Ogasawara S, et al. - The characteristics of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with sorafenib had been investigated. Results reported limited regorafenib candidate patients after sorafenib failure and generally fewer than those who were candidates for second-line treatment. In sorafenib-treated patients with advanced HCC patients, a lower Child–Pugh score and a better ECOG-PS were predictors of eligibility for second-line therapy and regorafenib treatment.

Methods

• The clinicians retrospectively analyzed patients with HCC treated with sorafenib.
• Second-line candidate patients were defined as maintaining Child–Pugh A and ECOG-PS ≤1 at the time of sorafenib failure.
• Additionally, regorafenib candidate patients were defined as follows:
• 1) continuing sorafenib at the time of radiological progression,
• 2) maintaining Child–Pugh A and ECOG-PS ≤ 1 at the time of sorafenib failure, and
• 3) continuing sorafenib 400 mg or more without intolerable adverse events at least 20 days of the last 28 days of treatment.

Results

• 130 (70%) and 69 (37%) were candidates for second-line treatment and regorafenib, among 185 patients.
• Findings suggested significantly lower Child-Pugh score 6 and ECOG-PS 1 at the time of starting sorafenib in both second-line treatment and regorafenib candidate patients.
• This study outlined an association of hand–foot skin reaction and liver failure during sorafenib treatment with significantly low and high probabilities, respectively, of both Child–Pugh score > 6 and ECOG-PS > 1 at the time of sorafenib failure.