Dr. Harris on IMbrave150 Results With Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab in HCC

William P. Harris, MD, physician, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, associate professor, Division of Oncology, University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine, physician, UW Medicine, associate professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, discusses updated data from the phase 3 IMbrave150 study (NCT03434379) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

The IMbrave150 study, which evaluated frontline atezolizumab (Tecentriq) plus bevacizumab (Avastin) vs sorafenib (Nexavar) in patients with unresectable HCC, was pivotal because it was the first to show superiority of a regimen compared with sorafenib in this patient population, according to Harris. Data from the trial show response rates of approximately 30%, as well as a median overall survival of at least 19 months or more, Harris explains. Moreover, in a subset of patients showed prolonged, durable responses.

Additionally, the toxicity profile of the combination is manageable, given that appropriate patients are chosen for treatment, Harries notes. The trial examined patients with Child-Pugh class A, and it remains to be seen whether similar safety and efficacy will also be seen in Child-Pugh class B, Harris continues. Patients under consideration for this treatment regimen should undergo upper endoscopy with the appropriate management before initiation, and those with high risk of bleeding should be excluded, Harris concludes.