title: Management of cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with sorafenib.
abstract: Sorafenib (Nexavar®, Bayer), a multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was the first systemic agent that demonstrated a significant improvement in the overall survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and well-preserved liver function. This drug is now recommended in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma as first-line therapy and for patients not suitable for locoregional treatment. This brief article, produced by a multidisciplinary panel including specialists in gastroenterology and oncology, provides an overview of the major issues related to systemic treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with sorafenib, including staging and prognostic strategies, assessment of liver disease and its complications, and efficacy and safety of this molecule. Particular emphasis is given on how to improve tolerability of sorafenib in difficult-to-treat patients.
authors: Sezione di Gastroenterologia, Dipartimento Biomedico di Medicina Interna e Specialistica, University of Palermo, Piazza delle Cliniche 2, Palermo, Italy. g.cab@libero.it
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Cabibbo
authors: Emanuela
authors: E
authors: Rolle
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: De Giorgio
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Genco
authors: Tiziana
authors: T
authors: Pressiani
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Spada
authors: Rodolfo
authors: R
authors: Sacco
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077157:Sorafenib
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D011725:Pyridines; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib