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Potential Molecular Targets and Drugs for Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Abraham Nigussie Mekuria and Abraham Degaga Abdi

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a common type of primary liver cancer. According to the recent world cancer report, the disease ranked as the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the third largest cause of cancer-related death. Deregulation of numerous signaling pathways have been implicate in pathogenesis of HCC, including IGF, EGF/TGF, HGF/cMet, WNT, Hedgehog, notch, hippo, VEGF, PDGF, and FGF. Besides, intracellular mediators such as MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR play a role in HCC development and progression. Currently sorafenib is the only molecularly targeted drug available to treat advanced HCC. It only extends survival by a matter of months. Moreover, there is no alternative agent for patients progressing under treatment with sorafenib. Thus, there remains a critical need for both continued molecular characterization and aggressive drug development. This review provided and updated appraisal of the deregulated signaling and epigenetic pathways, targeted therapeutics that is being investigated and possible challenges in drug development for HCC.