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Qin Q, Kou X, Zheng Y, Zhou F, Zhang X, Liu H. Early C-reactive Protein Kinetics Predict Response to Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2023; 10:2009-2019. [PMID: 37954495 PMCID: PMC10637213 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s432054] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose In recent years, a new therapeutic approach, known as immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), has been proposed as approach to improve outcomes in patients with intermediate stage (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer, BCLC B) or advanced stage (BCLC C) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unfortunately, only a select patients can benefit from ICB. Hence, biomarkers that can predict the success and survival of treatment are still necessary. Patients and Methods Between 2018 to 2021, 132 patients received ICB treatment for intermediate or advanced stage HCC. Based on the early kinetics of C-reactive protein (CRP), the patients were classified into three groups. The study endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results Our findings support the predictive power of early CRP kinetics in determining immunotherapy response for intermediate or advanced HCC. Objective response rates (ORR) were found in 41.2% of CRP flare-responders, 13.3% of CRP responders, and 3.5% of CRP non-responders (p<0.001). Disease control rates (DCR) in the three groups were substantially different (p<0.001). The improved PFS and OS were strongly correlated with the early kinetics of CRP. Compared to CRP non-responders, CRP responders, especially CRP flare-responders, had significantly longer PFS (median PFS: CRP flare-responders: 11.6 months vs CRP responders: 5.2 months vs CRP non-responders: 2.3 months, p<0.001). Conclusion The CRP flare response robustly predicts the immunotherapy response and outcomes in patients with HCC. Early CRP kinetics may be an inexpensive, easily implemented and non-invasive biomarker to anticipate response to ICB therapy in intermediate or advanced HCC, with the potential to optimize treatment monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuying Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Research in South China (Southern Medical University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxuan Kou
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Research in South China (Southern Medical University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuanyuan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Research in South China (Southern Medical University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Research in South China (Southern Medical University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Research in South China (Southern Medical University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongyan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Research in South China (Southern Medical University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Tomisaki I, Harada M, Tokutsu K, Minato A, Nagata Y, Kimuro R, Matsumoto M, Fujimoto N. Impact of C-reactive Protein Flare Response in Patients With Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma Who Received Pembrolizumab. In Vivo 2021; 35:3563-3568. [PMID: 34697195 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.12659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM To clarify the clinical significance of the temporary elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels followed by a decrease below baseline (CRP flare response) after administration of pembrolizumab to patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC). PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 31 patients with advanced UC who received pembrolizumab. Patients were categorized into 3 groups (flare-responder, responder, non-responder) according to early CRP kinetics. Intergroup tumor response and survivals were compared. RESULTS Objective response rates of flare-responder, responder, and non-responder groups were 75%, 80%, and 26%, respectively. Median overall survival was not reached in flare-responder and responder groups, and was 10.2 months in the non-responder group (p=0.03). Furthermore, the flare-responder group did not reach median progression-free survival, and for the responder and non-responder groups it was 15.2 and 2.8 months, respectively (p=0.03). CONCLUSION CRP flare response might be a promising biomarker in patients with advanced UC who received pembrolizumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikko Tomisaki
- Department of Urology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan;
| | - Mirii Harada
- Department of Urology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Kei Tokutsu
- Department of Public Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Akinori Minato
- Department of Urology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Yujiro Nagata
- Department of Urology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Rieko Kimuro
- Department of Urology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Masahiro Matsumoto
- Department of Urology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Naohiro Fujimoto
- Department of Urology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
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