Recent Advances in Systemic Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Exp Clin Transplant. 2024 Jan;22(1):3-8. doi: 10.6002/ect.2021.0478. Epub 2022 Jul 22.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma is typically diagnosed late in its course, and the median survival following diagnosis is short. The recommended therapy for localized hepatocellular carcinoma is surgical resection, but most patients are not eligible because of extensive tumor or underlying liver dysfunction.New treatments and indications for various treatments are evolving rapidly. For patients who are ineligible for liverdirected therapy or for patients showing progression on locoregionaltherapy, systemic therapy is an option if performance status and underlying liverfunction are within eligible requirements. Until 2008, no effective therapy existed for patients with advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma or for those who did not respond to local therapies. The molecularly targeted agents sorafenib and regorafenib have been shown to improve survival compared with best supportive care alone; a survival benefit has also been shown in the second-line setting forramucirumab and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Lenvatinib has demonstrated noninferiority to first-line sorafenib. Most recently, the combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab was superior to front-line sorafenib. These results have radically changed the treatment landscape for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / adverse effects
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Sorafenib / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Sorafenib
  • Antineoplastic Agents