Examining Standard Radiation Treatments for the Long-Term Management of HCC
The research around best radiation-based treatment options for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are over 15 years old, but the standard of care for long-term management of the disease is still conventional chemoembolization, according to Emil I. Cohen, MD, assistant professor, Georgetown University Hospital.
The research around best radiation-based treatment options for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are over 15 years old, but the standard of care for long-term management of the disease is still conventional chemoembolization, according to Emil I. Cohen, MD, assistant professor, Georgetown University Hospital.
Since the original data were released demonstrating a benefit in progression-free survival with chemoembolization, other studies have excluded patients who are transplant candidates. This is because physicians are more careful with these patients to ensure they continue to meet the criteria for transplantation, says Cohen. However, patients who are ineligible for a transplant have been enrolled in studies comparing radioembolization with conventional chemoembolization as a potential bridge to transplantation.
