Background and aims: Several first-line immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based combination therapies have been identified for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). This network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to provide the most updated evidence about the preferred first-line ICI-based regimens for uHCC.
Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed in various databases from database inception to May 2022. The phase 3 trials evaluating first-line single-agent ICIs, molecular-target agents (MTAs), or their combinations in uHCC were included. The main endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Pooled effect estimates were calculated using a random effects model within the frequentist framework. Subgroup analyses based on etiology were also conducted.
Results: Twelve trials at low risk of bias with 8,275 patients comparing 13 treatments were included. OS with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab was comparable to sintilimab plus IBI305 [hazard ratio (HR): 1.16; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.80-1.68] and camrelizumab plus apatinib (HR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.75-1.51). The combination therapies, apart from atezolizumab plus cabozantinib in OS and durvalumab plus tremelimumab in PFS, had higher P-score than single-agent MTAs or ICIs. The survival benefits were associated with a high risk of adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation. The proportion of patients with hepatitis B virus-related HCC receiving ICIs combinations might positively correlate with survival advantages (R2=0.8039, p=0.0155).
Conclusion: This NMA demonstrated that atezolizumab plus bevacizumab remains the stand of care and confers comparable survival benefits to sintilimab plus IBI305 and camrelizumab plus apatinib in first-line therapy for uHCC. The optimal treatment algorithms should consider efficacy, safety, and etiology.
Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Immunotherapy; Molecular targeted therapy; Overall survival; Systemic therapy; Tyrosine protein kinase inhibitors.
© 2024 Authors.