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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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Kanogawa N, Ogasawara S, Maruta S, Iino Y, Obu M, Ishino T, Ogawa K, Yumita S, Iwanaga T, Unozawa H, Nakagawa M, Fujiwara K, Sakuma T, Fujita N, Kojima R, Kanzaki H, Koroki K, Kobayashi K, Inoue M, Kiyono S, Nakamura M, Kondo T, Saito T, Nakagawa R, Nakamoto S, Muroyama R, Chiba T, Itobayashi E, Koma Y, Azemoto R, Kato J, Kato N. Use of ramucirumab for various treatment lines in real-world practice of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. BMC Gastroenterol 2023; 23:70. [PMID: 36906542 PMCID: PMC10007811 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-023-02674-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Ramucirumab was shown to be effective as a second-line treatment after sorafenib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with alpha-fetoprotein levels > 400 ng/mL in a worldwide phase 3 trial. Ramucirumab is used in patients pretreated with various systemic therapies in clinical practice. We retrospectively examined the treatment outcomes of ramucirumab administered to advanced HCC patients after diverse systemic therapies. METHODS Data were collected from patients with advanced HCC who received ramucirumab at three institutions in Japan. Radiological assessments were determined according to both Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) version 1.1 and modified RECIST and the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0 was used to assess adverse events. RESULTS A total of 37 patients treated with ramucirumab between June 2019 and March 2021 were included in the study. Ramucirumab was administered as second, third, fourth, and fifth-line treatment in 13 (35.1%), 14 (37.8%), eight (21.6%), and two (5.4%) patients, respectively. Most patients (29.7%) who received ramucirumab as a second-line therapy were pretreated with lenvatinib. We found grade 3 or higher adverse events only in seven patients and no significant changes in the albumin-bilirubin score during ramucirumab treatment in the present cohort. The median progression-free survival of patients treated with ramucirumab was 2.7 months (95% confidence interval, 1.6-7.3). CONCLUSION Although ramucirumab is used for various lines of treatment other than second-line immediately after sorafenib, its safety and effectiveness were not significantly different from the findings of the REACH-2 trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoya Kanogawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Sadahisa Ogasawara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan.
| | - Susumu Maruta
- Department of Gastroenterology, Asahi General Hospital, Asahi, Japan
| | - Yotaro Iino
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kimitsu Chuo Hospital, Kisarazu, Japan
| | - Masamichi Obu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kimitsu Chuo Hospital, Kisarazu, Japan
| | - Takamasa Ishino
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Keita Ogawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Sae Yumita
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Terunao Iwanaga
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Hidemi Unozawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Miyuki Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Kisako Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Takafumi Sakuma
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Naoto Fujita
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Ryuta Kojima
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kanzaki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Keisuke Koroki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Kazufumi Kobayashi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Masanori Inoue
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Soichiro Kiyono
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Masato Nakamura
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kondo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Tomoko Saito
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Ryo Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Shingo Nakamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Muroyama
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Tetsuhiro Chiba
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Ei Itobayashi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Asahi General Hospital, Asahi, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Koma
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kimitsu Chuo Hospital, Kisarazu, Japan
| | - Ryosaku Azemoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kimitsu Chuo Hospital, Kisarazu, Japan
| | - Jun Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Naoya Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
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FDA-Approved Monoclonal Antibodies for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: What Do We Know So Far? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032685. [PMID: 36769004 PMCID: PMC9916803 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an advanced primary liver malignancy with a poor prognosis. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has, to date, approved nivolumab, pembrolizumab, ramucirumab, nivolumab/ipilimumab, atezolizumab/bevacizumab, as well as tremelimumab/durvalumab, as first- or second-line monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for unresectable HCC. The present review examines the current state of knowledge, and provides a useful update on the safety and efficacy of these therapeutic agents, thus attempting to define the suitability of each mAb for different patient subgroups.
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Casadei-Gardini A, Rimini M, Kudo M, Shimose S, Tada T, Suda G, Goh MJ, Jefremow A, Scartozzi M, Cabibbo G, Campani C, Tamburini E, Tovoli F, Ueshima K, Aoki T, Iwamoto H, Torimura T, Kumada T, Hiraoka A, Atsukawa M, Itobayashi E, Toyoda H, Sakamoto N, Sho T, Kang W, Siebler J, Neurath MF, Burgio V, Cascinu S. Real Life Study of Lenvatinib Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: RELEVANT Study. Liver Cancer 2022; 11:527-539. [PMID: 36589723 PMCID: PMC9801178 DOI: 10.1159/000525145] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In the REFLECT trial, lenvatinib was found to be noninferior compared to sorafenib in terms of overall survival. Here, we analyze the effects of lenvatinib in the real-life experience of several centers across the world and identify clinical factors that could be significantly associated with survival outcomes. Methods The study population was derived from retrospectively collected data of HCC patients treated with lenvatinib. The overall cohort included western and eastern populations from 23 center in five countries. Results We included 1,325 patients with HCC and treated with lenvatinib in our analysis. Median OS was 16.1 months. Overall response rate was 38.5%. Multivariate analysis for OS highlighted that HBsAg positive, NLR >3, and AST >38 were independently associated with poor prognosis in all models. Conversely, NAFLD/NASH-related etiology was independently associated with good prognosis. Median progression-free survival was 6.3 months. Multivariate analysis for progression-free survival revealed that NAFLD/NASH, BCLC, NLR, and AST were independent prognostic factors for progression-free survival. A proportion of 75.2% of patients suffered from at least one adverse effect during the study period. Multivariate analysis exhibited the appearance of decreased appetite grade ≥2 versus grade 0-1 as an independent prognostic factor for worse progression-free survival. 924 patients of 1,325 progressed during lenvatinib (69.7%), and 827 of them had a follow-up over 2 months from the beginning of second-line treatment. From first-line therapy, the longest median OS was obtained with the sequence lenvatinib and immunotherapy (47.0 months), followed by TACE (24.7 months), ramucirumab (21.2 months), sorafenib (15.7 months), regorafenib (12.7 months), and best supportive care (10.8 months). Conclusions Our study confirms in a large and global population of patients with advanced HCC, not candidates for locoregional treatment the OS reported in the registration study and a high response rate with lenvatinib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Casadei-Gardini
- Department of Oncology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Oncology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Margherita Rimini
- Division of Oncology, Department of Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Masatoshi Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shigeo Shimose
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Tada
- Department of Internal Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Himeji Hospital, Himeji, Japan
| | - Goki Suda
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hokkaido, University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Myung Ji Goh
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Andre Jefremow
- Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universitaet Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Mario Scartozzi
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cabibbo
- Section of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Health Promotion Sciences Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, PROMISE, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Claudia Campani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Emiliano Tamburini
- Department of Oncology and Palliative Care, Cardinale G Panico, Tricase City Hospital, Tricase, Italy
| | - Francesco Tovoli
- Division of Internal Medicine, Hepatobiliary and Immunoallergic Diseases, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Kazuomi Ueshima
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tomoko Aoki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hideki Iwamoto
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
| | - Takuji Torimura
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
| | - Takashi Kumada
- Department of Medical Oncology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Atsushi Hiraoka
- Gastroenterology Center, Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Masanori Atsukawa
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ei Itobayashi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Asahi General Hospital, Asahi, Japan
| | - Hidenori Toyoda
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ogaki Municipal Hospital, Ogaki, Japan
| | - Naoya Sakamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hokkaido, University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takuya Sho
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hokkaido, University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Wonseok Kang
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jürgen Siebler
- Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universitaet Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus Friedrich Neurath
- Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universitaet Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Valentina Burgio
- Department of Medical Oncology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Cascinu
- Department of Oncology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Oncology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute IRCCS, Milan, Italy
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Yasui Y, Kurosaki M, Tsuchiya K, Hayakawa Y, Hasebe C, Abe M, Ogawa C, Joko K, Ochi H, Tada T, Nakamura S, Furuta K, Kimura H, Tsuji K, Kojima Y, Akahane T, Tamada T, Uchida Y, Kondo M, Mitsuda A, Izumi N. Real-World Data on Ramucirumab Therapy including Patients Who Experienced Two or More Systemic Treatments: A Multicenter Study. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14122975. [PMID: 35740647 PMCID: PMC9221496 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14122975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Ramucirumab has been shown to be effective as a second-line agent after sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients whose α-fetoprotein was ≥400 ng/mL. We performed a retrospective cohort study to investigate ramucirumab efficacy in a real-world setting. Progression-free survival (PFS) was consistent through treatment lines, modified albumin–bilirubin (mALBI) grade, Barcelona Clinic for Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage, and α-fetoprotein (AFP) level. By contrast, ascites was more frequently seen in mALBI 2b/3 patients and, therefore, should be carefully monitored. Abstract Background: The present study aimed to clarify the efficacy and safety of ramucirumab in a real-world setting, including patients who experienced two or more systemic treatments or whose hepatic reserve was deteriorated. Methods: In total, 79 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from 14 institutes throughout Japan were retrospectively analyzed. The response was evaluated using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1, and AEs were recorded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for AEs (CTCAE) version 5.0. Results: Median overall survival (OS) in the total cohort was 7.5 months (m). Median OS was 8.8 m in patients who were administered ramucirumab as a second-line treatment, while it was 7.3 m in third- or later-line treatment. Progression-free survival rates in the second- and third- or later-line therapies were 3.2 m and 3.2 m, respectively. The disease control rate (DCR) in the study was 43%. There were no statistically significant differences in DCR between the treatment courses. Regarding adverse events (AEs), the development of ascites was observed significantly more frequently in modified albumin–bilirubin (mALBI) 2b/3 patients than in mALBI 1/2a patients (54.5% vs. 25.0%, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Ramucirumab is useful as a second-line therapy and feasible as a third- or later-line treatment for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Yasui
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo 180-8610, Japan; (Y.Y.); (M.K.); (K.T.); (Y.H.)
| | - Masayuki Kurosaki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo 180-8610, Japan; (Y.Y.); (M.K.); (K.T.); (Y.H.)
| | - Kaoru Tsuchiya
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo 180-8610, Japan; (Y.Y.); (M.K.); (K.T.); (Y.H.)
| | - Yuka Hayakawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo 180-8610, Japan; (Y.Y.); (M.K.); (K.T.); (Y.H.)
| | - Chitomi Hasebe
- Department of Gastroenterology, Japanese Red Cross Asahikawa Hospital, Asahikawa 070-8530, Japan; (C.H.); (M.A.)
| | - Masami Abe
- Department of Gastroenterology, Japanese Red Cross Asahikawa Hospital, Asahikawa 070-8530, Japan; (C.H.); (M.A.)
| | - Chikara Ogawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Takamatsu Red Cross Hospital, Takamatsu 760-0017, Japan;
| | - Kouji Joko
- Center for Liver-Biliary-Pancreatic Disease, Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital, Matsuyama 790-8524, Japan; (K.J.); (H.O.)
| | - Hironori Ochi
- Center for Liver-Biliary-Pancreatic Disease, Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital, Matsuyama 790-8524, Japan; (K.J.); (H.O.)
| | - Toshifumi Tada
- Department of Gastroenterology, Japanese Red Cross Society Himeji Hospital, Himeji 670-8540, Japan; (T.T.); (S.N.)
| | - Shinichiro Nakamura
- Department of Gastroenterology, Japanese Red Cross Society Himeji Hospital, Himeji 670-8540, Japan; (T.T.); (S.N.)
| | - Koichiro Furuta
- Department of Internal Medicine, Masuda Red Cross Hospital, Masuda 698-8501, Japan;
| | - Hiroyuki Kimura
- Department of Gastroenterology, Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daiichi Hospital, Kyoto 605-0981, Japan;
| | - Keiji Tsuji
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital and Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital, Hiroshima 730-8619, Japan;
| | - Yuji Kojima
- Department of Gastroenterology, Japanese Red Cross Ise Hospital, Ise 516-8512, Japan;
| | - Takehiro Akahane
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ishinomaki Red Cross Hospital, Ishinomaki 986-8522, Japan;
| | - Takashi Tamada
- Department of Gastroenterology, Takatsuki Red Cross Hospital, Takatsuki 569-1096, Japan;
| | - Yasushi Uchida
- Department of Gastroenterology, Matsue Red Cross Hospital, Matsue 690-8506, Japan;
| | - Masahiko Kondo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Otsu Red Cross Hospital, Otsu 520-8511, Japan;
| | - Akeri Mitsuda
- Department of Internal Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Tottori Hospital, Tottori 680-8517, Japan;
| | - Namiki Izumi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo 180-8610, Japan; (Y.Y.); (M.K.); (K.T.); (Y.H.)
- Correspondence:
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Fukushima T, Morimoto M, Ueno M, Kubota K, Uojima H, Hidaka H, Chuma M, Numata K, Tsuruya K, Hirose S, Kagawa T, Hattori N, Watanabe T, Matsunaga K, Yamamoto K, Tanaka K, Maeda S. Comparative study between sorafenib and lenvatinib as the first-line therapy in the sequential treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in a real-world setting. JGH Open 2022; 6:29-35. [PMID: 35071785 PMCID: PMC8762625 DOI: 10.1002/jgh3.12691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Aims There is a paucity of comparative data on the use of sorafenib and lenvatinib for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. We assessed the real‐world treatment outcomes between using sorafenib and lenvatinib for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in the multiple molecular‐targeted therapy era. Methods and Results We enrolled 386 patients treated with sorafenib or lenvatinib as the first‐line therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma at multiple centers. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for differences in baseline and tumor characteristics between the two groups. Propensity score matching identified 110 patients in each treatment group. The median overall survival was similar between lenvatinib and sorafenib (14.8 and 13.0 months, respectively; P = 0.352). The median progression‐free survival was longer with lenvatinib than with sorafenib (7.6 and 3.9 months, respectively; P < 0.001). The overall response rate (P < 0.001) and disease control rate (P = 0.015), as defined by the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, were significantly better with lenvatinib than with sorafenib. The median overall survival was longer in patients who received subsequent treatment than in those who did not in the sorafenib group (23.1 and 5.7 months, respectively; P < 0.001), whereas the median overall survival with or without subsequent treatment did not differ significantly in the lenvatinib group (17.8 and 14.7 months, respectively; P = 0.439). Conclusion Overall survival with sorafenib and lenvatinib was not significantly different. However, patients who received subsequent treatments had longer overall survival than those who received only first‐line treatment with sorafenib, whereas lenvatinib did not show this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taito Fukushima
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology Kanagawa Cancer Center Yokohama Kanagawa Japan.,Department of Gastroenterology Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine Yokohama Kanagawa Japan
| | - Manabu Morimoto
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology Kanagawa Cancer Center Yokohama Kanagawa Japan
| | - Makoto Ueno
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology Kanagawa Cancer Center Yokohama Kanagawa Japan
| | - Kousuke Kubota
- Department of Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine Kitasato University School of Medicine Sagamihara Kanagawa Japan
| | - Haruki Uojima
- Department of Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine Kitasato University School of Medicine Sagamihara Kanagawa Japan
| | - Hisashi Hidaka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine Kitasato University School of Medicine Sagamihara Kanagawa Japan
| | - Makoto Chuma
- Gastroenterological Center Yokohama City University Medical Center Yokohama Kanagawa Japan
| | - Kazushi Numata
- Gastroenterological Center Yokohama City University Medical Center Yokohama Kanagawa Japan
| | - Kota Tsuruya
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine Tokai University School of Medicine Isehara Kanagawa Japan
| | - Shunji Hirose
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine Tokai University School of Medicine Isehara Kanagawa Japan
| | - Tatehiro Kagawa
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine Tokai University School of Medicine Isehara Kanagawa Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Hattori
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine St. Marianna University School of Medicine Kawasaki Kanagawa Japan
| | - Tsunamasa Watanabe
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine St. Marianna University School of Medicine Kawasaki Kanagawa Japan
| | - Kotaro Matsunaga
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Kawasaki Municipal Tama Hospital Kawasaki Kanagawa Japan
| | - Kouji Yamamoto
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine Yokohama City University Yokohama Kanagawa Japan
| | - Katsuaki Tanaka
- Gastroenterology Division Hadano Red Cross Hospital Hadano Kanagawa Japan
| | - Shin Maeda
- Department of Gastroenterology Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine Yokohama Kanagawa Japan
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7
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Choucair K, Kamran S, Saeed A. Clinical Evaluation of Ramucirumab for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC): Place in Therapy. Onco Targets Ther 2022; 14:5521-5532. [PMID: 35002257 PMCID: PMC8721285 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s268309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma remains one of the leading causes of death from cancer worldwide as most cases are diagnosed at an advanced disease stage. Ramucirumab, a human anti-VEGFR-2 monoclonal antibody, is approved as a monotherapy for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and α-fetoprotein levels ≥400 ng/mL previously treated with sorafenib. As most patients present with an advanced disease, patients with α-fetoprotein levels ≥400 ng/mL have an aggressive disease and a poor prognosis, making ramucirumab an important treatment option for this subgroup of patients. This article provides a comprehensive review of the clinical efficacy of ramucirumab as highlighted in the two major trials that lead to its approval. We also briefly review the agent pharmacologic properties, as well as its safety and toxicity profile, before discussing certain limitations and challenges associated with ramucirumab use. Finally, we review completed and ongoing clinical trials and focus on those involving ramucirumab-based combinations, namely with immune therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalil Choucair
- Department of Medicine, Kansas University School of Medicine, Wichita, KS, USA
| | - Syed Kamran
- Department of Medicine, Kansas University School of Medicine, Wichita, KS, USA
| | - Anwaar Saeed
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Kansas University Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
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Lu M, Zhang X, Gao X, Sun S, Wei X, Hu X, Huang C, Xu H, Wang B, Zhang W, Li Z, Feng X, Zheng J, Zhang Q. Lenvatinib enhances T cell immunity and the efficacy of adoptive chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells by decreasing myeloid-derived suppressor cells in cancer. Pharmacol Res 2021; 174:105829. [PMID: 34411731 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lenvatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been approved for the treatment of several cancers. However, its regulatory activity and related mechanisms on T cell antitumour immunity need to be further investigated. METHODS The antitumour activity of lenvatinib in immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice was compared to determine the role of T cell immunity. The antitumour activity of T cells was analysed by cytokine production and adoptive T cell therapy. The immunosuppressive effects of MDSCs on T cells were determined by detecting cytokine production in T cells after being cocultured with MDSCs. The adjuvant immunotherapy effect of lenvatinib was determined by combination therapy with CAR-T cells targeted carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) in a murine renal cancer model. RESULTS The antitumour activity of lenvatinib was greater in immunocompetent mice than in immunodeficient mice and was attenuated by CD8+T cell depletion. Lenvatinib increased proliferation, tumour infiltration and antitumour activity of T cells. Importantly, adoptive transfer of lenvatinib-treated T cells showed a long-term antitumour response in vivo. Mechanistically, lenvatinib upregulated T cell-related chemokines (CXCL10 and CCL8) in tumours and decreased the frequency and immunosuppressive activity of MDSCs. Furthermore, lenvatinib enhanced the efficacy of CAR-T cells in a murine renal cancer model. CONCLUSION Our study revealed novel antitumour mechanisms of lenvatinib by enhancing T cell-mediated antitumour immunity. These findings are of great significance for guiding the clinical use of lenvatinib and provide a good candidate for future combination therapy with T-cell therapies or other immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Lu
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Xiaokang Zhang
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Xiaoge Gao
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Shishuo Sun
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Xiaohuan Wei
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Xiaolei Hu
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Chao Huang
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Heng Xu
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Bixi Wang
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Zhen Li
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Xinhui Feng
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Junnian Zheng
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, PR China; Center of Clinical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Qing Zhang
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, PR China; Center of Clinical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, PR China.
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9
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Catalano M, Casadei-Gardini A, Vannini G, Campani C, Marra F, Mini E, Roviello G. Lenvatinib: established and promising drug for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2021; 14:1353-1365. [PMID: 34289756 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2021.1958674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION : The evolving therapeutic landscape of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) includes the increasing implementation of target-therapy and immunotherapy. Lenvatinib, a multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), is an emerging first-line therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Its approval has changed the scenario of first-line therapies for advanced HCC, where just sorafenib proved clinical efficacy for over a decade. AREAS COVERED : The current evidence on the role of lenvatinib for patients with advanced HCC is reviewed in this article. Particularly, therapeutic mechanisms and clinical efficacy of lenvatinib are summarized and the management of adverse events is discussed. In addition, future perspectives on the emerging role of combine therapy for HCC are highlighted. EXPERT OPINION In the first line, lenvatinib was found to be non-inferior to sorafenib for overall survival, with significantly better progression-free survival and objective response rate. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are now part of HCC treatment, and recently the combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab has become the recommended standard of care first-line therapy for selected patients. The antitumor and immunomodulatory activities that lenvatinib shows in preclinical studies, and the positive outcomes achieved using a combination of lenvatinib plus ICIs, open new perspectives for advanced HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Catalano
- School of Human Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Casadei-Gardini
- Department of Medical Oncology, Università Vita-Salute, San Raffaele Hospital IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Vannini
- School of Human Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Claudia Campani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Fabio Marra
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Excellence Center for Research, Transfer snd High Education DenoTHE, Florence, Italy
| | - Enrico Mini
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Eso
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan
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11
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Lenvatinib for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Literature Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14010036. [PMID: 33418941 PMCID: PMC7825021 DOI: 10.3390/ph14010036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Lenvatinib, which is an oral multikinase inhibitor, showed non-inferiority to the sorafenib in terms of overall survival (OS) and a higher objective response rate (ORR) and better progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A good liver function and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) intermediate stage were the key factors in achieving therapeutic efficacy. The management of adverse events plays an important role in continuing lenvatinib treatment. While sequential therapies contributed to prolonging overall survival, effective molecular targeted agents for the administration after lenvatinib have not been established. Repeated transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) was associated with a decline in the liver function and poor therapeutic response in BCLC intermediate patients. Recently, the Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert (APPLE) Consensus Statement proposed the criteria for TACE unsuitability. Upfront systemic therapy may be better for the BCLC intermediate stage HCC patients with a high tumor burden, while selective TACE will be recommended for obtaining a curative response in patients with a low tumor burden. This article reviews the therapeutic response, management of adverse events, post-progression treatment after Lenvatinib, and treatment strategy for BCLC intermediate stage HCC.
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