title: Systemic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is currently the fifth most common solid tumor worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer-related death. Eighty percent of new cases occur in developing countries, but the incidence is rising in economically developed regions including Japan, Western Europe, and the United States. More than 80% of patients present with advanced or unresectable disease, and for those patients who do undergo resection, the recurrence rates can be as high as 50% at 2 years. Thus, a large number of patients will seek systemic therapy. Systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy is largely ineffective and can have significant toxicity in patients with underlying liver dysfunction. Newer biologic agents that target molecular abnormalities common to HCC may improve the clinical outcome in patients with HCC.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. methomas@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Melanie B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor