Back HBV Disease Progression Liver Cancer/HCC EASL: Brivanib Did
Not Improve Overall Liver Cancer Survival, but Did Show Anti-
tumor Activity    The experimental cancer drug brivanib did not
lengthen overall survival for patients with hepatocellular
carcinoma, but it did increase time to progression,
demonstrating that it had anti-tumor activity, researchers
reported at the 47th International Liver Congress (EASL 2012)
last week in Barcelona.  Over years or decades chronic hepatitis
B or C infection -- as well as heavy alcohol consumption,
hereditary liver diseases and other causes -- can lead to
advanced liver damage including cirrhosis and hepatocellular
carcinoma (HCC), a type of liver cancer.  HCC is often not
detected until advanced stages and is difficult to treat.
Sorafenib (Nexavar) is the only drug shown to improved survival
in HCC patients who are not eligible for surgical removal, but
some people are unable to tolerate it.  Josep Llovet from the
University of Barcelona and Mount Sinai School of Medi