Sorafenib, Treat Liver Cancer Advanced Stage

Sorafenib, Treat Liver Cancer Advanced Stage

The advanced stage liver cancer patients who had inoperable, now had new hope, that with targeted therapy using Sorafenib. Sorafenib works by blocking an enzyme that triggers the growth of malignant tumor cells. These drugs target tumor cells and tumor blood vessels.

"Based on research, the results are very significant for treating patients with liver cancer and advanced stage kidney cancer. Now Sorafenib has been used in over 90 countries," said veri Rodriquez, Head of Business Unit Specialty Medicine, Bayer HealthCare, told reporters, in the event the Media Education "Improving Life Expectancy Liver Cancer Patients with Therapeutic Targets", Tuesday (1 / 2), in Jakarta.

Veri explains, Sorafenib is beneficial for patients with liver cancer that covers the entire spectrum of disease. Based on data from the Sorafenib HCC Assessment trial randomized Protocol (SHARP), showed that Sorafenib extended the overall survival rate of 44 percent compared with placebo.

Based on experimental data in the Asia Pacific, said veri, treatment with Sorafenib increases overall survival by 47 percent and extend the time of the occurrence of disease exacerbations in patients in Asia.

In addition, further veri, Sorafenib is also being tested for efficacy to be used as combination therapy or additional
to treat early stage liver cancer.

Liver cancer, according to Prof. dr. Ali Suleiman, PhD, SpPD-KGEH, liver cancer expert staff Hepatology Section Division of Medicine Faculty of medicine, is a malignant tumor on the liver / liver. "Namely liver cells to grow and divide endlessly," he explained.

Cell or tumor, says Prof. Ali, himself is a benign (slow growing / not dangerous), some are malignant (spread to surrounding areas, even jumped away to other organs, such as bone and lung).

Travel spreading malignant cells are relatively long. "Between 15 to 25 years to experience the process of cirrhosis / cancer cell growth. No symptoms (symptom) specific, so called the silent killer," added Prof. Ali.

Prof. Ali gave the message that those who had suffered from hepatitis B and hepatitis C to be careful and keep their health and conduct health checks on a regular basis. Because, according to him, the disease can lead to liver cancer.

He added that, in patients with advanced liver cancer, surgery is most effective as a method of cancer treatment, can no longer be done. At this stage, the target therapy plays an important role to improve life expectancy and maintain the quality of life of patients with liver cancer as long as possible.

Meanwhile, Dr. Melissa S. Luwia, II Chairman of Social Services, Indonesia Cancer Foundation (YKI) said, Bayer HealthCare together YKI create special programs to assist patients in order to continue treatment and improve their medication adherence through patient assistance programs called NexPAP.

According to him, this NexPAP program will reduce the burden of liver cancer and kidney cancer, in addition to providing a positive expectation for patients to live longer and quality time with his family.

Based on data from World Health Organization (WHO), from 632 000 cases of liver cancer are diagnosed each year, approximately 450,000 (70 percent) cases were reported from Asia Pacific.

In Indonesia, according to data GLOBOCAN 2008, there were 13,238 cases of liver cancer, with death rates reaching 12 825