Lasting benefit with nivo plus ipi in advanced HCC

Best combination?

“It’s certainly good data, and we’re happy about the response rate of about 30%, and that was confirmed at [the Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium] with further follow-up of these patients,” said Lipika Goyal, MD, of Mass General Cancer Center in Boston.

Whether the nivo/ipi combination will turn out to be the optimum choice for patients with advanced HCC is still unknown; however, many different combinations of checkpoint inhibitors with or without tyrosine kinase inhibitors are currently being explored, and have not been compared in head-to-head trials, Dr. Goyal said in an interview. Dr. Goyal was not involved in the Checkmate 040 study.

Checkmate 040 was supported by Bristol Myers Squibb. Dr. El-Khoueiry disclosed honoraria from and consulting/advising for the company and others. Dr. Goyal reported no relevant disclosures.

The Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium is sponsored by the American Gastroenterological Association, the American Society for Clinical Oncology, the American Society for Radiation Oncology, and the Society of Surgical Oncology.