The factors for prolonging the prognosis in sorafenib therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with extrahepatic metastasis

Abstract

Aim/background: Prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma with extrahepatic metastasis (IVb) was reported less than 6 months. Sorafenib (NEX) is an only established therapy for IVb. We evaluated the clinical factors of IVb treated with NEX for prolonging prognosis. Method/Patients: Clinical backgrounds of 23 IVb were investigated (Average age; 66.4 years old), retrospectively. Results: All were Child-Pugh A. In 8 cases, NEX was continued after progressive disease (PD). One year survival rate of them were 58% and average period of treating with NEX beyond PD was 327 days. There was a tendency that NEX was abandoned in IVb with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) at early timing. Conclusion: Continuing NEX after becoming beyond PD can be a therapeutic option to improve the prognosis in IVb without PVTT. © 2013 The Japan Society of Hepatology.