scholarly journals On-Treatment Albumin-Bilirubin Grade: Predictor of Response and Outcome of Sorafenib-Regorafenib Sequential Therapy in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 3758
Author(s):  
Hung-Wei Wang ◽  
Po-Heng Chuang ◽  
Wen-Pang Su ◽  
Jung-Ta Kao ◽  
Wei-Fan Hsu ◽  
...  

In the RESORCE study, regorafenib after sorafenib therapy improved survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In total, 88 patients with unresectable HCC who received sorafenib–regorafenib sequential therapy were enrolled. The objective response rate and disease control rate were 19.3% and 48.9%, respectively, for regorafenib therapy (median duration: 8.1 months). Median progression-free survival (PFS) after regorafenib therapy was 4.2 months (95% CI: 3.2–5.1). The median overall survival (OS; from initiation of either sorafenib or regorafenib) was not reached in this cohort. According to multivariate Cox regression analyses, albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade at the initiation of regorafenib therapy is an independent predictor of disease control, PFS, and OS. Moreover, the combination of ALBI grade 2 and an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level of ≥20 ng/mL was an independent predictor of PFS (hazard ratio (HR): 3.088, 95% CI: 1.704–5.595; p < 0.001) for regorafenib therapy, and OS for both regorafenib (HR: 3.783, 95% CI: 1.316–10.88; p = 0.014) and sorafenib–regorafenib sequential (HR: 4.603, 95% CI: 1.386–15.29; p = 0.013) therapy. A combination of ALBI grade and AFP level can be used to stratify patients with unresectable HCC by PFS and OS probability for sorafenib–regorafenib sequential therapy.

Oncology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Teiji Kuzuya ◽  
Naoto Kawabe ◽  
Senju Hashimoto ◽  
Ryoji Miyahara ◽  
Akira Sawaki ◽  
...  

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The aim of this study was to investigate the early changes in alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) levels in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and to evaluate the relationship between changes in these tumor markers and treatment efficacy. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Of 58 consecutive patients who started atezolizumab plus bevacizumab at our institution, 50 patients with information on antitumor response obtained at 6 weeks after therapy were enrolled in this study and their treatment outcomes were retrospectively evaluated. <b><i>Results:</i></b> According to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors at 6 weeks, the objective response (OR) rate was 22.0% and the disease control (DC) rate was 78.0%. In patients who achieved OR at 6 weeks, median AFP and DCP ratios at weeks 1, 2, 3, and 6 were significantly lower than those in patients who did not achieve OR. AFP ratios in patients who did not achieve DC at 6 weeks (Non-6W-DC group) were significantly higher than in those who achieved DC at week 6 (6W-DC group). Median overall survival in the Non-6W-DC group was significantly shorter than in the 6W-DC group (156 days vs. not reached, <i>p</i> = 0.0008). An AFP ratio of 1.4 or higher at 3 weeks had a specificity of 88.0% and a sensitivity of 88.9% for predicting Non-6W-DC. Median progression-free survival was significantly shorter in patients with an AFP ratio of 1.4 or higher at 3 weeks than in those with an AFP ratio of &#x3c;1.4 (42 days vs. 210 days, <i>p</i> = 0.0003). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Early changes in AFP might be useful for predicting the antitumor efficacy of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in patients with advanced HCC. An AFP ratio of 1.4 or higher at 3 weeks might be an early predictor of refractoriness to atezolizumab plus bevacizumab therapy.


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.


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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e001033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petros Fessas ◽  
Ahmed Kaseb ◽  
Yinghong Wang ◽  
Anwaar Saeed ◽  
David Szafron ◽  
...  

BackgroundNivolumab is Food and Drug Administration approved in sorafenib-experienced, advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Post-registration data of treatment in a real-world setting is lacking.Patients and methodsWe performed an international, multicenter observational study to confirm safety and efficacy of nivolumab in 233 patients treated outside clinical trials from eight centers in North America, Europe and Asia.ResultsPatients received nivolumab for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C (n=191, 92.0%) and Child-Pugh (CP) A (n=158, 67.8%) or B (n=75, 32.2%) HCC as first (n=85, 36.5%) or second to fourth systemic therapy line (n=148, 63.5%). Objective response rate (ORR) was 22.4% and disease control rate was 52.1%. Median overall survival (OS) was 12.2 months (95% CI 8.4 to 16.0) and median progression-free survival was 10.1 months (95% CI 6.1 to 14.2). Treatment-related adverse events of grade >2 occurred in 26 patients (11.2%). Efficacy and safety were similar across CP classes and therapy line. OS was shorter in CP-B than A (7.3 months vs 16.3 months, p<0.001) and in post-first line use (10.4 months vs 16.3 months, p=0.05). Achievement of an objective response predicted for improved OS (25.4 months vs 13.2 months, p<0.001).ConclusionsThis study confirms safety and efficacy of nivolumab in advanced HCC across various lines of therapy and degrees of liver dysfunction. Despite equal ORR and toxicity to nivolumab, patients with CP-B functional class have shorter survival than the patients with CP-A.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 175883591988900
Author(s):  
Hsin-Lun Lee ◽  
Jo-Ting Tsai ◽  
Chun-You Chen ◽  
Ying-Chun Lin ◽  
Chin-Beng Ho ◽  
...  

Background: Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) can deliver tumoricidal doses and achieve long-term control in early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, limited studies have investigated the safety and effectiveness of SABR in patients with advanced diseases that is unsuitable for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods: In this observational study, we reviewed the medical records of patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage C disease treated with linear accelerator-based SABR between 2008 and 2016. Their tumors were either refractory to TACE or TACE was contraindicated. Overall survival (OS), in-field progression-free survival (IFPFS), and out-field progression-free survival were calculated using Kaplan–Meier analysis. The Cox regression model was used to examine the effects of variables. Treatment-related toxicities were scored according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 4.03) and whether patients developed radiation-induced liver disease (RILD) after SABR. Results: This study included 32 patients. The mean maximal tumor diameter and tumor volumes were 4.7 cm and 135.9 ml, respectively. Patients received linear accelerator-based SABR with a median prescribed dose of 48 Gy (30–60 Gy) in three to six fractions. Based on the assessment of treatment response by using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (version 1.1), 19% of patients achieved a complete response and 53% achieved a partial response. After a median follow-up of 18.1 months (4.0–65.9 months), 10, 19, and 9 patients experienced in-field failure, out-field hepatic recurrence, and extrahepatic metastases, respectively. The estimated 2-year OS and IFPFS rates were 54.4% and 62.7%, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, a pretreatment Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) score of ⩾2 ( p = 0.01) was a prognostic factor for shorter OS, and a biologically effective dose (BED) of < 85 Gy10 ( p = 0.011) and a Child–Pugh score of ⩾6 ( p = 0.014) were prognostic factors for inferior IFPFS. In this study five and eight patients developed classic and nonclassic RILD, respectively. Conclusions: SABR can serve as a salvage treatment for patients with HCC with BCLC stage C disease unsuitable for TACE, in particular, in those with a baseline CLIP score of ⩽1. A BED10 of ⩾85 Gy is an appropriate prescribed dose for tumor control. Because out-field relapse is the major cause of treatment failure, SABR in combination with novel systemic modalities should be investigated in future studies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 175883592110027
Author(s):  
Min-Ke He ◽  
Run-Bin Liang ◽  
Yang Zhao ◽  
Yu-Jie Xu ◽  
Huan-Wei Chen ◽  
...  

Background: Lenvatinib is the first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, but prognosis is still unsatisfactory. Recently, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), and immune checkpoint inhibitors showed promising results for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Considering different anti-malignancy mechanisms, combining these three treatments may improve outcomes. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib, toripalimab, plus HAIC versus lenvatinib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: This was a retrospective study including patients treated with lenvatinib [8 mg (⩽60 kg) or 12 mg (>60 kg) once daily] or lenvatinib, toripalimab plus HAIC [LeToHAIC group, lenvatinib 0–1 week prior to initial HAIC, 240 mg toripalimab 0–1 day prior to every HAIC cycle, and HAIC with FOLFOX regimen (oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, leucovorin 400 mg/m2, 5-fluorouracil bolus 400 mg/m2 on day 1, and 5-fluorouracil infusion 2400 mg/m2 for 46 h, every 3 weeks)]. Progression-free survival, overall survival, objective response rate, and treatment-related adverse events were compared. Results: From February 2019 to August 2019, 157 patients were included in this study: 71 in the LeToHAIC group and 86 in the lenvatinib group. The LeToHAIC group showed longer progression-free survival (11.1 versus 5.1 months, p < 0.001), longer overall survival (not reached versus 11 months, p < 0.001), and a higher objective response rate (RECIST: 59.2% versus 9.3%, p < 0.001; modified RECIST: 67.6% versus 16.3%, p < 0.001) than the lenvatinib group. In addition, 14.1% and 21.1% of patients in the LeToHAIC group achieved complete response of all lesions and complete response of the intrahepatic target lesions per modified RECIST criteria, respectively. Grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events that were more frequent in the LeToHAIC group than in the lenvatinib group included neutropenia (8.5% versus 1.2%), thrombocytopenia (5.6% versus 0), and nausea (5.6% versus 0). Conclusions: Lenvatinib, toripalimab, plus HAIC had acceptable toxic effects and might improve survival compared with lenvatinib alone in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjun Huang ◽  
Yongjian Guo ◽  
Wensou Huang ◽  
Zining Xu ◽  
Liteng Lin ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of regorafenib combined with immune checkpoint inhibitor sintilimab (rego-sintilimab) as second-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who failed prior sorafenib or lenvatinib.Methods: This retrospective study evaluated consecutive patients with advanced HCC who received rego-sintilimab (rego-sintilimab group) or regorafenib alone (regorafenib group) as second-line treatment from January 2019 to December 2020. Adverse events, objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were compared between the two groups. Results: Eighty-three patients were included: 48 received rego-sintilimab and 35 received regorafenib. Rego-sintilimab group had higher ORR (33.3% vs 14.3%, P =.049), longer PFS (median, 5.1 vs 3.0 months; P =.001), and better OS (median, 13.3 vs 9.1 months; P =.001) than regorafenib group. Regorafenib alone, Child-Pugh B, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) >3.5 were independent prognostic factors for poor OS in uni- and multi-variable analyses. Subgroup analyses showed that, in patients with Child-Pugh A (16.4 vs 11.5 months; P =.005), Child-Pugh B (8.8 vs 6.4 months; P =.032), or NLR ≤3.5 (16.3 vs 11.5 months; P =.012), rego-sintilimab group had significantly better median OS than regorafenib group, whereas median OS was not significantly different between the two groups in patients with NLR >3.5 (8.4 vs 7.0 months; P =.288). The incidences of grade 3/4 adverse events were similar between the two groups (39.4% vs 34.1%; P =.445).Conclusion: Rego-sintilimab was tolerable and led to better OS than regorafenib as second-line treatment for advanced HCC patients, especially in those with NLR ≤3.5.


Author(s):  
Shin Kariya ◽  
Yasushi Shimizu ◽  
Nobuhiro Hanai ◽  
Ryuji Yasumatsu ◽  
Tomoya Yokota ◽  
...  

Abstract Background To examine the effect of prior use of cetuximab and neck dissection on the effectiveness of nivolumab, we conducted a large-scale subgroup analysis in Japanese patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer. Methods Data on the effectiveness of nivolumab were extracted from patient medical records. All patients were analyzed for effectiveness by prior cetuximab use. In the analyses for prior neck dissection, only patients with locally advanced disease were included. Results Of 256 patients analyzed, 155 had received prior cetuximab. Nineteen of 50 patients with local recurrence underwent neck dissection. The objective response rate was 14.7 vs 17.2% (p = 0.6116), median progression-free survival was 2.0 vs 3.1 months (p = 0.0261), and median overall survival was 8.4 vs 12 months (p = 0.0548) with vs without prior cetuximab use, respectively. The objective response rate was 23.1 vs 25.9% (p = 0.8455), median progression-free survival was 1.8 vs 3.0 months (p = 0.6650), and median overall survival was 9.1 vs 9.9 months (p = 0.5289) with vs without neck dissection, respectively. Conclusions These findings support the use of nivolumab for patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer regardless of prior cetuximab use or neck dissection history. Trial registration number UMIN-CTR (UMIN000032600), Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03569436)


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 317-317
Author(s):  
Kazufumi Kobayashi ◽  
Sadahisa Ogasawara ◽  
Aya Takahashi ◽  
Yuya Seko ◽  
Satoshi Tsuchiya ◽  
...  

317 Background: There have been considerable advances in systemic chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in recent times. Currently, four molecular target agents (MTA) are available for HCC treatment in Japan. Sequential therapy using multiple MTAs is being considered as the gold standard of treatment. However, the effectiveness of the treatment strategy transition for HCC remains unclear. The present study aimed to clarify the current practical use of MTAs and its effectiveness in HCC treatment. Methods: In this multicenter, retrospective study, we collected and analyzed the clinical data of 877 patients who underwent MTA therapy for HCC from June 2009 to March 2019 at several institutes in Japan. The patients were classified into 3 groups as per the period of initial MTA treatment beginning (period 1: 2009–2012, n = 267; period 2: 2013–2016, n = 352; period 3: 2017–2019, n = 258). These 3 periods were defined to have approximately same term. Period 3 means the era of multiple MTAs because of the approval of regorafenib in Japan in 2017. We assessed the patient characteristics, MTA use, and prognosis of the 3 groups. Results: The proportion of patients with advanced-stage HCC, defined according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system, in each period was 70.1%, 66.5%, and 62.0% in period 1, 2, and 3, respectively. MTA use for intermediate stages increased with the passage of time ( p = 0.052). The proportion of multiple MTAs use was remarkably increased in the 3 groups (1.1%, 10.2%, and 42.6%, respectively, p < 0.0001). Child-Pugh score, proportion of macrovascular invasion, extrahepatic metastasis, and α-fetoprotein (AFP) ≥400 ng/mL showed no significant difference among the 3 groups. The median overall survival was 11.9 months for the entire cohort and 10.4, 11.3, and 15.2 months, for period 1, 2, and 3, respectively. It is noteworthy that the prognosis of patients with HCC improved over time ( p = 0.016). With respect to progression-free survival, the median value was 3.0 months for the entire cohort and 2.7, 2.8, and 4.7 months for period 1, 2, and 3, respectively ( p < 0.0001). The treatment duration was also prolonged with time (2.7, 3.2, and 6.6 months for period 1, 2, and 3, respectively; p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazard model showed that HCV infection, Child-Pugh score, performance status, α-fetoprotein ≥400 ng/mL, presence of macrovascular invasion, and period 3 for initial MTA introduction were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: Sequential therapy with multiple MTAs has gained popularity with time and is considered to improve patient prognosis. The development of MTA therapy for HCC is expected to continue. Therefore, further studies are needed to help determine the appropriate drugs, the sequence of MTA use, and the precise transition time.


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