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©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2008; 14(42): 6437-6441
Published online Nov 14, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.6437
Published online Nov 14, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.6437
Evolution of systemic therapy of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Thomas Yau, Pierre Chan, Richard Epstein, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Ronnie T Poon, Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Author contributions: Yau T wrote the paper; Chan P, Epstein R and Poon RT commented and reviewed the paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Thomas Yau, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China. the@netvigator.com
Telephone: +852-2855-3111 Fax: +852 2816 2863
Received: July 28, 2008
Revised: September 22, 2008
Accepted: September 29, 2008
Published online: November 14, 2008
Revised: September 22, 2008
Accepted: September 29, 2008
Published online: November 14, 2008
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) commonly occurs in hepatitis B endemic areas, especially in Asian countries. HCC is highly refractory to cytotoxic chemotherapy. This resistance is partly related to its tumor biology, pharmacokinetic properties, and both intrinsic and acquired drug resistance. There is no convincing evidence thus far that systemic chemotherapy improves overall survival in advanced HCC patients. Other systemic approaches, such as hormonal therapy and immunotherapy, have also disappointing results. Recently, encouraging results have been shown in using sorafenib in the treatment of advanced HCC patients. In this review, we concisely summarize the evolution of developments in the systemic therapy of advanced HCC.