Current landscape and future directions for systemic treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma

Systemic treatment is the optimal approach for patients with advanced or intermediate-stage hepatocellularcarcinoma (HCC) with contraindications or refractoriness to locoregional treatments[1]. The aim of systemictreatment is to prolong survival and delay clinical deterioration. Until 2008, no systemic therapy providedmeaningful clinical benefit. In the past, studies that evaluated the role of conventional chemotherapy,mainly doxorubicin or combinations of platinum agents, resulted in significant toxicities, without a cleardemonstration of efficacy[2].