Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive tumor that occurs in chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Surgical therapy including transplantation or local ablation may offer the prospect of cure. However, most patients were diagnosed with unresectable, advanced disease. For these patients, providing liver function and performance status permit, systemic therapies are often used with palliative intent. Although recently molecular targeted therapies have been employed with some success, cytotoxic chemotherapy had been used in general. Efficacy with conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy is modest at best, and the duration of benefit is limited. Although few randomized trials have been conducted, no single regimen has emerged as superior to any other, and no drug or regimen has been unequivovally shown to improve survival.

• Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma;Palliative;Cytotoxic chemotherapy