Initial experience with the combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma progressing after tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy: A multicenter prospective observational study

Abstract

Background There is no evidence for the efficacy of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma previously treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Methods Twelve patients treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and previously treated with TKIs were enrolled in the study. Results The treatment lines ranged from second line to sixth line. HCC staging was Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B in four cases and BCLC stage C in eight cases. The overall response rate and disease control rate according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) were 18.1% and 54.4%, respectively. Progression-free survival was 2.7 months, indicating that early response to treatment may differ depending on the type of previous therapy. The side effects profile also differed from that observed in IMbrave150, a phase 3 trial of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, with many adverse events related to liver reserve. Conclusions The therapeutic effects and side effects differed from those previously reported during the treatment course of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab as first-line therapy.