Phase I/II Study of TSU-68 for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

As HCC is a highly vascular tumor, a number of antiangiogenic agents have been tested for the treatment of HCC. Orantinib is an orally administered, small-molecule, multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR). Phase I studies that have been conducted in Japan for patients with solid tumors recommended a dosage of 400 mg bid. As a potent antiangiogenic agent, Orantinib is also expected to be effective against HCC. However, because most HCC patients have accompanying liver cirrhosis or hepatitis, its safety must be reevaluated in the presence of liver function impairment.