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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
Treatment of Liver Metastases Using an Internal Target Volume Method for Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy
Published on: May 8, 2018
[Systemic treatment of liver and biliary tumors]
N P Malek1, T Greten, S Kubicka
1Abteilung Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Endokrinologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30625 , Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, Hannover, Germany.
Abstract:
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is generally difficult to treat. This is primarily due to the reduced liver function of most patients and the low sensitivity of liver cancer cells to chemotherapy. This has been demonstrated in many clinical trials. Molecular therapies might represent an improvement in the systemic treatment of patients with HCC. In addition to anti-angiogenic drugs, compounds which interfere with specific signal transduction cascades have shown promising results in smaller trials. There are only limited numbers of studies about the systemic treatment options for biliary cancers. To date, the best response rates have been achieved with combination chemotherapies containing platinum analogues and gemcitabine. In the absence of larger clinical phase III trials, no standard chemotherapy for biliary cancers exists today.
Insights
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and biliary cancers are challenging to treat due to patient factors and treatment resistance. Molecular therapies and combination chemotherapies show promise but require further clinical validation for improved systemic treatment options.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Hepatobiliary Cancers
- Cancer Therapeutics
Context:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents significant treatment challenges due to compromised liver function and inherent chemoresistance.
- Biliary cancers have limited systemic treatment options, with current best responses seen in platinum and gemcitabine combinations.
- Existing clinical data for advanced liver and biliary cancers highlight unmet needs in effective systemic therapies.
Purpose:
- To review current systemic treatment strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and biliary cancers.
- To evaluate the potential of molecular therapies and combination chemotherapies in managing these difficult-to-treat malignancies.
- To identify gaps in clinical evidence and the need for further research in systemic cancer treatment.
Summary:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment is often limited by patient liver function and poor response to chemotherapy.
- Molecular-targeted therapies and anti-angiogenic drugs show promise for HCC in smaller studies.
- Biliary cancers have limited data, with platinum/gemcitabine combinations offering the best response rates, though no standard exists due to lack of Phase III trials.
Impact:
- Highlights the limitations of current chemotherapy for HCC and biliary cancers.
- Suggests molecular therapies as a potential advancement for systemic HCC treatment.
- Underscores the need for robust clinical trials to establish standardized chemotherapy regimens for biliary cancers.
