Sorafenib down-regulates c-IAP expression post-transcriptionally in hepatic carcinoma cells to suppress apoptosis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of leading causes of cancer-related death with a heterogeneous patient demographic and divergent pathogenic pathways. Sorafenib is the first effective drug approved for the treatment of HCC. Although it is known that sorafenib promotes apoptosis of HCC cells, the underlying mechanism remains largely obscure.