Hepatocellular carcinoma, novel therapies on the horizon Review


Authors: El Dika, I.; Makki, I.; Abou-Alfa, G. K.
Review Title: Hepatocellular carcinoma, novel therapies on the horizon
Abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and is associated with high mortality rate. Incidence remains high due to the persistent prevalence of viral hepatitis, alcoholic cirrhosis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NFLD). Despite screening efforts, the majority of patients present with advanced disease, add to the high risk of recurrence after curative surgery. Conventional chemotherapy did not alter the nature history of advanced and metastatic HCC. The discovery of multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) led to the approval of sorafenib as first efficacious therapy. A new era in the treatment paradigm of HCC is evolving. Since the advent of sorafenib as an active treatment option for patients presenting with advanced or metastatic disease, several agents have been examined. This was linked with many failures, and success stories to celebrate. Herein, we describe the historical progress and current advances of systemic therapies post-sorafenib. Lenvatinib, regorafenib, cabozantinib, ramucirumab, pembrolizumab, and nivolumab, are all presently added and available therapeutic options in the advanced setting. The evaluation of novel treatment combinations including anti-angiogenic, TKIs plus checkpoint inhibitors, add to dual checkpoint inhibitors is evolving rapidly starting with the advent of the combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. Combining local and systemic therapies is being actively investigated, as an option for locally advanced disease conventionally treated with locoregional approaches. The horizon remains promising and continues to evolve for HCC a disease long considered with unmet needs. © 2019 Asociacion Espanola de Dietistas-Nutricionistas. All rights reserved.
Keywords: sequence analysis; review; sorafenib; bevacizumab; interferon; cancer combination chemotherapy; liver cell carcinoma; ipilimumab; ticilimumab; cancer immunotherapy; progression free survival; vasculotropin inhibitor; protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor; immunotherapy; cabozantinib; nivolumab; regorafenib; lenvatinib; ramucirumab; human; tyrosine kinase inhibitors (tkis); pembrolizumab; durvalumab; hepatocellular carcinoma (hcc); atezolizumab; immunological antineoplastic agent; chimeric antigen receptor immunotherapy; chlorotrianisene
Journal Title: Chinese Clinical Oncology
Volume: 10
Issue: 1
ISSN: 2304-3865
Publisher: AME Publishing Company  
Date Published: 2020-02-01
Language: English
DOI: 10.21037/cco-20-113
PUBMED: 32527116
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC8279038
DOI/URL:
Notes: Review -- Export Date: 1 October 2020 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Ghassan Abou-Alfa
    571 Abou-Alfa
  2. Imane El Dika
    67 El Dika