Background
Atezolizumabâbevacizumab is the new standard for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but its impact on portal hypertension (PHT) is unknown. We aimed to identify predictive factors of acute variceal bleeding (AVB) and to monitor PHT parameters under treatment.
Methods
We conducted a prospective study including all cirrhotic patients treated with atezolizumabâbevacizumab since 2020. We performed monitoring of PHT using upper endoscopy at inclusion and at 6Â months and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) at inclusion, 3 and 6Â months after the beginning of treatment. We also included a retrospective series of patients treated with sorafenib. Timeâtoâevents data were estimated by KaplanâMeier with the logârank test, along with Cox models.
Results
Fortyâthree patients treated with atezolizumabâbevacizumab were included (male 79.1%, ChildâPugh A 86%). At baseline, 48.8% were treated with curative anticoagulation, 16.3% already experienced AVB and 25.6% had large oesophageal varices (EV). Sorafenib group characteristics were similar. Vascular invasion was present in 60.5% and median was HVPG 8.5âmm Hg. No significant modification in HVPG and EV size was observed at 6 months in the whole cohort but also when considering vascular invasion and radiological response. 14% presented AVB within a median time of occurrence of 3 months, without bleedingârelated death. In multivariate analysis, history of AVB (HR = 10.58, p =â.03) was associated with AVB. AVB incidence was higher in atezolizumabâbevacizumab compared to sorafenib group (21% vs. 5% at 1 year, p =â.02).
Conclusions
Atezolizumabâbevacizumab treatment was associated with a higher risk of AVB compared to sorafenib. A history of AVB was associated with AVB during followâup, which questions the use of bevacizumab in this setting.