Atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab for untreated unresectable or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab is currently in clinical development for the treatment of patients with an unresectable or advanced type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that have not received previous treatment. HCC is the most common type of liver cancer and occurs mainly in patients with underlying chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Advanced or metastatic HCC occurs when the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or to other organs. Advanced unresectable HCC is often diagnosed late in life and has a poor prognosis. It is a debilitating condition with many distressing symptoms, including pain, digestive problems and weight loss.
If licensed, the combination of atezolizumab, that increases the ability of the immune system to attack the cancer cells and slows down disease progression, and bevacizumab that stops the development of tumour blood vessels in order to decrease tumour growth, can potentially provide patients with unresectable or advanced HCC with greater quality and length of life.