title: Tivantinib, a new option for second-line treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma? The experience of Italian centers.
abstract: In the last decades the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has undergone significant changes following the introduction of novel therapies such as sorafenib, which have improved patient survival. Nevertheless, HCC is still the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The evidence-based therapy for advanced HCC that is unsuitable for locoregional treatment is limited to sorafenib, with no second-line option available. This article focuses on the development of the MET inhibitor tivantinib in HCC as a promising treatment option for patients who failed sorafenib. A randomized, placebo-controlled phase II study showed activity of tivantinib in patients with high MET expression. Based on these results, the METIV-HCC phase III study in second-line treatment for MET-high patients was initiated to demonstrate the survival advantage of tivantinib compared to placebo.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano (Milan) - Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rimassa
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Daniele
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Germano
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salvagni
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abbadessa
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lamar
authors.forename: Terri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: Camillo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Porta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011804:Quinolines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077157:Sorafenib; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: C551661:ARQ 197; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D011760:Pyrrolidinones; D011804:Quinolines; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met