Systemic therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma: current status and future perspectives.
The management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has substantially changed in the past few decades, the introduction of novel therapies (such as sorafenib) have improved patient survival. Nevertheless, HCC remains the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Decision-making largely relies on evidence-based criteria, as showed in the US and European clinical practice guidelines, which endorse five therapeutic recommendations:resection; transplantation; radiofrequency ablation; chemoembolization; and sorafenib. Many molecularly targeted agents that inhibit angiogenesis, epidermal growth factor receptor, and mammalian target of rapamycin are at different stages of clinical development in advanced HCC. Future research should continue to unravel the mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis and to identify key relevant molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. Identification and validation of potential surrogate and predictive biomarkers hold promise to individualize patient's treatment to maximize clinical benefit and minimize the toxicity and cost of targeted agents.
Domenico Germano, Bruno Daniele, Oncology Unit, A.O. "G. Rummo", 82100 Benevento, Italy.
Domenico
D
Germano
Domenico Germano, Bruno Daniele, Oncology Unit, A.O. "G. Rummo", 82100 Benevento, Italy.
Bruno
B
Daniele
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D053673:Glypicans / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006728:Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000639:trends; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry; D000077157:Sorafenib; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C105937:GPC3 protein, human; D053673:Glypicans; D006728:Hormones; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib; C546842:MTOR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases
Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Molecular agents; Sorafenib; Targheted therapy