Long-term results of sorafenib in advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma: what can we learn from routine clinical practice?

Congress:

ECR 2013

Poster Number:

C-0804

Type:

Scientific Exhibit

Keywords:

Abdomen, Liver, CT, Diagnostic procedure, Chemotherapy, Cancer, Neoplasia

Authors:

F. Pancrazi¹, B. Ginanni¹, L. Faggioni¹, P. Vagli¹, R. Sacco¹, I. Bargellini¹, G. Bresci¹, E. Neri², C. Bartolozzi¹; ¹Pisa/IT, ²Pisa, -/IT

DOI:

10.1594/ecr2013/C-0804

DOI-Link:

https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/ecr2013/C-0804

Table 1: Schematic illustration of patient characteristics.

Fig. 1: The structural formula and ball-and-stick model of the sorafenib molecule.

Table 2: Survival analysis data and rate of treatment discontinuation.

Purpose

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of sorafenib (Figure 1) therapy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods and Materials

From September 2008 to March 2011, 42 cirrhotic patients (30 male, 12 female; mean age: 70.2 ± 7.6 years; range: 56-85 years) with HCC of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B (n = 5) or C (n = 37; mean size: 66.6 ± 42.3 mm; mean number per patient: 3.3 ± 2.8) were treated with sorafenib at either a standard dose of 800 mg/day (n = 29; 69.1%) or at 400 mg/day with subsequent dose escalation (ramp-up strategy; n = 13, 30.9%) (Table 1). Baseline...

Results

Mean follow-up time was 12.2±9 months (1-32 months). Median overall survival was 26.1 months with overall 6- and 12-month survival rates of 92.1 and 85%, respectively. Median time to radiological progression was 8 months. The progression-free rate was 64.3%. Fatigue, skin disorders, and diarrhea were the most frequent grade 3-4 side effects. Treatment discontinuation occurred in 25 patients (Table 2). The starting dose for the last 13 enrolled patients was 400 mg/day with a gradual increase to 800mg/day after 3 weeks in the absence of...

Conclusion

Sorafenib is a valid treatment option for advanced HCC. Starting at a lower dosage may allow prolonged compliance to treatment and might be considered according to patient tolerance.

References

Abou-Alfa GK, Schwartz L, Ricci S et al (2006) Phase II study of sorafenib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 24:4293-4300 Bruix J, Sherman M (2011) Management of hepatocellular carcinoma: an update. Hepatology 53:1020-1022 Cheng AL, Kang YK, Chen Z et al (2009) Efficacy and safety of sorafenib in patients in the Asia-Pacific region with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a phase III randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Oncol 10:25-34 Horger M, Lauer UM, Schraml C et al (2009) Early MRI response monitoring of...

Personal Information

Dr. Francesca Pancrazi Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology University of Pisa, Italy [email protected]