Introduction to the special section on hepatocellular carcinoma treatment response

Excerpt

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common tumor worldwide and third leading cause of cancer-related death. The majority of patients with HCC have two competing disease processes, which include the cancer itself and the underlying chronic liver disease. The optimal curative treatment for HCC is transplant; however, long wait times can result in progression of HCC. Thus, there are a host of liver-directed therapies which can be considered for patients awaiting transplantation in order to bridge therapy to reduce progression and possible post-transplant tumor recurrence. Similarly, liver-directed therapies can help downstage patients to meet the criteria to become eligible for transplantation. The most common liver-directed therapies include thermal ablation (radiofrequency and microwave ablation), transarterial chemoembolization, transarterial bland embolization, transarterial radioembolization, and stereotactic body radiotherapy. In addition, there are a host of new systemic and immunologic treatment options. The landscape of HCC treatment has changed and has become significantly more complex. …