Clinical aspects of the use of sorafenib in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: an integrative review

Abstract

Context: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common malignant liver tumor in the world. Sorafenib is the only drug approved as a first line for patients in advanced stage. Objective: To characterize the clinical aspects of the use of the drug Sorafenib for the treatment of HCC, it does not refer to the efficacy and adverse reactions, through the analysis of the scientific literature. Methods: This is an integrative review, with an exploratory and descriptive character. Electronic databases were used to search for original articles, published between 2007 and 2019, available for free, which addressed the use of Sorafenib as the main therapy in the treatment of advanced HCC Review articles, theses and dissertations, editorials and / or articles that addressed only surgical management or other treatments. The variables related to the studies and those related to the effects of Sorafenib were observed. Results: Eight articles were formed with a majority of male patients, above 60 years of age. In general, positive outcomes were identified in relation to the efficacy of the drug, showing an increase in the average survival of patients with advanced HCC. Only in 2 studies were no adverse reactions reported, in the others the most common were diarrhea, hand-foot skin reaction and hypertension; less frequent, more acute symptoms such as gastrointestinal, hepatic and cardiac manifestations. Conclusion: The drug Sorafenib proves to be effective, promotes increased survival of patients with advanced HCC and adverse reactions, mostly of low severity.