Dr. Lee on Trial Data Evaluating the Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab in Unresectable HCC

Michael S. Lee, MD, assistant professor of medicine, Department of Molecular Therapeutics, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses trial data evaluating the combination of atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and bevacizumab (Avastin) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

The combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab led to clinically meaningful responses and a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) among patients with unresectable HCC, according to data from 2 trials that were presented at the 2019 ESMO Congress.

According to the findings from the single-arm trial, in which safety and objective response served as coprimary endpoints, the objective response rate was 36% and the complete response rate was 12%. Moreover, the disease-control rate was 71%, adds Lee. In the randomized trial, which evaluated atezolizumab alone versus atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab, PFS and safety served as coprimary endpoints. Notably, patients who received the combination experienced a 45% reduction in the risk of progression or death versus atezolizumab monotherapy (HR, 0.55; P = .0108), concludes Lee.