Safety, efficacy, and tolerability of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Zachary J Brown; Stephanie Gregory; D Brock Hewitt; Stephen Iacono; Jennie Choe; Hanna E Labiner; Timothy M Pawlik

doi:10.1016/j.suronc.2022.101748

Safety, efficacy, and tolerability of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Surg Oncol. 2022 Jun:42:101748. doi: 10.1016/j.suronc.2022.101748. Epub 2022 Apr 1.

Authors

Zachary J Brown¹, Stephanie Gregory², D Brock Hewitt¹, Stephen Iacono², Jennie Choe², Hanna E Labiner³, Timothy M Pawlik⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
² Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Surgery, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
³ Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Surgery, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
⁴ Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 35395582
DOI: 10.1016/j.suronc.2022.101748

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of mortality worldwide with an increasing incidence due to escalating rates of obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Unfortunately, a majority of patients with HCC present with advanced disease. The immune checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab, a PD-L1 inhibitor, in combination with bevacizumab, anti-VEGF, has become the new standard of care for patients with advanced HCC after demonstrating improved overall and progression free survival over sorafenib. In this review, we discuss the evolving role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of HCC and their safety, efficacy, and tolerability.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Immune checkpoint inhibitors; Nivolumab.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Monoclonal
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / pathology
Humans
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / adverse effects
Liver Neoplasms* / pathology
Sorafenib / therapeutic use

Substances

Antibodies, Monoclonal
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Sorafenib