Enhanced Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
By Motawa E. El-Houseini, PhD, Mohammed S. Mohammed, PhD, Wael M. Elshemey, PhD, Tarek D. Hussein, PhD, Omar S. Desouky, PhD, and Anwar A. Elsayed, PhD

Nexavar® Improves Survival in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (8/1/2008)
Researchers affiliated with the SHARP Investigators Study Group have reported that Nexavar® (sorafenib) significantly improves survival and doubles the time to progression among patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This is the first agent to ever demonstrate a significant improvement in survival in the treatment of HCC. The results of this study were published in the July 24, 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Preliminary results of this study were previously presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (see first item of related news).

High Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Asians and Hispanics (5/23/2008)
Researchers from the University of California have reported that Asians and Hispanics have a much higher incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma than Caucasians. The details of this study appeared in the June 1, 2008 issue of the American Journal of Medicine.

Photodynamic Therapy May Be Effective Palliation for Cholangiocarcinoma (5/5/2008)
Researchers from the University of Virginia have reported that photodynamic therapy (PDT) and stent placement was more effective than stent placement alone for patients with inoperable cholangiocarcinoma. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the March 2008 issue of Clinical Gastrointestinal Hepatology.

Chemoembolization and Radiofrequency Ablation Effective for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (4/14/2008)
Researchers from China have reported that transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is more effective than TACE alone or RFA alone for the treatment of inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma larger than 3 centimeters in size. The details of this study appeared in the April 9, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Screening of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B and C Improves Survival from Liver Cancer (4/2/2008)
Researchers from Hong Kong have reported that screening in patients with chronic hepatitis improves survival from hepatocellular cancer. The details of this study appeared in the April 2008 issue of Annals of Surgery.