EGFR and hepatocellular carcinoma: In previous clinical trials, erlotinib, an EGFR inhibitor, showed good tolerance, but its therapeutic efficiency in HCC patients was limited.24,25 Additionally, a phase III SEARCH trial showed that erlotinib plus sorafenib as a first-line treatment in advanced HCC patients did not result in significant clinical benefits to HCC patients.26 These results indicate that the currently observed synergy with EGFR inhibition is specific to lenvatinib, as also seen in vitro.11 Unlike sorafenib, lenvatinib can specifically inhibit FGFR family members.