Early prediction of response to sorafenib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: the role of dynamic contrast enhanced ultrasound.

Background & Aims: Sorafenib has become the standard first-line treatment for patients with advanced HCC and acts by inducing alterations in tumor vascularity. We wanted to evaluate the feasibility of dynamic CEUS (D-CEUS) as a predictor of early tumor response to sorafenib and to correlate functional parameters with clinical efficacy end points.

Methods: Twenty-eight HCC patients treated with sorafenib 400mg bid were prospectively enrolled.