Phase II Trial of the Combination of Bevacizumab and Erlotinib in Patients Who Have Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 843-850 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie B. Thomas ◽  
Jeffrey S. Morris ◽  
Romil Chadha ◽  
Michiko Iwasaki ◽  
Harmeet Kaur ◽  
...  

Purpose The study objective was to determine the proportion of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with the combination of bevacizumab (B) and erlotinib (E) who were alive and progression free at 16 weeks (16-week progression-free survival [PFS16]) of continuous therapy. Secondary objectives included response rate, median PFS, survival, and toxicity. Patients and Methods Patients who had advanced HCC that was not amenable to surgical or regional therapies, up to one prior systemic treatment; Childs-Pugh score A or B liver function; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0, 1, or 2 received B 10 mg/kg every 14 days and E 150 mg orally daily, continuously, for 28-day cycles. Tumor response was evaluated every 2 cycles by using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Group criteria. A total of 40 patients were treated. Results The primary end point of PFS16 was 62.5%. Ten patients achieved a partial response for a confirmed overall response rate (intent-to-treat) of 25%. The median PFSevent was 39 weeks (95% CI, 26 to 45 weeks; 9.0 months), and the median overall survival was 68 weeks (95% CI, 48 to 78 weeks; 15.65 months). Grades 3 to 4 drug-related toxicity included fatigue (n = 8; 20%), hypertension (n = 6; 15%), diarrhea (n = 4; 10%) elevated transaminases (n = 4; 10%), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (n = 5; 12.5%), wound infection (n = 2; 5%) thrombocytopenia (n = 1; 2.5%), and proteinuria, hyperbilirubinemia, back pain, hyperkalemia, and anorexia (n = 1 each). Conclusion The combination of B + E in patients who had advanced HCC showed significant, clinically meaningful antitumor activity. B + E warrant additional evaluation in randomized controlled trials.

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Labenz ◽  
Vera Prenosil ◽  
Sandra Koch ◽  
Yvonne Huber ◽  
Jens U. Marquardt ◽  
...  

Background/Aim: Individual components of the metabolic syndrome (MS) such as obesity or diabetes mellitus impair the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following curative treatment approaches or transarterial therapies. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the impact of these factors on the overall survival (OS) of patients with advanced HCC treated with sorafenib. Methods: Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the impact of individual components of the MS on the OS of 152 consecutive patients with advanced HCC treated with sorafenib. Results: The presence of overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and of the MS itself did not impair the median OS. Multivariate analysis showed that Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status ≥1 (hazards ratio [HR] 2.03), presence of macrovascular invasion (HR 1.71), Child-Pugh score B/C (HR 2.19), tumor grading G3 (HR 2.17), no prior HCC treatment (HR 2.34), and the presence of 2 or more out of 5 individual components of the MS (HR 0.65) were independent prognostic factors regarding the median OS. Conclusions: Our investigations do not confirm a negative prognostic role of individual components of the MS or the MS itself for patients with advanced HCC treated with sorafenib.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai-Lin Yang ◽  
Mau-Shin Chi ◽  
Hui-Ling Ko ◽  
Yi-Ying Huang ◽  
Su-Chen Huang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background To investigate maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of axitinib, a selective vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1–3 inhibitor, in combination with radiotherapy (RT) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods This phase I study followed the rule of traditional 3 + 3 design. Major eligibility included: (1) patients with advanced HCC unsuitable for surgery, radiofrequency ablation or transarterial chemoembolization, or who failed after prior local–regional treatment; (2) failure on sorafenib or no grant for sorafenib from health insurance system. Eligible patients with advanced HCC received axitinib for total 8 weeks during and after RT. Three cohorts with axitinib dose escalation were planned: 1 mg twice daily (level I), 2 mg twice daily (level II) and 3 mg twice daily (level III). The prescribed doses of RT ranged from 37.5 to 67.5 Gy in 15 fractions to liver tumor(s) and were determined based on an upper limit of mean liver dose of 18 Gy (intended isotoxic RT for normal liver). The primary endpoint was MTD of axitinib in combination with RT. The secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), RT in-field response rate, acute and late toxicities, overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). Results Total nine eligible patients received axitinib dose levels of 1 mg twice daily (n = 3), 2 mg twice daily (n = 3) and 3 mg twice daily (n = 3). Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) did not occur in the 3 cohorts; the MTD was defined as 3 mg twice daily in this study. ORR was 66.7%, including 3 complete responses and 3 partial responses, at 3 months after treatment initiation. With a median follow-up of 16.6 months, median OS was not reached, 1-year OS was 66.7%, and median PFS was 7.4 months. Conclusions Axitinib in combination with RT for advanced HCC was well tolerated with an axitinib MTD of 3 mg twice daily in this study. The outcome analysis should be interpreted with caution due to the small total cohort. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02814461), Registered June 27, 2016—Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02814461


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (19) ◽  
pp. 1898-1901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahsun Riaz ◽  
Robert Lewandowski ◽  
Riad Salem

The Oncology Grand Rounds series is designed to place original reports published in the Journal into clinical context. A case presentation is followed by a description of diagnostic and management challenges, a review of the relevant literature, and a summary of the authors’ suggested management approaches. The goal of this series is to help readers better understand how to apply the results of key studies, including those published in Journal of Clinical Oncology, to patients seen in their own clinical practice. A 68-year-old man with a remote history of alcohol abuse presented with vague abdominal pain. A review of systems suggested the patient had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 1 (restriction of strenuous physical activity). There were no physical examination findings of note. Laboratory studies disclosed Child-Pugh A liver status (no ascites; no encephalopathy; total bilirubin, 1 mg/dL; albumin, 3.5 g/dL; and international normalized rato, 1.2). The alpha-fetoprotein was mildly elevated (19.5 ng/mL). Magnetic resonance imaging with contrast disclosed an infiltrative mass with extensive malignant right and left portal vein thrombosis ( Fig 1A ) with cavernous transformation of the portal vein. The infiltrative mass ( Fig 2A ) was biopsied, revealing hepatocellular carcinoma. No distant metastases were found on a bone scintigraphy or computerized tomography scan. Given these features, this patient was classified as Barcelona Clinic for Liver Cancer stage C. The patient was referred for management of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.


ESMO Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. e000797
Author(s):  
Andrew X Zhu ◽  
Ryan D Nipp ◽  
Richard S Finn ◽  
Peter R Galle ◽  
Josep M Llovet ◽  
...  

BackgroundSymptoms of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represent a substantial burden for the patient and are important endpoints to assess when evaluating treatment. Patient-reported outcomes were evaluated in subjects with advanced HCC and baseline alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ≥400 ng/mL treated with second-line ramucirumab.Patients and methodsPatients with AFP≥400 ng/mL enrolled in the REACH or REACH-2 phase 3 studies were used in this analysis. Eligible patients had advanced HCC, Child-Pugh A, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0/1 and prior sorafenib. Patients received ramucirumab 8 mg/kg or placebo once every 2 weeks. Disease-related symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Hepatobiliary Symptom Index (FHSI)-8 and EuroQoL-5-Dimensions (EQ-5D) instruments, respectively. Time to deterioration (TTD) (≥3-point decrease in FHSI-8 total score;≥0.06-point decrease in EQ-5D score, from randomisation to first date of deterioration) was determined using Kaplan-Meier estimation and the Cox proportional hazards model. Both separate and pooled analyses for REACH AFP≥400 ng/mL and REACH-2 patients were conducted.ResultsIn the pooled population with AFP ≥400 ng/mL (n=542; ramucirumab, n=316; placebo, n=226), median TTD in FHSI-8 total score was prolonged with ramucirumab relative to placebo (3.3 vs 1.9 months; HR 0.725; (95% CI 0.559 to 0.941); p=0.0152), including significant differences in back pain (0.668; (0.497 to 0.899); p=0.0044), weight loss (0.699; (0.505 to 0.969); p=0.0231) and pain (0.769; (0.588 to 1.005); p=0.0248) symptoms. TTD in EQ-5D score was not significantly different between ramucirumab and placebo groups (median 2.9 vs 1.9 months). Results in the individual trials were consistent with these findings.ConclusionsRamucirumab in second-line treatment of advanced HCC demonstrates consistent benefit in the delay of deterioration in disease-related symptoms with no worsening of HRQoL. Taken with previously demonstrated ramucirumab-driven survival benefits in this setting, these data may inform patient–clinician discussions about the benefit–risk profile of this therapy.Trial registration numberNCT01140347; NCT02435433, NCT02435433.


2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (30) ◽  
pp. 3960-3967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy M. Pawlik ◽  
Diane K. Reyes ◽  
David Cosgrove ◽  
Ihab R. Kamel ◽  
Nikhil Bhagat ◽  
...  

Purpose To evaluate safety and efficacy of combined transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with doxorubicin-eluting beads (DEB) and sorafenib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients and Methods A prospective single-center phase II study was undertaken involving patients with unresectable HCC. The protocol involved sorafenib 400 mg twice per day combined with DEB-TACE. Safety and response were assessed. Results DEB-TACE in combination with sorafenib was successfully administered in 35 patients: mean age, 63 years; Child's A, 89%; Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C, 64%; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 and 1, 46% and 54%, respectively; and mean index tumor size, 7.7 cm (standard deviation, ± 4.2 cm). Patients underwent 128 cycles of therapy (sorafenib plus DEB-TACE, 60 cycles; sorafenib alone, 68 cycles). Median number of cycles per patient was two (range, one to five cycles); median number of days treated with sorafenib was 71 (range, 4 to 620 days). The most common toxicities during cycle one were fatigue (94%), anorexia (67%), alterations in liver enzymes (64%), and dermatologic adverse effects (48%). Although most patients experienced at least one grade 3 to 4 toxicity, most toxicities were minor (grade 1 to 2, 83% v grade 3 to 4, 17%). Toxicity during cycle two was decreased. Over the course of the study, there were 40 sorafenib dose interruptions and 25 sorafenib dose reductions. Sorafenib plus DEB-TACE was associated with a disease control rate of 95% (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Group)/100% (European Association for the Study of the Liver [EASL]), with an objective response of 58% (EASL). Conclusion The combination of sorafenib and DEB-TACE in patients with unresectable HCC is well tolerated and safe, with most toxicities related to sorafenib. Toxicity is manageable with dose adjustment of sorafenib. Preliminary efficacy data are promising.


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

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


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. TPS4160-TPS4160
Author(s):  
Wenge Xing ◽  
Zhi Guo

TPS4160 Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer in the world, a leading cause of cancer-related death, and especially in China. Most of the HCC patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage and require a multidisciplinary approach. The IMbrave 50 trial has reported the successful efficacy of atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, which indicate the potential efficacy of combination of immunotherapy and antiangiogenesis therapy in HCC patients. In some studies, the combinatorial approaches with immunotherapy and liver directed therapies such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA), and cryoablation are explored. Most combined interventional therapies reveal their enormous advantages as compared with any single therapeutic regimen alone, which may result from the immunologic enhancement effect of the multimodel therapy. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of combined therapy with camrelizumab plus apatinib mesylate and TACE plus cryoablation in patients with advanced HCC. Methods: This study was an open-label, single-arm, single centre, phase 2 trial in patients who were diagnosed with advanced HCC. Patients who meet the following criterias will be enrolled: (1) 18 - 75 years old; (2) Child-Pugh classification A or B(≤7);(3) Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B or C, or China liver cancer staging (CNLC) stage IIb̃IIIa; (4) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) score of 0–1; (5) no history of previous systematic treatment; (6) expected life expectancy of more than 12 weeks; (7) adequate organs function. The key exclusion criteria were history of active autoimmune disease, or concurrent medical use of immunosuppressive medications or immunosuppressive doses of systemic corticosteroids. Eligible patients received camrelizumab 200 mg intravenously every 2 weeks and apatinib 250 mg orally once per day continuously in a treatment cycle of 4 weeks, treatment continued until 1 year or development of unacceptable toxicity or progression of disease. TACE was administrated at the first treatment cycles on day 1or 2, the chemotherapy regimens included 100-150mg oxaliplatin, 750-1000mg fluorouracil, or 30-50 mg lobaplatin, raltitrexed 2-4mg, and epirubicin 40-80 mg. Two or three weeks after the TACE, percutaneous cryoablation was performed under CT guidance. TACE and cryoablation was given as combination therapy and the periods were assessed by the investigator. The primary endpoint is objective response rate (complete or partial response according to mRECIST) and Progression-Free-Survival (Time ranges from random to the first occurrence of disease progression or death from any cause). This trial is registered with Chinese Clinical Trials Registry, ChiCTR2100043044, and is ongoing. Clinical trial information: ChiCTR2100043044.


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

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


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

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


Oncology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Kensuke Naruto ◽  
Tomokazu Kawaoka ◽  
Kei Amioka ◽  
Yutaro Ogawa ◽  
Kikukawa Chihiro ◽  
...  

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> This study compared clinical outcomes of 2nd- and 3rd-line regorafenib in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In this retrospective cohort study, 48 patients were treated with regorafenib for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Thirty-five and 13 patients were initiated on 2nd- and 3rd-line therapy, respectively. We assessed the responses to and safety of the therapy. <b><i>Results:</i></b> There were no statistically significant differences in clinical characteristics at the start of 2nd- or 3rd-line regorafenib therapy. The overall response rate of 2nd- and 3rd-line regorafenib was 20 and 8%, respectively. The disease control rate was 57 and 54%, respectively. Median overall survival (mOS) from the start of 2nd-line regorafenib was 17.5 months. mOS from the start of 3rd-line regorafenib was not obtained. Median progression-free survival of 2nd- and 3rd-line regorafenib was 4.9 and 2.3 months, respectively. mOS from 1st-line therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitor plus sorafenib-regorafenib-lenvatinib was 29.5 months; that with lenvatinib-sorafenib-regorafenib was not obtained. Patients on 3rd-line therapy tended to have better Child-Pugh scores and tumor factors at the start of 1st-line therapy than other patients. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Patients on 2nd- and 3rd-line regorafenib showed favorable responses. Good Child-Pugh scores and tumor factors may be associated with a better response rate and OS.


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