Rapid long-lasting biochemical and radiological response to sorafenib in a case of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

The multikinase inhibitor sorafenib has demonstrated an overall survival benefit in phase III hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) trials and has become the new standard of care for advanced stages of this disease. However, in clinical practice, the vast majority of patients obtain disease stabilization and occasionally tumor shrinkage. Furthermore, the appropriate timing of sorafenib therapy initiation, in order to maximize its clinical activity, remains under debate. We report a case of 4-year sorafenib treatment in a patient with an advanced hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC with extensive infiltration of the inferior vena cava. Sorafenib treatment induced a rapid complete biochemical response and a long-term favorable outcome. Additionally, no major toxicities or detrimental effects on quality of life were observed. Thus, it is likely that a subgroup of human HCC may be highly sensitive to sorafenib; new molecular determinants are required to select those patients who may benefit from this therapy. Furthermore, a prompt initiation of treatment when the hepatic function is not compromised is a prerequisite for maximizing the clinical activity of sorafenib

Pyrosequencing evaluation of low-frequency KRAS mutant alleles for EGF receptor therapy selection in metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

Aim: To evaluate whether pyrosequencing (PS) improves the KRAS mutational status predictive value. Patients & methods: A retrospective analysis of KRAS mutations by PS and direct sequencing (DS) in 192 metastatic colorectal carcinomas (mCRCs), subgrouped in 51 KRAS mutated at PS and 141 KRAS wild-type at DS. Results: DS failed to detect low-frequency KRAS mutations in four out of 51 mCRCs, whereas PS detected 12 additional low-frequency KRAS mutations in 141 mCRCs KRAS wild-type at DS. After reanalyzing by PS 97 KRAS wild-type tumors treated with anti-EGF receptor (EGFR) antibodies, nine additional mutations were revealed in nonresponders, whereas none of responders exhibited a KRAS-mutated genotype. Of note, KRAS-mutated tumors upon PS showed a worst progression-free survival after EGFR therapy. Finally, PS allowed the detection of additional NRAS, BRAF and exon 20 PIK3CA mutations mostly in KRAS wild-type mCRCs resistant to EGFR therapy. Conclusion: PS detection of low-frequency mutations may improve the KRAS predictive value for EGFR therapy selection. © 2014 Future Medicine Ltd