Clin Mol Hepatol.  2015 Sep;21(3):287-294. 10.3350/cmh.2015.21.3.287.

Long-term outcomes of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who achieved complete remission after sorafenib therapy

• Park JG

• KMID: 2351029
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3350/cmh.2015.21.3.287

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Sorafenib is currently the sole molecular targeted agent that improves overall survival in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite the efficacy of sorafenib, the response rate varies in patients with advanced HCC. We retrospectively analyzed a series of Korean patients with advanced HCC with complete remission (CR) after sorafenib therapy.
METHODS
In total, 523 patients with advanced HCC were treated with sorafenib in 3 large tertiary referral hospitals in Korea. A survey was conducted to collect data on patients who experienced CR after sorafenib monotherapy, and their medical records and follow-up data were analyzed. The tumor response and recurrence rates were assessed by radiologic study, based on modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors.
RESULTS
Seven patients with advanced HCC experienced CR after sorafenib therapy. The median time to tumor disappearance and the median disease-free survival time were 3 months and 9 months, respectively. HCC recurrence was identified in three cases (42.9%). Of these, two patients discontinued sorafenib before or after achieving CR and the other patient continued sorafenib after achieving CR. HCC recurred at 3, 10, and 42 months after CR in these three patients. Three patients needed dose reduction for toxicity and adverse events.
CONCLUSIONS
Though CR was achieved after sorafenib therapy in patients with advanced HCC, the recurrence rate was relatively high. Subsequent strategies to reduce a chance of recurrence after sorafenib therapy are required to investigate.

Keyword

Hepatocellular carcinoma; Complete remission; Sorafenib

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Antineoplastic Agents/*therapeutic use
Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*drug therapy/pathology
Disease-Free Survival
Female
Hepatitis B, Chronic/complications/pathology
Humans
Liver Neoplasms/*drug therapy/pathology
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
Niacinamide/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use
Phenylurea Compounds/*therapeutic use
Remission Induction
Republic of Korea
Retrospective Studies
alpha-Fetoproteins/analysis
Antineoplastic Agents
Biomarkers, Tumor
Phenylurea Compounds
Niacinamide
alpha-Fetoproteins