[Sorafenib for the treatment of HCC--the beginning of a new era in the treatment of HCC]

Abstract

Sorafenib increases overall survival in patients with advanced HCC by almost three months. However, despite these advances in the treatment of patients with HCC, average overall survival remains below one year. Based on our understanding of hepatocarcinogenesis, the development of new molecular targeting agents and results from biomarker studies in HCC, new therapeutic treatment options are currently being investigated. We summarize recent results on the molecular therapy for HCC and discuss how these can be efficiently tested in patients with HCC.