Ahmed Omar Kaseb, MD

Ahmed Omar Kaseb, MD, associate professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the current treatment landscape for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

All systemic therapy is considered palliative only, Kaseb says. There are not any drugs approved in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting for patients with HCC, so many patients who are not surgical candidates suffer from a lack of effective adjuvant therapies to downsize their tumors.

Videos

Ahmed Omar Kaseb, MD, discusses the current treatment landscape for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Reviewing the Current Treatment Landscape for Patients With HCC

Ahmed Omar Kaseb, MD, associate professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, says 2 major challenges in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are the lack of effective treatments and the co-existing underlying chronic liver disease. Not all patients are eligible for surgery or transplant, which can make treatment difficult.

According to Kaseb, only about 10% to 15% of patients with HCC are surgical candidates, and even if they do undergo surgery, some patients will recur. In addition, only about 5% of patients are candidates for liver transplant. The majority of patients are not eligible for surgery or transplant and will require systemic therapy at some point, but that is only palliative and does not downsize the tumors to enable surgery or transplant.

Ahmed Omar Kaseb, MD, associate professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, says 2 major challenges in hepatocellular carcinoma are the lack of effective treatments and the co-existing underlying chronic liver disease.

Ahmed Omar Kaseb, MD | Authors

Articles

Reviewing the Current Treatment Landscape for Patients With HCC

Exploring Challenges in the Treatment of HCC