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Hao L, Li S, Ye F, Wang H, Zhong Y, Zhang X, Hu X, Huang X. The current status and future of targeted-immune combination for hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1418965. [PMID: 39161764 PMCID: PMC11330771 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1418965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers and the third leading cause of death worldwide. surgery, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), systemic therapy, local ablation therapy, radiotherapy, and targeted drug therapy with agents such as sorafenib. However, the tumor microenvironment of liver cancer has a strong immunosuppressive effect. Therefore, new treatments for liver cancer are still necessary. Immune checkpoint molecules, such as programmed death-1 (PD-1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), along with high levels of immunosuppressive cytokines, induce T cell inhibition and are key mechanisms of immune escape in HCC. Recently, immunotherapy based on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) as monotherapy or in combination with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, anti-angiogenesis drugs, chemotherapy agents, and topical therapies has offered great promise in the treatment of liver cancer. In this review, we discuss the latest advances in ICIs combined with targeted drugs (targeted-immune combination) and other targeted-immune combination regimens for the treatment of patients with advanced HCC (aHCC) or unresectable HCC (uHCC), and provide an outlook on future prospects. The literature reviewed spans the last five years and includes studies identified using keywords such as "hepatocellular carcinoma," "immune checkpoint inhibitors," "targeted therapy," "combination therapy," and "immunotherapy".
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyuan Hao
- Clinical Medical College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shenghao Li
- Clinical Medical College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Fanghang Ye
- Clinical Medical College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hengyi Wang
- Clinical Medical College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuxin Zhong
- Clinical Medical College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaoyi Zhang
- Clinical Medical College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaoyu Hu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaopeng Huang
- Department of Urology/Andrology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Huang Z, Chen T, Li W, Qiu J, Liu S, Wu Z, Li B, Yuan Y, He W. PD-L1 inhibitor versus PD-1 inhibitor plus bevacizumab with transvascular intervention in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Exp Med 2024; 24:138. [PMID: 38940944 PMCID: PMC11213731 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-024-01415-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Both atezolizumab (a PD-L1 inhibitor) plus bevacizumab (A+B) and sintilimab (a PD-1 inhibitor) plus bevacizumab (S+B) are recommended as the first-line regimen for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in China. Different efficacy between the two regimens combined with transvascular intervention for unresectable HCC (uHCC) remain unknown. We retrospectively analyzed uHCC patients treated in three centers by simultaneous combination of A+B or S+B with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and FOLFOX-based hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). Objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were compared. Totally 188 patients were included, with 92 and 96 administered A+B+TACE-HAIC (ABTH) and S+B+TACE-HAIC (SBTH), respectively. ORRs (62.0 vs. 70.8%, respectively; P = 0.257) and disease control rates (88.0 vs. 93.8%, P = 0.267) were similar between groups by the mRECIST criteria. ABTH showed no survival advantage over SBTH, with median PFS times of 11.7 months and 13.0 months, respectively (HR = 0.81, 95% CI, 0.52-1.26, P = 0.35) and similar OS times (HR = 1.19, 95% CI, 0.32-4.39, P = 0.8). No significant differences were observed in grade 3-4 TRAEs between groups. Either PD-L1 or PD-1 inhibitor plus bevacizumab combined with TACE-HAIC have similarly excellent therapeutic efficacy with manageable adverse events, representing promising treatment options for uHCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenkun Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tiejun Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenbin Li
- Department of Biliopancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiliang Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shaoru Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zongfeng Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Binkui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunfei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei He
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
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Zhou Y, Li J, Ying J. Anti-PD-1/L1 antibody plus anti-VEGF antibody vs. plus VEGFR-targeted TKI as first-line therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a network meta-analysis. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2024; 5:568-580. [PMID: 38966165 PMCID: PMC11220314 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2024.00236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background This article is based on our previous research, which was presented at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting I and published in Journal of Clinical Oncology as Conference Abstract (JCO. 2023;41:e16148. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.e16148). Both anti-programmed death 1/ligand-1 (PD-1/L1) antibody + anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody (A + A) and anti-PD-1/L1 antibody + VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (A + T) are effective first-line therapies for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. However, there lacks evidence from head-to-head comparisons between these two treatments. We conducted a network meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of them. Methods After a rigorous literature research, 6 phase III trials were identified for the final analysis, including IMbrave150, ORIENT-32, COSMIC-312, CARES-310, LEAP-002, and REFLECT. The experiments were classified into three groups: A + A, A + T, and intermediate reference group. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and incidence of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). Hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for OS and PFS, odds ratio (OR) for ORR, and relative risk (RR) for all grade and grade ≥3 TRAEs were calculated. Under Bayesian framework, the meta-analysis was conducted using sorafenib as intermediate reference. Results With the rank probability of 96%, A + A showed the greatest reduction in the risk of death, without significant difference from A + T (HR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.65-1.04). A + T showed the greatest effect in prolonging PFS and improving ORR with the rank probability of 77%, but there were no statistical differences with A + A. A + A was safer than A + T in terms of all grade of TRAEs (RR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.82-1.00) and particularly in those grade ≥3 (RR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.54-0.77). Conclusions A + A had the greatest probability of delivering the longest OS, while A + T was correlated with larger PFS benefits at the cost of a lower safety rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwen Zhou
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary & Gastric Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jieer Ying
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary & Gastric Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, Zhejiang, China
- Postgraduate training base Alliance of Wenzhou Medical University (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou 310022, Zhejiang, China
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Ali FEM, Ibrahim IM, Althagafy HS, Hassanein EHM. Role of immunotherapies and stem cell therapy in the management of liver cancer: A comprehensive review. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 132:112011. [PMID: 38581991 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Liver cancer (LC) is the sixth most common disease and the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality. The WHO predicts that more than 1 million deaths will occur from LC by 2030. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common form of primary LC. Today, the management of LC involves multiple disciplines, and multimodal therapy is typically selected on an individual basis, considering the intricate interactions between the patient's overall health, the stage of the tumor, and the degree of underlying liver disease. Currently, the treatment of cancers, including LC, has undergone a paradigm shift in the last ten years because of immuno-oncology. To treat HCC, immune therapy approaches have been developed to enhance or cause the body's natural immune response to specifically target tumor cells. In this context, immune checkpoint pathway inhibitors, engineered cytokines, adoptive cell therapy, immune cells modified with chimeric antigen receptors, and therapeutic cancer vaccines have advanced to clinical trials and offered new hope to cancer patients. The outcomes of these treatments are encouraging. Additionally, treatment using stem cells is a new approach for restoring deteriorated tissues because of their strong differentiation potential and capacity to release cytokines that encourage cell division and the formation of blood vessels. Although there is no proof that stem cell therapy works for many types of cancer, preclinical research on stem cells has shown promise in treating HCC. This review provides a recent update regarding the impact of immunotherapy and stem cells in HCC and promising outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fares E M Ali
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71524, Egypt; Michael Sayegh, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aqaba University of Technology, Aqaba 77110, Jordan.
| | - Islam M Ibrahim
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut Branch, Assiut, 71524, Egypt
| | - Hanan S Althagafy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Emad H M Hassanein
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71524, Egypt
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Shen J, Wang X, Yang G, Li L, Fu J, Xu W, Zhang Q, Pan X. Liver Injury and Its Impact on Prognosis in Patients with HBV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Plus Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:207-217. [PMID: 38283694 PMCID: PMC10822136 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s431191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Recently, the triple therapy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) plus immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has become a new treatment option for advanced or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. We aimed to explore the liver injury and its effect on overall survival (OS) in patients treated with this combination therapy. Patients and Methods Patients with HBV-related HCC who were treated with TACE-TKIs-ICIs from January 2020 to December 2021 were enrolled. Liver injury and survival time were the main endpoints of the study. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors associated with liver injury. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to determine prognostic factors for OS. Results As of March 2022, 52 of the 119 enrolled patients developed any grade hepatotoxicity: 15 cases with grade 1, 19 cases with grade 2, 16 cases with grade 3 and 2 cases with grade 4. Our analysis indicated that lack of antiviral prevention was a risk factor for liver injury (OR = 0.149; 95% CI: 0.050-0.442; P = 0.001). The findings suggested that liver injury events (HR = 1.912; 95% CI: 1.031-3.546; P = 0.040) was associated with patient death. The median OS of patients without liver injury, grade 1-2 and grade 3-4 liver injury were undefined, 13.7 months and 11.1 months, respectively (log-rank P = 0.034). Conclusion Liver injury adverse events are common in HBV-related HCC patients treated with TACE-TKIs-ICIs. Patients who developed liver injury had a poor prognosis. For HBV-related HCC patients, effective prophylactic antiviral therapy and regular liver function testing are required before and during this triple therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaming Shen
- Department of Gastroenterology, People’s Hospital of Jingjiang, Taizhou, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xia Wang
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guangde Yang
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Juanjuan Fu
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qingqiao Zhang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiucheng Pan
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Ning C, Jia J, Zhang X, Sun J, Wang Y, Xue J, Zhang L, Hou X, Yang X, Sang X, Duan X, Zhao H. Efficacy and safety of subsequent radiotherapy in patients with advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Hepatobiliary Surg Nutr 2023; 12:882-897. [PMID: 38115944 PMCID: PMC10727817 DOI: 10.21037/hbsn-23-134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Background The development of immunotherapy resistance is associated with a poor prognosis in patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are undergoing treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of subsequent radiotherapy (RT) for patients with advanced-stage HCC who had lesion enlargement or new lesions (NLs) during ICI therapy. Methods This retrospective observational study enrolled 36 patients with advanced-stage HCC who underwent subsequent RT for lesion enlargement or NLs during ICI therapy from two centers. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), 1- and 2-year local control (LC) rates, in-field PFS (IFPFS), out-field PFS (OFPFS), and safety. Results The median follow-up time was 15.3 months. The median PFS was 7.4 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.1-11.7 months], and the median OS was 18.8 months (95% CI: 17.1-20.5 months). ORR and DCR were 38.9% and 72.2%, respectively. In addition, the median IFPFS was 17.8 months (95% CI: 11.5-24.2 months), median OFPFS was 7.9 months (95% CI: 3.4-12.5 months), and estimated 1- and 2-year LC rates were 67.1% and 31.9%, respectively. The most common treatment-related adverse events (all grades) were diarrhea (33.3%), rash (30.6%), and malaise (27.8%); a total of 14 (38.9%) patients developed grade 3-4 AEs. Conclusions Subsequent RT showed reliable antitumor effects and an acceptable safety profile in patients with advanced-stage HCC who had unsatisfactory response to ICI therapy; therefore, it could serve as an optional salvage strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Ning
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Jun Jia
- Department of Radiotherapy, Senior Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China
| | - Xinmu Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Jing Sun
- Department of Radiotherapy, Senior Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China
| | - Yunchao Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Jingnan Xue
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Longhao Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Xiaorong Hou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Xiaobo Yang
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Xinting Sang
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Xuezhang Duan
- Department of Radiotherapy, Senior Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China
| | - Haitao Zhao
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
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Qiu K, Xia Q, Chen H, Ye Q, Mao H, Tian M, Gan Y, Huang Q, Wang H, Duan S. Exploring the anticancer potential of Actinidia chinensis Planch root extracts ( acRoots) on hepatocellular carcinoma: A molecular mechanism study. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21851. [PMID: 38027882 PMCID: PMC10656260 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), ranking as the seventh most prevalent cancer worldwide, poses a significant health challenge. Actinidia chinensis Planch Root extracts (acRoots), a traditional Chinese medicine, has exhibited promising inhibitory effects on the proliferation, invasion, and migration of various cancer cell types. Nevertheless, its specific impact and underlying mechanisms concerning HCC remain unclear. This research aimed to elucidate the anticancer properties and potential molecular mechanisms of acRoots in the HepG2 and LM3 cell lines. Our findings demonstrate that acRoots effectively hampers the in vitro proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. Furthermore, acRoots induces apoptosis and autophagy by impeding the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, with its inhibitory effects on cells being restored under AKT activator induction. This study, for the first time, elucidates that acRoots can suppress HepG2 and LM3 cell proliferation by blocking the Akt/mTOR pathway, thereby activating apoptosis and autophagy. These results underscore the potential of acRoots as a promising antitumor agent for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaijie Qiu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315048, China
| | - Qing Xia
- College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315048, China
| | - Qiong Ye
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315048, China
| | - Haixiang Mao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315048, China
| | - Mei Tian
- College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Yichao Gan
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315048, China
| | - Qinyuan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Haibiao Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315048, China
| | - Shiwei Duan
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
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Liu Q, Li R, Li L, Wang G, Ji S, Zheng X, Jia X, Tao H, Hu Y. Efficacy and safety of anti-PD-1 monotherapy versus anti-PD-1 antibodies plus lenvatinib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a real-world experience. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2023; 15:17588359231206274. [PMID: 37885459 PMCID: PMC10599113 DOI: 10.1177/17588359231206274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The efficacy of anti-programmed cell death (PD)-1 monotherapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC) is limited, and combination therapy with lenvatinib and pembrolizumab has shown promising results. However, comparative studies between immune monotherapies and combination therapies are lacking. Objectives To investigate the efficacy and safety of anti-PD-1 monotherapy (PD-1) and anti-PD-1 plus lenvatinib (PD-1 + L) in patients with aHCC to guide clinical treatment decisions. Design A retrospective study was conducted on a cohort of patients with aHCC who received either PD-1 monotherapy or PD-1 + L combination therapy between January 2018 and January 2020. Methods The study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 94 eligible patients with aHCC, with 39 in the PD-1 group and 55 in the PD-1 + L group. The efficacy outcomes, including objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety, were assessed. Results With a median follow-up of 30.1 months, the PD-1 + L group demonstrated a significantly higher ORR (32.7% versus 10.3%, p = 0.013), better DCR (80.0% versus 53.8%, p = 0.012), longer median PFS (10.6 versus 4.4 months, p < 0.001) and longer median OS (18.4 versus 8.5 months, p = 0.013) than PD-1 group. For the responders, the efficacy of the two groups was durable (DOR was 11.6 versus 3.5 months, p = 0.009). Subgroup analyses based on prior tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment and the presence or absence of macrovascular tumor thrombosis or extrahepatic metastases favored the PD-1 + L group. The combination therapy was a good predictor of PFS and OS in multivariate analysis. Grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events were more common in PD-1 + L group, with higher incidences of hypertension and hand-foot skin reactions. Conclusions PD-1 monotherapy and PD-1 plus lenvatinib combination therapy were well-tolerated in patients with aHCC. PD-1 + L showed significantly better survival benefits than PD-1 monotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyan Liu
- Department of Oncology, Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaMedical School of Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Li
- Department of Health Medicine, Second Medical Center of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lingling Li
- Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Gaokun Wang
- Changchun Second Retired Cadre Rest Center of Jilin Provincial Military Region, Changchun, Jilin
| | - Shiyu Ji
- Department of Oncology, Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xuan Zheng
- Department of Oncology, Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodong Jia
- Department of Oncology, Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, 100 West Fourth Ring Road, Fengtai District, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Haitao Tao
- Department of Oncology, Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, 28 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Yi Hu
- Department of Oncology, Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, 28 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100000, China
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Xie E, Yeo YH, Scheiner B, Zhang Y, Hiraoka A, Tantai X, Fessas P, de Castro T, D’Alessio A, Fulgenzi CAM, Xu S, Tsai HM, Kambhampati S, Wang W, Keenan BP, Gao X, Xing Z, Pinter M, Lin YJ, Guo Z, Vogel A, Tanaka T, Kuo HY, Kelley RK, Kudo M, Yang JD, Pinato DJ, Ji F. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Child-Pugh Class B Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Oncol 2023; 9:1423-1431. [PMID: 37615958 PMCID: PMC10450588 DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.3284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Importance Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are increasingly used in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, data on ICI therapy in patients with advanced HCC and impaired liver function are scarce. Objective To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the efficacy and safety of ICI treatment for advanced HCC with Child-Pugh B liver function. Data Sources PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies from inception through June 15, 2022. Study Selection Randomized clinical trials, cohort studies, or single-group studies that investigated the efficacy or safety of ICI therapy for Child-Pugh B advanced HCC were included. Data Extraction and Synthesis The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guideline was followed to extract data. A random-effects model was adopted if the heterogeneity was significant (I2 > 50%); otherwise, a fixed-effect model was used. Main Outcomes and Measures The objective response rate (ORR) and overall survival (OS) were considered to be the primary efficacy outcomes of ICI treatment for Child-Pugh B advanced HCC, and the incidence of treatment-related adverse events (trAEs) was set as the primary measure for the safety outcome. Results A total of 22 studies including 699 patients with Child-Pugh B and 2114 with Child-Pugh A advanced HCC comprised the analytic sample (median age range, 53-73 years). Upon pooled analysis, patients treated with ICIs in the Child-Pugh B group had an ORR of 14% (95% CI, 11%-17%) and disease control rate (DCR) of 46% (95% CI, 36%-56%), with a median OS of 5.49 (95% CI, 3.57-7.42) months and median progression-free survival of 2.68 (95% CI, 1.85-3.52) months. The rate of any grade trAEs in the Child-Pugh B group was 40% (95% CI, 34%-47%) and of grade 3 or higher trAEs was 12% (95% CI, 6%-23%). Compared with the Child-Pugh A group, the ORR (odds ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.43-0.81; P < .001) and DCR (odds ratio, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.50-0.81; P < .001) were lower in the Child-Pugh B group. Child-Pugh B was independently associated with worse OS in patients with advanced HCC treated with ICIs (hazard ratio, 2.72 [95% CI, 2.34-3.16]; adjusted hazard ratio, 2.33 [95% CI, 1.81-2.99]). However, ICIs were not associated with increased trAEs in the Child-Pugh B group. Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that although the safety of ICI treatment was comparable between patients with HCC with vs without advanced liver disease and the treatment resulted in a significant number of radiologic responses, survival outcomes are still inferior in patients with worse liver function. More study is needed to determine the effectiveness of ICI treatment in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrui Xie
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yee Hui Yeo
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Bernhard Scheiner
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- The Eighth Hospital of Xi’an City, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Atsushi Hiraoka
- Gastroenterology Center, Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Xinxing Tantai
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Petros Fessas
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Tiago de Castro
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Antonio D’Alessio
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Shuo Xu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Hong-Ming Tsai
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Swetha Kambhampati
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
| | - Wenjun Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Bridget P. Keenan
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco
| | - Xu Gao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Zixuan Xing
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Matthias Pinter
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Yih-Jyh Lin
- Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Zhanjun Guo
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Arndt Vogel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Takaaki Tanaka
- Gastroenterology Center, Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Hsin-Yu Kuo
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Robin K. Kelley
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco
| | - Masatoshi Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ju Dong Yang
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - David J. Pinato
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
- Division of Oncology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale “A Avogadro,” Novara, Italy
| | - Fanpu Ji
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnosis and Biotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi Provincial Clinical Medical Research Center of Infectious Diseases, Xi’an, China
- Key Laboratory of Surgical Critical Care and Life Support (Xi’an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education, Xi’an, China
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10
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Yang Zhou J, Eder D, Weber F, Heumann P, Kronenberg K, Werner JM, Geissler EK, Schlitt HJ, Hutchinson JA, Bitterer F. Case report: Predictability of clinical response and rejection risk after immune checkpoint inhibition in liver transplantation. FRONTIERS IN TRANSPLANTATION 2023; 2:1211916. [PMID: 38993841 PMCID: PMC11235248 DOI: 10.3389/frtra.2023.1211916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Background The approval of Atezolizumab / Bevacizumab therapy (Atezo/Bev) in 2020 opened up a promising new treatment option for patients with end-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, liver transplant (LTx) patients with HCC are still denied this therapy owing to concerns about ICI-induced organ rejection and lack of regulatory approval. Methods A prospective observational study at a tertiary liver transplant centre monitored the compassionate, off-label use of Atezo/Bev in a single, stable LTx recipient with non-resectable HCC recurrence. Close clinical, laboratory and immunological monitoring of the patient was performed throughout a four-cycle Atezo/Bev treatment. Measured parameters were selected after a systematic review of the literature on predictive markers for clinical response and risk of graft rejection caused by ICI therapy. Results 19 articles describing 20 unique predictive biomarkers were identified. The most promising negative prognostic factors were the baseline values and dynamic course of IL-6, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and the AFP/CRP ratio. The frequency of regulatory T cells (Treg) reportedly correlates with the success of ICI therapy. PD-L1 and CD28 expression level with the allograft, peripheral blood CD4+ T cell numbers and Torque Teno Virus (TTV) titre may predict risk of LTx rejection following ICI therapy. No relevant side effects or acute rejection occurred during Atezo/Bev therapy; however, treatment did not prevent tumor progression. Absence of PD-L1 expression in pre-treatment liver biopsies, as well as a progressive downregulation of CD28 expression by CD4+ T cells during therapy, correctly predicted absence of rejection. Furthermore, increased IL-6 and AFP levels after starting therapy, as well as a reduction in blood Treg frequency, correctly anticipated a lack of therapeutic response. Conclusion Atezo/Bev therapy for unresectable HCC in stable LTx patients remains a controversial strategy because it carries a high-risk of rejection and therapeutic response rates are poorly defined. Although previously described biomarkers of rejection risk and therapeutic response agreed with clinical outcomes in the described case, these immunological parameters are difficult to reliably interpret. Clearly, there is an important unmet need for standardized assays and clinically validated cut-offs before we use these biomarkers to guide treatment decisions for our patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Yang Zhou
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Eder
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Florian Weber
- Institute for Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Heumann
- Department for Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Jens M Werner
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Edward K Geissler
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Hans J Schlitt
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - James A Hutchinson
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Florian Bitterer
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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11
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Ruff SM, Manne A, Cloyd JM, Dillhoff M, Ejaz A, Pawlik TM. Current Landscape of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Curr Oncol 2023; 30:5863-5875. [PMID: 37366922 PMCID: PMC10297531 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30060439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver maintains a balance between immune tolerance and activation in its role as a filtration system. Chronic inflammation disrupts this immune microenvironment, thereby allowing for the rise and progression of cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a liver tumor generally diagnosed in the setting of chronic liver disease. When diagnosed early, the primary treatment is surgical resection, liver transplantation, or liver directed therapies. Unfortunately, patients with HCC often present at an advanced stage or with poor liver function, thereby limiting options. To further complicate matters, most systemic therapies are relatively limited and ineffective among patients with advanced disease. Recently, the IMbrave150 trial demonstrated that the combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab was associated with better survival compared to sorafenib among patients with advanced HCC. As such, atezolizumab and bevacizumab is now recommended first-line therapy for these patients. Tumor cells work to create an immunotolerant environment by preventing the activation of stimulatory immunoreceptors and upregulating expression of proteins that bind inhibitory immunoreceptors. ICIs work to block these interactions and bolster the anti-tumor function of the immune system. We herein provide an overview of the use of ICIs in the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M. Ruff
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Ashish Manne
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jordan M. Cloyd
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Mary Dillhoff
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Aslam Ejaz
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Timothy M. Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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12
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Xie S, Wang M, Zeng C, Ou Y, Zhao L, Wang D, Chen L, Kong F, Yi D. Research progress of targeted therapy combined with immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1197698. [PMID: 37305582 PMCID: PMC10248438 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1197698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common gastrointestinal malignancy with a high mortality rate and limited treatment options. Molecularly targeted drugs combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown unique advantages over single-agent applications, significantly prolonging patient survival. This paper reviews the research progress of molecular-targeted drugs combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and discusses the effectiveness and safety of the combination of the two drugs to provide a reference for the further application of molecular-targeted drugs combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Liwei Chen
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
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13
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Xin Y, Zhang X, Liu N, Peng G, Huang X, Cao X, Zhou X, Li X. Efficacy and safety of lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitor with or without transarterial chemoembolization in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatol Int 2023; 17:753-764. [PMID: 37038024 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-023-10502-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare the clinical benefit and tolerability of triple therapy of lenvatinib, programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor, and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) versus dual therapy of lenvatinib and PD-1 inhibitor in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. METHODS Between October 2018 and September 2021, patients with unresectable HCC who received triple therapy of lenvatinib, PD-1 inhibitor, and TACE or dual therapy of lenvatinib and PD-1 inhibitor participated in this study. The efficacy was evaluated by survival and therapeutic response, and the tolerability was evaluated by the frequency and severity of key adverse events (AEs). RESULTS In total, 118 eligible patients with unresectable HCC who received combination therapy were included in this study. Among them, 60 patients received triple therapy of lenvatinib, PD-1 inhibitor, and TACE (L-P-T group), and 58 eligible patients received dual therapy of lenvatinib and PD-1 inhibitor (L-P group). Patients who received triple therapy had better overall survival (OS) [median, 29.0 vs. 17.8 months, p < 0.01] and progression-free survival (PFS) [median, 16.2 vs. 10.2 months, p < 0.01] than those who received dual therapy. The objective response rate (76.7 vs. 44.9%, p < 0.01) and disease control rate (96.7 vs. 75.9%, p < 0.01) in the L-P-T group were higher than in the L-P group, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed that the treatment option and BCLC stage were independent prognostic factors for OS, while treatment option and tumor number were independent prognostic factors for PFS. The incidence and severity of AEs in the L-P-T group were comparable to those in the L-P group (any grade, 95.0 vs. 94.8%, p = 1.00; grade ≥ 3, 30.0 vs. 27.6%, p = 0.93). CONCLUSION Triple therapy of lenvatinib, PD-1 inhibitor, and TACE may achieve more favorable survival benefits than dual therapy of lenvatinib and PD-1 inhibitor in unresectable HCC patients with manageable safety profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujing Xin
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Xinyuan Zhang
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Ning Liu
- School of Software, Shandong University, Jinan, 250101, Shandong, China
| | - Gang Peng
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Xiaoyu Huang
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Xiaojing Cao
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
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14
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Han CL, Tian BW, Yan LJ, Ding ZN, Liu H, Mao XC, Tian JC, Xue JS, Tan SY, Dong ZR, Yan YC, Hong JG, Chen ZQ, Wang DX, Li T. Efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with macrovascular invasion or extrahepatic spread: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 54 studies with 6187 hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023:10.1007/s00262-023-03390-x. [PMID: 36811662 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03390-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The impacts of macrovascular invasion (MVI) or extrahepatic spread (EHS) on the efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) among hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients remain unclear. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify whether ICI therapy is a feasible treatment option for HCC with MVI or EHS. METHODS Eligible studies published before September 14, 2022, were retrieved. In this meta-analysis, the objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and occurrence of adverse events (AEs) were outcomes of interest. RESULTS Fifty-four studies involving 6187 individuals were included. The findings indicated that the presence of EHS in ICI-treated HCC patients may indicate an inferior ORR (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.63-0.96), but may not significantly affect the PFS (multivariate analyses: HR 1.27, 95% CI 0.70-2.31) and OS (multivariate analyses: HR 1.23, 95% CI 0.70-2.16). Additionally, the presence of MVI in ICI-treated HCC patients may not have significant prognostic impact on ORR (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.64-1.10), but may indicate inferior PFS (multivariate analyses: HR 1.75, 95% CI 1.07-2.84) and OS (multivariate analyses: HR 2.03, 95% CI 1.31-3.14). The presence of EHS or MVI in ICI-treated HCC patients may not significantly impact the occurrence of any serious immune-related adverse events (irAEs) (grades ≥ 3) (EHS: OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.12-1.56; MVI: OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.24-1.88). CONCLUSION The presence of MVI or EHS in ICI-treated HCC patients may not significantly impact the occurrence of serious irAEs. However, the presence of MVI (but not EHS) in ICI-treated HCC patients may be a significant negative prognostic factor. Therefore, ICI-treated HCC patients with MVI warrant more attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Long Han
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Bao-Wen Tian
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Lun-Jie Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Zi-Niu Ding
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin-Cheng Mao
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin-Cheng Tian
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Shuai Xue
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Si-Yu Tan
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhao-Ru Dong
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Chuan Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian-Guo Hong
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Dong-Xu Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Li
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 107 West Wen Hua Road, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China.
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15
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Yang X, Chen B, Wang Y, Wang Y, Long J, Zhang N, Xue J, Xun Z, Zhang L, Cheng J, Lei J, Sun H, Li Y, Lin J, Xie F, Wang D, Pan J, Hu K, Guan M, Huo L, Shi J, Yu L, Zhou L, Zhou J, Lu Z, Yang X, Mao Y, Sang X, Lu Y, Zhao H. Real-world efficacy and prognostic factors of lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitors in 378 unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Hepatol Int 2023; 17:709-719. [PMID: 36753026 PMCID: PMC9907200 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-022-10480-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Combining lenvatinib with a programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor has been explored for the treatment of un-resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). This study aimed to investigate the real-world efficacy of and prognostic factors for survival associated with lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitor treatment in a large cohort of Asian uHCC patients even the global LEAP-002 study failed to achieve the primary endpoints. METHODS Patients with uHCC treated with lenvatinib and PD-1 inhibitors were included. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints were the objective response rate (ORR) and adverse events (AEs). Prognostic factors for survival were also analyzed. RESULTS A total of 378 uHCC patients from two medical centers in China were assessed retrospectively. The median patient age was 55 years, and 86.5% of patients were male. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (89.9%) was the dominant etiology of uHCC. The median OS was 17.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) 14.0-21.6) months. The median PFS was 6.9 (95% CI 6.0-7.9) months. The best ORR and disease control rate (DCR) were 19.6% and 73.5%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, Child‒Pugh grade, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score, involved organs, tumor burden score, and combination with local therapy were independent prognostic factors for OS. A total of 100% and 57.9% of patients experienced all-grade and grade 3/4 treatment-emergent AEs, respectively. CONCLUSION This real-world study of lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitor treatment demonstrated long survival and considerable ORRs and DCRs in uHCC patients in China. The tolerability of combination therapy was acceptable but must be monitored closely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Yang
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Bowen Chen
- Peking University 302 Clinical Medical School, Beijing, China ,Comprehensive Liver Cancer Center, The Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039 China
| | - Yanyu Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Yunchao Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Junyu Long
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Jingnan Xue
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Ziyu Xun
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Linzhi Zhang
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Center, The Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039 China ,Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiamin Cheng
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Center, The Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039 China
| | - Jin Lei
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Center, The Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039 China ,Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Huishan Sun
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Yiran Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Jianzhen Lin
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Fucun Xie
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Dongxu Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Jie Pan
- Department of Radiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ke Hu
- Center of Radiotherapy, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Mei Guan
- Departmentof Medical Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Li Huo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Shi
- Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Lingxiang Yu
- Senior Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Zhou
- Senior Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jinxue Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhenhui Lu
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaobo Yang
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Yilei Mao
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Xinting Sang
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Yinying Lu
- Peking University 302 Clinical Medical School, Beijing, China. .,Comprehensive Liver Cancer Center, The Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China.
| | - Haitao Zhao
- Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, 100730, China.
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FDA-Approved Monoclonal Antibodies for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: What Do We Know So Far? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032685. [PMID: 36769004 PMCID: PMC9916803 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an advanced primary liver malignancy with a poor prognosis. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has, to date, approved nivolumab, pembrolizumab, ramucirumab, nivolumab/ipilimumab, atezolizumab/bevacizumab, as well as tremelimumab/durvalumab, as first- or second-line monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for unresectable HCC. The present review examines the current state of knowledge, and provides a useful update on the safety and efficacy of these therapeutic agents, thus attempting to define the suitability of each mAb for different patient subgroups.
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Tian BW, Yan LJ, Ding ZN, Liu H, Han CL, Meng GX, Xue JS, Dong ZR, Yan YC, Hong JG, Chen ZQ, Wang DX, Li T. Evaluating liver function and the impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients: A systemic review and meta-analysis. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 114:109519. [PMID: 36459922 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have underlying cirrhosis and a compromised liver function. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as an important approach for HCC treatment. The purpose of our study was to explore the prognostic significance of liver function in HCC patients receiving ICIs. METHODS Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to evaluate the relationship between liver function and overall survival (OS)/progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS 41 articles with 4483 patients with HCC were included. The pooled results revealed that either Child-Pugh score (OS:HR = 2.01,95 %CI:1.69-2.38; PFS:HR = 1.39,95 %CI:1.15-1.68) or albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score (OS:HR = 2.04,95 %CI:1.55-2.69; PFS:HR = 1.42,95 %CI:1.21-1.67) can predict the patient prognosis. The Child-Pugh score has some degree of subjectivity, and the ALBI score can better stratify patients. Therefore, the ALBI score was used to evaluate patients' liver function and determine treatment options. Further subgroup analysis found that the results of prospective studies were statistically significant only for the ALBI score with regards to OS (HR = 1.69,95 %CI:1.26-2.26). Meanwhile, the effect of liver function on the efficacy of ICIs in the large-sample studies was not as obvious as that in small-sample studies. Moreover, the incidence of adverse events did not significantly increase in patients with impaired liver function. CONCLUSION Poor liver function is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with HCC receiving ICIs. The ALBI score is simpler and reliable for patient stratification than the Child-Pugh score. Although the survival time of patients with impaired liver function may be relatively short, ICIs still have great potential for therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao-Wen Tian
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital and The Second Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Lun-Jie Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital and The Second Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Zi-Niu Ding
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital and The Second Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital and The Second Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Cheng-Long Han
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital and The Second Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Guang-Xiao Meng
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital and The Second Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Jun-Shuai Xue
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital and The Second Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Zhao-Ru Dong
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital and The Second Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Yu-Chuan Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital and The Second Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Jian-Guo Hong
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital and The Second Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital and The Second Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Dong-Xu Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital and The Second Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Tao Li
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital and The Second Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China.
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Combined CRAFITY score and α-fetoprotein response predicts treatment outcomes in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma receiving anti-programmed death-1 blockade-based immunotherapy. Am J Cancer Res 2023; 13:654-668. [PMID: 36895987 PMCID: PMC9989621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomarkers for predicting the treatment efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based therapy in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) are crucial. Previous studies demonstrated that C-reactive protein and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in immunotherapy (CRAFITY) score at baseline predicted treatment outcomes and that patients with uHCC with AFP response, defined as > 15% decline in AFP level within the initial 3 months of ICI-based therapy, had favorable outcomes when receiving ICI-based therapy. However, whether the combination of CRAFITY score and AFP response could be used to predict treatment efficacy of programmed death-1 (PD-1) blockade-based therapy in uHCC patients remains unclear. We retrospectively enrolled 110 consecutive uHCC patients from May 2017 to March 2022. The median ICI treatment duration was 2.85 (1.67-6.63) months, and 87 patients received combination therapies. The objective response and disease control rates were 21.8% and 46.4%, respectively. The duration of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was 2.87 (2.16-3.58) months and 8.20 (4.23-12.17) months, respectively. We categorized patients into three groups based on CRAFITY score (2 vs 0/1) and AFP response: patients with a CRAFITY score of 0/1 and AFP response (Group 1), those with a CRAFITY score of 2 and no AFP response (group 3), and those who did not belong to Group 1 and 3 (i.e., Group 2). The combination of CRAFITY score and AFP response could predict disease control and could predict PFS compared with CRAFITY score or AFP response alone. The combination of CRAFITY score and AFP response was an independent predictor of OS (Group 2 vs Group 1, HR: 4.513, 95% CI 1.990-10.234; Group 3 vs Group 1, HR: 3.551, 95% CI 1.544-8.168). Our findings indicated that the combination of CRAFITY score and AFP response could predict disease control, PFS, and OS in uHCC patients receiving PD-1 blockade-based immunotherapy.
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19
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Treatment options for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatitis virus infection following sorafenib failure. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2022; 72:1395-1403. [DOI: 10.1007/s00262-022-03324-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Currently, there are a few treatment options for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after progression following sorafenib (SOR) therapy, but with limited benefit. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) as second-line treatment.
Methods
From May 2018 to May 2021, a total of 93 HCCs who failed SOR treatment were included in this study and divided into TKI group (n = 37) and TKI-ICI group (n = 56). Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and safety were estimated among the two groups. In addition, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed for OS and PFS to identify possible prognostic factors.
Results
With a median follow-up time of 13.7 months, the median age of patients was 56 (range, 50–64) years and most were male. All of the patients were hepatitis virus-related HCC. Both median OS (7.63 months vs 19.23 months, P < 0.001) and median PFS (2.97 months vs 8.63 months, P < 0.001) were significantly improved in the TKI-ICI group compared to the TKI group. A significant increase in DCR was demonstrated in the TKI-ICI group compared to the TKI group (83.9% vs 45.9%, P = 0.0003), although no significant difference in ORR was reported (21.4% vs 8.1%, P = 0.1552). Multivariate Cox regression analysis of OS and PFS revealed that second-line regimen was an independent protective factor affecting death and progression in HCCs after SOR failure. In addition, Child–Pugh B7 was an independent risk factor of OS. Finally, there was no significant difference in the incidence of any grade or grade 3/4 adverse events (AEs) between the two groups, and no treatment-related deaths were observed.
Conclusion
This real-world study suggests that the combination of TKIs and ICIs benefits more than mono-TKIs and is well tolerated in HCCs with hepatitis virus infection after SOR failure.
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20
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Testa U, Pelosi E, Castelli G. Clinical value of identifying genes that inhibit hepatocellular carcinomas. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2022; 22:1009-1035. [PMID: 36459631 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2022.2154658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Primary liver cancer is a major health problem being the sixth most frequent cancer in the world and the fourth most frequent cause of cancer-related death in the world. The most common histological type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, 75-80%). AREAS COVERED Based on primary literature, this review provides an updated analysis of studies of genetic characterization of HCC at the level of gene mutation profiling, copy number alterations and gene expression, with definition of molecular subgroups and identification of some molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets. EXPERT OPINION A detailed and comprehensive study of the genetic abnormalities characterizing different HCC subsets represents a fundamental tool for a better understanding of the disease heterogeneity and for the identification of subgroups of patients responding or resistant to targeted treatments and for the discovery of new therapeutic targets. It is expected that a comprehensive characterization of these tumors may provide a fundamental contribution to improve the survival of a subset of HCC patients. Immunotherapy represents a new fundamental strategy for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugo Testa
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, ROME, ITALY
| | - Elvira Pelosi
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, ROME, ITALY
| | - Germana Castelli
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, ROME, ITALY
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Application and Impact of Antiviral Therapy for Patients with HBV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Receiving Sorafenib and Lenvatinib Treatment. Viruses 2022; 14:v14112355. [PMID: 36366452 PMCID: PMC9692815 DOI: 10.3390/v14112355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has improved in the era of multi-line sequential therapy. The application of antiviral therapy and its impact on survival for patients with HBV-related HCC needs to be reassessed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the application and impact of antiviral therapy on survival for patients with HBV-related HCC receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. Patients with advanced HBV-related HCC treated with sorafenib or lenvatinib as first-line therapy with (n = 377) and without (n = 182) nucleos(t)ide analogue (NUC) therapy were retrospectively enrolled. Prognostic factors of OS were evaluated. Secular trends in the increased application of NUC therapy and improved survival were observed in the last decade. The HBV reactivation rate in patients without NUC therapy was 6.6%. By multivariate analysis, baseline low HBV viral load, achieving undetectable HBV DNA after TKI therapy, and ability to receive second-line therapy were found to be independent predictors of OS. In subgroup patients with NUC therapy, starting NUC before TKI was associated with a better OS. In conclusion, the application of antiviral therapy for patients with HBV-related HCC receiving TKI therapy has increased over time. Achieving complete virological suppression may contribute to a better OS in patients with advanced HBV-related HCC.
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22
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Xin Y, Cao F, Yang H, Zhang X, Chen Y, Cao X, Zhou X, Li X, Zhou J. Efficacy and safety of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab combined with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:929141. [PMID: 35990634 PMCID: PMC9388744 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.929141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab has been proved to have promising antitumor activity and tolerable safety in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) also demonstrated high response rates and favorable survival for patients with advanced HCC. This study aimed to explore the preliminary clinical efficacy and safety of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab combined with HAIC for patients with treatment-naive advanced HCC. Methods Between October 2020 and September 2021, patients with advanced HCC who initially received atezolizumab plus bevacizumab combined with HAIC of oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin (FOLFOX) from three hospitals in China were reviewed for eligibility. The efficacy was evaluated by tumor response rate and survival, and the safety was evaluated by the frequency of key adverse events (AEs). Results In total, 52 eligible patients with advanced HCC who received triple therapy were included in this study. The objective response rates (ORRs) based on mRECIST and RECIST1.1 criteria were 67.3% and 44.2%, respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) of patients was 10.6 months (95% CI, 8.37–13.8), and the overall survival (OS) was not reached. Extrahepatic metastasis was an independent risk factor associated with PFS. All AEs were controlled and no treatment-related deaths occurred. Conclusion Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab combined with HAIC-FOLFOX had a significant therapeutic effect and manageable AEs in patients with advanced HCC, which may be a potential treatment option for advanced HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujing Xin
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Cao
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongcai Yang
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyuan Zhang
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojing Cao
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Xiang Zhou, ; Xiao Li, ; Jinxue Zhou,
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Xiang Zhou, ; Xiao Li, ; Jinxue Zhou,
| | - Jinxue Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xiang Zhou, ; Xiao Li, ; Jinxue Zhou,
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23
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Lee PC, Wu CJ, Hung YW, Lee CJ, Chi CT, Lee IC, Yu-Lun K, Chou SH, Luo JC, Hou MC, Huang YH. Gut microbiota and metabolites associate with outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitor-treated unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2022-004779. [PMID: 35738801 PMCID: PMC9226985 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-004779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are promising agents for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC), but lack effective biomarker to predict outcomes. The gut microbiome can modulate tumor response to immunotherapy, but its effect on HCC remains unclear. Methods From May 2018 to February 2020, patients receiving ICI treatment for uHCC were prospectively enrolled; their fecal samples were collected before treatment. The fecal microbiota and metabolites were analyzed from 20 patients with radiology-proven objective responses (OR) and 21 randomly selected patients with progressive disease (PD). After March 2020, 33 consecutive Child-Pugh-A patients were recruited as a validation cohort. Additionally, feces from 17 healthy volunteers were collected for comparison of background microbes. Results A significant dissimilarity was observed in fecal bacteria between patients with OR and patients with PD before immunotherapy. Prevotella 9 was enriched in patients with PD, whereas Lachnoclostridium, Lachnospiraceae, and Veillonella were predominant in patients with OR. Ursodeoxycholic acid and ursocholic acid were significantly enriched in the feces of patients with OR and strongly correlated with the abundance of Lachnoclostridium. The coexistence of Lachnoclostridium enrichment and Prevotella 9 depletion significantly predicted better overall survival (OS). In the validation cohort, better progression-free survival (PFS) and OS were noted in patients who had a preferable microbial signature in comparison with counter-group (PFS: 8.8 months vs 1.8 months; OS: not reached vs 6.5 months, both p<0.001). Conclusions Fecal microbiota and bile acids were associated with outcomes of immunotherapy for uHCC. These findings highlight the potential role of gut microbiota and metabolites as biomarkers to predict outcomes of ICI-treated HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Chang Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Jung Wu
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Wen Hung
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chieh Ju Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Ta Chi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - I-Cheng Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuo Yu-Lun
- Biotools Co. Ltd, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | | | - Jiing-Chyuan Luo
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Healthcare and Services Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chih Hou
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsiang Huang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan .,School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
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24
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Determinants of Survival and Post-Progression Outcomes by Sorafenib–Regorafenib Sequencing for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14082014. [PMID: 35454919 PMCID: PMC9030368 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14082014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The predictors of response and survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving regorafenib remain unclear. This study aimed to delineate the determinants of response and survival after regorafenib and evaluate post-progression treatment and outcomes. We retrospectively enrolled 108 patients with unresectable HCC receiving regorafenib after sorafenib failure. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), post-progression survival (PPS) and post-progression treatments were evaluated. The median PFS, OS and PPS were 3.1, 13.1 and 10.3 months, respectively. Achieving disease control by prior sorafenib, early AFP reduction and hand-foot skin reaction (HFSR) were associated with significantly better radiologic responses. By multivariate analysis, the time to progression on prior sorafenib, HFSR and early AFP reduction were associated with PFS; ALBI grade, portal vein invasion, HFSR and early AFP reduction were associated with OS. ALBI grade at disease progression, main portal vein invasion, high tumor burden and next-line therapy were associated with PPS. The median PPS was 12 months in patients who received next-line therapy, and the PPS was comparable between patients who received next-line targeted agents and immunotherapy. In conclusion, survival outcomes of regorafenib for HCC have improved in the era of multi-line sequential therapy. Preserved liver function and next-line therapy are important prognostic factors after regorafenib failure.
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