How effective is molecular targeted therapy for liver cancer

Several molecular targeted therapy drugs have been shown in clinical trials to have disease control effects on some hepatocellular carcinomas.

The so-called molecular targeted therapy refers to targeting key macromolecules in the occurrence and development of cancer and tumors, controlling their gene expression and changing their biological behavior by specifically blocking the signal transduction of cancer and tumor cells, or by strongly preventing the growth and proliferation of cancer and tumor blood vessels, thereby exerting an anti-cancer effect.

Unlike traditional chemotherapy drugs, molecular targeted therapy is specific to tumor targets. While exerting anti-tumor activity, it has fewer toxic side effects on normal cells.

At present, the commonly used molecular targeted therapeutic drugs in clinical practice mainly include: targeted drugs acting on epidermal growth factor receptors, such as monoclonal antibodies (such as cetuximab, nimotuzumab, etc.) and small molecule compounds (such as gefitinib, erlotinib, etc.); anti-angiogenic preparations, such as bevacizumab targeting vascular endothelial growth factor, have shown certain effects; multikinase inhibitors mainly include sorafenib (Nexavar), which has been shown to significantly prolong the overall survival of patients with advanced primary liver cancer. It has been approved for formal clinical use in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in Europe, the United States and my country.

As an important means of comprehensive treatment and an emerging treatment model, molecular targeted therapy has received increasing attention in clinical practice.