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Yang X, Tian X, Zhao P, Wang Z, Sun X. Paclitaxel inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenesis by regulating the circ_0005785/miR-640/GSK3β. Cell Biol Int 2023. [PMID: 37269228 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Paclitaxel (PTX) is an effective chemotherapeutic agent for cancer patients. It has been reported that circular RNA (circRNA) circ_0005785is involved in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this study is to explore the role and mechanism of circ_0005785 in the PTX resistance of HCC. Cell viability, proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis, and angiogenesis were detected using 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), colony formation, transwell, wound-healing, flow cytometry, and tube formation assay. Circ_0005785, microRNA-640 (miR-640), and Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3β) levels were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Protein levels of Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bcl-2, and GSK3β were measured using western blot assay. After being predicted using Circular RNA interactome or TargetScan, binding between miR-640 and circ_0005785 or GSK3β was verified using dual-luciferase reporter and RNA Immunoprecipitation assay. PTX treatment could repress HCC cell viability, decrease circ_0005785 and GSK3β expression, and increase the miR-640 level in HCC cell lines. Furthermore, circ_0005785 and GSK3β were increased, and miR-640 was decreased in HCC tissues and cell lines. Moreover, circ_0005785 knockdown hindered proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and boosted apoptosis in PTX-treated HCC cells in vitro. In addition, circ_0005785 silencing improved the PTX sensitivity of HCC in vivo. Mechanistically, circ_0005785 acted as a sponge of miR-640 to regulate GSK3β expression. PTX restrained HCC tumorigenesis partly via regulating the circ_0005785/miR-640/GSK3β axis, hinting at a promising therapeutic target for the HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianwu Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shijiazhuang People's Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiaojuan Tian
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Pengcheng Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Chengdu Seventh People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Huai'an Second People's Hospital/Huai'an Hospital, Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuedong Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shijiazhuang People's Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
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102
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Chen Y, Liu Y, Chen S, Zhang L, Rao J, Lu X, Ma Y. Liver organoids: a promising three-dimensional model for insights and innovations in tumor progression and precision medicine of liver cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1180184. [PMID: 37334366 PMCID: PMC10272526 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1180184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancer (PLC) is one type of cancer with high incidence rate and high mortality rate in the worldwide. Systemic therapy is the major treatment for PLC, including surgical resection, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. However, mainly due to the heterogeneity of tumors, responses to the above drug therapy differ from person to person, indicating the urgent needs for personalized treatment for PLC. Organoids are 3D models derived from adult liver tissues or pluripotent stem cells. Based on the ability to recapitulate the genetic and functional features of in vivo tissues, organoids have assisted biomedical research to make tremendous progress in understanding disease origin, progression and treatment strategies since their invention and application. In liver cancer research, liver organoids contribute greatly to reflecting the heterogeneity of liver cancer and restoring tumor microenvironment (TME) by co-organizing tumor vasculature and stromal components in vitro. Therefore, they provide a promising platform for further investigation into the biology of liver cancer, drug screening and precision medicine for PLC. In this review, we discuss the recent advances of liver organoids in liver cancer, in terms of generation methods, application in precision medicine and TME modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukun Chen
- Organ Transplant Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yujun Liu
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shimin Chen
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Long Zhang
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiawei Rao
- Organ Transplant Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinjun Lu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Ma
- Organ Transplant Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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103
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Xu S, Wang C, Yang L, Wu J, Li M, Xiao P, Xu Z, Xu Y, Wang K. Targeting immune checkpoints on tumor-associated macrophages in tumor immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1199631. [PMID: 37313405 PMCID: PMC10258331 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1199631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Unprecedented breakthroughs have been made in cancer immunotherapy in recent years. Particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors have fostered hope for patients with cancer. However, immunotherapy still exhibits certain limitations, such as a low response rate, limited efficacy in certain populations, and adverse events in certain tumors. Therefore, exploring strategies that can improve clinical response rates in patients is crucial. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the predominant immune cells that infiltrate the tumor microenvironment and express a variety of immune checkpoints that impact immune functions. Mounting evidence indicates that immune checkpoints in TAMs are closely associated with the prognosis of patients with tumors receiving immunotherapy. This review centers on the regulatory mechanisms governing immune checkpoint expression in macrophages and strategies aimed at improving immune checkpoint therapies. Our review provides insights into potential therapeutic targets to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade and key clues to developing novel tumor immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumin Xu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Chenyang Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Lingge Yang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Jiaji Wu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Mengshu Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Peng Xiao
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhiyong Xu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Yun Xu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
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104
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Liu X, Huangfu Y, Wang J, Kong P, Tian W, Liu P, Fang C, Li S, Nie Y, Feng Z, Huang P, Shi S, Zhang C, Dong A, Wang W. Supramolecular Polymer-Nanomedicine Hydrogel Loaded with Tumor Associated Macrophage-Reprogramming polyTLR7/8a Nanoregulator for Enhanced Anti-Angiogenesis Therapy of Orthotopic Hepatocellular Carcinoma. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023:e2300637. [PMID: 37229748 PMCID: PMC10401096 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202300637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Anti-angiogenic therapies targeting inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway show clinical benefit in hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors. However, HCC expresses massive pro-angiogenic factors in the tumor microenvironment (TME) in response to anti-angiogenic therapy, recruiting tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), leading to revascularization and tumor progression. To regulate cell types in TME and promote the therapeutic efficiency of anti-angiogenic therapy, a supramolecular hydrogel drug delivery system (PLDX-PMI) co-assembled by anti-angiogenic nanomedicines (PCN-Len nanoparticles (NPs)) and oxidized dextran (DX), and loaded with TAMs-reprogramming polyTLR7/8a nanoregulators (p(Man-IMDQ) NRs) is developed for orthotopic liver cancer therapy. PCN-Len NPs target tyrosine kinases of vascular endothelial cells and blocked VEGFR signaling pathway. p(Man-IMDQ) NRs repolarize pro-angiogenic M2-type TAMs into anti-angiogenic M1-type TAMs via mannose-binding receptors, reducing the secretion of VEGF, which further compromised the migration and proliferation of vascular endothelial cells. On highly malignant orthotopic liver cancer Hepa1-6 model, it is found that a single administration of the hydrogel formulation significantly decreases tumor microvessel density, promotes tumor vascular network maturation, and reduces M2-subtype TAMs, thereby effectively inhibiting tumor progression. Collectively, findings in this work highlight the great significance of TAMs reprogramming in enhancing anti-angiogenesis treatment for orthotopic HCC, and provides an advanced hydrogel delivery system-based synergistic approach for tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Liu
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
| | - Yini Huangfu
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
| | - Jingrong Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomaterial Research, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, 300192, P. R. China
| | - Pengxu Kong
- Department of Structural Heart Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, P. R. China
| | - Weijun Tian
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, P. R. China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, P. R. China
| | - Chuang Fang
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, P. R. China
| | - Shuangyang Li
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
| | - Yu Nie
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, P. R. China
| | - Zujian Feng
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomaterial Research, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, 300192, P. R. China
| | - Pingsheng Huang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomaterial Research, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, 300192, P. R. China
| | - Shengbin Shi
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, P. R. China
| | - Chuangnian Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomaterial Research, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, 300192, P. R. China
| | - Anjie Dong
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China
| | - Weiwei Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomaterial Research, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, 300192, P. R. China
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105
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Li D, Cao D, Cui Y, Sun Y, Jiang J, Cao X. The potential of epigallocatechin gallate in the chemoprevention and therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1201085. [PMID: 37292151 PMCID: PMC10244546 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1201085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most notorious malignancies globally, has a high fatality and poor prognosis. Though remarkable breakthroughs have been made in the therapeutic strategies recently, the overall survival of HCC remains unsatisfactory. Consequently, the therapy of HCC remains a great challenge. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a natural polyphenol extracted from the leaves of the tea bush, has been extensively investigated for its antitumor effects. In this review, we summarize the previous literature to elucidate the roles of EGCG in the chemoprophylaxis and therapy of HCC. Accumulating evidence has confirmed EGCG prevents and inhibits the hepatic tumorigenesis and progression through multiple biological mechanisms, mainly involving hepatitis virus infection, oxidative stress, proliferation, invasion, migration, angiogenesis, apoptosis, autophagy, and tumor metabolism. Furthermore, EGCG enhances the efficacy and sensitivity of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy in HCC. In conclusion, preclinical studies have confirmed the potential of EGCG for chemoprevention and therapy of HCC under multifarious experimental models and conditions. Nevertheless, there is an urgent need to explore the safety and efficacy of EGCG in the clinical practice of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongming Li
- Department of Gastric and Colorectal Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Donghui Cao
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yingnan Cui
- Department of Gastric and Colorectal Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yuanlin Sun
- Department of Gastric and Colorectal Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jing Jiang
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xueyuan Cao
- Department of Gastric and Colorectal Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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106
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Zeng X, Jia Y, Chen H, Luo Q, Zhao H, Liang G, Chen W, Li Y. A real-world analysis of survival and cost-effectiveness of sintilimab plus bevacizumab biosimilar regimen in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023:10.1007/s00432-023-04775-2. [PMID: 37188985 PMCID: PMC10185451 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-04775-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor sintilimab plus bevacizumab has been approved as the first-line treatment for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC). However, the clinical benefits of sintilimab plus bevacizumab in a real-world setting in China is insufficiently defined to date. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of sintilimab plus bevacizumab biosimilar in a real-word cohort of patients with aHCC from China. METHODS We reviewed the clinical data of 112 consecutive patients with aHCC who received sintilimab plus bevacizumab as a first-line treatment in Chongqing University Cancer hospital between July, 2021 and December, 2022. Overall survival, progression-free survival, overall response rate, and adverse event rates were assessed based on the RECIST 1.1. The survival curves were grafted by Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS Sixty-eight patients with aHCC were included our study. Efficacy evaluation results showed that 8 patients were partial remission, 51 patients were stable and 9 patients showed progression disease. Median overall survival and progression-free survival were 344.00 (168.77-419.23) days and 238.00 (174.56-301.44) days, respectively. Adverse events occurred in 35 patients (51.5%), including 9 patients with grade ≥ 3. The life-year (LY) and quality-adjusted LY (QALY) were 1.97 and 2.92, respectively, with a cost of $35,018. CONCLUSION Our data confirmed the promising efficacy, tolerable toxicity and cost-effectiveness in Chinese patients with aHCC who received sintilimab plus bevacizumab as the first-line therapy regimen in real-world practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianghua Zeng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital and Chongqing Cancer Institute, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Yingxin Jia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Deyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Deyang, 618000, China
| | - Hongmei Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Chongqing Ba'nan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, 400055, China
| | - Qinli Luo
- Health Examination and Oncology Screening Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital and Chongqing Cancer Institute, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Huakan Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital and Chongqing Cancer Institute, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Guanzhong Liang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital and Chongqing Cancer Institute, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Wen Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital and Chongqing Cancer Institute, Chongqing, 400030, China.
| | - Yongsheng Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital and Chongqing Cancer Institute, Chongqing, 400030, China.
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107
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Li J, Xuan S, Dong P, Xiang Z, Gao C, Li M, Huang L, Wu J. Immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma: recent progress and new strategy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1192506. [PMID: 37234162 PMCID: PMC10206122 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1192506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to its widespread occurrence and high mortality rate, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an abhorrent kind of cancer. Immunotherapy is a hot spot in the field of cancer treatment, represented by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which aim to improve the immune system's ability to recognize, target and eliminate cancer cells. The composition of the HCC immune microenvironment is the result of the interaction of immunosuppressive cells, immune effector cells, cytokine environment, and tumor cell intrinsic signaling pathway, and immunotherapy with strong anti-tumor immunity has received more and more research attention due to the limited responsiveness of HCC to ICI monotherapy. There is evidence of an organic combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, anti-angiogenic agents and ICI catering to the unmet medical needs of HCC. Moreover, immunotherapies such as adoptive cellular therapy (ACT), cancer vaccines and cytokines also show encouraging efficacy. It can significantly improve the ability of the immune system to eradicate tumor cells. This article reviews the role of immunotherapy in HCC, hoping to improve the effect of immunotherapy and develop personalized treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiarui Li
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shihai Xuan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The People’s Hospital of Dongtai City, Dongtai, China
| | - Peng Dong
- Hangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ze Xiang
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ce Gao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mo Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lan Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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108
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Chen K, Li Y, Wang B, Yan X, Tao Y, Song W, Xi Z, He K, Xia Q. Patient-derived models facilitate precision medicine in liver cancer by remodeling cell-matrix interaction. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1101324. [PMID: 37215109 PMCID: PMC10192760 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1101324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is an aggressive tumor originating in the liver with a dismal prognosis. Current evidence suggests that liver cancer is the fifth most prevalent cancer worldwide and the second most deadly type of malignancy. Tumor heterogeneity accounts for the differences in drug responses among patients, emphasizing the importance of precision medicine. Patient-derived models of cancer are widely used preclinical models to study precision medicine since they preserve tumor heterogeneity ex vivo in the study of many cancers. Patient-derived models preserving cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions better recapitulate in vivo conditions, including patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), precision-cut liver slices (PCLSs), patient-derived organoids (PDOs), and patient-derived tumor spheroids (PDTSs). In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the different modalities used to establish preclinical models for precision medicine in liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiwen Chen
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanran Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Bingran Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuehan Yan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiying Tao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weizhou Song
- Ottawa-Shanghai Joint School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhifeng Xi
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Kang He
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Xia
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
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109
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Bhatt A, Wu J. Immunotherapy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:2261-2271. [PMID: 37124885 PMCID: PMC10134420 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i15.2261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is presented frequently in late stages that are not amenable for curative treatment. Even for patients who can undergo resection for curative treatment of HCC, up to 50% recur. For patients who were not exposed to systemic therapy prior to recurrence, recurrence frequently cannot be subjected to curative therapy or local treatments. Such patients have several options of immunotherapy (IO). This includes programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T- lymphocyte associated protein 4 treatment, combination of PD-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor or single agent PD-1 therapy when all other options are deemed inappropriate. There are also investigational therapies in this area that explore either PD-1 and tyrosine kinase inhibitors or a novel agent in addition to PD-1 with vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors. This mini-review explored IO options for patients with recurrent HCC who were not exposed to systemic therapy at the initial diagnosis. We also discussed potential IO options for patients with recurrent HCC who were exposed to first-line therapy with curative intent at diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahan Bhatt
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Perlmutter Cancer Center of NYU Langone Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States
| | - Jennifer Wu
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Perlmutter Cancer Center of NYU Langone Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States
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Yang L, Wang YR, Mou ZQ, Xiong PF, Deng K, Wen J, Li J. A new prediction model of hepatocellular carcinoma based on N7-methylguanosine modification. BMC Gastroenterol 2023; 23:131. [PMID: 37081394 PMCID: PMC10120187 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-023-02757-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a kind of primary liver cancer. It is a common malignant tumor of digestive system that is difficult to predict the prognosis of patients. As an important epigenetic modification, N7 methyl guanosine (m7G) is indispensable in gene regulation. This regulation may affect the development and occurrence of cancer. However, the prognosis of long non coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in HCC is limited, especially how m7G-related lncRNAs regulate the development of HCC has not been reported. METHODS The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) provides us with the expression data and corresponding clinical information of HCC patients we need. We used a series of statistical methods to screen four kinds of m7G-related lncRNAs related to HCC prognosis and through a series of verifications, the results were in line with our expectations. Finally, we also explored the IC50 difference and correlation analysis of various common chemotherapy drugs. RESULT Our study identified four differentially expressed m7g-related lncRNAs associated with HCC prognosis. Survival curve analysis showed that high risk lncRNAs would lead to poor prognosis of HCC patients. M7G signature's AUC was 0.789, which shows that the prognosis model we studied has certain significance in predicting the prognosis of HCC patients. Moreover, our study found that different risk groups have different immune and tumor related pathways through gene set enrichment analysis. In addition, many immune cell functions are significantly different among different risk groups, such as T cell functions, including coordination of type I INF response and coordination of type II INF response. The expression of PDCD1, HHLA2, CTLA-4 and many other immune checkpoints in different risk groups is also different. Additionally, we analyzed the differences of IC50 and risk correlation of 15 chemotherapeutic drugs among different risk groups. CONCLUSION A novel lncRNAs associated with m7G predicts the prognosis of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yang
- Department of General Surgery (Hepatobiliary Surgery), The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Academician (Expert) Workstation of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Yi-Ran Wang
- Department of General Surgery (Hepatobiliary Surgery), The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Academician (Expert) Workstation of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Mou
- Department of General Surgery (Hepatobiliary Surgery), The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Academician (Expert) Workstation of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Ping-Fu Xiong
- Department of General Surgery (Hepatobiliary Surgery), The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Academician (Expert) Workstation of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Kun Deng
- Department of General Surgery (Gastrointestinal Surgery), The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Jian Wen
- Department of General Surgery (Hepatobiliary Surgery), The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Academician (Expert) Workstation of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of General Surgery (Hepatobiliary Surgery), The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
- Academician (Expert) Workstation of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, 646000, China.
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, 646000, China.
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Wang S, Gao S, Ye W, Li Y, Luan J, Lv X. The emerging importance role of m6A modification in liver disease. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 162:114669. [PMID: 37037093 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, as one of the most common types of inner RNA modification in eukaryotes, plays a multifunctional role in normal and abnormal biological processes. This type of modification is modulated by m6A writer, eraser and reader, which in turn impact various processes of RNA metabolism, such as RNA processing, translation, nuclear export, localization and decay. The current academic view holds that m6A modification exerts a crucial role in the post-transcriptional modulation of gene expression, and is involved in multiple cellular functions, developmental and disease processes. However, the potential molecular mechanism and specific role of m6A modification in the development of liver disease have not been fully elucidated. In our review, we summarized the latest research progress on m6A modification in liver disease, and explored how these novel findings reshape our knowledge of m6A modulation of RNA metabolism. In addition, we also illustrated the effect of m6A on liver development and regeneration to prompt further exploration of the mechanism and role of m6A modification in liver physiology and pathology, providing new insights and references for the search of potential therapeutic targets for liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu, Anhui Province, China; The Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune medicines, Ministry of Education, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, School of Pharmacy, Institute for Liver Disease of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Songsen Gao
- Department of Orthopedics (Spinal Surgery), The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Wufei Ye
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu, Anhui Province, China
| | - Yueran Li
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu, Anhui Province, China
| | - Jiajie Luan
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu, Anhui Province, China
| | - Xiongwen Lv
- The Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune medicines, Ministry of Education, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, School of Pharmacy, Institute for Liver Disease of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
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112
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Liu X, Wang X, Luo Y, Wang M, Chen Z, Han X, Zhou S, Wang J, Kong J, Yu H, Wang X, Tang X, Guo Q. A 3D Tumor-Mimicking In Vitro Drug Release Model of Locoregional Chemoembolization Using Deep Learning-Based Quantitative Analyses. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2206195. [PMID: 36793129 PMCID: PMC10104640 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202206195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Primary liver cancer, with the predominant form as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), remains a worldwide health problem due to its aggressive and lethal nature. Transarterial chemoembolization, the first-line treatment option of unresectable HCC that employs drug-loaded embolic agents to occlude tumor-feeding arteries and concomitantly delivers chemotherapeutic drugs into the tumor, is still under fierce debate in terms of the treatment parameters. The models that can produce in-depth knowledge of the overall intratumoral drug release behavior are lacking. This study engineers a 3D tumor-mimicking drug release model, which successfully overcomes the substantial limitations of conventional in vitro models through utilizing decellularized liver organ as a drug-testing platform that uniquely incorporates three key features, i.e., complex vasculature systems, drug-diffusible electronegative extracellular matrix, and controlled drug depletion. This drug release model combining with deep learning-based computational analyses for the first time permits quantitative evaluation of all important parameters associated with locoregional drug release, including endovascular embolization distribution, intravascular drug retention, and extravascular drug diffusion, and establishes long-term in vitro-in vivo correlations with in-human results up to 80 d. This model offers a versatile platform incorporating both tumor-specific drug diffusion and elimination settings for quantitative evaluation of spatiotemporal drug release kinetics within solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoya Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare EngineeringGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced BiomaterialsDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
- Department of PharmacyShenzhen Children's HospitalShenzhenGuangdong518026P. R. China
| | - Xueying Wang
- Department of Electronic and Electrical EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
| | - Yucheng Luo
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare EngineeringGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced BiomaterialsDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
| | - Meijuan Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare EngineeringGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced BiomaterialsDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
| | - Zijian Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare EngineeringGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced BiomaterialsDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyu Han
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare EngineeringGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced BiomaterialsDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
| | - Sijia Zhou
- Department of MolecularCellular and Developmental Biology (MCD)Centre de Biologie Integrative (CBI)University of ToulouseCNRSUPSToulouse31062France
| | - Jiahao Wang
- Mechanobiology InstituteNational University of SingaporeSingapore117411Singapore
| | - Jian Kong
- Department of Interventional RadiologyFirst Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and TechnologySecond Clinical Medical College of Jinan UniversityShenzhen People's HospitalShenzhenGuangdong518020P. R. China
| | - Hanry Yu
- Mechanobiology InstituteNational University of SingaporeSingapore117411Singapore
- Department of PhysiologyInstitute of Digital Medicineand Mechanobiology InstituteNational University of SingaporeSingapore117593Singapore
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- Department of MolecularCellular and Developmental Biology (MCD)Centre de Biologie Integrative (CBI)University of ToulouseCNRSUPSToulouse31062France
| | - Xiaoying Tang
- Department of Electronic and Electrical EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
- Jiaxing Research InstituteSouthern University of Science and TechnologyJiaxingZhejiang314000P. R. China
| | - Qiongyu Guo
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare EngineeringGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced BiomaterialsDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
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113
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Wang H, Liu R, Mo H, Li R, Lian J, Liu Q, Han S. A novel nomogram predicting the early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma patients after R0 resection. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1133807. [PMID: 37007138 PMCID: PMC10063973 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1133807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Early tumor recurrence is one of the most significant poor prognostic factors for patients with HCC after R0 resection. The aim of this study is to identify risk factors of early recurrence, in addition, to develop a nomogram model predicting early recurrence of HCC patients. Methods A total of 481 HCC patients after R0 resection were enrolled and divided into a training cohort (n = 337) and a validation cohort (n = 144). Risk factors for early recurrence were determined based on Cox regression analysis in the training cohort. A nomogram incorporating independent risk predictors was established and validated. Results Early recurrence occurred in 37.8% of the 481 patients who underwent curative liver resection of HCC. AFP ≥ 400 ng/mL (HR: 1.662; P = 0.008), VEGF-A among 127.8 to 240.3 pg/mL (HR: 1.781, P = 0.012), VEGF-A > 240.3 pg/mL (HR: 2.552, P < 0.001), M1 subgroup of MVI (HR: 2.221, P = 0.002), M2 subgroup of MVI (HR: 3.120, P < 0.001), intratumor necrosis (HR: 1.666, P = 0.011), surgical margin among 5.0 to 10.0 mm (HR: 1.601, P = 0.043) and surgical margin < 5.0 mm (HR: 1.790, P = 0.012) were found to be independent risk factors for recurrence-free survival in the training cohort and were used for constructing the nomogram. The nomogram indicated good predictive performance with an AUC of 0.781 (95% CI: 0.729-0.832) and 0.808 (95% CI: 0.731-0.886) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Conclusions Elevated serum concentrations of AFP and VEGF-A, microvascular invasion, intratumor necrosis, surgical margin were independent risk factors of early intrahepatic recurrence. A reliable nomogram model which incorporated blood biomarkers and pathological variables was established and validated. The nomogram achieved desirable effectiveness in predicting early recurrence in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanhuan Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Runkun Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Huanye Mo
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Runtian Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jie Lian
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Qingguang Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Shaoshan Han
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
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Luo YZ, Zhu H. Immunotherapy for advanced or recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2023; 15:405-424. [PMID: 37009314 PMCID: PMC10052663 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v15.i3.405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and is prone to intra- and extrahepatic metastasis due to the anatomical and functional characteristics of the liver. Due to the complexity and high relapse rate associated with radical surgery or radiofrequency ablation, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are increasingly being used to treat HCC. Several immunotherapeutic agents, along with their combinations, have been clinically approved to treat advanced or recurrent HCC. This review discusses the leading ICIs in practice and those currently undergoing randomized phase 1–3 trials as monotherapy or combination therapy. Furthermore, we summarize the rapidly developing alternative strategies such as chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T cell therapy and tumor vaccines. Combination therapy is a promising potential treatment option. These immunotherapies are also summarized in this review, which provides insights into the advantages, limitations, and novel angles for future research in establishing viable and alternative therapies against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Zhe Luo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Hong Zhu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
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Chen J, Feng D, Lu Y, Zhang Y, Jiang H, Yuan M, Xu Y, Zou J, Zhu Y, Zhang J, Ge C, Wang Y. A Novel Phenazine Analog, CPUL1, Suppresses Autophagic Flux and Proliferation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Insight from Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analysis. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15051607. [PMID: 36900398 PMCID: PMC10001020 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15051607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND CPUL1, a phenazine analog, has demonstrated potent antitumor properties against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and indicates a promising prospect in pharmaceutical development. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely obscure. METHODS Multiple HCC cell lines were used to investigate the in vitro effects of CPUL1. The antineoplastic properties of CPUL1 were assessed in vivo by establishing a xenograft nude mice model. After that, metabolomics, transcriptomics, and bioinformatics were integrated to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacy of CPUL1, highlighting an unanticipated involvement of autophagy dysregulation. RESULTS CPUL1 suppressed HCC cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo, thereby endorsing the potential as a leading agent for HCC therapy. Integrative omics characterized a deteriorating scenario of metabolic debilitation with CPUL1, presenting an issue in the autophagy contribution of autophagy. Subsequent observations indicated that CPUL1 treatment could impede autophagic flow by suppressing autophagosome degradation rather than its formation, which supposedly exacerbated cellular damage triggered by metabolic impairment. Moreover, the observed late autophagosome degradation may be attributed to lysosome dysfunction, which is essential for the final stage of autophagy and cargo disposal. CONCLUSIONS Our study comprehensively profiled the anti-hepatoma characteristics and molecular mechanisms of CPUL1, highlighting the implications of progressive metabolic failure. This could partially be ascribed to autophagy blockage, which supposedly conveyed nutritional deprivation and intensified cellular vulnerability to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqin Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Dong Feng
- Nanjing Southern Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd., Nanjing 211100, China
| | - Yuanyuan Lu
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Yanjun Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Hanxiang Jiang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Man Yuan
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Basic Medicine & Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yifan Xu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Basic Medicine & Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jianjun Zou
- Department of Pharmacy, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
| | - Yubing Zhu
- Department of Pharmacy, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
| | - Chun Ge
- Department of Pharmacy, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
- Correspondence: (C.G.); (Y.W.)
| | - Ying Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
- Correspondence: (C.G.); (Y.W.)
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116
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Yang ZH, Wang SX. Exploring the Prognostic Features of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Text Mining and Data Analysis. Mol Biol 2023. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893323030160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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117
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Garufi A, D’Orazi V, Pistritto G, Cirone M, D’Orazi G. HIPK2 in Angiogenesis: A Promising Biomarker in Cancer Progression and in Angiogenic Diseases. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15051566. [PMID: 36900356 PMCID: PMC10000595 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15051566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood capillaries taking place from preexisting functional vessels, a process that allows cells to cope with shortage of nutrients and low oxygen availability. Angiogenesis may be activated in several pathological diseases, from tumor growth and metastases formation to ischemic and inflammatory diseases. New insights into the mechanisms that regulate angiogenesis have been discovered in the last years, leading to the discovery of new therapeutic opportunities. However, in the case of cancer, their success may be limited by the occurrence of drug resistance, meaning that the road to optimize such treatments is still long. Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2), a multifaceted protein that regulates different molecular pathways, is involved in the negative regulation of cancer growth, and may be considered a "bona fide" oncosuppressor molecule. In this review, we will discuss the emerging link between HIPK2 and angiogenesis and how the control of angiogenesis by HIPK2 impinges in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Garufi
- Unit of Cellular Networks, Department of Research and Advanced Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio D’Orazi
- Department of Surgery, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Pistritto
- Centralized Procedures Office, Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), 00187 Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Cirone
- Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Institute Italy Foundation Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella D’Orazi
- Unit of Cellular Networks, Department of Research and Advanced Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University “G. D’Annunzio”, 66013 Chieti, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Liu Y, Tang H, Zhang Y, Wang Q, Li S, Wang Z, Shi X. Circular RNA hsa_circ_0000519 contributes to angiogenesis and tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma through the miR-1296/E2F7 axis. Hum Cell 2023; 36:738-751. [PMID: 36627545 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-022-00854-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy. Uncontrolled angiogenesis plays a critical role in hepatocellular tumor growth and metastasis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of circular RNA hsa_circ_0000519 and the potential involvement of microRNA (miR)-1296 and E2F transcription factor 7 (E2F7) in HCC development. Hsa_circ_0000519 was highly expressed in HCC cells and hepatocellular tumor tissues, and correlated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. Knockdown of hsa_circ_0000519 significantly reduced HCC cell viability, suppressed cell proliferation, and induced cell cycle arrest in G0/G1. Downregulation of hsa_circ_0000519 also inhibited formation of capillary-like endothelial structures in vitro and impeded microvessel formation in mice bearing HCC tumors. The migration and invasive capacities of HCC cells were markedly reduced by hsa_circ_0000519 knockdown. Hsa_circ_0000519 possessed a binding site for microRNA (miR)-1296. Upregulation of hsa_circ_0000519 significantly decreased the miR-1296 expression in both HCC cells and mouse xenografts. Furthermore, E2F7 was a target of miR-1296. Hsa_circ_0000519 positively regulated E2F7 via acting as a miR-1296 sponge. Upregulation of E2F7 abolished the inhibitory effects of hsa_circ_0000519 knockdown on HCC cell proliferation and angiogenesis. In conclusion, hsa_circ_0000519 promoted tumor progression and angiogenesis in HCC through the miR-1296/E2F7 axis. These data suggest the potential clinical application of hsa_circ_0000519 in HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Hui Tang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Yaling Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Shiying Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400010, China.
| | - Zhiyi Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Xiaofeng Shi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400010, China
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Deza Z, Caimi GR, Noelia M, Coli L, Ridruejo E, Alvarez L. Atorvastatin shows antitumor effect in hepatocellular carcinoma development by inhibiting angiogenesis via TGF-β1/pERK signaling pathway. Mol Carcinog 2023; 62:398-407. [PMID: 36575946 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents 90% of liver tumors. Statins may reduce HCC incidence. Its antitumor activities may be mediated by disrupting several hepatocarcinogenic pathways. To evaluate in vivo and in vitro the antiproliferative and antiangiogenic action of atorvastatin (AT) in the development of HCC as well as its mechanisms of action. In vivo model: hexachlorobenzene (HCB) was used to promote the development of HCC in Balb/C nude mice. Number of hepatic tumor, liver cell proliferation parameters (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA), angiogenesis, and VEGF levels were analyzed. In vitro model: Hep-G2 and Ea-hy926 cells were used to evaluate the effect of different doses of AT on HCB induced cell proliferation, migration, and vasculogenesis and to analyze proliferative parameters. In vivo: AT prevented liver growth and tumor development and inhibited PCNA, TGF-β1, and pERK levels increase. AT prevented skin blood vessel formation. In vitro, AT prevented cell proliferation and migration as well as tubular formation in the endothelial cell line by inhibiting the MAPK ERK pathway. We were able to demonstrate the potential AT antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects in an HCC model and the involvement of TGF-β1 and pERK pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahira Deza
- Laboratory of Biological Effects of Environmental Contaminants, Department of Human Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Giselle Romero Caimi
- Laboratory of Biological Effects of Environmental Contaminants, Department of Human Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Miret Noelia
- Laboratory of Biological Effects of Environmental Contaminants, Department of Human Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucia Coli
- Laboratory of Biological Effects of Environmental Contaminants, Department of Human Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ezequiel Ridruejo
- Department of Medicine, Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno" (CEMIC), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Alvarez
- Laboratory of Biological Effects of Environmental Contaminants, Department of Human Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Wang W, Ye Y, Zhang X, Sun W, Bao L. An angiogenesis-related three-long non-coding ribonucleic acid signature predicts the immune landscape and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Heliyon 2023; 9:e13989. [PMID: 36873490 PMCID: PMC9982620 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumour microenvironment is a key determinant of the efficacy of immunotherapy. Angiogenesis is closely linked to tumour immunity. We aimed to screen long non-coding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs) associated with angiogenesis to predict the prognosis of individuals with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and characterise the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME). Patient data, including transcriptome and clinicopathological parameters, were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Moreover, co-expression algorithm was utilized to obtain angiogenesis-related lncRNAs. Additionally, survival-related lncRNAs were identified using Cox regression and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm, which aided in constructing an angiogenesis-related lncRNA signature (ARLs). The ARLs was validated using Kaplan-Meier method, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic analyses, and Cox regression. Additionally, an independent external HCC dataset was used for further validation. Then, gene set enrichment analysis, immune landscape, and drug sensitivity analyses were implemented to explore the role of the ARLs. Finally, cluster analysis divided the entire HCC dataset into two clusters to distinguish different subtypes of TIME. This study provides insight into the involvement of angiogenesis-associated lncRNAs in predicting the TIME characteristics and prognosis for individuals with HCC. Furthermore, the developed ARLs and clusters can predict the prognosis and TIME characteristics in HCC, thereby aiding in selecting the appropriate therapeutic strategies involving immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Wang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Beilun District People's Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Yingquan Ye
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xuede Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Weijie Sun
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Lingling Bao
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Beilun District People's Hospital, Ningbo, China
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121
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Yang YQ, Wen ZY, Liu XY, Ma ZH, Liu YE, Cao XY, Hou L, Xie H. Current status and prospect of treatments for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Hepatol 2023; 15:129-150. [PMID: 36926237 PMCID: PMC10011906 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v15.i2.129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Owing to its heterogeneous and highly aggressive nature, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high recurrence rate, which is a non-negligible problem despite the increasing number of available treatment options. Recent clinical trials have attempted to reduce the recurrence and develop innovative treatment options for patients with recurrent HCC. In the event of liver remnant recurrence, the currently available treatment options include repeat hepatectomy, salvage liver transplantation, tumor ablation, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, stereotactic body radiotherapy, systemic therapies, and combination therapy. In this review, we summarize the strategies to reduce the recurrence of high-risk tumors and aggressive therapies for recurrent HCC. Additionally, we discuss methods to prevent HCC recurrence and prognostic models constructed based on predictors of recurrence to develop an appropriate surveillance program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Qing Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Zhen-Yu Wen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Liu
- Senior Department of Hepatology, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Zhen-Hu Ma
- Senior Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Yan-E Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Xue-Ying Cao
- Senior Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Li Hou
- Senior Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Hui Xie
- Senior Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
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Li J, Zhang W, Xu H, Zhou L, Guo H, Zhang S, Lu R, Liang X, Chang M, Liu C. Barley Grass Juice Attenuates Hydrodynamic Transfection-Induced HCC Initiation in Mice. Nutr Cancer 2023; 75:750-760. [PMID: 36495148 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2022.2151633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grass has been recognized as a functional food with a wide spectrum of health-promoting properties. Supplementation with barley grass has the potential to prevent chronic diseases, such as cancer. Here, we investigated whether barley grass could protect against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our data showed that administration of barley grass juice attenuates tumor development in a hydrodynamic gene delivery-induced model of HCC. The expression levels of the immune cell markers Ptprc and Adgre1 were upregulated in the barley grass juice-treated and normal groups, compared to those in the vehicle group in the HCC model. Immune cells (CD45+, F4/80+, and CLEC4F + iNOS + cells) infiltration in the liver increased following barley grass juice administration. Our results indicate that barley grass could be beneficial for HCC alleviation, partly by regulating immune cell infiltration. The ingredients of barley grass affect immune cell infiltration in HCC, and the detailed mechanism requires further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai, PR China.,Shanghai Baixin Biotechnology Company Limited, Shanghai, PR China.,College of Public Health, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Integrative Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Hongwei Xu
- Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Longhua Zhou
- Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Huimin Guo
- Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Shuwei Zhang
- Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Ruiju Lu
- Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Xiao Liang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Mengling Chang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Chenghong Liu
- Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai, PR China
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123
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Gao X, Jiang P, Wei X, Zhang W, Zheng J, Sun S, Yao H, Liu X, Zhang Q. Novel fusion protein PK5-RL-Gal-3C inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma via anti-angiogenesis and cytotoxicity. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:154. [PMID: 36793021 PMCID: PMC9930235 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-10608-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Galectin-3 (Gal-3), the only chimeric β-galactosides-binding lectin, consists of Gal-3N (N-terminal regulatory peptide) and Gal-3C (C-terminal carbohydrate-recognition domain). Interestingly, Gal-3C could specifically inhibit endogenous full-length Gal-3 to exhibit anti-tumor activity. Here, we aimed to further improve the anti-tumor activity of Gal-3C via developing novel fusion proteins. METHODS PK5 (the fifth kringle domain of plasminogen) was introduced to the N-terminus of Gal-3C via rigid linker (RL) to generate novel fusion protein PK5-RL-Gal-3C. Then, we investigated the anti-tumor activity of PK5-RL-Gal-3C in vivo and in vitro by using several experiments, and figured out their molecular mechanisms in anti-angiogenesis and cytotoxicity to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). RESULTS Our results show that PK5-RL-Gal-3C can inhibit HCC both in vivo and in vitro without obvious toxicity, and also significantly prolong the survival time of tumor-bearing mice. Mechanically, we find that PK5-RL-Gal-3C inhibits angiogenesis and show cytotoxicity to HCC. In detail, HUVEC-related and matrigel plug assays indicate that PK5-RL-Gal-3C plays an important role in inhibiting angiogenesis by regulating HIF1α/VEGF and Ang-2 both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, PK5-RL-Gal-3C induces cell cycle arrest at G1 phase and apoptosis with inhibition of Cyclin D1, Cyclin D3, CDK4, and Bcl-2, but activation of p27, p21, caspase-3, -8 and -9. CONCLUSION Novel fusion protein PK5-RL-Gal-3C is potent therapeutic agent by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis in HCC and potential antagonist of Gal-3, which provides new strategy for exploring novel antagonist of Gal-3 and promotes their application in clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoge Gao
- grid.417303.20000 0000 9927 0537Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221004 People’s Republic of China ,grid.413389.40000 0004 1758 1622Center of Clinical Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221004 People’s Republic of China ,grid.417303.20000 0000 9927 0537Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221004 People’s Republic of China ,Nanjing International Hospital Co., Ltd., Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210000 People’s Republic of China
| | - Pin Jiang
- grid.417303.20000 0000 9927 0537Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221004 People’s Republic of China ,grid.413389.40000 0004 1758 1622Center of Clinical Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221004 People’s Republic of China ,grid.417303.20000 0000 9927 0537Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221004 People’s Republic of China ,Medical Oncology of Huangmei People’s Hospital, Huanggang, Hubei Province 435500 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaohuan Wei
- grid.417303.20000 0000 9927 0537Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221004 People’s Republic of China ,grid.413389.40000 0004 1758 1622Center of Clinical Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221004 People’s Republic of China ,grid.417303.20000 0000 9927 0537Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221004 People’s Republic of China ,Nanjing International Hospital Co., Ltd., Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210000 People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Zhang
- grid.417303.20000 0000 9927 0537Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221004 People’s Republic of China ,grid.413389.40000 0004 1758 1622Center of Clinical Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221004 People’s Republic of China ,grid.417303.20000 0000 9927 0537Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221004 People’s Republic of China ,Nanjing International Hospital Co., Ltd., Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210000 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiwei Zheng
- grid.417303.20000 0000 9927 0537Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004 People’s Republic of China
| | - Shishuo Sun
- grid.417303.20000 0000 9927 0537Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221004 People’s Republic of China ,grid.413389.40000 0004 1758 1622Center of Clinical Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221004 People’s Republic of China ,grid.417303.20000 0000 9927 0537Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221004 People’s Republic of China ,Nanjing International Hospital Co., Ltd., Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210000 People’s Republic of China
| | - Hong Yao
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, 221004, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Cancer Biotherapy Center, Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, 650118, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiangye Liu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, 221004, People's Republic of China.
| | - Qing Zhang
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, 221004, People's Republic of China. .,Center of Clinical Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, 221004, People's Republic of China. .,Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, 221004, People's Republic of China. .,Nanjing International Hospital Co., Ltd., Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210000, People's Republic of China.
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ZNF385A and ZNF346 Serve as Prognostic Biomarkers Associated with an Inflamed Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043155. [PMID: 36834567 PMCID: PMC9962939 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high mortality rate worldwide, and there are still many problems in the early diagnosis, molecular targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. It is necessary to explore valuable diagnostic markers and new therapeutic targets in HCC. Zinc finger protein 385A (ZNF385A) and zinc finger protein 346 (ZNF346) represent a unique class of RNA-binding Cys2 His2 (C2H2) zinc finger proteins that are involved in the regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis, but little is known of their roles in HCC. Based on multiple databases and analysis tools, we explored the expression, clinical relation, prognostic value, possible biological function, and pathways of ZNF385A and ZNF346, and their relationship with immune infiltration. Our results revealed that ZNF385A and ZNF346 were highly expressed and were associated with poor prognosis in HCC. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may lead to the overexpression of ZNF385A and ZNF346, which was accompanied by elevated apoptosis and chronic inflammation. Moreover, ZNF385A and ZNF346 were positively correlated with immune-suppressive cells, inflammatory cytokines, immune checkpoint genes, and poor immunotherapy efficacy. Finally, the knockdown of ZNF385A and ZNF346 was observed to negatively affect the proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells in vitro. In conclusion, ZNF385A and ZNF346 are promising candidate biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis, and response to immunotherapy in HCC, and this study may help to understand the tumor microenvironment (TME) of liver cancer, and to develop new therapeutic targets.
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He K, Liu X, Yang Z. Development and Validation of a Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A-associated Prognostic Model for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2023; 10:139-156. [PMID: 36777498 PMCID: PMC9910209 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s399299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose High serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels have been identified as an independent risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to construct a VEGF-included prognostic model to accurately perform individualized predictions of survival probability for patients with unresectable HCC. Patients and Methods From October 2018 to March 2021, 182 consecutive newly diagnosed patients with unresectable HCC were retrospectively enrolled. Baseline serum VEGF-A and other characteristics were collected for all patients. Univariate Cox regression analysis and LASSO regression model were applied to develop the prognostic model, enhanced bootstrap method with 100 replicates was performed to validate its discrimination and calibration. We compared the final model with China Liver Cancer (CNLC) stage, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage, and the model without the "VEGF". Finally, the established model was stratified by age. Results The VEGF-associated prognostic model we established has high accuracy with an overall C-index of 0.7892 after correction for optimistic estimates. The area under the curve (AUC) of the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves at 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year after correction were 0.843, 0.860, 0.833, respectively, and the calibration of the model was 0.1153, 0.1514, and 0.1711, respectively. The final model showed significant improvement in predicting OS when compared to the other models according to Harrell's C-index, The AUC of the time-dependent ROC, area under the decision curve analysis (AUDC), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and continuous net reclassification index (NRI). Conclusion The VEGF-associated prognostic model may help to predict the survival probabilities of HCC patients with favorable performance and discrimination. However, further validation is required since we only verified this model using internal but not external data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun He
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyu Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zelong Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China,Correspondence: Zelong Yang, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 15, Changle West Road, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 17795714179, Email
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Identification of a Five Immune Term Signature for Prognosis and Therapy Options (Immunotherapy versus Targeted Therapy) for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2023; 2023:8958962. [PMID: 36785674 PMCID: PMC9918845 DOI: 10.1155/2023/8958962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Background Immune microenvironment implicated in liver cancer development. Nevertheless, previous studies have not fully investigated the immune microenvironment in liver cancer. Methods The open-access data used for analysis were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA-LIHC) and the International Cancer Genome Consortium databases (ICGC-JP and ICGC-FR). R program was employed to analyze all the data statistically. Results First, the TCGA-LIHC, ICGC-FR, and ICGC-JP cohorts were selected for our analysis, which were merged into a combined cohort. Then, we quantified 53 immune terms in this combined cohort with large populations using the ssGSEA algorithm. Next, a prognostic approach was established based on five immune principles (CORE.SERUM.RESPONSE.UP, angiogenesis, CD8.T.cells, Th2.cells, and B.cells) was established, which showed great prognostic prediction efficiency. Clinical correlation analysis demonstrated that high-risk patients could reveal higher progressive clinical features. Next, to examine the inherent biological variations in high- and low-risk patients, pathway enrichment tests were conducted. DNA repair, E2F targets, G2M checkpoints, HEDGEHOG signaling, mTORC1 signaling, and MYC target were positively correlated with the risk score. Examination of genomic instability revealed that high-risk patients may exhibit a higher tumor mutation burden score. Meanwhile, the risk score showed a strong positive correlation with the tumor stemness index. In addition, the Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion outcome indicated that high-risk patients could be higher responsive to immunotherapy, whereas low-risk patients may be higher responsive to Erlotinib. Finally, six characteristic genes DEPDC1, DEPDC1B, NGFR, CALCRL, PRR11, and TRIP13 were identified for risk group prediction. Conclusions In summary, our study identified a signature as a useful tool to indicate prognosis and therapy options for liver cancer patients.
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Yang J, Dong X, Wang G, Chen J, Zhang B, Pan W, Zhang H, Jin S, Ji W. Preoperative MRI features for characterization of vessels encapsulating tumor clusters and microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2023; 48:554-566. [PMID: 36385192 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-022-03740-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to analyze imaging features based on preoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) for the identification of vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC)-microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), VM-HCC pattern. METHODS Patients who underwent hepatectomy and preoperative DCE-MRI between January 2015 and March 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical and imaging features related to VM-HCC (VETC + /MVI-, VETC-/MVI +, VETC + /MVI +) and Non-VM-HCC (VETC-/MVI-) were determined by multivariable logistic regression analyses. Early and overall recurrence were determined using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Indicators of early and overall recurrence were identified using the Cox proportional hazard regression model. RESULTS In total, 221 patients (177 men, 44 women; median age, 60 years; interquartile range, 52-66 years) were evaluated. The multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed fetoprotein > 400 ng/mL (odds ratio [OR] = 2.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07, 4.41, p = 0.033), intratumor vascularity (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.07, 4.31, p = 0.031), and enhancement pattern (OR 2.71, 95% CI 1.17, 6.03, p = 0.019) as independent predictors of VM-HCC. In Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, intratumor vascularity was associated with early and overall recurrence (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Based on DCE-MRI, intratumor vascularity can be used to characterize VM-HCC and is of prognostic significance for recurrence in patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawen Yang
- Department of Radiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 150 Ximen St, Linhai, Taizhou, 317000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xue Dong
- Department of Radiology, Taizhou Hospital, Zhejiang University, Taizhou, 318000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guanliang Wang
- Department of Radiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 150 Ximen St, Linhai, Taizhou, 317000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinyao Chen
- Department of Radiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 150 Ximen St, Linhai, Taizhou, 317000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Binhao Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 150 Ximen St, Linhai, Taizhou, 317000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenting Pan
- Department of Radiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 150 Ximen St, Linhai, Taizhou, 317000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huangqi Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 150 Ximen St, Linhai, Taizhou, 317000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shengze Jin
- Department of Radiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Shaoxing University, Taizhou, 318000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenbin Ji
- Department of Radiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, 150 Ximen St, Linhai, Taizhou, 317000, Zhejiang, China.
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Li W, Wu R, Zhang S, Zhao Y, Li L, Hu Z, Su Q, Mang Y, Zhang X, Dong Y, Zheng K, Ran J, Li L. Analysis of angiogenesis-related subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma and tumor microenvironment infiltration feature in hepatocellular carcinoma. CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY : OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF SPANISH ONCOLOGY SOCIETIES AND OF THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE OF MEXICO 2023:10.1007/s12094-023-03084-x. [PMID: 36708372 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-023-03084-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly vascularized tumor, and angiogenesis plays an important role in its progression. However, the role of angiogenesis in cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains unclear. METHODS We evaluated the associations of 35 angiogenesis-related genes (ARGs) with the clinicopathological features of 816 HCC patients. In addition, we assessed the associations between the ARGs and TME cell infiltration. A nomogram was constructed to determine the prognostic value of ARGs for HCC. The ARG score was used to distinguish angiogenic subtypes of HCC, and its usefulness for predicting the prognosis and treatment response of HCC patients was evaluated. RESULTS We distinguished three ARG clusters differing in terms of TME cell infiltration, immune cell activation status, clinicopathological features, and clinical outcomes. There were significant associations of ARG expression with tumor immunity, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and transforming growth factor-β expression. An ARG score model was constructed to generate a risk score for each patient based on differentially expressed genes between clusters. Furthermore, a high ARG score was associated with high expression of CTLA-4 and PD-L1/PD-1, and a low Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion score, indicating the usefulness of the ARG score for selecting patients for immunotherapy. Considering the relationship between ARGs and tumor immunity, immunotherapy combined with vascular-targeted therapy may be the best treatment for HCC. CONCLUSIONS ARGs play an important role in TME diversity and complexity in HCC patients. The ARG score of HCC predicts TME invasion and can guide immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Li
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Calmette Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, China
| | - Ruichao Wu
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Calmette Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, China
| | - Shengning Zhang
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Calmette Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, China
| | - Yingpeng Zhao
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Calmette Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, China
| | - Laibang Li
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Calmette Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, China
| | - Zongqiang Hu
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Calmette Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, China
| | - Qiuming Su
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Calmette Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, China
| | - Yuanyi Mang
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Calmette Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, China
| | - Xibing Zhang
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Calmette Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, China
| | - Yun Dong
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Calmette Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, China
| | - Kepu Zheng
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Calmette Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, China
| | - Jianghua Ran
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Calmette Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, China.
| | - Li Li
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, The Calmette Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, China.
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Deng J, Liao Z, Gao J. Efficacy of Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Curr Oncol 2023; 30:1243-1254. [PMID: 36661745 PMCID: PMC9858211 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30010096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) may enhance the efficacy of treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT); however, it remains unclear. We aim to evaluate the efficacy of TACE combined with TKIs. Methods: A thorough literature search was performed on major databases since their inception until October 2022. Based on the eligibility criteria, eight studies (2103 patients) were included. Results: Meta-analysis showed that TACE+sorafenib/apatinib had a better tumor response (objective response rate (ORR): RR = 4.85, 95% CI 2.68−8.75, disease control rate (DCR): RR = 3.23, 95% CI 1.88−5.56), and prolonged OS (HR = 0.50, 95%CI 0.42−0.60, p < 0.00001) than TACE alone. TACE+lenvatinib was stronger than TACE+sorafenib in ORR (60.7% vs. 38.9%) and TTP (HR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.43−0.86), whereas it was similar in DCR (96.4% vs. 96.3%) and OS (HR = 0.70 95% CI 0.46−1.05). Conclusions: TACE plus sorafenib or apatinib was superior to TACE alone for hepatocellular carcinoma with PVTT; no significant advantage was found between TACE+lenvatinib and TACE+sorafenib, although TACE+lenvatinib performed better in terms of ORR and TTP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Deng
- Second Clinical College, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400000, China
| | - Ziyue Liao
- Second Clinical College, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400000, China
| | - Jian Gao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400000, China
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Liang J, Bai Y, Ha FS, Luo Y, Deng HT, Gao YT. Combining local regional therapy and systemic therapy: Expected changes in the treatment landscape of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2023; 15:1-18. [PMID: 36684055 PMCID: PMC9850755 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v15.i1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Improvements in early screening, new diagnostic techniques, and surgical treatment have led to continuous downward trends in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) morbidity and mortality rates. However, high recurrence and refractory cancer after hepatectomy remain important factors affecting the long-term prognosis of HCC. The clinical characteristics and prognosis of recurrent HCC are heterogeneous, and guidelines on treatment strategies for recurrent HCC are lacking. Therapies such as surgical resection, radiofrequency ablation, and transhepatic arterial chemoembolization are effective for tumors confined to the liver, and targeted therapy is a very important treatment for unresectable recurrent HCC with systemic metastasis. With the deepening of the understanding of the immune microenvironment of HCC, blocking immune checkpoints to enhance the antitumor immune response has become a new direction for the treatment of HCC. In addition, improvements in the tumor immune microenvironment caused by local treatment may provide an opportunity to improve the therapeutic effect of HCC treatment. Ongoing and future clinical trial data of combined therapy may develop the new treatment scheme for recurrent HCC. This paper reviews the pattern of recurrent HCC and the characteristics of the immune microenvironment, demonstrates the basis for combining local treatment and systemic treatment, and reports current evidence to better understand current progress and future approaches in the treatment of recurrent HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liang
- Department of Hepatology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Extracorporeal Life Support for Critical Diseases, Nankai University Affiliated Third Center Hospital, Tianjin 300170, China
| | - Yi Bai
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Fu-Shuang Ha
- Department of Hepatology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Extracorporeal Life Support for Critical Diseases, Nankai University Affiliated Third Center Hospital, Tianjin 300170, China
| | - Ying Luo
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Extracorporeal Life Support for Critical Diseases, Nankai University Affiliated Third Center Hospital, Tianjin 300170, China
| | - Hui-Ting Deng
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Extracorporeal Life Support for Critical Diseases, Nankai University Affiliated Third Center Hospital, Tianjin 300170, China
| | - Ying-Tang Gao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Extracorporeal Life Support for Critical Diseases, Nankai University Affiliated Third Center Hospital, Tianjin 300170, China
- Tianjin Institute of Hepatobiliary Disease, The Third Central Clinical College of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300170, China
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Brackenier C, Kinget L, Cappuyns S, Verslype C, Beuselinck B, Dekervel J. Unraveling the Synergy between Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:348. [PMID: 36672297 PMCID: PMC9856647 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) with antiangiogenic properties, such as sorafenib, have been the standard choice to systemically treat hepatocellular carcinoma for over a decade. More recently, encouraging results were obtained using immune checkpoint inhibitors, although head-to-head comparisons with sorafenib in phase 3 trials could not demonstrate superiority in terms of overall survival. The IMbrave150 was a breakthrough study that resulted in atezolizumab/bevacizumab, a combination of an antiangiogenic and an immune checkpoint inhibitor, as a new standard of care for advanced HCC. This review discusses the mode of action, clinical efficacy, and biomarker research for both drug classes and for the combination therapy. Moreover, the synergy between atezolizumab and bevacizumab is highlighted, unraveling pathophysiological mechanisms underlying an enhanced anticancer immunity by changing the immunosuppressed to a more immunoreactive tumor microenvironment (TME). This is achieved by upregulation of antigen presentation, upregulation of T-cell proliferation, trafficking and infiltration, impairing recruitment, and proliferation of immunosuppressive cells in the TME. However, more insights are needed to identify biomarkers of response that may improve patient selection and outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cedric Brackenier
- Department of Gastro-Enterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lisa Kinget
- Department of General Medical Oncology, Leuven Cancer Institute, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sarah Cappuyns
- Department of Gastro-Enterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Chris Verslype
- Department of Gastro-Enterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Benoit Beuselinck
- Department of General Medical Oncology, Leuven Cancer Institute, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Dekervel
- Department of Gastro-Enterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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Kim SW, Choi JW, Kim JM, Yoon HY, Bae K, Yoon KA, Kim JH. Case report: Toceranib as adjuvant chemotherapy in a dog with incompletely resected combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma. Front Vet Sci 2023; 9:963390. [PMID: 36686162 PMCID: PMC9845258 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.963390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
An 11-year-old intact female mixed breed dog was presented with abdominal distention and elevated hepatic enzyme levels. Computed tomography revealed a multicystic hepatic mass at the left medial lobe adjacent to the diaphragm and caudal vena cava. The mass was surgically removed with partial hepatectomy, but it could not be removed completely because of adhesion to the diaphragm. The tissue was submitted for histopathologic evaluation, and the patient was diagnosed with stage IIIA combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC). Considering the residual tumor tissue from incomplete surgical excision, adjuvant chemotherapy was recommended. Tumor tissue obtained from the patient was assessed using an anticancer drug response prediction test, and the results showed that toceranib phosphate was the most effective chemotherapeutic agent for this patient. Toceranib was initiated (3.1 mg/kg, PO, q48 h), and routine adverse effect assessment, including systemic blood pressure measurement, complete blood count, serum biochemical evaluations, and urinalysis were performed at two-week intervals for the first 2 months and every 2 months thereafter. Radiography and ultrasonography were conducted at one-month intervals for the first two months and then every 2 months subsequently. Concurrent hyperadrenocorticism was managed with trilostane (1 to 5 mg/kg, PO, q12h). The patient showed no critical adverse effects of chemotherapy, obvious recurrence, or metastasis. The response to toceranib was assessed as a partial response, and the patient is still alive over 23 months after tumor excision. This is the first case report describing chemotherapy for a dog with cHCC-CC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Won Kim
- KU Animal Cancer Center, Konkuk University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Seoul, South Korea,Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ju-Won Choi
- KU Animal Cancer Center, Konkuk University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jeon-Mo Kim
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hun-Young Yoon
- KU Animal Cancer Center, Konkuk University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Seoul, South Korea,Department of Veterinary Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kieun Bae
- KU Animal Cancer Center, Konkuk University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Seoul, South Korea,Department of Veterinary Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyong-Ah Yoon
- KU Animal Cancer Center, Konkuk University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Seoul, South Korea,Department of Veterinary Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jung-Hyun Kim
- KU Animal Cancer Center, Konkuk University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Seoul, South Korea,Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea,*Correspondence: Jung-Hyun Kim
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Qi W, Peng W, Qi X, Qiu Z, Wen T, Li C. TIDE: adjuvant tislelizumab plus donafenib combined with transarterial chemoembolization for high-risk hepatocellular carcinoma after surgery: protocol for a prospective, single-arm, phase II trial. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1138570. [PMID: 37139154 PMCID: PMC10149831 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1138570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The high recurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgery negatively affects the prognosis of patients. There is currently no widely accepted adjuvant therapy strategy for patients with HCC. A clinical study of effective adjuvant therapy is still needed. Methods In this prospective, single-arm, phase II clinical trial, an adjuvant regimen of donafenib plus tislelizumab combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) will be used to treat enrolled HCC patients after surgery. Briefly, patients newly diagnosed with HCC by pathological examination who underwent curative resection and had a single tumor more than 5 cm in diameter with microvascular invasion as detected by pathological examination are eligible. The primary endpoint of the study is the recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate at 3 years, and secondary endpoints are the overall survival (OS) rate and the incidence of adverse events (AEs). The planned sample size, 32 patients, was calculated to permit the accumulation of sufficient RFS events in 3 years to achieve 90% power for the RFS primary endpoint. Discussion Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathways regulate the relevant immunosuppressive mechanisms of HCC recurrence. Our trial will evaluate the clinical benefit of adding donafenib plus tislelizumab to TACE in patients with early-stage HCC and a high risk of recurrence. Clinical trial registration www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2200063003.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weili Qi
- Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Peng
- Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Chinese Evidence-based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xin Qi
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhancheng Qiu
- Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tianfu Wen
- Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chuan Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Chuan Li,
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Yang F, Ni B, Lian Q, Qiu X, He Y, Zhang Q, Zou X, He F, Chen W. Key genes associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma with metabolic risk factors. Front Genet 2023; 14:1066410. [PMID: 36950134 PMCID: PMC10025510 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1066410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become the world's primary cause of cancer death. Obesity, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia are all illnesses that are part of the metabolic syndrome. In recent years, this risk factor has become increasingly recognized as a contributing factor to HCC. Around the world, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is on the rise, especially in western countries. In the past, the exact pathogenesis of NAFLD that progressed to metabolic risk factors (MFRs)-associated HCC has not been fully understood. Methods: Two groups of the GEO dataset (including normal/NAFLD and HCC with MFRs) were used to analyze differential expression. Differentially expressed genes of HCC were verified by overlapping in TCGA. In addition, functional enrichment analysis, modular analysis, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis, LASSO analysis, and Genes with key survival characteristics were analyzed. Results: We identified six hub genes (FABP5, SCD, CCL20, AGPAT9(GPAT3), PLIN1, and IL1RN) that may be closely related to NAFLD and HCC with MFRs. We constructed survival and prognosis gene markers based on FABP5, CCL20, AGPAT9(GPAT3), PLIN1, and IL1RN.This gene signature has shown good diagnostic accuracy in both NAFLD and HCC and in predicting HCC overall survival rates. Conclusion: As a result of the findings of this study, there is some guiding significance for the diagnosis and treatment of liver disease associated with NAFLD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First People’s Hospital of Kashi, The Kashi Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Kashi, China
- Biotherapy Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Postdoctoral Research Station, Xinjiang Medical University, Ürümqi, China
| | - Beibei Ni
- Cell-Gene Therapy Translational Medicine Research Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qinghai Lian
- Cell-Gene Therapy Translational Medicine Research Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiusheng Qiu
- Cell-Gene Therapy Translational Medicine Research Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yizhan He
- Biotherapy Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First People’s Hospital of Kashi, The Kashi Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Kashi, China
- Biotherapy Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoguang Zou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First People’s Hospital of Kashi, The Kashi Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Kashi, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoguang Zou, ; Fangping He, ; Wenjie Chen,
| | - Fangping He
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoguang Zou, ; Fangping He, ; Wenjie Chen,
| | - Wenjie Chen
- Biotherapy Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Cell-Gene Therapy Translational Medicine Research Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoguang Zou, ; Fangping He, ; Wenjie Chen,
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Abdollah MRA, Ali AA, Elgohary HH, Elmazar MM. Antiangiogenic drugs in combination with seaweed fucoidan: A mechanistic in vitro and in vivo study exploring the VEGF receptor and its downstream signaling molecules in hepatic cancer. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1108992. [PMID: 36874031 PMCID: PMC9982147 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1108992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers reported worldwide with poor morbidity and high mortality rates. HCC is a very vascular solid tumour as angiogenesis is not only a key driver for tumour progression but also an exciting therapeutic target. Our research investigated the use of fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide readily abundant in edible seaweeds commonly consumed in Asian diet due to their extensive health benefits. Fucoidan was reported to possess a strong anti-cancer activity, but its anti-angiogenic potential is still to be fully unraveled. Our research investigated fucoidan in combination with sorafenib (an anti-VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor) and Avastin® (bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody) in HCC both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro on HUH-7 cells, fucoidan had a potent synergistic effect when combined with the anti-angiogenic drugs and significantly reduced HUH-7 cell viability in a dose dependent manner. Using the scratch wound assay to test cancer cell motility, sorafenib, A + F (Avastin and fucoidan) or S + F (sorafenib and fucoidan) treated cells consistently showed an unhealed wound and a significantly smaller %wound closure (50%-70%) versus untreated control (91%-100%) (p < 0.05, one-way ANOVA). Using RT-qPCR; fucoidan, sorafenib, A + F and S + F significantly reduced the expression of the pro-angiogenic PI3K/AKT/mTOR and KRAS/BRAF/MAPK pathways by up to 3 folds (p < 0.05, one-way ANOVA versus untreated control). While ELISA results revealed that in fucoidan, sorafenib, A + F and S + F treated cells, the protein levels of caspases 3, 8, and 9 was significantly increased especially in the S + F group showing 40- and 16-times higher caspase 3 and 8 protein levels, respectively (p < 0.05, one-way-ANOVA versus untreated control). Finally, in a DEN-HCC rat model, H&E staining revealed larger sections of apoptosis and necrosis in the tumour nodules of rats treated with the combination therapies and immunohistochemical analysis of the apoptotic marker caspase 3, the proliferation marker Ki67 and the marker for angiogenesis CD34 showed significant improvements when the combination therapies were used. Despite the promising findings reported herein that highlighted a promising chemomodulatory effect of fucoidan when combined with sorafenib and Avastin, further investigations are required to elucidate potential beneficial or adversary interactions between the tested agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha R A Abdollah
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El Sherouk City, Egypt.,Center for Drug Research and Development (CDRD), Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El Sherouk City, Egypt
| | - Aya A Ali
- Center for Drug Research and Development (CDRD), Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El Sherouk City, Egypt
| | - Hassnaa H Elgohary
- Center for Drug Research and Development (CDRD), Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El Sherouk City, Egypt
| | - Mohamed M Elmazar
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El Sherouk City, Egypt.,Center for Drug Research and Development (CDRD), Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El Sherouk City, Egypt
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Chen MY, Hsu CH, Setiawan SA, Tzeng DTW, Ma HP, Ong JR, Chu YC, Hsieh MS, Wu ATH, Tzeng YM, Yeh CT. Ovatodiolide and antrocin synergistically inhibit the stemness and metastatic potential of hepatocellular carcinoma via impairing ribosome biogenesis and modulating ERK/Akt-mTOR signaling axis. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 108:154478. [PMID: 36265255 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and PI3K signaling confers resistance against sorafenib, a mainstay treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Antrocin and ovatodiolide constitute as the most potent secondary metabolites isolated from Antrodia camphorata and Anisomeles indica, respectively. Both natural compounds have recently gained a lot of attention due to their putative inhibition of MAPK and PI3K signaling in various solid cancers. However, whether their combination is effective in HCC remains unknown. Here, we investigated their effect, alone or in various combinations, on MAPK and PI3K signaling pathways in HCC cells. An array of in vitro study were used to investigate anticancer and stemness effects to treat HCC, such as cytotoxicity, drug combination index, migration, invasion, colony formation, and tumor sphere formation. Drug effect in vivo was evaluated using mouse xenograft models. In this study, antrocin and ovatodiolide synergistically inhibited the SNU387, Hep3B, Mahlavu, and Huh7 cell lines. Sequential combination treatment of Huh7 and Mahlavu with ovatodiolide followed by antrocin resulted stronger cytotoxic effect than did treatment with antrocin followed by ovatodiolide, their simultaneous administration, antrocin alone, or ovatodiolide alone. In the Huh7 and Mahlavu cell lines, ovatodiolide→antrocin significantly suppressed colony formation and proliferation as well as markedly downregulated ERK1/2, Akt, and mTOR expression. Inhibition of ERK1/2 and Akt/mTOR signaling by ovatodiolide→antrocin suppressed ribosomal biogenesis, autophagy, and cancer stem cell-like phenotypes and promoted apoptosis in Huh7 and Mahlavu cells. The sorafenib-resistant clone of Huh7 was effectively inhibited by synergistic combination of both compound in vitro. Eventually, the ovatodiolide→antrocin combination synergistically suppressed the growth of HCC xenografts. Taken together, our findings suggested that ovatodiolide→antrocin combination may represent potential therapeutic approach for patients with advanced HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Yao Chen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 110, Taiwan; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hung Hsu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 110, Taiwan; Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 110, Taiwan
| | - Syahru Agung Setiawan
- International Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 110, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research & Education, Taipei Medical University - Shuang-Ho Hospital, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan
| | - David T W Tzeng
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China; Lifebit, Mindspace Shoreditch, London, England, EC2A 2AP, UK
| | - Hon-Ping Ma
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 110, Taiwan; Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 110, Taiwan
| | - Jiann Ruey Ong
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 110, Taiwan; Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 110, Taiwan
| | - Yi Cheng Chu
- Department of Medicine, St. George's University School of Medicine, St. George, Grenada
| | - Ming-Shou Hsieh
- Department of Medical Research & Education, Taipei Medical University - Shuang-Ho Hospital, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan
| | - Alexander T H Wu
- Department of Medical Research & Education, Taipei Medical University - Shuang-Ho Hospital, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan
| | - Yew-Min Tzeng
- Department of Applied Science, National Taitung University, Taitung 95092, Taiwan.
| | - Chi-Tai Yeh
- Department of Medical Research & Education, Taipei Medical University - Shuang-Ho Hospital, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan; Continuing Education Program of Food Biotechnology Applications, College of Science and Engineering, National Taitung University, Taitung 95092, Taiwan.
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Cheng Q, Wang W, Liu J, Lv Z, Ji W, Yu J, Zhang W, Yang Y. Elevated MPP6 expression correlates with an unfavorable prognosis, angiogenesis and immune evasion in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1173848. [PMID: 37207207 PMCID: PMC10189050 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1173848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Membrane palmitoylated proteins (MPPs) are engaged in various biological processes, such as cell adhesion and cell polarity. Dysregulated MPP members have different effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. However, the role of MPP6 in HCC has been unknown. Method HCC transcriptome and clinical data from different public databases were downloaded and analyzed, and the results were further validated by qRT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC) using HCC cell lines and tissues. The association between MPP6 and prognosis, potential pathogenic mechanisms, angiogenesis, immune evasion, tumor mutation burden (TMB) and treatment response in HCC patients was analyzed by bioinformatics and IHC staining. Results MPP6 was significantly overexpressed in HCC, and its expression was related to T stage, pathologic stage, histologic grade and adverse prognosis in HCC patients. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the synthesis of genetic materials and the WNT signaling pathway. GEPIA database analysis and IHC staining suggested that MPP6 expression had a positive correlation with angiogenesis. Single-cell dataset analysis indicated that MPP6 was associated with features of the tumor microenvironment. Additional analyses discovered that MPP6 expression was inversely related to immune cell infiltration and was involved in tumor immune evasion. MPP6 expression was positively associated with TMB, and patients with high TMB had an adverse prognosis. Immunotherapy was more effective in HCC patients with low MPP6 expression, whereas those with high MPP6 expression responded better to sorafenib, gemcitabine, 5-FU, and doxorubicin. Conclusions Elevated MPP6 expression is associated with an unfavorable prognosis, angiogenesis and immune evasion in HCC. Moreover, MPP6 has the potential to be used to assess TMB and treatment response. Therefore, MPP6 might serve as a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.
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Sabeti S, Ternifi R, Larson NB, Olson MC, Atwell TD, Fatemi M, Alizad A. Morphometric analysis of tumor microvessels for detection of hepatocellular carcinoma using contrast-free ultrasound imaging: A feasibility study. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1121664. [PMID: 37124492 PMCID: PMC10134399 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1121664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction A contrast-free ultrasound microvasculature imaging technique was evaluated in this study to determine whether extracting morphological features of the vascular networks in hepatic lesions can be beneficial in differentiating benign and malignant tumors (hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in particular). Methods A total of 29 lesions from 22 patients were included in this work. A post-processing algorithm consisting of clutter filtering, denoising, and vessel enhancement steps was implemented on ultrasound data to visualize microvessel structures. These structures were then further characterized and quantified through additional image processing. A total of nine morphological metrics were examined to compare different groups of lesions. A two-sided Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for statistical analysis. Results In the malignant versus benign comparison, six of the metrics manifested statistical significance. Comparing only HCC cases with the benign, only three of the metrics were significantly different. No statistically significant distinction was observed between different malignancies (HCC versus cholangiocarcinoma and metastatic adenocarcinoma) for any of the metrics. Discussion Obtained results suggest that designing predictive models based on such morphological characteristics on a larger sample size may prove helpful in differentiating benign from malignant liver masses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soroosh Sabeti
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Redouane Ternifi
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Nicholas B. Larson
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Michael C. Olson
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Thomas D. Atwell
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Mostafa Fatemi
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Azra Alizad
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
- *Correspondence: Azra Alizad,
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Zhang B, Tao B, Li Y, Yi C, Lin Z, Ma Y, Han J, Shao W, Chen Z, Lin J, Chen J. Dual immune checkpoint inhibitors or combined with anti-VEGF agents in advanced, unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur J Intern Med 2022; 111:37-46. [PMID: 36588054 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2022.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy did not show superiority of survival over standard therapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. The combination immunotherapy including dual immune checkpoint inhibitors or combined with anti-VEGF agents have become a trend, but not fully evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate and compare distinct combination immunotherapy on efficacy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane databases were systematically searched from inception to January 31, 2022. The primary endpoints were overall objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), six-month progression-free survival rate (PFSR6m) and one-year overall survival rate (OSR1y). RESULTS 11 studies with 16 independent cohorts and 3342 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with first-line sorafenib, combination immunotherapy resulted in a significant improvement in ORR (RR, 2.74; 95%CI, 1.55-4.85; p = 0.0006), PFS (HR, 0.57; 95%CI, 0.49-0.65; p<0.0001) and OS (HR, 0.65; 95%CI, 0.52-0.82; p = 0.0002). Based on RECIST 1.1, the pooled ORR, PFSR6m and OSR1y for combination immunotherapy were 24.6% (95%CI: 20.3%-29.6%), 42.0% (95%CI: 34.2%-50.3%) and 61.8% (95%CI: 57.7%-65.7%), respectively. In distinct combination regimens, PD-1/L1 inhibitors plus anti-VEGF agents showed a significant superiority of clinical benefit than PD-1/L1 inhibitors plus CTLA-4 inhibitors (ORR: 25.2% vs 23.4%, p = 0.033; PFSR6m: 47.4% vs 23.2%, p<0.001; OSR1y: 65.1% vs 55.0%, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study was the first meta-analysis to demonstrate the better survival benefit and tolerable toxicity of combination immunotherapy than standard therapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Compared with PD-1/L1 inhibitors plus CTLA-4 inhibitors, the regimens of PD-1/L1 inhibitors plus anti-VEGF agents may be associated with a significantly better clinical benefit. The difference in long-term survival and response population between two distinct combination regimens required further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China; Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Baorui Tao
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China; Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Yitong Li
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China; Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Chenhe Yi
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China; Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Zhifei Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China; Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Yue Ma
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China; Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Jiahao Han
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China; Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Weiqing Shao
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China; Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Zhenmei Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China; Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Jing Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China; Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Jinhong Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China; Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China.
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Barnestein R, Galland L, Kalfeist L, Ghiringhelli F, Ladoire S, Limagne E. Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment modulation by chemotherapies and targeted therapies to enhance immunotherapy effectiveness. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2120676. [PMID: 36117524 PMCID: PMC9481153 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2120676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
With the rapid clinical development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), the standard of care in cancer management has evolved rapidly. However, immunotherapy is not currently beneficial for all patients. In addition to intrinsic tumor factors, other etiologies of resistance to ICIs arise from the complex interplay between cancer and its microenvironment. Recognition of the essential role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in cancer progression has led to a shift from a tumor-cell-centered view of cancer development, to the concept of a complex tumor ecosystem that supports tumor growth and metastatic dissemination. The expansion of immunosuppressive cells represents a cardinal strategy deployed by tumor cells to escape detection and elimination by the immune system. Regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and type-2 tumor-associated macrophages (TAM2) are major components of these inhibitory cellular networks, with the ability to suppress innate and adaptive anticancer immunity. They therefore represent major impediments to anticancer therapies, particularly immune-based interventions. Recent work has provided evidence that, beyond their direct cytotoxic effects on cancer cells, several conventional chemotherapeutic (CT) drugs and agents used in targeted therapies (TT) can promote the elimination or inactivation of suppressive immune cells, resulting in enhanced antitumor immunity. In this review, we will analyze findings pertaining to this concept, discuss the possible molecular bases underlying the selective targeting of these immunosuppressive cells by antineoplastic agents (CT and/or TT), and consider current challenges and future prospects related to the integration of these molecules into more efficient anticancer strategies, in the era of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robby Barnestein
- University of Burgundy, Dijon, France
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Georges François Leclerc Cancer Center, Dijon, France
| | - Loïck Galland
- University of Burgundy, Dijon, France
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Georges François Leclerc Cancer Center, Dijon, France
- Department of Medical Oncology, Georges François Leclerc Center, Dijon, France
| | - Laura Kalfeist
- University of Burgundy, Dijon, France
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Georges François Leclerc Cancer Center, Dijon, France
- Centre de Recherche INSERM LNC-UMR1231, Dijon, France
- Genomic and Immunotherapy Medical Institute, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon, France
| | - François Ghiringhelli
- University of Burgundy, Dijon, France
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Georges François Leclerc Cancer Center, Dijon, France
- Department of Medical Oncology, Georges François Leclerc Center, Dijon, France
- Centre de Recherche INSERM LNC-UMR1231, Dijon, France
- Genomic and Immunotherapy Medical Institute, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon, France
| | - Sylvain Ladoire
- University of Burgundy, Dijon, France
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Georges François Leclerc Cancer Center, Dijon, France
- Department of Medical Oncology, Georges François Leclerc Center, Dijon, France
- Centre de Recherche INSERM LNC-UMR1231, Dijon, France
- Genomic and Immunotherapy Medical Institute, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon, France
| | - Emeric Limagne
- University of Burgundy, Dijon, France
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Georges François Leclerc Cancer Center, Dijon, France
- Department of Medical Oncology, Georges François Leclerc Center, Dijon, France
- Centre de Recherche INSERM LNC-UMR1231, Dijon, France
- Genomic and Immunotherapy Medical Institute, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon, France
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Kim CW, Lee HK, Nam MW, Choi Y, Choi KC. Overexpression of KiSS1 Induces the Proliferation of Hepatocarcinoma and Increases Metastatic Potential by Increasing Migratory Ability and Angiogenic Capacity. Mol Cells 2022; 45:935-949. [PMID: 36572562 PMCID: PMC9794555 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2022.0105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer has a high prevalence, with majority of the cases presenting as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The prognosis of metastatic HCC has hardly improved over the past decade, highlighting the necessity for liver cancer research. Studies have reported the ability of the KiSS1 gene to inhibit the growth or metastasis of liver cancer, but contradictory research results are also emerging. We, therefore, sought to investigate the effects of KiSS1 on growth and migration in human HCC cells. HepG2 human HCC cells were infected with lentivirus particles containing KiSS1. The overexpression of KiSS1 resulted in an increased proliferation rate of HCC cells. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting revealed increased Akt activity, and downregulation of the G1/S phase cell cycle inhibitors. A significant increase in tumor spheroid formation with upregulation of β-catenin and CD133 was also observed. KiSS1 overexpression promoted the migratory, invasive ability, and metastatic capacity of the hepatocarcinoma cell line, and these effects were associated with changes in the expressions of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes such as E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and slug. KiSS1 overexpression also resulted in dramatically increased tumor growth in the xenograft mouse model, and upregulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki-67 in the HCC tumors. Furthermore, KiSS1 increased the angiogenic capacity by upregulation of the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and CD31. Based on these observations, we infer that KiSS1 not only induces HCC proliferation, but also increases the metastatic potential by increasing the migratory ability and angiogenic capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cho-Won Kim
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
| | - Hong Kyu Lee
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
| | - Min-Woo Nam
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
| | - Youngdong Choi
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
| | - Kyung-Chul Choi
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
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Zhang S, Bacon W, Peppelenbosch MP, van Kemenade F, Stubbs AP. Deciphering Tumour Microenvironment of Liver Cancer through Deconvolution of Bulk RNA-Seq Data with Single-Cell Atlas. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:153. [PMID: 36612149 PMCID: PMC9818189 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancers give rise to a heavy burden on healthcare worldwide. Understanding the tumour microenvironment (TME) underpins the development of precision therapy. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology has generated high-quality cell atlases of the TME, but its wider application faces enormous costs for various clinical circumstances. Fortunately, a variety of deconvolution algorithms can instead repurpose bulk RNA-seq data, alleviating the need for generating scRNA-seq datasets. In this study, we reviewed major public omics databases for relevance in this study and utilised eight RNA-seqs and one microarray dataset from clinical studies. To decipher the TME of liver cancer, we estimated the fractions of liver cell components by deconvoluting the samples with Cibersortx using three reference scRNA-seq atlases. We also confirmed that Cibersortx can accurately deconvolute cell types/subtypes of interest. Compared with non-tumorous liver, liver cancers showed multiple decreased cell types forming normal liver microarchitecture, as well as elevated cell types involved in fibrogenesis, abnormal angiogenesis, and disturbed immune responses. Survival analysis shows that the fractions of five cell types/subtypes significantly correlated with patient outcomes, indicating potential therapeutic targets. Therefore, deconvolution of bulk RNA-seq data with scRNA-seq atlas references can be a useful tool to help understand the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoshi Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wendi Bacon
- School of Life, Health & Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Maikel P. Peppelenbosch
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Folkert van Kemenade
- School of Life, Health & Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Andrew Peter Stubbs
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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143
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Lei J, Chen B, Song M, Zhang L, Zhang X, Gao X, Li Y, Lu Y, Zuo S. TKI or TKI combined with PD-1 inhibitors as second-line treatment for HCC patients after sorafenib failure. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1026337. [PMID: 36569315 PMCID: PMC9782409 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1026337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in combination with programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors become the potential treatment modality for patients undergoing unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) in the first-line setting. However, the efficacy and safety of this combination regimen in patients after sorafenib failure remains unclear. Methods: Participants in this study included patients with uHCC after sorafenib failure who received TKI monotherapy (TKI group) or TKI combined with PD-1 inhibitors therapy (combination group) in our center from July 2018 to July 2021. The overall survival (OS) was used to be the primary efficacy endpoint, while progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR) were applied to be secondary endpoints. In addition, the adverse events are recorded and evaluated. Results: Among the 92 patients contained in this work, 50 patients were categorized into the TKI group, while 42 patients were in the combination group. There existed no evident differences between the two groups concerning the ORR (8.0% vs. 9.5%, p = 1.000). However, the DCR in the combined group was better in relative to that in the TKI group (71.4% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.037). In comparison with the TKI group, it was found that the combination group presented notably better median PFS (8.1 months vs. 4.7 months, p = 0.005) and median OS (21.9 months vs. 16.6 months, p = 0.042). According to multivariate analysis, PFS (HR 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-0.8, p = 0.005) and OS (HR 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-1.0, p = 0.051) were improved in the combination group in relative to the TKI group after the adjustment for some risk factors. Additionally, the incidence rates of grade ≥1 adverse event in the TKI group and the combination group were 96.0% and 97.6%, respectively. The most normal adverse event in the TKI group was neutropenia (n = 24,48.0%) and the combination group was hypoalbuminemia (n = 23,54.8%). All of these adverse events improved after symptomatic treatment, and no new toxic events were found to occur. Conclusion: TKI combined with PD-1 inhibitors showed better prognosis with manageable toxicity in uHCC patients after sorafenib failure compared with TKI monotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Lei
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Bowen Chen
- Peking University 302 Clinical Medical School, Beijing, China
| | - Meiru Song
- The Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, The Fifth School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Linzhi Zhang
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Center, The Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospita, Beijing, China
| | - Xinfeng Zhang
- The Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, The Fifth School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yinyin Li
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Center, The Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospita, Beijing, China
| | - Yinying Lu
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Center, The Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospita, Beijing, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shi Zuo
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
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Tümen D, Heumann P, Gülow K, Demirci CN, Cosma LS, Müller M, Kandulski A. Pathogenesis and Current Treatment Strategies of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Biomedicines 2022; 10:3202. [PMID: 36551958 PMCID: PMC9775527 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent liver cancer with high lethality and low five-year survival rates leading to a substantial worldwide burden for healthcare systems. HCC initiation and progression are favored by different etiological risk factors including hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, non-/and alcoholic fatty liver disease (N/AFLD), and tobacco smoking. In molecular pathogenesis, endogenous alteration in genetics (TP53, TERT, CTNNB1, etc.), epigenetics (DNA-methylation, miRNA, lncRNA, etc.), and dysregulation of key signaling pathways (Wnt/β-catenin, JAK/STAT, etc.) strongly contribute to the development of HCC. The multitude and complexity of different pathomechanisms also reflect the difficulties in tailored medical therapy of HCC. Treatment options for HCC are strictly dependent on tumor staging and liver function, which are structured by the updated Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification system. Surgical resection, local ablative techniques, and liver transplantation are valid and curative therapeutic options for early tumor stages. For multifocal and metastatic diseases, systemic therapy is recommended. While Sorafenib had been the standalone HCC first-line therapy for decades, recent developments had led to the approval of new treatment options as first-line as well as second-line treatment. Anti-PD-L1 directed combination therapies either with anti-VEGF directed agents or with anti-CTLA-4 active substances have been implemented as the new treatment standard in the first-line setting. However, data from clinical trials indicate different responses on specific therapeutic regimens depending on the underlying pathogenesis of hepatocellular cancer. Therefore, histopathological examinations have been re-emphasized by current international clinical guidelines in addition to the standardized radiological diagnosis using contrast-enhanced cross-sectional imaging. In this review, we emphasize the current knowledge on molecular pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. On this occasion, the treatment sequences for early and advanced tumor stages according to the recently updated Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification system and the current algorithm of systemic therapy (first-, second-, and third-line treatment) are summarized. Furthermore, we discuss novel precautional and pre-therapeutic approaches including therapeutic vaccination, adoptive cell transfer, locoregional therapy enhancement, and non-coding RNA-based therapy as promising treatment options. These novel treatments may prolong overall survival rates in regard with quality of life and liver function as mainstay of HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Arne Kandulski
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases University Hospital Regensburg Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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Li Z, Li Y, Ouyang Q, Li X, Huang J. Exosome-derived GTF2H2 from Huh7 cells can inhibit endothelial cell viability, migration, tube formation, and permeability. Tissue Cell 2022; 79:101922. [PMID: 36116407 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2022.101922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Given that HCC is an extraordinarily heterogeneous malignant disease, finding an effective therapeutic strategy for treating it has been difficult. Because of the importance of angiogenesis in tumorigenesis, targeting the more homogenous HCC endothelial cells may be a better therapeutic strategy. In a unpublished manuscript, we found that the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and matrix metalloproteinase 2/9 (MMP2/9) were reduced in human HCC tissues that overexpressed DNA damage repair gene general transcription factor II subunit H2 (GTF2H2). This suggested that GTF2H2 may have an inhibitory effect on angiogenesis. Therefore, we hypothesized that GTF2H2 acts as an anti-angiogenesis gene. However, our results showed that GTF2H2 overexpression had no effect on endothelial cell viability, migration, or permeability. To our surprise, treating human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with the culture medium of Huh 7 cells overexpressing GTF2H2 could inhibit their viability, migration, and permeability. We then isolated the culture medium into exosomes and other components from the culture medium. Only GTF2H2-enriched exosomes could inhibit the viability, migration, tube formation, and permeability of HUVECs. Our results suggest that overexpressing GTF2H2 had no effect on HUVECs, while GTF2H2 enriched exosomes from Huh7 cells could inhibit HUVEC phenotypes such as proliferation and migration. Therefore, GTF2H2-enriched exosomes can possibly be utilized as a novel drug for treating HCC and also serve as a potential molecular target for inhibiting tumor angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenkun Li
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong-An Road, Xi-Cheng District, Beijing 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanmeng Li
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong-An Road, Xi-Cheng District, Beijing 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Qin Ouyang
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong-An Road, Xi-Cheng District, Beijing 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojin Li
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong-An Road, Xi-Cheng District, Beijing 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Huang
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong-An Road, Xi-Cheng District, Beijing 100050, People's Republic of China.
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146
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Zeng H, Wei X, Wang C. Fuzheng Kangai Decoction Restrains the Progression and Angiogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Biomed Nanotechnol 2022. [DOI: 10.1166/jbn.2022.3484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Fuzheng Kangai decoction (FZKA) has been preliminarily proved to be effective in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study plans to investigate the clear role of FZKA on HCC progression. After establishing a HCC tumor-bearing mice model and treated with FZKA, the volumes and weights
of HCC tumor were monitored, and tumor pathology was analyzed by HE staining. The expression of the molecules related to angiogenesis, apoptosis and angiogenesis in tumor tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and qRT-PCR assays. In addition, HCC cells were administrated
with increasing concentrations of FZKA. Then the cell proliferation, migration and invasion ability were tested. In HCC tumor bearing mice, it was found that FZKA significantly decreased the tumor volumes, weights, aggravated tumor pathological damage, reduced VEGF, CD34, Bcl-2 expression,
but promoted the expression of Bax, cleaved caspase 3, Cyt-C in tumor tissues. Moreover, in vitro experiments demonstrated that FZKA co-incubation suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion ability of HCC cells. This study demonstrated that FZKA has the potential to inhibit
HCC progression by promoting apoptosis and inhibiting angiogenesis.
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147
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Tang B, Zhang X, Yang X, Wang W, Li R, Liu Y. Construction and validation of an angiogenesis-related scoring model to predict prognosis, tumor immune microenvironment and therapeutic response in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1013248. [PMID: 36466855 PMCID: PMC9712199 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1013248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world with high morbidity and mortality. Identifying an effective marker for predicting the prognosis and therapeutic response is extremely meaningful. Angiogenesis-related genes (ARGs) play important roles in the tumor progression and immune-suppressive microenvironment formation. Methods The differential expressed ARGs associated with the prognosis of HCC were identified in the TCGA dataset. Univariate Cox and least absolute shrinkage selection operator (LASSO) regression were applied to construct a ARGs Scoring model. The prognostic value of the ARGs Scoring model was assessed by Cox regression, Kaplan-Meier (KM) and ROC curve analyses. Then the model was further validated in an external dataset, ICGC dataset. The patients were split into two groups based on the ARGs Score and the clinical features were compared. TIMER, CIBERSORT and xCell algorithms were utilized to analyze the correlation between the ARGs Score and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Furthermore, we analyzed the efficacy of the model in predicting the therapeutic response for immunotherapy, targeted therapy and TACE treatment in different cohorts. Results A total of 97 differential expressed ARGs were identified relating to the prognosis of HCC patients from the TCGA dataset. Then the ARGs Scoring model based on a 9-gene signature was constructed using the Cox and LASSO regression analyses. Higher ARGs Score had a poor clinical outcome and was considered to be an independent prognostic predictor for HCC in the multivariate Cox analysis. The ARGs Score was related to the enrichment of various immune cells, such as CD4+ T cells, Treg, macrophage, neutrophil and dendritic cells, exhibiting a more immunosuppressive phenotype. Higher ARGs Score was correlated with higher expression of immune checkpoint genes and poor response to immunotherapy. Furthermore, higher ARGs Score indicated poor therapeutic response in the sorafenib and TACE treatment cohorts, individually. Conclusions The ARGs Scoring model exhibited robust predictive value for the prognosis and TIME for HCC patients. Higher ARGs Score indicated poor therapeutic response of the immunotherapy, sorafenib and TACE treatment. The ARGs Scoring model could be used as a biomarker to help physicians to develop more individualized treatment for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Tang
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Xinyuan Zhang
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaozhou Yang
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Wenling Wang
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Rongkuan Li
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
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148
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Anticarcinogenic Effects of Isothiocyanates on Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213834. [PMID: 36430307 PMCID: PMC9693344 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, accounting for about 90% of cases. Sorafenib, lenvatinib, and the combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab are considered first-line treatments for advanced HCC. However, clinical application of these drugs has also caused some adverse reactions such as hypertension, elevated aspartate aminotransferases, and proteinuria. At present, natural products and their derivatives have drawn more and more attention due to less side effects as cancer treatments. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are one type of hydrolysis products from glucosinolates (GLSs), secondary plant metabolites found exclusively in cruciferous vegetables. Accumulating evidence from encouraging in vitro and in vivo animal models has demonstrated that ITCs have multiple biological activities, especially their potentially health-promoting activities (antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic effects). In this review, we aim to comprehensively summarize the chemopreventive, anticancer, and chemosensitizative effects of ITCs on HCC, and explain the underlying molecular mechanisms.
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149
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Xian F, Wu C, Zhang G, Xu G. Efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors combined anti-angiogenic therapy in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e31479. [PMID: 36343054 PMCID: PMC9646576 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000031479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with antiangiogenic agents in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS We conducted a systematic literature search of articles published between the establishment of the database and February 2022. Data were extracted and analyzed using STATA 14.0. RESULTS Six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (980 patients for combination therapy and 565 patients for monotherapy) and 5 single-arm studies (246 patients for ICIs combination therapy) were enrolled. The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 26% and 70%, respectively, after ICIs combination therapy. Compared with monotherapy in RCTs, ICIs combination therapy resulted in higher progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), but also increased the incidence of adverse events (AEs). Increased incidences of fatigue, hypertension, hyperbilirubinemia, proteinuria, and nausea were more common after ICIs combination therapy. CONCLUSION The analysis results reveal that ICI-combined anti-angiogenesis therapy has higher efficacy than either ICIs or anti-angiogenesis options for unresectable HCC, but it is necessary to manage the AEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Xian
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- Department of Oncology, Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China
| | - Cailiang Wu
- Department of Pathology, Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China
| | - Guojun Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China
| | - Guohui Xu
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Guohui Xu, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China (e-mail: )
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150
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Li M, Zhao YY, Cui JF. Matrix stiffness in regulation of tumor angiogenesis. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2022; 30:871-878. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v30.i20.871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is one of the most common malignant features of solid tumors such as liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, and gastrointestinal tumors, which is the basis of tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. It is also an important target of anti-tumor therapy. Tumor angiogenesis is usually triggered by biochemical, hypoxic, and biomechanical factors in the microenvironment. The regulation of biochemical signals and hypoxic microenvironment in tumor angiogenesis have been widely documented, but the role of biomechanical signals in tumor angiogenesis has gradually begun to be uncovered in recent years. The vasculature system is naturally sensitive to mechanical stimuli. Recent studies have highlighted the important regulatory effects of biomechanical stimuli, such as matrix stiffness, fluid shear stress, and vascular lumen pressure, on the phenotype and functions of tumor blood vessels. In this paper, we summarize the new progress and internal mechanisms of matrix stiffness-mediated effects on tumor angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Li
- Department of Hepatic Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ying-Ying Zhao
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jie-Feng Cui
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200032, China
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