 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1003426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib as second-line therapy in Chinese patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of Chinese patients with unresectable HCC who received second-line treatment of lenvatinib at three institutions from November 2018 to February 2022. Demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics, data on the treatment regimens were obtained from medical records. Tumor response was evaluated every 4-6 weeks by modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST). RESULTS In total, 50 patients with unresectable HCC who received second-line treatment of lenvatinib were enrolled in this study. The objective response rate (ORR) was 18.0% and the disease control rate (DCR) was 74.0%, respectively. The duration of response (DoR) was 6.0 months. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 5.0 and 8.5 months, respectively. Patients who received ICIs combined with anti-angiogenic inhibitors as first-line therapy, achieving CR/PR at first-line therapy, with PFS≥6months at first-line therapy had a higher DCR. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that AFP (ng/ml)<400, absence of extrahepatic metastasis, Child-Pugh A, tumor number<3, ICIs combined with anti-angiogenic inhibitors as first-line therapy, CR/PR to first-line therapy, and PFS≥6months at first-line therapy were independent factors of favorable PFS. Univariate analysis showed that absence of extrahepatic metastasis, tumor number<3, ICIs combined with anti-angiogenic inhibitors as first-line therapy, and PFS≥6months at first-line therapy were significantly associated with longer OS. Multivariate analysis showed that absence of extrahepatic metastasis, Child-Pugh A, tumor number<3, CR/PR to first-line therapy and PFS≥6months at first-line therapy were independent prognostic factors of OS. The majority of AEs were grade 1-2, and were reversible. Grade 3/4 AEs occurred in 12 patients (24.0%) and were mostly connected with hand-foot skin reactions (10.0%), and 10 patients had lenvatinib dose reductions. Two toxicity-related treatment interruptions were attributed to grade 3 hand-foot skin reaction, and grade 4 proteinuria, respectively. CONCLUSION This study confirms the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib as second-line therapy after progression on sorafenib or ICIs combined with anti-angiogenic inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- He-nan Qin
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Zhen Ning
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Rui Sun
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Chen-xing Jin
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xin Guo
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - A-man Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Ji-wei Liu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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Damaskos C, Garmpis N, Dimitroulis D, Garmpi A, Psilopatis I, Sarantis P, Koustas E, Kanavidis P, Prevezanos D, Kouraklis G, Karamouzis MV, Marinos G, Kontzoglou K, Antoniou EA. Targeted Therapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment: A New Era Ahead-A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214117. [PMID: 36430594 PMCID: PMC9698799 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the most common malignancies and the third cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with surgery being the best prognostic tool. Among the well-known causative factors of HCC are chronic liver virus infections, chronic virus hepatitis B (HBV) and chronic hepatitis virus C (HCV), aflatoxins, tobacco consumption, and non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD). There is a need for the development of efficient molecular markers and alternative therapeutic targets of great significance. In this review, we describe the general characteristics of HCC and present a variety of targeted therapies that resulted in progress in HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos Damaskos
- Renal Transplantation Unit, Laiko General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Nikolaos Christeas Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-694-846-7790
| | - Nikolaos Garmpis
- Nikolaos Christeas Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Dimitroulis
- Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Anna Garmpi
- First Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Iason Psilopatis
- Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt—Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Panagiotis Sarantis
- Molecular Oncology Unit, Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelos Koustas
- Molecular Oncology Unit, Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Prodromos Kanavidis
- Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Gregory Kouraklis
- Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Michail V. Karamouzis
- Molecular Oncology Unit, Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Marinos
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Kontzoglou
- Nikolaos Christeas Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Efstathios A. Antoniou
- Nikolaos Christeas Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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Li L, Liu HT, Teng YX, Deng ZJ, Zhang GL, Su JY, Ma L, Zhong JH. Second-line treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma: current state and challenges for the future. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2022; 31:1151-1167. [PMID: 36437752 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2022.2151891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Since the approval of sorafenib for systemic treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), many tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown efficacy and tolerability as first-line treatments. On the other hand, these first-line therapies are associated with low objective response and drug resistance. Many drugs have been successfully tested for second-line treatment of advanced HCC. While the rapid proliferation of second-line treatments for advanced HCC brings hope to patients, it also complicates clinical decision-making. AREAS COVERED This review aims to facilitate decisions by summarizing the latest guidelines for second-line treatment of HCC in various countries or regions. We then review existing second-line treatment options and discuss challenges that should be addressed in the future. A literature search was conducted in April 2022 of PubMed/Medline, Cochrane library, and abstracts of international cancer meetings. EXPERT OPINION There is no standard second-line treatment, especially for the case of sequential treatment after atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (atezo+bev) and further studies focused on sequential treatment are warranted in this setting. The design of clinical trials, different etiologies, and complications or quality of life (QoL) are interesting issues in the second-line setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Li
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Hao-Tian Liu
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Yu-Xian Teng
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Zhu-Jian Deng
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Guan-Lan Zhang
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Jia-Yong Su
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Liang Ma
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Jian-Hong Zhong
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China.,Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Nanning, China
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29
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Knavel Koepsel EM, Smolock AR, Pinchot JW, Kim CY, Ahmed O, Chamarthy MRK, Hecht EM, Hwang GL, Kaplan DE, Luh JY, Marrero JA, Monroe EJ, Poultsides GA, Scheidt MJ, Hohenwalter EJ. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Management of Liver Cancer: 2022 Update. J Am Coll Radiol 2022; 19:S390-S408. [PMID: 36436965 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2022.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The treatment and management of hepatic malignancies can be complex because it encompasses a variety of primary and metastatic malignancies and an assortment of local and systemic treatment options. When to use each of these treatments is critical to ensure the most appropriate care for patients. Interventional radiologists have a key role to play in the delivery of a variety of liver directed treatments including percutaneous ablation, transarterial embolization with bland embolic particles alone, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with injection of a chemotherapeutic emulsion, and transarterial radioembolization (TARE). Based on 9 clinical variants, the appropriateness of each treatment is described in this document. The ACR Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision process support the systematic analysis of the medical literature from peer reviewed journals. Established methodology principles such as Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE are adapted to evaluate the evidence. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User Manual provides the methodology to determine the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances in which peer reviewed literature is lacking or equivocal, experts may be the primary evidentiary source available to formulate a recommendation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amanda R Smolock
- Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | | | - Charles Y Kim
- Panel Vice-Chair, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Osmanuddin Ahmed
- Vice-Chair of Wellness, Director of Venous Interventions, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Murthy R K Chamarthy
- Vascular Institute of North Texas, Dallas, Texas; Commission on Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
| | - Elizabeth M Hecht
- Vice-Chair of Academic Affairs, Professor of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York; RADS Committee; Member of Appropriateness Subcommittees on Hepatobiliary Topics; Member of LI-RADS
| | - Gloria L Hwang
- Associate Chair of Clinical Performance Improvement, Stanford Radiology, Stanford Medical Center, Stanford, California
| | - David E Kaplan
- Section Chief of Hepatology at the University of Pennsylvania Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
| | - Join Y Luh
- Providence Health Radiation Oncology Focus Group Chair, Providence St. Joseph Health, Eureka, California; Commission on Radiation Oncology; ACR CARROS President; ACR Council Steering Committee; California Radiological Society Councilor to ACR
| | - Jorge A Marrero
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; American Gastroenterological Association
| | | | - George A Poultsides
- Chief of Surgical Oncology and Professor of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California; Society of Surgical Oncology
| | - Matthew J Scheidt
- Program Director of Independent IR Residency, Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Eric J Hohenwalter
- Specialty Chair; Chief, MCW VIR, Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Personeni N, Pressiani T, Zanuso V, Casadei-Gardini A, D’Alessio A, Valgiusti M, Dadduzio V, Bergamo F, Soldà C, Rizzato MD, Giordano L, Santoro A, Rimassa L. Determinants of Treatment Benefit and Post-Treatment Survival for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Enrolled in Second-Line Trials after the Failure of Sorafenib Treatment. J Pers Med 2022; 12:1726. [PMID: 36294865 PMCID: PMC9604940 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12101726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Second-line treatments are standard care for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with preserved liver function who are intolerant of or progress on first-line therapy. However, determinants of treatment benefit and post-treatment survival (PTS) remain unknown. HCC patients previously treated with sorafenib and enrolled in second-line clinical trials were pooled according to the investigational treatment received and the subsequent regulatory approval: approved targeted agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors (AT) or other agents (OT) not subsequently approved. Univariate and multivariate analyses using Cox proportional hazards models established relationships among treatments received, clinical variables, and overall survival (OS) or PTS. For 174 patients (80 AT; 94 OT) analyzed, baseline factors for longer OS in multivariate analysis were second-line AT, absence of both portal vein thrombosis and extrahepatic spread (EHS). Treatment with AT (versus OT) was associated with significantly longer OS among patients with EHS (pinteraction = 0.005) and patients with low neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR; pinteraction = 0.032). Median PTS was 4.0 months (95% CI 2.8−5.3). At second-line treatment discontinuation, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels <400 ng/dl, albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade 1, and enrolment onto subsequent trials independently predicted longer PTS. Treatment with AT, PVT, and EHS were prognostic factors for OS, while AFP, ALBI grade and enrolment onto a third-line trial were prognostic for PTS. Presence of EHS and low NLR were predictors of greater OS benefit from AT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Personeni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Milan, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Milan, Italy
| | - Tiziana Pressiani
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Zanuso
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Milan, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Casadei-Gardini
- Department of Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio D’Alessio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Milan, Italy
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Martina Valgiusti
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “DinoAmadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Dadduzio
- Oncology 1 Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV, IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Francesca Bergamo
- Oncology 1 Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV, IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Caterina Soldà
- Oncology 1 Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV, IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Mario Domenico Rizzato
- Oncology 1 Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV, IRCCS, 35128 Padua, Italy
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
| | - Laura Giordano
- Biostatistic Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Milan, Italy
| | - Armando Santoro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Milan, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Milan, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Milan, Italy
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D’Alessio A, Fulgenzi CAM, Nishida N, Schönlein M, von Felden J, Schulze K, Wege H, Gaillard VE, Saeed A, Wietharn B, Hildebrand H, Wu L, Ang C, Marron TU, Weinmann A, Galle PR, Bettinger D, Bengsch B, Vogel A, Balcar L, Scheiner B, Lee P, Huang Y, Amara S, Muzaffar M, Naqash AR, Cammarota A, Personeni N, Pressiani T, Sharma R, Pinter M, Cortellini A, Kudo M, Rimassa L, Pinato DJ. Preliminary evidence of safety and tolerability of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and Child-Pugh A and B cirrhosis: A real-world study. Hepatology 2022; 76:1000-1012. [PMID: 35313048 PMCID: PMC9790703 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (AtezoBev) is the standard of care for first-line treatment of unresectable HCC. No evidence exists as to its use in routine clinical practice in patients with impaired liver function. APPROACH AND RESULTS In 216 patients with HCC who were consecutively treated with AtezoBev across 11 tertiary centers, we retrospectively evaluated treatment-related adverse events (trAEs) graded (G) according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0, including in the analysis all patients treated according to label (n = 202, 94%). We also assessed overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall response (ORR), and disease control rates (DCR) defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.1. Disease was mostly secondary to viral hepatitis, namely hepatitis C (n = 72; 36%) and hepatitis B infection (n = 35, 17%). Liver function was graded as Child-Pugh (CP)-A in 154 patients (76%) and CP-B in 48 (24%). Any grade trAEs were reported by 143 patients (71%), of which 53 (26%) were G3 and 3 (2%) G4. Compared with CP-A, patients with CP-B showed comparable rates of trAEs. Presence and grade of varices at pretreatment esophagogastroduodenoscopy did not correlate with bleeding events. After a median follow-up of 9.0 months (95% CI, 7.8-10.1), median OS was 14.9 months (95% CI, 13.6-16.3), whereas median PFS was 6.8 months (95% CI, 5.2-8.5). ORR and DCR were respectively 25% and 73%, with no difference across CP classes. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms reproducible safety and efficacy of AtezoBev in routine practice. Patients with CP-B reported similar tolerability compared with CP-A, warranting prospective evaluation of AtezoBev in this treatment-deprived population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio D’Alessio
- Department of Surgery & CancerImperial College LondonHammersmith HospitalLondonUK,Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve Emanuele, MilanItaly
| | - Claudia Angela Maria Fulgenzi
- Department of Surgery & CancerImperial College LondonHammersmith HospitalLondonUK,Division of Medical OncologyPoliclinico Universitario Campus Bio‐MedicoRomeItaly
| | - Naoshi Nishida
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyKindai University Faculty of MedicineOsakaJapan
| | - Martin Schönlein
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Section of PneumologyUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Johann von Felden
- Department of MedicineUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Kornelius Schulze
- Department of MedicineUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Henning Wege
- Department of MedicineUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | | | - Anwaar Saeed
- Division of Medical OncologyDepartment of MedicineKansas University Cancer CenterKansas CityKansasUSA
| | - Brooke Wietharn
- Division of Medical OncologyDepartment of MedicineKansas University Cancer CenterKansas CityKansasUSA
| | - Hannah Hildebrand
- Division of Medical OncologyDepartment of MedicineKansas University Cancer CenterKansas CityKansasUSA
| | - Linda Wu
- Division of Hematology/OncologyDepartment of MedicineTisch Cancer InstituteMount Sinai HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Celina Ang
- Division of Hematology/OncologyDepartment of MedicineTisch Cancer InstituteMount Sinai HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Thomas U. Marron
- Division of Hematology/OncologyDepartment of MedicineTisch Cancer InstituteMount Sinai HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | | | | | - Dominik Bettinger
- Department of Medicine II (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Infectious Diseases)Faculty of MedicineFreiburg University Medical CenterUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Bertram Bengsch
- Department of Medicine II (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Infectious Diseases)Faculty of MedicineFreiburg University Medical CenterUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany,University of FreiburgSignalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSSFreiburgGermany,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner siteFreiburgGermany
| | | | - Lorenz Balcar
- Division of Gastroenterology & HepatologyDepartment of Internal Medicine IIIMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Bernhard Scheiner
- Division of Gastroenterology & HepatologyDepartment of Internal Medicine IIIMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Pei‐Chang Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyDepartment of MedicineTaipei Veterans General HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Yi‐Hsiang Huang
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyDepartment of MedicineTaipei Veterans General HospitalTaipeiTaiwan,Institute of Clinical MedicineSchool of MedicineNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Suneetha Amara
- Division of Hematology/OncologyEast Carolina UniversityGreenvilleNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Mahvish Muzaffar
- Division of Hematology/OncologyEast Carolina UniversityGreenvilleNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Abdul Rafeh Naqash
- Division of Hematology/OncologyEast Carolina UniversityGreenvilleNorth CarolinaUSA,Medical Oncology/TSET Phase 1 ProgramStephenson Cancer CenterUniversity of OklahomaNormanOklahomaUSA
| | - Antonella Cammarota
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve Emanuele, MilanItaly,Medical Oncology and Hematology UnitHumanitas Cancer CenterIRCCS Humanitas Research HospitalRozzanoMilanItaly
| | - Nicola Personeni
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve Emanuele, MilanItaly,Medical Oncology and Hematology UnitHumanitas Cancer CenterIRCCS Humanitas Research HospitalRozzanoMilanItaly
| | - Tiziana Pressiani
- Medical Oncology and Hematology UnitHumanitas Cancer CenterIRCCS Humanitas Research HospitalRozzanoMilanItaly
| | - Rohini Sharma
- Department of Surgery & CancerImperial College LondonHammersmith HospitalLondonUK
| | - Matthias Pinter
- Division of Gastroenterology & HepatologyDepartment of Internal Medicine IIIMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Alessio Cortellini
- Department of Surgery & CancerImperial College LondonHammersmith HospitalLondonUK
| | - Masatoshi Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyKindai University Faculty of MedicineOsakaJapan
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve Emanuele, MilanItaly,Medical Oncology and Hematology UnitHumanitas Cancer CenterIRCCS Humanitas Research HospitalRozzanoMilanItaly
| | - David J. Pinato
- Department of Surgery & CancerImperial College LondonHammersmith HospitalLondonUK,Division of OncologyDepartment of Translational MedicineUniversity of Piemonte OrientaleNovaraItaly
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Cammarota A, Zanuso V, Pressiani T, Personeni N, Rimassa L. Assessment and Monitoring of Response to Systemic Treatment in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Insights. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2022; 9:1011-1027. [PMID: 36128575 PMCID: PMC9482774 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s268293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) management has become more complex as novel therapies have been proven effective. After sorafenib, the approval of other multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) and immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICIs) has considerably increased the number of systemic therapies available. Therefore, careful assessment and monitoring of response to systemic treatment are essential to identify surrogate endpoints of overall survival (OS) in clinical trials and reliable tools to gauge treatment benefit in clinical practice. Progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) are early informative parameters of efficacy that are not influenced by further lines of therapy. However, none of them has shown sufficient surrogacy to be recommended in place of OS in phase 3 trials. With such a wealth of therapeutic options, the prime intent of tumor assessments is no longer limited to identifying progressive disease to spare ineffective treatments to non-responders. Indeed, the early detection of responders could also help tailor treatment sequencing. Tumor assessment relies on the Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumors (RECIST), which are easy to interpret - being based on dimensional principles - but could misread the activity of targeted agents. The HCC-specific modified RECIST (mRECIST), considering both the MKI-induced biological modifications and some of the cirrhosis-induced liver changes, better capture tumor response. Yet, mRECIST could not be considered a standard in advanced HCC. Further prognosticators including progression patterns, baseline and on-treatment liver function deterioration, and baseline alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and AFP response have been extensively evaluated for MKIs. However, limited information is available for patients receiving ICIs and regarding their predictive role. Finally, there is increasing interest in incorporating novel imaging techniques which go beyond sizes and novel serum biomarkers in the advanced HCC framework. Hopefully, multiparametric models grouping dimensional and functional radiological parameters with biochemical markers will most precisely reflect treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Cammarota
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Valentina Zanuso
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Tiziana Pressiani
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Nicola Personeni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Rozzano, Italy
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Adhoute X, De Matharel M, Mineur L, Pénaranda G, Ouizeman D, Toullec C, Tran A, Castellani P, Rollet A, Oules V, Perrier H, Si Ahmed SN, Bourliere M, Anty R. Second-line therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with regorafenib or cabozantinib: Multicenter French clinical experience in real-life after matching. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2022; 14:1510-1527. [PMID: 36160737 PMCID: PMC9412937 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v14.i8.1510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Starting a second-line systemic treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common situation. The only therapeutic options in France are two broad-spectrum tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), regorafenib (REG) and cabozantinib (CBZ), but no comparative real-life studies are available.
AIM To evaluate the progression-free survival (PFS) of patients treated with REG or CBZ, we investigated the disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and safety of both drugs. To identify the variables associated with disease progression over time.
METHODS A retrospective multicenter study was performed on the clinical data of patients attending one of three referral centers (Avignon, Marseille, and Nice) between January 2017 and March 2021 using propensity score matching. PFS and OS were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate analysis (MA) of progression risk factors over time was performed in matched-pair groups.
RESULTS Fifty-eight patients 68 (62-74) years old with HCC, Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) B/C (86%), Child-Pugh (CP)-A/B (24%) received REG for 3.4 (1.4-10.5) mo as second-line therapy. Twenty-eight patients 68 (60-73) years, BCLC B/C (75%), CP-A/B (25%) received CBZ for 3.7 (1.8-4.9) mo after first-line treatment with sorafenib [3 (2-4) (CBZ) vs 4 (2.9-11.8) mo (REG), P = 0.0226]. Twenty percent of patients received third-line therapy. After matching, PFS and DCR were not significantly different after a median follow-up of 6.2 (2.7-11.7) mo (REG) vs 5.2 (4-7.2) mo (CBZ), P = 0.6925. There was no difference in grade 3/4 toxicities, dose reductions, or interruptions. The OS of CP-A patients was 8.3 (5.2-24.8) vs 4.9 (1.6-11.7) mo (CP-B), P = 0.0468. The MA of risk factors for progression over time identified C-reactive protein (CRP) > 10 mg/L, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) > 3, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) > 45 IU as predictive factors.
CONCLUSION This multicenter indirect comparative study found no significant difference in PFS between REG and CBZ as second-line therapy for advanced HCC. Elevated levels of inflammatory markers (CRP and NLR) and AST were associated with non-control of TKIs over time. A 2-mo online progression risk calculation is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Adhoute
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hôpital Saint-Joseph, Marseille 13000, France
| | - Marie De Matharel
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hôpital Universitaire de l’Archet, Nice 06000, France
| | - Laurent Mineur
- Department of Oncology, Institut Sainte-Catherine, Avignon 84000, France
| | | | - Dann Ouizeman
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hôpital Universitaire de l’Archet, Nice 06000, France
| | - Clemence Toullec
- Department of Oncology, Institut Sainte-Catherine, Avignon 84000, France
| | - Albert Tran
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hôpital Universitaire de l’Archet, Nice 06000, France
| | - Paul Castellani
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hôpital Saint-Joseph, Marseille 13000, France
| | - Armelle Rollet
- Department of Oncology, Institut Sainte-Catherine, Avignon 84000, France
| | - Valérie Oules
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hôpital Saint-Joseph, Marseille 13000, France
| | - Hervé Perrier
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hôpital Saint-Joseph, Marseille 13000, France
| | - Si Nafa Si Ahmed
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hôpital Saint-Joseph, Marseille 13000, France
| | - Marc Bourliere
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hôpital Saint-Joseph, Marseille 13000, France
| | - Rodolphe Anty
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hôpital Universitaire de l’Archet, Nice 06000, France
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Maroto P, Porta C, Capdevila J, Apolo AB, Viteri S, Rodriguez-Antona C, Martin L, Castellano D. Cabozantinib for the treatment of solid tumors: a systematic review. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2022; 14:17588359221107112. [PMID: 35847482 PMCID: PMC9284205 DOI: 10.1177/17588359221107112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Cabozantinib is approved, in various settings, for the treatment of renal
cell carcinoma, medullary thyroid cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma, and
it has been investigated for the treatment of other cancers. With the
available evidence and the real-world performance of cabozantinib compared
with clinical trial data, we performed a systematic review of cabozantinib
monotherapy as treatment for solid tumors in adults. Methods: This study was designed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and registered with PROSPERO
(CRD42020144680). We searched for clinical and observational studies of
cabozantinib monotherapy for solid tumors using Embase, MEDLINE, and
Cochrane databases (October 2020), and screened relevant congress abstracts.
Eligible studies reported clinical or safety outcomes, or biomarker data.
Small studies (n < 25) and studies of cabozantinib
combination therapies were excluded. Quality was assessed using National
Institute for Health and Care Excellence methodology, and study
characteristics were described qualitatively. Results: Of 2888 citations, 114 were included (52 randomized studies, 29 observational
studies, 32 nonrandomized phase I or II studies or pilot trials, and 1
analysis of data from a randomized study and a nonrandomized study). Beyond
approved indications, other tumors studied were castration-resistant
prostate cancer, urothelial carcinoma, Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, uveal
melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma, glioblastoma,
pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas, cholangiocarcinoma, gastrointestinal
stromal tumor, colorectal cancer, salivary gland cancer, carcinoid and
pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, and breast, endometrial and ovarian
cancers. The most common adverse events were hypertension, diarrhea, and
fatigue. Conclusion: The identified evidence demonstrates the positive efficacy/effectiveness of
cabozantinib monotherapy in various solid tumor types, with safety findings
being consistent with those observed with other VEGFR-targeting tyrosine
kinase inhibitors. When available, real-world findings were consistent with
the data reported from clinical trials. A limitation of this review is the
high proportion of abstracts; however, this allowed us to capture the most
up-to-date findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Maroto
- Medical Oncology Services, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Mas Casanovas, Barcelona, 08025, Spain
| | - Camillo Porta
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro," Bari, Italy
| | - Jaume Capdevila
- Department of Medical Oncology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea B Apolo
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Santiago Viteri
- UOMI Cancer Center, Clínica Mi Tres Torres, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Daniel Castellano
- Medical Oncology Department, University Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
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35
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Sharma R, Pillai A, Marron TU, Fessas P, Saeed A, Jun T, Dharmapuri S, Szafron D, Naqash AR, Gampa A, Wang Y, Khan U, Muzaffar M, Lee CJ, Lee PC, Bulumulle A, Paul S, Bettinger D, Hildebrand H, Yehia M, Pressiani T, Kaseb A, Huang YH, Ang C, Kudo M, Nishida N, Personeni N, Rimassa L, Pinato DJ. Patterns and outcomes of subsequent therapy after immune checkpoint inhibitor discontinuation in HCC. Hepatol Commun 2022; 6:1776-1785. [PMID: 35481940 PMCID: PMC9234627 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1927] [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: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The availability of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the management of advanced hepatocellular cancer (HCC) has changed the treatment paradigm. There are emerging questions regarding the efficacy of subsequent anticancer therapies. The primary aim of this retrospective, multicenter study was to examine the types of anticancer treatment received after ICIs and to assess the impact on post-ICI survival. We established an international consortium of 11 tertiary-care referral centers located in the USA (n = 249), Europe (n = 74), and Asia (n = 97), and described patterns of care following ICI therapy. The impact of subsequent therapy on overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and presented with a 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 420 patients were treated with ICIs for advanced HCC after one line of systemic therapy (n = 371, 88.8%): 31 (8.8%) had died, 152 (36.2%) received best supportive care (BSC) following ICIs, and 163 patients (38.8%) received subsequent anticancer therapy. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs, n = 132, 80.9%), in particular sorafenib (n = 49, 30.0%), were the most common post-ICI therapy followed by external beam radiotherapy (n = 28, 17.2%), further immunotherapy (n = 21, 12.9%), locoregional therapy (n = 23, 14.1%), chemotherapy (n = 9, 5.5%), and surgery (n = 6, 3.6%). Receipt of post-ICI therapy was associated with longer median OS compared with those who had received BSC (12.1 vs. 3.3 months; hazard ratio [HR]: 0.4 (95% CI: 2.7-5.0). No difference in OS was noted in those patients who received TKI before ICIs compared with those who received ICIs followed by TKI. Conclusion: Post-ICI therapy is associated with OS in excess of 12 months, suggesting a role for therapeutic sequencing. OS from TKI therapy was similar to that reported in registration studies, suggesting preserved efficacy following ICIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohini Sharma
- Department of Surgery & CancerImperial College LondonHammersmith HospitalLondonUK
| | - Anjana Pillai
- Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and NutritionThe University of Chicago MedicineChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Thomas Urban Marron
- Department of MedicineDivision of Hematology/OncologyTisch Cancer InstituteMount Sinai HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Petros Fessas
- Department of Surgery & CancerImperial College LondonHammersmith HospitalLondonUK
| | - Anwaar Saeed
- Division of Medical OncologyGI Oncology ProgramKansas University Cancer CentreKansas CityKansasUSA
| | - Tomi Jun
- Department of MedicineDivision of Hematology/OncologyTisch Cancer InstituteMount Sinai HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Sirish Dharmapuri
- Department of MedicineDivision of Hematology/OncologyTisch Cancer InstituteMount Sinai HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - David Szafron
- Department of MedicineBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Abdul Rafeh Naqash
- Division of Cancer Treatment and DiagnosisNational Cancer InstituteBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Anuhya Gampa
- Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and NutritionThe University of Chicago MedicineChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Yinghong Wang
- Department of GastroenterologyHepatology & NutritionThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Uqba Khan
- Department of medicineLincoln Medical CenterWeill Cornell/New York Presbyterian HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Mahvish Muzaffar
- Division of Hematology/ OncologyEast Carolina UniversityGreenvilleNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Chieh-Ju Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyDepartment of MedicineTaipei Veterans General HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Pei-Chang Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyDepartment of MedicineTaipei Veterans General HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Anushi Bulumulle
- Division of Hematology/ OncologyEast Carolina UniversityGreenvilleNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Sonal Paul
- New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Dominic Bettinger
- Department of Medicine IIFaculty of MedicineMedical Center University of FreiburgUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany.,Berta-Ottenstein ProgrammeFaculty of MedicineMedical Center University of FreiburgUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Hannah Hildebrand
- Division of Medical OncologyGI Oncology ProgramKansas University Cancer CentreKansas CityKansasUSA
| | - Mohammed Yehia
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical OncologyThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Tiziana Pressiani
- Medical Oncology and Hematology UnitHumanitas Cancer CenterHumanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCSRozzano, MilanItaly
| | - Ahmed Kaseb
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical OncologyThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Yi-Hsiang Huang
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyDepartment of MedicineTaipei Veterans General HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Celina Ang
- Department of MedicineDivision of Hematology/OncologyTisch Cancer InstituteMount Sinai HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Masatoshi Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyKindai University Faculty of MedicineOsaka-sayama, OsakaJapan
| | - Naoshi Nishida
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyKindai University Faculty of MedicineOsaka-sayama, OsakaJapan
| | - Nicola Personeni
- Medical Oncology and Hematology UnitHumanitas Cancer CenterHumanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCSRozzano, MilanItaly.,Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve Emanuele, MilanItaly
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Medical Oncology and Hematology UnitHumanitas Cancer CenterHumanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCSRozzano, MilanItaly.,Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve Emanuele, MilanItaly
| | - David James Pinato
- Department of Surgery & CancerImperial College LondonHammersmith HospitalLondonUK
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36
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Brown ZJ, Hewitt DB, Pawlik TM. Experimental drug treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma: Clinical trial failures 2015 to 2021. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2022; 31:693-706. [PMID: 35580650 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2022.2079491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem worldwide with limited systemic therapy options. Since the approval of sorafenib in 2008, no systemic therapy has provided a sustained/robust/survival benefit for patients with advanced HCC until recently. Many initially promising therapies have been trialed, but survival outcomes remained stagnant. As such, knowledge concerning previous treatment failures may help guide further areas of study, as well inform future therapeutic approaches. AREA COVERED This article reviews recent advances in the treatment of HCC. Despite some recent success, many systemic and locoregional therapies have failed to produce significant improvements in outcome. These treatment failures are examined and insight into pathways for future success are discussed. EXPERT OPINION Combination atezolizumab and bevacizumab has changed the landscape of systemic treatment for patients with HCC when it became the first therapy after demonstrating improve outcomes over sorafenib. Clinical trials in patients with advanced HCC have inherent difficulty with challenges to determine if a patient's declining liver function is secondary to disease progression, worsening cirrhosis, or drug toxicity, which may skew results. As we gain more knowledge of underlying genetic alterations behind the pathophysiology of the development of HCC, molecular markers may be identified to assist in predicting which patients would respond to a specific therapy.
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Ronnebaum S, Aly A, Patel D, Benavente F, Rueda JD. Systematic literature review of trials assessing recommended systemic treatments in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepat Oncol 2022; 9:HEP41. [PMID: 34765109 PMCID: PMC8577513 DOI: 10.2217/hep-2021-0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To identify and evaluate the similarity of all trials assessing recommended treatments for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. MATERIALS & METHODS Single arm and randomized trials from any phase and published any time up to February 2021 were systematically searched. RESULTS From 5677 records reviewed, 50 trials were included in the review, and 24 for assessed for similarity. In the first-line (1L) setting, several trials assessing sorafenib were noted for enrolling patients with more severe disease and/or performance status than other 1L trials; trials within the second-line (2L) setting were generally similar. Median survival was <2 years in all trial arms. CONCLUSIONS Trials assessing recommended treatments are largely similar and appropriate for quantitative comparisons of several efficacy and safety outcomes.
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38
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Cammarota A, Zanuso V, D’Alessio A, Pressiani T, Personeni N, Rimassa L. Cabozantinib plus atezolizumab for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: Shedding light on the preclinical rationale and clinical trials. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2022; 31:401-413. [DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2022.2032641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Cammarota
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan,Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Zanuso
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan,Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio D’Alessio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan,Italy
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospitalc, London, W120HS, United Kingdom
| | - Tiziana Pressiani
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Personeni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan,Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan,Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
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Wang K, Wang C, Jiang H, Zhang Y, Lin W, Mo J, Jin C. Combination of Ablation and Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Where We Are and Where to Go. Front Immunol 2022; 12:792781. [PMID: 34975896 PMCID: PMC8714655 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.792781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and is increasing in incidence. Local ablative therapy plays a leading role in HCC treatment. Radiofrequency (RFA) is one of the first-line therapies for early local ablation. Other local ablation techniques (e.g., microwave ablation, cryoablation, irreversible electroporation, phototherapy.) have been extensively explored in clinical trials or cell/animal studies but have not yet been established as a standard treatment or applied clinically. On the one hand, single treatment may not meet the needs. On the other hand, ablative therapy can stimulate local and systemic immune effects. The combination strategy of immunotherapy and ablation is reasonable. In this review, we briefly summarized the current status and progress of ablation and immunotherapy for HCC. The immune effects of local ablation and the strategies of combination therapy, especially synergistic strategies based on biomedical materials, were discussed. This review is hoped to provide references for future researches on ablative immunotherapy to arrive to a promising new era of HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunpeng Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, China
| | - Cong Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hao Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, China
| | - Yaqiong Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, China
| | - Weidong Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, China
| | - Jinggang Mo
- Department of General Surgery, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, China
| | - Chong Jin
- Department of General Surgery, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, China
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40
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Cabibbo G, Reig M, Celsa C, Torres F, Battaglia S, Enea M, Rizzo GEM, Petta S, Calvaruso V, Di Marco V, Craxì A, Singal AG, Bruix J, Cammà C. First-Line Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Based Sequential Therapies for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Rationale for Future Trials. Liver Cancer 2021; 11:75-84. [PMID: 35222509 PMCID: PMC8820155 DOI: 10.1159/000520278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Atezolizumab (ATEZO) plus bevacizumab (BEVA) represents the new standard of care for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the choice of the second-line treatment after the failure of immunotherapy-based first-line remains elusive. Taking into account the weaknesses of the available evidence, we developed a simulation model based on available phase III randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to identify optimal risk/benefit sequential strategies. METHODS A Markov model was built to estimate the overall survival (OS) of sequential first- and second-line systemic treatments. Sequences starting with first-line ATEZO plus BEVA followed by 5 second-line treatments (sorafenib [SORA], lenvatinib [LENVA], regorafenib, cabozantinib, and ramucirumab) were compared. The probability of transition between states (initial treatment, cancer progression, and death) was derived from RCTs. Life-year gained (LYG) was the main outcome. Rates of severe adverse events (SAEs) (≥ grade 3) were calculated. The incremental safety-effectiveness ratio (ISER) was calculated as the difference in probability of SAEs divided by LYG between the 2 most effective sequences. RESULTS ATEZO plus BEVA followed by LENVA (median OS, 24 months) or SORA (median OS, 23 months) was the most effective sequence, producing a LYG of 0.50 and 0.42 year, respectively. ATEZO plus BEVA followed by SORA was the safest sequence (SAEs 63%). At a willingness-to-risk threshold of 10% of SAEs for LYG, ATEZO plus BEVA followed by second-line SORA was favored in 72% of cases, while at a threshold of 30% of SAEs for LYG, ATEZO plus BEVA followed by second-line LENVA was favored in 69% of cases. CONCLUSION Our simulation model provides a strong rationale to support ongoing trials evaluating second-line tyrosine-kinase inhibitors after first-line ATEZO plus BEVA. Future evidence from ongoing RCTs and prospective real-world studies are needed to prove the net health benefit of sequential treatment options for advanced HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Cabibbo
- Section of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, PROMISE, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria Reig
- Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Group, Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Universidad de Barcelona, CIBEREHD, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ciro Celsa
- Section of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, PROMISE, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy,Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences (Di.Chir.On.S.), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Ferran Torres
- Biostatistics and Data Management Core Facility, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salvatore Battaglia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche, Aziendali e Statistiche, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marco Enea
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, PROMISE, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giacomo Emanuele Maria Rizzo
- Section of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, PROMISE, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Salvatore Petta
- Section of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, PROMISE, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenza Calvaruso
- Section of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, PROMISE, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vito Di Marco
- Section of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, PROMISE, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Craxì
- Section of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, PROMISE, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Amit G. Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Jordi Bruix
- Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Group, Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Universidad de Barcelona, CIBEREHD, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,*Jordi Bruix,
| | - Calogero Cammà
- Section of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, PROMISE, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy,**Calogero Cammà,
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Bruix J, Chan SL, Galle PR, Rimassa L, Sangro B. Systemic treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: An EASL position paper. J Hepatol 2021; 75:960-974. [PMID: 34256065 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 221] [Impact Index Per Article: 73.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The last 5 years have witnessed relevant advances in the systemic treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. New data have emerged since the development of the EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of hepatocellular carcinoma in 2018. Drugs licensed in some countries now include 4 oral multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib and cabozantinib), 1 anti-angiogenic antibody (ramucirumab) and 4 immune checkpoint inhibitors, alone or in combination (atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab, ipilimumab in combination with nivolumab, nivolumab and pembrolizumab in monotherapy). Prolonged survival in excess of 2 years can be expected in most patients with sensitive tumours and well-preserved liver function that renders them fit for sequential therapies. With different choices available in any given setting, the robustness of the evidence of efficacy and a correct matching of the safety profile of a given agent with patient characteristics and preferences are key in making sound therapeutic decisions. The recommendations in this document amend the previous EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines and aim to help clinicians provide the best possible care for patients today. In view of several ongoing and promising trials, further advances in systemic therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma are foreseen in the near future and these recommendations will have to be updated regularly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Bruix
- BCLC Group, Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stephen L Chan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | | | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Bruno Sangro
- Liver Unit and HPB Oncology Area, Clinica Universidad de Navarra-IDISNA and CIBEREHD, Pamplona, Spain.
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42
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Pathak S, Sonbol MB. Second-Line Treatment Options for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Landscape and Future Direction. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2021; 8:1147-1158. [PMID: 34584898 PMCID: PMC8464222 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s268314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, and its incidence is rising. The last few years have witnessed a proliferation of available systemic therapeutic options, with the approval of multiple agents, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and drugs targeting vascular endothelial growth factor, such as cabozantinib, regorafenib, and ramucirumab. Most recently, the combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab has resulted in the longest overall survival yet known in hepatocellular carcinoma, therefore changing the preferred first-line treatment from the previous options of sorafenib and lenvatinib. The aim of this review is to summarize the available clinical data for the current second-line systemic treatment options and the future perspectives in the treatment landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surabhi Pathak
- Hematology-Oncology, King’s Daughters Medical Center, Ashland, KY, USA
| | - Mohamad Bassam Sonbol
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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43
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Kim BH, Park JW. Systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: consideration for selecting second-line treatment. JOURNAL OF LIVER CANCER 2021; 21:124-138. [PMID: 37383078 PMCID: PMC10035683 DOI: 10.17998/jlc.2021.09.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Several molecular-targeted agents have been tested as first- or second-line therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but failed to improve clinical outcomes; sorafenib has been the only approved systemic agent for treating HCC for almost 10 years. Regorafenib resulted in a significant improvement in overall survival and thus was approved for HCC patients previously treated with sorafenib. Subsequently, cabozantinib and ramucirumab demonstrated superior overall survival compared with placebos in phase III clinical trials. Immune checkpoint inhibitors such as nivolumab with or without ipilimumab and pembrolizumab are also available in some countries for patients who are unresponsive to sorafenib. Some second-line agents are available for patients who are unresponsive to sorafenib; however, little is known about the considerations for selecting appropriate second-line systemic agents. Hence, this study aimed to review the current and future perspectives of second-line systemic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Hyun Kim
- Center for Liver and Pancreatobiliary Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
| | - Joong-Won Park
- Center for Liver and Pancreatobiliary Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
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Finkelmeier F, Scheiner B, Leyh C, Best J, Fründt TW, Czauderna C, Beutel A, Bettinger D, Weiß J, Meischl T, Kütting F, Waldschmidt DT, Radu P, Schultheiß M, Peiffer KH, Ettrich TJ, Weinmann A, Wege H, Venerito M, Dufour JF, Lange CM, Pinter M, Waidmann O. Cabozantinib in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Efficacy and Safety Data from an International Multicenter Real-Life Cohort. Liver Cancer 2021; 10:360-369. [PMID: 34414123 PMCID: PMC8339523 DOI: 10.1159/000515490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The multikinase inhibitor cabozantinib has been approved for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) previously treated with sorafenib. We report safety and efficacy data of an international, multicenter, real-life cohort of patients with advanced HCC treated with cabozantinib. METHODS Patients with HCC who were treated with cabozantinib were retrospectively identified across 11 centers in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. Patients' characteristics, adverse events, duration of treatment and overall survival (OS) data were analyzed until April 1, 2020. RESULTS Eighty-eight patients from 11 centers were included. The predominant underlying liver diseases were NAFLD/NASH in 26 (30%) and hepatitis C infection in 21 (24%) patients. Seventy-eight patients (89%) were classified as Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) stage C. Sixty patients (68%) were Child-Pugh A, whereas 22 (25%) were Child-Pugh B, respectively. Cabozantinib was used as systemic second- and third-line or later treatment in 41 (47%) and 46 (52%) patients, respectively. The following best responses under cabozantinib were documented: partial response in 6 (7%), stable disease in 28 (32%), and progressive disease in 28 (32%) patients, respectively. Fifty-two patients (59%) died during follow-up. The median OS from start of cabozantinib treatment was 7.0 months in the entire cohort and 9.7 months in Child-Pugh A patients, while Child-Pugh B patients had a median OS of 3.4 months, respectively. Thirty-seven (42%) patients fulfilled the CELESTIAL inclusion and exclusion criteria, showing a median OS of 11.1 months. Most common adverse events were fatigue (15.6%) and diarrhea (15.6%). CONCLUSION Cabozantinib treatment was effective, safe, and feasible in patients with advanced HCC in patients with compensated cirrhosis. Patients in the real-life setting had more advanced liver disease - in which 25% of patients were Child-Pugh B. However, OS in patients with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis was similar to that reported in the phase 3 trial (CELESTIAL).
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Finkelmeier
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
- University Cancer Center Frankfurt, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Bernhard Scheiner
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Liver Cancer (HCC) Study Group Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Catherine Leyh
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jan Best
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Otto-Von Guericke University Hospital, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Thorben Wilhelm Fründt
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Carolin Czauderna
- Department of Internal Medicine 1, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Clinical Registry Unit (CRU), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Medicine I, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein-Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Alica Beutel
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Dominik Bettinger
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Berta Ottenstein Programme, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Weiß
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Meischl
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Liver Cancer (HCC) Study Group Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Fabian Kütting
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dirk-Thomas Waldschmidt
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Pompilia Radu
- Hepatology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michael Schultheiß
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kai-Henrik Peiffer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Thomas J. Ettrich
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Arndt Weinmann
- Department of Internal Medicine 1, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Clinical Registry Unit (CRU), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Henning Wege
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marino Venerito
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Otto-Von Guericke University Hospital, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jean-Francois Dufour
- Hepatology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christian M. Lange
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Matthias Pinter
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Liver Cancer (HCC) Study Group Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Oliver Waidmann
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
- University Cancer Center Frankfurt, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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D'Alessio A, Cammarota A, Prete MG, Pressiani T, Rimassa L. The evolving treatment paradigm of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: putting all the pieces back together. Curr Opin Oncol 2021; 33:386-394. [PMID: 33867478 DOI: 10.1097/cco.0000000000000744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The therapeutic landscape of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become notably complex in recent years. With this review, we aimed to put the most recent findings in perspective and tried to delineate the rapidly changing treatment algorithm. RECENT FINDINGS The combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab has become the new first-line standard of care treatment for unresectable HCC after the positive results of the phase 3 IMbrave150 study. Nivolumab monotherapy failed to demonstrate advantage versus sorafenib in the CheckMate 459 trial, while two different therapeutic strategies (sintilimab and bevacizumab biosimilar and donafenib) outperformed sorafenib in two phase 2/3 studies conducted in the Chinese population. Several immunotherapy combinations are currently under study in large phase 3 trials after promising results in earlier phase studies. About further lines of treatment, the combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab was approved for sorafenib-pretreated patients after the positive results of the phase 1/2 CheckMate 040 study and apatinib was proven effective in the Chinese population in a phase 2/3 study, while pembrolizumab as monotherapy did not show statistically significant superiority when compared with placebo in the KEYNOTE-240 study. SUMMARY Because of the growing complexity of advanced HCC treatment, the implementation of predictive biomarkers of response is eagerly needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio D'Alessio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonella Cammarota
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Giuseppina Prete
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Tiziana Pressiani
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
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Hepatic Arterial Infusion of Chemotherapy for Advanced Hepatobiliary Cancers: State of the Art. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13123091. [PMID: 34205656 PMCID: PMC8234226 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13123091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Liver functional failure is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. Systemic chemotherapy usually offers a modest benefit in terms of disease control rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival at the cost of a significant percentage of adverse events. Liver malignancies are mostly perfused by the hepatic artery while the normal liver parenchyma by the portal vein network. On these bases, the therapeutic strategy consisting of hepatic arterial infusion of chemotherapy takes place. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on this approach from different points of view, such as techniques, drugs pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, and clinical outcomes for advanced hepatobiliary cancers. Most of the collected studies have several limitations: non-randomized retrospective design, a relatively small number of patients, the hepatic arterial administration of different chemotherapeutic agents, as well as its combination with a great heterogeneity of systemic agents. However, despite these limitations, the presented data show favorable results in terms of safety and efficacy for hepatic arterial infusion of chemotherapy, with respect or in alternative to the gold standard treatment, even when they are combined with systemic treatments. Therefore, this therapeutic strategy may be an alternative or an integrative treatment option for advanced hepatobiliary cancers. Further and larger prospective, randomized, multi-center studies, with well-defined inclusion criteria and treatment strategies, are required to confirm the presented data. Abstract Liver functional failure is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. Primary liver tumors grow up mainly in the liver, and thus happens for liver metastases deriving from other organs having a lower burden of disease at the primary site. Systemic chemotherapy usually offers a modest benefit in terms of disease control rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival at the cost of a significant percentage of adverse events. Liver malignancies are mostly perfused by the hepatic artery while the normal liver parenchyma by the portal vein network. On these bases, the therapeutic strategy consisting of hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of chemotherapy takes place. In literature, HAI chemotherapy was applied for the treatment of advanced hepatobiliary cancers with encouraging results. Different chemotherapeutic agents were used such as Oxaliplatin, Cisplatin, Gemcitabine, Floxuridine, 5-Fluorouracil, Epirubicin, individually or in combination. However, the efficacy of this treatment strategy remains controversial. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the current knowledge on this approach from different points of view, such as techniques, drugs pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, and clinical outcomes for advanced hepatobiliary cancers.
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El-Khoueiry AB, Hanna DL, Llovet J, Kelley RK. Cabozantinib: An evolving therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Treat Rev 2021; 98:102221. [PMID: 34029957 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2021.102221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rising in incidence and remains a leading cause of cancer-related death. After a decade of disappointing trials following the approval of sorafenib for patients with advanced HCC, a number of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and monoclonal antibodies targeting angiogenesis and immune checkpoints have recently been approved. The phase 3 CELESTIAL trial demonstrated improved progression-free and overall survival with the TKI cabozantinib compared to placebo, supporting it as a treatment option for patients with advanced HCC previously treated with sorafenib. Cabozantinib blocks multiple key pathways of HCC pathogenesis, including VEGFR, MET, and the TAM (TYRO3, AXL, MER) family of receptor kinases, and promotes an immune-permissive tumor microenvironment. Here, we review the mechanisms of action of cabozantinib, including effects on tumor growth and its immunomodulatory properties, providing pre-clinical rationale for combination strategies with checkpoint inhibitors. We discuss the design and outcomes of CELESTIAL including improved survival across subgroups defined by age, disease etiology, baseline AFP level, prior therapies (including duration of prior sorafenib), and tumor burden. Cabozantinib had a manageable safety profile with dose modification. Studies combining cabozantinib with atezolizumab (COSMIC-312) and durvalumab (CAMILLA) in the first and second-line settings are ongoing, as well as a neoadjuvant study of cabozantinib with nivolumab. Future investigations are warranted to define the use of cabozantinib in patients with Child-Pugh B liver function and identify markers predictive of clinical benefit. The role of cabozantinib in HCC continues to evolve with an anticipated role in immunotherapy combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diana L Hanna
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Hoag Cancer Center, Newport Beach, CA, USA
| | - Josep Llovet
- Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Translational Research in Hepatic Oncology Group, Liver Unit, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Robin Kate Kelley
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
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D’Alessio A, Prete MG, Cammarota A, Personeni N, Rimassa L. The Role of Cabozantinib as a Therapeutic Option for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Landscape and Future Challenges. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2021; 8:177-191. [PMID: 33824862 PMCID: PMC8018438 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s268310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The systemic treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has significantly changed over the last years, with the introduction of two new standard-of-care first-line treatments (lenvatinib and the combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab) and the success of several new agents in second line. In particular, after the approval of regorafenib, ramucirumab and cabozantinib, the landscape of second-line treatment has become notably complex, providing a serious challenge in clinical practice. In this review, we focus on cabozantinib, a multikinase inhibitor which was proven effective in improving overall and progression-free survival of patients previously treated with sorafenib in the randomized Phase III CELESTIAL trial. CELESTIAL is the only phase III study to have included patients in the third-line setting and cabozantinib efficacy was confirmed in several post hoc analyses, irrespective of alpha-fetoprotein levels, albumin-bilirubin score, age, and duration of previous sorafenib treatment. The safety profile of cabozantinib in the CELESTIAL trial was comparable with other multikinase inhibitors used for HCC and the most frequent grade ≥3 adverse events were diarrhea, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, fatigue, hypertension, and aspartate aminotransferase increase. Tolerability did not differ between younger and older patients and quality of life was significantly improved compared to placebo during the treatment. In this review, we also make a particular mention to the use of cabozantinib in populations which are normally excluded from clinical trials, such as older patients and Child-Pugh B patients. Finally, we present the new treatment strategies in which cabozantinib is being tested, most notably the combination of cabozantinib and atezolizumab in the first-line setting in the phase III COSMIC-312 trial and the use of cabozantinib after progression on immune-checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio D’Alessio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (Milan), 20090, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano (Milan), 20089, Italy
| | - Maria Giuseppina Prete
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (Milan), 20090, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano (Milan), 20089, Italy
| | - Antonella Cammarota
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (Milan), 20090, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano (Milan), 20089, Italy
| | - Nicola Personeni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (Milan), 20090, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano (Milan), 20089, Italy
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (Milan), 20090, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano (Milan), 20089, Italy
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Casadei-Gardini A, Rimassa L, Rimini M, Yoo C, Ryoo BY, Lonardi S, Masi G, Kim HD, Vivaldi C, Ryu MH, Rizzato MD, Salani F, Bang Y, Pellino A, Catanese S, Burgio V, Cascinu S, Cucchetti A. Regorafenib versus cabozantinb as second-line treatment after sorafenib for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: matching-adjusted indirect comparison analysis. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2021; 147:3665-3671. [PMID: 33745079 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-021-03602-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently, three published phase III trials highlighted the superiority of investigational drugs compared to placebo, thus leading to their approval in the second-line setting. We report here a MAIC of second-line MKI options for patients with HCC previously treated with sorafenib using individual real-world data of regorafenib and aggregate data of second-line cabozantinib from the CELESTIAL trial. METHODS Data from 278 patients who received regorafenib as second-line therapy after sorafenib failure for unresectable HCC were used as IPD. Data inclusion were adapted to those reported in the CELESTIAL trial in the subset of patients who received sorafenib as the only prior therapy. Survival medians and rates were obtained from Kaplan-Meier curves, and differences between regorafenib and cabozantinib groups were explored through Cox regression adjusted for weights originating from MAIC. RESULTS The median OS of the weighted regorafenib group was 11.1 months (IQR: 5.6-16.4) and 11.3 (IQR: 6.7-22.4) for cabozantinib; HR 0.83 (95%CI 0.62-1.09). The median PFS of the weighted regorafenib group was 3.0 months (IQR: 1.9-4.8) and 5.5 (IQR: 2.3-9.3) for cabozantinib; HR 0.50 (95%CI 0.41-0.62). In the subgroup who received prior sorafenib for < 3 months, the median OS of the regorafenib group was 6.5 months (IQR: 4.7-10.9) and 9.5 months (IQR: 5.9-18.2) for cabozantinib; HR 0.68 (95%CI 0.39-1.16). In the subgroup receiving prior sorafenib for 3 to < 6 months, the median OS of the regorafenib group was 8.0 months (IQR: 4.2-15.2) and 11.5 (IQR: 6.5-23.9) for cabozantinib; HR 0.66 (95%CI 0.42-1.02). In the subgroup receiving prior sorafenib for ≥ 6 months, the median OS of the regorafenib group was 13.4 (IQR: 8.1-46.5) and 12.3 (IQR: 6.6-22.9) for cabozantinib; HR 0.89 (95%CI 0.52-1.51). CONCLUSION Our results confirmed no differences between regorafenib and cabozantinib in terms of OS. However, in earlier progressors on prior sorafenib a larger benefit might be expected from cabozantinib treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Casadei-Gardini
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
- Unit of Oncology, Università Vita-Salute, IRCCS-San Raffaele Scientific Institute, via Olgettina 70, 20132, Milan, Milano, Italy.
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Margherita Rimini
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Division of Oncology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 4121, Modena, Italy
| | - Changhoon Yoo
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Baek-Yeol Ryoo
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sara Lonardi
- Early Phase Clinical Trial Unit, Department of Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
- Medical Oncology Unit 1, Department of Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Gianluca Masi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Unit of Medical Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Hyung-Don Kim
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Caterina Vivaldi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Unit of Medical Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Min-Hee Ryu
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mario Domenico Rizzato
- Medical Oncology Unit 1, Department of Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesca Salani
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Unit of Medical Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Yeonghak Bang
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Antonio Pellino
- Medical Oncology Unit 1, Department of Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padua, Italy
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Silvia Catanese
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Unit of Medical Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Valentina Burgio
- Unit of Oncology, Università Vita-Salute, IRCCS-San Raffaele Scientific Institute, via Olgettina 70, 20132, Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Stefano Cascinu
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Unit of Oncology, Università Vita-Salute, IRCCS-San Raffaele Scientific Institute, via Olgettina 70, 20132, Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cucchetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- General and Oncologic Surgery, Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital, Ausl Romagna, Forlì, Italy
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Sharma R, Motedayen Aval L. Beyond First-Line Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Immunol 2021; 12:652007. [PMID: 33790915 PMCID: PMC8005707 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.652007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Until recently, the treatment landscape for hepatocellular cancer (HCC) was dominated by tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) which offered an overall survival (OS) benefit when used both in the first-and second-line setting compared to best supportive care. However, the treatment landscape has changed with the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the treatment of HCC with significant improvement in OS and progression free survival reported with combination atezolizumab and bevacizumab compared to sorafenib in the first-line setting. Nonetheless, the response to ICIs is 20–30% and invariably patients will progress. What remains unclear is which therapeutics should be used following ICI exposure. Extrapolating from the evidence base in renal cell carcinoma, subsequent therapy with TKIs offers both a response and survival benefit and are recommended by European guidelines. However, there are a number of novel therapies emerging that target mechanisms of ICI resistance that hold promise both in combination with ICI or as subsequent therapy. This paper will discuss the evidence for ICIs in HCC, the position of second-line therapies following ICIs and research strategies moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohini Sharma
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Leila Motedayen Aval
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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