Phase III REFLECT study shows Lenvima (lenvatinib) delays in the deterioration of quality of life scores in liver cancer compared to sorafenib - Eisai.

Eisai announced a delay in the deterioration of five health-related quality of life domains that affect patients' daily lives was observed in patients treated with Lenvima (lenvatinib) as compared to those treated with sorafenib in the Phase III REFLECT study evaluating lenvatinib compared to sorafenib in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Quality of life scores declined with both treatments over the course of the study.

The secondary endpoint of HRQOL was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire and the HCC-specific module (EORTC QLQ-HCC18). Treatment with lenvatinib resulted in a longer median time to delay in worsening in the QLQ-C30 domains of role function (2.0 months vs 1.9 months; nominal p=0.0098), pain (2.0 months vs 1.8 months; nominal p=0.006) and diarrhea (4.6 months vs 2.7 months; nominal p<0.0001), and in the QLQ-HCC18 domains of body image (2.8 months vs 1.9 months; nominal p=0.0041) and nutrition (4.1 months vs 2.8 months; nominal p=0.006). There were no nominally significant differences in the other domains of the two scales (QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HCC18). Baseline HRQOL scores were similar for patients receiving either treatment across all domains. These data were presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2017 Congress.