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Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021.
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Oct 15, 2021; 13(10): 1397-1411
Published online Oct 15, 2021. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v13.i10.1397
Table 1 Immunotherapy drugs used in hepatocellular carcinoma
Drugs
Trade name
Targets
Approved/ongoing
Company
Indications
NivolumabOpdivoPD-1Approved by FDA in 2017; Approved by China NMPA in 2018Bristol-Myers Squibb HCC progression after first-line therapy with sorafenib (second-line treatment)
PembrolizumabKeytrudaPD-1Approved by FDA in 2018; Approved by China NMPA in 2018Merck Sharp & Dohme HCC progression or high toxicity after first-line therapy with sorafenib (second-line treatment)
AtezolizumabTecentriqPD-L1Approved by China NMPA in 2020Roche Pharmaceutical LtdAdvanced HCC
CamrelizumabErikaPD-1Approved by China NMPA in 2020Jiangsu Hengrui medicineAdvanced HCC after therapy with sorafenib or oxaliplatin
TislelizumabBaizeanPD-1OngoingBeiGene (Shanghai)/
SintilimabDaboshuPD-1OngoingInnovent/
ToripalimabToiPD-1OngoingShanghai Junshi Biosciences/
DurvalumabImfinziPD-L1Ongoing AstraZeneca/
AvelumabBAVENCIOPD-L1OngoingPfizer & Merck/
TremelimumabTremelimumabCTLA-4 OngoingAstraZeneca/
Table 2 Clinical studies of thermal ablation combined with immunotherapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Ref.
Location
No. (combination group vs control group)
Tumor size (cm)
Number of tumor nodules (single/multiple)
Combination group
Control group
Follow-up period (mo)
Recurrence rates
OS, RFS, PFS or DFS
Adverse events in the combination group
Weng et al[73], 2008 China45 vs 40 2-13NRRFA + TACE + CIK cells RFA + TACE 181-year (8.9% vs 30.0%), 18-mo (15.6% vs 40.0%) (both P < 0.05)RFS rates: 68.9% (31/45) vs 20.0% (8/40)A light feverand shiver (24.4%, 11/45)
Ma et al[75], 2010China71-3.56/1RFA + RAK cells/7No recurrenceNRA slight fever (14.3%, 1/7)
Huang et al[74], 2013China85 vs 891-2641/44 vs 40/49RFA + TACE + CIK cells RFA + TACEmedian 78 (5–173)NROS: 56 mo vs 31 mo (P = 0.001); PFS: 17 mo vs 10 mo (P = 0.001)Fever (37.5–39.3℃) and chills (3.5%)
Cui et al[76], 2014China30 vs 322-812/18 vs 18/14RFA + CITRFAMedian 12 (10–28) NROS rates: 1-year (100% vs 92.6%), 2-yr (100% vs 76.6%); PFS: not reached vs 12 mo (P < 0.0001)Fever (38.5℃) (3.3%)
Bian et al[77] , 2014China62 vs 65BCLC stage 0-B35/27 RFA + 131I metuximabRFANR1-year (31.8% vs 56.3%), 2-year (58.5% vs 70.9%) NRNo serious adverse events
Tu et al[78], 2015China12 vs 22< 5 (66.7%)10/2 vs 16/6RFA + 131I-chTNTRFAMedian 31 (5–48) 83.3% (10/12) vs 86.4% (19/22)OS: 43 mo vs 35 mo (P = 0.052); PFS: 23 mo vs 7 mo (P = 0.047)The counts of white blood cells increased
Yu et al[82], 2015China14 vs 152.4 ± 0.7 vs 2.5 ± 0.8NRMWA + immunotherapyMWA16 vs 19 7.1% vs 40%OS rates: 100% vs 80% (P = 0.126); DFS rates: 92.86% vs 66.67% (P = 0.076)Fever (< 39℃) (42.9%)
Duffy et al[72], 2017United States32BCLC stage C or BNRRFA + anti-CTLA-4 (tremelimumab)/NRmedian time to tumor progression: 7.4 mo Median OS: 12.3 mo; PFS rate: 6-m (57.1%), 12-mo (33.1%)Pruritus
Huang et al[83] , 2020China43 vs 57Median 9 (5–26)19/24 vs 30/27TACE + MWA + CIKTACE + MWAMedian 31 (1–163)NROS: 41 mo vs 24 mo (P = 0.002); DFS: 17 mo vs 10 mo (P = 0.023) No severe adverse events