October 2015

The FDA has granted the A3AR agonist CF102 a fast track designation as a second-line treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The drug is also planned to be tested in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

The presence of circulating tumor DNA in serum could predict microscopic vascular invasion of the portal vein and extrahepatic metastasis following surgery for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Treatment with tivantinib has proven highly effective in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and with high MET expression, suggesting a prognostic and predictive biomarker of response.

No established regimens exist for the treatment of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma after failure of first-line treatment with the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib. Outcomes in the setting of sorafenib resistance or intolerance are poor, with a median expected overall survival for the placebo arms of second-line trials in the range of 7 to 8 months.

Hepatocellular carcinoma has traditionally been an aggressive malignancy, with diagnosis taking place at later stages of disease and a poor prognosis in most patients. However, recent advances in molecular diagnostics and treatment show promise in changing the HCC clinical landscape.

In recent years, knowledge of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-specific tumor-associated antigens and the development of immune checkpoint blockade therapy has offered a positive outlook for patients with HCC.