Background No effective systemic therapy exists for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. A preliminary study suggested that sorafenib, an oral multikinase inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, the platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and Raf may be effective in hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods In this multicenter, phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned 602 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who had not received previous systemic treatment to receive either sorafenib (at a dose of 400 mg twice daily) or placebo. Primary outcomes were overall survival and the time to symptomatic progression. Secondary outcomes included the time to radiologic progression and safety. Results At the second planned interim analysis, 321 deaths had occurred, and the study was stopped. Median overall survival was 10.7 months in the sorafenib group and 7.9 months in the placebo group (hazard ratio in the sorafenib group, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.55 to 0.87; P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the median time to symptomatic progression (4.1 months vs. 4.9 months, respectively, P=0.77). The median time to radiologic progression was 5.5 months in the sorafenib group and 2.8 months in the placebo group (P<0.001). Seven patients in the sorafenib group (2%) and two patients in the placebo group (1%) had a partial response; no patients had a complete response. Diarrhea, weight loss, hand-foot skin reaction, and hypophosphatemia were more frequent in the sorafenib group. Conclusions In patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, median survival and the time to radiologic progression were nearly 3 months longer for patients treated with sorafenib than for those given placebo.

/pdf/sorafenib-in-advanced-hepatocellular-carcinoma-3xdq9sbovw.pdf

Sorafenib in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

EASL-EORTC clinical practice guidelines : management of hepatocellular carcinoma

Since the publication of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) practice guidelines on the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 2005, new information has emerged that requires that the guidelines be updated. The full version of the new guidelines is available on the AASLD Web site at http://www.aasld.org/practiceguidelines/ Documents/Bookmarked%20Practice%20Guidelines/ HCCUpdate2010.pdf. Here, we briefly describe only new or changed recommendations.

/pdf/aasld-practice-guideline-management-of-hepatocellular-51bocalv0r.pdf

AASLD PRACTICE GUIDELINE Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Update

https://aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/hep.20933

Management of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Clinical Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Conclusions of the Barcelona-2000 EASL Conference

Symptomatic metastases in skeletal muscles are rare, and involvement of the masseter muscle is extremely rare, with only 3 reported cases. We report 2 additional cases of masseter-muscle metastases. Sonographically, the masseter-muscle metastases appeared as ill-defined, hypoechoic, heterogeneous lesions aligned with the long axis of the muscle. Fine-needle aspiration was confirmatory. The combination of sonography and fine-needle aspiration is the ideal method for diagnosing masseteric metastases.

Sonographic findings in Masseter-muscle metastases

OBJECTIVE. Routine screening for hepatocellular carcinoma among chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus using a combination of abdominal sonography and serum α-fetoprotein levels is widely practiced. Negative results on an abdominal sonogram generally indicate the absence of hepatocellular carcinoma despite the elevation of α-fetoprotein levels, but the false-negative rate of abdominal sonography has not been established prospectively.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. In our screening program, we routinely investigated patients with Lipiodol (iodized oil) CT when they presented with α-fetoprotein levels above 20 ng/mL or a focal lesion as depicted on abdominal sonography. Lipiodol CT comprised a hepatic angiogram with injection of Lipiodol selectively in the hepatic arteries, followed by an unenhanced CT scan 10 days later. Positive findings on Lipiodol CT were confirmed histologically by biopsy or surgical resection. We defined false-negative as histologic diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma within 3 months of norma...

False-Negative Rate of Abdominal Sonography for Detecting Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Hepatitis B and Elevated Serum α-Fetoprotein Levels

The efficacy and safety of docetaxel–epirubicin chemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer was investigated in Chinese women. Three-weekly cycles comprised epirubicin 75 mg/m2 i.v. followed 1 h later by docetaxel 75 mg/m2 i.v. After 3 cycles, responding patients received a further 3 c

Phase II study of docetaxel and epirubicin in Chinese patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Aim: To examine the association between a broad array of characteristics and sexuality in breast cancer patients in Hong Kong



Method:  We collected data on demographic and clinical factors, psychosocial well-being, quality of life (QOL), body image and sexual health of breast cancer patients presented to the Department of Clinical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital from November 2005 to February 2006



Results:  More than 40% of Chinese breast cancer patients experienced moderate problems in sexual health Their medical treatment had a greater influence on their sexual functioning in a change in their social activities, whereas more support from their partner predicted less influence The presence of a child and more support from their partner predicted greater sexual satisfaction Undergoing the menopause related to a longer time to resume sexual activity after cancer treatment A change of relationship with their partner and a loss of self-confidence were strong predictors of sexual problems influencing their QOL Patients who had experienced a change in their relationship with their partner or had greater sexual problems were more likely to perceive greater benefit from professional intervention on sexual problem



Conclusion:  An improvement in their intimate relationships and enhanced psychosocial functioning should improve the sexual health of Chinese women with breast cancer

Factors related to sexual health in Chinese women with breast cancer in Hong Kong

Purpose
RAD001 targets at the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), while TKI-258 is a potent tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting at fibroblast growth factor receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, platelet-derived growth factor receptor and c-kit. We aim to study the activity of combined RAD001 and TKI-258 in cell lines and xenograft model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with reference to the parallel and upstream pathways of Akt–mTOR axis.

Winnie Yeo

Papers

Sonographic findings in Masseter-muscle metastases

False-Negative Rate of Abdominal Sonography for Detecting Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Hepatitis B and Elevated Serum α-Fetoprotein Levels

Phase II study of docetaxel and epirubicin in Chinese patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Factors related to sexual health in Chinese women with breast cancer in Hong Kong

Preclinical evaluation of combined TKI-258 and RAD001 in hepatocellular carcinoma