Top 5 Liver Cancer-Related Stories in 2021

This year in the liver cancer field, CURE® covered important Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals, side effect management and various treatment options and strategies for patients, among a multitude of other subjects.

We took a look back on our most-read liver cancer-related content from 2021 and compiled them for our audience as follows:

1. FDA Approves Radiation Therapy for Outpatient Setting in Liver Cancer Subtype

In March, the Food and Drug Administration approved Therasphere™ Yttrium-90 (Y-90) Glass Microspheres — a type of radiation therapy — for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The minimally invasive procedure is the only radioembolization treatment currently approved in the United States for these patients.

2. Tag Teaming Liver Cancer Care

In its “Speaking Out” video series, CURE® discussed liver cancer basics and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to care with Dr. Laura M. Kulik of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “It’s similar to ... a football team. Instead of having 11 players on the team on the field, if you only have five players on the field you’re not going to do as well in that game,” Kulik explained.

3. Neoadjuvant Libtayo Shows Promise for Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

In results from a phase 2a study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021, pre-surgical Libtayo (cemiplimab-rwlc) given to patients with resectable HCC led to 20% of patients experiencing a significant amount of cell death, called tumor necrosis.

4. Side Effects From Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors May Increase Hospitalizations, Cost for Patients With Bladder, Liver, Lung or Skin Cancer

Newly published findings showed that patients with liver cancer who received treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors and experienced side effects as a result, had a higher risk of hospitalizations, emergency room visits and larger health care costs compared with patients who did not have side effects.

5. Noninvasive Bridging Therapy Underutilized Versus More Invasive Options in Transplant-Eligible Hepatocellular Carcinoma

External-beam radiation therapy — a noninvasive bridging therapy option — is underused in patients with HCC awaiting liver transplants when compared with other liver-directed therapies, according to study results presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting.

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