Improving Upon Immunotherapy Advances in HCC

Bruno Sangro, MD, PhD, director of the Liver Unit at Clínica Universidad de Navarra and a professor of medicine at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra School of Medicine in Pamplona, Spain, discusses the key takeaways from recent data in the treatment landscape of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

There is a change occurring now in the treatment paradigm of HCC, says Sangro. It is clear that immunotherapy is here to stay and that researchers need to build upon the activity that has been observed with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors to increase efficacy while also preserving safety in patients with HCC. This will allow for a spectrum of different combination therapies that are active, Sangro says.

However, it is important not to neglect the possibility that patients with HCC may still benefit from single-agent immunotherapy. Patients that are elderly and have different comorbidities are also important to remember. With a wider spectrum of choices, Sangro says we will be able to treat patients with HCC better.