Phase II trial of sorafenib combined with on-demand transarterial chemoembolization for advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C): STAB study.

e15648 Background: Sorafenib has been acknowledged as a standard treatment for advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combination therapy of sorafenib and on-demand transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for advanced stage HCC. Methods: Inclusion criteria were advanced stage HCC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C), a systemic chemotherapy native status, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0–1, and a Child-Pugh grade-A. Sorafenib therapy (800 mg daily) was started 4–28 days after TACE. On-demand TACE was allowed. The primary endpoint was the completion rate of protocol treatment, which was defined as sorafenib administration at least for 2 months from initial TACE. Secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) based on modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and the incidence of adverse events. Results: From July 2013 to September 2015, a total of 32 patients were registered from 9 institutions, but one patient was excluded because his tumor turned out to be combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. The protocol treatment was completed in 28 of 31 enrolled patients (90.3%, 28/31). The median treatment duration was 7.0 months (range 0.5–30) with the median number of TACE was 1 (range 1–4) and the median sorafenib dosage of 400 mg daily (range 154-800). The ORR and DCR were 77% and 90%, respectively. Median OS and PFS were 17.3 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 11.9–22.6] and 5.4 months (95% CI, 4.6–6.2), respectively. The most common grade-3 or -4 adverse events were increased aspartate aminotransferase (55%, 17/31), increased alanine aminotransferase (45% 14/31), and hypertension (23%, 7/31). Conclusions: Combination therapy of sorafenib and on-demand TACE was well tolerated and safe. Furthermore, this combination treatment may provide a survival benefit to patients with advanced stage HCC. Clinical trial information: UMIN000014213.