Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary cancer of the liver that occurs as a result of chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatitis B and C infections (Figure 1). Serum alpha-fetoprotien (AFP) levels are elevated early in the disease, and screening of patients with chronic liver disease for AFP has lead to earlier diagnosis of HCC. The test is 40-64% sensitive (the ability to detect disease when disease is truly present) because many HCCs do not produce AFP, but it is 75-91% specific (the ability to rule out disease when disease is truly absent) – an AFP of over 400 mg/mL is considered diagnostic. Continue reading
Tag Archives: hepatocellular carcinoma
PD-L1 Inhibitor, avelumab, approved for Merkel cell carcinoma
Avelumab (Bavencio) is a PD-L1 inhibitor that was approved for the treatment of patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Continue reading
Adenosine Receptor Agonist for Liver Cancer
Can-Fite BioPharma announced that it has dosed the first patient in a Phase II trial for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. The study will enroll 78 patients with refractory advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with Child-Pugh Class B cirrhosis. Patients will receive 25 mg of CF102 orally twice a day; the endpoint will be overall survival between those receiving CF102 versus placebo. Continue reading
Genspera G-202 – anti-cancer hand grenade
Genspera is a company developing novel prodrugs for the treatment of cancer. In a phase 2 study in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who have failed treatment with Nexavar (sorafenib), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks KIT, FLT-3 RET, raf, VEGFR1-3, and PDGF kinases, a doubling of time to progression was seen in patients taking G-202. Continue reading