Immunotherapy as a Neoadjuvant Therapy for a Patient with Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Pretransplant Setting: A Case Report

Maen Abdelrahim; Abdullah Esmail; Godsfavour Umoru; Kiersten Westhart; Ala Abudayyeh; Ashish Saharia; Rafik M. Ghobrial

doi:10.3390/curroncol29060341

Immunotherapy as a Neoadjuvant Therapy for a Patient with Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Pretransplant Setting: A Case Report

Maen Abdelrahim, Abdullah Esmail, Godsfavour Umoru, Kiersten Westhart, Ala Abudayyeh, Ashish Saharia, Rafik M. Ghobrial

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Systemic combination therapy of immune checkpoint inhibitors and vascular endothelial growth factors have provided the basis for improved outcomes in select patients with unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. However, for patients with resectable disease, surgery alone or an orthotopic liver transplant remains the standard of care. Within the realms of transplant oncology, neoadjuvant systemic therapy is currently being evaluated as a potential strategy to improve outcomes in patients with HCC. Here, we report excellent response with significant downstaging in a safe manner after neoadjuvant treatment with atezolizumab and bevacizumab in a patient diagnosed with poorly differentiated HCC. As a result of the significant response observed with safe outcomes, the patient was listed for orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) evaluation and transplanted successfully.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	4267
Pages (from-to)	4267-4273
Number of pages	7
Journal	Current Oncology
Volume	29
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol29060341
State	Published - Jun 2022

Keywords

CTLA-4 inhibitors
hepatocellular carcinoma
immune checkpoint inhibitors
immunotherapy
liver transplantation
PD-1 inhibitors
transplant oncology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oncology

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10.3390/curroncol29060341

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title = "Immunotherapy as a Neoadjuvant Therapy for a Patient with Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Pretransplant Setting: A Case Report",

abstract = "Systemic combination therapy of immune checkpoint inhibitors and vascular endothelial growth factors have provided the basis for improved outcomes in select patients with unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. However, for patients with resectable disease, surgery alone or an orthotopic liver transplant remains the standard of care. Within the realms of transplant oncology, neoadjuvant systemic therapy is currently being evaluated as a potential strategy to improve outcomes in patients with HCC. Here, we report excellent response with significant downstaging in a safe manner after neoadjuvant treatment with atezolizumab and bevacizumab in a patient diagnosed with poorly differentiated HCC. As a result of the significant response observed with safe outcomes, the patient was listed for orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) evaluation and transplanted successfully.",

keywords = "CTLA-4 inhibitors, hepatocellular carcinoma, immune checkpoint inhibitors, immunotherapy, liver transplantation, PD-1 inhibitors, transplant oncology",

author = "Maen Abdelrahim and Abdullah Esmail and Godsfavour Umoru and Kiersten Westhart and Ala Abudayyeh and Ashish Saharia and Ghobrial, {Rafik M.}",

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AU - Esmail, Abdullah

AU - Umoru, Godsfavour

AU - Westhart, Kiersten

AU - Abudayyeh, Ala

AU - Saharia, Ashish

AU - Ghobrial, Rafik M.

PY - 2022/6

Y1 - 2022/6

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AB - Systemic combination therapy of immune checkpoint inhibitors and vascular endothelial growth factors have provided the basis for improved outcomes in select patients with unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. However, for patients with resectable disease, surgery alone or an orthotopic liver transplant remains the standard of care. Within the realms of transplant oncology, neoadjuvant systemic therapy is currently being evaluated as a potential strategy to improve outcomes in patients with HCC. Here, we report excellent response with significant downstaging in a safe manner after neoadjuvant treatment with atezolizumab and bevacizumab in a patient diagnosed with poorly differentiated HCC. As a result of the significant response observed with safe outcomes, the patient was listed for orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) evaluation and transplanted successfully.

KW - CTLA-4 inhibitors

KW - hepatocellular carcinoma

KW - immune checkpoint inhibitors

KW - immunotherapy

KW - liver transplantation

KW - PD-1 inhibitors

KW - transplant oncology

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Immunotherapy as a Neoadjuvant Therapy for a Patient with Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Pretransplant Setting: A Case Report

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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