Hyderabad: Hopes float as AIG doctors unlock potential breakthrough in liver cancer treatment

Hyderabad: Hopes have rekindled for liver cancer patients after a new study unlocked a potential breakthrough in the treatment of deadly disease.

Conducted by clinical researchers at AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, and published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology in July 2023, the study showcases the efficacy of the immunotherapy combination Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab in liver cancer cases where surgical options are not viable, offering renewed hope to patients.

Harnessing the Power of the Immune System

Immunotherapy Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab leverages the body's immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. In real-world clinical settings, this treatment has demonstrated safety and effectiveness for liver cancer cases that cannot be surgically treated. With appropriate patient selection, this combination therapy has achieved exceptional results in terms of patient survival and tumor resolution.

Key Findings of the Study

The study recruited a total of 67 patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) between November 1, 2020, and July 1, 2022. Among these patients, 59 were from AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, and eight were from Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur. The median age of the patients was 61 years, with 86% being males.

The most significant discovery was that the disease progression was arrested in 66.12% of the patients. Furthermore, 12.9% of patients achieved complete resolution of the tumor, and 25.8% experienced partial tumor resolution or shrinkage. This promising outcome demonstrates the potential of Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab to halt the advancement of liver cancer.

For patients with good liver function, the overall survival rate was an impressive 21 months. This finding is particularly significant as many liver cancer patients are diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease, making treatment challenging. However, for those with good liver function treated with the Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab combination, the chances of survival significantly improve.

The study also highlighted that patients who had previously undergone local radiation therapy in addition to Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab exhibited better response rates. This underscores the effectiveness of this combination therapy, particularly for patients who have received prior radiation treatment. Additionally, the study identified non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) as an emerging cause of liver cancer.

Expert Insights

Dr. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman and Chief of Gastroenterology at AIG Hospitals, emphasized the changing landscape of liver cancer causes, citing a shift from viral hepatitis B to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) due to sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, and increasing diabetes rates. He noted, "Treatment for these patients was limited to oral tablets, but newer immunotherapy treatment has revolutionized the treatment of advanced liver cancer."

Dr. Anand Kulkarni, Senior Consultant Hepatologist at AIG Hospitals and the principal researcher of the study highlighted the remarkable results of the Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab combination, particularly its ability to achieve complete resolution of the tumor in approximately 10-13% of patients and partial resolution in up to a quarter of patients.

However, the researchers cautioned against the indiscriminate use of immunotherapy, emphasizing the importance of careful patient selection and supervised treatment administration. Dr. Mithun Sharma, Director – Hepatology at AIG Hospitals, added, "These drugs must be given under supervision every three weeks and are not suitable for all patients, especially those with jaundice."

Dr. P N Rao, Chief of Hepatology at AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, hailed immunotherapy as a significant advancement in the treatment of advanced liver cancer, offering hope when curative measures like surgery and liver transplants are not feasible.

This study highlights the immense potential of Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab immunotherapy in transforming the treatment landscape for liver cancer patients in India, offering a lifeline to those battling this formidable disease.