Enhanced Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
By Motawa E. El-Houseini, PhD, Mohammed S. Mohammed, PhD, Wael M. Elshemey, PhD, Tarek D. Hussein, PhD, Omar S. Desouky, PhD, and Anwar A. Elsayed, PhD

Platinol® and Surgery Optimal Therapy for Standard-risk Hepatoblastoma in Children (10/23/2009)
Researchers affiliated with International Childhood Liver Tumor Strategy Group (SIOPEL) 2 trial have reported that neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment with Platinol® (cisplatin) alone is as effective as Adriamycin® (doxorubicin) plus Platinol, with less toxicity, in children with standard-risk hepatoblastoma. The details of this study were published in the October 22, 2009 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Sutent® Not Effective for Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (7/9/2009)
Researchers from France have reported that treatment with Sutent® (sunitinib) of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma was associated with a low response rate and significant toxicity. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in Lancet Oncology on July 7, 2009.

Women with Hypothyroidism at Increased Risk of Liver Cancer (6/23/2009)
Researchers from the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have reported that long-term hypothyroidism in women significantly increases the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. The details of this study appeared in the May 2009 issue of Hepatology.

Combination of Chemotherapy Drugs Improves Survival with Biliary Tract Cancer (5/26/2009)
Researchers from the United Kingdom have reported that treatment of gallbladder or bile duct cancer with a combination of Gemzar® (gemcitabine) and cisplatin results in better survival and a lower risk of cancer progression than treatment with Gemzar alone. The details of this Phase III clinical trial will be presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), May 29-June 2, in Orlando Florida.

Percutaneous Thermal Ablation Effective for Medium and Large Hepatocellular Carcinomas (4/29/2009)
Researchers from China have reported that thermal ablation with radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) or microwave ablation (MWA) is effective treatment for hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) measuring between 3 and 7 centimeters. The details of this study appeared in the May 1, 2009 issue of Cancer.