Emerging Therapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Chapter
First Online:
Part of the Clinical Gastroenterology book series (CG)

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a global health problem due to its increasing incidence and high lethality [1]. In fact, HCC is the third most common cause of cancer deaths and the leading complication in patients with cirrhosis [2]. The rising incidence poses challenges to the clinician since the majority of patients present with advanced disease when they are no longer candidates for a definitive cure. Further, the coexistence of cirrhosis and HCC adds two competing causes of death, each one critical to consider since both influence management. Unfortunately, only 5–37% of HCC patients are actually eligible for curative treatments with orthotopic liver transplantation (LT) or surgical resection [3, 4]. When curative treatments are no longer options due to advanced-stage disease, the treatment options are limited. However, we have had some recent advances in the treatment of unresectable HCC with the advent of novel locoregional and targeted systemic therapy [5–7]. The clinical success of the oral multikinase inhibitor sorafenib, showing a survival benefit in the management of advanced HCC, has opened the floodgates of research in the field of molecular-targeted therapies for HCC. These recent advances in treatment, along with surveillance programs, will lead to improved overall survival for our patients with HCC [8]. In this chapter, we review the major recent advancements and emerging therapies being evaluated for the treatment of HCC.

Keywords

Portal Vein Thrombosis Laparoscopic Resection Milan Criterion Locoregional Therapy Conventional Tace 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of MedicineUniversity of FloridaGainsvilleUSA
  2. 2.Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Section of Hepatobiliary DiseasesUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleUSA

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