The trial’s positive results contrast with those of the earlier randomized Post-TACE trial, SPACE trial, and TACE 2 trial, noted Dr. Kudo. This may be due to both the new, narrower definition of progression and the longer duration of sorafenib therapy in TACTICS (median 38.7 weeks) as compared with those trials (17.0-21.0 weeks).
“The TACTICS trial clearly showed TACE in combination with sorafenib is a treatment option to improve clinical outcome and may be a standard of care in patients with intermediate-stage HCC,” he concluded.
CELESTIAL trial
The 707 patients in the phase 3 CELESTIAL trial, sponsored by Exelixis, had advanced HCC with Child-Pugh class A and had previously received sorafenib. About 70% had received only one prior systemic regimen for their advanced disease, according to lead investigator Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa, MD, a medical oncologist at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York.
Susan London/Frontline Medical News
Dr. Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa