KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The phase II trial aimed to develop novel and reliable perioperative therapeutic interventions for locally advanced HCC to reduce recurrence and improve survival.
- The primary endpoint was MPR. Secondary endpoints were pCR, ORR, DFS, and safety. The extrapolatory endpoint was MVI.
- The study found camrelizumab plus apatinib was safe and effective at reducing tumor size and preventing microvascular invasion in pts with high-risk hepatocellular carcinoma.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and deadly cancer, and the medical community must find new and better ways to treat cancer before and after surgery.
Researchers aimed to develop novel and reliable perioperative therapeutic interventions for locally advanced HCC to reduce recurrence and improve survival.
Patients (pts) with primary resectable HCC who had not previously received systemic therapy were treated with 4 cycles of (camrelizumab [200 mg, Q2W] and apatinib [250 mg, QD]) before surgery. The feasibility of hepatic resection was evaluated through radiographic imaging. Following surgery, pts continued the combination therapy of camrelizumab (200 mg, Q2W) and apatinib (250 mg, QD) for one year. The primary endpoint of the study was to determine the major pathological response (MPR), while secondary endpoints included assessing the pathologic complete response rate (pCR), objective response rate (ORR), disease-free survival (DFS), and safety. An exploratory endpoint examined microvascular invasion (MVI).
The study found that camrelizumab plus apatinib was safe and effective at reducing tumor size and preventing microvascular invasion in pts with high-risk hepatocellular carcinoma. Further research is needed to say whether new treatment can improve long-term survival.
Source: https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.4120
Clinical Trial: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04701060
Yunlong Cui, Xu Bao, Ge Yu, Huikai Li, Feng Fang, Qiang Li, Wei Zhang, Qiang Wu, Lu Chen, Chen Liu, and Tianqiang Song. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.4120 Journal of Clinical Oncology 41, no. 16_suppl (June 01, 2023) 4120-4120.