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    Clin Adv Hematol Oncol. 2008 Aug;6(8):1-14; quiz 15.

    Medical therapies to extend survival in hepatocellular carcinoma.

    Gish R, Marrero JB, Tong MJ.

    Liver Transplant Program, California Pacific Medical Center, University of California, San Francisco, USA.

    Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious malignancy with 21,000 new cases estimated for 2008. Several common diseases are associated with an increased risk of the development of HCC, including viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, and other chronic liver diseases. Most patients present with advanced disease, and therefore have only limited therapeutic options. However, advancements in screening and surveillance have allowed more patients to be identified and diagnosed with earlier-stage disease, increasing their therapeutic options. Several treatment modalities exist for early- and intermediate-stage disease, including ablative techniques and embolization methods. Additionally, advances in targeted therapy have resulted in the approval of the oral multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib, resulting in improved length of survival. In this roundtable discussion, the current epidemic of HCC is addressed, including factors contributing to an increased rate of occurrence. Additionally, the optimal screening and diagnosis of HCC patients is discussed, and the appropriate treatment modalities for each stage of HCC are presented.

    PMID: 18833600 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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    Patient drug information

    • Sorafenib (Nexavar®)

      Sorafenib is used to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (a type of cancer that begins in the kidneys). Sorafenib is in a class of medications called multikinase inhibitors. It works by slowing the spread of cancer cells...