Durvalumab Monotherapy in Complex Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Real‐World Study of Patients Ineligible for Combination Immunotherapy

ABSTRACT Aim Combination immunotherapy is the standard of care for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, some patients are unsuitable for such treatment. This study investigated the safety and effectiveness of durvalumab monotherapy in a real‐world cohort with advanced HCC who were poor...

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Main Authors: Chihiro Miwa, Sadahisa Ogasawara, Takuya Yonemoto, Sae Yumita, Tomomi Okubo, Miyuki Nakagawa, Keisuke Koroki, Masanori Inoue, Naoya Kanogawa, Masato Nakamura, Takayuki Kondo, Shingo Nakamoto, Norio Itokawa, Masanori Atsukawa, Ei Itobayashi, Naoya Kato
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Cancer Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70642
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author Chihiro Miwa
Sadahisa Ogasawara
Takuya Yonemoto
Sae Yumita
Tomomi Okubo
Miyuki Nakagawa
Keisuke Koroki
Masanori Inoue
Naoya Kanogawa
Masato Nakamura
Takayuki Kondo
Shingo Nakamoto
Norio Itokawa
Masanori Atsukawa
Ei Itobayashi
Naoya Kato
author_facet Chihiro Miwa
Sadahisa Ogasawara
Takuya Yonemoto
Sae Yumita
Tomomi Okubo
Miyuki Nakagawa
Keisuke Koroki
Masanori Inoue
Naoya Kanogawa
Masato Nakamura
Takayuki Kondo
Shingo Nakamoto
Norio Itokawa
Masanori Atsukawa
Ei Itobayashi
Naoya Kato
author_sort Chihiro Miwa
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Aim Combination immunotherapy is the standard of care for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, some patients are unsuitable for such treatment. This study investigated the safety and effectiveness of durvalumab monotherapy in a real‐world cohort with advanced HCC who were poor candidates for combination immunotherapy. Methods We retrospectively analyzed data from 35 patients with advanced HCC treated with durvalumab monotherapy across three Japanese institutions between January and December 2023. Patients were selected based on their ineligibility for combination immunotherapy or vascular endothelial growth factor inhibiting tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGF‐TKIs). Overall survival (OS), progression‐free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and adverse events (AEs) were assessed. Results The median age was 71 years, with 51.4% classified as Child–Pugh B or C. Notably, 91.4% of patients were ineligible for the IMbrave150 or HIMALAYA trials. Median PFS was 2.7 months (95% CI: 1.84–6.2) and the median OS was not reached. The ORR and DCR were 2.9% and 51.4%, respectively. Grade ≥ 3 treatment‐related AEs (trAEs) occurred in 8.6% of patients, with a discontinuation rate of 11.4% due to AEs. The most common AEs were aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increased (34.3%), hypoalbuminemia (28.6%), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased (25.7%). Immune‐mediated AEs (imAEs) affected 14.3% of the patients. The albumin‐bilirubin (ALBI) scores showed no significant deterioration in patients without progressive disease (PD) over 12 weeks after treatment initiation (p = 0.771). Conclusions Durvalumab monotherapy demonstrated a favorable safety profile and comparable effectiveness to VEGF‐TKIs in patients with advanced HCC unsuitable for combination immunotherapy, especially for those with Child–Pugh B status.
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spelling doaj-art-7004cc96a27c46d8b7e679de4c1ab5d22025-08-20T02:59:07ZengWileyCancer Medicine2045-76342025-03-01145n/an/a10.1002/cam4.70642Durvalumab Monotherapy in Complex Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Real‐World Study of Patients Ineligible for Combination ImmunotherapyChihiro Miwa0Sadahisa Ogasawara1Takuya Yonemoto2Sae Yumita3Tomomi Okubo4Miyuki Nakagawa5Keisuke Koroki6Masanori Inoue7Naoya Kanogawa8Masato Nakamura9Takayuki Kondo10Shingo Nakamoto11Norio Itokawa12Masanori Atsukawa13Ei Itobayashi14Naoya Kato15Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba JapanDepartment of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba JapanDepartment of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba JapanDepartment of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba JapanDepartment of Gastroenterology, Chiba Hokusoh Hospital Nippon Medical School Tokyo JapanDepartment of Gastroenterology Asahi General Hospital Asahi JapanDepartment of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba JapanDepartment of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba JapanDepartment of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba JapanDepartment of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba JapanDepartment of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba JapanDepartment of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba JapanDepartment of Gastroenterology, Chiba Hokusoh Hospital Nippon Medical School Tokyo JapanDepartment of Gastroenterology, Chiba Hokusoh Hospital Nippon Medical School Tokyo JapanDepartment of Gastroenterology Asahi General Hospital Asahi JapanDepartment of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba JapanABSTRACT Aim Combination immunotherapy is the standard of care for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, some patients are unsuitable for such treatment. This study investigated the safety and effectiveness of durvalumab monotherapy in a real‐world cohort with advanced HCC who were poor candidates for combination immunotherapy. Methods We retrospectively analyzed data from 35 patients with advanced HCC treated with durvalumab monotherapy across three Japanese institutions between January and December 2023. Patients were selected based on their ineligibility for combination immunotherapy or vascular endothelial growth factor inhibiting tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGF‐TKIs). Overall survival (OS), progression‐free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and adverse events (AEs) were assessed. Results The median age was 71 years, with 51.4% classified as Child–Pugh B or C. Notably, 91.4% of patients were ineligible for the IMbrave150 or HIMALAYA trials. Median PFS was 2.7 months (95% CI: 1.84–6.2) and the median OS was not reached. The ORR and DCR were 2.9% and 51.4%, respectively. Grade ≥ 3 treatment‐related AEs (trAEs) occurred in 8.6% of patients, with a discontinuation rate of 11.4% due to AEs. The most common AEs were aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increased (34.3%), hypoalbuminemia (28.6%), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased (25.7%). Immune‐mediated AEs (imAEs) affected 14.3% of the patients. The albumin‐bilirubin (ALBI) scores showed no significant deterioration in patients without progressive disease (PD) over 12 weeks after treatment initiation (p = 0.771). Conclusions Durvalumab monotherapy demonstrated a favorable safety profile and comparable effectiveness to VEGF‐TKIs in patients with advanced HCC unsuitable for combination immunotherapy, especially for those with Child–Pugh B status.https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70642Child–Pugh Bchronic kidney diseasedurvalumabhepatocellular carcinomaimmunotherapyreal‐world study
spellingShingle Chihiro Miwa
Sadahisa Ogasawara
Takuya Yonemoto
Sae Yumita
Tomomi Okubo
Miyuki Nakagawa
Keisuke Koroki
Masanori Inoue
Naoya Kanogawa
Masato Nakamura
Takayuki Kondo
Shingo Nakamoto
Norio Itokawa
Masanori Atsukawa
Ei Itobayashi
Naoya Kato
Durvalumab Monotherapy in Complex Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Real‐World Study of Patients Ineligible for Combination Immunotherapy
Cancer Medicine
Child–Pugh B
chronic kidney disease
durvalumab
hepatocellular carcinoma
immunotherapy
real‐world study
title Durvalumab Monotherapy in Complex Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Real‐World Study of Patients Ineligible for Combination Immunotherapy
title_full Durvalumab Monotherapy in Complex Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Real‐World Study of Patients Ineligible for Combination Immunotherapy
title_fullStr Durvalumab Monotherapy in Complex Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Real‐World Study of Patients Ineligible for Combination Immunotherapy
title_full_unstemmed Durvalumab Monotherapy in Complex Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Real‐World Study of Patients Ineligible for Combination Immunotherapy
title_short Durvalumab Monotherapy in Complex Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Real‐World Study of Patients Ineligible for Combination Immunotherapy
title_sort durvalumab monotherapy in complex advanced hepatocellular carcinoma a real world study of patients ineligible for combination immunotherapy
topic Child–Pugh B
chronic kidney disease
durvalumab
hepatocellular carcinoma
immunotherapy
real‐world study
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70642
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