REFLECT-a phase 3 trial comparing efficacy and safety of lenvatinib to sorafenib for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: an analysis of Japanese subset.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

A phase 3, multinational, randomized, non-inferiority trial (REFLECT) compared the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib (LEN) and sorafenib (SOR) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). LEN had an effect on overall survival (OS) compared to SOR, statistically confirmed by non-inferiority [OS: median = 13.6 months vs. 12.3 months; hazard ratio (HR) 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79-1.06], and demonstrated statistically significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) and the objective response rate (ORR) in the overall population. The results of a subset analysis that evaluated the efficacy and safety of LEN and SOR in the Japanese population are reported.

METHODS:

The intent-to-treat population enrolled in Japan was analyzed.

RESULTS:

Of 954 patients in the overall population, 168 Japanese patients were assigned to the LEN arm (N = 81) or the SOR arm (N = 87). Median OS was 17.6 months for LEN vs. 17.8 months for SOR (HR 0.90; 95% CI 0.62-1.29). LEN showed statistically significant improvements over SOR in PFS (7.2 months vs. 4.6 months) and ORR (29.6% vs. 6.9%). The relative dose intensity of LEN and SOR in the Japanese population was lower than in the overall population. Frequently observed, related adverse events included palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome (PPES), hypertension, decreased appetite, and proteinuria in the LEN arm, and PPES, hypertension, diarrhea, and alopecia in the SOR arm.

CONCLUSIONS:

The efficacy and safety of LEN in the Japanese population were similar to those in the overall population of REFLECT. With manageable adverse events, LEN is a new treatment option for Japanese patients with uHCC.

TRIAL REGISTRATION ID:

ClinicalTrials.gov. No. NCT01761266.

• Authors: Tatsuya Yamashita, Masatoshi Kudo, Kenji Ikeda, Namiki Izumi, Ryosuke Tateishi, Masafumi Ikeda, Hiroshi Aikata, Yasunori Kawaguchi, Yoshiyuki Wada, Kazushi Numata, Yoshitaka Inaba, Ryoko Kuromatsu, Masahiro Kobayashi, Takuji Okusaka, Toshiyuki Tamai, Chifumi Kitamura, Kenichi Saito, Katsuya Haruna, Kiwamu Okita, Hiromitsu Kumada
• Journal: Journal of gastroenterology (J Gastroenterol) Vol. 55 Issue 1 Pg. 113-122 (Jan 2020) ISSN: 1435-5922 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 31720835 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Phase III, Comparative Study, Equivalence Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Phenylurea Compounds
• Quinolines
• Sorafenib
• lenvatinib

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (drug therapy, mortality)
• Female
• Humans
• Intention to Treat Analysis
• Japan
• Liver Neoplasms (drug therapy, mortality)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Phenylurea Compounds (therapeutic use)
• Quinolines (therapeutic use)
• Sorafenib (therapeutic use)
• Survival Analysis
• Treatment Outcome