Long-term sustained complete response with off-therapy to sorafenib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report

Abstract

A 77-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis C received radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). One year after RFA, the patient underwent resection of solitary no. 8a lymph node metastasis. However, 7 months after surgery, computed tomography (CT) scan revealed recurrence of hepatic and splenic hilar lymph node metastases. Sorafenib therapy was initiated, and subsequent dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed at the eighth month of therapy indicated a complete response (CR), sustained for 3 years even after gradual dose reduction of sorafenib, prior to subsequent complete discontinuation. The patient remains in remission 4 years after cessation of sorafenib therapy. Complete response rate to sorafenib therapy is roughly 1%, and it remains unclear whether sorafenib therapy should be continued following achievement of CR. We report a case of long-term sustained CR with off-therapy to sorafenib in advanced HCC.