title: Long-term outcomes of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who achieved complete remission after sorafenib therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sorafenib is currently the sole molecular targeted agent that improves overall survival in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite the efficacy of sorafenib, the response rate varies in patients with advanced HCC. We retrospectively analyzed a series of Korean patients with advanced HCC with complete remission (CR) after sorafenib therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 523 patients with advanced HCC were treated with sorafenib in 3 large tertiary referral hospitals in Korea. A survey was conducted to collect data on patients who experienced CR after sorafenib monotherapy, and their medical records and follow-up data were analyzed. The tumor response and recurrence rates were assessed by radiologic study, based on modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven patients with advanced HCC experienced CR after sorafenib therapy. The median time to tumor disappearance and the median disease-free survival time were 3 months and 9 months, respectively. HCC recurrence was identified in three cases (42.9%). Of these, two patients discontinued sorafenib before or after achieving CR and the other patient continued sorafenib after achieving CR. HCC recurred at 3, 10, and 42 months after CR in these three patients. Three patients needed dose reduction for toxicity and adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Though CR was achieved after sorafenib therapy in patients with advanced HCC, the recurrence rate was relatively high. Subsequent strategies to reduce a chance of recurrence after sorafenib therapy are required to investigate.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Gumi Medical Center, CHA University, Gumi, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Gil
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077157:Sorafenib; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib
keywords: Complete remission; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Sorafenib