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Liver cancer pipeline: 6 latest reports

As liver cancer rates continue to increase globally, researchers have focused on novel treatment options including combination therapies and second-line options for patients with insufficient response to initial therapy.

Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease presents the following reports on the latest pipeline updates in liver cancer, including a T-cell therapy, two trials for second-line therapies, a combination therapy, and a liquid biopsy test.

FDA grants breakthrough designation to liver cancer liquid biopsy test

The Laboratory for Advanced Medicine announced via a press release that the FDA granted breakthrough device designation to its liquid biopsy liver cancer detection test.

“The FDA’s recognition of the liquid biopsy test’s potential for the early detection of liver cancer represents a significant milestone for the company,” Shu Li, PhD, chairman and CEO of Laboratory for Advanced Medicine, said in the release. “The ability to accurately detect cancer from a blood draw holds immense promise for improving the diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of cancer. Testing for and detecting cancer earlier, even before symptoms arise, enables physicians to treat earlier and smarter, improving patient chances of survival and reducing the cost associated with treatment.” READ MORE

Eureka launches phase 1/2 trial of novel T-cell therapy for liver cancer

Eureka Therapeutics has initiated a phase 1/2 clinical trial of its ET140202 Artemis T-cell therapy for the treatment of liver cancer, according to a press release.

The company will evaluate ET140202 in combination with its Artemis antibody T-cell receptor platform that was engineered with human TCR-mimic antibody to target an alpha fetoprotein-peptide/HLA-A2 complex on hepatocellular cancer cells. READ MORE

Milciclib for Nexavar -resistant liver cancer meets additional study endpoints

Tiziana Life Sciences provided additional positive data from the ongoing phase 2a clinical trial of milciclib for patients with unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma and resistance or intolerance to Nexavar.

Previously, the company announced that the favorable safety and tolerance profile observed met the primary study endpoint. Follow-up analyses revealed that milciclib also met the secondary endpoints of time-to-progression and progression-free survival. READ MORE

Cabometyx superior to Stivarga as second-line liver cancer treatment

Treatment with Cabometyx as second-line therapy for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who previously received Nexavar demonstrated superior progression-free survival and improved overall survival compared with Stivarga, according to a study presented at the International Liver Cancer Association 2019 meeting and a press release.

“Hepatocellular carcinoma is a devastating disease with only a few treatment options demonstrating survival benefits and many investigational drugs have failed to meet overall survival endpoints in clinical trials,” Katie Kelley, MD, study investigator from the University of California, San Francisco, said in the release. “[This] analysis brings further insight into the comparative effectiveness of the key second-line treatments for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, particularly in relation to important endpoints like progression-free survival. These results may support clinicians in making informed treatment decisions in order to deliver optimal care for their patients.” READ MORE

Fotivda , Imfinzi combination trial for liver cancer begins enrollment

AVEO Oncology initiated enrollment in an early trial of a combination therapy using Fotivda and Imfinzi for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with no prior systemic therapy, according to a press release.

“HCC is the fastest rising cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., driven by prevalent diseases that include hepatitis B and C, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and obesity. With 5-year survival at approximately 26%, there remains a desperate need for new therapeutic options,” Michael Bailey, president and CEO of AVEO, said in the release. READ MORE

HCC trial misses OS endpoint, but researchers report ‘clinically meaningful’ benefit with nivolumab

Nivolumab did not significantly extend overall survival compared with sorafenib as first-line therapy for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, according to results of the randomized phase 3 CheckMate 459 trial presented at European Society for Medical Oncology Congress. However, researchers concluded nivolumab (Opdivo, Bristol-Myers Squibb) demonstrated clinical benefit.

Median OS in this group was the longest achieved in any phase 3 trial to assess first-line therapy for patients with HCC, Thomas Yau, MBBS, MD, MRCP, FHKCP, of University of Hong Kong, said during his presentation. READ MORE