Randomized Trial of [131I] Metuximab in Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation

Abstract

To assess the efficacy of combining radioimmunoconjugate [(131)I] metuximab with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment compared with RFA alone, a single-center randomized controlled trial was conducted on 127 patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system (BCLC) classifications of 0-B stage. Patients received either RFA followed by [(131)I] metuximab (n = 62) or RFA alone (n = 65). The primary outcome was overall tumor recurrence. Statistical tests were two-sided. The one- and two-year recurrence rates in the combination group were 31.8% and 58.5%, whereas those in the RFA group were 56.3% and 70.9%, respectively. The median time to overall tumor recurrence was 17 months in the combination group and 10 months in the RFA group (P = .03). The RFA-[(131)I] metuximab treatment showed a greater antirecurrence benefit than RFA in the metuximab target (ie, CD147)-positive subpopulation (P = .007). [(131)I] metuximab may yield prevention of tumor recurrence after RFA.

Gamma‐secretase complex‐dependent intramembrane proteolysis of CD147 regulates the Notch1 signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma

“…S20060064). In a series of clinical trials, the injection of Licartin combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization , liver transplantation , or radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of HCC exhibits improved clinical efficacy. In this study, after treating SMMC‐7721‐CD147‐GFP cells with HAb18, the expression level of CD147ICD‐EGFP was decreased in a dose‐dependent manner (see supplementary material, Figure S7A), indicating HAb18 could inhibit γ‐secretase cleavage of CD147 and is an important mechanism by which HAb18 inhibits tumor growth.…”

“…Liver cancer includes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other rare types, with HCC accounting for approximately 75–85% of all liver cancers . Currently, there are several drugs for HCC therapy, including antibody drugs, such as Opdivo (nivolumab) and Licartin ([ 131 I] metuximab injection; developed by our group ), and small‐molecule inhibitor drugs, such as sorafenib, regorafenib, and lenvatinib .…”

Treatment strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma in China: radiofrequency ablation versus liver resection

“…Combination therapy provided better local and intrahepatic tumor control and long-term survival (35). Bian et al reported that iodine-131 metuximab in treatment of HCC after RFA showed a greater anti-recurrence benefit than RFA monotherapy (36). Sorafenib, an oral multikinase inhibitor, has been proved as the firstline therapy method for patients with advanced HCC (37).…”

I131 reinforces antitumor activity of metuximab by reversing epithelial–mesenchymal transition via VEGFR‐2 signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma

“…The molecular mechanisms underlying the acceleration effect of CD147 on HCC invasion and metastasis and the synergistic inhibition effect of I 131 ‐mab on HCC progression have been reported (Bian et al., ; Gou et al., ). Specifically, CD147 can activate the transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) signaling pathway to promote the expression and secretion of MMPs in tumor cells and mesenchymal cells, which induces the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer cells and contributes to tumor invasion and metastasis (Ru, Wu, Chen, & Bian, ; Xu et al., ).…”

“…The molecular mechanisms underlying the acceleration effect of CD147 on HCC invasion and metastasis and the synergistic inhibition effect of I 131 -mab on HCC progression have been reported (Bian et al, 2014;Gou et al, 2016).…”