Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a critical health concern in Korea,
ranking as the second leading cause of cancer mortality and imposing substantial
economic burdens, particularly among the working-age population. This review
examines recent advancements in treating advanced HCC, referencing the updated
2022 HCC guidelines and the Barcelona Clinical Liver Cancer system.
Historically, first-line systemic therapies included sorafenib and lenvatinib,
with regorafenib, cabozantinib, or ramucirumab serving as second-line options.
Since 2020, immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown superior overall survival
than sorafenib, leading to the adoption of combination therapies such as
atezolizumab with bevacizumab and durvalumab with tremelimumab as first-line
treatments. The IMbrave150 study demonstrated that
atezolizumab–bevacizumab significantly extended median overall survival
and progression-free survival, with the longest survival reported in any phase 3
trial for advanced HCC. Similarly, the HIMALAYA study indicated that durvalumab
combined with tremelimumab significantly improved survival rates. Second-line
therapies now include regorafenib, cabozantinib, ramucirumab, nivolumab with
ipilimumab, and pembrolizumab, each offering benefits for specific patient
populations. Nonetheless, these therapies are associated with side effects that
require careful management. Traditional targeted therapies can lead to
hypertension, cardiovascular events, and hand-foot skin reactions, whereas
immune checkpoint inhibitors may cause immune-related adverse events affecting
the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and endocrine system. Clinicians must be
well-versed in these treatments and their potential side effects to provide
optimal patient care. The emergence of combination therapies targeting complex
biological pathways signifies a new paradigm in HCC treatment, emphasizing the
importance of continuous education and vigilant monitoring to optimize patient
outcomes.