中文English
ISSN 1001-5256 (Print)
ISSN 2097-3497 (Online)
CN 22-1108/R
Volume 39 Issue 4
Apr.  2023
Turn off MathJax
Article Contents

Safety and efficacy of camrelizumab added to second-line therapy after drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization combined with apatinib for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1001-5256.2023.04.014
Research funding:

The Co-operation Research Plan of Medical Science and Technology in Henan Province (SBGJ202102100)

More Information
  • Corresponding author: WANG Manzhou, manzhouwang@126.com (ORCID: 0000-0003-3685-4801)
  • Received Date: 2022-08-19
  • Accepted Date: 2022-09-20
  • Published Date: 2023-04-20
  •   Objective  To investigate the safety and efficacy of camrelizumab added to second-line therapy after drug- eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DTACE) combined with apatinib for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).  Methods  A retrospective analysis was performed for 89 HCC patients with camrelizumab added to second-line therapy who attended The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from December 2019 to December 2020. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) after the application of camrelizumab, and the secondary endpoints were objective remission rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves, the Log-rank test was used for stratified analysis of subgroups based on baseline characteristics, and the influencing factors for prognosis were analyzed.  Results  A total of 89 patients were screened and followed up in this study. The patients were followed up to December 2021, with a median follow-up time of 16 months, a median OS time of 17.0 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 15.3-18.7) months, and a median PFS time of 7.0 (95% CI: 6.2-7.8) months. There were significant differences in OS and PFS between the patients with different ECOG-PS scores, liver function Child-Pugh classes, portal vein invasion, patterns of progression, times of DTACE treatment, durations of oral administration of apatinib, and durations of application of camrelizumab (all P < 0.05). At 3 and 6 months after the application of camrelizumab, ORR was 39.3% and 22.4%, respectively, and DCR was 80.9% and 54.1%, respectively. The univariate analysis using the Log-rank test showed that compared with the patients receiving 0 time of DTACE treatment, the patients receiving 3-4 or 1-2 times of DTACE treatment had significant improvements in median OS [22.0 (95% CI: 21.1-22.9) months and 17.0 (95% CI: 15.8-18.2) months vs 10.0 (95% CI: 7.0-13.0) months, χ2=31.423, P < 0.001] and PFS [10.0 (95% CI: 7.0-13.0) months and 7.0 (95% CI: 6.2-7.8) months vs 3.0 (95% CI: 1.9-4.1) months, χ2=20.741, P < 0.001]; compared with the patients using apatinib for ≤4 months, the patients using apatinib for > 4 months had significant improvements in median OS [21.0 (95% CI: 19.1-22.9) months vs 14.0 (95% CI: 10.4-17.6) months, χ2=19.399, P < 0.001] and PFS [9.0 (95% CI: 7.3-10.7) months vs 5.0 (95% CI: 4.0-6.0) months, χ2=27.733, P < 0.001]; compared with the patients using camrelizumab for ≤5 months, the patients using camrelizumab for > 5 months had significant improvements in median OS [22.0 (95% CI: 20.2-23.8) months vs 13.0 (95% CI: 9.3-16.7) months, χ2=22.336, P < 0.001] and PFS [9.0 (95% CI: 7.0-11.0) months vs 5.0 (95% CI: 4.1-5.9) months, χ2=26.141, P < 0.001]. Post-embolization syndrome was the adverse event after DTACE and resolved after symptomatic treatment. Adverse reactions related to targeted drugs and immunotherapy all resolved after symptomatic supportive treatment, with no grade ≥4 adverse reactions, and no patients withdrew from target-free therapy due to TRAEs.  Conclusion  As for DTACE combined with apatinib in the treatment of unresectable HCC, camrelizumab added after progression has a marked therapeutic efficacy with safe and controllable TRAEs.

     

  • loading
  • [1]
    SUNG H, FERLAY J, SIEGEL RL, et al. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries[J]. CA Cancer J Clin, 2021, 71(3): 209-249. DOI: 10.3322/caac.21660.
    [2]
    VILLANUEVA A. Hepatocellular carcinoma[J]. N Engl J Med, 2019, 380(15): 1450-1462. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1713263.
    [3]
    VESSELLE G, QUIRIER-LELEU C, VELASCO S, et al. Predictive factors for complete response of chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads (DEB-TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma[J]. Eur Radiol, 2016, 26(6): 1640-1648. DOI: 10.1007/s00330-015-3982-y.
    [4]
    SONG MJ, CHUN HJ, SONG DS, et al. Comparative study between doxorubicin-eluting beads and conventional transarterial chemoembolization for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma[J]. J Hepatol, 2012, 57(6): 1244-1250. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2012.07.017.
    [5]
    CAO B, ZHANG GW. Meta analysis of efficacy and safety of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization and conventional transarterial chemoembolization in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma[J]. China Med Herald, 2021, 18(26): 95-99. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-YYCY202126023.htm

    曹博, 张光文. 载药微球经动脉化疗栓塞术与常规经动脉化疗栓塞术治疗中晚期肝癌效果及安全性的meta分析[J]. 中国医药导报, 2021, 18(26): 95-99. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-YYCY202126023.htm
    [6]
    SCARTOZZI M, BARONI GS, FALOPPI L, et al. Trans-arterial chemo-embolization (TACE), with either lipiodol (traditional TACE) or drug-eluting microspheres (precision TACE, pTACE) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: efficacy and safety results from a large mono-institutional analysis[J]. J Exp Clin Cancer Res, 2010, 29(1): 164. DOI: 10.1186/1756-9966-29-164.
    [7]
    ZHOU GH, HAN J, SUN JH, et al. Efficacy and safety profile of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization by CalliSpheres beads in Chinese hepatocellular carcinoma patients[J]. BMC Cancer, 2018, 18(1): 644. DOI: 10.1186/s12885-018-4566-4.
    [8]
    SUN J, ZHOU G, XIE X, et al. Efficacy and safety of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization by callispheres in 275 hepatocellular carcinoma patients: Results from the Chinese CalliSpheres Transarterial Chemoembolization in Liver Cancer (CTILC) Study[J]. Oncol Res, 2020, 28(1): 75-94. DOI: 10.3727/096504019X15662966719585.
    [9]
    KONG J, KONG J, PAN B, et al. Insufficient radiofrequency ablation promotes angiogenesis of residual hepatocellular carcinoma via HIF-1α/VEGFA[J]. PLoS One, 2012, 7(5): e37266. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037266.
    [10]
    QIN S, LI Q, GU S, et al. Apatinib as second-line or later therapy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (AHELP): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial[J]. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2021, 6(7): 559-568. DOI: 10.1016/S2468-1253(21)00109-6.
    [11]
    ZHAO S, ZHANG T, DOU W, et al. A comparison of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization used with and without apatinib for intermediate-to advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis[J]. Ann Transl Med, 2020, 8(8): 542. DOI: 10.21037/atm.2020.02.125.
    [12]
    RIMASSA L, PRESSIANI T, MERLE P. Systemic treatment options in hepatocellular carcinoma[J]. Liver Cancer, 2019, 8(6): 427-446. DOI: 10.1159/000499765.
    [13]
    FINN RS, ZHU AX. Evolution of systemic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma[J]. Hepatology, 2021, 73(Suppl 1): 150-157. DOI: 10.1002/hep.31306.
    [14]
    LIANG J, LI L. Progress and consideration of immunotherapy strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma[J]. Chin J Dig Surg, 2021, 20(2): 184-190. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115610-20201228-00809.

    梁军, 李丽. 肝癌免疫治疗策略的进展与思考[J]. 中华消化外科杂志, 2021, 20(2): 184-190. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115610-20201228-00809.
    [15]
    XU J, SHEN J, GU S, et al. Camrelizumab in combination with apatinib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (RESCUE): A nonrandomized, open-label, phase Ⅱ trial[J]. Clin Cancer Res, 2021, 27(4): 1003-1011. DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-20-2571.
    [16]
    JU S, WANG W, CHEN P, et al. Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization followed by apatinib is effective and safe in treating hepatocellular carcinoma patients with BCLC stage C[J]. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol, 2022, 46(3): 101859. DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2022.101859.
    [17]
    GRETEN TF, MAUDA-HAVAKUK M, HEINRICH B, et al. Combined locoregional-immunotherapy for liver cancer[J]. J Hepatol, 2019, 70(5): 999-1007. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.01.027.
    [18]
    Bureau of Medical Administration, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China. Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of primary liver cancer in China (2019 edition)[J]. J Clin Hepatol, 2020, 36(2): 277-292. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1001-5256.2020.02.007.

    中华人民共和国国家卫生健康委员会医政医管局. 原发性肝癌诊疗规范(2019年版)[J]. 临床肝胆病杂志, 2020, 36(2): 277-292. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1001-5256.2020.02.007.
    [19]
    LLOVET JM, LENCIONI R. mRECIST for HCC: Performance and novel refinements[J]. J Hepatol, 2020, 72(2): 288-306. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.09.026.
    [20]
    KUDO M, UESHIMA K, IKEDA M, et al. Randomised, multicentre prospective trial of transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) plus sorafenib as compared with TACE alone in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: TACTICS trial[J]. Gut, 2020, 69(8): 1492-1501. DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2019-318934.
    [21]
    QIU Z, SHEN L, JIANG Y, et al. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with apatinib versus TACE combined with sorafenib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients: a multicenter retrospective study[J]. Ann Transl Med, 2021, 9(4): 283. DOI: 10.21037/atm-20-5360.
    [22]
    PENG S, ZHANG Y, PENG H, et al. Intracellular autocrine VEGF signaling promotes EBDC cell proliferation, which can be inhibited by Apatinib[J]. Cancer Lett, 2016, 373(2): 193-202. DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2016.01.015.
    [23]
    KAN X, LIANG B, ZHOU G, et al. Transarterial chemoembolization combined with apatinib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A propensity score matching analysis[J]. Front Oncol, 2020, 10: 970. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00970.
    [24]
    POL J, VACCHELLI E, ARANDA F, et al. Trial watch: Immunogenic cell death inducers for anticancer chemotherapy[J]. Oncoimmunology, 2015, 4(4): e1008866. DOI: 10.1080/2162402X.2015.1008866.
    [25]
    MOTZ GT, SANTORO SP, WANG LP, et al. Tumor endothelium FasL establishes a selective immune barrier promoting tolerance in tumors[J]. Nat Med, 2014, 20(6): 607-615. DOI: 10.1038/nm.3541.
    [26]
    VORON T, COLUSSI O, MARCHETEAU E, et al. VEGF-A modulates expression of inhibitory checkpoints on CD8+ T cells in tumors[J]. J Exp Med, 2015, 212(2): 139-148. DOI: 10.1084/jem.20140559.
    [27]
    BRUIX J, QIN S, MERLE P, et al. Regorafenib for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who progressed on sorafenib treatment (RESORCE): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial[J]. Lancet, 2017, 389(10064): 56-66. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32453-9.
    [28]
    JU S, ZHOU C, YANG C, et al. Apatinib plus camrelizumab with/without chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: A real-world experience of a single center[J]. Front Oncol, 2021, 11: 835889. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.835889.
    [29]
    LIU Y, CHEN X, GAO X, et al. Apatinib-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy[J]. J Oncol Pharm Pract, 2020, 26(2): 465-470. DOI: 10.1177/1078155219846253.
    [30]
    LARKIN J, HODI FS, WOLCHOK JD. Combined nivolumab and ipilimumab or monotherapy in untreated melanoma[J]. N Engl J Med, 2015, 373(13): 1270-1271. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMc1509660.
    [31]
    HODI FS, BALLINGER M, LYONS B, et al. Immune-Modified Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (imRECIST): Refining guidelines to assess the clinical benefit of cancer immunotherapy[J]. J Clin Oncol, 2018, 36(9): 850-858. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2017.75.1644.
  • 加载中

Catalog

    通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com
    • 1. 

      沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院 沈阳 110142

    1. 本站搜索
    2. 百度学术搜索
    3. 万方数据库搜索
    4. CNKI搜索

    Figures(2)  / Tables(5)

    Article Metrics

    Article views (270) PDF downloads(51) Cited by()
    Proportional views
    Related

    /

    DownLoad:  Full-Size Img  PowerPoint
    Return
    Return