Case Report
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World J Gastrointest Oncol. Feb 15, 2013; 5(2): 38-42
Published online Feb 15, 2013. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v5.i2.38
Complete remission of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma by sorafenib: A case report
Min Su Kim, Young-Joo Jin, Jin-Woo Lee, Jung-il Lee, Young Soo Kim, Sun Young Lee, Myoung Hun Chae
Min Su Kim, Young-Joo Jin, Jin-Woo Lee, Jung-il Lee, Myoung Hun Chae, Young soo Kim, Sun young Lee, Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 400-711, South Korea
Author contributions: Kim MS, Jin YJ and Lee JW made contributions to the conception and design, collection and assembly, analysis and interpretation of the data, drafting of the article, provision of study materials or patients, administrative and technical or logistic support; Lee JI and Kim YS made contributions to provision of study materials or patients and drafting of the article; Lee SY and Chae MH collected and assembed the data and provided the study materials or patients.
Supported by Inha University Research Grant
Correspondence to: Jin-Woo Lee, MD, PhD, Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Inha University School of Medicine, 7-206, 3-Ga, Shinheung-Dong, Jung-Gu, Incheon 400-711, South Korea. jin@inha.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-32-8902548   Fax: +82-32-8902549
Received: December 3, 2012
Revised: January 3, 2013
Accepted: January 18, 2013
Published online: February 15, 2013
Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignant disease worldwide, and curative treatment remains difficult because the majority of cases are diagnosed in the advanced stage. Sorafenib is the only known effective systemic treatment, but patients rarely achieve complete remission (CR). A 66-year-old man with a history of alcoholic liver cirrhosis with a diagnosis of advanced HCC, was initially treated with transarterial chemoembolization on four occasions. However, the disease progressed with portal vein thrombosis. Therefore, sorafenib was started, and 4 mo later, the patient achieved CR. The treatment was continued for 12 mo, and CR was maintained up to 4 mo after sorafenib discontinuation.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Sorafenib, Portal vein thrombosis, Complete remission