What do these findings add to the literature about how best to treat patients with uHCC and suboptimal liver function?
Without evidence of efficacy and safety for the group in previous studies, the widespread recommendation for those with moderate dysfunction has been BSC.
These findings “pave the way to select potential patient subgroups in clinical practice,” Dr. Pinato said. It also suggests that the safety level of immunotherapy treatments is acceptable in this patient population, so they are not necessarily disadvantaged compared to patients with more preserved liver function.
“This is the best level of evidence currently available to guide treatment decisions in patients with Child-Pugh B who have been universally excluded by prospective clinical trials and for whom there is no randomized comparison,” Dr. Pinato said.
Dr. Pinato reported personal fees from Roche, AstraZeneca, Eisai, Mina Therapeutics, Starpharma, Lift Biosciences, Boston Scientific, and Avammune, and grants from GSK, MSD, and BMS outside the submitted work. Dr. Fulgenzi has no disclosures. Other authors of the new research have multiple ties with pharmaceutical companies. Complete disclosures are available with the full text of the journal article.