title: Clinical trials of antiangiogenic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Angiogenesis is a promising therapeutic target to inhibit tumor growth. This review summarizes data from clinical trials of antiangiogenic agents in hepatocellular carcinoma. A systematic search of PubMed was performed to identify clinical trials of specific antiangiogenic agents in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment, particularly phase III trials involving treatment guidelines for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Sorafenib is the only systemic drug approved for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Two large-scale, randomized phase III trials using sorafenib involving patients with unresectable HCC showed a significant survival benefit compared with placebo control groups. However, subsequent phase III trials of antiangiogenic agents in hepatocellular carcinoma have failed to improve survival compared with standard treatment protocols using sorafenib. The efficacy of antiangiogenic agents in combination with other drugs, transarterial chemoembolization, and surgical resection is currently being investigated. Future research is expected to optimize antiangiogenic therapies in combination with standard treatment with sorafenib.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery I, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, North 15 West 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan. taketomi@med.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Akinobu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taketomi
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors
keywords: Angiogenesis; Antiangiogenic therapy; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Sorafenib