Hepatic Artery Infusion Chemotherapy (HAIC) Plus Durvalumab for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

An Open Label Pilot Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Durvalumab(MEDI 4736) With Hepatic Artery Infusion Chemotherapy (HAIC) in the Chinese Advanced HCC Patients With Severe Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis (PVTT)(Vp3 or Vp4) DurHope

Hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and anti-programmed cell death protein-1ligand (PD-L1) immunotherapy have shown promising outcomes in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), respectively. However, the combination of the two treatments has not been reported. In this study, we will evaluate the the overall survival (OS)、efficacy and safety in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (Ad-HCC) with portal vein embolism who are undergoing hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of oxaliplatin, fluorouracil/leucovorin (FOLFOX) treatment combined with anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy (Durvalumab) by designing an open, single-arm phase II clinical study.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hepatocellular Carcinoma
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy（HAIC）; Drug: Durvalumab

Detailed Description

Femoral artery puncture and catheterization were performed in every cycle of treatment,a micro-catheter was inserted and located in feeding hepatic artery. The therapeutic scheme was modified FOLFOX6 regimens including oxaliplatin (130 mg/m2 infusion for 3 hours on day 1), leucovorin (200 mg/m2 from hour 3 to 5 on day 1) and Fluorouracil (400 mg/m2 in bolus, and then 2,400 mg/m2 continuous infusion 46 hours). All chemo-drugs were given by HAI.Patients received anti-PD-L1 agents will begin no earlier than 7 days following the first HAIC procedure. Anti-PD-L1 agents were used intravenously at the standard dose : Durvalumab was given every 3 weeks during HAIC treatment (Q3W) and every 4 weeks after HAIC treatment (Q4W).Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks and continued until intrahepatic lesions progression or unacceptable toxicity.Enhanced CT or MRI was performed every 6 weeks after treatment begins. Routine follow-up intervals were 2-4 months.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Guangdong
    • Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, 500060
      • Department of Minimally Invasive and Interventional Radiology, Liver Cancer Study and Service Group, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Provision of signed and dated, written informed consent form (ICF) and any locally required authorization obtained from the patient prior to any mandatory study specific procedures, sampling, and analyses.
• Provision of signed and dated written genetic informed consent prior to optional collection of sample for genetic analysis.
• Age ≥18 years and < 75 years at the time of screening.
• Portal vein invasion（Vp3 and/orVp4） or extrahepatic oligosaccharides were detected by baseline imaging. Oligosaccharides were defined as no more than two extrahepatic organs and no more than three tumors.
• Child-Pugh score class A to B7
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 at enrollment
• Patients with HBV infection, which is characterized by positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and/or hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBcAb) with detectable HBV DNA (≥10 IU/ml or above the limit of detection per local lab standard), must be treated with antiviral therapy, as per institutional practice. HBV antiviral therapy must be initiated prior to randomization and patients must remain on antiviral therapy for the study duration and for 6 months after the last dose of study medication. Patients must show evidence HBV stabilization or signs of viral response (e.g., reduction HBV DNA levels) prior to starting IP. Patients who test positive for anti-hepatitis B core (HBc) with undetectable HBV DNA (<10 IU/ml or under the limit of detection per local lab standard) do not require anti-viral therapy prior to randomization. These subjects will be tested at every cycle to monitor HBV DNA levels and initiate antiviral therapy if HBV DNA is detected (≥10 IU/ml or above the limit of detection per local lab standard). HBV DNA detectable subjects must initiate and remain on antiviral therapy for the study duration and for 6 months after the last dose of study medication.
• Patients with HCV infection must have management of this disease per local institutional practice throughout the study. HCV diagnosis is characterized by the presence of detectable HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) or anti-HCV antibody upon enrollment.
• At least 1 measurable intrahepatic lesion suitable for repeat assessments according to the following mRECIST criteria: （1）Liver lesions that show typical features of HCC on IV contrast-enhanced CT or MRI scans, ie, hypervascularity in the arterial phase with washout in the portal or the late venous phase；（2）Viable, non-necrotic portion (arterial phase IV contrast-enhancing) that can be accurately measured at baseline as ≥10 mm in the longest diameter.
• Adequate organ and marrow function as defined below. Criteria "a," "b," "c," and "f" may not be met with transfusions, infusions, or growth factor support administered within 14 days of starting the first dose.

Hemoglobin ≥9.0 g/dL、Absolute neutrophil count ≥1000/µL、Platelet count ≥75000/µL、Total bilirubin ≤2.0 × the upper limit of normal (ULN)、alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤5 × ULN、Albumin ≥2.8 g/dL、International normalized ratio ≤1.6、2+ proteinuria or less urine dipstick reading、Calculated creatinine clearance (CL) ≥30 mL/min as determined by Cockcroft-Gault (using actual body weight) or 24hour urine creatinine CL

Males:

Creatinine CL = Weight (kg) × (140 - Age) (mL/min) 72 × serum creatinine (mg/dL)

Females:

Creatinine CL = Weight (kg) × (140 - Age) × 0.85 (mL/min) 72 × serum creatinine (mg/dL)

• Must have a life expectancy of at least 12 weeks.
• Body weight >30 kg

Exclusion Criteria:

• A history of liver decompensation, such as refractory ascites, gastrointestinal bleeding, or hepatic encephalopathy; Uncontrolled complications, including but not limited to: Persistent or activity (except the HBV and HCV) infection, symptoms of congestive heart failure and uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, unstable angina, uncontrolled arrhythmias, active ILD, severe chronic GI disease accompanied by diarrhea, or compliance with requirements may limit the research, resulted in significant increase risk of AE or influence Subjects provided psychiatric/social problem status on their ability to provide written informed consent.A history of active primary immunodeficiency or human immunodeficiency virus; Active or previous records of autoimmune disease or inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., colitis or crohn's disease], diverticulitis, except [diverticulosis], systemic lupus erythematosus (sle), sarcoidosis syndrome or wegener syndrome (e.g., granulomatous vasculitis, gray's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, the pituitary gland inflammation and uveitis]).
• Known to produce allergic or hypersensitive reactions to any study drug or any excipient thereof;
• Significant clinical gastrointestinal bleeding or a potential risk of bleeding was identified by the investigator during the 30 days prior to study entry.
• Tumors of the central nervous system, including metastatic brain tumors;
• Pregnant women or breast-feeding patients;

• Complicated with other malignant tumors:

  • Malignant tumors that have been treated for therapeutic purposes, have no known active disease for ≥5 years prior to the first administration of the study drug, and have a low potential risk of recurrence
  • Fully treated non-melanoma skin cancer or malignant freckle moles with no evidence of disease
  • Fully treated carcinoma in situ without evidence of disease
• Prior to the initial dosing of the study drug, they had received anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-CTLA-4 therapy
• HAIC treatment was received prior to initial dosing of the study drug
• Has received anti-tumor system therapy for HCC. Non-anti-tumor purpose combined hormone therapy (e.g., hormone replacement therapy) is excluded.

• Is currently using, or has used an immunosuppressive drug within 14 days prior to the first dose of the investigational drug. This standard has the following exceptions:

  • intranasal, inhaled, topical or topical steroids (e.g., intraarticular)
  • Systemic corticosteroid therapy not exceeding 10 mg/ day of prednisone or its physiological equivalent as a prophylactic use of steroids for hypersensitivity (e.g., CT scan pretherapy medication)
  • Steroids as a prophylactic for allergic reactions.
• A live attenuated vaccine was administered within 30 days prior to the first administration of the study drug. Note: If enrolled, patients shall not receive live attenuated vaccine within 30 days of receiving study drug therapy and after the last administration of study drug.
• Pregnant or lactating women, or fertile men or women who do not want to use high-efficiency contraceptives, 6 months after the last dosing of study treatment, from screening to study treatment. Based on the patient's preferred and customary lifestyle, abstinence during treatment and washout is an acceptable contraceptive method.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy（HAIC） plus Durvalumab; The therapeutic scheme was modified FOLFOX6 regimens including oxaliplatin (130 mg/m2 infusion for 3 hours on day 1), leucovorin (200 mg/m2 from hour 3 to 5 on day 1) and Fluorouracil (400 mg/m2 in bolus, and then 2,400 mg/m2 continuous infusion 46 hours). All chemo-drugs were given by HAI.Patients received anti-PD-L1 agents will begin no earlier than 7 days following the first HAIC procedure. Anti-PD-L1 agents were used intravenously at the standard dose: Durvalumab was given every 3 weeks during HAIC treatment (Q3W) and every 4 weeks after HAIC treatment (Q4W).

Procedure: Hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy（HAIC）; hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of oxaliplatin, fluorouracil/leucovorin (FOLFOX) treatment; Drug: Durvalumab; Patients received anti-PD-L1 agents will begin no earlier than 7 days following the first HAIC procedure. Anti-PD-L1 agents were used intravenously at the standard dose: Durvalumab was given every 3 weeks during HAIC treatment (Q3W) and every 4 weeks after HAIC treatment (Q4W).; Other Names: Durvalumab Injection

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
One-Year Overall Survival Rate	Percentage of patients who survived one year after inclusion	one year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Progression Free Survival	Progression free survival is defined as the interval from treatment initiation to either disease progression or death from any cause)	1 year
Objective Response Rate	The percentage of patients who achieved a complete or partial response at some point in their life	1 year

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Exploratory study endpoints	Expression level of PD-L1	1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Sun Yat-sen University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ming Zhao, M.D. & Ph.D., Sun Yat-sen University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Lyu N, Kong Y, Mu L, Lin Y, Li J, Liu Y, Zhang Z, Zheng L, Deng H, Li S, Xie Q, Guo R, Shi M, Xu L, Cai X, Wu P, Zhao M. Hepatic arterial infusion of oxaliplatin plus fluorouracil/leucovorin vs. sorafenib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol. 2018 Jul;69(1):60-69. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2018.02.008. Epub 2018 Feb 20.
• Lyu N, Lin Y, Kong Y, Zhang Z, Liu L, Zheng L, Mu L, Wang J, Li X, Pan T, Xie Q, Liu Y, Lin A, Wu P, Zhao M. FOXAI: a phase II trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of hepatic arterial infusion of oxaliplatin plus fluorouracil/leucovorin for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Gut. 2018 Feb;67(2):395-396. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2017-314138. Epub 2017 Jun 7. No abstract available.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 11, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 5, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): July 5, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 16, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 22, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): June 30, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 25, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 24, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Fluorouracil; PD-L1; FOLFOX; Oxaliplatin; Durvalumab; Arterial infusion chemotherapy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Digestive System Neoplasms; Digestive System Diseases; Liver Diseases; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Adenocarcinoma; Liver Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Antineoplastic Agents; Immunologic Factors; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; durvalumab
• Other Study ID Numbers: B2021-111-01

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No