The Phase 3 EMERALD-3 trial found that adding immunotherapy to standard treatment significantly delayed disease progression in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) eligible for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).
The study enrolled 760 patients and compared STRIDE immunotherapy (tremelimumab plus durvalumab) combined with lenvatinib and TACE, STRIDE plus TACE, and TACE alone. Patients receiving the full combination achieved a median progression-free survival of 13.0 months, compared with 9.8 months for TACE alone, reducing the risk of progression or death by 30%.
Patients treated with STRIDE plus TACE also showed improved progression-free survival, reaching 12.9 months. Early overall survival data favored the combination therapy, with median survival of 39.5 months versus 34.7 months for TACE alone, although final survival results are still pending.
Researchers said EMERALD-3 is the first Phase 3 trial to demonstrate improved outcomes with a STRIDE-based immunotherapy regimen combined with TACE, potentially changing liver cancer treatment.