Emerging approaches in hepatocellular carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Oncology
• Transplantation Medicine

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence is projected to rise significantly over the next three decades.
• Current surgical options like resection and orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) are suitable for a limited patient subset.
• There is a critical need for innovative therapeutic strategies for HCC management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review emerging strategies in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient care.
• To discuss advancements in systemic treatments for HCC.
• To highlight improvements in OLT candidate selection and peri-transplant management.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent advancements in HCC treatment.
• Analysis of novel systemic therapies.
• Evaluation of updated criteria for OLT candidacy.
• Assessment of advanced imaging techniques for treatment response monitoring.
• Review of pre-OLT and post-OLT care protocols.

Main Results:

• Emerging systemic treatments offer new therapeutic avenues for HCC.
• Refined OLT selection criteria can expand access to transplantation.
• Improved imaging facilitates precise monitoring of treatment efficacy.
• Optimized peri-transplant management enhances outcomes for OLT recipients.

Conclusions:

• A multimodal approach integrating novel systemic therapies, refined OLT selection, and advanced imaging is crucial for improving HCC patient outcomes.
• Continuous innovation in HCC care is essential to address the increasing disease burden.