Are there indications for chemotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma?

Single-agent Adriamycin gives a response rate of around 15% to 20%, and with combination therapy, this figure rises to around 20% to 35%; however, there is no proven survival benefit. Nonetheless, HCC is clearly not entirely chemotherapy resistant and complete pathologic remission is possible after systemic combination chemotherapy alone. Major methodologic problems remain in assessment of response and the survival benefit from systemic therapy. Until these are resolved, the answer to the question posed in this article is unknown; further appropriate studies remain to be undertaken.