Tislelizumab vs sorafenib in first-line treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: impact on health-related quality of life in RATIONALE-301 study

Introduction: RATIONALE-301 (NCT03412773) was a global, phase 3 study comparing the efficacy and safety of tislelizumab with sorafenib as first-line (1L) treatment in adult patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that met its primary endpoint of noninferiority in overall survival (OS). This analysis compared health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) outcomes between the arms. Methods: Systemic therapy–naive adults with HCC were randomized 1:1 to receive tislelizumab n = 342) or sorafenib (n = 332). HRQOL was assessed using EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-HCC18, and EQ-5D-5L. At cycles 4 and 6, a mixed model for repeated measures was performed using key prespecified patient-reported outcome (PRO) endpoints of the QLQ-C30 and the QLQ-HCC18. Time to deterioration was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method using the PRO endpoints. Results: At cycles 4 and 6, patients in the tislelizumab arm had better HRQOL outcomes than the patients in the sorafenib arm per mean-change differences in GHS/QOL, QLQ-C30 physical functioning and fatigue, and QLQ-HCC18 symptom index; however, no differences for pain were observed. Patients in the tislelizumab arm had lower risk of deterioration in GHS/QOL (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.49-0.94), QLQ-C30 physical functioning (HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.33-0.64) and fatigue (HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.37-0.63), QLQ-HCC18 symptom index (HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.34-0.81), and HCC-specific fatigue (HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.46-0.80). For pain, both arms had similar risk of deterioration (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.56-1.09). At cycle 4 and 6, patients in the tislelizumab arm maintained in EQ-5D-5L visual analog scale, whereas scores decreased for the patients in the sorafenib arm. Conclusion: Patients with 1L HCC treated with tislelizumab had better HRQOL outcomes compared with patients treated with sorafenib, particularly in fatigue and physical functioning. These results, along with favorable safety profile, better response rate, and OS noninferiority, support tislelizumab as a potential 1L treatment option for unresectable HCC.