Potential Therapeutic Strategies to Combat HCC

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex, life-threatening and most common neoplasm in the world. HCC tumors are genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous, and involve various molecular mechanisms and stimulation of several signaling pathways, such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors (EGFR), Insulin growth factor, Ras/extracellular signal-stimulated kinase, the mammalian goal of rapamycin (mTOR), c-mesenchymal- epithelial transition factor-1 (c-Met), Hedgehog, Wnt and apoptotic signaling. Lately, in patients, multi-kinase cascade blockers, such as sorafenib, selumetinib and regorafenib, have increased the survival rate of progressive HCC. This development presents a step forward towards the therapy of liver cancer infection and attests that molecular systemic rehabilitation can be useful in HCC treatment. The development of these systemic therapeutic agents has further expanded the research area for surplus molecular mediators to auxiliary increase the cure rate of patients. This article reviews the complete focus on cascades, current enduring clinical tests by means of HCC therapeutic mediators, and imminent prospects in the cure of HCC.

Keywords: Liver cancer; angiogenesis; hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); signaling pathway; therapeutic agents; vascular endothelial growth factors.