How does the medication Sorafenib work in treating liver cancer?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Liver cancer is a very bad cancer with a poor prognosis except if the tumor can be resected completely at a very early stage. For advanced liver cancers (HCC- Hepatocellular carcinoma), immunotherapy using Nivolumab or Pembrolizumab is a better option than Sorafenib.

Sorafenib belongs to a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of an abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. This helps stop the spread of cancer cells. Sorafenib suppresses tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels) and promotes tumor cell apoptosis (programmed cell death). It was approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for the treatment of advanced liver cancer and as a unique target drug for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 2007.

The common side effects of Sorafenib include:

1. Bleeding gums.

2. Blistering, peeling, redness, or swelling of the palms of the hands or bottom of the feet.

3. Bloating of the abdomen or stomach.

4. Blood in the urine or stools.

5. Clay-colored stools.

6. Coughing up blood.

7. Difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Most of the side effects are manageable under close monitoring.

I hope I have answered all your queries.

Do get back in case of any further queries.

Thank you.