Systemic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): from bench to bedside

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Medical Oncology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Primary liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is a leading cause of cancer mortality globally.
• Current treatments for early-stage HCC include surgical resection or transplantation.
• Advanced or metastatic HCC historically lacked effective systemic treatments, with sorafenib offering a modest survival benefit.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the evolution of systemic therapeutic options for HCC.
• To discuss current standard systemic treatments for advanced HCC.
• To explore potential novel systemic therapies for unresectable or metastatic HCC.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of historical and current systemic treatments for HCC.
• Analysis of clinical trial data for sorafenib and other systemic agents.
• Exploration of emerging therapeutic strategies in advanced HCC.

Main Results:

• Sorafenib is the first-line systemic therapy demonstrating a survival benefit in advanced HCC.
• Significant unmet need exists for more effective systemic treatments in advanced HCC.
• Various novel systemic approaches are under investigation for HCC.

Conclusions:

• The landscape of systemic therapy for HCC has evolved, but challenges remain.
• Novel systemic treatments are crucial to improve outcomes for patients with advanced HCC.
• Continued research into new therapeutic strategies is essential for managing liver cancer.