The effect of sorafenib (S) starting dose and dose intensity on survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Abstract

400 Background: The SHARP trial showed that S improves survival in advanced HCC. In clinical practice full dose (FD) of S at 400mg bid can be difficult to tolerate and so a reduced dose (RD) is often required. The purpose of this study was to determine whether starting dose or dose intensity of S affects survival in patients with HCC. Methods: All patients treated with S for HCC in Alberta, Canada from January 2008 to July 2016 were included in this study. Patient demographics, clinical, tumor characteristics, S starting dose and dose intensity were collected and analyzed. Patients were dichotomized into starting FD or RD of S. A mean dose intensity of > 75% and < / = 75% were considered normal and reduced, respectively. Survival outcomes were assessed with Kaplan-Meier curves and compared with the log-rank test. A Cox-proportional hazard model was constructed with starting dose, dose intensity and relevant clinical and pathologic factors to assess their impact on survival. Results: A total of 156 patients were included. Median age was 63, 78% were men, 34% were East Asian, 77% were Childs-Pugh A, and the most common causes of liver disease were hepatitis B (30%) and C (30%). Most patients had EGOG performance status of 0 and 1 prior to starting S (29% and 62%, respectively). S was started at FD in 58% of patients and 50% had a dose intensity > 75%. The median survival for both starting FD and RD was 10.3 months, and not significantly different (p = 0.14).The median survival for a dose intensity > 75% vs < / = 75% was 10.7 vs 9.5 months, respectively (p = 0.76). In multivariable models that adjusted for demographic, stage, performance status and liver function, starting dose (HR 0.8 95%CI 0.5-1.2) and dose intensity (HR0.9 95% CI 0.6-1.4) were not associated with survival. Conclusions: Starting S with a RD may be a reasonable strategy for HCC, since it does not appear to impact survival. Also, dose intensity did not impact survival, suggesting that additional dose modifications may not compromise effectiveness. Though limited by small numbers, we are planning to confirm these findings in a larger, pan-Canadian dataset.