First-line Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Based Combinations in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Management and Future Challenges

Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021 Aug 25. doi: 10.1080/17474124.2021.1973431. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION: Immunotherapy has recently taken on an extremely important role in medical oncology, as first- or later-line treatment in several tumor types, and recent years have seen the emerging of clinical trials assessing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).AREAS COVERED: Herein, we provide an overview of recently published studies exploring the dual immune checkpoint blockade or the combination of ICIs plus biological treatments as first-line treatment in HCC patients with advanced disease, especially focusing on the biological rationale behind these therapeutic strategies, and ongoing active and recruiting clinical trials.EXPERT OPINION: Results of studies on monotherapy with ICIs have suggested that this strategy could be beneficial only in a minority of patients; conversely, the recently published IMbrave150 study has reported an overall survival benefit in HCC receiving the combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab compared to sorafenib as first-line treatment. A wide number of clinical trials is evaluating ICI-based combinations in advanced HCC, a strategy which is supported by robust preclinical and early-phase clinical data, and results of these studies are highly awaited.PMID:34431725 | DOI:10.1080/17474124.2021.1973431
Source: Expert Review of Gastroenterology and Hepatology - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Source Type: research