Dr Josep Llovet talks to ecancer about the phase 3 LEAP-012 study he presented at ESMO 2024.

Findings from the trial revealed that combining lenvatinib and pembrolizumab with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) significantly improves progression-free survival compared to TACE alone for patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma.

In the trial, which included 480 patients, the median PFS was 14.6 months for the combination therapy versus 10.0 months for TACE alone. At 12 months, the PFS rates were 62.2% and 43.4% respectively, and at 18 months, 39.1% versus 27.9%. The combination therapy also showed a better overall response rate (46.8% vs 33.3%).

Safety-wise, the combination therapy had a higher incidence of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) compared to TACE alone, with 98.7% of patients experiencing TRAEs versus 84.6%. However, the safety profile was manageable and consistent with the known profiles of the individual treatments.

Overall, the combination of lenvatinib, pembrolizumab, and TACE may offer a promising new option for treating intermediate-stage HCC.