Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2025

An Oncogenic Hepatocyte-Induced Orthotopic Mouse Model of Hepatocellular Cancer Arising in the Setting of Hepatic Inflammation and Fibrosis
00:06

An Oncogenic Hepatocyte-Induced Orthotopic Mouse Model of Hepatocellular Cancer Arising in the Setting of Hepatic Inflammation and Fibrosis

Published on: September 12, 2019

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Severe Reversible Heart Failure Enhanced by Sorafenib Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Luís Guilherme Santos1, Ricardo Roque1, Rita Antunes Santos1

  • 1Medical Oncology, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Coimbra Francisco Gentil, Coimbra, PRT.

Cureus
|January 8, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Sorafenib, a cancer drug, can rarely cause severe heart failure. Prompt recognition and multidisciplinary care are crucial for managing this rare but serious side effect in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Sorafenib is a key treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • Sorafenib's known side effect is cardiotoxicity, primarily hypertension.
  • Severe, symptomatic heart failure is an uncommon sorafenib-associated toxicity.

Observation:

  • A patient with multiple comorbidities developed acute heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and atrial fibrillation.
  • Symptoms of dyspnea and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (26%) emerged three years into sorafenib treatment.
  • The cardiac event was attributed to sorafenib, despite prior good tolerability.

Findings:

  • Sorafenib treatment led to acute, symptomatic heart failure (NYHA class IV) with severe left ventricular dysfunction.
  • The cardiotoxicity was partially reversible upon sorafenib discontinuation and optimized cardiac management.
  • This case highlights a rare but severe manifestation of sorafenib-induced cardiotoxicity.

Implications:

  • Early identification and aggressive management of sorafenib-induced cardiotoxicity are vital.
  • A multidisciplinary approach involving oncologists and cardiologists is essential for patient outcomes.
  • This case underscores the need for vigilant cardiac monitoring in patients receiving sorafenib for liver cancer.
Keywords:
atrial fibrillation (af)cardiotoxicityheart failurehepatocellular carcinomasorafenib

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