Dr. Huey on Sequencing Sorafenib Among Novel Combos in HCC

Ryan W. Huey, MD, assistant professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses potential sequencing options with sorafenib (Nexavar) among novel combination strategies in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Sorafenib continues to be a first-line standard of care for patients with advanced HCC.

In January 2020, a supplemental biologics license application was submitted to the FDA for the combination of atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and bevacizumab (Avastin) for the treatment of patients with unresectable HCC who have not received prior systemic therapy. If the combination is approved, it could replace sorafenib as the frontline standard of care for patients with advanced disease, says Huey.

While there are little data regarding sorafenib’s use in the second-line setting in this patient population, the agent is expected to remain part of the armamentarium as physicians are familiar with its utility, explains Huey.

Further analysis is needed to determine whether the biologic rationale for utilizing TKIs after VEGF inhibitors is clinically sound, concludes Huey.