1
|
Li P, Hu M, Liu M, Ren X, Liu D, Liu J, Yin J, Tan X, Cao G. The efficacy and safety of different systemic combination therapies on advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1197782. [PMID: 37817769 PMCID: PMC10561006 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1197782] [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: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and aims Systemic combinations have recently brought significant therapeutic benefits for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC). To design the most effective combination regimens, a systematic review (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022321949) was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of systemic combinations on aHCC. Methods We retrieved all the studies from PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) using the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms until December 21, 2022. The effect indicators (hazard ratio [HR], relative risk [RR], and median) were pooled by a fixed- or random-effects model. A subgroup analysis was conducted according to types and specific therapies. Results In total, 88 eligible studies were selected from 7249 potential records. Each kind of combination treatment (chemotherapy plus chemotherapy, targeted plus immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, targeted plus chemotherapy, and targeted plus targeted therapy) had a better objective response rate (ORR) in patients with aHCC, compared to the monotherapy mostly with sorafenib (RR: 1.57 [1.44-1.71]; I 2 = 30%). Of those, targeted plus ICI therapy showed better therapeutic efficiency in overall survival (median: 15.02 [12.67-17.38]), progression-free survival (median: 7.08 [6.42-7.74]), and ORR (RR: 1.81 [1.55-2.13]), compared to the monotherapy. Specifically, Atezo plus Beva showed all those benefits. Our pooled result showed all the combinations had increased ≥3 Grade treatment-related adverse events (TrAEs), with an RR of 1.25 [95% CI: 1.15-1.36], compared to the monotherapy. Conclusion The systemic combinations, especially targeted plus ICI therapy, including Atezo plus Beva, significantly improve clinical outcomes but increase side effects in patients with aHCC. Future trials should concentrate on improvement in therapeutic efficiency and reduction of toxicity of targeted plus ICI therapy. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier CRD42022321949.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ping Li
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Hu
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mei Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangyu Ren
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Donghong Liu
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiluo Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianhua Yin
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojie Tan
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangwen Cao
- Department of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Xun C, Zhang Y, Zheng X, Qin S. A novel AKR1C3 specific prodrug AST-3424 and its combination therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Pharmacol Sci 2023; 152:69-75. [PMID: 37169481 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2023.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE AST-3424 is a novel specific aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3) prodrug that releases a DNA alkylating reagent upon reduction by AKR1C3. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of AST-3424 in patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDTX) model and orthotopic model against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHOD PDTX models derived from three HCC patients and orthotopic mice models using HepG2 cells were developed. The mice were treated with AST-3424 alone or combined with other drugs (oxaliplatin, apatinib, sorafenib and elemene in PDTX models, oxaliplatin and 5- fluorouracil in orthotopic models). The tumor volume and weight, as well as the mice weight were assessed. The liver tumor and transplanted tumor were removed for histological, immunohistochemical and Western blot detection in orthotopic model experiments. RESULTS AST-3424 could inhibit tumor growth in HCC PDTX models and orthotopic models, with no difference in safety compared with other marketed drugs, and the drug combination did not increase toxicity. The inhibitory effect of combination treatment was more obvious than which used alone. The reduction of AKR1C3 expression was negatively correlated with AST-3424 dose. CONCLUSION AST-3424 had a promising effect against HCC in PDTX model and orthotopic model with good safety. It could promote the sensitivity of other drugs without increasing toxicity. Clinical trials are warranted to further certify its antitumor effect and safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Xun
- Department of Medical Oncology Center, Bayi Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine; Yanggongjing 34 Biao No. 34, Qinhuai Distrct, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, 210002, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine; No. 138 Xianlin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, 210023, China
| | - Xia Zheng
- Department of Oncology, Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine; No. 200 Xianlin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, 210023, China
| | - Shukui Qin
- Department of Medical Oncology Center, Bayi Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine; Yanggongjing 34 Biao No. 34, Qinhuai Distrct, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, 210002, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhao M, Huang H, He F, Fu X. Current insights into the hepatic microenvironment and advances in immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1188277. [PMID: 37275909 PMCID: PMC10233045 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1188277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer and shows high global incidence and mortality rates. The liver is an immune-tolerated organ with a specific immune microenvironment that causes traditional therapeutic approaches to HCC, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and molecular targeted therapy, to have limited efficacy. The dramatic advances in immuno-oncology in the past few decades have modified the paradigm of cancer therapy, ushering in the era of immunotherapy. Currently, despite the rapid integration of cancer immunotherapy into clinical practice, some patients still show no response to treatment. Therefore, a rational approach is to target the tumor microenvironment when developing the next generation of immunotherapy. This review aims to provide insights into the hepatic immune microenvironment in HCC and summarize the mechanisms of action and clinical usage of immunotherapeutic options for HCC, including immune checkpoint blockade, adoptive therapy, cytokine therapy, vaccine therapy, and oncolytic virus-based therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Feng He
- *Correspondence: Feng He, ; Xiangsheng Fu,
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Li J, Xuan S, Dong P, Xiang Z, Gao C, Li M, Huang L, Wu J. Immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma: recent progress and new strategy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1192506. [PMID: 37234162 PMCID: PMC10206122 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1192506] [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: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to its widespread occurrence and high mortality rate, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an abhorrent kind of cancer. Immunotherapy is a hot spot in the field of cancer treatment, represented by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which aim to improve the immune system's ability to recognize, target and eliminate cancer cells. The composition of the HCC immune microenvironment is the result of the interaction of immunosuppressive cells, immune effector cells, cytokine environment, and tumor cell intrinsic signaling pathway, and immunotherapy with strong anti-tumor immunity has received more and more research attention due to the limited responsiveness of HCC to ICI monotherapy. There is evidence of an organic combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, anti-angiogenic agents and ICI catering to the unmet medical needs of HCC. Moreover, immunotherapies such as adoptive cellular therapy (ACT), cancer vaccines and cytokines also show encouraging efficacy. It can significantly improve the ability of the immune system to eradicate tumor cells. This article reviews the role of immunotherapy in HCC, hoping to improve the effect of immunotherapy and develop personalized treatment regimens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiarui Li
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shihai Xuan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The People’s Hospital of Dongtai City, Dongtai, China
| | - Peng Dong
- Hangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ze Xiang
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ce Gao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mo Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lan Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Deng L, Deng J, Wang Y, Liu Q, Li W, Zhu Q, Gu X, Lu W, Zhang H. Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy in the treatment for rare primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the liver: a case report. Anticancer Drugs 2023; 34:582-588. [PMID: 36729901 PMCID: PMC9997629 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000001476] [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: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the liver (PMCL) is rare in the hepatic system, with no standard treatment and poor prognosis with a median overall survival of only 120 days. PMCL with immunotherapy has not been reported yet. Here, we present a case of PMCL treated by immunotherapy and chemotherapy. A 64-year-old male with PMCL underwent partial right hepatectomy and liver lesion resection on 19 June 2020. Two months later, the chest computed tomography indicated the presence of multiple nodules in both lungs with higher tumor markers. Considering the presence of a tumor metastasis, the patient received four courses of immunotherapy plus mGEMOX chemotherapy from 8 September 2020. The patient tolerated the combined therapy well, with red moles on the face and chest which were considered as grade 1 reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation. He also had grade 2 thrombocytopenia and leucopenia after the first course of chemotherapy, but no neutropenia, fatigue, vomiting or diarrhea. However, his disease progressed. The patient refused further treatment and died on 20 April 2021. The overall survival time after diagnosis was 301 days. We describe here the first case report on immunotherapy treatment for PMCL. That suggested immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy may be an option after a hepatic lobectomy for PMCL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linghui Deng
- Department of Oncology Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University
- The Wujin Clinical college of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jianzhong Deng
- Department of Oncology Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University
- The Wujin Clinical college of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Oncology Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University
- The Wujin Clinical college of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou
| | - Qian Liu
- Department of Oncology Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University
- The Wujin Clinical college of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou
| | - Wenjing Li
- Department of Oncology Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University
- The Wujin Clinical college of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou
| | - Qi Zhu
- Department of Oncology Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University
- The Wujin Clinical college of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou
| | - Xiaoyan Gu
- Department of Oncology Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University
- The Wujin Clinical college of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou
| | - Wenbin Lu
- Department of Oncology Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University
- The Wujin Clinical college of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou
| | - Hua Zhang
- Department of Oncology Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University
- The Wujin Clinical college of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Review of New Advances with Focus on Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy. LIVERS 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/livers3010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
With an expected incidence of more than 1 million cases by 2025, liver cancer remains a problem for world health. With over 90% of cases, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent kind of liver cancer. In this review, we presented the range of experimental therapeutics for patients with advanced HCC, the successes and failures of new treatments, areas for future development, the evaluation of dose-limiting toxicity in different drugs, and the safety profile in patients with liver dysfunction related to the underlying chronic liver disease. In addition to the unmet demand for biomarkers to guide treatment decisions and the burgeoning fields of immunotherapy and systemic therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma, the development of old and new drugs, including their failures and current advancements, has been reviewed. This review aims to evaluate the updated optimal clinical treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinomas in clinical practice, mainly through targeted therapy. Although surgical treatment can significantly enhance the survival probability of early and intermediate-stage patients, it is unsuitable for most HCC patients due to a lack of donors. Due to their severe toxicity, the few first-line anti-HCC drugs, such as sorafenib, are often reserved for advanced HCC patients for whom other therapies have failed. The second-line drugs are usually alternatives for patients with intolerance or resistance. Consequently, the ongoing growth of possible preclinical drugs and studies on miRNAs, lncRNAs, and numerous other signaling pathway targets for developing novel drugs may introduce additional treatment prospects for HCC.
Collapse
|
7
|
Efficacy and Safety of PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Adv Ther 2023; 40:521-549. [PMID: 36399316 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-022-02371-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors have been increasingly employed for the treatment of various cancers in clinical practice. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, Web of Science, and Abstracts of American Society of Clinical Oncology proceedings databases were searched. Objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), median progression-free survival (PFS), median overall survival (OS), and incidence of adverse events (AEs) and drug withdrawal were pooled. Odds ratio (OR) and hazard ratio (HR) were calculated to analyze the difference in the ORR, DCR, PFS, and OS between groups. RESULTS Among the 14,902 initially identified papers, 98 studies regarding use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in advanced HCC were included. Based on different criteria of response in solid tumors, the pooled ORR, DCR, and median PFS was 16-36%, 54-74%, and 4.5-6.8 months, respectively. The pooled median OS was 11.9 months. Compared to multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors monotherapy significantly increased ORR (OR 2.73, P < 0.00001) and OS (HR 0.97, P = 0.05), and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with TKIs significantly increased ORR (OR 3.17, P < 0.00001), DCR (OR 2.44, P < 0.00001), PFS (HR 0.58, P < 0.00001), and OS (HR 0.58, P < 0.00001). The pooled incidence of all-grade AEs, grade ≥ 3 AEs, and drug withdrawal was 71%, 25%, and 7%, respectively. CONCLUSION On the basis of the present systematic review and meta-analysis, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors should be the preferred treatment choice for advanced HCC owing to their higher antitumor effect and improved outcomes.
Collapse
|
8
|
Ma XY, Tian K, Sun PF. Multiple primary malignant neoplasm: Case report and comprehensive literature review. Front Oncol 2023; 12:1090634. [PMID: 36686734 PMCID: PMC9846320 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1090634] [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: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple primary tumors, especially quadruple primary tumors, are extremely rare clinically, and there is no standard protocol for clinical management. We described a case in which a bone tumor, a malignant bladder tumor, a malignant melanoma, and an intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were all original malignancies. The patient is a 79-year-old woman who underwent surgery for a left middle finger bone tumor 45 years ago, as well as surgery for bladder malignancy and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy 15 years ago, and the precise pathological results and treatment are unclear. One year ago, she underwent amputation of the toe due to a black mass of the right toe and was diagnosed pathologically as a freckled malignant melanoma of the extremity. Prior to postoperative adjuvant systemic medication, PET/CT revealed malignancy in the lateral segment of the left lobe of the liver, and multiple lymphadenopathies in the left parotid gland, hilar hepatic, and retroperitoneal region. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was found in the liver puncture biopsy's pathology report. The serum sample's next-generation sequencing (NGS) revealed a missense mutation, designated P.G12V, in exon 2 of the KRAS gene. Based on patients with malignant melanoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, she received 6 cycles of GP (gemcitabine/cisplatin) combined with Camrelizumab systemic therapy, and followed by 3 cycles of Camrelizumab maintenance therapy, the efficacy was evaluated as stable disease (SD) during treatment. When the 4th cycle of Camrelizumab was suggested for maintenance therapy, the efficacy evaluation revealed that the tumor had greatly advanced. The patient refused to continue anti-tumor therapy and passed away from septic shock and multiple organ failure 3 months later. The patient had satisfactory efficacy and lived for a year after being diagnosed with two primary cancers. Despite the rarity of quadruple primary tumors and the lack of a conventional clinical management strategy, we postulate that germline mutations in the KRAS gene may be closely associated with the formation and development of multiple primary tumors. NGS testing is necessary for clinical management, and systemic treatment based on concurrent multiple main tumors is the key to improving prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Yan Ma
- Department of Oncology, Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China,Department of Radiotherapy, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Kun Tian
- Department of Medical Oncology, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Peng-Fei Sun
- Department of Radiotherapy, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China,*Correspondence: Peng-Fei Sun,
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Peng D, Cai Y, Chen G, Hou M, Luo X, Dongzhi Z, Xie H, Liu Y. Efficacy and safety of apatinib versus sorafenib/placebo in first-line treatment for intermediate and advanced primary liver cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1101063. [PMID: 37153777 PMCID: PMC10160361 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1101063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Apatinib is a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). For decades, sorafenib has been a classic first-line treatment option for patients with HCC. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of apatinib versus sorafenib/placebo as first-line treatment for intermediate and advanced primary liver cancer (PLC). Methods: A literature search was performed via PubMed, Web of Science, CENTRAL, Embase, CNKI, VIP, and CBM. Data extraction from databases of other languages is not restricted. The Cochrane risk of bias tool, modified Jadad scale, Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS), and non-randomized studies of interventions (ROBINS-I) tool were employed to evaluate methodological qualities in original studies. Influence analysis was applied to assess the reliability of pooled results. Publication bias was evaluated using the funnel plot with Begg's test and Egger's test. Results: Seven studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one clinical controlled trial (CCT) were used for comparing apatinib with placebo, and two retrospective clinical studies (RCSs) were used for comparing apatinib with sorafenib. Apatinib led to higher overall effects in objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and mean survival time (MST) over placebo (RR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.46-2.81, p < 0.0001, I2 = 0%; RR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.04-1.33, p = 0.009, I2 = 45.8%; SMD = 2.63; 95% CI = 1.47-3.78, p < 0.0001, I2 = 92.7%, respectively). Compared to sorafenib, apatinib showed no superiority in ORR and DCR but was inferior in the 6-month and 1-year survival rate (RR = 1.99, 95% CI = 0.85-4.65, p = 0.111, I2 = 68.3%; RR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.73-1.47, p = 0.840, I2 = 0.0%; RR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.42-0.97, p = 0.036, I2 = 0.0%; RR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.29-0.79, p < 0.0001, I2 = 0.0%, respectively). Apatinib had similar adverse effects over placebo but possessed a greater incidence rate of proteinuria and hypertension over sorafenib. Conclusion: In the first-line setting, apatinib might be an alternative treatment approach for patients with intermediate and advanced PLC. Sorafenib alone showed a better survival rate within 1 year and a lower incidence rate in hypertension and proteinuria than apatinib monotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Peng
- Department of Pharmacy, Army Medical Center, Chongqing, China
| | - Yongqing Cai
- Department of Pharmacy, Army Medical Center, Chongqing, China
| | - Geng Chen
- Department of Hepatology, Army Medical Center, Chongqing, China
| | - Min Hou
- Department of Pharmacy, Army Medical Center, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Luo
- Department of Pharmacy, Army Medical Center, Chongqing, China
| | | | - Hongjun Xie
- Medical College of Tibet University, Lhasa, China
| | - Yao Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Army Medical Center, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Yao Liu,
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Wang J, Wu R, Sun JY, Lei F, Tan H, Lu X. An overview: Management of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Biosci Trends 2022; 16:405-425. [PMID: 36476621 DOI: 10.5582/bst.2022.01109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has constituted a significant health burden worldwide, and patients with advanced HCC, which is stage C as defined by the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system, have a poor overall survival of 6-8 months. Studies have indicated the significant survival benefit of treatment based on sorafenib, lenvatinib, or atezolizumab-bevacizumab with reliable safety. In addition, the combination of two or more molecularly targeted therapies (first- plus second-line) has become a hot topic recently and is now being extensively investigated in patients with advanced HCC. In addition, a few biomarkers have been investigated and found to predict drug susceptibility and prognosis, which provides an opportunity to evaluate the clinical benefits of current therapies. In addition, many therapies other than tyrosine kinase inhibitors that might have additional survival benefits when combined with other therapeutic modalities, including immunotherapy, transarterial chemoembolization, radiofrequency ablation, hepatectomy, and chemotherapy, have also been examined. This review provides an overview on the current understanding of disease management and summarizes current challenges with and future perspectives on advanced HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jincheng Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Rui Wu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jin-Yu Sun
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Feifei Lei
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Liver Disease Laboratory, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
| | - Huabing Tan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Liver Disease Laboratory, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaojie Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Norcantharidin liposome emulsion hybrid delivery system enhances PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy by agonizing the non-canonical NF-κB pathway. Int J Pharm 2022; 628:122361. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
|
12
|
Zhu AX, Lin Y, Ferry D, Widau RC, Saha A. Surrogate end points for survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Immunotherapy 2022; 14:1341-1351. [DOI: 10.2217/imt-2022-0089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: The authors investigated surrogacy of radiology-based end points for clinical trials investigating immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: Data were collected from electronic databases reporting median overall survival (OS), median progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR). Weighted Pearson correlation coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: 26 clinical trials (41 treatment arms, 5144 patients) were included. ORR (coefficient: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.52–0.84) and PFS (coefficient: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.21–0.92) were positively correlated with OS. Sensitivity analyses suggested liver function, line of therapy and study phase did not greatly impact results. The COSMIC-312 study negatively impacted the overall weighted correlation. Conclusion: ORR and PFS are positively correlated with OS in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew X Zhu
- Jiahui International Cancer Center, Jiahui Health, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Yong Lin
- Eli Lilly & Company, Indianapolis, IN 46225, USA
| | - David Ferry
- Eli Lilly & Company, Indianapolis, IN 46225, USA
| | - Ryan C Widau
- Eli Lilly & Company, Indianapolis, IN 46225, USA
| | - Abhijoy Saha
- Eli Lilly & Company, Indianapolis, IN 46225, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Hu M, Yao W, Shen Q. Advances and challenges of immunocheckpoint inhibitors in the treatment of primary liver cancer. Front Genet 2022; 13:1005658. [PMID: 36246617 PMCID: PMC9561712 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1005658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancer (PLC) is one of the most common malignant tumors, which clinically characterized by occult onset, rapid development, easy recurrence and poor prognosis. With the rapid development of tumor immunotherapy research, tumor immunotherapy has also achieved remarkable clinical efficacy, and jointly promoted the overall improvement of tumor immunology from mechanism research to clinical transformation, from single discipline to multi-disciplinary integration. Immunotherapy has obvious advantages in treatment-related toxicity and efficacy compared with traditional therapy. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), immunotherapy alone or in combination with other therapies may help to control tumor progression, and there are many immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) widely used in clinical or ongoing clinical trials. However, tumor immunology research is still facing many challenges. How to effectively evaluate the efficacy, whether there are related biomarkers, the generation of immune tolerance and the lack of clinical trials to objectively evaluate the efficacy are still urgent problems to be solved, but it also brings new research opportunities for basic and clinical immunology researchers. The study of treatment of ICIs of PLC has become a hot spot in clinical research field. This paper summarizes and prospects the research progress and challenges of ICIs for PLC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meng Hu
- Department of Oncology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China
| | - Weirong Yao
- Department of Oncology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China
| | - Qinglin Shen
- Department of Oncology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China
- *Correspondence: Qinglin Shen,
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Valery M, Cervantes B, Samaha R, Gelli M, Smolenschi C, Fuerea A, Tselikas L, Klotz-Prieux C, Hollebecque A, Boige V, Ducreux M. Immunotherapy and Hepatocellular Cancer: Where Are We Now? Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14184523. [PMID: 36139683 PMCID: PMC9497386 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14184523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has demonstrated its effectiveness in many cancers. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), promising results shown in the first phase II studies evaluating anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 monotherapies resulted in their approval in the United States. Approval was not obtained in Europe; subsequent randomized studies in first- or second-line treatment did not confirm these initial results. However, first data with immunotherapy plus antiangiogenic treatments or dual immunotherapy combinations were positive. In this context, the combination of bevacizumab and atezolizumab took the lead. The IMbrave150 trial revealed an improved objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival, and overall survival with this combination versus the previous standard, sorafenib. Subsequent results of dual immunotherapy with the anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 monotherapies tremelimumab and durvalumab (also superior to sorafenib monotherapy) confirmed the value of using a combination in first-line treatment. These significant therapeutic advances, and the increase in ORR, raise two main questions. Whereas response was very limited with previous treatments, the ORR reported with these new combinations are between 20% and 30%. This raises the question of whether immunotherapy (ICI single agent, combination of ICI with antiangiogenic agent or other antitumoral treatment) can be used in patients beyond those in BCLC group C, the traditional candidate group for systemic therapy. We have thus seen an increasing number of patients previously treated with trans-arterial chemoembolization (BCLC group B) receiving these new treatments, and we develop the results of several studies combining loco-regional therapies and immunotherapy-based systemic treatments. The other major question is that of how and when to use these medical treatments as "adjuvants" to interventional radiology or surgery; the results of several works are discussed for this purpose. In this review, we cover all of these points in a fairly comprehensive manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marine Valery
- Département de Médecine Oncologique, Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France
- Correspondence:
| | - Baptiste Cervantes
- Département de Médecine Oncologique, Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France
| | - Ramy Samaha
- Département de Médecine Oncologique, Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France
| | - Maximiliano Gelli
- Département d’Anesthésie, Chirurgie et Interventionnel, Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France
| | - Cristina Smolenschi
- Département de Médecine Oncologique, Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France
- Département d’Innovation Thérapeutique, Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France
| | - Alina Fuerea
- Département de Médecine Oncologique, Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France
| | - Lambros Tselikas
- Département d’Anesthésie, Chirurgie et Interventionnel, Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France
| | | | - Antoine Hollebecque
- Département de Médecine Oncologique, Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France
- Département d’Innovation Thérapeutique, Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France
| | - Valérie Boige
- Département de Médecine Oncologique, Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France
| | - Michel Ducreux
- Département de Médecine Oncologique, Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France
- Inserm Unité Dynamique des Cellules Tumorales, Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, F-94805 Villejuif, France
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Exp Med 2022:10.1007/s10238-022-00874-5. [PMID: 36001163 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-022-00874-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a primary malignancy of the liver, is a threat to the health of all humans as a prevalent malignancy and is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. It is difficult to diagnose because symptoms do not show up until late in the disease, and patients often progress to the point where transplantation, resection, or even local treatment cannot be performed. The progression of HCC is regulated by the immune system, and immunotherapy enables the body's immune system's defenses to target liver cancer cells; therefore, immunotherapy has brought a new hope for the treatment of HCC. Currently, the main types of immunotherapies for liver cancer are: immune checkpoint inhibitors, liver cancer vaccines and cellular therapies. In this review, the progress of immunotherapy for the treatment of HCC is summarized.
Collapse
|
16
|
Uson Junior PLS, Araujo RLC. Immunotherapy in biliary tract cancers: Current evidence and future perspectives. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2022; 14:1446-1455. [PMID: 36160750 PMCID: PMC9412936 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v14.i8.1446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Bile duct tumors are comprised of tumors that originate from both intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts and gallbladder tumors. These are aggressive tumors and chemotherapy is still the main treatment for advanced-stage disease and most of these cases have a poor overall survival. Strategies are aimed at treatments with better outcomes and less toxicity which makes immunotherapy an area of significant importance. Recent Food and Drug Administration approvals of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) for agnostic tumors based on biomarkers such as microsatellite instability-high and tumor mutation burden-high are important steps in the treatment of patients with advanced bile duct tumors. Despite limited responses with isolated checkpoint inhibitors in later lines of systemic treatment in advanced disease, drug combination strategies have been demonstrating encouraging results to enhance ICI efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Raphael LC Araujo
- Department of Surgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04039-002, Brazil
- Department of Oncology, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo 05652-900, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Li K, Gong Y, Qiu D, Tang H, Zhang J, Yuan Z, Huang Y, Qin Y, Ye L, Yang Y. Hyperbaric oxygen facilitates teniposide-induced cGAS-STING activation to enhance the antitumor efficacy of PD-1 antibody in HCC. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-004006. [PMID: 36002188 PMCID: PMC9413187 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-004006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence indicates that the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) axis plays a pivotal role in intrinsic antitumor immunity. Previous studies demonstrate that the conventional chemotherapy agent, teniposide, effectively promotes the therapeutic efficacy of programmed cell death protein-1 antibody (PD-1 Ab) through robust cGAS-STING activation. Unfortunately, the cGAS expression of tumor cells is reported to be severely suppressed by the hypoxic status in solid tumor. Clinically, enhancing chemotherapy-induced, DNA-activated tumor STING signaling by alleviating tumor hypoxia might be one possible direction for improving the currently poor response rates of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to PD-1 Ab. METHODS Teniposide was first screened out from several chemotherapy drugs according to their potency in inducing cGAS-STING signaling in human HCC cells. Teniposide-treated HCC cells were then cultured under hypoxia, normoxia or reoxygenation condition to detect change in cGAS-STING signaling. Next, oxaliplatin/teniposide chemotherapy alone or combined with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy was administered on liver orthotopic mouse tumor models, after which the tumor microenvironment (TME) was surveyed. Lastly, teniposide alone or combined with HBO was performed on multiple mouse tumor models and the subsequent anti-PD-1 therapeutic responses were observed. RESULTS Compared with the first-line oxaliplatin chemotherapy, teniposide chemotherapy induced stronger cGAS-STING signaling in human HCC cells. Teniposide-induced cGAS-STING activation was significantly inhibited by hypoxia inducible factor 1α in an oxygen-deficient environment in vitro and the inhibition was rapidly removed via effective reoxygenation. HBO remarkably enhanced the cGAS-STING-dependent tumor type Ⅰ interferon and nuclear factor kappa-B signaling induced by teniposide in vivo, both of which contributed to the activation of dendritic cells and subsequent cytotoxic T cells. Combined HBO with teniposide chemotherapy improved the therapeutic effect of PD-1 Ab in multiple tumor models. CONCLUSIONS By combination of two therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration, we safely stimulated an immunogenic, T cell-inflamed HCC TME, leading to further sensitization of tumors to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. These findings might enrich therapeutic strategies for advanced HCC andwe can attempt to improve the response rates of patients with HCC to PD-1 Ab by enhancing DNA-activated STING signaling through effective tumor reoxygenation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yihang Gong
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Dongbo Qiu
- Vaccine Research Institute, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hui Tang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zenan Yuan
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yingqi Huang
- Department of Biotherapy Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yunfei Qin
- Department of Biotherapy Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Linsen Ye
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Ouyang T, Kan X, Zheng C. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Monotherapies and Combined Therapies. Front Oncol 2022; 12:898964. [PMID: 35785169 PMCID: PMC9243530 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.898964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an important cause of cancer death and is considered the 3rd most lethal around the world. Hepatectomy, liver transplantation, and ablation therapy are considered curative treatments for early-stage HCC. Transarterial chemoembolization is the preferred therapy for intermediate stage HCC. Ssystemic therapy is recommended for advanced HCC. For more than a decade, sorafenib and lenvatinib were used as the first-line treatment for the advanced HCC. For the great success of immunotherapy in melanoma and lung cancer, some immune-based treatments, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), have been applied in the treatment of HCC. The anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) antibodies, including nivolumab and pembrolizumab, have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for sorafenib-pretreated patients. Moreover, due to the results of durable antitumor responses attained from the phase 3 trials, atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab is now the standard therapy for advanced HCC. Recently, there are a lot of clinical trials involving the ICIs, as monotherapy or combination therapy, with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, antiangiogenic drugs, cytotoxic agents, and locoregional treatments, providing a promising outcome for advanced HCC. Thus, this review summarized the role of ICIs for HCC patients with monotherapy or combination therapy. The success and failures of monotherapy and combination therapy involving ICIs have provided advanced insights into HCC treatment and led to novel avenues to improve therapy efficacy in HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Ouyang
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuefeng Kan
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Chuansheng Zheng
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Chuansheng Zheng,
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Fan Y, Xue H, Zheng H. Systemic Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Updates and Outlook. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2022; 9:233-263. [PMID: 35388357 PMCID: PMC8977221 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s358082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has emerged the culprit of cancer-related mortality worldwide with its dismal prognosis climbing. In recent years, ground-breaking progress has been made in systemic therapy for HCC. Targeted therapy based on specific signaling molecules, including sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, cabozantinib, and ramucirumab, has been widely used for advanced HCC (aHCC). Immunotherapies such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab greatly improve the survival of aHCC patients. More recently, synergistic combination therapy has boosted first-line (atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab) and second-line (ipilimumab in combination with nivolumab) therapeutic modalities for aHCC. This review aims to summarize recent updates of systemic therapy relying on the biological mechanisms of HCC, particularly highlighting the approved agents for aHCC. Adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy, as well as a combination with locoregional therapies (LRTs), are also discussed. Additionally, we describe the promising effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as systemic therapy on HCC. In this setting, the challenges and future directions of systemic therapy for HCC are also explored.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yinjie Fan
- College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110847, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Oncology and Experimental Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, 067000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hang Xue
- Department of Oncology and Experimental Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, 067000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huachuan Zheng
- Department of Oncology and Experimental Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, 067000, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Huachuan Zheng, Department of Oncology and Experimental Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, 067000, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-0314-2279458, Fax +86-0314-2279458, Email
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Liu JKH, Irvine AF, Jones RL, Samson A. Immunotherapies for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Med 2022; 11:571-591. [PMID: 34953051 PMCID: PMC8817091 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are rapidly rising. This is particularly the case in the Western world, as a result of increasing rates of chronic liver disease, secondary to lifestyle-associated risk factors and the lack of an established screening programme for the general population. Traditionally, radical/curative treatment options for HCC, including liver transplantation and surgical resection are reserved for the minority of patients, presenting with an early stage cancer. For patients with advanced disease, Sorafenib and Lenvatinib were, until recently, the only licensed systemic treatments, and provided only limited survival benefits at the cost of a multitude of potential side effects. Recent scientific advances in the field of cancer immunotherapy have renewed significant interest in advanced HCC, in order to fulfil this apparent area of unmet clinical need. This has led to the success and recent regulatory approval of an Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab combination for the first-line treatment of advanced HCC following results from the IMbrave150 clinical trial in 2019, with further immune checkpoint inhibitors currently undergoing testing in advanced clinical trials. Furthermore, other cancer immunotherapies, including chimeric antigen receptor T-cells, dendritic cell vaccines and oncolytic viruses are also in early stage clinical trials, for the treatment of advanced HCC. This review will summarise the major approaches that have been and are currently in development for the systemic treatment of advanced HCC, their advantages, drawbacks, and predictions of where this revolutionary treatment field will continue to travel for the foreseeable future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin K. H. Liu
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's (LIMR)School of MedicineFaculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of LeedsSt James's University HospitalLeedsUK
| | - Andrew F. Irvine
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's (LIMR)School of MedicineFaculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of LeedsSt James's University HospitalLeedsUK
| | - Rebecca L. Jones
- Leeds Liver UnitSt James's University HospitalLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS TrustLeedsUK
| | - Adel Samson
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's (LIMR)School of MedicineFaculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of LeedsSt James's University HospitalLeedsUK
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Kankeu Fonkoua LA, Serrano Uson Junior PL, Mody K, Mahipal A, Borad MJ, Roberts LR. Novel and emerging targets for cholangiocarcinoma progression: therapeutic implications. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2022; 26:79-92. [PMID: 35034558 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2022.2029412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a heterogeneous group of aggressive biliary malignancies. While surgery and liver transplantation are the only potentially curative modalities for early-stage disease, limited options are available for most patients with incurable-stage disease. Survival outcomes remain dismal. Recent molecular profiling efforts have led to improved understanding of the genomic landscape of CCA and to the identification of subgroups with distinct diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications. AREAS COVERED : We provide an updated review and future perspectives on features of cholangiocarcinogenesis that can be translated into therapeutic biomarkers and targets. We highlight the critical studies that have established current systemic chemotherapy and targeted therapeutics, while elaborating on novel targeted and immunotherapeutic approaches in development. Relevant literature and clinical studies were identified by searching PubMed and www.ClinicalTrials.gov. EXPERT OPINION : While therapies targeting the various molecular subgroups of CCA are rapidly emerging and changing treatment paradigms, their success has been limited by the genetic heterogeneity of CCA and the plasticity of the targets. Novel strategies aiming to combine immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and molecularly-targeted therapeutics will be required to offer durable clinical benefit and maximize survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kabir Mody
- Rochester, MN, and Oncology in Jacksonville, FL, Mayo Clinic, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Xu B, Sun HC. Camrelizumab: an investigational agent for hepatocellular carcinoma. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2021; 31:337-346. [PMID: 34937475 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2022.2022121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although many approaches have been used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the clinical benefits were limited, particularly for advanced HCC. However, recent treatments with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor monotherapy and its combination with other therapies, have demonstrated remarkable results. Camrelizumab, a selective, humanized, high-affinity IgG4 PD-1 monoclonal antibody, has been approved as a second-line treatment in patients with advanced HCC by NMPA in China. AREAS COVERED This paper introduces anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapies for advanced HCC and progresses to discuss the pharmacology, safety, and efficacy of camrelizumab in the treatment of advanced HCC. It also considers future research directions for camrelizumab in this setting. EXPERT OPINION The PD-1 binding epitope of camrelizumab is different from other PD-1 inhibitors. The IC50 and EC50 of camrelizumab for inhibiting the binding of PD-1 and PD-L1 is similar to pembrolizumab, is significantly lower than other PD-1 inhibitors, and has a higher affinity for PD-1 site. Camrelizumab exhibits a promising antitumor activity and an acceptable safety profile similar to other PD-1 inhibitors in advanced HCC. Apatinib (a VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor) can reduce the incidence of camrelizumab-specific reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation (RCCEP).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bin Xu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui-Chuan Sun
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Canale M, Monti M, Rapposelli IG, Ulivi P, Sullo FG, Bartolini G, Tiberi E, Frassineti GL. Molecular Targets and Emerging Therapies for Advanced Gallbladder Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5671. [PMID: 34830826 PMCID: PMC8616432 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13225671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Biliary tract cancers (BTCs), for their low incidence, have been often considered together. Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common biliary tract malignancy, characterized by late diagnosis and poor prognosis, and although it is considered a rare tumor in western countries, other areas of the world show considerable incidence rates. In 2010, results from the large phase III ABC-02 clinical trial on GBC identified the gemcitabine and cisplatin combination as the most effective first-line regimen for both GBC and other BTCs. Since then, various systemic therapies have proven active in BTCs in both first- and second-line settings. Molecular profiling has highlighted important genetic differences between GBC and other BTCs, opening new ways for targeted therapy in advanced disease where standard chemotherapies show marginal benefit. Genome-wide data analysis have shown that GBC molecular landscape offer possible strategies for precision medicine approaches, and a better molecular understanding of the GBC is needed to better stratify patients for treatment. In this review, we discuss the molecular targetable agents for GBC, including the results that emerged by clinical trials exploring new treatment strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Canale
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (M.C.); (P.U.)
| | - Manlio Monti
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (I.G.R.); (F.G.S.); (G.B.); (E.T.); (G.L.F.)
| | - Ilario Giovanni Rapposelli
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (I.G.R.); (F.G.S.); (G.B.); (E.T.); (G.L.F.)
| | - Paola Ulivi
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (M.C.); (P.U.)
| | - Francesco Giulio Sullo
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (I.G.R.); (F.G.S.); (G.B.); (E.T.); (G.L.F.)
| | - Giulia Bartolini
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (I.G.R.); (F.G.S.); (G.B.); (E.T.); (G.L.F.)
| | - Elisa Tiberi
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (I.G.R.); (F.G.S.); (G.B.); (E.T.); (G.L.F.)
| | - Giovanni Luca Frassineti
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (I.G.R.); (F.G.S.); (G.B.); (E.T.); (G.L.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Liu HT, Jiang MJ, Deng ZJ, Li L, Huang JL, Liu ZX, Li LQ, Zhong JH. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Progresses and Challenges. Front Oncol 2021; 11:737497. [PMID: 34745958 PMCID: PMC8570111 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.737497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumor in the world and its incidence is increasing in many countries. In recent years, with the deepening understanding of the immune and pathological mechanisms of HCC, immunotherapy based on the regulation of tumor immune microenvironment has become a new treatment choice for patients with HCC. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting programmed death protein-1, programmed death protein-ligand-1, or cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 are the most widely used. Instead of general immune-enhancing therapies, ICIs can reactivate anti-tumor immune responses by disrupting co-inhibitory T cell signaling. In this review, the research progress and existing problems of ICIs in the treatment of HCC in recent years are reviewed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jian-Hong Zhong
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Liu BJ, Gao S, Zhu X, Guo JH, Kou FX, Liu SX, Zhang X, Wang XD, Cao G, Chen H, Liu P, Xu HF, Gao QZ, Yang RJ. Real-world study of hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy combined with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy and tyrosine kinase inhibitors for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Immunotherapy 2021; 13:1395-1405. [PMID: 34607482 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2021-0192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: We investigated the efficacy and safety of hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) combined with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Method: This retrospective study included HCC patients treated with HAIC, TKIs and anti-PD-1 antibodies between May 2019 and November 2020 in our hospital. Primary end points were progression-free survival and safety. Results: Twenty-seven advanced HCC patients were analyzed. The median follow-up was 12.9 months (range: 4.0-24.0 months) and the median progression-free survival was 10.6 months. The objective response rate and disease control rate were 63.0 and 92.6%, respectively. No treatment-related deaths occurred. Conclusion: In patients with advanced HCC, treatment with HAIC, anti-PD-1 antibodies and oral TKIs was effective and safe.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bao-Jiang Liu
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis & Translational Research (Ministry of Education), 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Song Gao
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis & Translational Research (Ministry of Education), 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Xu Zhu
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis & Translational Research (Ministry of Education), 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Jian-Hai Guo
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis & Translational Research (Ministry of Education), 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Fu-Xin Kou
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis & Translational Research (Ministry of Education), 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Shao-Xing Liu
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis & Translational Research (Ministry of Education), 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis & Translational Research (Ministry of Education), 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Wang
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis & Translational Research (Ministry of Education), 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Guang Cao
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis & Translational Research (Ministry of Education), 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis & Translational Research (Ministry of Education), 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis & Translational Research (Ministry of Education), 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Hai-Feng Xu
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis & Translational Research (Ministry of Education), 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Qin-Zong Gao
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis & Translational Research (Ministry of Education), 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Ren-Jie Yang
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis & Translational Research (Ministry of Education), 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Xu H, Cao D, Zheng Y, Zhou D, Chen X, Lei J, Ge W, Xu X. Potential predictors for survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: A meta-analysis. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 100:108135. [PMID: 34530205 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are increasingly used in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) trials. However, the correlations between early endpoints, such as progression free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR), and overall survival (OS) are unclear. In this study, the correlations between OS and other early endpoints were evaluated in HCC patients who received ICI. METHODS Pubmed and Embase were searched to October 2020. Clinical studies evaluating efficacy and outcomes of HCC patients treated with ICI were included. ORR, DCR, PFS and OS were extracted from individual studies. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and linear regression model were used to assess the correlation. RESULTS 74 studies involving 9001 HCC cases were included. For HCC patients treated with ICI, the pooled ORR and DCR were 16% (95% CI: 14-18%) and 52% (95% CI: 47-57%), and the median PFS and OS were 3.75 (95% CI: 2.88-4.90) months, and 13.20 (95% CI: 11.88-14.82) months, retrospectively. The correlation between ORR, DCR, PFS and OS were 0.35 (R2 = 0.21, p < 0.05), 0.43 (R2 = 0.18, p < 0.05), and 0.50 (R2 = 0.33, p < 0.05), respectively. Further, the association between PFS and OS of the combination strategy showed a better correlation (rs = 0.79, R2 = 0.75, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION These results suggest that PFS could be potential surrogates for OS, especially PFS for patients who treated with ICI combination regimen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huilin Xu
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Hospital of WuHan, WuHan, Hubei 430000, China
| | - Dedong Cao
- Department of Oncology, RenMin Hospital of WuHan University, WuHan, Hubei 430000, China.
| | - Yongfa Zheng
- Department of Oncology, RenMin Hospital of WuHan University, WuHan, Hubei 430000, China
| | - Dingjie Zhou
- Department of Oncology, RenMin Hospital of WuHan University, WuHan, Hubei 430000, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Oncology, RenMin Hospital of WuHan University, WuHan, Hubei 430000, China
| | - Jinju Lei
- Department of Oncology, RenMin Hospital of WuHan University, WuHan, Hubei 430000, China
| | - Wei Ge
- Department of Oncology, Taikang Tongji Hospital of Wuhan, WuHan, Hubei 430000, China
| | - Ximing Xu
- Department of Oncology, RenMin Hospital of WuHan University, WuHan, Hubei 430000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Miao L, Zhang Z, Ren Z, Li Y. Application of Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:699060. [PMID: 34513678 PMCID: PMC8426571 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.699060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies globally. It not only has a hidden onset but also progresses rapidly. Most HCC patients are already in the advanced stage of cancer when they are diagnosed, and have even lost the opportunity for surgical treatment. As an inflammation-related tumor, the immunosuppressive microenvironment of HCC can promote immune tolerance through a variety of mechanisms. Immunotherapy can activate tumor-specific immune responses, which brings a new hope for the treatment of HCC. At the present time, main immunotherapy strategies of HCC include immune checkpoint inhibitors, tumor vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, and so on. This article reviews the application and research progress of immune checkpoint inhibitors, tumor vaccines, and adoptive cell therapy in the treatment of HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lele Miao
- Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhengchao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhijian Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yumin Li
- Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Charalampakis N, Papageorgiou G, Tsakatikas S, Fioretzaki R, Kole C, Kykalos S, Tolia M, Schizas D. Immunotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma: a 2021 update. Immunotherapy 2021; 13:1113-1134. [PMID: 34190581 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2021-0126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare malignancy with generally dismal prognosis. Immunotherapy has revolutionized the management of cancer patients during the last decade, offering durable responses with an acceptable safety profile, but there are still no significant advances regarding CCA. Novel immunotherapeutic methods, such as cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses, adoptive cell therapy and combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors with other agents are currently under investigation and may improve prognosis. Efforts to find robust biomarkers for response are also ongoing. In this review, we discuss the rationale for the use of immunotherapy in CCA and available clinical data. Ongoing trials will also be presented, as well as key findings from each study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Charalampakis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Metaxa Cancer Hospital of Piraeus, Piraeus, 185 37, Greece
| | - Georgios Papageorgiou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Metaxa Cancer Hospital of Piraeus, Piraeus, 185 37, Greece
| | - Sergios Tsakatikas
- Department of Medical Oncology, Metaxa Cancer Hospital of Piraeus, Piraeus, 185 37, Greece
| | - Rodanthi Fioretzaki
- Department of Medical Oncology, Metaxa Cancer Hospital of Piraeus, Piraeus, 185 37, Greece
| | - Christo Kole
- First Department of Surgery, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laikon General Hospital, Athens, 115 27, Greece
| | - Stylianos Kykalos
- Second Propedeutic Department of Surgery, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laikon General Hospital, Athens, 115 27, Greece
| | - Maria Tolia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Crete, Voutes, 71110, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Schizas
- First Department of Surgery, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laikon General Hospital, Athens, 115 27, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Gou M, Zhang Y, Liu T, Si H, Wang Z, Yan H, Qian N, Dai G. PD-1 Inhibitors Could Improve the Efficacy of Chemotherapy as First-Line Treatment in Biliary Tract Cancers: A Propensity Score Matching Based Analysis. Front Oncol 2021; 11:648068. [PMID: 34221968 PMCID: PMC8248534 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.648068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There are limited treatment options for advanced biliary tract cancers (BTCs), including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, extrahepatic bile duct cancer, gallbladder cancer. We compared the efficacy and safety of PD-1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy and chemotherapy alone as first-line treatment in patients with advanced BTC. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients with BTC treated at the oncology department of the Chinese PLA general hospital receiving PD-1 inhibitor with chemotherapy (anti-PD-1+C group) or chemotherapy alone (C group). Propensity Score Matching (PSM) (1:1) was performed to balance potential baseline confounding factors. Progression-free survival (PFS) was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier survival curves with log-rank tests. Objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and safety were also analyzed. Results This study included 75 patients who received PD-1 inhibitors (including Pembrolizumab, Nivolumab, Sintilimab, Toripalimab) plus chemotherapy and 59 patients who received chemotherapy alone. After matching, there were no significant differences between the two groups for baseline characteristics. Within the matched cohort, the median PFS was 5.8m in the anti-PD-1+C group, which was significantly longer than the C group, at 3.2m (HR: 0.47, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.76, P = 0.004). The ORR was 21.7% and DCR was 80.4% in the anti-PD-1+C group, while the ORR was 15.2% and DCR was 69.6% in the C group. No significant differences were found in the ORR and DCR between the two groups (P=0.423, P=0.231). Grade 3 or 4 treatment was related to adverse events (AEs) that occurred in the anti-PD-1+C group, namely hypothyroidism (n=3, 6.5%), rash (n=2, 4.2%), and hepatitis (n=1, 2.2%). There was no AE-related death. The grade 3-4 leukopenia rate was similar in the two groups (4.3% vs. 6.5%). Conclusions Anti-PD-1 therapy plus chemotherapy prolonged the PFS compared with chemotherapy alone in advanced BTC with controllable AEs. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm this result.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miaomiao Gou
- Medical Oncology Department, The First Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Medical Oncology Department, The Second Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Tiee Liu
- Medical Oncology Department, The First Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Haiyan Si
- Medical Oncology Department, The First Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhikuan Wang
- Medical Oncology Department, The First Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Huan Yan
- Medical Oncology Department, The First Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Niansong Qian
- Medical Oncology Department, The First Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China.,The Hainan Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Sanya, China
| | - Guanghai Dai
- Medical Oncology Department, The First Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Dyhl-Polk A, Mikkelsen MK, Ladekarl M, Nielsen DL. Clinical Trials of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Clin Med 2021; 10:2662. [PMID: 34208788 PMCID: PMC8234948 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10122662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Several immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) are under clinical development in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the field is advancing rapidly. In this comprehensive review, we discuss published results and report on ongoing clinical trials. Methods: A literature search was carried out using PubMed and EMBASE; data reported at international meetings and clinicaltrials.gov were included as well. The search was updated 5 March 2021. We evaluated studies with monotherapy CPI's, combinations of CPI's and combinations of CPI's with other treatment modalities separately. Only studies with at least 10 included patients were considered. Results: We identified 2649 records published in the English language literature. After review, 29 studies remained, including 12 studies with preliminary data only. The obtained overall response rate of PD-1/PDL-1 monotherapy in phase II studies in the second-line setting was 15-20% with disease control in approximately 60% of patients. The responses were of long duration in a subset of patients. Furthermore, the safety profiles were manageable. However, a phase III study comparing nivolumab with sorafenib in the first-line setting and a phase III study evaluating pembrolizumab versus best supportive care in the second-line setting did not meet their prespecified endpoints. More recently, a phase I/II study of nivolumab and ipilimumab has resulted in a response rate of approximately 30% with a median OS of 22 months in the second-line setting. Multiple trials have been initiated to evaluate CPIs in combination with molecularly targeted drugs, especially anti-angiogenic drugs or local therapy. A phase III study investigating atezolizumab plus bevacizumab versus sorafenib in the first-line setting showed significantly increased survival in the combination arm. Conclusions: The combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab represents a new standard of care in the first-line setting for fit patients with preserved liver function. CPIs can produce durable tumor remission and induce long-standing anti-tumor immunity in a subgroup of patients with advanced HCC. Although phase III trials of CPI monotherapy have been negative, the combination of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors with other anti-angiogenic drugs, CTLA-4 inhibitors or other modalities may result in new treatment options for patients with HCC. Research on predictive biomarkers is crucial for further development of CPIs in HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne Dyhl-Polk
- Department of Oncology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Borgmester Ib Juuls Vej 1, 2730 Herlev, Denmark; (M.K.M.); (D.L.N.)
| | - Marta Kramer Mikkelsen
- Department of Oncology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Borgmester Ib Juuls Vej 1, 2730 Herlev, Denmark; (M.K.M.); (D.L.N.)
| | - Morten Ladekarl
- Department of Oncology, Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Hobrovej 19-22, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark;
| | - Dorte Lisbet Nielsen
- Department of Oncology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Borgmester Ib Juuls Vej 1, 2730 Herlev, Denmark; (M.K.M.); (D.L.N.)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Hewitt DB, Rahnemai-Azar AA, Pawlik TM. Potential experimental immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of cancer of the liver. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2021; 30:827-835. [PMID: 34102935 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2021.1940948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Traditional systemic therapies offer limited benefit for advanced cancers of the liver. Immune checkpoints are inhibitory regulators of the immune system and the success of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the treatment of other cancers has led to clinical trials investigating the use of ICIs alone or in combination with other therapies for liver cancers.Area covered: Clinical trials involving ICIs for the treatment of liver cancer were broadly reviewed. Hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were examined. Phase I/II trials were prioritized, and relevant phase III trials were discussed. MEDLINE, PubMed, ASCO meeting library, and Web of Science databases were searched with the keywords 'immune checkpoint inhibitor' or 'targeted therapy' in combination with 'hepatocellular carcinoma,' or 'intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma'. Major outcomes were safety and efficacy defined by response rate, progression-free survival, or overall survival.Expert opinion: ICIs can improve progression-free and overall survival among patients with advanced disease with an acceptable safety profile. Given the heterogeneity of liver disease, ideal strategies will likely include a combination of ICIs with additional therapies to achieve the most robust and durable response. Additional biomarkers will be needed to guide combination therapy to personalize treatment regimen for patients with primary liver cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Brock Hewitt
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, the James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Amir A Rahnemai-Azar
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Arrowhead Regional Cancer Center, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, CA, USA
| | - Timothy M Pawlik
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, the James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Wang T, Zhang Q, Wang N, Liu Z, Zhang B, Zhao Y. Research Progresses of Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Curr Med Chem 2021; 28:3107-3146. [PMID: 33050856 DOI: 10.2174/0929867327666201013162144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, with nearly one million new cases and deaths every year. Owing to the complex pathogenesis, hidden early symptoms, rapidly developing processes, and poor prognosis, the morbidity and mortality of HCC are increasing yearly. With the progress being made in modern medicine, the treatment of HCC is no longer limited to traditional methods. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy have emerged to treat advanced and metastatic HCC in recent years. Since Sorafenib is the first molecular targeting drug against angiogenesis, targeted drugs for HCC are continually emerging. Moreover, immunotherapy plays a vital role in clinical trials. In particular, the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors, which have received increasing attention in the field of cancer treatment, is a possible research path. Interestingly, these two therapies generally complement each other at some stages of HCC, bringing new hope for patients with advanced HCC. In this paper, we discuss the research progress of targeted therapy and immunotherapy for HCC in recent years, which will provide a reference for the further development of drugs for HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wang
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Qiting Zhang
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Ziqi Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, the PLA Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Kenneth Li Marine Biopharmaceutical Research Center, Department of Marine Pharmacy, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Yufen Zhao
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Leone P, Solimando AG, Fasano R, Argentiero A, Malerba E, Buonavoglia A, Lupo LG, De Re V, Silvestris N, Racanelli V. The Evolving Role of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9050532. [PMID: 34065489 PMCID: PMC8160723 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9050532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of most common cancers and the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Commonly, HCC development occurs in a liver that is severely compromised by chronic injury or inflammation. Liver transplantation, hepatic resection, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), and targeted therapies based on tyrosine protein kinase inhibitors are the most common treatments. The latter group have been used as the primary choice for a decade. However, tumor microenvironment in HCC is strongly immunosuppressive; thus, new treatment approaches for HCC remain necessary. The great expression of immune checkpoint molecules, such as programmed death-1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), lymphocyte activating gene 3 protein (LAG-3), and mucin domain molecule 3 (TIM-3), on tumor and immune cells and the high levels of immunosuppressive cytokines induce T cell inhibition and represent one of the major mechanisms of HCC immune escape. Recently, immunotherapy based on the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), as single agents or in combination with kinase inhibitors, anti-angiogenic drugs, chemotherapeutic agents, and locoregional therapies, offers great promise in the treatment of HCC. This review summarizes the recent clinical studies, as well as ongoing and upcoming trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Leone
- Unit of Internal Medicine “Guido Baccelli”, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy; (P.L.); (A.G.S.); (R.F.); (E.M.); (A.B.); (N.S.)
| | - Antonio Giovanni Solimando
- Unit of Internal Medicine “Guido Baccelli”, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy; (P.L.); (A.G.S.); (R.F.); (E.M.); (A.B.); (N.S.)
- IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Rossella Fasano
- Unit of Internal Medicine “Guido Baccelli”, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy; (P.L.); (A.G.S.); (R.F.); (E.M.); (A.B.); (N.S.)
- IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | | | - Eleonora Malerba
- Unit of Internal Medicine “Guido Baccelli”, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy; (P.L.); (A.G.S.); (R.F.); (E.M.); (A.B.); (N.S.)
- Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, “L. and A. Seràgnoli”, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessio Buonavoglia
- Unit of Internal Medicine “Guido Baccelli”, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy; (P.L.); (A.G.S.); (R.F.); (E.M.); (A.B.); (N.S.)
| | - Luigi Giovanni Lupo
- Department of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Valli De Re
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers—Bio-Proteomics Facility, CRO Aviano National Cancer Institute, 33081 Aviano, Italy;
| | - Nicola Silvestris
- Unit of Internal Medicine “Guido Baccelli”, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy; (P.L.); (A.G.S.); (R.F.); (E.M.); (A.B.); (N.S.)
- IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Vito Racanelli
- Unit of Internal Medicine “Guido Baccelli”, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy; (P.L.); (A.G.S.); (R.F.); (E.M.); (A.B.); (N.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-080-5478050
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Yu Y, Huang S, Chen J, Yu F, Zhang L, Xiang X, Deng J, Fang Z, Li J, Xiong J. An Assessment of Combination of the Camrelizumab With Chemotherapy in Metastatic Biliary Tract Cancers. Cancer Control 2021; 28:10732748211017165. [PMID: 33982628 PMCID: PMC8204626 DOI: 10.1177/10732748211017165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Monoclonal antibodies that target the PD-1 receptor are emerging as promising therapeutic candidates for the treatment of biliary tract cancers (BTCs). The purpose of the current study was to assess the combination of the camrelizumab with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for metastatic BTCs. METHODS We conducted a prospective single-arm pilot study of PD-1 antibody (camrelizumab 3 mg/kg d1, Q2 W or Q3 W) combined with different chemotherapy regimens as first-line treatment for BTCs. Efficacy endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were also evaluated. RESULTS Fourteen patients with histologically confirmed BTCs were evaluated. The ORR was 14.3% (95% CI: 1.8 to 42.8) and the DCR was 64.3% (95%CI: 41.7 to 86.9). The median PFS was 6.5 months (95% CI: 3.8 to 9.2), and the 6- and 12-month PFS rates were 61.6% and 12.3%, respectively. The median OS was 9.9 months (95% CI: 7.6 to 12.2), and the 6-and 12-month OS rates were 74.5% and 26.6%, respectively. All patients displayed at least 1 TRAE., and Grade 3 or 4 TRAEs occurred in 6 (42.86%) patients. CONCLUSIONS Camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for metastatic BTCs demonstrated acceptable safety and efficacy in our pilot study. These findings warrant prospective controlled clinical trials comparing combinations of camrelizumab and chemotherapy to standard regimens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Shanshan Huang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Feng Yu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xiaojun Xiang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jun Deng
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Ziling Fang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Junhe Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jianping Xiong
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Dong Y, Wong JSL, Sugimura R, Lam KO, Li B, Kwok GGW, Leung R, Chiu JWY, Cheung TT, Yau T. Recent Advances and Future Prospects in Immune Checkpoint (ICI)-Based Combination Therapy for Advanced HCC. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1949. [PMID: 33919570 PMCID: PMC8072916 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced, unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma has a dismal outcome. Multiple immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting the programmed-cell death 1 pathway (PD-1/L1) have been approved for the treatment of advanced HCC. However, outcomes remain undesirable and unpredictable on a patient-to-patient basis. The combination of anti-PD-1/L1 with alternative agents, chiefly cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) ICIs or agents targeting other oncogenic pathways such as the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway and the c-MET pathway, has, in addition to the benefit of directly targeting alterative oncogenic pathways, in vitro evidence of synergism through altering the genomic and function signatures of T cells and expression of immune checkpoints. Several trials have been completed or are underway evaluating such combinations. Finally, studies utilizing transcriptomics and organoids are underway to establish biomarkers to predict ICI response. This review aims to discuss the biological rationale and clinical advances in ICI-based combinations in HCCs, as well as the progress and prospects of the search for the aforementioned biomarkers in ICI treatment of HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yawen Dong
- Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (Y.D.); (J.S.L.W.); (B.L.); (G.G.W.K.); (R.L.); (J.W.Y.C.)
- Department of Surgery, Klinik Favoriten, Wiener Gesundheitsverbund, 1100 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeffrey Sum Lung Wong
- Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (Y.D.); (J.S.L.W.); (B.L.); (G.G.W.K.); (R.L.); (J.W.Y.C.)
| | - Ryohichi Sugimura
- School of Biomedical Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Ka-On Lam
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Bryan Li
- Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (Y.D.); (J.S.L.W.); (B.L.); (G.G.W.K.); (R.L.); (J.W.Y.C.)
| | - Gerry Gin Wai Kwok
- Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (Y.D.); (J.S.L.W.); (B.L.); (G.G.W.K.); (R.L.); (J.W.Y.C.)
| | - Roland Leung
- Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (Y.D.); (J.S.L.W.); (B.L.); (G.G.W.K.); (R.L.); (J.W.Y.C.)
| | - Joanne Wing Yan Chiu
- Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (Y.D.); (J.S.L.W.); (B.L.); (G.G.W.K.); (R.L.); (J.W.Y.C.)
| | - Tan To Cheung
- Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Thomas Yau
- Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (Y.D.); (J.S.L.W.); (B.L.); (G.G.W.K.); (R.L.); (J.W.Y.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Based Combination Immunotherapy to Boost Antigen-Specific CD8 + T Cell Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13081922. [PMID: 33923463 PMCID: PMC8073815 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The cytotoxic T cell response against hepatocellular carcinoma antigens is exhausted and fails in its task of deleting tumoral cells. These cells are featured by the expression of negative immune checkpoints that can be modulated to restore T cell function. The blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway has shown promising results in rescuing hepatocellular carcinoma-specific CD8 T cells but only a reduced group of cases is sensitive to this treatment and the effect is usually temporary. Therefore, new anti-PD-1 based combinatory strategies are underway to increase the response by adding the effect of blocking neo-angiogenesis and other negative immune checkpoints, boosting positive immune checkpoints, blocking suppressive cytokines, or inducing the expression of tumoral neoantigens. The restoration of T cell responses with these anti-PD-1 based combinatory therapies will change the outcome of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Abstract Thirty to fifty percent of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) display an immune class genetic signature. In this type of tumor, HCC-specific CD8 T cells carry out a key role in HCC control. Those potential reactive HCC-specific CD8 T cells recognize either HCC immunogenic neoantigens or aberrantly expressed host’s antigens, but they become progressively exhausted or deleted. These cells express the negative immunoregulatory checkpoint programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) which impairs T cell receptor signaling by blocking the CD28 positive co-stimulatory signal. The pool of CD8 cells sensitive to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment is the PD-1dim memory-like precursor pool that gives rise to the effector subset involved in HCC control. Due to the epigenetic imprints that are transmitted to the next generation, the effect of PD-1 blockade is transient, and repeated treatments lead to tumor resistance. During long-lasting disease, besides the TCR signaling impairment, T cells develop other failures that should be also set-up to increase T cell reactivity. Therefore, several PD-1 blockade-based combinatory therapies are currently under investigation such as adding antiangiogenics, anti-TGFβ1, blockade of other negative immune checkpoints, or increasing HCC antigen presentation. The effect of these combinations on CD8+ T cells is discussed in this review.
Collapse
|
37
|
Liu L, Qin S, Zhang Y. The Evolving Landscape of Checkpoint Inhibitor Combination Therapy in the Treatment of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Target Oncol 2021; 16:153-163. [PMID: 33528759 DOI: 10.1007/s11523-020-00787-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers and a main cause of cancer-associated death worldwide. Even with the successful launch of sorafenib for the clinical treatment of HCC in 2007, the long-term survival for patients with HCC is still suboptimal, largely due to the occurrence of primary or acquired drug resistance. With an improved understanding of the molecular pathophysiology and tumor heterogeneity of HCC, therapeutic options have been evolving rapidly in recent years. While lenvatinib, cabozantinib, regorafenib, and the monoclonal antibody ramucirumab, as well as the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) atezolizumab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab, have all shown promise in clinical trials, ICIs, especially when administered in combination with molecular-targeted drugs or cytotoxic drugs, have drawn increased attention. Recently, ample relevant clinical studies have surfaced, particularly related to the use of ICIs and exploring the therapeutic potential of ICI combination strategies. A more thorough knowledge of novel treatment strategies should help in decision making for advanced HCC therapy. The present review summarizes the mechanisms of HCC tumorigenesis, relevant trial results for approved HCC therapies, future perspectives, and major challenges for the overall treatment of HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Liu
- Department of Oncology, Zhong-Da Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Shukui Qin
- Cancer Center of Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Chinese Medicine University, Nanjing, 210002, China.
| | - Yu Zhang
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal malignancy with poor prognosis. More than 80% of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, and most patients with HCC also have liver cirrhosis that complicates cancer management. No targeted treatment options currently exist outside genomics-based clinical trials. Multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors (mTKIs) such as sorafenib, lenvatinib, cabozantinib, and regorafenib have been used to treat advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC). Immune checkpoint inhibitors including nivolumab and pembrolizumab have shown survival benefit. More recently, atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab resulted in improved overall survival and progression-free survival, compared with sorafenib in patients with aHCC in the first-line setting. The combination of nivolumab with ipilimumab as an alternative in the treatment of patients treated with sorafenib has inspired various combination studies of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Currently, ongoing studies of systemic therapy consist of various immune-based combination therapies. Finally, there is no established adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy although a few early phase studies show promising results. In this chapter, we summarize current approaches of systemic treatment in patients with liver cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tarik Demir
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Sunyoung S Lee
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Ahmed O Kaseb
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Cheng J, Li Y, Wang X, Dong Z, Chen Y, Zhang R, Huang J, Jin X, Yao J, Ge A, Song L, Lu Y, Zeng Z. Response Stratification in the First-Line Combined Immunotherapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma at Genomic, Transcriptional and Immune Repertoire Levels. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2021; 8:1281-1295. [PMID: 34737983 PMCID: PMC8558640 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s326356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunotherapy combined with VEGF inhibitor has become the new first-line therapy for advanced or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the biomarkers for response and prognosis stratification of HCC first-line combined immunotherapy have not been clarified. METHODS Here, we obtained the genomic alteration data from pre-therapeutic samples of 103 HCC patients using a 605-gene NGS test, and obtained the transcriptional and T cell receptor (TCR) diversity data from 18 patients who underwent the first-line combined immunotherapy using RNAseq and TCR sequencing, respectively. Patients received sorafenib/sintilimab or lenvatinib/sintilimab combined first-line therapy and the response was assessed at 3-6 cycles of therapy. RESULTS No stratification of response was found in high-frequency key driver gene mutations, including TP53 and TERT. However, significantly higher ratio of progression (PD) was found in patients carrying MDM4 amplification. Similarly, FGF/3/4/19 amplifications could also result in high ratio of PD. The mRNA and lncRNA levels of eight genes related to hepatic metabolism and immune microenvironment exhibited significant differences between PR/SD and PD group, including DGKI, TNFSF14, CHST4, ACTIN1, PFKP, SLC51B, LCK and ERN1, suggesting stratification of response. Furthermore, moderate correlation was identified between the stratification genes (CHST4, SLC51B and ERN1) and immune factors (TIGIT, CD34, ICAM1, CCL5, CXCL9 and CXCL10), suggesting potential roles of these factors in immunoregulation. Strong linear correlation was found between any two of the three indexes for TCR CDR3 diversity, including Shannon-Wiener Index, Simpson index and evenness. However, no significant difference was found in the three indexes between the PR/SD and PD group, suggesting no stratification of response by these indexes. CONCLUSION We identified several potential biomarkers for response stratification in the first-line combined immunotherapy. MDM4 was capable of predicting disease progression, and a panel mRNA and lncRNA of eight genes may also predict the response. Further validation is needed to verify these biomarkers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiamin Cheng
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Department, The Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinyin Li
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Department, The Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohui Wang
- HaploX Biotechnology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng Dong
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Department, The Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Chen
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Department, The Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Department, The Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiagan Huang
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Department, The Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, People's Republic of China
| | - Xueyuan Jin
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Department, The Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianfei Yao
- HaploX Biotechnology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Aifang Ge
- HaploX Biotechnology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Lele Song
- HaploX Biotechnology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,Department of Radiotherapy, The Eighth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100091, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinying Lu
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Department, The Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen Zeng
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Department, The Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Abstract
Introduction Globally, the incidence, as well as mortality, related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is on the rise, owing to relatively few curative options. Underlying cirrhosis is the most common etiology leading to HCC, but risk factors of cirrhosis show great regional variability. Over the years, there has been a steady development in the diagnostic and therapeutic modalities of HCC, including the availability of a wide range of systemic chemotherapeutic agents. We aim to review the recent advancements in the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for HCC. Methodology The literature search was done using databases PubMed, Cochrane, and Science Direct, and the latest relevant articles were reviewed. Findings Screening of HCC is a pivotal step in the early diagnosis of the disease. Current guidelines recommend using ultrasound and alfa fetoprotein but various new biomarkers are under active research that might aid in diagnosing very small tumors, not picked up by the current screening methods. Treatment options are decided based upon the overall performance of the patient and the extent of the disease, as per the Barcelona classification. There are very few options that offer a cure for the disease, ranging from liver resection and transplantation to tumor ablation. Downstaging has proven to have a significant role in the course of the disease. An attempt to control the disease can be made via radiological interventions, such as transarterial chemoembolization, transarterial radioembolization, or radiation therapy. For advanced disease, sorafenib used to be the only option until a couple of years ago. Recently, many other systemic agents have received approval as first-line and second-line therapies for HCC. Genomics is an area of active clinical research as understanding the mutations and genomics involved in the evolution of HCC might lead to a breakthrough therapy. How to cite this article Raees A, Kamran M, Özkan H, et al. Updates on the Diagnosis and Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2021;11(1):32–40.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aimun Raees
- The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | | | - Hasan Özkan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ankara University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Wasim Jafri
- The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Wang K, Li B, Li M, Li S, Yang H, Yuan L. The Safety and Efficacy of Camrelizumab and Its Combination With Apatinib in Various Solid Cancers. Front Pharmacol 2020. [PMCID: PMC7609870 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.568477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Camrelizumab (SHR1210) is a high-affinity, humanized immunoglobulin programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody. It was developed by Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co. Ltd. and has been approved for relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma patients and hepatocellular carcinoma patients in China. Apatinib is an orally administered vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) tyrosine kinase inhibitor and has been approved for advanced gastric adenocarcinoma or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma in China. Camrelizumab alone and its combination with apatinib have been used in the treatment of various solid cancers. Methods: We searched Embase, PubMed, and other databases with the keyword “camrelizumab” or “SHR1210,” and evaluated the safety and efficacy data of the involved studies. Adverse events (AEs) mentioned in at least two studies were summarized, including any grade and grade ≥3 treatment-related AEs. Meanwhile, efficacy data were collected, such as overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), duration of response, 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate, median PFS time, 12-month overall survival rate, and median overall survival time. Results: The major AEs of camrelizumab alone were reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation, fatigue, aspartate aminotransferase increase, proteinuria, pruritus, and alanine transaminase increase. The ORR and DCR were 20.2% (95% CI: 15.1–26.6%, p = 0.000, I2 = 70.360) and 45.8% (95% CI: 39.0–52.7%, p = 0.256, I2 = 58.661), respectively. In the three studies of combination therapy, two studies were combined with apatinib and one combined with chemotherapy. For these studies, common AEs were hypertension, platelet count decrease, nausea, proteinuria, aspartate aminotransferase increase, and white blood cell count decrease. The pooled ORR, DCR, and 6-month PFS rate were 41.8% (95% CI: 29.7–54.9%, p = 0.220, I2 = 86.265), 82.4% (95% CI: 75.9–87.4%, p = 0.000, I2 = 55.207), and 56.2% (95% CI: 35.8–74.6%, p = 0.559, I2 = 79.739), respectively. Conclusion: Camrelizumab and its combination are tolerable and appear to be efficient in treating numerous solid cancers. The combination therapy appears to have better efficacy with durable toxicity. However, these remain to be shown in future studies. Besides, baseline lactate dehydrogenase, programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, tumor mutation burden, and the incidence of reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation may be efficacy predictors and need to be clarified in further studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Hui Yang
- *Correspondence: Hui Yang, , Ling Yuan,
| | - Ling Yuan
- *Correspondence: Hui Yang, , Ling Yuan,
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Federico P, Petrillo A, Giordano P, Bosso D, Fabbrocini A, Ottaviano M, Rosanova M, Silvestri A, Tufo A, Cozzolino A, Daniele B. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Status and Novel Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E3025. [PMID: 33080958 PMCID: PMC7603151 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12103025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent a promising treatment for many kinds of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The rationale for using ICIs in HCC is based on the immunogenic background of hepatitis and cirrhosis and on the observation of high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in this cancer. Promising data from phase I/II studies in advanced HCC, showing durable objective response rates (~20% in first- and second-line settings) and good safety profile, have led to phase III studies with ICIs as single agents or in combination therapy, both in first and second line setting. While the activity of immunotherapy agents as single agents seems to be limited to an "ill-defined" small subset of patients, the combination of the anti PD-L1 atezolizumab and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor bevacizumab revealed a benefit in the outcomes when compared to sorafenib in the first line. In addition, the activity and efficacy of the combinations between anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 antibody and other ICIs, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, or surgical and locoregional therapies, has also been investigated in clinical trials. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of ICIs in the management of HCC with a critical evaluation of the current status and future directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Piera Federico
- Medical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, Italy; (A.P.); (P.G.); (D.B.); (A.F.); (M.O.); (M.R.); (A.S.); (B.D.)
| | - Angelica Petrillo
- Medical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, Italy; (A.P.); (P.G.); (D.B.); (A.F.); (M.O.); (M.R.); (A.S.); (B.D.)
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Study of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Pasqualina Giordano
- Medical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, Italy; (A.P.); (P.G.); (D.B.); (A.F.); (M.O.); (M.R.); (A.S.); (B.D.)
| | - Davide Bosso
- Medical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, Italy; (A.P.); (P.G.); (D.B.); (A.F.); (M.O.); (M.R.); (A.S.); (B.D.)
| | - Antonietta Fabbrocini
- Medical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, Italy; (A.P.); (P.G.); (D.B.); (A.F.); (M.O.); (M.R.); (A.S.); (B.D.)
| | - Margaret Ottaviano
- Medical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, Italy; (A.P.); (P.G.); (D.B.); (A.F.); (M.O.); (M.R.); (A.S.); (B.D.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Rosanova
- Medical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, Italy; (A.P.); (P.G.); (D.B.); (A.F.); (M.O.); (M.R.); (A.S.); (B.D.)
| | - Antonia Silvestri
- Medical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, Italy; (A.P.); (P.G.); (D.B.); (A.F.); (M.O.); (M.R.); (A.S.); (B.D.)
| | - Andrea Tufo
- Surgical Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, Italy;
| | | | - Bruno Daniele
- Medical Oncology Unit, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, Italy; (A.P.); (P.G.); (D.B.); (A.F.); (M.O.); (M.R.); (A.S.); (B.D.)
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Xue Y, Gao S, Gou J, Yin T, He H, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Tang X, Wu R. Platinum-based chemotherapy in combination with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors: preclinical and clinical studies and mechanism of action. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2020; 18:187-203. [PMID: 32954856 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2021.1825376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Platinum chemotherapy is widely used in first-line treatment of patients with various cancers. PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have shown efficacy in several cancers, and the combination of platinum-based chemotherapy and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors has gradually become the focus of attention. Recently, the combination therapy has exhibited significant effects in preclinical models and clinical trials. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes preclinical and clinical studies of the combination therapy in various cancers, and further explores mechanisms of the treatment. Furthermore, exploration of the mechanism demonstrates that the combination therapy plays a combination role in two ways. On the one hand, the positive effects of platinum-based chemotherapy on immunomodulation can be harnessed to increase the sensitivity of tumor cells to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. On the other hand, platinum-based chemotherapy may upregulate PD-L1 expression in tumor tissue and exert a negative immunomodulatory effect, which can be counteracted by PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors through their action pathway. What's more, different types of platinum-based chemotherapy exert different immunomodulation properties. EXPERT OPINION This review describes a potential for the combination of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and novel nanoparticles composed of platinum-loaded complex to yield positive effects in a wide range of doses, thus achieving higher therapeutic effects and lower side effects. ABBREVIATIONS Treg: regulatory T cell; MDSC: myeloid-derived suppressor cell; TAM: tumor-associated macrophage; IL: interleukin; PD-1: programmed cell death protein-1; PD-L1: programmed death-ligand-1; NSCLC: non-small cell lung cancer; SCLC: small cell lung cancer; HNSCC: head and neck squamous cell cancer; ICD: immunogenic cell death; TME: tumor microenvironment; CTLs: cytotoxic T lymphocytes; TCR: T cell receptor; MHC class 1: major histocompatibility complex class 1; DC: dendritic cell; APC: antigen-presenting cell; PD-L2: programmed death-ligand-2; STAT6: signal transducers and activators of transcription 6; PLG: poly (L-glutamic acid); mPEG: methoxy poly (ethylene glycol); LLC1: Lewis lung carcinoma 1; PI3K: phosphoinositide 3-kinase; AKT: protein kinase B; MOC1: mouse oral cancer 1; cGAS: cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase; STING: stimulator of interferon genes; FDA: food and drug administration; cHL: classical Hodgkin's lymphoma; PMBCL: primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma; HCC: hepatocellular carcinoma; MCC: merkel cell carcinoma; RCC: renal cell carcinoma; ORR: overall response rate; OR: overall response; OS: overall survival; PFS: progression-free survival; vs: versus; EFGR: epidermal growth factor receptor; ALK: anaplastic lymphoma kinase; ES: extensive stage; CPS: combined positive score; DOR: duration of response; ITT: intention to treat; NMPA: national medical products administration; TKI: tyrosine kinase inhibitor; NPC: nasopharyngeal cancer; DLT: dose-limiting toxicity; MTD: maximum tolerated dose; TNBC: triple-negative breast cancer; GC: gastric cancer; GEJC: gastroesophageal junction carcinoma; DCR: disease control rate; BTC: biliary tract cancer; TTR: time to response; PR: partial response; SD: stable disease; PD: progressive disease; IC50: half maximal inhibitory concentration; IFN: interferon; HLA: human leukocyte antigen; NK: natural killer cell; M6PR: mannose-6-phosphate receptor; GrzB: granzyme B; TNF: tumor necrosis factor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingyan Xue
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Song Gao
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jingxin Gou
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Tian Yin
- School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Haibing He
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yanjiao Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xing Tang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Rong Wu
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Zhang JZ, Ma YZ, Gu JL, Huo JG. Clinical research progress of immune checkpoint inhibitors in treatment of primary liver cancer. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2020; 28:605-616. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v28.i14.605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancer (PLC) is a common malignant tumor of the digestive system in China. At present, the main treatments for liver cancer (LC) are surgical resection, radiofrequency ablation, chemotherapy, transarterial chemoembolization, and liver transplantation. Due to the limited treatment options, the overall 5-year survival rate of patients with advanced LC is still low. New treatments are urgently needed to prolong their survival and improve their quality of life. In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors reprensented by programmed death receptor-1 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 have made breakthrough progress in the treatment of LC, and bring new hope for LC patients. In this paper, the clinical research progress of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of PLC is reviewed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Zhi Zhang
- The Third Clinical Medical College of Nanjing University Of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yu-Zhu Ma
- The Third Clinical Medical College of Nanjing University Of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jia-Lin Gu
- The Third Clinical Medical College of Nanjing University Of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jie-Ge Huo
- The Third Clinical Medical College of Nanjing University Of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Ghavimi S, Apfel T, Azimi H, Persaud A, Pyrsopoulos NT. Management and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Immunotherapy: A Review of Current and Future Options. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2020; 8:168-176. [PMID: 32832397 PMCID: PMC7438354 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2020.00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
With mortality rates of liver cancer doubling in the last 20 years, this disease is on the rise and has become the fifth most common cancer in men and the seventh most common cancer in women. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents approximately 90% of all primary liver cancers and is a major global health concern. Patients with HCC can be managed curatively with surgical resection or with liver transplantation, if they are diagnosed at an early stage. Unfortunately, most patients with HCC present with advanced stages of the disease and have underlying liver dysfunction, which allows only 15% of patients to be eligible for curative treatment. Several different treatment modalities are available, including locoregional therapy radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, percutaneous ethanol injection, trans-arterial chemoembolization, transarterial radio-embolization, cryoablation, radiation therapy, stereotactic radiotherapy, systemic chemotherapy, molecularly targeted therapies, and immunotherapy. Immunotherapy has recently become a promising method for inhibiting HCC tumor progression, recurrence, and metastasis. The term "Immunotherapy" is a catch-all, encompassing a wide range of applications and targets, including HCC vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and use of oncolytic viruses to treat HCC. Immunotherapy in HCC is a relatively safe option for treating patients with advanced disease in the USA who are either unable to receive or failed sorafenib/lenvatinib therapy and thus may offer an additional survival benefit for these patients. The purpose of this review is to elaborate on some of the most recent advancements in immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shima Ghavimi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Tehila Apfel
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Hamed Azimi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Alana Persaud
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Nikolaos T. Pyrsopoulos
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review new treatment and advances in biliary tract cancer (BTC). RECENT FINDINGS In the prespecified per-protocol analysis of the randomized phase III trial BILCAP, adjuvant capecitabine offers overall survival (OS) benefit when compared with observation with statistical significance. In the first-line setting in metastatic BTC, gemcitabine and S-1 had noninferior OS compared with gemcitabine and cisplatin. In a separate phase III study, the triplet of gemcitabine, cisplatin and S-1 (GCS) had superior OS compared with standard gemcitabine and cisplatin. The regimen of modified FOLFOX (fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin) regimen can be considered a potential standard option in the second-line setting for patients who failed first-line therapy with gemcitabine-based regimens. Trials in genomically selected patients indicate activity of fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitors, mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors. SUMMARY Capecitabine is a new option for adjuvant treatment in resected BTC. In the metastatic setting, gemcitabine and S-1 or GCS are new options for first-line therapy and modified FOLFOX regimen should be considered as a potential new empirical standard of care in genomically agnostic patients requiring second-line therapy. Future randomized trials will evaluate the role of targeted agents and immunotherapy in advanced BTC, both in monotherapy and in combination.
Collapse
|
47
|
Hilmi M, Vienot A, Rousseau B, Neuzillet C. Immune Therapy for Liver Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 12:E77. [PMID: 31892230 PMCID: PMC7016834 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12010077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and biliary tract cancers (BTC) display a poor prognosis with 5-year overall survival rates around 15%, all stages taken together. These primary liver malignancies are often diagnosed at advanced stages where therapeutic options are limited. Recently, immune therapy has opened new opportunities in oncology. Based on their high programmed death-ligand 1 expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, HCC and BTC are theoretically good candidates for immune checkpoint blockade. However, clinical activity of single agent immunotherapy appears limited to a subset of patients, which is still ill-defined, and combinations are under investigation. In this review, we provide an overview of (i) the biological rationale for immunotherapies in HCC and BTC, (ii) the current state of their clinical development, and (iii) the predictive value of immune signatures for both clinical outcome and response to these therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marc Hilmi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Curie Institute, University of Versailles Saint-Quentin, 35 rue Dailly, 92210 Saint-Cloud, France;
- GERCOR Group, 151 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75011 Paris, France; (A.V.); (B.R.)
| | - Angélique Vienot
- GERCOR Group, 151 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75011 Paris, France; (A.V.); (B.R.)
- Department of Medical Oncology, Besançon University Hospital, 3 Boulevard Alexandre Fleming, 25030 Besançon, France
| | - Benoît Rousseau
- GERCOR Group, 151 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75011 Paris, France; (A.V.); (B.R.)
- Department of Medicine, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Cindy Neuzillet
- Department of Medical Oncology, Curie Institute, University of Versailles Saint-Quentin, 35 rue Dailly, 92210 Saint-Cloud, France;
- GERCOR Group, 151 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75011 Paris, France; (A.V.); (B.R.)
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Tai D, Choo SP, Chew V. Rationale of Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Its Potential Biomarkers. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E1926. [PMID: 31816940 PMCID: PMC6966558 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11121926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, is derived mostly from a background of chronic inflammation. Multiple immunotherapeutic strategies have been evaluated in HCC, with some degree of success, particularly with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Despite the initial enthusiasm, treatment benefit is only appreciated in a modest proportion of patients (response rate to single agent ~20%). Therapy-induced immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and economic impact are pertinent considerations with ICB. It is imperative that a deeper understanding of its mechanisms of action either as monotherapy or in combination with other therapeutic agents is needed. We herein discuss the latest developments in the immunotherapeutic approaches for HCC, the potential predictive biomarkers., and the rationale for combination therapies. We also outline promising future immunotherapeutic strategies for HCC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Tai
- National Cancer Centre, Singapore 169610, (NCCS), Singapore; (D.T.); (S.P.C.)
| | - Su Pin Choo
- National Cancer Centre, Singapore 169610, (NCCS), Singapore; (D.T.); (S.P.C.)
- Curie Oncology, Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Singapore 329563, Singapore
| | - Valerie Chew
- Translational Immunology Institute (TII), SingHealth-DukeNUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Hilmi M, Neuzillet C, Calderaro J, Lafdil F, Pawlotsky JM, Rousseau B. Angiogenesis and immune checkpoint inhibitors as therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma: current knowledge and future research directions. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:333. [PMID: 31783782 PMCID: PMC6884868 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0824-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second deadliest cancer worldwide, due to its high incidence and poor prognosis. Frequent initial presentation at advanced stages along with impaired liver function limit the use of a broad therapeutic arsenal in patients with HCC. Although main HCC oncogenic drivers have been deciphered in recent years (TERT, TP53, CTNNB1 mutations, miR122 and CDKN2A silencing), therapeutic applications derived from this molecular knowledge are still limited. Given its high vascularization and immunogenicity, antiangiogenics and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), respectively, are two therapeutic approaches that have shown efficacy in HCC. Depending on HCC immune profile, combinations of these therapies aim to modify the protumoral/antitumoral immune balance, and to reactivate and favor the intratumoral trafficking of cytotoxic T cells. Combination therapies involving antiangiogenics and ICI may be synergistic, because vascular endothelial growth factor A inhibition increases intratumoral infiltration and survival of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and decreases regulatory T lymphocyte recruitment, resulting in a more favorable immune microenvironment for ICI antitumoral activity. First results from clinical trials evaluating combinations of these therapies are encouraging with response rates never observed before in patients with HCC. A better understanding of the balance and interactions between protumoral and antitumoral immune cells will help to ensure the success of future therapeutic trials. Here, we present an overview of the current state of clinical development of antitumoral therapies in HCC and the biological rationale for their use. Moreover, translational studies on tumor tissue and blood, prior to and during treatment, will help to identify biomarkers and immune signatures with predictive value for both clinical outcome and response to combination therapies.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Angiogenesis Inhibitors/administration & dosage
- Angiogenesis Inhibitors/adverse effects
- Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/administration & dosage
- Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/adverse effects
- Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/therapeutic use
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use
- Biomarkers, Tumor/antagonists & inhibitors
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/etiology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Clinical Trials as Topic
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Disease Susceptibility
- Humans
- Immunomodulation/drug effects
- Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Liver Neoplasms/etiology
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Molecular Targeted Therapy
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/drug therapy
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/immunology
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism
- Treatment Outcome
- Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects
- Tumor Microenvironment/genetics
- Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marc Hilmi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Curie Institute, University of Versailles Saint-Quentin, Paris, France
| | - Cindy Neuzillet
- Department of Medical Oncology, Curie Institute, University of Versailles Saint-Quentin, Paris, France
| | - Julien Calderaro
- Department of Pathology, Henri Mondor Hospital, Créteil, France
- IMRB-INSERM U955 Team 18, Créteil, France
- Université Paris-Est-Créteil, Créteil, France
| | - Fouad Lafdil
- IMRB-INSERM U955 Team 18, Créteil, France
- Université Paris-Est-Créteil, Créteil, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Michel Pawlotsky
- IMRB-INSERM U955 Team 18, Créteil, France
- Université Paris-Est-Créteil, Créteil, France
- National Reference Center for Viral Hepatitis B, C and D, Department of Virology, Henri Mondor Hospital, Créteil, France
| | - Benoit Rousseau
- IMRB-INSERM U955 Team 18, Créteil, France.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Zhu XD, Sun HC. Emerging agents and regimens for hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hematol Oncol 2019; 12:110. [PMID: 31655607 PMCID: PMC6815423 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-019-0794-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer, mostly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is the second leading cause of cancer mortality globally. Most patients need at least one systemic therapy at different phases of their treatment for HCC. Sorafenib was the first agent shown to improve the survival of patients with advanced HCC. A decade after the approval of sorafenib, most agents failed to improve patient survival more than sorafenib. In recent years, treatment practices have changed, with lenvatinib as another first-line treatment choice and regorafenib, ramucirumab, and cabozantinib as second-line treatment options. Anti-PD-1 antibodies, including nivolumab, pembrolizumab, and camrelizumab, have demonstrated promising anti-tumor effects as monotherapy for advanced HCC in phase II clinical trials. The combination of an anti-PD-1 antibody and an anti-angiogenesis agent has shown more potent anti-tumor effects in early phase clinical trials and is now the hotspot in clinical studies. Furthermore, these agents are investigated in combination treatment with surgery or other loco-regional therapies in patients with early or intermediate-stage HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Dong Zhu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hui-Chuan Sun
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| |
Collapse
|