Systemic therapy for unresectable, mixed hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma: treatment of a rare malignancy

BACKGROUND

Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (HCC-CC) has a reported incidence of less than 5% of primary hepatic malignancies. The treatment approach to this malignancy is undefined. Our objective of this case series is to provide some insight into chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy in this setting.

METHODS

Pathologic and radiographic review confirmed seven combined HCC-CC patients during a 5-year time frame [2009-2014]. Data points were demographics, chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy given in the first and second-line setting, localized treatment if given, first radiographic result, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Seven patients were identified. Front-line treatment showed a median PFS of 3.4 months. Total median OS was 8.3 months. Regimens given included gemcitabine alone +/- bevacizumab, gemcitabine + platinum (GP) +/- bevacizumab, and sorafenib. Front-line treatment with these regimens showed progressive disease in 71% (5 patients) on first radiographic scan with all patients who received sorafenib front-line progressing at that restaging. Disease-control (complete response + partial response + stable disease) was seen in 29% of patients (2 patients) with 1 patient receiving GP and 1 patient receiving gemcitabine + bevacizumab. Of note, 2 patients that received GP +/- bevacizumab in the second-line setting had disease control on first radiographic scan.

CONCLUSIONS

Our retrospective review speaks to the rarity of this malignancy and challenges that are associated with its diagnosis and treatment. GP +/- bevacizumab showed disease control in first or second-line treatment in 3 patients. Treatment with this regimen in this rare malignancy subgroup warrants further investigation.

MD Anderson experience with off-study regorafenib in patients with advanced colorectal cancer

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Background: Regorafenib was approved by the FDA on September 27, 2012 following the CORRECT trial demonstrating an overall survival (OS) benefit compared to placebo in pts with advanced treatment-refractory CRC (Grothey A. et al: Lancet. 2013;381:303-12). Little data exists regarding patient treatment outcomes outside of reported clinical trial data. Methods: Pts seen at MD Anderson Cancer Center with a diagnosis of gastrointestinal malignancies since October 1, 2012 were evaluated for regorafenib therapy; electronic clinic records were reviewed for pt treatment data, toxicity, and survival outcomes. Results: 61 pts were identified; 4 pts were determined to have GI malignancy other than CRC [appendiceal cancer (n=3) and duodenal cancer (n=1)] and were omitted from this analysis. Median age was 58 years (range 30.5-83.3), M:F 37:20 (65%:35%), KRAS non-mutant/ KRAS mutant 26/31 (46%:54%), BRAF mutant n=3 (5%); Median time from diagnosis of metastatic disease to initiation of regorafenib therapy was 27.7 months (range 5.9-112.3); 8 pts (14%) had enrolled in clinical trials prior to starting regorafenib. The initial starting dose was 160 mg (n= 38, 66.7%), 120mg (n=18, 31.5%), and 80mg (n=1, 1.8%) respectively. Dose reductions or interruptions were required in 25 pts (43.8%); 14 patients (24.5%) discontinued therapy due to toxicity. The most common grade 3 adverse event was hand-foot reaction (n=12; 21%). One pt initiated on 120 mg was able to tolerate dose escalation to 160mg. Seven pts (12.2%) had stable disease radiographically for more than 2 months and 2 had a confirmed partial response (3.5%). Median OS was 9.1 months (95% C.I. 5.3-12.8) and median time on regorafenib therapy was 2.2 months (range 0.2-10.3). Following regorafenib discontinuation 12 pts (21%) were enrolled on phase I trials. Conclusions: In this pt population palliative regorafenib therapy was associated with modest efficacy and significant toxicity. Dose reductions or interruptions were common (43.8%) even despite a large number of pts being initiated on a dose lower than the recommended initial dose (33.3%). Further studies may be required to determine the optimal tolerable dose in pts with advanced CRC.