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. 2024 Nov-Dec;37(6):708-717.
doi: 10.20524/aog.2024.0916. Epub 2024 Oct 20.

Efficacy of atezolizumab-bevacizumab combination therapy early after recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma following resection or ablation with a curative intent

Spyridon Pantzios  1 , Antonia Syriha  1 , Ioanna Stathopoulou  1 , Orestis Sidiropoulos  2 , Sofia Rellou  1 , Georgia Barla  1 , Nikolaos Ptohis  3 , Dimitris P Korkolis  4 , Georgios C Sotiropoulos  5 , Ioannis Elefsiniotis  1
Affiliations

Efficacy of atezolizumab-bevacizumab combination therapy early after recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma following resection or ablation with a curative intent

Spyridon Pantzios et al. Ann Gastroenterol. 2024 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Background: The pattern of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after resection/ablation is intrahepatic and/or systemic. The efficacy of atezolizumab-bevacizumab treatment as early therapy after recurrence has not been extensively evaluated.

Methods: We evaluated 32 patients (group A) with early HCC recurrence after resection/ablation and 24 patients (group B) initially diagnosed as Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC)-C, all treated with atezolizumab-bevacizumab. Group A was subdivided in group A1 (progression to BCLC-C, n=14) and group A2 (progression to BCLC-B, n=18).

Results: Groups A1/A2 were comparable for all baseline parameters. Objective response was observed in 14.3% and 33.3% of patients in groups A1 and A2, respectively. Median overall survival (OS) was impressive and comparable between the 2 groups (22 and 26 months, respectively, P=0.71), as was median progression-free survival (PFS) (15 and 6 months, respectively, P=0.126). Patients categorized in the advanced stage (groups A1/B) were comparable for all baseline characteristics. Median OS was significantly higher in group A1 compared to B (26 vs. 6 months, P<0.001), as was median PFS (6 vs. 3 months, P=0.086).

Conclusions: Early initiation of atezolizumab-bevacizumab after recurrence following curative therapy results in impressive survival rates, irrespective of recurrence pattern. Survival of atezolizumab-bevacizumab treated patients who were initially diagnosed in the BCLC-C stage is significantly different from those who recurred to BCLC-C following potentially curative therapies.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; ablation; atezolizumab–bevacizumab; recurrence; resection.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Median OS in groups A1 and A2. Group A1: early recurrence in BCLC-C after prior LR/RFA, Group A2: early recurrence in BCLC-B after prior LR/RFA OS, overall survival; BCLC, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification; LR, liver resection; RFA, radiofrequency ablation
Figure 2
Figure 2
Median PFS in groups A1 and A2. Group A1: early recurrence in BCLC-C after prior LR/RFA, Group A2: early recurrence in BCLC-B after prior LR/RFA PFS, progression-free survival; BCLC, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification; LR, liver resection; RFA, radiofrequency ablation
Figure 3
Figure 3
Median OS in groups A1 and B. Group A1: early recurrence in BCLC-C after prior LR/RFA, Group B: initially BCLC-C without prior LR/RFA OS, overall survival; BCLC, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification; LR, liver resection; RFA, radiofrequency ablation
Figure 4
Figure 4
Median PFS in groups A1 and B. Group A1: early recurrence in BCLC-C after prior LR/RFA, Group B: initially BCLC-C without prior LR/RFA PFS, progression-free survival; BCLC, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification; LR, liver resection; RFA, radiofrequency ablation
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