Current hepatocellular carcinoma systemic pharmacological treatment options

Abstract

Liver cancer is the sixth common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for ~90% of cases of liver cancer and is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death in the world. Up to now, 4 oral multityrosine kinase inhibitors (sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib and cabozantinib), 1 anti-angiogenic antibody (ramucirumab) and 5 immune checkpoint inhibitors, alone or in combination (atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab, ipilimumab in combination with nivolumab, tremelimumab in combination with durvalumab, nivolumab and pembrolizumab in monotherapy) have been commercialized for advanced HCC patients’ treatment. The aim of this editorial is to provide an insight in current hepatocellular carcinoma systemic pharmacological treatment options.

Keywords

• hepatocellular carcinoma
• systemic pharmacological treatment
• sorafenib
• lenvatinib
• regorafenib
• cabozantinib
• ramucirumab
• atezolizumab plus bevacizumab
• ipilimumab plus nivolumab
• nivolumab
• pembrolizumab
• tremelimumab plus durvalumab