Potential Treatment Strategies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Sensitization to Sorafenib

Liver cancer is highly malignant, has a low sensitivity to chemotherapy, and is associated with poor patient prognosis. The last 3 years have seen the emergence of promising targeted therapies for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). For over 10 years, before the discovery of lenvatinib, sorafenib was only first-line therapeutic agent available for the treatment of advanced HCC. However, several clinical studies have shown that a considerable proportion liver cancer patients are insensitive to sorafenib. Very few patients actually substantially benefit from treatment with sorafenib, and the overall efficacy of the drug has not been satisfactory; therefore, sorafenib has attracted considerable research attention. This study, which is based on previous studies and reports, reviews the potential mechanisms underlying sorafenib resistance and summarizes combination therapies and potential drugs that can be used to sensitize HCC cells to sorafenib.

Automated summary

Liver cancer is a highly malignant disease with low sensitivity to chemotherapy, and the prognosis for patients is poor. Sorafenib has been the only first-line therapeutic agent for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) until the discovery of lenvatinib. However, many HCC patients are insensitive to sorafenib, and the overall efficacy of the drug is unsatisfactory. This study reviews the potential mechanisms of sorafenib resistance and summarizes combination therapies and potential drugs that can sensitize HCC cells to sorafenib based on previous studies and reports.