Abstract

Introduction. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor that frequently develops in conjunction with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, and is often identified late in its course, with a median survival of around 6 to 20 months following diagnosis. Although surgical excision is the gold standard of treatment, most patients are ineligible due to tumor size or underlying liver dis-ease. The hepatic reserve of the patient, as determined by the Child-Turcotte-Pugh classification, frequently influences treatment options.
Method. Between January 2016 and June 2018, 42 patients admitted to Fundeni Clinical Institute’s Department of Medical Oncology who had previously been treated with Sorafenib for more than two months were recruited in this retrospective analysis. We evaluated the etiology and stage of illness (BCLC), residual liver function (CHILD), performance status (ECOG), treatment response and side effects, progression-free survival, and overall survival.
Results. The study group had good short and long-term outcomes: median progression-free survival was 7.7 months and median overall survival was 11.6 months. The most frequently reported adverse effects were skin rashes, diarrhea, hypertension, and hand-foot skin reaction.
Conclusion. This retrospective, single-center study confirmed the benefit of sorafenib in the treatment of advanced HCC, particularly in patients with good liver function and performance status.