There are several targeted drugs that are effective in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, of which sorafenib is the most commonly used to extend the overall survival of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
Radiotherapy can also improve local control and prolong survival. Will the combination of radiotherapy and sorafenib result in a “1+1≥2” effect?
In fact, caution is needed for intrahepatic lesions
Phase II clinical studies have shown that sorafenib combined with external radiation therapy for progressive hepatocellular carcinoma does not improve the efficacy and that the combination has more toxic side effects (including liver function impairment). Therefore, sorafenib must be used with caution when radiotherapy is given to intrahepatic lesions.
Extrahepatic metastases can be tried
If extrahepatic metastatic lesions are treated, radiotherapy combined with sorafenib has been reported in cases where adverse effects are tolerated.
A study at Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University showed that helical tomotherapy (HT) combined with sorafenib for pulmonary metastases had a better prognosis than HT alone or sorafenib alone.