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Rationale for targeted therapies in hepatocellular carcinoma

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Abstract

Recent results showing survival improvement with sorafenib, a multitargeted kinase inhibitor, in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) suggest the important role of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)/platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)/Ras signaling in this disease. In preclinical studies, hypoxia, along with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGFR strongly promote angiogenesis in multiple models including HCC. VEGF and VEGFR, other tyrosine kinase receptors such as the insulin growth factor receptor type 1 (IGF-1R), and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-1, along with intracytoplasmic kinases such as the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) have been tested in preclinical studies and/or clinical trials and validated as potential targets for therapeutic interventions in HCC. In this review, we will update preclinical data supporting the rationale for clinical development and potential combinations using novel targeted therapies in patients with HCC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Beaujon University Hospital, APHP-Paris 7, 100 Boulevard du Général Leclerc, 92110, Clichy, France

    Sandrine Faivre, Chantal Dreyer, Ghassan El Maalouf, Marie-Paule Sablin & Eric Raymond

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  1. Sandrine Faivre
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  2. Chantal Dreyer
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  3. Ghassan El Maalouf
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  4. Marie-Paule Sablin
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  5. Eric Raymond
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Correspondence to Sandrine Faivre.

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Faivre, S., Dreyer, C., El Maalouf, G. et al. Rationale for targeted therapies in hepatocellular carcinoma. Targ Oncol 3, 81–85 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11523-008-0079-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11523-008-0079-4

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