title: Nine months to progression using fourth-line liposomally encapsulated paclitaxel against hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer deaths. Difficulties to diagnose HCC at early stages remain the major obstacle to curative (surgical) therapy. Therapy in advanced stages has to be considered palliative. In this situation, a considerable amount of attention should be paid to innovative treatment strategies, e.g. including antiangiogenetic drugs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report on the successful treatment of a patient suffering from progressive HCC with a novel drug (EndoTAG-1, formerly named LipoPac) currently investigated in phase II studies. This drug consists of liposomally encapsulated paclitaxel. Its liposomal formulation favors the drug's adherence to the tumor neovasculature, in effect starving the tumor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EndoTAG-1 stopped tumor progression for 9 months in our patient. This, along with successes observed testing this drug against other indications, makes it a suitable candidate for future clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine IV, Oncology/Hematology, University Hospital Halle Saale, Halle Saale, Germany.
authors.forename: Maximilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Christopeit
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.forename: Roswitha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Forstpointner
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bartelheim
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kühnbach
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Naujoks
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schalhorn
mesh_terms: D002214:Capsules; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D008297:Male; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D008081:Liposomes; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D017239:Paclitaxel