Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

We report four patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (all men, with liver cirrhosis and hepatitis C virus infections) who showed spontaneous regression of the tumor. When the spontaneous regression occurred all of the patients were over age 67 years. They showed a rapid increase of serum alpha-fetoprotein levels just before the spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma. In all the patients, the alpha-fetoprotein level decreased to within normal limits and the tumor was partially to completely reduced in size. One patient revealed regression after bleeding of esophageal varices and blood transfusion. Another showed spontaneous regression after taking several complementary and alternative medicines. However, the mechanisms underlying this intriguing phenomenon remain unknown.

A Complete Response Induced by 21-day Sorafenib Therapy in a Patient with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

“…Sorafenib targets VEGF-mediated angiogenesis (5), which suggests the role of sorafenib in upregulating the immune system (28). Immunological factors may play an important role in this rare phenomenon; however, to date, this role remains incompletely understood (29).…”

What Is an Exceptional Cancer Trajectory?: Multiple Stakeholder Perspectives on Cancer Trajectories in Relation to Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use

“…This is noteworthy because several studies have found that patients with reported exceptional recoveries have used CAM. For example, Kondo et al 13 mention the use of several unspecified CAM by a patient in a case study of spontaneous regression from hepatocellular carcinoma. Cunningham and Watson 17 also found that patients with reported exceptional recoveries had practiced meditation, which they classified as a "self-help technique," although National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine classifies this as CAM.…”

“…Within biomedical literature, exceptional cancer survival is often discussed in terms of "spontaneous regression" (also called "spontaneous remission"), which Papac called "one of the most fascinating phenomena observed in medicine" 10(p395) and defined as "the complete or partial disappearance of malignant tumour in the absence of therapy that is capable of inducing anti-neoplastic effects." 10(p395) Spontaneous regression has been studied and documented in literature reviews, 11,12 case studies, 13 and theoretical discussions. 10 Spontaneous regression has been reported in relation to nearly all cancer forms, but is said to be more likely to occur in some diagnoses, with renal cell carcinoma, neuroblastoma, and malignant melanoma named as examples.…”

“…10 Spontaneous regression has been reported in relation to nearly all cancer forms, but is said to be more likely to occur in some diagnoses, with renal cell carcinoma, neuroblastoma, and malignant melanoma named as examples. 13 The extent to which spontaneous regressions occur is a subject of debate. For example, Elston refers to spontaneous tumor regressions "in approximately one in every 140 000 cases of cancer," 14(p85) whereas Kondo et al 13 and Abdelrazeq 11 believe them to be more common.…”

“…13 The extent to which spontaneous regressions occur is a subject of debate. For example, Elston refers to spontaneous tumor regressions "in approximately one in every 140 000 cases of cancer," 14(p85) whereas Kondo et al 13 and Abdelrazeq 11 believe them to be more common. Various possible explanations for spontaneous tumor regression have been discussed, with the use of certain types of CAM noted as one possibility.…”