title: Sorafenib Therapy for BCLC Stage B/C Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Clinical Outcome and Safety in Aged Patients: A Multicenter Study in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to compare clinical outcomes and safety after sorafenib therapy between patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B or C hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) aged ≥75 years (aged group, n=179) and those with BCLC stage B or C HCC aged <75 years (control group, n=279).
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), best treatment response and sorafenib related serious adverse events (SAEs) of grade 3 or more in the two groups. Furthermore, for reducing the selection bias, we compared clinical outcome of these two groups using propensity score matching analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median OS and PFS intervals were 9.7 and 3.8 months in the aged group and 8.2 and 3.3 months in the control group (P=0.641 for OS and P=0.068 for PFS). Disease control rates were 49.2% (88/179) in the aged group and 49.1% (137/279) in the control group (P>0.999). Objective response rates were 15.1% (27/179) in the aged group and 14.3% (40/279) in the control group (P=0.892). Treatment related SAEs of grade 3 or more were observed in 51 patients (28.5%) in the aged group and in 69 patients (24.7%) in the control group (P=0.385). In the propensity score matched cohort (132 pairs), no significant difference in the two groups was observed in terms of OS (P=0.898) and PFS (P=0.407).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In BCLC stage B or C HCC patients treated with sorafenib, life expectancy, disease progression, treatment efficacy and SAEs are unaffected by age over 75 years.
authors: 1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka Red Cross Hospital;
authors: Hiroki
authors: H
authors: Nishikawa
authors: 1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka Red Cross Hospital;
authors: Haruhiko
authors: H
authors: Takeda
authors: 2. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital;
authors: Kaoru
authors: K
authors: Tsuchiya
authors: 3. Center for Liver-Biliary-Pancreatic Diseases, Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital;
authors: Kouji
authors: K
authors: Joko
authors: 4. Department of Gastroenterology, Takamatsu Red Cross Hospital;
authors: Chikara
authors: C
authors: Ogawa
authors: 5. Department of Gastroenterology, Japanese Red Cross Medical Center;
authors: Hiroyoshi
authors: H
authors: Taniguchi
authors: 6. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital;
authors: Etsuro
authors: E
authors: Orito
authors: 7. Department of Gastroenterology, Matsue Red Cross Hospital.
authors: Yasushi
authors: Y
authors: Uchida
authors: 1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka Red Cross Hospital;
authors: Yukio
authors: Y
authors: Osaki
authors: 2. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital;
authors: Namiki
authors: N
authors: Izumi
keywords: Aged patients; Clinical outcome; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Safety.; Sorafenib