TY - JOUR
T1 - α-fetoprotein response predicts survival benefits of thalidomide in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
AU - Chen, L. T.
AU - Liu, T. W.
AU - Chao, Y.
AU - Shiah, H. S.
AU - Chang, J. Y.
AU - Juang, S. H.
AU - Chen, S. C.
AU - Chuang, T. R.
AU - Chin, Y. H.
AU - Whang-Peng, J.
N1 - Funding Information:
We kindly acknowledge the support from Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, especially, from Dr. P. Girard and Dr. L.-J. Larsson.
PY - 2005/8/1
Y1 - 2005/8/1
N2 - Background: Radiographic measurements do not always reflect the biological response of hepatocellular carcinoma to drug therapy. Aims: To evaluate the clinical implications of tumour marker (α-fetoprotein) response in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients with thalidomide treatment. Patients and methods: Forty-two advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients with baseline α-fetoprotein levels above 200 ng/mL and thalidomide therapy were included. Serum α-fetoprotein levels were measured every 4 weeks, α-fetoprotein response was defined as a 50% or greater reduction of α-fetoprotein levels for 4 or more weeks during treatment. Radiographic response was assessed by World Health Organization criteria; survivals were estimated by Kaplan-Meier method and prognostic factors were assessed by Cox's proportional hazard model. Results: With intention-to-treat analysis, radiographic response and α-fetoprotein response were obtained in 7% (three of 42, 95% confidence interval: 0-15) and 24% (10 of 42, 95% CI: 10-38) of patients, respectively. All radiographic response was observed in α-fetoprotein responders. Multivariate analyses showed α-fetoprotein response was independent prognostic factor for both progression-free survival (relative risk = 0.394, 95% CI: 0.189-0.820, P = 0.013) and overall survival (relative risk = 0.241, 95% CI: 0.096-0.606, P = 0.003), whereas radiographic response was not. Conclusion: α-fetoprotein response can more accurately reflect the biological response of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma to thalidomide therapy than radiographic response.
AB - Background: Radiographic measurements do not always reflect the biological response of hepatocellular carcinoma to drug therapy. Aims: To evaluate the clinical implications of tumour marker (α-fetoprotein) response in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients with thalidomide treatment. Patients and methods: Forty-two advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients with baseline α-fetoprotein levels above 200 ng/mL and thalidomide therapy were included. Serum α-fetoprotein levels were measured every 4 weeks, α-fetoprotein response was defined as a 50% or greater reduction of α-fetoprotein levels for 4 or more weeks during treatment. Radiographic response was assessed by World Health Organization criteria; survivals were estimated by Kaplan-Meier method and prognostic factors were assessed by Cox's proportional hazard model. Results: With intention-to-treat analysis, radiographic response and α-fetoprotein response were obtained in 7% (three of 42, 95% confidence interval: 0-15) and 24% (10 of 42, 95% CI: 10-38) of patients, respectively. All radiographic response was observed in α-fetoprotein responders. Multivariate analyses showed α-fetoprotein response was independent prognostic factor for both progression-free survival (relative risk = 0.394, 95% CI: 0.189-0.820, P = 0.013) and overall survival (relative risk = 0.241, 95% CI: 0.096-0.606, P = 0.003), whereas radiographic response was not. Conclusion: α-fetoprotein response can more accurately reflect the biological response of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma to thalidomide therapy than radiographic response.
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02547.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02547.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 16091059
AN - SCOPUS:23844534451
SN - 0269-2813
VL - 22
SP - 217
EP - 226
JO - Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
JF - Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
IS - 3
ER -