Hospital suspends cancer drug use on Chinese Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo
A Chinese medical team charged with treating imprisoned Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo has stopped using cancer-fighting drugs so as not to overwhelm his severely weakened liver, raising concerns that China’s most prominent political prisoner is critically ill.
The team decided to stop use of an inhibitor drug for advanced liver cancer in light of Liu’s rapidly deteriorating liver functions, according to a statement Friday on the website of the First Hospital of China Medical University.
It said a traditional Chinese medicine and anti-tumor treatment was also suspended while low-molecular heparin had been added to treat venous thrombosis developing in Liu’s left leg.
The latest statement appears to be part of an effort by Beijing to show it is providing Liu with the best possible care, amid questions about his prison conditions and international calls for him to be freed to seek treatment abroad.
Zeng Jinyan, a close family friend in contact with Liu’s brother-in-law Liu Hui, confirmed on Friday that Liu’s situation was not favorable.
Citing Liu Hui, Zeng said the inhibitor drug, Sorafenib, has failed to work on Liu Xiaobo.
“He is yet to see any improvement after two to three weeks, but its side effects are causing his liver functions to badly deteriorate with severe accumulation of abdominal fluid, ” Zeng wrote in a statement posted online.
