The management of hepatocellular carcinoma. Current expert opinion and recommendations derived from the 10th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer, Barcelona, 2008.

This article summarizes the expert discussion on the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which took place during the 10th World Gastrointestinal Cancer Congress (WGICC) in Barcelona, June 2008. A multidisciplinary approach to a patient with HCC is essential, to guarantee optimal diagnosis and staging, planning of surgical options and selection of embolisation strategies or systemic therapies. In many patients, the underlying cirrhosis represents a challenge and determines therapeutic options. There is now robust evidence in favour of systemic therapy with sorafenib in patients with advanced HCC with preserved liver function. Those involved in the care for patients with HCC should be encouraged to participate in well-designed clinical trials, to increase evidence-based knowledge and to make further progress.