ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congress 2024

Abstract 108P

Background

The efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B (BCLC-B stage) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is partially unsatisfactory. Systemic therapy and TACE are widely used in BCLC-B stage HCC patients. This study aims to explore the efficacy of combining systemic therapy with transarterial-based therapy in unresectable BCLC-B stage HCC patients.

Methods

A total of 76 newly diagnosed HCC patients with BCLC-B stage were included in this retrospective cohort study. These patients were divided into two groups: TACE combined with atezolizumab and bevacizumab group (TACE-AT group, n=37) and TACE monotherapy group (TACE group, n= 39). Propensity score matching was used to account for potential confounding factors. Objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), liver function, and adverse events (AEs) were recorded and evaluated.

Results

After propensity score matching, 31 patients were assigned to each group.The TACE-AT group showed higher overall response rate [93.5%(29/31) vs. 48.4%(15/31), P<0.001] than the TACE group.Furthermore, the TACE-AT group showed longer median PFS (8.4 vs. 4.8 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.239, P <0.001) than the TACE group. The TACE-AT group showed better OS than the TACE group (median OS not reached vs. 19.4 months, P <0.001). There was no significant difference in disease control rate between the two groups.The grade 3/4 adverse events rates were similar between the two groups (19.3% vs. 25.4%, P=0.082).

Conclusions

The combination of TACE, atezolizumab and bevacizumab provides clinical benefits for patients with intermediate HCC, has an acceptable safety profile, shows a trend towards improving liver function, and does not increase the occurrence of grade 3-4 AEs.