Potential Correlation between Changes in Serum FGF21 Levels and Lenvatinib-Induced Appetite Loss in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who receive lenvatinib treatment often lose their appetite, which leads to poor outcomes, but the reason for appetite loss is unclear. FGF21 is a natural hormone-like factor that modulates appetite. We investigated the effect of lenvatinib on FGF21 levels in patients with HCC who were treated with lenvatinib and found that those with severe appetite loss showed increases in FGF21 levels before appetite loss occurred. This suggests that changes in FGF21 levels can be used to predict patients with a greater risk of marked appetite loss and provides insights into the mechanisms underlying lenvatinib-induced appetite loss in patients with HCC. ABSTRACT: Lenvatinib, used for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), causes appetite loss, but the underlying mechanisms, clinical impact, and predictive factors have been unclear. The endocrine factor FGF21 modulates appetite and is involved in cachexia. We evaluated the association between FGF21 level changes during lenvatinib treatment for unresectable HCC and appetite loss. Sixty-three eligible unresectable HCC patients who started lenvatinib treatment between 2018 and 2021 were included. We analyzed FGF21 levels at baseline; 1, 2, and 4 weeks after lenvatinib initiation, and before the onset of appetite loss. Grade ≥ 2 lenvatinib-induced appetite loss led to liver functional reserve deterioration at disease progression and a poor prognosis. Baseline characteristics and serum FGF21 levels were similar between patients with and without appetite loss. However, the serum FGF21 change rate increased significantly at 4 weeks post-lenvatinib initiation in patients with grade ≥ 2 appetite loss, as compared to those without appetite loss. Similar significant increases in the serum FGF21 level change rate were observed prior to grade ≥ 2 appetite loss onset. This suggests that changes in FGF21 levels can be used to predict patients with a greater risk of marked appetite loss and provides insights into the mechanisms underlying lenvatinib-induced appetite loss in patients with HCC.