Liver cancer, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), remains a major health concern worldwide. In Latin America, the situation becomes more difficult due to limited access to advanced treatments and the high prevalence of underlying liver diseases. A recent research paper, published in Volume 16 of Oncotarget by researchers from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia, offers valuable insights into how patients in the region respond to a widely used immunotherapy regimen. This real-world study explores both the effectiveness of treatment and the risks of immune-related side effects.
Understanding Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Why It is So Difficult to Treat
Hepatocellular carcinoma is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and frequently occurs in people with pre-existing liver conditions such as cirrhosis. Standard treatments like surgery or local therapies are not always possible in these cases. In recent years, the combination of two drugs—atezolizumab and bevacizumab—has shown promise in extending survival. However, most of the evidence comes from controlled clinical trials that may not represent the realities faced by healthcare providers and patients in Latin America.
The Study: Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Latin America
In a multicenter study titled “Immune-mediated adverse events following atezolizumab and bevacizumab in a multinational Latin American cohort of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma,” led by Leonardo Gomes da Fonseca from Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, and Federico Piñero from Hospital Universitario Austral, Argentina, researchers aimed to fill that gap. The study included 99 patients with advanced HCC from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia. All patients received the combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab. The main objectives were to assess how frequently immune-related side effects, known as immune-related adverse events (irAEs), occurred and whether these events affected overall survival.
Full blog - https://www.oncotarget.org/2025/07/02/immunotherapy-safety-for-hepatocellular-carcinoma-in-latin-america-insights-from-a-real-world-study/
Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28721
Correspondence to - Federico Piñero - fpinerof@cas.austral.edu.ar
Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk3oQwzIC-E
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Keywords - cancer, liver cancer, immunotherapy, adverse events, immunology, real-world
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