IMbrave050 Clinical Trial currently recruiting

[AndreaWilson_Founder]

This study will compare the effects, good or bad, of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab versus active surveillance (not receiving any study treatment) on patients with completely resected or ablated HCC who are at high risk for disease recurrence

Patients will be put into two groups or Arms of the study:

In Arm A, patients will receive the combination ofatezolizumab plus bevacizumab

In Arm B, patients with be actively monitored but will not receive any study treatment

HCC patients entering this study will have had their initial cancer completely resected (cut out) or ablated (destroyed). However, It is likely that at some time in the future their cancer could return.

So the question for this study is: does treatment with atezolizumab and bevacizumab prevent or delay the recurrence of cancer in comparison to patients who receive no active treatment?

Learn more here: clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show...

[bwpickard Caregiver]

My husband just started this combination last week for treatment of his advanced HCC after it was FDA approved late May. Thanks for the info on this new aspect of the trial that brought it to FDA approval.

[AndreaWilson_Founder Partner Editor Caregiver in reply to bwpickard]

You're welcome. Please let us know how he is doing. ~Andrea

[lldropp Caregiver]

My dad was just diagnosed with HCC this week (we thought it was liver metastases because he also has Prostate cancer). The doctor is starting him on this combination in a couple of weeks (atezolizumab plus bevacizumab ). I'm trying to read the studies to determine if this is better than a combo sorafenib and lenvatinib or other options. I am encouraged to see other peoples' stories of survival, as I am hoping he has more than 12 months. Thank you for sharing this!

[AndreaWilson_Founder Partner Editor Caregiver in reply to lldropp]

In my personal opinion, sorafenib alone doesn't do very much for most patients. It can extend life but often with devastating side effects. The people who can tolerate it have a higher quality of life.

Lenvima has different side effects and the patients I've known tolerateit well for a longer period of time.

[ITYFIALMCTT in reply to AndreaWilson_Founder]

Thank you for that information about sorafenib and lenvatinib - I've read such mixed experiences of them.

I don't know when the decision might be made for the NHS but atezolizumab plus bevacizumab looks promising.

[ITYFIALMCTT in reply to lldropp]

A family member has just disclosed that his cirrhosis may have progressed to advanced primary HCC to us.

He's not suited to TACE/TAE or a transplant so he's waiting on confirmation with more scanning and information about possible treatment.

Are you in the UK? I thought that his only options would be sorafenib or lenvatinib but apparently NICE is discussing atezolizumab plus bevacizumab combination therapy as first-line treatment soon so we're looking for people's experience of this.

[bwpickard Caregiver in reply to ITYFIALMCTT]

In my husband's case, he tolerated Lenvima well but it stopped working after 9 months. He was on Sorafenib and Opdivo but could never tolerate the full dose of Sorafenib and did not feel well on it. He also had an uncommon side effect with developing squamous cell skin cancers. Though scans appeared stable, AFP kept rising and oncologist changed him to the atezolizumab plus bevacizumab combination 7 weeks ago. He has had 3 treatments 3 weeks apart with no significant side effects so far and feels SO much better off the Sorafenib. Appetite good, energy/stamina improved. His AFP dropped from 614 to 149 since starting this combo. Liver function remains good. Oncologist pleased with lab but states scans will provide true response which are scheduled for Oct 13 so we are praying and hopeful. FDA approval in the US was just May 29 on this med. Hope this helps! Best of luck!

[ITYFIALMCTT in reply to bwpickard]

Thank you. I hope the scans report good news for your husband and that the bloodwork continues to be promising and liver function stable.

As FDA approval was end of May, and EU CHMP was 18 September, it feels very quick by usual standards for this appraisal to be happening next week for England and Wales (Scotland and NI have their own systems).

This sounds like a good treatment option to know about should it be necessary.