학술논문

Prevalence and profiles of ramucirumab-associated severe ascites in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Document Type
Clinical report
Source
Molecular and Clinical Oncology. April 2021, Vol. 14 Issue 4
Subject
Japan
Language
English
ISSN
2049-9450
Abstract
Introduction Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy and one of the major leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide (1) Patients with unresectable HCC show poor prognoses (2) Systemic chemotherapy [...]
Severe ascites is an adverse event of ramucirumab (RAM), a second-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Ascites can be associated with various factors, including nutritional status and muscle quality. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and profiles of RAM-associated severe ascites in patients with HCC. This retrospective study enrolled 14 consecutive patients with HCC treated with RAM (median age, 72 years; Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B/C, 6/8). Nutritional status and muscle quality were evaluated using the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score and intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) content, respectively. Factors associated with severe ascites were evaluated using decision-tree analysis. The median progression-free survival (PFS) time was 2.1 months, and the overall objective response and disease control rates were 14 and 50%, respectively. Severe ascites developed in 57.1% of the patients, and the median onset was 37.5 days (range, 14-61 days) after initiation of RAM treatment. In the decision-tree analysis, the CONUT score and IMAT content were the first and second splitting variables for the development of severe ascites. In patients with a CONUT score [greater than or equal to] 5 and IMAT Key words: AE, hepatoma, malnutrition, RAM, severe ascites