Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma - Experience of a Single Center
L. Iliescu, E. Mindrut, M. Grasu, C. Orban, A. Tanase, L. TomaOriginal article, no. 2, 2014
Background and aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) isthe fifth most common cancer worldwide and the third mostcommon cause of cancer-related death. We aim to study thediagnosis and treatment options for HCC.Methods: We used standard methods of diagnosis for HCC:radiology, determining serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP). Weincluded 190 patients diagnosed with HCC between April2011 and May 2012.Results: All patients were classified and treated according tothe BCLC staging. Our study included 43 patients with earlystage HCC, 58 patients with intermediate stage HCC (StageB) and 89 patients with advanced stage HCC (Stage C). Mostpatients in the early stage underwent local ablation, whileTACE was preferred in 46 patients in the intermediate stage.Systemic therapy was the most frequent treatment for patientsin the advanced stage (48 patients), followed by Sorafenib (16patients). 21 patients with end-stage disease did not receivetreatment. Survival rates depended on the HCC stage: 2 - 18months in the intermediate stage and 1 - 12 months in theadvanced stage.Conclusion: Early diagnosis of HCC is essential in improvingthe patients’ outcomes, as there are several classic therapeuticoptions and new emerging ones addressing patients with earlystage disease.
