A first -line treatment is available capable of prolonging the survival of the sick, with benefits also for the quality of life. Often diagnosed late, hepatocarcinoma remains a big killer
A POSSIBILITS OF CUSTOME IN PI ADA Dprolonging the survival of patients with the common form of liver cancer, advanced or non -resecible hepocellular carcinoma that have not undergone a previous systemic therapy. Are approximately 13 thousand new cases diagnosed in Italy In 2020, 9,100 of which were caused by the viruses of hepatitis B and C and the remaining from other liver diseases. Unfortunately, neoplasm does not have obvious and specific symptoms, so Only 10% of cases are identified in the initial phase When surgery can be decisive: for this reason the healing percentages are still low and Only a fifth of the patients I live five years after the diagnosI.The Italian drug agency (AIFA) has recently approved the drug ATEZOLIZUMAB which, in combination with bevacizumabimproves global survival and the disease -free disease from illness compared to the previous standard of care.
New care at the forefront
The green light of AIFA arrived in the light of the results obtained in the study (of phase three) soaked 150 out of 501 adult patients who demonstrated how the administration of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab, after a period of follow-up of 8.6 months, has reduced the risk of death (global survival of 42%). Furthermore, a 15.6 months median follow-up, moreover, the risk of death appears to be reduced by 34%), improving what was possible to obtain the standard therapy based on Sorafenib. The approval of the combination of atezolizumab -bevacizumab represents a milestone in the treatment of hepowocellular carcinoma – he says Antonio Gasbarrini, Professor of Internal Medicine at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Campus di Roma and Director of the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the University Polyclinic Foundation Agostino Gemelli IRCCS -. After 10 years of immobility, a first -line treatment finally available capable of prolonging the survival of patients with a non -operable neoplasm, particularly delicate because also affected by a liver dysfunction. The average survival of the sick was 19.2 months, the most long reported by a phase three study in this neoplasm. A big step forward.
Another important goal
An analysis conducted for the first time also on the benefits detected by patients in terms of quality of life, confirms the achievement of other important objectives. With the combination, in fact, the effects of neoplasm are felt more slowly and the impact on work, on leisure time, on the ability to travel distances on foot and on the lesser symptoms. These are the best data so far obtained in the history of apathocarcinoma therapy and are comforting from the point of view of handling and tolerability with excellent results also on the quality of life of patients – he underlines Fortunato Ciardiello, Professor of Medical Oncology and Printor, University of Campania Studies Luigi Vanvitelli -. The interaction between immunotherapy and anti -angiogenetic therapy represents the new therapeutic standard in this category of patients.
Beware of these symptoms
Due to the late diagnosis in the vast majority of cases, the liver cancer the fifth big killer, after lung, colorectal, breast and pancreas. If, especially in the initial stages, no signs of S, when the disease spreads, for, symptoms are beginning to appear pain to the upper part of the abdomenthat you can also radiate to the back and shoulders, belly enlargement, Loss of weight and appetite, nausea, vomiting, feeling of Sazet, tiredness, jaundice (i.e. the yellow color of the skin), dark coloring of the urine and fever. These are signs that should not be neglected, better to talk about it with a doctor. A series of causes (including: virus infections for hepatitis B and C, alcoholic abuse, genetic and autoimmune diseases, diabetes, obesit) can induce persistent damage to the liver: these chronic hepatopathies often aggravate over the years to flow into cirrhosis Hepatic, a severe disease that over time can prepare the onset of carcinoma. The particular complexit of the pathology, often diagnosed lately, and which often has comorbidit, important that patients with hepatocarcinoma are followed by a multidisciplinary team composed of specialists with different skills – he concludes Ivan Gardini, President of the EpaC Onlus Association -. We need the parallel intervention of gastroenterologists, oncologists, surgeons and diagnostic and interventional radiologists in order to guide patients and family members towards structures with the best diagnostic and therapeutic paths.
July 8, 2022 (Edit on July 8, 2022 | 18:18)
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