scholarly journals Early Experience of Ramucirumab Therapy in Japanese Patients With Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Real-World Practice

Author(s):  
Yuka Hayakawa ◽  
Kaoru Tsuchiya ◽  
Masayuki Kurosaki ◽  
Yutaka Yasui ◽  
Shun Kaneko ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundWe aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of ramucirumab therapy in Japanese patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (u-HCC) in real-world practice.MethodsA total of 16 patients with u-HCC were treated with ramucirumab of ≥2 cycles between July 2019 and April 2020. Modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) and RECIST version 1.1 were used to evaluate radiological responses.ResultsThe patients received ramucirumab as second-line (n = 4), third-line (n = 2), and fourth-line (n = 10). Median observation period was 3.7 months and 3 patients treated as fourth-line died from HCC progression. According to modified RECIST, the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 27.2% and 81.8%, respectively. ORR and DCR by RECIST version 1.1 were 9.1 % and 72.7%, respectively. PFS at 3 months was 68.2%. Drug discontinuation caused by adverse events (AEs) was reported in 7 patients treated as fourth-line and 1 patient as third-line. Pretreatment creatinine (Cr) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were significantly higher in patients with discontinuation owing to AEs (P = 0.01 and P = 0.02). Urine protein-to-creatine ratio after 4 weeks was significantly higher in patients with impaired renal function than patients with preserved renal function (0.93 vs. 0.14; P = 0.017).ConclusionRamucirumab therapy was found to have similar radiological responses between u-HCC patients with single and multiple experiences of TKI therapies. The pretreatment factors would be associated with the incidence of AEs during the therapy.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuka Hayakawa ◽  
Kaoru Tsuchiya ◽  
Masayuki Kurosaki ◽  
Yutaka Yasui ◽  
Shun Kaneko ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab therapy in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (u-HCC) based on whether they had previously received systemic therapy, as well as the association of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab with early alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) response in real-world practice. Methods: A total of 52 patients with u-HCC were treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab between October 2020 and April 2021. The Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) and modified RECIST were used to evaluate radiological responses. Results: The patients received atezolizumab plus bevacizumab as 1st-line (n = 23), 2nd-line (n = 16), 3rd-line (n = 6), 4th-line (n = 3), 5th-line (n = 3), or 6th-line (n = 1) therapy. The objective response rate and disease control rate in all patients were 18.4% and 63.2%, respectively. Sixteen patients experienced no adverse events (AEs), whereas 4 patients discontinued therapy due to AEs. The median time to progression (TTP) was significantly longer among patients receiving atezolizumab plus bevacizumab as 1st-line therapy than in patients receiving atezolizumab plus bevacizumab as later-line therapy (P = 0.02). Patients with an AFP response (reduction ≥20% from baseline) at 6 weeks had a significantly longer TTP than those without an AFP response (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Patients who received atezolizumab plus bevacizumab as 1st-line therapy had better clinical outcome than those who received atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in later lines. The AFP response at 6 weeks could be a predictor of disease progression.


PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10382
Author(s):  
Yen-Yang Chen ◽  
Chih-Chi Wang ◽  
Yueh-Wei Liu ◽  
Wei-Feng Li ◽  
Yen-Hao Chen

Background Lenvatinib has been approved for use in the systemic treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib in patients with unresectable HCC who received sorafenib. Methods A total of 40 patients who received lenvatinib after sorafenib were retrospectively identified: as second line in 20 patients, third line in 10 patients, and fourth line and later lines in 10 patients. The treatment response to lenvatinib was determined in accordance with the guidelines of the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) every 2–3 months after commencement of lenvatinib. Results Median progression-free survival (PFS) and median overall survival (OS) of the whole population were 3.3 and 9.8 months, respectively. The objective response rate was 27.5%. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that alpha-fetoprotein level >400 ng/mL was an independent prognostic factor of worse PFS and OS. The clinical outcomes of lenvatinib therapy as second-line, third-line, or fourth line and later line treatment were similar, and previous response to sorafenib could predict the response to subsequent lenvatinib. Most adverse events were grades 1–2, and the majority of patients tolerated the side effects. Our study confirms the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib as second-line and later line treatment for patients with unresectable HCC who received sorafenib in clinical practice.


Liver Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Myung Ji Goh ◽  
Joo Hyun Oh ◽  
Yewan Park ◽  
Jihye Kim ◽  
Wonseok Kang ◽  
...  

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Lenvatinib has been recently approved as a first-line treatment option for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Korea. We aimed to study the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib therapy in a real-world practice and to find prognostic factors related to survival and disease progression. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A hospital-based retrospective study was conducted on 111 consecutive patients who had unresectable HCC and were treated with lenvatinib at Samsung Medical Center from October 2018 to March 2020. Efficacy was determined using the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) criteria in 111 patients who completed 1st tumor assessment. Safety was evaluated in 116 HCC patients including 5 patients who discontinued lenvatinib due to adverse events (AEs) before 1st tumor assessment using Common Terminology Criteria for AEs version 5.0. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 111 patients with a median age of 59 years were analyzed during a median follow-up duration of 6.2 (4.4–9.0) months. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of overall survival was 10.5 months, and the median progression-free survival was 6.2 months. Based on mRECIST criteria, the objective response rate was 18.9% and disease control rate was 75.7%. AEs developed in 86/116 (74.1%) patients, and grade ≥3 AEs developed in 16/116 (13.8%) patients. Diarrhea, hand-foot skin rash, abdominal pain, hypertension, and anorexia were identified as the AEs with the highest frequencies of any grade. REFLECT eligibility criteria including tumor extent ≥50% liver occupation or inadequate bone marrow function and occurrence of anorexia were prognostic factors for survival, and occurrence of diarrhea was a favorable factor for disease progression. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Lenvatinib therapy showed a favorable efficacy and safety in a real-world practice. The REFLECT eligibility criteria and specific AEs could be one of the prognostic markers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 275-275
Author(s):  
Carla Pires Amaro ◽  
Michael J Allen ◽  
Jennifer J. Knox ◽  
Erica S Tsang ◽  
Howard John Lim ◽  
...  

275 Background: The REFLECT trial establishedlenvatinib (LEN) as a first-line treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Compared to sorafenib (S), LEN has a higher objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS) with a slightly different toxicity profile. The aim of this study was to gather data regarding the efficacy and safety of LEN when used in the real-world treatment of HCC. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine LEN use in HCC patients treated outside of Asia. Methods: HCC patients treated with LEN from 10 cancer centers in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia between July 2018 to July 2020 were included. Overall survival (OS), PFS, disease control rate (DCR) and ORR were retrospectively analyzed and compared across first- and second-to-fourth line use of LEN. ORR was determined radiographically according to the treating physician´s opinion in clinical notes and not RECIST 1.1 or mRECIST. Toxicities were also examined. Results: A total of 220 patients were included in this analysis. Median age was 67 years, 80% were men and 25.5% East Asian. The most frequent causes of liver disease were hepatitis C (37%) and B (26%). 62% of patients received any localized treatment before LEN, of those 26% had TACE, 15% TARE and 7.7% had liver transplant. Before starting LEN 29% of patients were ECOG 0 and 59% were ECOG 1. Most patients were Child-Pugh A (81%) and BCLC stage C (75.5%). Main portal vein invasion was present in 14% of the patients. Median follow-up was 4.5 months. A total of 173 patients (79%) received LEN as first line therapy and 47 patients (21%) were treated in second-to-fourth line. Of patients receiving LEN in first line, 22 (13%) started treatment with S, but switched to LEN before progression due to poor tolerance of S. ORR, DCR, PFS and OS are shown in the table. Toxicities occurred in 86% of patients and led to dose reductions in 76 (35%) patients and drug discontinuation in 53 (24%) patients. The most common side effects were fatigue (59%), hypertension (41%), decreased appetite (25%) and diarrhea (22%). Conclusions: Outcomes of HCC patients treated in Canada with LEN in the first line are comparable to those demonstrated in the REFLECT trial, despite the inclusion of Child-Pugh B and ECOG >1 patients. LEN use in second or later lines also showed similar outcomes, although more conclusions are difficult to draw due to the small numbers. LEN appears to be effective and safe in real world practice outside of Asia in first- and second-to-fourth line treatment of HCC. [Table: see text]


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e16627-e16627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi-Jung Wu ◽  
Ya-Wen Hung ◽  
Pei_Chang Lee ◽  
ChiehJu Lee ◽  
Ming Huang Chen ◽  
...  

e16627 Background: Multi-kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are treatment options of systemic therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Targeted therapy can potentially enhance T cell infiltration and activation, consequently, cooperate with ICIs to produce synergistic anti-tumor effects. The ongoing clinical trial shows promising data by combining pembrolizumab with lenvatinib for advanced HCC. The study tried to evaluate the treatment response and adverse events of pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib for HCC in real-world setting. Methods: From Jul. 2019, patients who received pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib for unresectable HCC in a tertiary medical center in Taiwan were prospectively enrolled. The status of HCC was either in advanced HCC or failed by prior locoregional treatment. The dosage of pembrolizumab was 100mg every 3 weeks. The starting dose of lenvatinib was 10mg per day then titrating to weight-based dose according to recommendation. Patients who had received at least 2 cycles of pembrolizumab were evaluated in this report. The tumor response was assessed with Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 and modified RECIST (mRECIST). The treatment related adverse events (TRAEs) were graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0. Results: Till the end of Jan. 2020, 27 patients had received at least 2 cycles of pembrolizumab, and 17 had evaluable post-treatment images either by CT or MRI. There were 6 (22.2%) in BCLC B, and 21 (77.8%) in BCLC C. Of them, 17 (63%) were treated as the first-line systemic treatment, 8 as the second-line and 2 as the third line systemic treatment. Of the 17 cases with post-treatment image studies, there were 6 (35.3%) in partial response (PR), 7 (41.2%) in stable disease (SD), and 4 (23.5%) in progressive disease (PD) by RECIST v1.1; and 1 (5.8%) in complete response (CR), 9 (52.9%) in PR, 3 (17.6%) in SD and 4 (23.5%) in PD by mRECIST, respectively. The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) by mRECIST were 58.7% and 76.5%, respectively. The most common TRAEs in any grade were hypertension 24 (88.4%), palmar-plantar syndrome 19 (70.4%), hypothyroidism 19(70.4%). The Grade 3/4 TRAEs were 3 (11.1%) with psoriasis-like skin reaction, 3 (11.1%) with hypertension and 2 (7.4%) with palmar-plantar syndrome. Conclusions: Pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib can produce excellent ORR and DCR with tolerable safety profiles. Such combination could be a promising strategy for unresectable HCC in the future.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e16138-e16138
Author(s):  
I-Cheng Lee ◽  
Chi-Jung Wu ◽  
San-Chi Chen ◽  
Yee Chao ◽  
Yi-Hsiang Huang

e16138 Background: The combination of lenvatinib (LEN) and pembrolizumab (PEMBRO) showed promising response rates and survival in a phase 1b trial for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Whether LEN plus PEMBRO provides better outcomes than LEN monotherapy remains unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of LEN plus PEMBRO versus lenvatinib monotherapy in patients with unresectable HCC in the real world setting. Methods: A total of 123 patients with unresectable HCC were retrospectively enrolled, including 61 patients with LEN monotherapy and 62 patients with LEN plus PEMBRO. We evaluated progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) by RECIST 1.1 and modified RECIST (mRECIST) criteria. Results: One hundred and one (82.1%) patients were in BCLC stage C and 81 (65.9%) patients received LEN or LEN plus PEMBRO as first line setting. During a median follow-up period of 8.0 months, 71 (57.7%) and 31 (25.2%) of patients had disease progression and death, respectively. The median PFS was 8.4 and 4.9 months in the LEN plus PEMBRO and LEN monotherapy groups, respectively (p = 0.033). The median OS was not reached in the LEN-PEM group and was 17.2 months in the LEN monotherapy group (p = 0.064). Patients with LEN plus PEMBRO had higher objective response rate (ORR: 34.4% vs 23.7% by RECIST 1.1, p = 0.277; 57.4% vs 32.2% by mRECIST, p = 0.010) and higher disease control rate (83.6% vs 62.7% by RECIST 1.1, p = 0.017; 85.2% vs 62.7% by mRECIST, p = 0.009). In subgroup patients with BCLC stage C, LEN plus PEMBRO provided significantly longer PFS (9.1 vs 4.8 months, p = 0.008), higher ORR (60% vs 33.3%, p = 0.015) and higher DCR (88% vs 60.4%, p = 0.004) by mRECIST criteria. Conclusions: LEN plus PEMBRO provides significantly better ORR, DCR and PFS then LEN monotherapy for patients with unresectable HCC.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2608
Author(s):  
Kaoru Tsuchiya ◽  
Masayuki Kurosaki ◽  
Azusa Sakamoto ◽  
Hiroyuki Marusawa ◽  
Yuji Kojima ◽  
...  

Background: Lenvatinib (LEN) has been approved for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (u-HCC) since March 2018 in Japan. We performed a retrospective nationwide multicenter study to clarify the clinical characteristics of LEN in real-world practice. Methods: A total of 343 u-HCC patients who received LEN from March 2018 to May 2020 at 23 sites in Japan were registered. Results: During the median observation period of 10.5 months, 143 patients died. In Child-Pugh A (n = 276) and Child-Pugh B (n = 67) patients, the median overall survival (OS) was 21.0 and 9.0 months. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 8.8 months in Child-Pugh A patients. The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) according to modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST criteria) were 42.1% and 82.1%. The independent pretreatment factors associated with mortality in all patients were AFP ≥ 400 ng/mL (hazard ratio (HR) 2.00, 95% confidential interval (95% CI) 1.08–2.09, p < 0.0001), modified albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade 2b or 3 (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.09–2.17, p = 0.012), major vascular invasion (HR 1.91, 95% CI 1.26–2.89, p = 0.0022), PS > 0 (HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.09–2.08, p = 0.014), and MTT (molecular targeted therapy) experience (HR 2.22, 95% CI 1.56–3.13, p = 0.00038). In the MTT naïve patients with ALBI grade 1 or modified ALBI 2a and BCLC stage B (n = 68), median OS and PFS were 25.3 and 12.3 months. Liver-related adverse events during LEN were the only significant adverse event associated with OS (HR 2.74, 95% CI 1.93–3.88, p < 0.0001). Among the Child-Pugh A patients with extrahepatic metastasis and no major vascular invasion, median PFS in the patients with bone metastasis was significantly shorter than those with lung or adrenal grand metastasis (6.3 vs. 12.5 months, p = 0.0025). Conclusion: LEN showed a high response rate in real-world practice. Pretreatment factors, including ALBI score, AFP, and major vascular invasion are important in making a treatment strategy for patients with u-HCC. The patients with bone metastasis would be candidates for new therapeutic approaches.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-88
Author(s):  
TEIJI KUZUYA ◽  
NAOTO KAWABE ◽  
SENJU HASHIMOTO ◽  
RYOJI MIYAHARA ◽  
TAKUJI NAKANO ◽  
...  

Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including those with disease refractory to lenvatinib, in clinical practice. Patients and Methods: Of 34 patients treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, a total of 23, including 16 with lenvatinib failure, were enrolled in this retrospective study. The adverse events, changes in liver function and antitumor responses at 6 weeks after starting therapy were evaluated. Results: The incidence of grade 3 adverse events was low, at 13.0%. Albumin–bilirubin scores did not worsen at 3 and 6 weeks compared to baseline. The objective response rate and disease control rate at 6 weeks were 17.4% and 78.3% according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), and 30.4% and 78.3% according to modified RECIST, respectively. Conclusion: Our results suggest that atezolizumab plus bevacizumab might have potential therapeutic safety and efficacy in patients with advanced HCC, including those with disease refractory to lenvatinib. Further studies are needed to confirm the outcomes of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab after lenvatinib failure.


2020 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. S911
Author(s):  
Kaoru Tsuchiya ◽  
Masayuki Kurosaki ◽  
Azusa Sakamoto ◽  
Hiroyuki Matusawa ◽  
Chitomi Hasebe ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatsuya Yamashita ◽  
Masatoshi Kudo ◽  
Kenji Ikeda ◽  
Namiki Izumi ◽  
Ryosuke Tateishi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background A phase 3, multinational, randomized, non-inferiority trial (REFLECT) compared the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib (LEN) and sorafenib (SOR) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). LEN had an effect on overall survival (OS) compared to SOR, statistically confirmed by non-inferiority [OS: median = 13.6 months vs. 12.3 months; hazard ratio (HR) 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79–1.06], and demonstrated statistically significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) and the objective response rate (ORR) in the overall population. The results of a subset analysis that evaluated the efficacy and safety of LEN and SOR in the Japanese population are reported. Methods The intent-to-treat population enrolled in Japan was analyzed. Results Of 954 patients in the overall population, 168 Japanese patients were assigned to the LEN arm (N = 81) or the SOR arm (N = 87). Median OS was 17.6 months for LEN vs. 17.8 months for SOR (HR 0.90; 95% CI 0.62–1.29). LEN showed statistically significant improvements over SOR in PFS (7.2 months vs. 4.6 months) and ORR (29.6% vs. 6.9%). The relative dose intensity of LEN and SOR in the Japanese population was lower than in the overall population. Frequently observed, related adverse events included palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome (PPES), hypertension, decreased appetite, and proteinuria in the LEN arm, and PPES, hypertension, diarrhea, and alopecia in the SOR arm. Conclusions The efficacy and safety of LEN in the Japanese population were similar to those in the overall population of REFLECT. With manageable adverse events, LEN is a new treatment option for Japanese patients with uHCC. Trial registration ID ClinicalTrials.gov. No. NCT01761266.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document