Patient Resources

New & recent approved systemic treatments for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)  Liver Cancer Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or primary liver cancer often presents in the advanced stage. It is an aggressive tumour that often occurs in the setting of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis of the liver. It is often discovered late, and the survival following diagnosis is often poor.  Although the mainstay of treatment is surgical operation, many patients are not suitable because of extensive tumour or poor liver function. Systemic therapy is the main treatment for these cases. In Asia, liver cancer is listed as one of the most common malignancies, in view of endemic hepatitis B and C. Advances and understanding of the disease, have led to the recent development of new systemic therapeutic options. At OncoCare Cancer Centre, Singapore, we often see patients with advanced HCC for discussion of treatment. Currently only targeted therapy and immunotherapy are the only approved modalities for systemic therapy. Chemotherapy has not been shown to prolong survival of patients with advanced HCC. Some of these therapies used at OncoCare and how they work, are discussed here.