Recently, the Food and Drug Administration approved Tremelimumab (an immunotherapy drug that helps the immune system to fight cancer cells) combined with Durvalumab (another immunotherapy drug) for the treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

The approval was based on results from a clinical trial in which 782 patients with unresectable HCC were enrolled. Patients were randomized to receive either a one-time single dose of Tremelimumab followed by Durvalumab (study group), or Sorafenib - another anti-cancer drug used in HCC - which inhibits the growth of cancer cells (control group).

The study results showed a significantly higher rate of tumor response (tumor shrinkage) among patients in the study group who received Tremelimumab followed by Durvalumab, compared to those in the control group who received Sorafenib.

Moreover, a significantly lower death rate was observed among patients in the study group, compared to those in the control group.

Side effects were manageable. Among those most common, occurring in patients receiving Tremelimumab followed by Durvalumab, were rash, diarrhea, abdominal pain and musculoskeletal pain.

Tremelimumab followed by Durvalumab provides an efficient first-line therapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.