Dr. Finn on Role of Lenvatinib in HCC Treatment Paradigm

Richard Finn, MD, professor of clinical medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology, director of the Signal Transduction and Therapeutics Program at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, discusses the role lenvatinib (Lenvima) in the treatment paradigm for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Lenvatinib was approved worldwide on the basis of its demonstrated noninferiority to sorafenib (Nexavar) in the frontline setting of advanced HCC. Researchers have reported that treatment with lenvatinib increases response rates, and overall survival between patients treated with lenvatinib and sorafenib is equivalent.

Because lenvatinib has a different toxicity profile than sorafenib, looking at patient factors such as comorbidities and underlying liver disease will be important. Evaluating tumor characteristics will also be key. While response does not necessarily correlate with survival, response in patients whose livers have a high tumor burden versus stable disease may be important.

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