scholarly journals Transarterial Chemoembolization Improves Survival in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Treated with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Plus Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Author(s):  
Yue Hu ◽  
Tao Pan ◽  
Xi Cai ◽  
Quansheng He ◽  
Yubao Zheng ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundThe survival benefit and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is unclear. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of TACE combined with TKIs and ICIs the treatment of advanced HCC. MethodsIn this study, the conditions of 147 patients with advanced HCC who underwent TKIs plus ICIs treatment between July 2017 and April 2020 were evaluated. We divided these patients into the TACE group and non-TACE group based on whether they were treated with TACE during TKIs plus ICIs treatment, and compared their survival outcomes, especially overall survival (OS), and whether they were exposed to unexpected toxicities. ResultsIn this study, a total of 98 patients who underwent TACE during TKIs plus ICIs treatment were included in the TACE group, while the other 49 patients were included in the non-TACE group. According to the Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST), the objective response rate (ORR) of the TACE group was higher than that of the non-TACE group (ORR 74.5% vs. 40.8%, p <0.001). The OS of the TACE group was significantly longer than the non-TACE group (OS 19.3 months vs. 10.8 months, p = 0.010). The incidence of grade 3-4 toxicities in the TACE group was similar to that in the non-TACE group (33.7% vs. 28.6%, p = 0.532). ConclusionsThe TACE treatment combined with TKIs plus ICIs resulted in longer OS compared to the treatment of systemic TKIs plus ICIs without TACE during the process of advanced HCC.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (17) ◽  
pp. 6302
Author(s):  
Michela Guardascione ◽  
Giuseppe Toffoli

In advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), systemic treatment represents the standard therapy. Target therapy has marked a new era based on a greater knowledge of molecular disease signaling. Nonetheless, survival outcomes and long-term response remain unsatisfactory, mostly because of the onset of primary or acquired resistance. More recently, results from clinical trials with immune targeting agents, such as the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), have shown a promising role for these drugs in the treatment of advanced HCC. In the context of an intrinsic tolerogenic liver environment, since HCC-induced immune tolerance, it is supported by multiple immunosuppressive mechanisms and several clinical trials are now underway to evaluate ICI-based combinations, including their associations with antiangiogenic agents or multikinase kinase inhibitors and multiple ICIs combinations. In this review, we will first discuss the basic principles of hepatic immunogenic tolerance and the evasive mechanism of antitumor immunity in HCC; furthermore we will elucidate the consistent biological rationale for immunotherapy in HCC even in the presence of an intrinsic tolerogenic environment. Subsequently, we will critically report and discuss current literature on ICIs in the treatment of advanced HCC, including a focus on the currently explored combinatorial strategies and their rationales. Finally, we will consider both challenges and future directions in this field.


2022 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Yang ◽  
Jun Yang ◽  
Wei Xiang ◽  
Bin-Yan Zhong ◽  
Wan-Ci Li ◽  
...  

PurposeTo explore the safety and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC).Materials and MethodsFrom August 2019 to July 2020, patients who received TACE combined with ICIs and TKIs were retrospectively analyzed. Treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were recorded. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate time to progression (TTP) and progression-free survival (PFS).ResultsIn total, 31 patients with uHCC were included. Eleven patients were classified as BCLC-C. Nineteen patients had multiple lesions, and the cumulative targeted lesions were 69 mm (range, 21-170 mm) according to mRECIST. Twenty-nine (93%) patients experienced at least one AE during the treatment. Four (12.9%) patients developed AEs of higher grade (grade≥3). The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 64.5% and 77.4%, respectively. The median time to response was 7 weeks (range, 4-30 w), and the duration of response was 17.5 weeks (range, 2-46 w). From the first ICIs, TTP and PFS were 6.5 months (95% CI, 3.5-11) and 8.5 months (95% CI, 3.5-NE), respectively.ConclusionsTACE combined with ICIs and TKIs shows an acceptable safety profile and considerable efficacy in patients with HCC.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-283
Author(s):  
Amy Lee ◽  
Fa-Chyi Lee

AbstractIn terms of global cancer-related deaths, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has the fourth highest mortality rate. Up until 2017, treatment of advanced HCC was largely limited to sorafenib, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, with little to no success in the development of alternative treatment options. However, in the past two years, there has been an unprecedented increase in both the number and type of treatment options available for HCC. As of 2019, the US FDA has approved four oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors, two immune checkpoint inhibitors, and one anti-angiogenesis antibody for the treatment of HCC. Even with this new variety, systemic treatment of advanced HCC remains largely unsatisfactory, and the median survival rate stands at approximately one year. The expected breakthrough of using immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced HCC did not materialize in 2019. The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in conjunction with oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors or anti-angiogenesis medications is the current clinical research trend, the results of which are eagerly anticipated. Despite limited progress in survival, HCC research is currently experiencing a period of growth and innovation, and there is hope for significant advances in the treatment of advanced HCC as the field continues to develop.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 361-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Cheung Yau ◽  
Vikki Tang ◽  
Jess Chan ◽  
Gin Wai Kwok ◽  
Joanne Chiu ◽  
...  

361 Background: The outcomes of tyrosine kinase inhibitor(TKI) treatment after immune checkpoint inhibitors (PD-1i, PD-L1i, CTLA-4i) in unresectable/advanced HCC population is largely unknown. Methods: Retrospective analysis of advanced HCC patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors followed by TKI therapy at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong were reviewed for the outcomes. Patients received locoregional therapy immediately after immunotherapy were excluded. Results: From January 2016 to July 2018, 30 HCC patients (83% of HBV, 80% of Child Pugh A, 83% of EHS/ MVI, median AFP=1,353ng/mL) who received TKI (11 lenvatinib, 10 sorafenib, 6 regorafenib, 3 axitinib) after immunotherapy were identified. TKI post-immunotherapy ("index TKI") was administered as third-line or beyond in 70% of patients. At the time of analysis (September 2018), median duration of index TKI was 72 days (IQR 36- 119∗) (∗3 patients were still receiving TKI). AFP declined in 53% of patients and the median change from baseline to nadir was -25% (IQR -65% to +6%). 40% of patients received subsequent systemic therapy. Median OS from index TKI was 602 days (95%CI 124-not reached; death event rate: 47%). 3 patients achieved partial response to TKI and they had at least stable disease with the previous immunotherapy. No unexpected safety issues of TKI and death related to adverse events were noted (table). Conclusions: TKI is active with good tolerabilty following immunotherapy in advanced HCC patients.[Table: see text]


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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e16156-e16156
Author(s):  
Jian He ◽  
Zhiqiang Mo ◽  
Qicong Mai ◽  
Xiaoming Chen

e16156 Background: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been shown to associate with tumor progression. The present study was to investigate the role of NLR on predicting the treatment response for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 81 patients received ICIs for advanced HCC from January 2017 to July 2019. We analyzed whether pre- and first 3 weeks post- treatment serum NLR level was associated with ICIs outcome. Results: In this study, the pre-treatment NLR level ranged from 0.64 to 14.93 among 81 patients. The cut-off level of NLR was set as the median value of 2.79. The objective response rate (ORR) in the patients with NLR<2.79 (low NLR) was 25.0%, which was significantly better than that of patients with NLR ≥2.79 (high NLR) (7.3%, P =0.03). Compared to patients with high NLR, patients with low NLR exhibited significantly longer median progression-free survival (PFS) (3.7 vs 3.0 months, P =0.004) and median overall survival (OS) (10.3 vs 7.5 months, P =0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed high NLR was an independent unfavourable prognostic factor for PFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.857, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.093-3.154; P = 0.022) and OS (HR = 2.267, 95% CI = 1.221-4.207; P = 0.009). For the patients with high pre-treatment NLR level, ICIs outcome was stratified more clearly by first 3 weeks post- treatment NLR level. Conclusions: The pre- and first 3 weeks post- treatment serum NLR level could be considered as a predictive factor of treatment response for ICIs in patients with advanced HCC.


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