New possibilities in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment

Mahmood Rasool, Sana Rashid, Mahwish Arooj, Shakeel Ahmed Ansari, Khalid Mahmud Khan, Arif Malik, Muhammad Imran Naseer, Sara Zahid, Abdul Manan, Muhammad Asif, Zarish Razzaq, Sadia Ashraf, Mahmood Husain Qazi, Zafar Iqbal, Siew Hua Gan, Mohammad Amjad Kamal, Ishfaq Ahmed Sheikh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

54 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis and treatment has witnessed many major changes and challenges in the past two decades. Increasing incidence of HCC has introduced new monitoring systems and increased the efficacy of screening tests, as well as prognosis of the disease, including the staging system, serological testing and diagnostic imaging. Moreover, surgical resection, liver transplantation and herbal therapy have improved treatment. The most encouraging specific serological marker for HCC is alpha fetoprotein (AFP), which, along with ultrasonography, has improved earlier detection of HCC. Most recently, circulating tumor cell measurement has emerged as a promising tool for the prognosis of HCC. Herbal drugs and herbal composite formula drugs are promising towards the prevention of invasion and proliferation of tumor cells. Chemotherapeutic agents, such as sorafenib, bevacizumab and erlotinib, which target growth factor receptors in signaling pathways, are also used as HCC treatments. Furthermore, radiotherapy is employed in the treatment of unresectable tumors. The present report provides an analysis of the above parameters in the management of HCC.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1563-1572
Number of pages10
JournalAnticancer Research
Volume34
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alpha fetoprotein
  • Chemo and radiotherapy for HCC
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Herbal drugs
  • Review.
  • Surgical resection

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