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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
06:38
An Oncogenic Hepatocyte-Induced Orthotopic Mouse Model of Hepatocellular Cancer Arising in the Setting of Hepatic Inflammation and Fibrosis
Published on: September 12, 2019
Systemic therapies in hepatocellular carcinoma
Marcus Alexander Wörns1, Arndt Weinmann, Marcus Schuchmann
1First Department of Internal Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany. woerns@uni-mainz.de
Digestive Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 24, 2009
Summary
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment options were limited until the advent of targeted therapies. Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, significantly improved overall survival in advanced HCC patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Hepatology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer death globally.
- Limited treatment options and late diagnosis contribute to poor prognoses for advanced HCC.
- Conventional systemic therapies have historically offered marginal benefit for advanced HCC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the historical systemic therapy landscape for HCC.
- To provide an overview of molecular hepatocarcinogenesis and identify potential therapeutic targets.
- To summarize promising molecular targeted agents in clinical trials for advanced HCC.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical data on HCC systemic therapy.
- Overview of molecular mechanisms in hepatocarcinogenesis.
- Summary of clinical trial data for targeted agents in advanced HCC.
Main Results:
- Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, demonstrated significant improvement in overall survival for advanced HCC.
- Targeted therapies represent a new era in managing advanced HCC, moving beyond therapeutic nihilism.
- Several molecular targeted agents, including sorafenib, sunitinib, bevacizumab, and erlotinib, show promise.
Conclusions:
- Targeted therapies have transformed the treatment paradigm for advanced HCC.
- Understanding molecular hepatocarcinogenesis is crucial for developing effective treatments.
- Sorafenib is a key therapeutic advancement, offering improved survival for advanced HCC patients.
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