Lučev H, Adžić G, Pleština S, Prejac J. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma achieving a complete response to sorafenib: Three case reports and review of literature. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(1): 113099 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i1.113099]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Gordan Adžić, MD, Department of Oncology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, Zagreb 10000, Croatia. gordan.adzic@gmail.com
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Oncology
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Case Report
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Jan 15, 2026 (publication date) through Jan 12, 2026
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World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
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1948-5204
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Lučev H, Adžić G, Pleština S, Prejac J. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma achieving a complete response to sorafenib: Three case reports and review of literature. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(1): 113099 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i1.113099]
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jan 15, 2026; 18(1): 113099 Published online Jan 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i1.113099
Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma achieving a complete response to sorafenib: Three case reports and review of literature
Hana Lučev, Gordan Adžić, Stjepko Pleština, Juraj Prejac
Hana Lučev, Gordan Adžić, Stjepko Pleština, Juraj Prejac, Department of Oncology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
Stjepko Pleština, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
Juraj Prejac, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
Author contributions: Lučev H and Adžić G collected the data and drafted the manuscript; Prejac J and Pleština S revised and commented on the manuscript; all authors contributed to the manuscript and approved the submitted version.
Informed consent statement: All patients provided written informed consent for publication of their clinical data.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Gordan Adžić, MD, Department of Oncology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, Zagreb 10000, Croatia. gordan.adzic@gmail.com
Received: August 15, 2025 Revised: September 21, 2025 Accepted: November 20, 2025 Published online: January 15, 2026 Processing time: 150 Days and 16 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Sorafenib has been the conventional treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) since 2008. While radiological complete responses are extremely rare, improved supportive care and multidisciplinary approaches in clinical practice may explain the recent increase in case reports and retrospective series documenting such responses.
CASE SUMMARY
This case series describes 3 patients with advanced HCC who achieved durable complete responses using first-line sorafenib therapy, even in the presence of portal vein thrombosis or extrahepatic spread, and highlights the potential for sustained remission in selected patients. Dermatologic toxicity and non-viral etiology may correlate with favorable outcomes; however, reliable predictive biomarkers for sorafenib response are lacking.
CONCLUSION
Future research into the etiology and molecular differences in HCC is necessary to develop more personalized therapy options.
Core Tip: Complete responses to sorafenib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma are extremely rare. This case series reports 3 patients who, despite having advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with features like portal vein thrombosis and extrahepatic spread, achieved durable complete responses on sorafenib therapy. Predictive biomarkers for sorafenib response remain unknown, although dermatologic toxicity and non-viral etiology may be associated with favorable outcomes. These findings support the continued utility of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in selected patients, particularly when immunotherapy is contraindicated or unavailable.
