Dr. Abou-Alfa on Optimizing Treatment Selection in HCC

Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa, MD, medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses ways to optimize treatment selection for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

With an influx of approved novel agents in HCC and others in the pipeline, upfront and later-line treatment selection for patients with HCC will become more complex, explains Abou-Alfa.

Recently, topline findings from the phase III IMbrave150 study showed that the combination of atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and bevacizumab (Avastin) resulted in a 42% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death compared with sorafenib (Nexavar) in previously untreated patients with advanced HCC.

The science behind each treatment should guide therapy selection, says Abou-Alfa. Though cross-trial comparisons are discouraged, treatment selection may be guided by data cut-off points and median overall survival rates, says Abou-Alfa.

Toxicity profiles will also play a key role in treatment selection. The comfort level of the treating physician and institutional experience with a particular agent, as well as the patient's personal preference will also factor into which therapy is best suited for an individual, concludes Abou-Alfa.

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