Long-term follow-up of complete remission in a patient with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with sorafenib: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for approximately 90% of primary liver cancer and can be caused by well-known risk factors, including infection with hepatitis B and C viruses, alcohol intake, and metabolic syndrome. The overall prognosis remains poor with a median survival of 1 year for symptomatic advanced-stage cases treated with systemic therapies. CASE DESCRIPTION: In July 2020, a 73-year-old male patient presented at our institution with mild abdominal pain and an attack of intense cold. After a radiological workup, the diagnosis of HCC located in the caudate lobe was established. The patient underwent atypical caudate lobe resection, and pathology confirmed the diagnosis of grade 3 HCC. Postoperative MRI showed a new metastasis in the 6th liver segment 1.3 cm in diameter, and a PVT progression which now affected the whole right lobe. The patient was started on sorafenib and demonstrated a complete response which still lasts for more than two years. CONCLUSION: We present a rare case of a patient who demonstrated a complete response to sorafenib treatment in advanced HCC with unfavorable prognostic factors.