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Targeted Oncology
Published in: Targeted Oncology 6/2020

01-12-2020 | Portal Vein Thrombosis | Original Research Article

Prognostic Role of Blood Eosinophil Count in Patients with Sorafenib-Treated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Authors: Giulia Orsi, Francesco Tovoli, Vincenzo Dadduzio, Caterina Vivaldi, Oronzo Brunetti, Luca Ielasi, Fabio Conti, Giulia Rovesti, Laura Gramantieri, Mario Domenico Rizzato, Irene Pecora, Antonella Argentiero, Federica Teglia, Sara Lonardi, Francesca Salani, Alessandro Granito, Vittorina Zagonel, Giorgia Marisi, Giuseppe Cabibbo, Francesco Giuseppe Foschi, Francesca Benevento, Alessandro Cucchetti, Fabio Piscaglia, Stefano Cascinu, Mario Scartozzi, Andrea Casadei-Gardini

Published in: Targeted Oncology | Issue 6/2020

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Abstract

Background

Inflammation is a long-established hallmark of liver fibrosis and carcinogenesis. Eosinophils are emerging as crucial components of the inflammatory process influencing cancer development. The role of blood eosinophils in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving systemic treatment is an unexplored field.

Objective

The objective of this study was to analyse the prognostic role of the baseline eosinophil count in patients with sorafenib-treated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Patients and Methods

A training cohort of 92 patients with advanced- or intermediate-stage sorafenib-treated hepatocellular carcinoma and two validation cohorts of 65 and 180 patients were analysed. Overall survival and progression-free survival in relation to baseline eosinophil counts were estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

Results

A negative prognostic impact of low baseline eosinophil counts (< 50*109/L) was demonstrated in all cohorts (training cohort: hazard ratio = 50.1, 95% confidence interval 11.6–216.5, p < 0.0001 for low vs high eosinophil counts; first validation cohort: hazard ratio = 4.55, 95% confidence interval 1.24–16.65, p = 0.022; second validation cohort: hazard ratio = 3.21, 95% confidence interval 1.83–5.64, p < 0.0001). Moreover, low eosinophil counts had a negative prognostic role in patients progressing on or intolerant to sorafenib who received second-line regorafenib, but not capecitabine or best supportive care.

Conclusions

Our analysis identified baseline blood eosinophil counts as a new prognostic factor in patients with sorafenib-treated hepatocellular carcinoma. Concerning second-line therapies, eosinophil counts were associated with survival outcomes only in regorafenib-treated patients, suggesting a possible predictive role in this setting.
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Metadata
Title
Prognostic Role of Blood Eosinophil Count in Patients with Sorafenib-Treated Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors
Giulia Orsi
Francesco Tovoli
Vincenzo Dadduzio
Caterina Vivaldi
Oronzo Brunetti
Luca Ielasi
Fabio Conti
Giulia Rovesti
Laura Gramantieri
Mario Domenico Rizzato
Irene Pecora
Antonella Argentiero
Federica Teglia
Sara Lonardi
Francesca Salani
Alessandro Granito
Vittorina Zagonel
Giorgia Marisi
Giuseppe Cabibbo
Francesco Giuseppe Foschi
Francesca Benevento
Alessandro Cucchetti
Fabio Piscaglia
Stefano Cascinu
Mario Scartozzi
Andrea Casadei-Gardini
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Targeted Oncology / Issue 6/2020
Print ISSN: 1776-2596
Electronic ISSN: 1776-260X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11523-020-00757-3

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