IMMUNOTHERAPY: A NEW HOPE FOR THE TREATMENT OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA IN VIETNAM

According to Globocan 2022 data, liver cancer ranks first in cancer mortality and second in incidence rates in Vietnam. Among liver cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for up to 75% of primary liver cancer cases.

Hepatocellular carcinoma often presents with subtle symptoms in its early stages, making treatment difficult as it often develops against a background of pre-existing liver diseases.

Depending on the stage of the disease, the severity of the underlying liver condition and the patient’s overall health, doctors will recommend appropriate treatment options. Common methods include liver transplantation, lobectomy, chemoembolization and alcohol injection.

When the disease progresses, invades blood vessels, or metastasizes to distant organs, local treatments are less effective, and systemic therapies become necessary. Immunotherapy or the combination of immunotherapy with targeted therapy has opened new avenues of hope for patients with advanced liver cancer.

In a special seminar hosted by the Vietnam Young Physicians' Association in Oncology, Dr. Bui Quang Loc from Hanoi French Hospital presented a report highlighting results from major studies on this topic.

Dr. Loc shared: “Studies such as IMBrave150, Rationale 301, HIMALAYA, and most recently, the CheckMate 9DW study presented at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) have opened new prospects for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Immunotherapy, or the combination of immunotherapy with targeted therapy, has significantly improved patients’ quality of life and prolonged survival.”

After completing his oncology training at Hanoi Medical University – Bach Mai Hospital in 2015 and four years of further studies in Paris, Dr. Bui Quang Loc has focused on in-depth research into immunotherapy, aiming to bring better treatment opportunities for cancer patients in Vietnam. Currently, in Vietnam, the combination of immunotherapy and targeted therapy has been initially applied and has shown promising results. In the near future, it is hoped that the results of major global studies will continue to be widely implemented in Vietnam.

While treatment methods continue to advance, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma remain crucial. According to the MD Anderson Cancer Center (University of Texas, USA), patients with chronic hepatitis B or cirrhosis are at higher risk of developing liver cancer. These individuals should have regular check-ups and screenings every 6 months with specialists to undergo liver ultrasounds and necessary laboratory tests.

For consultation or to schedule an appointment with specialists at Hanoi French Hospital, please contact our HOTLINE at 024.35771100 or INBOX our FANPAGE “Hanoi French Hospital,” Zalo OA: zalo.me/2008009049335817955.