Upfront or add-on combination therapeutic strategy exploration in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma using sorafenib plus sintilimab: A retrospective analysis of real-world evidence.

Abstract

e16135 Background: Recently, tyrosine kinase inhibitor plus PD-1 inhibitor regimen has shown promising effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). So far, no study explored the effectiveness of upfront versus add-on combination therapy in patients with systemic treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced HCCThis study aimed to explore the effectiveness and safety of sintilimab combined sorafenib in patients with untreated or sorafenib monotherapy-refractory unresectable HCC. Methods: In this retrospective study, unresectable HCC patients received sintilimab plus sorafenib from January 2018 to December 2020 were enrolled. According to the prior treatment, patients were grouped as first-line and second-line (received sorafenib combined sintilimab after progression on sorafenib alone). Objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression free survival (PFS), safety, and the change of Child-Pugh score from baseline to progression were recorded. The PFS was defined as the time from first dosing of sintilimab until disease progressive or death. Results: A total of 31 patients were reviewed, including 19 patients in first-line group and 12 patients in second-line group. There were two patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B and 17 patients with BCLC stage C in first-line group, and one patient with BCLC stage A and 11 patients with BCLC stage C in second-line group, respectively. The ORR and DCR were 27.8% and 77.8% in first-line group, and 16.7% and 75.0% in second-line group, respectively. Fourteen cases in first-line group and 10 cases in second-line group showed PD during the follow-up. The 6-month PFS rate of first-line group and second-line group were 47.1% and 64.8%, respectively. Thirteen and 9 patients experienced AE in two groups. Four and 2 grade 3 AEs occurred in two groups, respectively. The most frequency AE were hand-foot-skin reaction in both group (58.0% and 50.0%, respectively). One patient discontinued sintilimab due to AE in second-line group. Among PD patients, the Child-Pugh score improved in 2 cases, maintained in 5 cases, and deteriorated in 7 cases in the first-line group; and improved in 3 cases, miantained in 3 cases, and deteriorated in 4 cases in the second-line group. Conclusions: Sorafenib plus sintilimab showed potential anti-tumor effect and tolerance on unresectable HCC, either as first-line therapy or after progression with sorafenib monotherapy. Outcomes.[Table: see text]