Premium
Health‐related quality‐of‐life impact of pembrolizumab versus best supportive care in previously systemically treated patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: KEYNOTE‐240
Author(s) -
Ryoo BaekYeol,
Merle Philippe,
Kulkarni Amit S.,
Cheng AnnLii,
Bouattour Mohamed,
Lim Ho Yeong,
Breder Valeriy,
Edeline Julien,
Chao Yee,
Ogasawara Sadahisa,
Yau Thomas,
Garrido Marcelo,
Chan Stephen L.,
Daniele Bruno,
Norquist Josephine M.,
Chen Erluo,
Siegel Abby B.,
Zhu Andrew X.,
Finn Richard S.,
Kudo Masatoshi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.33317
Subject(s) - pembrolizumab , medicine , sorafenib , quality of life (healthcare) , placebo , population , adverse effect , hepatocellular carcinoma , clinical trial , physical therapy , cancer , oncology , alternative medicine , nursing , immunotherapy , pathology , environmental health
Background Health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important outcome measure and prognostic indicator in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). KEYNOTE‐240 (NCT02702401) assessed the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab plus best supportive care (BSC) versus placebo plus BSC in patients with HCC who previously received sorafenib. This study presents the results of a prespecified exploratory analysis of patient‐reported outcomes. Methods Patients completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ‐C30) and its HCC supplement (EORTC QLQ‐HCC18) electronically at baseline; at weeks 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, and 18; and then every 9 weeks until 1 year or end of treatment, and at the 30‐day safety follow‐up visit. Results The HRQoL population included 271 and 127 patients randomly assigned to pembrolizumab and placebo, respectively. From baseline to week 12, changes in both scores were similar between pembrolizumab and placebo; global health status/QoL scores were stable. The proportions of patients who improved, remained stable, or deteriorated across all functional domain and symptom scores were generally similar between pembrolizumab and placebo. Time to deterioration was similar between the 2 arms based on the prespecified analysis of EORTC QLQ‐HCC18 domains of abdominal swelling, fatigue, and pain. Conclusion Pembrolizumab preserved HRQoL during treatment for advanced HCC. Combined with efficacy and safety results from KEYNOTE‐240, these findings support a positive benefit/risk profile for pembrolizumab in a second‐line treatment setting for patients with HCC who previously received sorafenib.