Combination therapy with S-1 and pegylated interferon alpha for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: There are currently no effective treatments for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with vascular invasion or extrahepatic metastases. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with S-1 and pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)-alpha for advanced HCC.
Methods: A total of 22 patients received combination therapy with S-1 and PEG-IFN. One cycle of the combination therapy consists of oral S-1 (80 mg/m(2)) administration and subcutaneous PEG-IFN injection (PEG-IFN-alpha-2a 90 microg weekly or PEG-IFN-alpha-2b 50 microg weekly) for 4 weeks with 1- to 2-week intervals.
Results: One patient was evaluated as complete response, 6 as partial response, 8 as stable disease, and 6 as progressive disease. One patient was not evaluable because therapy had to be discontinued as a result of jaundice. The median survival time was 15.3 months (95% CI: 4.4-26.2 months). The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 54.9 and 36.6%, respectively. The overall response rate was 31.8% and the disease control rate was 68.2%. Grade 3 neutropenia (18.2%), leukopenia (9.1%), anemia (9.1%), and thrombocytopenia (18.2%) were observed. Grade 4 toxicities were not observed.
Conclusion: Combination therapy with S-1 and PEG-IFN is effective and feasible, and is therefore a promising regimen for advanced HCC.
(Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.)