# First‐Line Treatment of Icaritin and Thalidomide in a Patient With Hepatocellular Carcinoma With PR: A Case Report

## TL;DR

An 85-year-old man with advanced liver cancer showed significant improvement with a treatment combining icaritin and thalidomide.

## Contribution

This case report highlights the potential of icaritin and thalidomide as a first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma.

## Key findings

- The patient achieved partial remission with a 24-month progression-free survival and 33-month overall survival.
- Treatment led to reduced alpha-fetoprotein levels and tumor size.
- Icaritin's safety and immunomodulatory effects suggest it could be beneficial in combination therapies.

## Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a significant global health burden, with unmet clinical needs despite the availability of multiple therapeutic options.

We present the case of an 85‐year‐old male diagnosed with HCC and bilateral lung metastases following hepatectomy. The patient responded favorably to treatment with icaritin and thalidomide, which resulted in a reduction in alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) levels and tumor size. This treatment achieved partial remission, with a progression‐free survival (PFS) of 24 months and an overall survival (OS) of 33 months. Unfortunately, the patient ultimately passed away due to a cerebral infarction unrelated to cancer progression.

This case underscores the potential of icaritin as a therapeutic option for HCC patients with compromised health status. The combination of icaritin and thalidomide demonstrated promising efficacy in this real‐world scenario. Multidisciplinary combination treatment strategies incorporating icaritin merit further exploration, given its immunomodulatory effects and favorable safety profile.