Open AccessSorafenib in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Ali Ben Mousa
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the saudi journal of gastroenterology/saudi journal of gastroenterology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.608
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1998-4049
pISSN - 1319-3767
DOI - 10.4103/1319-3767.37808
Subject(s) - sorafenib , medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , discontinuation , angiogenesis , oncology , carcinoma , drug , pharmacology
Management of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still a challenge to physicians since these patients are not candidates for surgical or ablative therapy. The disease carries a very poor prognosis with an expected survival of 4-6 months. No chemotherapeutic agent has been proven to improve the clinical outcome in such patients. A multikinase inhibitor, sorafenib, previously tested and found effective in other solid tumors recently found to significantly improve survival in patients with advanced HCC. Sorafenib exerts its action through inhibition of several kinases involved in both tumour cell proliferation and angiogenesis. It was well tolerated at a dose of 400 mg twice daily and permanent discontinuation of the drug was rarely required.