A new study from Cedars-Sinai Cancer has shown promising results for patients with advanced liver cancer who receive immunotherapy to shrink their tumors.
These patients have improved survival rates after undergoing liver transplant or tumor removal, according to the study, which was published in the journal Liver Cancer.
The study found that patients who received immunotherapy followed by liver transplant or tumor removal had an 85% higher overall survival rate compared to patients who received immunotherapy alone.
Ju Dong Yang, MD, medical director of the Liver Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai and senior author of the study, said, “The data we reviewed showed that patients who received follow-up transplants or tumor removal after immunotherapy reduced the size of their tumors lived much longer than pa…
Liver cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, when tumors are too large for a transplant or removal. Immunotherapy, which uses medications to boost the body’s immune system to fight cancer, can shrink tumors but does not cure the disease.
However, previous research, also led by Cedars-Sinai, found that liver transplant or tumor removal is possible after immunotherapy shrinks the tumor enough to “downstage” the cancer. The new study aimed to evaluate the outcomes for patients who received these procedures after…
The researchers analyzed data from over 4,300 patients with advanced liver cancer from the National Cancer Database, which includes more than 70% of all newly diagnosed cancer cases in the U.S.
They found that the patients who underwent liver transplant or tumor removal after immunotherapy had significantly better survival rates compared to those who continued with immunotherapy alone.
Despite these encouraging results, the study found that only about 3% of patients receiving immunotherapy went on to receive a transplant or tumor removal. Most of these patients were treated at academic medical centers like Cedars-Sinai. This suggests that liver transplant after immunotherapy is not yet common practice, despite the potential benefits.
“Performing liver transplant following immunotherapy isn’t yet common practice,” Dr. Yang explained. “This is unfortunate, as patients with advanced liver cancer often die without such treatment—even if their cancer is under control—because they also have other liver ailments. A transplant leaves the patient with a healthy liver.”
Dr. Yang plans to further advocate for more aggressive treatment options for these patients with an upcoming study. The new research will enroll patients who receive immunotherapy followed by liver transplants, and the team will track their outcomes to gather more evidence supporting this approach.
Robert Figlin, MD, interim director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer, emphasized the importance of patient-focused research.
“When our physician-scientists create studies based on patient needs and then apply their findings to patient care, it improves outcomes for everyone we serve and for patients around the world,” said Dr. Figlin. “As an academic medical center, that is our mission.”
This study highlights the potential of combining immunotherapy with follow-up liver transplants or tumor removal as a new treatment strategy for advanced liver cancer. If further research confirms these findings, it could lead to a shift in clinical practice, offering better outcomes for patients battling this challenging disease.
If you care about liver health, please read studies about a diet that can treat fatty liver disease and obesity, and coffee drinkers may halve their risk of liver cancer.
For more information about liver health, please see recent studies that anti-inflammatory diet could help prevent fatty liver disease, and results showing vitamin D could help prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
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