Lorenza Rimassa
洛伦扎·里马萨
MD
Associate Professor of Oncology, Humanitas University; Deputy Director, Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital人道主义大学肿瘤学副教授，IRCCS人道主义研究医院内科肿瘤与血液学部副主任
👥Biography 个人简介
Lorenza Rimassa, MD is Associate Professor of Oncology at Humanitas University and Deputy Director of the Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit at IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital in Milan, Italy. She is one of Europe's leading clinical investigators in hepatocellular carcinoma and biliary tract cancer, with a particular focus on the development and optimization of immunotherapy-based combination regimens. Dr. Rimassa served as a key investigator and Italian principal investigator for the HIMALAYA trial—the phase III study establishing the STRIDE regimen (single-dose tremelimumab plus durvalumab) as a first-line standard of care in advanced HCC—and for multiple other pivotal HCC and BTC studies including TOPAZ-1 (durvalumab plus gemcitabine-cisplatin in BTC). Her research program interrogates predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy response in HCC, including tumor immune microenvironment characterization, hepatitis viral etiology effects, and circulating biomarkers. She is deeply involved in ESMO educational activities, guideline development for HCC and biliary tract cancers, and cross-European collaborative trial design. Dr. Rimassa has also contributed to investigations of second-line therapies and combinations for HCC patients progressing after first-line immunotherapy—an increasingly important and poorly defined clinical scenario.
🧪Research Fields 研究领域
🎓Key Contributions 主要贡献
HIMALAYA Trial — Durvalumab plus Tremelimumab (STRIDE) in HCC
Served as principal Italian investigator for the HIMALAYA phase III trial demonstrating that STRIDE (single priming tremelimumab 300 mg + durvalumab 1500 mg) improved 3-year OS rate (30.7% vs 24.9%) and overall survival versus sorafenib in first-line advanced HCC, establishing an anti-CTLA-4/PD-L1 doublet as a first-line option.
TOPAZ-1 Trial — Durvalumab in Biliary Tract Cancer
Contributed to the TOPAZ-1 phase III trial demonstrating that adding durvalumab to gemcitabine-cisplatin chemotherapy significantly improved overall survival (HR 0.80) and 2-year OS rate (24.9% vs 10.4%) in advanced BTC, updating the first-line standard of care for the first time since ABC-02 (2010).
Predictive Biomarkers for HCC Immunotherapy
Contributed to translational biomarker analyses within HIMALAYA and other HCC immunotherapy trials, characterizing how hepatitis B/C etiology, tumor immune infiltration, PD-L1 expression, Wnt/β-catenin activation, and systemic inflammatory markers influence treatment outcomes—informing patient selection and combination strategies.
Post-Immunotherapy HCC Treatment Landscape
Led clinical and translational investigations addressing the poorly defined treatment landscape for HCC patients progressing after first-line immunotherapy-based regimens, exploring mechanisms of acquired resistance and evaluating novel combinations, ADCs, and locoregional approaches as sequencing options.
Representative Works 代表性著作
Durvalumab plus tremelimumab alone and in combination with transarterial chemoembolization in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: Results from Study 22 (HIMALAYA)
Nature Medicine (2022)
HIMALAYA phase III trial demonstrating superior 3-year OS rate for STRIDE (tremelimumab + durvalumab) versus sorafenib in first-line advanced HCC, establishing dual checkpoint blockade as a first-line standard.
Durvalumab with or without tremelimumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin for patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (TOPAZ-1)
The Lancet Oncology (2022)
Phase III TOPAZ-1 trial demonstrating that adding durvalumab to gemcitabine-cisplatin improved OS (HR 0.80) and 2-year OS rate (24.9% vs 10.4%) in advanced BTC, updating first-line standard of care.
Regorafenib for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who progressed on sorafenib treatment (RESORCE): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial
The Lancet (2017)
Phase III trial establishing regorafenib as the first approved second-line therapy for sorafenib-tolerant HCC patients, with OS benefit (HR 0.63) and safety profile informing sequential treatment strategies.
Systemic treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: Beyond first-line therapy in the immunotherapy era
Journal of Hepatology (2023)
Comprehensive review addressing the complex and evolving second-line and beyond treatment landscape for HCC in the era of first-line immunotherapy combinations.
🏆Awards & Recognition 奖项与荣誉
📄Data Sources 数据来源
Last updated: 2026-04-06 | All information from publicly available academic sources
Related Experts 相关专家
关注 洛伦扎·里马萨 的研究动态
Follow Lorenza Rimassa's research updates
留下邮箱，当我们发布与 Lorenza Rimassa（Humanitas University / IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan）相关的新研究或访谈时，我们会通知你。
Explore More Experts
Discover the researchers shaping the future of cancer treatment