Key clinical point: The presence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or metabolic syndrome (MS) did not affect the long-term oncological outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with multibipolar percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Major finding: Neither NAFLD-HCC nor MS was associated with overall tumor recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 1.12; P = .536 and HR, 0.99; P = .965, respectively) or overall survival (HR, 1.19; P = .45 and HR, 0.99; P = .980, respectively).

Study details: This multicenter retrospective study included 520 adult patients with HCC who underwent first-line multibipolar percutaneous RFA treatment.

Disclosures: The study did not receive any specific funding. T Dao, N Ganne-Carrié, and JC Nault reported receiving grants, speaker’s fees, personal fees, or invitations for medical meetings from various pharmaceutical companies.

Source: Nguyen N et al. Liver Int. 2021 Dec 11. doi: 10.1111/liv.15129.

Key clinical point: The presence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or metabolic syndrome (MS) did not affect the long-term oncological outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with multibipolar percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Major finding: Neither NAFLD-HCC nor MS was associated with overall tumor recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 1.12; P = .536 and HR, 0.99; P = .965, respectively) or overall survival (HR, 1.19; P = .45 and HR, 0.99; P = .980, respectively).

Study details: This multicenter retrospective study included 520 adult patients with HCC who underwent first-line multibipolar percutaneous RFA treatment.

Disclosures: The study did not receive any specific funding. T Dao, N Ganne-Carrié, and JC Nault reported receiving grants, speaker’s fees, personal fees, or invitations for medical meetings from various pharmaceutical companies.

Source: Nguyen N et al. Liver Int. 2021 Dec 11. doi: 10.1111/liv.15129.

Key clinical point: The presence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or metabolic syndrome (MS) did not affect the long-term oncological outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with multibipolar percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Major finding: Neither NAFLD-HCC nor MS was associated with overall tumor recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 1.12; P = .536 and HR, 0.99; P = .965, respectively) or overall survival (HR, 1.19; P = .45 and HR, 0.99; P = .980, respectively).

Study details: This multicenter retrospective study included 520 adult patients with HCC who underwent first-line multibipolar percutaneous RFA treatment.

Disclosures: The study did not receive any specific funding. T Dao, N Ganne-Carrié, and JC Nault reported receiving grants, speaker’s fees, personal fees, or invitations for medical meetings from various pharmaceutical companies.

Source: Nguyen N et al. Liver Int. 2021 Dec 11. doi: 10.1111/liv.15129.

Key clinical point: Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) was associated with prolonged survival and better safety compared with standard care in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Major finding: ICIs vs standard care were associated with superior overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.75; P = .006), progression-free survival (HR, 0.74; P = .03), and overall response rate (odds ratio [OR], 2.82; P < .001) and lower odds of grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events (OR, 0.44; P = .04).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of 3 randomized controlled trials (KEYNOTE-240, CheckMate-459, and IMbrave150), including 1,657 patients with unresectable HCC treated with either ICIs (n=985) or standard care (n=672).

Disclosures: No source of funding was identified. The lead author and JPS Vasconcelos received grants and/or personal fees from various pharmaceutical companies.

Source: Jácome AA et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Dec 6. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.36128.

Key clinical point: Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) was associated with prolonged survival and better safety compared with standard care in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Major finding: ICIs vs standard care were associated with superior overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.75; P = .006), progression-free survival (HR, 0.74; P = .03), and overall response rate (odds ratio [OR], 2.82; P < .001) and lower odds of grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events (OR, 0.44; P = .04).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of 3 randomized controlled trials (KEYNOTE-240, CheckMate-459, and IMbrave150), including 1,657 patients with unresectable HCC treated with either ICIs (n=985) or standard care (n=672).

Disclosures: No source of funding was identified. The lead author and JPS Vasconcelos received grants and/or personal fees from various pharmaceutical companies.

Source: Jácome AA et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Dec 6. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.36128.

Key clinical point: Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) was associated with prolonged survival and better safety compared with standard care in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Major finding: ICIs vs standard care were associated with superior overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.75; P = .006), progression-free survival (HR, 0.74; P = .03), and overall response rate (odds ratio [OR], 2.82; P < .001) and lower odds of grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events (OR, 0.44; P = .04).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of 3 randomized controlled trials (KEYNOTE-240, CheckMate-459, and IMbrave150), including 1,657 patients with unresectable HCC treated with either ICIs (n=985) or standard care (n=672).

Disclosures: No source of funding was identified. The lead author and JPS Vasconcelos received grants and/or personal fees from various pharmaceutical companies.

Source: Jácome AA et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Dec 6. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.36128.

Key clinical point: The better safety profile of transarterial radioembolization (TARE) together with comparable efficacy makes it a potential therapeutic alternative to surgical resection for large single nodular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: After inverse probability weighting, TARE vs surgical resection achieved similar overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.98; P = .97), time to progression (HR, 1.10; P = .80), and time to intrahepatic progression (HR, 1.45; P = .30), along with a shorter hospital stay (3 days vs 12 days; P < .001) and lower patient proportion experiencing adverse events requiring intervention (0.0% vs 3.2%; P = .39).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study including 557 adult patients with single nodular HCC measuring ≥5 cm who underwent either surgical resection (n=500) or TARE (n=57) shortly after diagnosis.

Disclosures: The authors reported no source of funding. Some of the authors received lecture fees or research grants from various sources.

Source: Kim J et al. J Nucl Med. 2021 Dec 9. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.121.263147.

Key clinical point: The better safety profile of transarterial radioembolization (TARE) together with comparable efficacy makes it a potential therapeutic alternative to surgical resection for large single nodular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: After inverse probability weighting, TARE vs surgical resection achieved similar overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.98; P = .97), time to progression (HR, 1.10; P = .80), and time to intrahepatic progression (HR, 1.45; P = .30), along with a shorter hospital stay (3 days vs 12 days; P < .001) and lower patient proportion experiencing adverse events requiring intervention (0.0% vs 3.2%; P = .39).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study including 557 adult patients with single nodular HCC measuring ≥5 cm who underwent either surgical resection (n=500) or TARE (n=57) shortly after diagnosis.

Disclosures: The authors reported no source of funding. Some of the authors received lecture fees or research grants from various sources.

Source: Kim J et al. J Nucl Med. 2021 Dec 9. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.121.263147.

Key clinical point: The better safety profile of transarterial radioembolization (TARE) together with comparable efficacy makes it a potential therapeutic alternative to surgical resection for large single nodular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: After inverse probability weighting, TARE vs surgical resection achieved similar overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.98; P = .97), time to progression (HR, 1.10; P = .80), and time to intrahepatic progression (HR, 1.45; P = .30), along with a shorter hospital stay (3 days vs 12 days; P < .001) and lower patient proportion experiencing adverse events requiring intervention (0.0% vs 3.2%; P = .39).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study including 557 adult patients with single nodular HCC measuring ≥5 cm who underwent either surgical resection (n=500) or TARE (n=57) shortly after diagnosis.

Disclosures: The authors reported no source of funding. Some of the authors received lecture fees or research grants from various sources.

Source: Kim J et al. J Nucl Med. 2021 Dec 9. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.121.263147.

Key clinical point: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels during liver transplantation (LT) and their modulation while on the waitlist are predictors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after LT in patients meeting the Milan criteria.

Main finding: An AFP value >25.5 ng/mL (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.69) could strongly predict HCC recurrence after LT (subdistribution hazard ratio, 2.5; P = .01), which also showed a significant association with an increase in AFP levels by >20.8% while on the waitlist (P = .034).

Study details: The data are derived from a retrospective single-center study that analyzed 207 patients with HCC fulfilling the Milan criteria who were put on the waitlist for LT and had AFP levels >400 ng/mL at transplant.

Disclosures: Financial support for the study was provided by the association Friends of transplantation. The authors reported no conflict of interests.

Source: Magro B et al. Cancers. 2021 Nov 27. doi: 10.3390/cancers13235976.

Key clinical point: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels during liver transplantation (LT) and their modulation while on the waitlist are predictors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after LT in patients meeting the Milan criteria.

Main finding: An AFP value >25.5 ng/mL (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.69) could strongly predict HCC recurrence after LT (subdistribution hazard ratio, 2.5; P = .01), which also showed a significant association with an increase in AFP levels by >20.8% while on the waitlist (P = .034).

Study details: The data are derived from a retrospective single-center study that analyzed 207 patients with HCC fulfilling the Milan criteria who were put on the waitlist for LT and had AFP levels >400 ng/mL at transplant.

Disclosures: Financial support for the study was provided by the association Friends of transplantation. The authors reported no conflict of interests.

Source: Magro B et al. Cancers. 2021 Nov 27. doi: 10.3390/cancers13235976.

Key clinical point: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels during liver transplantation (LT) and their modulation while on the waitlist are predictors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after LT in patients meeting the Milan criteria.

Main finding: An AFP value >25.5 ng/mL (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.69) could strongly predict HCC recurrence after LT (subdistribution hazard ratio, 2.5; P = .01), which also showed a significant association with an increase in AFP levels by >20.8% while on the waitlist (P = .034).

Study details: The data are derived from a retrospective single-center study that analyzed 207 patients with HCC fulfilling the Milan criteria who were put on the waitlist for LT and had AFP levels >400 ng/mL at transplant.

Disclosures: Financial support for the study was provided by the association Friends of transplantation. The authors reported no conflict of interests.

Source: Magro B et al. Cancers. 2021 Nov 27. doi: 10.3390/cancers13235976.

Two new studies show how COVID-19 threatens the health of pregnant people and their newborn infants.

A study conducted in Scotland showed that unvaccinated pregnant people who got COVID were much more likely to have a stillborn infant or one that dies in the first 28 days. The study also found that pregnant women infected with COVID died or needed hospitalization at a much higher rate than vaccinated women who got pregnant.

The University of Edinburgh and Public Health Scotland studied national data in 88,000 pregnancies between Dec. 2020 and Oct. 2021, according to the study published in Nature Medicine.

Overall, 77.4% of infections, 90.9% of COVID-related hospitalizations, and 98% of critical care cases occurred in the unvaccinated people, as did all newborn deaths.

The study said 2,364 babies were born to women infected with COVID, with 2,353 live births. Eleven babies were stillborn and eight live-born babies died within 28 days. Of the live births, 241 were premature.

The problems were more likely if the infection occurred 28 days or less before the delivery date, the researchers said.

The authors said the low vaccination rate among pregnant people was a problem. Only 32% of people giving birth in Oct. 2021 were fully vaccinated, while 77% of the Scottish female population aged 18-44 was fully vaccinated.

“Vaccine hesitancy in pregnancy thus requires addressing, especially in light of new recommendations for booster vaccination administration 3 months after the initial vaccination course to help protect against new variants such as Omicron,” the authors wrote. “Addressing low vaccine uptake rates in pregnant women is imperative to protect the health of women and babies in the ongoing pandemic.”

Vaccinated women who were pregnant had complication rates that were about the same for all pregnant women, the study shows.

The second study, published in The Lancet, found that women who got COVID while pregnant in five Western U.S. states were more likely to have premature births, low birth weights, and stillbirths, even when the COVID cases are mild.

The Institute for Systems Biology researchers in Seattle studied data for women who gave birth in Alaska, California, Montana, Oregon, or Washington from March 5, 2020, to July 4, 2021. About 18,000 of them were tested for COVID, with 882 testing positive. Of the positive tests, 85 came in the first trimester, 226 in the second trimester, and 571 in the third semester. None of the pregnant women had been vaccinated at the time they were infected.

Most of the birth problems occurred with first and second trimester infections, the study noted, and problems occurred even if the pregnant person didn’t have respiratory complications, a major COVID symptom.

“Pregnant people are at an increased risk of adverse outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection, even when maternal COVID-19 is less severe, and they may benefit from increased monitoring following infection,” Jennifer Hadlock, MD, an author of the paper, said in a news release.

The study also pointed out continuing inequities in health care, with most of the positive cases occurring among young, non-White people with Medicaid and high body mass index.

A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.

Two new studies show how COVID-19 threatens the health of pregnant people and their newborn infants.

A study conducted in Scotland showed that unvaccinated pregnant people who got COVID were much more likely to have a stillborn infant or one that dies in the first 28 days. The study also found that pregnant women infected with COVID died or needed hospitalization at a much higher rate than vaccinated women who got pregnant.

The University of Edinburgh and Public Health Scotland studied national data in 88,000 pregnancies between Dec. 2020 and Oct. 2021, according to the study published in Nature Medicine.

Overall, 77.4% of infections, 90.9% of COVID-related hospitalizations, and 98% of critical care cases occurred in the unvaccinated people, as did all newborn deaths.

The study said 2,364 babies were born to women infected with COVID, with 2,353 live births. Eleven babies were stillborn and eight live-born babies died within 28 days. Of the live births, 241 were premature.

The problems were more likely if the infection occurred 28 days or less before the delivery date, the researchers said.

The authors said the low vaccination rate among pregnant people was a problem. Only 32% of people giving birth in Oct. 2021 were fully vaccinated, while 77% of the Scottish female population aged 18-44 was fully vaccinated.

“Vaccine hesitancy in pregnancy thus requires addressing, especially in light of new recommendations for booster vaccination administration 3 months after the initial vaccination course to help protect against new variants such as Omicron,” the authors wrote. “Addressing low vaccine uptake rates in pregnant women is imperative to protect the health of women and babies in the ongoing pandemic.”

Vaccinated women who were pregnant had complication rates that were about the same for all pregnant women, the study shows.

The second study, published in The Lancet, found that women who got COVID while pregnant in five Western U.S. states were more likely to have premature births, low birth weights, and stillbirths, even when the COVID cases are mild.

The Institute for Systems Biology researchers in Seattle studied data for women who gave birth in Alaska, California, Montana, Oregon, or Washington from March 5, 2020, to July 4, 2021. About 18,000 of them were tested for COVID, with 882 testing positive. Of the positive tests, 85 came in the first trimester, 226 in the second trimester, and 571 in the third semester. None of the pregnant women had been vaccinated at the time they were infected.

Most of the birth problems occurred with first and second trimester infections, the study noted, and problems occurred even if the pregnant person didn’t have respiratory complications, a major COVID symptom.

“Pregnant people are at an increased risk of adverse outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection, even when maternal COVID-19 is less severe, and they may benefit from increased monitoring following infection,” Jennifer Hadlock, MD, an author of the paper, said in a news release.

The study also pointed out continuing inequities in health care, with most of the positive cases occurring among young, non-White people with Medicaid and high body mass index.

A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.

Two new studies show how COVID-19 threatens the health of pregnant people and their newborn infants.

A study conducted in Scotland showed that unvaccinated pregnant people who got COVID were much more likely to have a stillborn infant or one that dies in the first 28 days. The study also found that pregnant women infected with COVID died or needed hospitalization at a much higher rate than vaccinated women who got pregnant.

The University of Edinburgh and Public Health Scotland studied national data in 88,000 pregnancies between Dec. 2020 and Oct. 2021, according to the study published in Nature Medicine.

Overall, 77.4% of infections, 90.9% of COVID-related hospitalizations, and 98% of critical care cases occurred in the unvaccinated people, as did all newborn deaths.

The study said 2,364 babies were born to women infected with COVID, with 2,353 live births. Eleven babies were stillborn and eight live-born babies died within 28 days. Of the live births, 241 were premature.

The problems were more likely if the infection occurred 28 days or less before the delivery date, the researchers said.

The authors said the low vaccination rate among pregnant people was a problem. Only 32% of people giving birth in Oct. 2021 were fully vaccinated, while 77% of the Scottish female population aged 18-44 was fully vaccinated.

“Vaccine hesitancy in pregnancy thus requires addressing, especially in light of new recommendations for booster vaccination administration 3 months after the initial vaccination course to help protect against new variants such as Omicron,” the authors wrote. “Addressing low vaccine uptake rates in pregnant women is imperative to protect the health of women and babies in the ongoing pandemic.”

Vaccinated women who were pregnant had complication rates that were about the same for all pregnant women, the study shows.

The second study, published in The Lancet, found that women who got COVID while pregnant in five Western U.S. states were more likely to have premature births, low birth weights, and stillbirths, even when the COVID cases are mild.

The Institute for Systems Biology researchers in Seattle studied data for women who gave birth in Alaska, California, Montana, Oregon, or Washington from March 5, 2020, to July 4, 2021. About 18,000 of them were tested for COVID, with 882 testing positive. Of the positive tests, 85 came in the first trimester, 226 in the second trimester, and 571 in the third semester. None of the pregnant women had been vaccinated at the time they were infected.

Most of the birth problems occurred with first and second trimester infections, the study noted, and problems occurred even if the pregnant person didn’t have respiratory complications, a major COVID symptom.

“Pregnant people are at an increased risk of adverse outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection, even when maternal COVID-19 is less severe, and they may benefit from increased monitoring following infection,” Jennifer Hadlock, MD, an author of the paper, said in a news release.

The study also pointed out continuing inequities in health care, with most of the positive cases occurring among young, non-White people with Medicaid and high body mass index.

A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.

Key clinical point: High diastolic whole blood viscosity (WBV) may serve as a new independent factor associated with extrahepatic metastasis and poor survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: After adjusting for confounding variables, high diastolic WBV was independently associated with extrahepatic metastasis (adjusted odds ratio, 23.41; P < .001) and poor survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.81; P < .001) and significantly predicted extrahepatic metastasis at an optimal cutoff of 16 cP (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.768; P < .001).

Study details: Findings are from a pilot retrospective study including 181 patients with HCC, of which 148 were treatment-naïve having preserved liver function and 33 received nivolumab.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by Young Medical Scientist Research Grant through the Daewoong Foundation and the Research Fund of Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea. The authors did not declare any conflict of interests.

Source: Han JW et al. PLoS ONE. 2021 Dec 2. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260311.

Key clinical point: High diastolic whole blood viscosity (WBV) may serve as a new independent factor associated with extrahepatic metastasis and poor survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: After adjusting for confounding variables, high diastolic WBV was independently associated with extrahepatic metastasis (adjusted odds ratio, 23.41; P < .001) and poor survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.81; P < .001) and significantly predicted extrahepatic metastasis at an optimal cutoff of 16 cP (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.768; P < .001).

Study details: Findings are from a pilot retrospective study including 181 patients with HCC, of which 148 were treatment-naïve having preserved liver function and 33 received nivolumab.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by Young Medical Scientist Research Grant through the Daewoong Foundation and the Research Fund of Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea. The authors did not declare any conflict of interests.

Source: Han JW et al. PLoS ONE. 2021 Dec 2. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260311.

Key clinical point: High diastolic whole blood viscosity (WBV) may serve as a new independent factor associated with extrahepatic metastasis and poor survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: After adjusting for confounding variables, high diastolic WBV was independently associated with extrahepatic metastasis (adjusted odds ratio, 23.41; P < .001) and poor survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.81; P < .001) and significantly predicted extrahepatic metastasis at an optimal cutoff of 16 cP (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.768; P < .001).

Study details: Findings are from a pilot retrospective study including 181 patients with HCC, of which 148 were treatment-naïve having preserved liver function and 33 received nivolumab.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by Young Medical Scientist Research Grant through the Daewoong Foundation and the Research Fund of Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea. The authors did not declare any conflict of interests.

Source: Han JW et al. PLoS ONE. 2021 Dec 2. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260311.

Key clinical point: The modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST)-determined radiologic response rate of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus radiotherapy (RT) among patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) showing macroscopic vascular invasion (MVI) is an independent prognosticator for overall survival (OS).

Main finding: Responders vs nonresponders had significantly longer median OS at 2 months (23.1 months vs 8.0 months; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 3.194; P < .001) and 4 months (responders vs nonresponders: 26.5 months vs 9.3 months; aHR, 4.534; P < .001).

Study details: This was a retrospective review study including 427 patients with advanced HCC and MVI who received first-line treatment with TACE plus respiratory-gated 3-dimensional conformal RT in the 2-month analysis, whereas the patient number reduced to 355 in the 4-month analysis.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Asan Institute for Life Sciences of Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea. The authors declared no conflict of interests.

Source: Jung J et al. Liver Cancer. 2021 Dec 7. doi: 10.1159/000521227.

Key clinical point: The modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST)-determined radiologic response rate of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus radiotherapy (RT) among patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) showing macroscopic vascular invasion (MVI) is an independent prognosticator for overall survival (OS).

Main finding: Responders vs nonresponders had significantly longer median OS at 2 months (23.1 months vs 8.0 months; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 3.194; P < .001) and 4 months (responders vs nonresponders: 26.5 months vs 9.3 months; aHR, 4.534; P < .001).

Study details: This was a retrospective review study including 427 patients with advanced HCC and MVI who received first-line treatment with TACE plus respiratory-gated 3-dimensional conformal RT in the 2-month analysis, whereas the patient number reduced to 355 in the 4-month analysis.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Asan Institute for Life Sciences of Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea. The authors declared no conflict of interests.

Source: Jung J et al. Liver Cancer. 2021 Dec 7. doi: 10.1159/000521227.

Key clinical point: The modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST)-determined radiologic response rate of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus radiotherapy (RT) among patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) showing macroscopic vascular invasion (MVI) is an independent prognosticator for overall survival (OS).

Main finding: Responders vs nonresponders had significantly longer median OS at 2 months (23.1 months vs 8.0 months; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 3.194; P < .001) and 4 months (responders vs nonresponders: 26.5 months vs 9.3 months; aHR, 4.534; P < .001).

Study details: This was a retrospective review study including 427 patients with advanced HCC and MVI who received first-line treatment with TACE plus respiratory-gated 3-dimensional conformal RT in the 2-month analysis, whereas the patient number reduced to 355 in the 4-month analysis.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Asan Institute for Life Sciences of Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea. The authors declared no conflict of interests.

Source: Jung J et al. Liver Cancer. 2021 Dec 7. doi: 10.1159/000521227.

Key clinical point: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy of infusional fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (HAIC-FO) is better than sorafenib at improving survival in patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: At a median follow-up of 17.1 and 19.8 months, HAIC-FO- and sorafenib-treated patients showed a median overall survival (OS) of 13.9 months (95% CI, 10.6-17.2) and 8.2 months (95% CI, 7.5-9.0), respectively (hazard ratio [HR], 0.408; P = .001), with OS improvements favoring HAIC-FO vs sorafenib in even high-risk patients (10.8 months vs 5.7 months; HR, 0.343; P < .001). Grade 3/4 adverse events were more frequent with sorafenib vs HAIC-FO (48.1% vs20.3%).

Study details: The data come from the open-label, phase 3 FOHAIC-1 trial, which included 262 systemic therapy-naive patients with locally advanced or unresectable HCC who were randomly assigned to receive either HAIC-FO (n=130) or sorafenib (n=132).

Disclosures: The National Natural Science Foundation of China sponsored the study. The authors did not report any potential conflict of interests.

Source: Lyu N et al. J Clin Oncol. 2021 Dec 14. doi: 10.1200/JCO.21.01963.

Key clinical point: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy of infusional fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (HAIC-FO) is better than sorafenib at improving survival in patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: At a median follow-up of 17.1 and 19.8 months, HAIC-FO- and sorafenib-treated patients showed a median overall survival (OS) of 13.9 months (95% CI, 10.6-17.2) and 8.2 months (95% CI, 7.5-9.0), respectively (hazard ratio [HR], 0.408; P = .001), with OS improvements favoring HAIC-FO vs sorafenib in even high-risk patients (10.8 months vs 5.7 months; HR, 0.343; P < .001). Grade 3/4 adverse events were more frequent with sorafenib vs HAIC-FO (48.1% vs20.3%).

Study details: The data come from the open-label, phase 3 FOHAIC-1 trial, which included 262 systemic therapy-naive patients with locally advanced or unresectable HCC who were randomly assigned to receive either HAIC-FO (n=130) or sorafenib (n=132).

Disclosures: The National Natural Science Foundation of China sponsored the study. The authors did not report any potential conflict of interests.

Source: Lyu N et al. J Clin Oncol. 2021 Dec 14. doi: 10.1200/JCO.21.01963.

Key clinical point: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy of infusional fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (HAIC-FO) is better than sorafenib at improving survival in patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: At a median follow-up of 17.1 and 19.8 months, HAIC-FO- and sorafenib-treated patients showed a median overall survival (OS) of 13.9 months (95% CI, 10.6-17.2) and 8.2 months (95% CI, 7.5-9.0), respectively (hazard ratio [HR], 0.408; P = .001), with OS improvements favoring HAIC-FO vs sorafenib in even high-risk patients (10.8 months vs 5.7 months; HR, 0.343; P < .001). Grade 3/4 adverse events were more frequent with sorafenib vs HAIC-FO (48.1% vs20.3%).

Study details: The data come from the open-label, phase 3 FOHAIC-1 trial, which included 262 systemic therapy-naive patients with locally advanced or unresectable HCC who were randomly assigned to receive either HAIC-FO (n=130) or sorafenib (n=132).

Disclosures: The National Natural Science Foundation of China sponsored the study. The authors did not report any potential conflict of interests.

Source: Lyu N et al. J Clin Oncol. 2021 Dec 14. doi: 10.1200/JCO.21.01963.

Key clinical point: Longer follow-up results confirm the survival benefits and consistent safety of first-line atezolizumab + bevacizumab vs sorafenib in patients with locally advanced or metastatic and/or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Major finding: After a 15.6-month median follow-up, the median overall survival (19.2 months vs 13.4 months; stratified hazard ratio [HR] for death, 0.66; P < .001) and progression-free survival (6.9 months vs 4.3 months; HR for death/progression, 0.65; P < .001) were higher with atezolizumab + bevacizumab vs sorafenib. Treatment-related grade 3/4 adverse events occurred in 43% vs 46% of patients receiving atezolizumab + bevacizumab vs sorafenib.

Study details: Findings are from a post hoc analysis of the phase 3 IMbrave150 trial including 501 treatment-naïve patients with locally advanced or metastatic and/or unresectable HCC. Patients were randomly assigned to atezolizumab + bevacizumab or sorafenib.

Disclosures: This study was funded by F. Hoffman-La Roche (FHLR)/Genentech. All investigators reported receiving financial or nonfinancial support, providing expert testimony, being an employee of, or holding shares/stocks in various pharmaceutical companies including FHLR/Genentech.

Source: Cheng AL et al. J Hepatol. 2021 Dec 10. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.11.030.

Key clinical point: Longer follow-up results confirm the survival benefits and consistent safety of first-line atezolizumab + bevacizumab vs sorafenib in patients with locally advanced or metastatic and/or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Major finding: After a 15.6-month median follow-up, the median overall survival (19.2 months vs 13.4 months; stratified hazard ratio [HR] for death, 0.66; P < .001) and progression-free survival (6.9 months vs 4.3 months; HR for death/progression, 0.65; P < .001) were higher with atezolizumab + bevacizumab vs sorafenib. Treatment-related grade 3/4 adverse events occurred in 43% vs 46% of patients receiving atezolizumab + bevacizumab vs sorafenib.

Study details: Findings are from a post hoc analysis of the phase 3 IMbrave150 trial including 501 treatment-naïve patients with locally advanced or metastatic and/or unresectable HCC. Patients were randomly assigned to atezolizumab + bevacizumab or sorafenib.

Disclosures: This study was funded by F. Hoffman-La Roche (FHLR)/Genentech. All investigators reported receiving financial or nonfinancial support, providing expert testimony, being an employee of, or holding shares/stocks in various pharmaceutical companies including FHLR/Genentech.

Source: Cheng AL et al. J Hepatol. 2021 Dec 10. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.11.030.

Key clinical point: Longer follow-up results confirm the survival benefits and consistent safety of first-line atezolizumab + bevacizumab vs sorafenib in patients with locally advanced or metastatic and/or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Major finding: After a 15.6-month median follow-up, the median overall survival (19.2 months vs 13.4 months; stratified hazard ratio [HR] for death, 0.66; P < .001) and progression-free survival (6.9 months vs 4.3 months; HR for death/progression, 0.65; P < .001) were higher with atezolizumab + bevacizumab vs sorafenib. Treatment-related grade 3/4 adverse events occurred in 43% vs 46% of patients receiving atezolizumab + bevacizumab vs sorafenib.

Study details: Findings are from a post hoc analysis of the phase 3 IMbrave150 trial including 501 treatment-naïve patients with locally advanced or metastatic and/or unresectable HCC. Patients were randomly assigned to atezolizumab + bevacizumab or sorafenib.

Disclosures: This study was funded by F. Hoffman-La Roche (FHLR)/Genentech. All investigators reported receiving financial or nonfinancial support, providing expert testimony, being an employee of, or holding shares/stocks in various pharmaceutical companies including FHLR/Genentech.

Source: Cheng AL et al. J Hepatol. 2021 Dec 10. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.11.030.

Key clinical point: First-line nivolumab treatment did not improve overall survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared with sorafenib.

Major finding: At a minimum follow-up of 22.8 months, nivolumab vs sorafenib did not meet the prespecified significance boundary for superior overall survival (16.4 months vs 14.7 months; hazard ratio, 0.85; P = .075).

Study details: Findings are from the phase 3 CheckMate 459 trial including 743 adult patients with advanced HCC randomly assigned to receive either nivolumab (n=371) or sorafenib (n=372).

Disclosures: This study was supported by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) and Ono Pharmaceutical. Some investigators including the lead author reported receiving grants and fees from, participation on data safety monitoring board or advisory boards for, owning stocks in, and being an employee of various pharmaceutical companies, including BMS and Ono Pharmaceutical.

Source: Yau T et al. Lancet Oncol. 2021 Dec 13. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00604-5.

Key clinical point: First-line nivolumab treatment did not improve overall survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared with sorafenib.

Major finding: At a minimum follow-up of 22.8 months, nivolumab vs sorafenib did not meet the prespecified significance boundary for superior overall survival (16.4 months vs 14.7 months; hazard ratio, 0.85; P = .075).

Study details: Findings are from the phase 3 CheckMate 459 trial including 743 adult patients with advanced HCC randomly assigned to receive either nivolumab (n=371) or sorafenib (n=372).

Disclosures: This study was supported by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) and Ono Pharmaceutical. Some investigators including the lead author reported receiving grants and fees from, participation on data safety monitoring board or advisory boards for, owning stocks in, and being an employee of various pharmaceutical companies, including BMS and Ono Pharmaceutical.

Source: Yau T et al. Lancet Oncol. 2021 Dec 13. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00604-5.

Key clinical point: First-line nivolumab treatment did not improve overall survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared with sorafenib.

Major finding: At a minimum follow-up of 22.8 months, nivolumab vs sorafenib did not meet the prespecified significance boundary for superior overall survival (16.4 months vs 14.7 months; hazard ratio, 0.85; P = .075).

Study details: Findings are from the phase 3 CheckMate 459 trial including 743 adult patients with advanced HCC randomly assigned to receive either nivolumab (n=371) or sorafenib (n=372).

Disclosures: This study was supported by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) and Ono Pharmaceutical. Some investigators including the lead author reported receiving grants and fees from, participation on data safety monitoring board or advisory boards for, owning stocks in, and being an employee of various pharmaceutical companies, including BMS and Ono Pharmaceutical.

Source: Yau T et al. Lancet Oncol. 2021 Dec 13. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00604-5.