Effect of Huaier Granule on Nephrotoxicity Associated With Targeted Therapy for Advanced Hepatobiliary Malignancies.

This is a prospective, single-arm, single-center, exploratory study. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of Huaier Granule on nephrotoxicity associated with anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy for advanced hepatobiliary malignancies.

China is a country with a high incidence of liver cancer, and the incidence of primary liver cancer ranks the fourth among malignant tumors in China. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the main type of liver cancer, accounting for 75% to 85%. About 39.0%-53.6% of HCC patients were already advanced when first visit and had lost the opportunity to receive radical treatment. Currently, anti-angiogenesis targeted drugs are recommended for the first- or second-line treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Biliary tract carcinoma are rare, accounting for about 3% of all digestive system malignancies. BTC are aggressive and were usually found in advanced stage, with a 5-year survival rate less than 5%. For advanced BTC, chemotherapy is the mainly systematic therapy recommended by current guidelines, targeted therapy and immunotherapy have shown efficacy in the exploration of the first-line and post-line of BTC. Anti-angiogenesis targeted drugs including lenvatinib are recommended for the first- or second-line treatment of advanced BTC.

Kidney injury is one of the common adverse reactions of anti-angiogenesis targeted drugs, among which proteinuria is one of the most common adverse reactions. Multiple key clinical studies have shown that the incidence of proteinuria associated with targeted therapy ranges from 10% to 51%, and the incidence of drug reduction or interruption due to proteinuria ranges from 0.9% to 17%.

Huaier is an extract from a medicinal fungus. The main effective component of Huai Qi Huang granule is Trametes Robiniophila Murr, which has been used in the treatment of chronic kidney disease for more than ten years. It was found that the effect of Huai Qi Huang granule alone or combined with RASI in the treatment of proteinuria was better than conventional treatment. The effective component of Huaier granule is also Trametes Robiniophila Murr, and its content is higher than that of Huai Qi Huang granule. Therefore, it is speculated that Huaier granule have a certain effect on anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy associated proteinuria in advanced hepatobiliary malignancies.

In this study, 1 research centers will participate. This study planned to enroll 53 participants. All the participants will be treated with Huaier granule. In this study, participants will be followed up for 24 weeks.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. 18 years and older
2. Meeting the clinical diagnostic criteria of primary hepatobiliary malignancies, diagnosed as advanced hepatobiliary malignancies.
3. Receiving VEGFR-TKIs for advanced hepatobiliary malignancies.
4. Urinalysis indicates urine protein positive.
5. Urine protein level greater than 0.3 grams and less than 3.5 grams per 24 hours.
6. No Huaier granule were used within 1 month before enrollment.
7. Agree to use Huaier granule after enrollment.
8. Expected survival time not less than 6 months.
9. Volunteer to join the study and sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Allergic to the components of Huaier granule, or avoid to use Huaier granule or use with caution.
2. Not able to take medication orally.
3. Must use or are using drugs that may affect proteinuria other than VEGFR-TKIs, including but not limited to bevacizumab, ACEI, glucocorticoids (more than 3 weeks), traditional Chinese medicine (refer to drug instructions).
4. Concomitant with other diseases that can lead to proteinuria, including but not limited to nephropathy, hypertension, urinary infections, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple myeloma.
5. Pregnant or lactating women or women prepare for pregnancy.
6. Participating in clinical trials of other drugs that intend to treat proteinuria.
7. Refused to cooperate with follow-up.
8. Other reasons that the researcher considers unsuitable to participate in this study.