Franco Trevisani1, Giovanni Brandi2, Francesca Garuti3, Maria Aurelia Barbera2, Raffaella Tortora4, Andrea Casadei Gardini5, Alessandro Granito6, Francesco Tovoli6, Stefania De Lorenzo2, Andrea Lorenzo Inghilesi7, Francesco Giuseppe Foschi8, Mauro Bernardi3, Fabio Marra7, Rodolfo Sacco9, Giovan Giuseppe Di Costanzo4. 1. Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Medical Semeiotics, University of Bologna, via Albertoni 15, 40138, Bologna, Italy. franco.trevisani@unibo.it. 2. Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. 3. Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Medical Semeiotics, University of Bologna, via Albertoni 15, 40138, Bologna, Italy. 4. Department of Transplantation, Liver Unit, Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy. 5. Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy. 6. Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Internal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. 7. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Internal Medicine and Hepatology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. 8. Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale per gli Infermi, Faenza, Italy. 9. Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Metronomic capecitabine (MC) is a well-tolerated systemic treatment showing promising results in one retrospective study, as second-line therapy after sorafenib failure, in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: 117 patients undergoing MC were compared to 112 patients, eligible for this treatment, but undergoing best supportive care (BSC) after sorafenib discontinuation for toxicity or HCC progression. The two groups were compared for demographic and clinical features. A multivariate regression analysis was conducted to detect independent prognostic factors. To balance confounding factors between the two groups, a propensity score model based on independent prognosticators (performance status, neoplastic thrombosis, causes of sorafenib discontinuation and pre-sorafenib treatment) was performed. RESULTS: Patients undergoing MC showed better performance status, lower tumor burden, lower prevalence of portal vein thrombosis, and better cancer stage. Median (95% CI) post-sorafenib survival (PSS) was longer in MC than in BSC patients [9.5 (7.5-11.6) vs 5.0 (4.2-5.7) months (p < 0.001)]. Neoplastic thrombosis, cause of sorafenib discontinuation, pre-sorafenib treatment and MC were independent prognosticators. The benefit of capecitabine was confirmed in patients after matching with propensity score [PSS: 9.9 (6.8-12.9) vs. 5.8 (4.8-6.8) months, (p = 0.001)]. MC lowered the mortality risk by about 40%. MC achieved better results in patients who stopped sorafenib for adverse events than in those who progressed during it [PSS: 17.3 (10.5-24.1) vs. 7.8 (5.2-10.1) months, (p = 0.035)]. Treatment toxicity was low and easily manageable with dose modulation. CONCLUSIONS: MC may be an efficient and safe second-line systemic therapy for HCC patients who discontinued sorafenib for toxicity or tumor progression.
PURPOSE: Metronomic capecitabine (MC) is a well-tolerated systemic treatment showing promising results in one retrospective study, as second-line therapy after sorafenib failure, in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: 117 patients undergoing MC were compared to 112 patients, eligible for this treatment, but undergoing best supportive care (BSC) after sorafenib discontinuation for toxicity or HCC progression. The two groups were compared for demographic and clinical features. A multivariate regression analysis was conducted to detect independent prognostic factors. To balance confounding factors between the two groups, a propensity score model based on independent prognosticators (performance status, neoplastic thrombosis, causes of sorafenib discontinuation and pre-sorafenib treatment) was performed. RESULTS: Patients undergoing MC showed better performance status, lower tumor burden, lower prevalence of portal vein thrombosis, and better cancer stage. Median (95% CI) post-sorafenib survival (PSS) was longer in MC than in BSC patients [9.5 (7.5-11.6) vs 5.0 (4.2-5.7) months (p < 0.001)]. Neoplastic thrombosis, cause of sorafenib discontinuation, pre-sorafenib treatment and MC were independent prognosticators. The benefit of capecitabine was confirmed in patients after matching with propensity score [PSS: 9.9 (6.8-12.9) vs. 5.8 (4.8-6.8) months, (p = 0.001)]. MC lowered the mortality risk by about 40%. MC achieved better results in patients who stopped sorafenib for adverse events than in those who progressed during it [PSS: 17.3 (10.5-24.1) vs. 7.8 (5.2-10.1) months, (p = 0.035)]. Treatment toxicity was low and easily manageable with dose modulation. CONCLUSIONS: MC may be an efficient and safe second-line systemic therapy for HCC patients who discontinued sorafenib for toxicity or tumor progression.
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