Higher Absolute Lymphocyte Counts and Lower Des‐γ‐Carboxyprothrombin Levels After Treatment Initiation Are Associated With the Clinical Efficacy of Tremelimumab Plus Durvalumab Combination Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Tremelimumab plus durvalumab (Dur/Tre) combination therapy is now a first‐line systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Because systemic therapy is not effective in some patients, it is clinically important to identify factors that could predict the...

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Main Authors: Yuta Inoue, Yoshihiko Yano, Saeko Kushida, Seiya Hirohata, Seitetsu Yoon, Eiichiro Yasutomi, Hirotaka Hirano, Soo Ki Kim, Ryutaro Yoshida, Yoshihide Ueda, Kenji Momose, Hiroki Hayashi, Takuo Kado, Katsuhisa Nishi, Hidenori Tanaka, Tomomitsu Matono, Atsushi Yamamoto, Hiroshi Tei, Chiharu Nishioka, Yosuke Yagi, Shoji Tamura, Tatsuya Sakane, Mayumi Ehara, Miki Kawano, Jun Kitadai, Takanori Matsuura, Yuuki Shiomi, Shohei Komatsu, Takumi Fukumoto, Toshifumi Tada, Yuzo Kodama
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-02-01
Series:JGH Open
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/jgh3.70123
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author Yuta Inoue
Yoshihiko Yano
Saeko Kushida
Seiya Hirohata
Seitetsu Yoon
Eiichiro Yasutomi
Hirotaka Hirano
Soo Ki Kim
Ryutaro Yoshida
Yoshihide Ueda
Kenji Momose
Hiroki Hayashi
Takuo Kado
Katsuhisa Nishi
Hidenori Tanaka
Tomomitsu Matono
Atsushi Yamamoto
Hiroshi Tei
Chiharu Nishioka
Yosuke Yagi
Shoji Tamura
Tatsuya Sakane
Mayumi Ehara
Miki Kawano
Jun Kitadai
Takanori Matsuura
Yuuki Shiomi
Shohei Komatsu
Takumi Fukumoto
Toshifumi Tada
Yuzo Kodama
author_facet Yuta Inoue
Yoshihiko Yano
Saeko Kushida
Seiya Hirohata
Seitetsu Yoon
Eiichiro Yasutomi
Hirotaka Hirano
Soo Ki Kim
Ryutaro Yoshida
Yoshihide Ueda
Kenji Momose
Hiroki Hayashi
Takuo Kado
Katsuhisa Nishi
Hidenori Tanaka
Tomomitsu Matono
Atsushi Yamamoto
Hiroshi Tei
Chiharu Nishioka
Yosuke Yagi
Shoji Tamura
Tatsuya Sakane
Mayumi Ehara
Miki Kawano
Jun Kitadai
Takanori Matsuura
Yuuki Shiomi
Shohei Komatsu
Takumi Fukumoto
Toshifumi Tada
Yuzo Kodama
author_sort Yuta Inoue
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background and Aims Tremelimumab plus durvalumab (Dur/Tre) combination therapy is now a first‐line systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Because systemic therapy is not effective in some patients, it is clinically important to identify factors that could predict the response to treatment at an early stage. We investigated the factors associated with the response to Dur/Tre for advanced HCC in a clinical setting. Methods Seventy patients (median age 74 years; 61 men) who received Dur/Tre between March 2023 and September 2024 were analyzed. We examined the factors associated with the treatment response, including pretreatment factors and factors early in treatment. Results The median treatment duration was 77.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 28–187) days. The overall response and disease control rates were 25.8% and 58.1%, respectively. The median (IQR) progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 82 (61–133) and 415 (337–NA) days, respectively. Multivariable analysis revealed that higher absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and lower des‐γ‐carboxyprothrombin (DCP) levels were significantly associated with PFS. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the cutoff value for ALC after 4 weeks of treatment in relation to clinical efficacy was 1125/mm3. A log‐rank test using the Kaplan–Meier method showed that OS was significantly longer in patients with ALC above the cutoff and in patients whose DCP levels decreased after starting treatment. Conclusion Higher ALC and lower DCP levels after treatment initiation were associated with the clinical efficacy of Dur/Tre for advanced HCC.
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spelling doaj-art-2905b51efb0d47ec9af4a563f3a6c39a2025-08-20T03:11:31ZengWileyJGH Open2397-90702025-02-0192n/an/a10.1002/jgh3.70123Higher Absolute Lymphocyte Counts and Lower Des‐γ‐Carboxyprothrombin Levels After Treatment Initiation Are Associated With the Clinical Efficacy of Tremelimumab Plus Durvalumab Combination Therapy for Hepatocellular CarcinomaYuta Inoue0Yoshihiko Yano1Saeko Kushida2Seiya Hirohata3Seitetsu Yoon4Eiichiro Yasutomi5Hirotaka Hirano6Soo Ki Kim7Ryutaro Yoshida8Yoshihide Ueda9Kenji Momose10Hiroki Hayashi11Takuo Kado12Katsuhisa Nishi13Hidenori Tanaka14Tomomitsu Matono15Atsushi Yamamoto16Hiroshi Tei17Chiharu Nishioka18Yosuke Yagi19Shoji Tamura20Tatsuya Sakane21Mayumi Ehara22Miki Kawano23Jun Kitadai24Takanori Matsuura25Yuuki Shiomi26Shohei Komatsu27Takumi Fukumoto28Toshifumi Tada29Yuzo Kodama30Division of Gastroenterology Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine Kobe City Hyogo JapanDivision of Gastroenterology Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine Kobe City Hyogo JapanHyogo Prefectural Hyogo Cancer Center Akashi Hyogo JapanHyogo Prefectural Kakogawa Medical Center Kakogawa Hyogo JapanHyogo Prefectural Kakogawa Medical Center Kakogawa Hyogo JapanHyogo Prefectural Kakogawa Medical Center Kakogawa Hyogo JapanYodogawa Christian Hospital Osaka JapanKobe Asahi Hospital Kobe Hyogo JapanKakogawa Central City Hospital Kakogawa Hyogo JapanKakogawa Central City Hospital Kakogawa Hyogo JapanOsaka Saiseikai Nakatsu Hospital Osaka JapanKitaharima Medical Center Ono Hyogo JapanAkashi Medical Center Akashi Hyogo JapanHyogo Prefectural Awaji Medical Center Sumoto Hyogo JapanSanda City Hospital Sanda Hyogo JapanHyogo Prefectural Harima‐Himeji General Medical Center Himeji Hyogo JapanHyogo Prefectural Harima‐Himeji General Medical Center Himeji Hyogo JapanKobe City Medical Center General Hospital Kobe Hyogo JapanKonan Medical Center Kobe Hyogo JapanShiso Municipal Hospital Shiso Hyogo JapanDivision of Gastroenterology Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine Kobe City Hyogo JapanDivision of Gastroenterology Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine Kobe City Hyogo JapanDivision of Gastroenterology Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine Kobe City Hyogo JapanDivision of Gastroenterology Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine Kobe City Hyogo JapanDivision of Gastroenterology Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine Kobe City Hyogo JapanDivision of Gastroenterology Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine Kobe City Hyogo JapanDivision of Gastroenterology Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine Kobe City Hyogo JapanDivision of Hepato‐Biliary‐Pancreatic Surgery Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine Kobe City Hyogo JapanDivision of Hepato‐Biliary‐Pancreatic Surgery Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine Kobe City Hyogo JapanDivision of Gastroenterology Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine Kobe City Hyogo JapanDivision of Gastroenterology Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine Kobe City Hyogo JapanABSTRACT Background and Aims Tremelimumab plus durvalumab (Dur/Tre) combination therapy is now a first‐line systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Because systemic therapy is not effective in some patients, it is clinically important to identify factors that could predict the response to treatment at an early stage. We investigated the factors associated with the response to Dur/Tre for advanced HCC in a clinical setting. Methods Seventy patients (median age 74 years; 61 men) who received Dur/Tre between March 2023 and September 2024 were analyzed. We examined the factors associated with the treatment response, including pretreatment factors and factors early in treatment. Results The median treatment duration was 77.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 28–187) days. The overall response and disease control rates were 25.8% and 58.1%, respectively. The median (IQR) progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 82 (61–133) and 415 (337–NA) days, respectively. Multivariable analysis revealed that higher absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and lower des‐γ‐carboxyprothrombin (DCP) levels were significantly associated with PFS. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the cutoff value for ALC after 4 weeks of treatment in relation to clinical efficacy was 1125/mm3. A log‐rank test using the Kaplan–Meier method showed that OS was significantly longer in patients with ALC above the cutoff and in patients whose DCP levels decreased after starting treatment. Conclusion Higher ALC and lower DCP levels after treatment initiation were associated with the clinical efficacy of Dur/Tre for advanced HCC.https://doi.org/10.1002/jgh3.70123absolute lymphocyte countdes‐γ‐carboxyprothrombinhepatocellular carcinomatremelimumab and durvalumab
spellingShingle Yuta Inoue
Yoshihiko Yano
Saeko Kushida
Seiya Hirohata
Seitetsu Yoon
Eiichiro Yasutomi
Hirotaka Hirano
Soo Ki Kim
Ryutaro Yoshida
Yoshihide Ueda
Kenji Momose
Hiroki Hayashi
Takuo Kado
Katsuhisa Nishi
Hidenori Tanaka
Tomomitsu Matono
Atsushi Yamamoto
Hiroshi Tei
Chiharu Nishioka
Yosuke Yagi
Shoji Tamura
Tatsuya Sakane
Mayumi Ehara
Miki Kawano
Jun Kitadai
Takanori Matsuura
Yuuki Shiomi
Shohei Komatsu
Takumi Fukumoto
Toshifumi Tada
Yuzo Kodama
Higher Absolute Lymphocyte Counts and Lower Des‐γ‐Carboxyprothrombin Levels After Treatment Initiation Are Associated With the Clinical Efficacy of Tremelimumab Plus Durvalumab Combination Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
JGH Open
absolute lymphocyte count
des‐γ‐carboxyprothrombin
hepatocellular carcinoma
tremelimumab and durvalumab
title Higher Absolute Lymphocyte Counts and Lower Des‐γ‐Carboxyprothrombin Levels After Treatment Initiation Are Associated With the Clinical Efficacy of Tremelimumab Plus Durvalumab Combination Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
title_full Higher Absolute Lymphocyte Counts and Lower Des‐γ‐Carboxyprothrombin Levels After Treatment Initiation Are Associated With the Clinical Efficacy of Tremelimumab Plus Durvalumab Combination Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
title_fullStr Higher Absolute Lymphocyte Counts and Lower Des‐γ‐Carboxyprothrombin Levels After Treatment Initiation Are Associated With the Clinical Efficacy of Tremelimumab Plus Durvalumab Combination Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed Higher Absolute Lymphocyte Counts and Lower Des‐γ‐Carboxyprothrombin Levels After Treatment Initiation Are Associated With the Clinical Efficacy of Tremelimumab Plus Durvalumab Combination Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
title_short Higher Absolute Lymphocyte Counts and Lower Des‐γ‐Carboxyprothrombin Levels After Treatment Initiation Are Associated With the Clinical Efficacy of Tremelimumab Plus Durvalumab Combination Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
title_sort higher absolute lymphocyte counts and lower des γ carboxyprothrombin levels after treatment initiation are associated with the clinical efficacy of tremelimumab plus durvalumab combination therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma
topic absolute lymphocyte count
des‐γ‐carboxyprothrombin
hepatocellular carcinoma
tremelimumab and durvalumab
url https://doi.org/10.1002/jgh3.70123
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