Treatments of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Hepatitis B Virus Infection: Treat HBV-related HCC

• Main Authors: Charing Ching-Ning Chong, Grace Lai-Hung Wong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Institute of Mathematical Sciences 2016-03-01
• Series: AIMS Medical Science
• Subjects: hepatitis B; HBV DNA; hepatocellular carcinoma; cirrhosis; lamivudine; entecavir; tenofovir; interferon; sorafenib; sirolimus
• Online Access: http://www.aimspress.com/medicalScience/article/691/fulltext.html

There have been major advances recently on the therapeutic approaches of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Surgical treatments are the key curative treatments of HCC, whereas local ablative treatments may also achieve clinical remission in selected cases. Trans-arterial locoregional therapies are regarded as palliative but still lead to improved survival. There have been major breakthroughs in the systemic therapies for HCC. The first marketed targeted therapy, sorafenib, was shown to improve survival in patients with advanced HCC. Studies on other targeted therapies also showed promising results. Suppressing HBV with effective antiviral treatment would also benefit HCC patients by reducing recurrence and improving liver function.