Potentiality and Boundaries of Use of Sorafenib in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Awaiting the Results of Ongoing Clinical Trials

Cancers

Massimo Di Maio²  Gennaro Daniele²  Maria Carmela Piccirillo²  Pasqualina Giordano²  Giuseppe Signoriello¹  Bruno Daniele³ 

[1] Medical Statistics, Second University, v. L. Armanni 5, Napoli 80138, Italy; E-Mail:;Clinical Trials Unit, National Cancer Institute—“G. Pascale” Foundation, via Mariano Semmola, Napoli 80131, Italy; E-Mails:;Medical Oncology Unit, “G.Rummo” Hospital, Benevento 82100, Italy; E-Mail:

关键词: hepatocellular carcinoma;    sorafenib;    Child-Pugh B patients;    trans-arterial chemo-embolization;   

DOI  :  10.3390/cancers4020549

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

No systemic therapy had been proven effective in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) until 2007, when a large randomized trial with sorafenib demonstrated a clinically relevant prolongation of survival. Currently, sorafenib represents standard treatment for patients with advanced HCC and well-preserved liver function, whilst the evidence about its effectiveness in patients with more severe liver impairment is less robust. A randomized trial to demonstrate the efficacy of sorafenib in Child-Pugh B patients with advanced HCC is currently ongoing. In the meantime, several trials are testing the role of sorafenib in early HCC (as adjuvant treatment after potentially curative loco-regional therapies) and in intermediate stage (exploring different modalities of integration of sorafenib with trans-arterial chemo-embolization). The results of all these trials will better define the potentiality and the boundaries of use of sorafenib in HCC patients.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.