A Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Remarkable Response by Lenvatinib within a Short Duration

Abstract

A 76-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus was referred to our hospital with a mild liver function abnormality and a liver tumor detected on abdominal ultrasonography during a local doctor visit. The patient was considered for surgery, but hospitalization was not feasible owing to personal reasons ; therefore, lenvatinib (12 mg per day) was administered. Computed tomography taken after only 4-day administration lenvatinib showed that the S8 mass had reduced in size and the S1 mass had disappeared, indicating a remarkable effect of the treatment. The patient subsequently underwent radical surgery, and multiple recurrences were observed 10 months postoperatively. The patient was recurrence-free after re-administration of lenvatinib (8 mg/day), with sequential transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. Here, we report a case of hepatocellular carcinoma that showed a remarkable response to lenvatinib within a short duration, and an associated literature review.