The use of cabozantinib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): Hong Kong multi-center experience.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 316-316
Author(s):  
Yawen Dong ◽  
Thomas Wai-Tong Leung ◽  
Gin Wai Kwok ◽  
Vikki Tang ◽  
Bryan Li ◽  
...  

316 Background: In the phase III CELESTIAL trial, cabozantinib showed significant improvement in overall survival with good tolerability in advanced HCC population. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy, survival and tolerability of cabozatinib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in a real life setting. Methods: Between February 2018 and October 2019, consecutive advanced HCC patients who received cabozatinib alone or in combination at University of Hong Kong Health System hospitals were analysed. Cabozantinib was administered at 60 mg continuously daily. Objective response rate (ORR), time-to-progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), and tolerability were evaluated. Results: Overall, 22 patients were included. The median age was 57.1 years (range 48.5-58.6). All patients except one were hepatitis B carriers. More than 80% of the patients had underlying Child-Pugh A cirrhosis. Most patients had metastatic disease (95.5%). More than 70% of patients received cabozantinib beyond second-line, and most of the patients had prior exposure to tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and/or immunotherapy. The median time from the start of first-line systemic treatment to the start of cabozantinib was 11.2 months. Cabozantinib was administered to 11 patients (50%) as single agent, while the other half received cabozantinib in combination with mostly immune checkpoint inhibitors. The median follow-up was 7.6 months. The table below shows the ORR. The overall median TTP and OS were 4.2 and 8.90 months, respectively. Interestingly, among those who received single agent cabozantinib, the median OS was 5.36 months in contrast to 12.32 months in the patients received combination. Overall, 90.9% of patients experienced treatment related adverse events (TRAEs) with transient liver function occurred in nearly 50% patients. Nevertheless, Grade 3/4 TRAEs was only 12%. Conclusions: Our present study showed that the use of cabozatinib in advanced HCC patients had good anti-tumour activity and survival benefits with acceptable toxicity profile. [Table: see text]

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2002
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Sum Lung Wong ◽  
Yawen Dong ◽  
Vikki Tang ◽  
Thomas Leung ◽  
Cynthia S. Y. Yeung ◽  
...  

(1) Background: Cabozantinib is approved in sorafenib-exposed advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC). We evaluated the real-life pattern of use, efficacy, and tolerability of cabozantinib in aHCC. (2) Methods: This territory-wide study included consecutive aHCC patients who received cabozantinib between February 2018 and September 2020 in Hong Kong. The objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AE) were assessed. (3) Results: Overall, 42 patients were included. Approximately 83.3% had Child-Pugh A cirrhosis. About 64.3% received cabozantinib as a single agent, and the remaining 35.7% received cabozantinib as an add-on to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). For single-agent patients, the median follow-up was 6.7 months. The ORR was 3.7%, DCR was 44.4%, and the median OS was 8.28 months. About 74.1% of patients experienced any AEs with 7.4% having grade ≥3 AEs. Among patients who received prior ICIs (n = 16), the ORR was 6.3%, and the median OS was 8.28 months. An exploratory analysis of patients who received cabozantinib as an add-on to ICIs showed an ORR of 6.7% and a median OS of 15.1 months, with 73.3% having any AE and 13.3% having grade ≥3 AEs. (4) Conclusion: Cabozantinib had good anti-tumor activity, survival benefits, and acceptable tolerability in real-life aHCC patients.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 377-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larisse Longo ◽  
Laura Bainy Rodrigues de Freitas ◽  
Deivid Santos ◽  
Ivana Grivicich ◽  
Mário Reis Álvares-da-Silva

Introduction: Sorafenib (SOR) has proved to be effective in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), since overall survival was higher in phase III clinical trials; however, disease progression can occur. Objectives: The study aimed to describe real-life experience in advanced HCC treatment with SOR at a university hospital in Brazil and to estimate the number of patients with indication of second-line therapy. Methods: This is a retrospective study that included cases of HCC with prescription of SOR based on real-life practice between 2011 and 2016. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. Results: From 572 patients with HCC, SOR was prescribed in 103 cases. From them, 62.1% were classified as Child-Pugh (CP)-A, 54.4% as Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC)-C, and 74 (71.8%) started treatment. Overall survival was 25.5 (95% CI 17.0–34.1) months and 1-year survival was greater in patients who received SOR than in non-treated (88.7 vs. 44.4%, p < 0.001). There was no difference in survival between BCLC-B and C (p = 0.405), as well as CP-A and B (p = 0.919). In 21.6% of the patients, a second-line therapy with regorafenib was indicated. Conclusion: In this real-life study, SOR significantly increased the survival rate by 1 year in patients with advanced HCC regardless of BCLC staging and CP score. Second-line therapy would be indicated in 21.6% of cases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e001945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Sum Lung Wong ◽  
Gerry Gin Wai Kwok ◽  
Vikki Tang ◽  
Bryan Cho Wing Li ◽  
Roland Leung ◽  
...  

BackgroundProgrammed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) pathway blockade with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is a standard therapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nowadays. No strategies to overcome ICI resistance have been described. We aimed to evaluate the use of ipilimumab and anti-PD-1 ICIs (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) combinations in patients with advanced HCC with progression on prior ICIs.MethodsPatients with advanced HCC with documented tumor progression on prior ICIs and subsequently received ipilimumab with nivolumab/pembrolizumab were analyzed. Objective response rate (ORR), median duration of response (DOR), time-to-progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were assessed.ResultsTwenty-five patients were included. The median age was 62 (range: 51–83). About 68% were of Child-Pugh (CP) Grade A and 48% had primary resistance to prior ICI. At median follow-up of 37.7 months, the ORR was 16% with a median DOR of 11.5 months (range: 2.76–30.3). Three patients achieved complete response. The median TTP was 2.96 months (95% CI: 1.61 to 4.31). Median OS was 10.9 months (95% CI: 3.99 to 17.8) and the 1 year, 2 year and 3 year survival rates were 42.4%, 32.3% and 21.6%, respectively. The ORR was 16.7% in primary resistance group and 15.4% in acquired resistance group (p=1.00). All responders were of CP A and Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) Grade 1 or 2. CP and ALBI Grades were significantly associated with OS (p=0.006 and p<0.001, respectively). Overall, 52% of patients experienced TRAEs and 12% experienced Grade 3 or above TRAEs.ConclusionsIpilimumab and nivolumab/pembrolizumab can achieve durable antitumor activity and encouraging survival outcomes with acceptable toxicity in patients with advanced HCC who had prior treatment with ICIs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (21) ◽  
pp. 1525-1536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Kate Kelley ◽  
Jennifer W Oliver ◽  
Saswati Hazra ◽  
Fawzi Benzaghou ◽  
Thomas Yau ◽  
...  

Cabozantinib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets VEGFR, MET and the TAM (TYRO3, AXL, MER) family of kinase receptors. In addition to their role in tumor growth and angiogenesis, cabozantinib targets promote an immune-suppressive microenvironment. Cabozantinib is approved as single-agent therapy for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who received prior sorafenib. Owing to its antitumor and immunomodulatory properties, cabozantinib is being developed in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Early studies of these combinations have shown promising antitumor activity and tolerability in patients with solid tumors. Here, we describe the rationale and design of COSMIC-312, a Phase III study evaluating the safety and efficacy of cabozantinib in combination with atezolizumab (anti–PD-L1 monoclonal antibody) versus sorafenib for treatment-naive patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. ClinicalTrial.gov Registration: NCT03755791


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 728-734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadaaki Arizumi ◽  
Kazuomi Ueshima ◽  
Mina Iwanishi ◽  
Hirokazu Chishina ◽  
Masashi Kono ◽  
...  

Objectives: Sorafenib has become a standard therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma following the demonstration of significant increase in progression-free survival as well as overall survival (OS) in the 2-phase III trials. We examined efficacy and adverse events (AEs) in patients treated with sorafenib over a 6-year period since approval in Japan. Methods: Two hundred and forty-one patients treated with sorafenib at the Kinki University Hospital were retrospectively analyzed clinically for the factors related to survival periods, tumor response evaluated by the Response Evaluation Criteria In Cancer of the Liver (RECICL) and AEs. Results: OS was 14.3 months. According to the RECICL, the objective response and disease control rates were 18.6% (43 of 241) and 61.1% (137 of 241), respectively. AEs were seen in 77.3% (187 of 241), with Grade 3 or higher in 23.6% (57 of 241). The most frequent AE was hand-foot skin reaction in 109 patients (45.0%), and 28 patients (11.8%) showed Grade 3 or higher. Significant factors contributing to the OS were treatment duration (p = 0.0204), up-to-7 criteria (p = 0.0400), increase of Child-Pugh score (p = 0.0008) and tumor response determined by the RECICL (p = 0.0007). Conclusion: Based on the analysis, using many cases at a single center, we concluded that continuation of treatment with sorafenib for ≥90 days without decrease of liver function was critical if tumor response was determined as stable disease or higher.


Author(s):  
Robert J Cersosimo

Abstract Purpose The activity of targeted agents and immunotherapy in the management of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is reviewed. Summary The first drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for advanced HCC, sorafenib, was approved in 2007. Regorafenib, the second drug, was approved 10 years later. Six additional drugs have been approved since. Targeted agents and checkpoint inhibitors are the only agents approved for systemic therapy of advanced HCC. Sorafenib and lenvatinib are approved as first-line agents, with regorafenib, cabozantinib, ramucirumab, nivolumab (used alone or with ipilimumab), and pembrolizumab approved for patients who have received prior sorafenib therapy. Most patients in phase 3 studies had Child-Pugh class A cirrhosis, and data on the use of these agents in patients with more advanced hepatic dysfunction are limited. All of the targeted agents improve survival in patients with advanced disease. Median overall survival durations of up to 12.3 and 13.6 months were reported with use of sorafenib and lenvatinib, respectively, in phase 3 trials. Overall survival durations of 10.6, 10.2, and 9.2 months have been achieved with use of regorafenib, cabozantinib, and ramucirumab as second-line therapy after sorafenib. A median overall survival of 13.2 months was reported in 1 cohort of a dose-expansion study of nivolumab in which all patients received prior sorafenib therapy. Median survival durations of 12.9 months and 13.9 months were reported with use of pembrolizumab in patients with a history of sorafenib therapy. The most common adverse effects associated with targeted agents are dermatological effects, diarrhea, fatigue, and hypertension. Immune-mediated adverse effects are associated with checkpoint inhibitors. Conclusion Targeted agents and checkpoint inhibitors are the standard of therapy for patients who need systemic therapy for advanced HCC.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 175883591986269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiqi Xu ◽  
Ken Liu ◽  
Minjiang Chen ◽  
Jin-Yu Sun ◽  
Geoffrey W McCaughan ◽  
...  

The introduction of immunotherapies has been a major development in the treatment of many advanced cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We are entering a new era of systemic therapy for advanced HCC associated with an explosion of clinical trial activity. Data from phase I/II studies of checkpoint inhibitors in advanced HCC have been promising, with durable objective response rates of approximately 20% seen (in both first- and second-line settings) and acceptable safety profiles (including immune-mediated hepatitis). Phase III studies evaluating anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) and anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1) antibodies compared with sorafenib are already underway. The potential synergistic effects of anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 when used in combination with agents against other checkpoint molecules, systemic therapies, as well as conventional surgical and locoregional therapies are also being explored in upcoming clinical trials. Aside from this, other strategies to harness the immune system, including chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T cells, natural killer cell therapies, and peptide vaccines directed against HCC antigens have entered phase I/II studies. Current limitations of immunotherapies and areas of future research include the accurate assessment and prediction of tumor response, overcoming the immunosuppressive effects of a hypoxic microenvironment, and the management of immune-related hepatitis in patients who already have limited liver reserve.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaozhun Huang ◽  
Lin Xu ◽  
Teng Ma ◽  
Xin Yin ◽  
Zhangkan Huang ◽  
...  

BackgroundNivolumab and pembrolizumab disrupt the programmed cell death-1 immune checkpoint and display promising efficacy and safety results in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the benefits remain limited. The preliminary results of lenvatinib (LEN) combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) reveal that the combinations were well-tolerated and encouraging. This study aimed to analyze the safety and efficacy of LEN plus ICIs in a real-world cohort of patients with advanced HCC.MethodBetween June 4, 2017, and June 30, 2019, 16 patients received LEN plus nivolumab, and 13 patients were treated with LEN plus pembrolizumab, with the confirmed advanced HCC retrospectively analyzed. The clinical parameters, as well as the outcomes, were assessed.ResultsAll the patients had Barcelona Clinical Liver Cancer Stage C. LEN with ICIs was used as systemic second-, third-, and fourth-line treatments in seven (24.1%), 14 (48.3%), and eight (27.6%) patients, respectively. At the time of data cutoff, six patients (37.5%) were still receiving LEN with nivolumab, while another six patients (46.2%) were still receiving LEN with pembrolizumab. An objective response was recorded in seven patients (25.9%), while the best overall responses were from one complete response and six partial responses. The 6- and 12-month over survival (OS) rates were 62.6% and 53.7%, respectively. Furthermore, the 6- and 12-month progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 43.5% and 31.8%, respectively. In the subgroup analyses, the 6- and 12-month OS and PFS rates for patients treated with LEN plus nivolumab were 62.5% and 52.1%, respectively, and 43.8% and 30.0%, respectively. The 6- and 12-month OS and PFS rates for patients treated with LEN plus pembrolizumab were 51.3% and 51.3%, respectively, and 49.2% and 49.2%, respectively. A total of 11 (31%) deaths were reported in this study, four of which were attributed to grade 5 adverse events presented as fatal treatment-related hepatitis.ConclusionThe combination of LEN and ICIs is a promising new strategy for the treatment of HCC patients. However, high-grade hepatic toxicity was observed and further evaluation of this combination is still required.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e15632-e15632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Lin ◽  
D. Chang ◽  
Y. Shao ◽  
C. Hsu ◽  
C. Hsu ◽  
...  

e15632 Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant disease. Promising results of prospective clinical trials using systemic therapy for patients with advanced HCC are emerging. The aim of this study was to explore prognostic factors of survival in advanced HCC patients eligible for clinical trials of systemic therapy. Methods: From December 1990 to July 2005, 236 patients with unresectable HCC were enrolled into 6 phase II trials of systemic therapy using the following regimens: (1) oral etoposide + tamoxifen, (2)doxorubicin + tamoxifen, (3)IFN-α2b + doxorubicin + tamoxifen, (4)pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, (5)thalidomide, and (6)arsenic trioxide. Univariate and multivariate analyses of 23 relevant clinical characteristics/staging systems were used to identify prognostic factors of survival. Results: Baseline characteristics: median age 55; male/female: 192/44; HBsAg(+) 71%; anti-HCV(+) 30%; Okuda stage I/II/III: 42%/55%/3%; AJCC stage III/IV: 30%/61%; BCLC stage B/C/D: 1%/94%/5%; CLIP score 0–3/4–6: 70%/30%; portal vein thrombosis 53%; extrahepatic metastasis 59%; prior chemoembolization 46%. The objective response rate according to WHO criteria was 11.4%. The median overall survival was 118 days (95% CI, 103–133). In the multivariate analysis, significant predictors of a shorter overall survival were: HBsAg(+) with a hazard ratio (HR) = 1.808 (95% CI, 1.121–2.916; P= 0.015), symptomatic with HR = 1.745 (95% CI, 1.072–2.840; P= 0.025), ECOG≥2 with HR = 1.763 (95% CI, 1.040–2.988; P= 0.035), and high BCLC stage with HR = 3.282 (95% CI, 1.129–9.541; P= 0.029). Conclusions: Patients with advanced HCC who are eligible for systemic therapeutic trials have patient- and disease-related prognostic factors. Positive HBsAg, symptomatic, ECOG performance≥2, and high BCLC stage predict a shorter overall survival. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


Author(s):  
Ziyu Liu ◽  
Yan Lin ◽  
Jinyan Zhang ◽  
Yumei Zhang ◽  
Yongqiang Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Molecular targeted therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has changed markedly. Although sorafenib was used in clinical practice as the first molecular targeted agent in 2007, the SHARPE and Asian-Pacific trials demonstrated that sorafenib only improved overall survival (OS) by approximately 3 months in patients with advanced HCC compared with placebo. Molecular targeted agents were developed during the 10-year period from 2007 to 2016, but every test of these agents from phase II or phase III clinical trial failed due to a low response rate and high toxicity. In the 2 years after, 2017 through 2018, four successful novel drugs emerged from clinical trials for clinical use. As recommended by updated Barcelona Clinical Liver cancer (BCLC) treatment algorithms, lenvatinib is now feasible as an alternative to sorafenib as a first-line treatment for advanced HCC. Regorafenib, cabozantinib, and ramucirumab are appropriate supplements for sorafenib as second-line treatment for patients with advanced HCC who are resistant, show progression or do not tolerate sorafenib. In addition, with promising outcomes in phase II trials, immune PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors nivolumab and pembrolizumab have been applied for HCC treatment. Despite phase III trials for nivolumab and pembrolizumab, the primary endpoints of improved OS were not statistically significant, immune PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint therapy remains to be further investigated. This review summarizes the development and progression of molecular targeted and immune-based checkpoint therapies in HCC.


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