Hepatocellular carcinoma treatment: a comparative review of emerging growth factor receptor antagonists

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Over the last decade, sorafenib has been the only available therapeutic option for advanced HCC, although regorafenib recently showed a survival benefit compared with placebo in a second-line setting.

Areas covered: This review discusses key published and ongoing studies with targeted agents in HCC, molecular targets of HCC, the mechanism of resistance to sorafenib, and the role of biomarker-enriched clinical trials.

Expert opinion: The multiplicity of drivers and the existence of substantial molecular heterogeneity limit the benefits of targeted therapies in HCC. Based on molecular biology developments, a few biomarker-enriched clinical trials that target candidate driver genes are ongoing, and the outcomes of these are highly anticipated. Poor availability of tumor tissue and tumor heterogeneity in patients with HCC make liquid biopsy a very attractive option, although this technique remains to be validated.

KEYWORDS:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• targeted agents
• growth factor receptor antagonists
• biomarker

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded