127P - Outcomes based on albumin‐bilirubin (ALBI) grade in the phase III CELESTIAL trial of cabozantinib versus placebo in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Background

ALBI grade is an objective measure of liver function for patients with HCC; higher ALBI grade is associated with worse prognosis. In the phase 3 CELESTIAL trial (NCT01908426), cabozantinib, an inhibitor of MET, VEGFR, and AXL, significantly improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) vs placebo in patients with previously treated HCC and is now approved for patients with HCC who received prior sorafenib. Here, we evaluate outcomes based on ALBI grade in the CELESTIAL trial.

Methods

707 patients were randomized 2:1 to cabozantinib (60 mg daily) or placebo. Eligible patients had HCC, Child-Pugh score A, and ECOG PS ≤ 1. Patients received prior sorafenib and ≤2 lines of prior systemic therapy for HCC. Baseline ALBI score was calculated from serum albumin and total bilirubin measured centrally, and was used to determine ALBI grade (Johnson, J Clin Oncol. 2015;33:550-8).

Results

At baseline, 186 patients (40%) were ALBI grade 1 and 282 (60%) were ALBI grade 2 in the cabozantinib arm; 182 patients (43%) were ALBI grade 1 and 133 (56%) were ALBI grade 2 in the placebo arm. Two patients in each arm were ALBI grade 3. Patients with ALBI grade 1 had better ECOG PS (61% ECOG 0 & 39% ECOG 1) vs those with ALBI grade 2 (48% ECOG 0 & 52% ECOG 1). In patients with ALBI grade 1, median OS was 17.5 months with cabozantinib vs 11.4 months with placebo (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.46-0.86). In patients with ALBI grade 2, median OS was 8.0 months with cabozantinib vs 6.4 months with placebo (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.66-1.06). In patients with ALBI grade 1, median PFS was 6.5 months with cabozantinib vs 1.9 months with placebo (HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.32-0.56) and in patients with ALBI grade 2, median PFS was 3.7 months with cabozantinib vs 1.9 months with placebo (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.37-0.58). Common grade 3/4 adverse events in both groups were consistent with the overall population. Treatment related discontinuations in the cabozantinib arm were 12% and 19% for patients with ALBI grade 1 and 2.

Conclusions

Patients treated with cabozantinib had longer PFS and OS vs patients receiving placebo, regardless of ALBI grade. Outcomes were generally better in patients with ALBI grade 1 vs 2.

Clinical trial identification

NCT01908426 (Other Study ID Numbers: XL184-309).

Editorial acknowledgement

Suvajit Sen (Exelixis).

Legal entity responsible for the study

Exelixis.

Funding

Exelixis.

Disclosure

S.L. Chan: Advisory / Consultancy: Amgen. R. Miksad: Full / Part-time employment: Flatiron Health; Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options: Flatiron Health; Research grant / Funding (institution): Exelixis, Bayer . I. Cicin: Advisory / Consultancy: AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy: Boehringer Ingelheim; Advisory / Consultancy: Eli Lilly; Advisory / Consultancy: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp; Advisory / Consultancy: F. Hoffmann-La Roche; Advisory / Consultancy: Pfizer. H.J. Klumpen: Advisory / Consultancy: IPSEN; Research grant / Funding (institution), Local PI for clinical trial from the following organizations: IPSEN Exelexis, ITM, SIRTEX, Taiho, BAYER, DAICHII, Novartis, BTG . S. Kim: Research grant / Funding (institution): Genentech, Roche, Pfizer; Advisory / Consultancy: Amgen, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, MSD, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, Servier. J. Youkstetter: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Exelixis. S. Sen: Full / Part-time employment, Self and spouse: Exelixis; Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Self and spouse: Exelixis. A-L. Cheng: Advisory / Consultancy: Bayer Schering Pharma; Advisory / Consultancy: Bristol-Myers Squibb; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Eisai; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Merck Serono; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Ono Pharmaceutica; Advisory / Consultancy: Exelixis; Advisory / Consultancy: Nucleix; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Roche/Genentech; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: IQVIA; Honoraria (self): Merck Sharp Dohme. A.B. El-Khoueiry: Research grant / Funding (self): AstraZeneca; Research grant / Funding (self): Astex; Advisory / Consultancy: Bayer; Advisory / Consultancy: BMS; Advisory / Consultancy: Agenus; Advisory / Consultancy: Merck; Advisory / Consultancy: EISAI; Advisory / Consultancy: Pieris; Advisory / Consultancy: EMD Serono; Advisory / Consultancy: Exelixis; Advisory / Consultancy: Roche/Genentech; Advisory / Consultancy: Apeiron. T. Meyer: Advisory / Consultancy: BMS, BAYER, EISAI, BTG, AZ, BEIGENE, TARVEDA, MSD; Research grant / Funding (institution): BTG BAYER. R.K. Kelley: Advisory / Consultancy: Agios, AstraZeneca, Bayer, BMS (funding to institution) IDMC: Genentech/Roche (funding to self); Research grant / Funding (institution): Agios, AstraZeneca, Bayer, BMS, Eli Lilly, Exelixis, EMD Serono, Medimmune, Merck, Novartis, QED, Taiho. G.K. Abou-Alfa: Research grant / Funding (self): ActaBiologica,; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (self): Agios,; Research grant / Funding (self): Array,; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (self): AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (self): Bayer,; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (self): Beigene,; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (self): BMS,; Research grant / Funding (self): Casi,; Research grant / Funding (self): Celgene,; Research grant / Funding (self): Exelixis,; Research grant / Funding (self): Genentech,; Research grant / Funding (self): Halozyme,; Research grant / Funding (self): Incyte,; Research grant / Funding (self): Lilly,; Research grant / Funding (self): Mabvax,; Research grant / Funding (self): Novartis,; Research grant / Funding (self): OncoQuest,; Research grant / Funding (institution): Polaris Puma; Research grant / Funding (self): QED,; Research grant / Funding (self): Roche; Advisory / Consultancy: 3DMedcare,Agios, Alignmed, Amgen, Antengene, Aptus, Aslan, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Beigene, Bioline, BMS, Boston Scientifc, Bridgebio, Carsgen, Celgene, Casi, Cipla, CytomX, Daiichi, Debio, Delcath, Eisai, Exelixis, Flatiron, Genoscience, Halozyme. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.