title: Treatment of Hepatic Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma: Finding Uses for Thalidomide in a New Era of Medicine.
abstract: Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEH) is extremely rare, occurring in 1 to 2 per 100,000, with chemotherapy options not well defined. Our case involved a 49-year-old female who had hepatic masses and metastasis to the lungs with a liver biopsy revealing HEH. After developing a rash from sorafenib, thalidomide was started with the progression of disease stabilized. Resection is only an option in 10% of the cases; therefore, chemotherapy is the only line of treatment. Newer chemotherapy alternatives are targeting angiogenesis via the vascular endothelial growth factor. Thalidomide was first used as an antiemetic, but, sadly, soon linked to phocomelia birth defects. Given the mechanism of action against angiogenesis, thalidomide has a valid role in vascular tumors. In conclusion, the use of thalidomide as chemotherapy is novel and promising, especially in the setting of a rare vascular liver tumor such as HEH.
authors.affiliation: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Soape
authors.affiliation: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
authors.forename: Rashmi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
authors.forename: J Drew
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.affiliation: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
authors.forename: Mitchell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wachtel
authors.affiliation: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hardwicke
authors.affiliation: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
authors.forename: Everardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cobos