Dr. El-Khoueiry on Evolving Role of Immunotherapy in HCC

Anthony B. El-Khoueiry, MD, associate professor of Clinical Medicine, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the role that immunotherapy currently plays, and will continue to play, in the treatment landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Currently, the only approved therapy in this space is sorafenib (Nexavar). Because of the tolerability of immunotherapy, as well as its mechanism of action, El-Khoueiry sees ample opportunity to incorporate such agents into earlier stages of disease.

El-Khoueiry expects that immunotherapy may be best evaluated in combination with loco-regional therapies in earlier stages of disease. Immunotherapy may also have a future role in the adjuvant setting, following resection.