Dr. Overman on the Combination of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab in HCC

Michael J. Overman, MD, associate professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the combination of atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and bevacizumab (Avastin) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

At the 2018 ESMO Congress, phase II data were presented on the combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab in patients with HCC. The combination demonstrated high response rates and early signals of durability. Though these were early data, Overman explains that the combination of a PD-L1 inhibitor with a VEGF inhibitor seems to show synergy.

This same combination was explored with the addition of 5-FU (5-fluorouracil) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), data of which were also presented at the 2018 ESMO Congress. However, the regimen showed no difference compared with 5-FU and bevacizumab in terms of response rates. As more data come to light, physicians are beginning to understand that immunotherapy is not tumor agnostic.

In July 2018, the combination was granted a breakthrough therapy designation by the FDA as first-line treatment for patients with unresectable or advanced HCC.