Diagnosis and systemic therapy for hepatobiliary cancer

Abstract

Cancer of the liver, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CC), is the second most common cause of cancer-related death, and its incidence rate is increasing. Clinical diagnosis is made by imaging methods based on contrast-enhanced techniques; some special types that include mixed differentiation may be picked up on biopsy. Advanced tumour stages are treated with systemic therapy. In HCC, therapy with the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib is established and new second-line therapies are expected. In CC, however, gemcitabine and cisplatin is standard in first-line therapy. This review highlights the diagnostic possibilities and current developments in the systemic therapy of HCC and CC.