title: Complete response after short-term sorafenib treatment in a patient with lymph node metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: A 60-year-old man received interferon/ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C in 2002 and achieved sustained virological response. In 2008, a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a diameter of 60 mm appeared and surgical resection was performed. In March 2011, the patient was referred to our hospital because of portal lymph node swelling. Abdominal ultrasonography, dynamic CT and dynamic MRI did not show any tumors in the liver, but revealed portal lymph node swelling (18 × 11 mm). Taking the elevation of serum des-γ-carboxy prothrombin and alpha-fetoprotein levels, including the lectin-bound type, into consideration, we made the diagnosis of HCC metastasis to the portal lymph node. We started sorafenib therapy at a dose of 800 mg/day, but discontinued it after 11 days due to grade 3 hand-foot skin reaction and rash. In spite of treatment termination, portal lymph node swelling disappeared and the serum des-γ-carboxy prothrombin and alpha-fetoprotein levels normalized. We considered that our patient achieved complete response to sorafenib according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). The patient maintains remission up to June 2012, more than 1 year after the discontinuation of sorafenib therapy. Sorafenib could be a good option for unresectable or recurrent HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Hachioji, Japan.
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mizukami
authors.forename: Tatehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kagawa
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arase
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nakahara
authors.forename: Kota
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuruya
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anzai
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shiraishi
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shomura
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koizumi
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tobita
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mine
keywords: Complete response; Hand-foot skin reaction; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Lymph node; Recurrence; Sorafenib