Goals and targets for personalized therapy for HCC

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Oncology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality globally.
• Cirrhosis is a primary risk factor, but multiple molecular pathways drive HCC.
• Current staging systems like BCLC guide treatment but often exclude early-stage molecular therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current treatment strategies for HCC based on disease stage and patient factors.
• To highlight the role of various molecular pathways in HCC development.
• To discuss emerging molecular therapies and the future of personalized HCC treatment.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on HCC staging, molecular pathways, and treatment modalities.
• Analysis of current clinical guidelines, including the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system.
• Examination of systemic therapies, locoregional treatments, and curative options.

Main Results:

• Treatment decisions for HCC necessitate consideration of tumor burden, liver function, performance status, and comorbidities.
• Curative options like resection and transplantation are preferred for early HCC when feasible.
• Locoregional therapies (TACE, TARE, SBRT) and systemic agents (e.g., Sorafenib) offer survival benefits for advanced or unresectable cases.

Conclusions:

• Personalized treatment approaches are crucial for improving outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Future HCC therapies aim to target multiple molecular pathways with combination treatments.
• Ongoing clinical trials are exploring novel molecular therapies for HCC.