Sorafenib for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
Sorafenib is the only drug that has shown a survival benefit in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in randomized Phase 3 trials. The efficacy and safety of sorafenib in the treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation, however, has not been determined.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed 13 patients who were treated with sorafenib for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation.


RESULTS
The median time to recurrence from liver transplantation was 12.3 months (95% confidence interval: 8.5-16.1 months). Six of 10 evaluable patients showed stable disease, which was the best response and the median duration of stabilization was 3.9 months (95% confidence interval: 1.6-6.2 months). At a median follow-up duration of 3.7 months (range: 0.3-10.9 months) in surviving patients, the median time to progression and the median overall survival from commencement of sorafenib were 2.9 months (95% confidence interval: 0.0-6.8 months) and 5.4 months (95% confidence interval: 3.7-7.0 months), respectively. Grade 3 neutropenia was observed in one patient, which was the only high-grade hematologic toxicity observed. Grade 3 hand-foot skin reactions were observed in three patients. Adverse events could be managed with dose adjustment.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that sorafenib may be a feasible treatment option regarding its efficacy and safety for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation.
Yoon
Dok Hyun
DH
Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 86 Asanbyeongwon-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, Korea.
Ryoo
Baek-Yeol
BY
Ryu
Min-Hee
MH
Lee
Sung-Gyu
SG
Hwang
Shin
S
Suh
Dong Jin
DJ
Lee
Han Chu
HC
Kim
Tae Won
TW
Ahn
Chul-Soo
CS
Kim
Ki-Hun
KH
Moon
Deok-Bog
DB
Kang
Yoon-Koo
YK
D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D018450:Disease Progression; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011725:Pyridines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077157:Sorafenib; D015996:Survival Rate
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib