Dr. Manne on the Need for Novel Therapies in HCC Without Preserved Liver Function

Ashish Manne, MBBS, medical oncologist, member, Translational Therapeutics Program, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center–James, discusses the need to develop novel therapies for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) without preserved liver function.

Clinical trials for patients with HCC without preserved liver function are needed, Manne says. Although the definition of preserved liver function varies, the criteria from the Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer staging system are widely accepted. Therefore, the definition of preserved liver function encompasses a Child-Pugh A score without ascites.

However, patients who have progressed on locoregional treatment will often have poor liver function, which limits their eligibility for systemic therapy. Therefore, novel therapies are needed for patients without preserved liver function who are ineligible for standard treatment options, Manne concludes.