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Updated: Apr 28, 2026

An Oncogenic Hepatocyte-Induced Orthotopic Mouse Model of Hepatocellular Cancer Arising in the Setting of Hepatic Inflammation and Fibrosis
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Treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: How to get out of first gear

James J Harding1, Ghassan K Abou-Alfa

  • 1Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.

Cancer
|June 6, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment is limited, with sorafenib offering modest survival benefits. This review explores promising new therapies and challenges in advanced HCC drug development.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) research
  • Oncology drug development
  • Translational cancer medicine

Background:

  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent cancer with poor patient outcomes.
  • Sorafenib is the sole approved systemic therapy for advanced HCC, providing modest survival improvements.
  • Limited efficacy and unknown mechanisms of sorafenib, alongside stalled clinical trials, highlight unmet needs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current pipeline of experimental therapeutics for advanced HCC.
  • To identify scientific limitations hindering new therapy development for HCC.
  • To propose strategies to overcome these developmental hurdles.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of preclinical and clinical studies on HCC therapeutics.
  • Analysis of ongoing clinical trials for advanced HCC.
  • Discussion of scientific challenges in HCC drug development.

Main Results:

  • Sorafenib's modest benefit and lack of effective second-line agents underscore the need for novel treatments.
  • Several promising experimental therapeutics are under investigation for advanced HCC.
  • Significant scientific limitations impede the progress of new HCC therapies.

Conclusions:

  • The current landscape of advanced HCC treatment requires innovative therapeutic strategies.
  • Addressing scientific limitations is crucial for advancing novel HCC drug development.
  • Future research should focus on overcoming barriers to translate promising experimental therapies into clinical practice.
Keywords:
angiogeniccabozantinibdoxorubicineverolimushepatocellular carcinomapegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20)sorafenibtargeted therapytivantinibtremelimumab

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