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Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma successfully treated with sorafenib: case report and review of the literature

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Abstract

Sorafenib, a multiple kinase inhibitor, has been established as first-line standard systemic chemotherapy for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We encountered a patient with combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (CHC) who achieved complete remission in response to sorafenib treatment. A 58-year old man with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced liver cirrhosis was diagnosed with CHC in segments 6th and 7th of the liver and underwent partial surgical resection. Three months later, CHC recurred as metastases at multiple intrahepatic sites, lymph nodes, and bones, making surgery impossible. Treatment with sorafenib was initiated at 400 mg b.i.d., later reduced to 400 mg/day. After 6 months of sorafenib administration, he no longer showed abnormal uptake on fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. He was continued on sorafenib for 2.5 years, but later discontinued due to adverse events. He has shown no evidence of tumor recurrence more than 1 year after sorafenib discontinuation. His HCV was eradicated by direct-acting antivirals, and he remains in good health.

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Correspondence to Kazuto Tajiri.

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All procedures followed have been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

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Informed consent was obtained from a patient for being included in the study.

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Futsukaichi, Y., Tajiri, K., Kobayashi, S. et al. Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma successfully treated with sorafenib: case report and review of the literature. Clin J Gastroenterol 12, 128–134 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12328-018-0918-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12328-018-0918-5

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