Case Report
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World J Hepatol. Jun 27, 2010; 2(6): 239-242
Published online Jun 27, 2010. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v2.i6.239
Long-term survival of a HCC-patient with severe liver dysfunction treated with sorafenib
Christoph Roderburg, Jhenee Bubenzer, Michael Spannbauer, Nicole do O, Andreas Mahnken, Tom Ludde, Christian Trautwein, Jens J Tischendorf
Christoph Roderburg, Jhenee Bubenzer, Michael Spannbauer, Nicole do O, Tom Ludde, Christian Trautwein, Jens J Tischendorf, Department of Medicine III, University of Aachen (RWTH), Pauwelstraße 30, Aachen 52074, Germany
Andreas Mahnken, Department of Radiology, University of Aachen (RWTH), Pauwelstraße 30, Aachen 52074, Germany
Author contributions: Roderburg C, Bubenzer J, Spannbauer M, do O N, Mahnken A, Ludde T, Trautwein C, and Tischendorf JJ designed research; Roderburg C, Mahnken A, and Tischendorf JJ performed research; Roderburg C, Mahnken A, Ludde T, and Tischendorf JJ analyzed data; and Roderburg C, Bubenzer J, Spannbauer M, do O N, Mahnken A, Ludde T, Trautwein C, and Tischendorf JJ wrote the paper.
Supported by “Bayer AG”
Correspondence to: Christoph Roderburg, MD, Department of MedicineIII, University of Aachen, Pauwelstraße 30, Aachen 52074, Germany. croderburg@ukaachen.de
Telephone: +49-241-8035367 Fax: +49-241-8082107
Received: February 4, 2010
Revised: May 4, 2010
Accepted: May 11, 2010
Published online: June 27, 2010
Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary cancer of the liver. Prognosis and treatment options are stage dependent. In general, prognosis of patients with unresectable HCC is poor, especially for those patients with impaired liver function. Whereas treatment with the novel molecular tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib (Nexavar) was shown to result in prolonged survival in patients with preserved liver function, its’ possible application in HCC-patients with strongly impaired liver function has not been clearly assessed. Here, we report on a 47-year-old male patient who presented with Child-Pugh class C liver cirrhosis and multifocal, non-resectable HCC. The patient was treated for 27 mo with Sorafenib, which was not associated with major drug-related side effects. During treatment, a reduction in tumour size of 24% was achieved, as assessed by regular CT scan. Moreover, within the 27 mo interval of stable tumour disease, liver function improved from Child-Pugh class C to class A.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Sorafenib; Liver cirrhosis; Child-Pugh score; Long-term survival