(July 23, 2008 - Insidermedicine) A targeted therapy for kidney cancer known as sorafenib is also showing promise for those with advanced liver cancer, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Here are some facts about liver cancer:

•    It is often uncovered late in the progression of the disease and commonly does not respond to standard therapies.

•    While the prognosis is often poor, drugs are available to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.

•    The risk of liver cancer can be greatly reduced by protecting yourself from cirrhosis and hepatitis.

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York randomly assigned 602 patients with advanced liver cancer to treatment with sorafenib, also known as Nexavar, or a placebo. The plan was to continue to treatment until patients showed signs of progression of their disease, but the trial was stopped early because of the remarkable effects of the drug.

Those taking sorafenib lived an average of nearly three months longer than those on placebo. It also took an average of nearly three months longer for the condition to advance, based on imaging studies, among those taking the drug.

We had a chance to speak with Dr. Lewis Roberts who wrote an editorial on the study and offered some further insight.

Today’s research demonstrates that sorafenib can provide an average of nearly three more months of life to those with advanced liver cancer, a condition that currently has no cure.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.