Infusion of PD1/PDL1/CTLA4 Inhibitors Via Hepatic Arterial for Immunotherapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

A Phase II/III Randomized Trial of Comparison of Survival Benefit of Administration of PD1/PDL1/CTLA4 Inhibitor or Their Combinations Via Hepatic Arterial Infusion Versus Vein for Immunotherapy of Advanced Liver Cancer

This trial was designed to investigate the survival outcomes, response rates, and safety of patients with Barcelona-Clinical Hepatocellular Carcinoma (BCLC)-C-stage liver cancer by hepatic artery versus vein infusion of PD1/PDL1/CTLA4 inhibitor or their combinations.

Liver cancer is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide, but the mortality rate ranks third. China has a large population base, with more than 400,000 new cases each year, and more than half of the world's new liver cancer and deaths. More than 70% of liver cancer patients in China are diagnosed at mid-to-late stage and have lost the chance of surgery. Only 10%-15% of newly diagnosed patients can undergo radical resection, and the recurrence rate after 5 years is as high as 50%-80%. So far, sorafenib is still the only standard treatment that can prolong the overall survival of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. SHARP's latest research shows that sorafenib can only extend patients with advanced liver cancer for 2.8 months, and many adverse reactions; regofenib can be used in patients with advanced liver cancer after taking sorafenib resistance, but the overall efficiency is still low. It is difficult to be widely used in patients with advanced liver cancer, and more alternative therapies are urgently needed.

PD1/PDL1 inhibitor is widely used in treatment of various cancers in China now. The hepatic arterial chemotherapy infusion for advanced liver cancer, through the "first pass effect" of drug treatment, can significantly increase the local drug concentration of the tumor, improve the efficacy, reduce systemic adverse reactions, meanwhile Folfox regimen has been confirmed by the hepatic arterial chemotherapy infusion program. To the investigator's knowledge, no studies have been developed on the survival benefit of hepatic arterial infusion of immunotherapeutic agents in patients with advanced liver cancer. This phase III clinical trial was designed to compare the effects of PD1/PDL1/CTLA4 inhibitor or their combinations via IA and IV on the survival benefit of patients with advanced liver cancer, including ORR, DCR, median survival time, and safety.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Cytohistological confirmation is required for diagnosis of HCC.、
2. Signed informed consent before recruiting
3. Age between 18 to 80 years with estimated survival over 3 months.
4. Child-Pugh class A or B/Child score > 7; ECOG score < 2
5. Tolerable coagulation function or reversible coagulation disorders
6. Laboratory examination test within 7 days prior to procedure: WBC≥3.0×10E9/L; Hb≥90g/L； PLT ≥50×10E9/L；INR < 2.3 or PT < 6 seconds above control；Cr ≤ 145.5 umul/L；Albumin > 28 g/L；Total bilirubin < 51 μmol/L
7. At least one tumor lesion meeting measurable disease criteria as determined by RECIST v1.1.
8. Patients with advanced (unresectable and/or metastatic, stage C based on Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer [BCLC] staging classification) hepatocellular carcinoma which would not be suitable for treatment with loco-regional therapies or have progressed following locoregional therapy such as surgical resection, percutaneous hepatic arterial embolization, radiofrequency ablation, and percutaneous interventional therapy.
9. Birth control.
10. Willing and able to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan and laboratory tests.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients participated in clinical trials of equipment or drugs (signed informed consent) within 4 weeks;

2. Patients accompany by ascites, hepatic encephalopathy and esophageal and gastric varices bleeding;

3. Any serious accompanying disease, which is expected to have an unknown, impact on the prognosis, include heart disease, inadequately controlled diabetes and psychiatric disorders;

4. Patients accompanied with other tumors or past medical history of malignancy;

5. Pregnant or lactating patients, all patients participating in this trial must adopt appropriate birth control measures during treatment;

6. Patients have poor compliance.

   Any contraindications for hepatic arterial infusion procedure:

   A.Impaired clotting test (platelet count < 60000/mm3, prothrombin activity < 50%).

   B.Renal failure / insufficiency requiring hemo-or peritoneal dialysis. C.Known severe atheromatosis. D.Known uncontrolled blood hypertension (> 160/100 mm/Hg).

7. Patients have the past history of liver cancer treatment, such as transplantation, resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and so on;

8. Allergic to adriamycin chemotherapy drugs，contrast agent and lipiodol;

9. Any agents which could affect the absorption or pharmacokinetics of the study drugs

10. Subjects unable to suffer the discomfort of the HAI procedure