Addition of Y-90 radioembolization increases tumor response and local disease control in hepatocellular carcinoma patients receiving sorafenib

Osman Öcal, Kerstin Schütte, Christoph J. Zech, Christian Loewe, Otto van Delden, Vincent Vandecaveye, Chris Verslype, Bernhard Gebauer, Christian Sengel, Irene Bargellini, Roberto Iezzi, Alexander Philipp, Thomas Berg, Heinz J. Klümpen, Julia Benckert, Maciej Pech, Antonio Gasbarrini, Holger Amthauer, Peter Bartenstein, Bruno SangroPeter Malfertheiner, Jens Ricke, Max Seidensticker

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2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: To comparethe treatment response and progression-free survival (PFS) in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who received sorafenib treatment either alone or combined with radioembolization (RE). Methods: Follow-up images of the patients treated within a multicenter phase II trial (SORAMIC) were assessed by mRECIST. A total of 177 patients (73 combination arm [RE + sorafenib] and 104 sorafenib arm) were included in this post-hoc analysis. Response and progression characteristics were compared between treatment arms. Survival analyses were done to compare PFS and post-progression survival between treatment arms. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to compare survival with factors known to influence PFS in patients with HCC. Results: The combination arm had significantly higher objective response rate (61.6% vs. 29.8%, p < 0.001), complete response rate (13.7% vs. 3.8%, p = 0.022), and a trend for higher disease control rate (79.2% vs. 72.1%, p = 0.075). Progression was encountered in 116 (65.5%) patients and was more common in the sorafenib arm (75% vs. 52.0%, p = 0.001). PFS (median 8.9 vs. 5.4 months, p = 0.022) and hepatic PFS were significantly better in the combination arm (9.0 vs. 5.7 months, p = 0.014). Multivariate analysis confirmed the treatment arm as an independent predictor of PFS. Conclusion: In advanced HCC patients receiving sorafenib, combination with RE has an additive anticancer effect on sorafenib treatment resulting in a higher and longer tumor response. However, the enhanced response did not translate into prolonged survival. Better patient selection and superselective treatment could improve outcomes after combination therapy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4716-4726
Number of pages11
JournalEuropean journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging
Volume49
Issue number13
Early online date2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2022

Keywords

  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Objective response
  • Radioembolization
  • Sorafenib
  • mRECIST

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