Recent progress in understanding, diagnosing, and treating hepatocellular carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Oncology
• Medical Gastroenterology

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence is rising, necessitating advanced diagnostic and treatment strategies.
• Management of HCC is challenging due to patient comorbidities, liver function (Child-Pugh score), and tumor characteristics (size, number, vascular invasion).
• Recent advancements include improved nonsurgical treatments and standardized criteria for liver transplantation eligibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
• To analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each HCC treatment modality.
• To evaluate the evidence supporting sorafenib in multidisciplinary HCC management.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current HCC treatment options.
• Analysis of factors influencing treatment eligibility and outcomes.
• Evaluation of evidence for sorafenib in HCC management.

Main Results:

• Treatment decisions for HCC are multifactorial, involving patient, liver, and tumor variables.
• Nonsurgical treatment platforms have seen improvements in the last decade.
• Standardization in diagnosis and liver transplant eligibility has increased.

Conclusions:

• Multidisciplinary management is crucial for optimizing HCC treatment.
• Sorafenib shows promise in the treatment algorithm for HCC.
• Personalized treatment approaches are essential for improving outcomes in HCC patients.