Aims: Molecular profiling of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has helped identify actionable genomic alterations that could guide therapeutic decision-making and clinical trial enrollment. However, in clinical practice, next-generation sequencing (NGS) is not extensively used in routine clinical care to identify patients with HCC who are likely to benefit from genome-directed targeted therapies.
Methods: Here, we describe the case of a 66-year-old man with advanced HCC. After rapid progression on transarterial chemoembolization, the tissue sample obtained from biopsy was subjected to NGS to verify whether precision therapy was an option.
Results: Our analysis revealed high MET amplification. The patient received crizotinib (250 mg, bid) and showed a remarkable response.
Conclusions: Our case report suggests NGS could help identify patients with high MET amplification in HCC who were likely to benefit from MET inhibitors; moreover, this requires further investigation in clinical trials.
Keywords: MET; drug resistance; next-generation sequencing; targeted therapy.
© 2021 The Japan Society of Hepatology.