Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) before the administration of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atez + Bev) is a prognostic biomarker in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with Atez + Bev. We previously revealed that the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and serum chemokine levels during treatment with Atez + Bev were more useful as prognostic biomarkers. Therefore, we examined the predictive ability of serum IL-6 for the efficacy of Atez + Bev in patients with HCC.
METHODS: We enrolled 94 patients with HCC who received treatment with Atez + Bev. Initial responses were assessed through dynamic computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The levels of IL-6 in serum were measured before and at the initiation of the second course of Atez + Bev. Subsequently, the relationship of IL-6 levels with treatment efficacy was evaluated.
RESULTS: IL-6 levels at the initiation of the second course tended to be higher in patients with progressive disease versus those with non-progressive disease in the initial evaluation (P = 0.054). Moreover, the cutoff value (7.4 pg/mL) was useful in stratifying patients by overall survival (i.e. low vs high: not reached vs 21.4 months, respectively, P = 0.001) and progression-free survival (low vs high: 11.9 vs 5.2 months, respectively, P = 0.004). This result was reproduced in patients with HCC who received Atez + Bev as first-line therapy. In the multivariate analyses, IL-6 levels at the initiation of the second course were independent predictive factors for progression-free and overall survival.
CONCLUSIONS: Serum levels of IL-6 at the initiation of the second course of treatment may predict Atez + Bev efficacy and prognosis in HCC.
METHODS: We enrolled 94 patients with HCC who received treatment with Atez + Bev. Initial responses were assessed through dynamic computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The levels of IL-6 in serum were measured before and at the initiation of the second course of Atez + Bev. Subsequently, the relationship of IL-6 levels with treatment efficacy was evaluated.
RESULTS: IL-6 levels at the initiation of the second course tended to be higher in patients with progressive disease versus those with non-progressive disease in the initial evaluation (P = 0.054). Moreover, the cutoff value (7.4 pg/mL) was useful in stratifying patients by overall survival (i.e. low vs high: not reached vs 21.4 months, respectively, P = 0.001) and progression-free survival (low vs high: 11.9 vs 5.2 months, respectively, P = 0.004). This result was reproduced in patients with HCC who received Atez + Bev as first-line therapy. In the multivariate analyses, IL-6 levels at the initiation of the second course were independent predictive factors for progression-free and overall survival.
CONCLUSIONS: Serum levels of IL-6 at the initiation of the second course of treatment may predict Atez + Bev efficacy and prognosis in HCC.
摘要：
目的：阿特珠单抗联合贝伐单抗（Atez+Bev）给药前血清白细胞介素-6（IL-6）是用Atez+Bev治疗的肝细胞癌（HCC）患者的预后生物标志物。我们先前发现，在AtezBev治疗期间，中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞的比率和血清趋化因子水平作为预后生物标志物更有用。因此,我们检查了血清IL-6对肝癌患者Atez+Bev疗效的预测能力。
方法：我们招募了94例接受Atez+Bev治疗的HCC患者。通过动态计算机断层扫描或磁共振成像评估初始反应。在AtezBev的第二个疗程之前和开始时测量血清中IL-6的水平。随后，评估IL-6水平与治疗疗效的关系.
结果：在初始评估中，进行性疾病患者在第二疗程开始时的IL-6水平倾向于高于非进行性疾病患者（P=0.054）。此外，截止值（7.4pg/mL）可用于按总生存期对患者进行分层（即低与高：未达到vs21.4个月，分别,P=0.001）和无进展生存期（低vs高：11.9vs5.2个月，分别,P=0.004)。这一结果在接受Atez+Bev作为一线治疗的HCC患者中重现。在多变量分析中，第二个疗程开始时的IL-6水平是无进展和总生存期的独立预测因素。
结论：第二疗程开始时血清IL-6水平可预测HCC的Atez+Bev疗效和预后。
方法：我们招募了94例接受Atez+Bev治疗的HCC患者。通过动态计算机断层扫描或磁共振成像评估初始反应。在AtezBev的第二个疗程之前和开始时测量血清中IL-6的水平。随后，评估IL-6水平与治疗疗效的关系.
结果：在初始评估中，进行性疾病患者在第二疗程开始时的IL-6水平倾向于高于非进行性疾病患者（P=0.054）。此外，截止值（7.4pg/mL）可用于按总生存期对患者进行分层（即低与高：未达到vs21.4个月，分别,P=0.001）和无进展生存期（低vs高：11.9vs5.2个月，分别,P=0.004)。这一结果在接受Atez+Bev作为一线治疗的HCC患者中重现。在多变量分析中，第二个疗程开始时的IL-6水平是无进展和总生存期的独立预测因素。
结论：第二疗程开始时血清IL-6水平可预测HCC的Atez+Bev疗效和预后。
