Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined With Camrelizumab and Rivoceranib for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (CHANCE2005/CARES-005): A Randomized Phase II Trial

H Hai-Dong Zhu (Zhi-Cheng Jin, MD, PhD, Department of Radiology, Center of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Bin-Yan Zhong, MD, PhD, Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China; and Hai-Dong Zhu, MD, PhD, and Gao-Jun Teng, MD, PhD, Department of Radiology, Center of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China, Nurturing Center of Jiangsu Province for State Laboratory of AI Imaging & Interventional Radiology (Southeast University), Nanjing, China, Basic Medicine Research and Innovation Center of Ministry of Education, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, China, State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China) W Wei-Jun Fan (Department of Minimally Invasive Interventional Therapy, Liver Cancer Study and Service Group, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China) C Chang Zhao S Song Wang Y Yu-liang Li Z Zhi-Cheng Jin (Zhi-Cheng Jin, MD, PhD, Department of Radiology, Center of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Bin-Yan Zhong, MD, PhD, Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China; and Hai-Dong Zhu, MD, PhD, and Gao-Jun Teng, MD, PhD, Department of Radiology, Center of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China, Nurturing Center of Jiangsu Province for State Laboratory of AI Imaging & Interventional Radiology (Southeast University), Nanjing, China, Basic Medicine Research and Innovation Center of Ministry of Education, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, China, State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China) Z Zhe-Wei Zhang (Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China) J Jin-He Guo (Center of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, China) H Hong-Tao Cheng Q Qi Zhang J Jian Lu Y Yong-Yi Zeng (Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China) W Wei-Fu Lv (The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China) H Hao Xu H Hai-Bo Shao (Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China) W Wei-Guo Xu (Zhuhai Interventional Medical Center, Zhuhai Precision Medical Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University, Zhuhai, China) X Xu-Ya Zhao (Department of Interventional Radiology, Guizhou Cancer Hospital, Guiyang, China) S Shan-Zhi Gu (Department of Interventional Radiology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, China) H Hai-Lan Lin (Department of Interventional Oncology, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China) W Wen-Heng Zheng (Department of Medical Imaging, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, China) L Long-Zhen Piao (Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yanbian University, Yanji, China) Y Yu-Sheng Song (Department of Interventional Radiology, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, China) J Jian-Bo Zhao (Interventional Department, Nanfang Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China) Y Yuan-Cheng Wang (National Innovation Platform for Integration of Medical Engineering Education (NMEE) (Southeast University), Southeast University, Nanjing, China) Z Zhi-Guo Hou (Department of Medical Affairs, Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China) Y Ying Sun N Ni Guan M Ming Huang W Wei-Zhu Yang (Department of Interventional Radiology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China) J Jian-Song Ji (Department of Radiology, Key Laboratory of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention Research, School of Medicine, Lishui Hospital of Zhejiang University, Lishui, China) G Gao-Jun Teng (Center of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University)

Abstract

PURPOSE Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) alone has shown limited efficacy in improving survival among patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This phase II trial compared TACE combined with camrelizumab (anti–PD-1 antibody) and rivoceranib (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 inhibitor) versus TACE in unresectable HCC. METHODS Patients with unresectable HCC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage A to C without extrahepatic metastases) and Child-Pugh class A liver function were randomly assigned (1:1), stratified by macrovascular invasion, previous tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment, and number of previous TACE procedures, to receive TACE combined with camrelizumab (200 mg once every 3 weeks) and rivoceranib (250 mg once daily; TACE-C-R) or TACE alone. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) per composite criteria (progression per Response Evaluation Criteria in Cancer of the Liver version 5, transient deterioration to Child-Pugh class C, or TACE failure or refractoriness) in the intention-to-treat population. RESULTS Between December 28, 2020, and October 29, 2023, 200 patients were randomly assigned (100 in each group). Median PFS per composite criteria was significantly longer with TACE-C-R than with TACE (10.8 months [95% CI, 8.8 to 13.7] v 3.2 months [95% CI, 2.4 to 4.2]; hazard ratio, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.24 to 0.50], P < .001). Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 74.5% (70 of 94) of patients with TACE-C-R and 22.3% (23 of 103) of patients with TACE, with the most common being increased AST (29 [30.9%] and 13 [12.6%]) and increased ALT (23 [24.5%] and 14 [13.6%]). CONCLUSION The addition of camrelizumab and rivoceranib to TACE showed statistically significant improvement in PFS for patients with unresectable HCC, with a manageable safety profile. Follow-up for further overall survival analysis is ongoing.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 44, Issue 11
Published April 10, 2026
Pages 959-969
ISSN 0732-183X
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Journal Info

Journal of Clinical Oncology

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

ISSN: 0732-183X Health Sciences

Authors (31)

H

Hai-Dong Zhu

Zhi-Cheng Jin, MD, PhD, Department of Radiology, Center of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Bin-Yan Zhong, MD, PhD, Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China; and Hai-Dong Zhu, MD, PhD, and Gao-Jun Teng, MD, PhD, Department of Radiology, Center of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China, Nurturing Center of Jiangsu Province for State Laboratory of AI Imaging & Interventional Radiology (Southeast University), Nanjing, China, Basic Medicine Research and Innovation Center of Ministry of Education, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, China, State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China

W

Wei-Jun Fan

Department of Minimally Invasive Interventional Therapy, Liver Cancer Study and Service Group, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China

C

Chang Zhao

S

Song Wang

Y

Yu-liang Li

Z

Zhi-Cheng Jin

Zhi-Cheng Jin, MD, PhD, Department of Radiology, Center of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Bin-Yan Zhong, MD, PhD, Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China; and Hai-Dong Zhu, MD, PhD, and Gao-Jun Teng, MD, PhD, Department of Radiology, Center of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China, Nurturing Center of Jiangsu Province for State Laboratory of AI Imaging & Interventional Radiology (Southeast University), Nanjing, China, Basic Medicine Research and Innovation Center of Ministry of Education, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, China, State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China

Z

Zhe-Wei Zhang

Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China

J

Jin-He Guo

Center of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, China

H

Hong-Tao Cheng

Q

Qi Zhang

J

Jian Lu

Y

Yong-Yi Zeng

Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China

W

Wei-Fu Lv

The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China

H

Hao Xu

H

Hai-Bo Shao

Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China

W

Wei-Guo Xu

Zhuhai Interventional Medical Center, Zhuhai Precision Medical Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University, Zhuhai, China

X

Xu-Ya Zhao

Department of Interventional Radiology, Guizhou Cancer Hospital, Guiyang, China

S

Shan-Zhi Gu

Department of Interventional Radiology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, China

H

Hai-Lan Lin

Department of Interventional Oncology, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China

W

Wen-Heng Zheng

Department of Medical Imaging, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, China

L

Long-Zhen Piao

Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yanbian University, Yanji, China

Y

Yu-Sheng Song

Department of Interventional Radiology, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, China

J

Jian-Bo Zhao

Interventional Department, Nanfang Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China

Y

Yuan-Cheng Wang

National Innovation Platform for Integration of Medical Engineering Education (NMEE) (Southeast University), Southeast University, Nanjing, China

Z

Zhi-Guo Hou

Department of Medical Affairs, Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China

Y

Ying Sun

N

Ni Guan

M

Ming Huang

W

Wei-Zhu Yang

Department of Interventional Radiology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China

J

Jian-Song Ji

Department of Radiology, Key Laboratory of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention Research, School of Medicine, Lishui Hospital of Zhejiang University, Lishui, China

G

Gao-Jun Teng

Center of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University