7. Treatment Options: The Battle Strategies Against HCC’s Onslaught
Treatment paradigms for HCC are multifaceted, shaped by factors like the tumor’s size, location, stage, and the patient’s overall health. Surgical resection, where the affected portion of the liver is removed, remains a primary approach for localized tumors. The liver’s remarkable regenerative capacity aids post-operative recovery.
Liver transplantation, though complex, offers a chance at a cure for select patients. Replacing the diseased liver with a healthy one eliminates the primary source of the cancer. However, the scarcity of donors and the risk of tumor recurrence post-transplant are challenges.
Ablation techniques, such as radiofrequency ablation, use heat to destroy tumor cells. They’re especially beneficial for smaller tumors when surgery might not be feasible. Similarly, embolization targets the tumor’s blood supply, depriving it of essential nutrients and leading to its death.
Targeted therapies, a new wave in cancer treatment, hold immense promise. Drugs like sorafenib target specific molecular pathways involved in tumor growth, halting its progression and, in some cases, causing regression.
Chemotherapy, a mainstay in cancer treatment, has limited efficacy in HCC due to the liver’s detoxification prowess. However, in combination with other modalities or in advanced stages, it remains a valuable tool in the oncologist’s arsenal. (7)
