HCC Responds to mTOR Inhibitor Rx

ORLANDO-Preliminary data suggested that Novartis’ RAD001 is moderately active in stabilizing the progression of HCC, according to a poster presentation at ASCO 2009 (abstract 4587). In this phase I trial, researchers in Taiwan enrolled 36 advanced HCC patients whose disease was not suitable for local therapy or had progressed after local therapy. RAD001 doses for the daily-dosing arm escalated from 2.5 mg, up to 5.0 mg, 7.5 mg, and 10.0 mg. The weekly dosing arm went from 20 mg, 30 mg, 50 mg, and 70 mg. The disease control response (DCR) of 31 evaluable patients was 61% (10/16) and 46.7% (7/15, including one partial response) of patients receiving daily and weekly treatment, respectively. However, the DCR for weekly-dosing patients who received > 50 mg was 75% (4/6), according to the group from Health Research Institutes and National Cheng-Kung University Hospital, both in Taiwan.