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Wang ZY, Xu B, Wang LN, Zhu XD, Huang C, Shen YH, Li H, Li ML, Zhou J, Fan J, Sun HC. Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts tumor response and survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing immunotherapies. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 131:111863. [PMID: 38492340 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymphocyte-related factors were associated with survival outcome of different types of cancers. Nevertheless, the association between lymphocytes-related factors and tumor response of immunotherapy remains unclear. METHODS This is a retrospective study. Eligible participants included patients with unresectable or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent immunotherapy as their first-line treatment. Radiological assessment of tumor response adhered to RECIST 1.1 and HCC-specific modified RECIST (mRECIST) criteria. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were employed to analyze clinical factors associated with tumor response. Kaplan-Meier survivial analysis were employed to compare progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) across different clinical factors. Furthermore, patients who received treatment with either a combination of bevacizumab and anti-PD-1(L1) antibody (Beva group) or tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI) and anti-PD-1 antibody (TKI group) were examined to explore the relation between clinical factors and tumor response. RESULTS A total of 208 patients were enrolled in this study. The median PFS and OS were 9.84 months and 24.44 months,respectively. An independent factor associated with a more favorable tumor response to immunotherapy was identified when PLR<100. Patients with PLR<100 had longer PFS than other patients, while OS showed no significant difference. Further analysis revealed that PLR exhibited superior prognostic value in patients of the Beva group as compared to those in the TKI group. CONCLUSIONS There exisits an association between PLR and tumor response as well as survival outcomes in patients receiving immunotherapy, particularly those treated with the combination of bevacizumab and anti-PD-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Yi Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Xu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu-Na Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Zhu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng Huang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying-Hao Shen
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mei-Ling Li
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Fan
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui-Chuan Sun
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Shirane Y, Fujii Y, Ono A, Nakahara H, Hayes CN, Miura R, Murakami S, Sakamoto N, Uchikawa S, Fujino H, Nakahara T, Murakami E, Yamauchi M, Miki D, Kawaoka T, Arihiro K, Tsuge M, Oka S. Peripheral T Cell Subpopulations as a Potential Surrogate Biomarker during Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1328. [PMID: 38611007 PMCID: PMC11011052 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16071328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic benefits of the immunotherapeutic combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab (Atez/Bev) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) vary. Therapeutic biomarkers might help improve outcomes for HCC patients receiving Atez/Bev therapy. The role of systemic immune profiles in HCC progression also remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the status and dynamics of peripheral T cell subpopulations in HCC patients receiving Atez/Bev treatment and to explore biomarkers predictive of a therapeutic response. We enrolled 83 unresectable advanced HCC patients who commenced Atez/Bev treatment at our hospital between October 2020 and June 2022. Peripheral T cell subpopulations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells at baseline and 3 weeks post-treatment were investigated using flow cytometry and compared with those in control samples from 18 healthy individuals. We retrospectively analyzed the association between peripheral T cell subpopulation profiles and clinical outcomes. Baseline peripheral T cell subpopulations could be profiled in 70 patients with sufficient cell counts, among whom 3-week subpopulations could be evaluated in 51 patients. Multivariate analysis showed that a high baseline proportion of CD8+ central memory T (TCM) cells was independently associated with longer progression-free survival (PFS). Further, overall survival (OS) was significantly prolonged in patients with increased CD8+ effector memory T (TEM) cell proportions. In conclusion, TCM proportion at baseline might be a good indicator of the efficacy of Atez/Bev therapy. Furthermore, observation of increasing TEM proportions might be an early predictor of the potential clinical benefits of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Shirane
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (H.N.); (C.N.H.); (R.M.); (S.M.); (S.U.); (H.F.); (T.N.); (E.M.); (D.M.); (T.K.); (M.T.); (S.O.)
| | - Yasutoshi Fujii
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (H.N.); (C.N.H.); (R.M.); (S.M.); (S.U.); (H.F.); (T.N.); (E.M.); (D.M.); (T.K.); (M.T.); (S.O.)
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan;
| | - Atsushi Ono
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (H.N.); (C.N.H.); (R.M.); (S.M.); (S.U.); (H.F.); (T.N.); (E.M.); (D.M.); (T.K.); (M.T.); (S.O.)
| | - Hikaru Nakahara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (H.N.); (C.N.H.); (R.M.); (S.M.); (S.U.); (H.F.); (T.N.); (E.M.); (D.M.); (T.K.); (M.T.); (S.O.)
| | - Clair Nelson Hayes
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (H.N.); (C.N.H.); (R.M.); (S.M.); (S.U.); (H.F.); (T.N.); (E.M.); (D.M.); (T.K.); (M.T.); (S.O.)
| | - Ryoichi Miura
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (H.N.); (C.N.H.); (R.M.); (S.M.); (S.U.); (H.F.); (T.N.); (E.M.); (D.M.); (T.K.); (M.T.); (S.O.)
| | - Serami Murakami
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (H.N.); (C.N.H.); (R.M.); (S.M.); (S.U.); (H.F.); (T.N.); (E.M.); (D.M.); (T.K.); (M.T.); (S.O.)
| | - Naoya Sakamoto
- Division of Pathology, Exploratory Oncology Research & Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8577, Japan;
| | - Shinsuke Uchikawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (H.N.); (C.N.H.); (R.M.); (S.M.); (S.U.); (H.F.); (T.N.); (E.M.); (D.M.); (T.K.); (M.T.); (S.O.)
| | - Hatsue Fujino
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (H.N.); (C.N.H.); (R.M.); (S.M.); (S.U.); (H.F.); (T.N.); (E.M.); (D.M.); (T.K.); (M.T.); (S.O.)
| | - Takashi Nakahara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (H.N.); (C.N.H.); (R.M.); (S.M.); (S.U.); (H.F.); (T.N.); (E.M.); (D.M.); (T.K.); (M.T.); (S.O.)
| | - Eisuke Murakami
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (H.N.); (C.N.H.); (R.M.); (S.M.); (S.U.); (H.F.); (T.N.); (E.M.); (D.M.); (T.K.); (M.T.); (S.O.)
| | - Masami Yamauchi
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan;
| | - Daiki Miki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (H.N.); (C.N.H.); (R.M.); (S.M.); (S.U.); (H.F.); (T.N.); (E.M.); (D.M.); (T.K.); (M.T.); (S.O.)
| | - Tomokazu Kawaoka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (H.N.); (C.N.H.); (R.M.); (S.M.); (S.U.); (H.F.); (T.N.); (E.M.); (D.M.); (T.K.); (M.T.); (S.O.)
| | - Koji Arihiro
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan;
| | - Masataka Tsuge
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (H.N.); (C.N.H.); (R.M.); (S.M.); (S.U.); (H.F.); (T.N.); (E.M.); (D.M.); (T.K.); (M.T.); (S.O.)
| | - Shiro Oka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (H.N.); (C.N.H.); (R.M.); (S.M.); (S.U.); (H.F.); (T.N.); (E.M.); (D.M.); (T.K.); (M.T.); (S.O.)
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Ma YN, Jiang X, Song P, Tang W. Neoadjuvant therapies in resectable hepatocellular carcinoma: Exploring strategies to improve prognosis. Biosci Trends 2024; 18:21-41. [PMID: 38382930 DOI: 10.5582/bst.2023.01436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a challenging malignancy, often necessitates surgical intervention, notably liver resection. However, the high recurrence rate, reaching 70% within 5 years post-resection, significantly impacts patient outcomes. Neoadjuvant therapies aim to preoperatively address this challenge, reducing lesion size, improving surgical resection rates, deactivating potential micro-metastases, and ultimately lowering postoperative recurrence rates. This review concentrates on advances in research on and clinical use of neoadjuvant therapies for HCC, with particular attention to the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-4). Ongoing clinical studies exploring immunotherapy combined with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), interventional therapy, radiotherapy, and other modalities offer promising insights into overcoming resistance to monotherapies. In summary, neoadjuvant therapies hold significant promise in terms of improving the prognosis for patients with HCC and enhancing long-term survival, particularly through innovative combination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Nan Ma
- National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Xuemei Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Peipei Song
- National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Wei Tang
- National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Haikou Affiliated Hospital of Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Haikou, China
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Jiang QY, Xue RY. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio: Markers predicting immune-checkpoint inhibitor efficacy and immune-related adverse events. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024; 16:577-582. [PMID: 38577447 PMCID: PMC10989358 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i3.577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
We conducted a comprehensive review of existing prediction models pertaining to the efficacy of immune-checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) and the occurrence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The predictive potential of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in determining ICI effectiveness has been extensively investigated, while limited research has been conducted on predicting irAEs. Furthermore, the combined model incorporating NLR and PLR, either with each other or in conjunction with additional markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen, exhibits superior predictive capabilities compared to individual markers alone. NLR and PLR are promising markers for clinical applications. Forthcoming models ought to incorporate established efficacious models and newly identified ones, thereby constituting a multifactor composite model. Furthermore, efforts should be made to explore effective clinical application approaches that enhance the predictive accuracy and efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiu-Yu Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ru-Yi Xue
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shanghai Baoshan District Wusong Central Hospital (Zhongshan Hospital Wusong Branch, Fudan University), Shanghai 200940, China
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Chen D, Mao P, Sun C, Fan X, Zhu Q, Chen Z, He Z, Lou Y, Sun H. Prognostic Value of Combined Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Imaging Tumor Capsule in Solitary Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients after Narrow-Margin Hepatectomy. J Clin Med 2024; 13:351. [PMID: 38256485 PMCID: PMC10816149 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study aimed to investigate the clinical value and prognostic patterns of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and imaging tumor capsule (ITC) in solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing narrow-margin hepatectomy. METHODS Data for solitary HCC patients treated with narrow-margin surgery were extracted from Shanghai General Hospital. Clinical features of recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and early recurrence were investigated by Cox/logistic regression. The significant variables were subsequently incorporated into the nomogram pattern. Survival analysis stratified by NLR and ITC was also performed. RESULTS The study included a cohort of 222 patients, with median RFS and OS of 24.083 and 32.283 months, respectively. Both an NLR ≥ 2.80 and incomplete ITC had a significant impact on prognosis. NLR and ITC independently affected RFS and OS, whereas alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and ITC were identified as independent factors for early relapse. The RFS and OS nomogram, generated based on the Cox model, demonstrated good performance in validation. The combination of NLR and ITC showed greater predictive accuracy for 5-year RFS and OS. Subgroups with an NLR ≥ 2.80 and incomplete ITC had the worst prognosis. CONCLUSIONS Both NLR and ITC significantly affected RFS, OS, and early recurrence among solitary HCC patients who underwent narrow-margin hepatectomy. The combination of NLR and ITC has the potential to guide rational clinical treatment and determine the prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desheng Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China; (D.C.); (Q.Z.); (Z.C.); (Z.H.); (Y.L.)
| | - Pengjuan Mao
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China;
| | - Chen Sun
- Clinical Research Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China;
| | - Xuhui Fan
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China;
| | - Qi Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China; (D.C.); (Q.Z.); (Z.C.); (Z.H.); (Y.L.)
| | - Zeping Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China; (D.C.); (Q.Z.); (Z.C.); (Z.H.); (Y.L.)
| | - Zeping He
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China; (D.C.); (Q.Z.); (Z.C.); (Z.H.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yichao Lou
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China; (D.C.); (Q.Z.); (Z.C.); (Z.H.); (Y.L.)
| | - Hongcheng Sun
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China; (D.C.); (Q.Z.); (Z.C.); (Z.H.); (Y.L.)
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Kou L, Xie X, Chen X, Li B, Li J, Li Y. The progress of research on immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance and reversal strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:3953-3969. [PMID: 37917364 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03568-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in humans, which is prone to recurrence and metastasis and has a poor prognosis. The occurrence and progression of HCC are closely related to immune elimination, immune homeostasis, and immune escape of the immune system. In recent years, immunotherapy, represented by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has shown powerful anti-tumor capabilities in HCC patients. However, there are still some HCC patients who cannot benefit from ICIs treatment due to their innate or acquired drug resistance. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to explore the possible mechanisms of resistance to ICIs in HCC and to use them as a target to design strategies to reverse resistance, to overcome drug resistance in HCC and to improve the prognosis of patients. This article summarizes the possible primary (tumor microenvironment alteration, and signaling pathways, etc.) and acquired (immune checkpoint upregulation) resistance mechanisms in patients with HCC treated with ICIs, and based on this, discusses the status and effectiveness of combination drug strategy to reverse drug resistance, to provide a reference for subsequent related studies and decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqiu Kou
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xiaolu Xie
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xiu Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China.
| | - Yaling Li
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China.
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Liu S, Xu W, Shu H, Dai Y, Du Y, Liu Y, Huang L, Sun G. Associations of circulating immunomarkers with the efficacy of immunotherapy for primary hepatic carcinoma. Cancer Med 2023; 12:21830-21848. [PMID: 38054365 PMCID: PMC10757102 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Peripheral blood immunomarkers are associated with prognosis in patients with solid tumors receiving chemotherapy or immunotherapy. In this study, the associations of circulating neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), as well as their dynamic changes were investigated in relation to the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with primary liver cancer. METHODS Comparisons were made between NLR, MLR, and PLR among individuals exhibiting disease control (defined as the best response of partial response [PR] or stable disease [SD]) and those with progressive disease (PD). Additionally, disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared between individuals with different NLR, MLR, and PLR levels before initiating palliative immunotherapy. Furthermore, comparisons were made between patients with different alterations in the ratios at the second cycle of immunotherapy compared to baseline. These analyses were performed using univariate and multivariate approaches. A total of 119 Chinese patients with liver cancer who underwent immunotherapy were included in this study, which focused on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). RESULTS In cases with HCC (n = 104), the cutoffs of NLR, MLR, and PLR to differentiate treatment responders from nonresponders were 3.38, 0.28, and 227.18, respectively. Patients with the best response of PR or SD had significantly lower NLR and MLR. Patients with NLR <3.38 and those with MLR <0.28 significantly had longer OS and PFS than their counterparts, and those with PLR <227.18 had significantly longer PFS, both in overall patients and in various patient subgroups. Lower NLR, MLR, or PLR was associated with earlier BCLC stage, fewer metastatic sites, less frequent extrahepatic metastasis, or better performance status. For individuals who had an unfavorable baseline NLR ≥3.38, MLR ≥0.28, or a favorable baseline PLR <227.18 prior to first immunotherapy, a decrease in NLR, MLR, or PLR at Cycle 2 of immunotherapy was significantly associated with a higher DCR. CONCLUSIONS Among patients with HCC who received immunotherapy, lower NLR, and MLR at baseline in overall patients were significantly associated with better disease control and more favorable survival outcomes (both OS and PFS), and lower PLR was significantly associated with longer PFS. The findings of this research may offer useful hints foranoptimized selection of patients with liver cancer who may benefit more from immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Liu
- Department of OncologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityHefeiAnhuiChina
| | - Wentao Xu
- School of Clinical MedicineAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiAnhuiChina
| | - Hang Shu
- Department of OncologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityHefeiAnhuiChina
| | - Ying Dai
- Department of OncologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityHefeiAnhuiChina
| | - Yingying Du
- Department of OncologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityHefeiAnhuiChina
| | - Yunmei Liu
- School of Cultural Heritage and Information ManagementShanghai UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Lei Huang
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
- Medical Center on Aging of Ruijin Hospital, MCARJHShanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Guoping Sun
- Department of OncologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityHefeiAnhuiChina
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Hu ZX, Xu XY, Wang Z, Huang JT, Li WC, Zhang S, Shen J, Zhong BY, Zhu XL. Prognosis Prediction of CRAFITY Score in HCC Undergoing TACE Combined with PD-(L)1 Inhibitors and Molecular Targeted Therapy. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2023; 10:2073-2082. [PMID: 38022730 PMCID: PMC10676090 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s439660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The CRAFITY (C-reactive protein and alpha-fetoprotein in immunotherapy) score has demonstrated prognostic significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing immunotherapy. The study aimed to validate accuracy of CRAFITY score on predicting prognosis for patients with HCC treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with PD-(L)1 inhibitors and molecular targeted therapy. Methods Eighty-five HCC patients who underwent TACE in combination with molecular targeted therapy (MTT) and PD-(L)1 Inhibitors were consecutively enrolled from November 2019 to November 2022. Patients were divided into CRAFITY 0 score (n=32), CRAFITY 1 score (n=31), and CRAFITY 2 score (n=22), respectively. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary outcomes included tumor response rate and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). Factors affecting survival were identified via Cox regression analysis. Results The median overall survival (OS) for HCC patients with CRAFITY scores of 0, 1, and 2 was 33.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 27.1-39.7), 34.5 months (95% CI: 23.1-45.9), and 24.2 months (95% CI: 13.9-39.3), respectively, there were statistical differences among the three groups (p<0.05). The progression-free survival (PFS) was 14.1 months (95% CI: 10.0-18.2), 14.1 months (95% CI: 9.0-19.2), and 9.3 months (95% CI: 7.2-11.4) for patients with CRAFITY scores of 1, 2, and 3, respectively, with a significant difference between the three groups (p<0.05). In patients with CRAFITY scores of 1, 2, and 3, the disease control rates (DCR) were 94%, 84%, and 73%, respectively (p < 0.05), while the overall response rates (ORR) were 78.1%, 67.7%, and 59.1%, respectively (p = 0.318). A higher CRAFITY score showed a correlation with an increased frequency of fatigue and grade 3 fever (p<0.05). Moreover, CRAFITY 2 score was an independent risk factor for both OS (HR = 2.610(1.281-4.564), p = 0.014) and PFS (HR = 2.419(1.281-4.564), p = 0.006). Conclusion The CRAFITY score may provide an efficient predictive capacity for prognosis in HCC patients undergoing TACE combined with PD-(L)1 inhibitors and molecular targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze-Xin Hu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Yang Xu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ze Wang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jin-Tao Huang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wan-Ci Li
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian Shen
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bin-Yan Zhong
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Li Zhu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Greten TF, Villanueva A, Korangy F, Ruf B, Yarchoan M, Ma L, Ruppin E, Wang XW. Biomarkers for immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2023; 20:780-798. [PMID: 37726418 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-023-00816-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are now widely used for the treatment of patients with advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Two different ICI-containing regimens, atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and tremelimumab plus durvalumab, are now approved standard-of-care first-line therapies in this setting. However, and despite substantial improvements in survival outcomes relative to sorafenib, most patients with advanced-stage HCC do not derive durable benefit from these regimens. Advances in genome sequencing including the use of single-cell RNA sequencing (both of tumour material and blood samples), as well as immune cell identification strategies and other techniques such as radiomics and analysis of the microbiota, have created considerable potential for the identification of novel predictive biomarkers enabling the accurate selection of patients who are most likely to derive benefit from ICIs. In this Review, we summarize data on the immunology of HCC and the outcomes in patients receiving ICIs for the treatment of this disease. We then provide an overview of current biomarker use and developments in the past 5 years, including gene signatures, circulating tumour cells, high-dimensional flow cytometry, single-cell RNA sequencing as well as approaches involving the microbiome, radiomics and clinical markers. Novel concepts for further biomarker development in HCC are then discussed including biomarker-driven trials, spatial transcriptomics and integrated 'big data' analysis approaches. These concepts all have the potential to better identify patients who are most likely to benefit from ICIs and to promote the development of new treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim F Greten
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
- Liver Cancer Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Augusto Villanueva
- Divisions of Liver Disease and Hematology/Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Firouzeh Korangy
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Benjamin Ruf
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mark Yarchoan
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lichun Ma
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eytan Ruppin
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Xin W Wang
- Liver Cancer Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Liver Carcinogenesis Section, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
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10
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Zhang Y, Shen H, Zheng R, Sun Y, Xie X, Lu MD, Liu B, Huang G. Development and Assessment of Nomogram Based on AFP Response for Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5131. [PMID: 37958306 PMCID: PMC10647527 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been increasingly used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Prognostic biomarkers are an unmet need. We aimed to develop a prognostic nomogram for patients with unresectable HCC receiving ICIs therapy. METHODS A total of 120 patients with unresectable HCC receiving ICIs treatment were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomly divided into a training set (n = 84) and a validation set (n = 36) in a 7:3 ratio. Clinical characteristics were retrospectively analyzed. Serum α-fetoprotein protein (AFP) response was defined as a decline of ≥20% in AFP levels within the initial eight weeks of treatment. Univariable and multivariable Cox analyses were used to select relevant variables and construct the nomogram. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were used to determine the performance of the model. Kaplan-Meier analysis with the log-rank test was used to compare different risk groups. RESULTS The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.7 months. In the multivariate Cox analysis, the presence of extrahepatic metastasis (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-4.27, p < 0.05), white blood cell count (HR = 3.48, 95% CI: 1.02-11.88, p < 0.05) and AFP response (HR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.18-0.95, p < 0.05) independently predicted PFS. A nomogram for PFS was established with AUCs of 0.79 and 0.70 in the training and validation sets, respectively. The median PFS of the high- and low-risk subgroups was 3.5 and 11.7 months, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION The nomogram could predict PFS in patients with unresectable HCC receiving ICIs treatment and further help decision making in daily clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Division of Interventional Ultrasound, Department of Medical Ultrasonics, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhong Shan Road 2, Guangzhou 510080, China; (Y.Z.); (H.S.); (M.-D.L.)
| | - Hui Shen
- Division of Interventional Ultrasound, Department of Medical Ultrasonics, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhong Shan Road 2, Guangzhou 510080, China; (Y.Z.); (H.S.); (M.-D.L.)
| | - Ruiying Zheng
- Division of Interventional Ultrasound, Department of Medical Ultrasonics, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhong Shan Road 2, Guangzhou 510080, China; (Y.Z.); (H.S.); (M.-D.L.)
| | - Yueting Sun
- Division of Interventional Ultrasound, Department of Medical Ultrasonics, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhong Shan Road 2, Guangzhou 510080, China; (Y.Z.); (H.S.); (M.-D.L.)
| | - Xiaoyan Xie
- Division of Interventional Ultrasound, Department of Medical Ultrasonics, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhong Shan Road 2, Guangzhou 510080, China; (Y.Z.); (H.S.); (M.-D.L.)
| | - Ming-De Lu
- Division of Interventional Ultrasound, Department of Medical Ultrasonics, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhong Shan Road 2, Guangzhou 510080, China; (Y.Z.); (H.S.); (M.-D.L.)
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhong Shan Road 2, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Baoxian Liu
- Division of Interventional Ultrasound, Department of Medical Ultrasonics, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhong Shan Road 2, Guangzhou 510080, China; (Y.Z.); (H.S.); (M.-D.L.)
| | - Guangliang Huang
- Division of Interventional Ultrasound, Department of Medical Ultrasonics, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhong Shan Road 2, Guangzhou 510080, China; (Y.Z.); (H.S.); (M.-D.L.)
- Department of Medical Ultrasonics, Guangxi Hospital Division, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Nanning 530022, China
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Zanuso V, Pirozzi A, Balsano R, Pressiani T, Rimassa L. Safety and Efficacy of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab Combination as a First Line Treatment of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2023; 10:1689-1708. [PMID: 37808223 PMCID: PMC10557510 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s347932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common leading causes of cancer death worldwide. As most patients are diagnosed with advanced disease, systemic therapy remains the backbone of treatment. In recent years, we have witnessed the transformation of advanced HCC treatment landscapes from single-agent targeted therapies to immunotherapy combinations, with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab becoming the new first-line standard of care with an increase in overall survival, progression-free survival, and objective response rate compared to sorafenib, and a positive impact on quality of life. Although the efficacy and safety of this combination have been confirmed regardless of ethnicity, age, and etiology, only a subgroup of patients seems to benefit the most from this treatment. Currently, predictive serum and tissue biomarkers to select patients who are most likely to respond to atezolizumab plus bevacizumab are lacking. Moreover, the optimal subsequent therapy for patients who progress on first-line atezolizumab plus bevacizumab remains unknown, clinical trials are ongoing, and real-world data are needed to determine the most effective treatment sequence. Importantly, careful evaluation of bleeding risk and preservation of adequate liver function are fundamental to improve patients' prognosis, especially when subsequent treatments are administered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Zanuso
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Pirozzi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Rita Balsano
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Tiziana Pressiani
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
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12
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Lin X, Zong C, Zhang Z, Fang W, Xu P. Progresses in biomarkers for cancer immunotherapy. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e387. [PMID: 37799808 PMCID: PMC10547938 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapy has emerged as prevailing treatment modality for diverse cancers. However, immunotherapy as a first-line therapy has not consistently yielded durable responses. Moreover, the risk of immune-related adverse events increases with combination regimens. Thus, the development of predictive biomarkers is needed to optimize individuals benefit, minimize risk of toxicities, and guide combination approaches. The greatest focus has been on tumor programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), microsatellite instability (MSI), and tumor mutational burden (TMB). However, there remains a subject of debate due to thresholds variability and significant heterogeneity. Major unmet challenges in immunotherapy are the discovery and validation of predictive biomarkers. Here, we show the status of tumor PD-L1, MSI, TMB, and emerging data on novel biomarker strategies with oncogenic signaling and epigenetic regulation. Considering the exploration of peripheral and intestinal immunity has served as noninvasive alternative in predicting immunotherapy, this review also summarizes current data in systemic immunity, encompassing solute PD-L1 and TMB, circulating tumor DNA and infiltrating lymphocytes, routine emerging inflammatory markers and cytokines, as well as gut microbiota. This review provides up-to-date information on the evolving field of currently available biomarkers in predicting immunotherapy. Future exploration of novel biomarkers is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuwen Lin
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care MedicinePeking University Shenzhen HospitalShenzhenGuangdong ProvinceChina
- Department of Internal MedicineShantou University Medical CollegeShantouGuangdong ProvinceChina
| | - Chenyu Zong
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care MedicinePeking University Shenzhen HospitalShenzhenGuangdong ProvinceChina
- Department of Internal MedicineZunyi Medical UniversityZunyiGuizhou ProvinceChina
| | - Zhihan Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care MedicinePeking University Shenzhen HospitalShenzhenGuangdong ProvinceChina
| | - Weiyi Fang
- Cancer Research InstituteSchool of Basic Medical ScienceSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceChina
- Cancer CenterIntegrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceChina
| | - Ping Xu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care MedicinePeking University Shenzhen HospitalShenzhenGuangdong ProvinceChina
- Department of Internal MedicineZunyi Medical UniversityZunyiGuizhou ProvinceChina
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13
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Zanuso V, Rimassa L, Braconi C. The rapidly evolving landscape of HCC: Selecting the optimal systemic therapy. Hepatology 2023:01515467-990000000-00559. [PMID: 37695554 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Over the past years, there has been a remarkable advance in the systemic treatment options for advanced HCC. The overall survival has gradually increased over time, with larger benefits for patients with sensitive tumors and preserved liver function, the latter being an essential condition for the delivery of sequential lines of treatment and optimization of clinical outcomes. With the approval of new first-line agents and the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitor-based therapies, the treatment landscape of advanced HCC is becoming wider than ever. Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and, more recently, durvalumab plus tremelimumab have entered the clinical practice and are the current standard of care for treatment-naïve patients, surpassing sorafenib and lenvatinib monopoly. As no head-to-head comparisons are available among all the first-line treatment options, the recommendation for the most appropriate choice and sequence is patient-driven and integrates efficacy data with clinical comorbidities, background liver disease, and the safety profile of available drugs. In addition, predictive biomarkers for successful patients' stratification are yet to be available and constitute the focus of ongoing research. The treatment algorithm is likely to become even more complex since systemic therapeutic approaches are now being translated into earlier stages of the disease, with an impact on the evolution of the sequential treatment of patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Zanuso
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Braconi
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Glasgow, UK
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Tajiri K, Tsukada K, Tokimitsu Y, Motofuji Y, Kawai K, Muraishi N, Murayama A, Hayashi Y, Shimizu Y, Yasuda I. Objective Response and Progression-Free Survival Contribute to Prolong Overall Survival in Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab Treatment for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Oncology 2023; 102:131-140. [PMID: 37666216 DOI: 10.1159/000533952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atez/Bev) is a standard treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) due to its good antitumor and survival prolongation effects. Post-progression survival (PPS) has been reported to be a great contributor in the treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors for unresectable HCC. This study aimed to clarify the significance of progression-free survival (PFS) or PPS of Atez/Bev treatment for HCC. METHODS We analyzed the correlations of PFS and PPS with overall survival (OS) in studies of HCC patients treated with Atez/Bev and evaluated the contribution to OS in Atez/Bev treatment with patients at our institutions as clinical practice. RESULTS Analysis of 18 studies involving 3,752 patients treated with Atez/Bev found that PPS had a stronger correlation with OS (R2 = 0.872, p < 0.001) than did PFS (R2 = 0.605, p = 0.001). Analysis of 80 patients with unresectable HCC treated with Atez/Bev found that presence of antitumor responses during Atez/Bev was the most significant contributor to OS, and post-progression treatment after Atez/Bev also significantly contribute to OS. CONCLUSION The presence of antitumor response with tumor shrinkage during Atez/Bev treatment contributes to good OS through its durable response. Atez/Bev treatment could be considered as first-line treatment for unresectable HCC. However, there is a need for optimal biomarkers for good antitumor response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuto Tajiri
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Kenichiro Tsukada
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kouseiren Takaoka Hospital, Takaoka, Japan
| | | | - Yuchi Motofuji
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shinseikai Toyama Hospital, Imizu, Japan
| | - Kengo Kawai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanto Municipal Hospital, Nanto, Japan
| | - Nozomu Muraishi
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Aiko Murayama
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Yuka Hayashi
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Shimizu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanto Municipal Hospital, Nanto, Japan
| | - Ichiro Yasuda
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
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Motohara T, Yamamura K, Miyamoto H, Ueno S, Takeno H, Nagayama Y, Oda E, Karashima R, Ozaki N, Miyata T, Mima K, Okabe H, Isiko T, Beppu T. Durable Stable Disease by Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab Can Provide Long-term Survival of Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Lung Metastases. In Vivo 2023; 37:2268-2275. [PMID: 37652506 PMCID: PMC10500536 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.13329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple bilateral lung metastases secondary to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are mainly treated with molecular therapy. Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab can provide excellent long-term survival for patients with a good response. CASE REPORT A 67-year-old woman underwent right hepatectomy for a primary solitary HCC, 11 cm in diameter, after portal embolization. After 2 years, she developed bilateral lung metastases with >100 nodules, <1 cm in size. She had no viral hepatitis or liver cirrhosis, and the Child-Pugh Grade was A (5 points). Lenvatinib (12 mg daily) was administered as a first-line treatment and continued for 18 months. The best response was stable disease (SD). Subsequently, intravenous atezolizumab (1,200 mg) plus bevacizumab (15 mg/kg) was administered once every three weeks. The best response was SD, which continued for 26 months. After that, cabozantinib treatment was initiated and discontinued after one cycle. Subsequently, dual immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment (durvalumab + tremelimumab) was administered. She has had multiple, but lung-only, metastases over four years. She has been well as an outpatient with the Child-Pugh Grade of A and a performance status of 0. CONCLUSION Even if atezolizumab plus bevacizumab does not induce a good response, a durable SD could prolong survival in patients with metastatic HCC while maintaining liver function and a good quality-of-life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiko Motohara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yamaga City Medical Center, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Kensuke Yamamura
- Department of Surgery, Yamaga City Medical Center, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hideaki Miyamoto
- Department of Medical Oncology, Yamaga City Medical Center, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Shigenori Ueno
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yamaga City Medical Center, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Takeno
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yamaga City Medical Center, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yasunori Nagayama
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Graduate School of Life Science, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Eri Oda
- Department of Surgery, Yamaga City Medical Center, Kumamoto, Japan
| | | | - Nobuyuki Ozaki
- Department of Surgery, Yamaga City Medical Center, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Tatsunori Miyata
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Kosuke Mima
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hirohisa Okabe
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Takatoshi Isiko
- Department of Surgery, Yamaga City Medical Center, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Toru Beppu
- Department of Surgery, Yamaga City Medical Center, Kumamoto, Japan;
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Zhang W, Tan Y, Li Y, Liu J. Neutrophil to Lymphocyte ratio as a predictor for immune-related adverse events in cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1234142. [PMID: 37622124 PMCID: PMC10445236 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1234142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in cancer treatment has led to an increase in immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which can cause treatment discontinuation and even fatal reactions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the peripheral biomarker neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in predicting irAEs. Methods A systematic search of databases was conducted to identify studies on the predictive value of NLR for irAEs. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was used to compare continuous NLR, while crude odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for categorized NLR if adjusted ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were not provided in the original study. Results The meta-analysis included 47 studies with a total of 11,491 cancer patients treated with ICIs. The baseline continuous NLR was significantly lower in patients with irAEs compared to those without (SMD=-1.55, 95%CI=-2.64 to -0.46, P=0.006). Similarly, categorized NLR showed that lower baseline NLR was associated with increased irAEs (OR=0.55, 95%CI=0.41-0.73, P<0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that the OR for predicting irAEs with NLR cut-off values of 3 and 5 was 0.4 and 0.59, respectively. Interestingly, increased baseline NLR was associated with a higher incidence of immune-related liver injury (OR=2.44, 95%CI=1.23-4.84, I2 = 0%, P=0.010). Conclusion Our study suggests that lower baseline NLR is associated with a higher risk of overall irAEs. However, further studies are needed to determine the best cut-off value and explore the efficacy of NLR in predicting specific types of irAEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yifei Tan
- Department of Ultrasonography, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuquan Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiang Liu
- Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Han JW, Jang JW. Predicting Outcomes of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab Treatment in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11799. [PMID: 37511558 PMCID: PMC10380709 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A combination of atezolizumab with bevacizumab (AB) is the first regimen that has shown superiority compared to sorafenib and is now being used as the systemic treatment of choice for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with Barcelona Liver Cancer Clinic stage C. However, a considerable number of patients do not achieve survival or significant responses, indicating the need to identify predictive biomarkers for initial and on-treatment decisions in HCC patients receiving AB. In this manuscript, we summarized the current data from both experimental and clinical studies. This review will be beneficial for both clinicians and researchers in clinical practice as well as those designing experimental, translational, or clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Won Han
- The Catholic University Liver Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Won Jang
- The Catholic University Liver Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
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18
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Ma D, Liu M, Zhai X, Li X, Jin B, Liu Y. Development and validation of prognostic risk prediction models for hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of 47 cohorts. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1215745. [PMID: 37520554 PMCID: PMC10380940 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1215745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To identify the risk factors associated with prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) via meta-analysis. And to construct prediction models to aid in the prediction and improvement of prognosis. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library for relevant studies from inception to March 29, 2023. After completing literature screening and data extraction, we performed meta-analysis, sensitivity analysis, and subgroup analysis to identify risk factors associated with OS and PFS. Using the pooled hazard ratio value for each risk factor, we constructed prediction models, which were then validated using datasets from 19 centers in Japan and two centers in China, comprising a total of 204 patients. Results A total of 47 studies, involving a total of 7649 ICI-treated HCC patients, were included in the meta-analysis. After analyzing 18 risk factors, we identified AFP, ALBI, NLR, ECOG performance status, Child-Pugh stage, BCLC stage, tumor number, vascular invasion and combination therapy as predictors for OS prediction model, while AFP, ALBI, NLR, ECOG performance status, Child-Pugh stage, BCLC stage, tumor number and vascular invasion were selected as predictors for PFS model. To validate the models, we scored two independent cohorts of patients using both prediction models. Our models demonstrated good performance in these cohorts. In addition, in the pooled cohort of 204 patients, Our models also showed good performance with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.712, 0.753, and 0.822 for the OS prediction model at 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year follow-up points, respectively, and AUC values of 0.575, 0.749 and 0.691 for the PFS prediction model Additionally, the calibration curve, decision curve analysis, and Kaplan-Meier curves in the pooled cohort all supported the validity of both models. Conclusion Based on the meta-analysis, we successfully constructed the OS and PFS prediction models for ICI-treated HCC patients. We also validated the models externally and observed good discrimination and calibration. The model's selected indicators are easily obtainable, making them suitable for further application in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delin Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Mingkun Liu
- Department of Organ Transplantation, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhai
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Research Center of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xianzhi Li
- Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Jin
- Department of Organ Transplantation, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Research Center of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan, China
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Papadakos SP, Ferraro D, Carbone G, Frampton AE, Vennarecci G, Kykalos S, Schizas D, Theocharis S, Machairas N. The Emerging Role of Metformin in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Is There Any Value in Repurposing Metformin for HCC Immunotherapy? Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3161. [PMID: 37370771 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. There has been significant progress in understanding the risk factors and epidemiology of HCC during the last few decades, resulting in efficient preventative, diagnostic and treatment strategies. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been demonstrated to be a major risk factor for developing HCC. Metformin is a widely used hypoglycemic agent for patients with T2DM and has been shown to play a potentially beneficial role in improving the survival of patients with HCC. Experimental and clinical studies evaluating the outcomes of metformin as an antineoplastic drug in the setting of HCC were reviewed. Pre-clinical evidence suggests that metformin may enhance the antitumor effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and reverse the effector T cells' exhaustion. However, there is still limited clinical evidence regarding the efficacy of metformin in combination with ICIs for the treatment of HCC. We appraised and analyzed in vitro and animal studies that aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of action of metformin, as well as clinical studies that assessed its impact on the survival of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavros P Papadakos
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Daniele Ferraro
- HPB Surgery and Liver Transplant Unit, AORN A. Cardarelli, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Gabriele Carbone
- Department of General Surgery and Organ Transplantation, University of Rome "Sapienza", 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Adam Enver Frampton
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN, UK
- Oncology Section, Surrey Cancer Research Institute, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, FHMS, University of Surrey, The Leggett Building, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK
- HPB Surgical Unit, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK
| | - Giovanni Vennarecci
- HPB Surgery and Liver Transplant Unit, AORN A. Cardarelli, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Stylianos Kykalos
- Second Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Schizas
- First Department of Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Stamatios Theocharis
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Machairas
- Second Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
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20
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Tanabe N, Saeki I, Aibe Y, Matsuda T, Hanazono T, Nishi M, Hidaka I, Kuwashiro S, Shiratsuki S, Matsuura K, Egusa M, Nishiyama N, Fujioka T, Kawamoto D, Sasaki R, Nishimura T, Oono T, Hisanaga T, Matsumoto T, Ishikawa T, Yamasaki T, Takami T. Early Prediction of Response Focused on Tumor Markers in Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15112927. [PMID: 37296889 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15112927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the promising efficacy of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (atezo/bev), some patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) experience disease progression. This retrospective study, which included 154 patients, aimed to evaluate predictors of treatment efficacy of atezo/bev for unresectable HCC. Factors associated with treatment response were examined, focusing on tumor markers. In the high-alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) group (baseline AFP ≥ 20 ng/mL), a decrease in AFP level > 30% was an independent predictor of objective response (odds ratio, 5.517; p = 0.0032). In the low-AFP group (baseline AFP < 20 ng/mL), baseline des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) level < 40 mAU/mL was an independent predictor of objective response (odds ratio, 3.978; p = 0.0206). The independent predictors of early progressive disease were an increase in AFP level ≥ 30% at 3 weeks (odds ratio, 4.077; p = 0.0264) and the presence of extrahepatic spread (odds ratio, 3.682; p = 0.0337) in the high-AFP group and up-to-seven criteria, OUT (odds ratio, 15.756; p = 0.0257) in the low-AFP group. In atezo/bev therapy, focusing on early AFP changes, baseline DCP, and tumor burden of up-to-seven criteria are useful in predicting response to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norikazu Tanabe
- Division of Laboratory, Yamaguchi University Hospital, Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Issei Saeki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Yuki Aibe
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kokura Memorial Hospital, Kitakyushu 802-8555, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Takashi Matsuda
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shimonoseki Medical Center, Shimonoseki 750-0061, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Tadasuke Hanazono
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Saiseikai Shimonoseki General Hospital, Shimonoseki 759-6603, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Maiko Nishi
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yamaguchi Rosai Hospital, Sanyo-Onoda 756-0095, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Isao Hidaka
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Saiseikai Yamaguchi General Hospital, Yamaguchi 753-0078, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Shinya Kuwashiro
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yamaguchi Prefectural Grand Medical Center, Hofu 747-8511, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Shogo Shiratsuki
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tokuyama Central Hospital, Syunan 745-8522, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Keiji Matsuura
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shuto General Hospital, Yanai 742-0032, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Maho Egusa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Natsuko Nishiyama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Fujioka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Daiki Kawamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Ryo Sasaki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Tatsuro Nishimura
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Takashi Oono
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Takuro Hisanaga
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Matsumoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Ishikawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Takahiro Yamasaki
- Division of Laboratory, Yamaguchi University Hospital, Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Department of Oncology and Laboratory Medicine, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Taro Takami
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Yamaguchi Clinical Research Group-Hepatology (YCR-H), Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan
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Ji JH, Ha SY, Lee D, Sankar K, Koltsova EK, Abou-Alfa GK, Yang JD. Predictive Biomarkers for Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment Response in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:7640. [PMID: 37108802 PMCID: PMC10144688 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has one of the highest mortality rates among solid cancers. Late diagnosis and a lack of efficacious treatment options contribute to the dismal prognosis of HCC. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based immunotherapy has presented a new milestone in the treatment of cancer. Immunotherapy has yielded remarkable treatment responses in a range of cancer types including HCC. Based on the therapeutic effect of ICI alone (programmed cell death (PD)-1/programmed death-ligand1 (PD-L)1 antibody), investigators have developed combined ICI therapies including ICI + ICI, ICI + tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), and ICI + locoregional treatment or novel immunotherapy. Although these regimens have demonstrated increasing treatment efficacy with the addition of novel drugs, the development of biomarkers to predict toxicity and treatment response in patients receiving ICI is in urgent need. PD-L1 expression in tumor cells received the most attention in early studies among various predictive biomarkers. However, PD-L1 expression alone has limited utility as a predictive biomarker in HCC. Accordingly, subsequent studies have evaluated the utility of tumor mutational burden (TMB), gene signatures, and multiplex immunohistochemistry (IHC) as predictive biomarkers. In this review, we aim to discuss the current state of immunotherapy for HCC, the results of the predictive biomarker studies, and future direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Ho Ji
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon 51353, Republic of Korea
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Comprehensive Transplant Center, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Sang Yun Ha
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Comprehensive Transplant Center, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Pathology and Translational Genomics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 03181, Republic of Korea
| | - Danbi Lee
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Comprehensive Transplant Center, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liver Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Kamya Sankar
- Division of Medical Oncology, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Ekaterina K. Koltsova
- Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Weil Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 14853, USA
| | - Ju Dong Yang
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Comprehensive Transplant Center, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
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Arvanitakis K, Mitroulis I, Chatzigeorgiou A, Elefsiniotis I, Germanidis G. The Liver Cancer Immune Microenvironment: Emerging Concepts for Myeloid Cell Profiling with Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15. [PMID: 36900313 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15051522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide [...].
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23
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Omer S, Iftime A, Constantinescu I, Dina I. Low-Cost Predictors for Liver Function and Clinical Outcomes after Sustained Virological Response in Patients with HCV-Related Cirrhosis and Thrombocytopenia. Medicina (Kaunas) 2023; 59:medicina59010146. [PMID: 36676770 PMCID: PMC9865508 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59010146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: To find low-cost markers that can identify the hepatitis C virus cirrhotic patients that are at risk for long-term severe adverse liver effects (ascites, ascites or upper gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatocellular carcinoma), after treatment. There is established evidence for the benefits of treating hepatitis C virus cirrhotic patients, but there is still some need for clarification concerning the real impact on the long-term evolution after achieving sustained virological response; there is no general consensus in the literature about identifying the patients that do not improve post-treatment. Materials and Methods: Our retrospective analysis investigated the long-term (2 years) evolution of 46 patients with cirrhosis with thrombocytopenia, previously infected with VHC, treated and who obtained an SVR after DAA treatment. Results: Despite the overall improvement, 8.7% patients developed hepatocellular carcinoma and 6.5% patients ascites/upper GI bleeding. We found that FIB-4, MELD and AFP changes at 1 year were the most significant predictors for these outcomes. Additionally, a drop in leukocyte count after 1 year seemed to indicate a risk for hepatocellular carcinoma, but this was not consistent. Conclusions: It might be beneficial to intensify the surveillance for post-treatment adverse liver effects for the patients with these marker changes at 1 year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Secil Omer
- Department of Medical Semiology, Saint Joan Hospital Bucharest, Carol Davila University of Medicine, 042122 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Adrian Iftime
- Department of Biophysics, Carol Davila University of Medicine, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Ileana Constantinescu
- Department of Immunology and Transplant Immunology, Fundeni Clinical Institute Bucharest, Carol Davila University of Medicine, 022328 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ion Dina
- Department of Medical Semiology, Saint Joan Hospital Bucharest, Carol Davila University of Medicine, 042122 Bucharest, Romania
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24
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Goto Y, Tajiri K, Tanaka S, Murayama A, Muraishi N, Hayashi Y, Yasuda I. A ruptured sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma treated with combined immunotherapy. Clin J Gastroenterol 2023; 16:244-249. [PMID: 36625992 DOI: 10.1007/s12328-023-01758-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (sHCC) is a rare phenotype of HCC with extremely poor prognosis and no established pharmacological treatment. Interventional therapies such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) have been shown to limit the development of sHCC through mechanisms involving hypoxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition. This report describes an 83-year-old man who developed sHCC 2 years after RFA treatment for HCC and experienced sHCC rupture. Following TAE-induced hematostasis, he was administered lenvatinib for tumor control. Although his physical status had improved, due to loss of fever and attenuation of arterial enhancement in the tumor, for 1 month after lenvatinib administration, tumor re-growth was observed 2 months after lenvatinib treatment. His general condition was preserved, and he was treated with 10 courses of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atez+Bev), resulting in tumor shrinkage that was maintained for 3-8 months after Atez+Bev. Findings in this patient showed that combined immunotherapy was effective for sHCC. Further investigation in additional patients is required to maximize prognosis in patients with sHCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuno Goto
- The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Toyama University Hospital, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Kazuto Tajiri
- The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Toyama University Hospital, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan.
| | | | - Aiko Murayama
- The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Toyama University Hospital, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Nozomu Muraishi
- The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Toyama University Hospital, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Yuka Hayashi
- The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Toyama University Hospital, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Ichiro Yasuda
- The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Toyama University Hospital, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
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