1
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Moffat GT. A Case of First-line Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab Use in Recurrence of Combined Hepatocellular Cholangiocarcinoma After Surgical Resection. J Clin Exp Hepatol 2024; 14:101430. [PMID: 38766623 PMCID: PMC11097066 DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2024.101430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gordon T. Moffat
- Address for correspondence: Gordon Taylor Moffat, MD, ABIM, FRCPC, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 700 University Avenue, 7W-420, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Tel.: +1 416 946 2399; fax: +1 416 946 6546.
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2
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Balitzer DJ, Greenland NY. The utility of next-generation sequencing in challenging liver FNA biopsies. Cancer Cytopathol 2024. [PMID: 39097802 DOI: 10.1002/cncy.22893] [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: 05/18/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy is increasingly used for the diagnosis of hepatocellular masses. Because distinguishing well differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from other well differentiated hepatocellular lesions (e.g., large regenerative nodules or focal nodular hyperplasia) requires an assessment of architectural features, this may be challenging on FNA when intact tissue fragments are not sampled. Poorly differentiated HCC and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) may exhibit overlapping pathologic features. Molecular testing can be helpful, because mutations in TERT promoter and CTNNB1 (β-catenin) are characteristic of HCC, whereas mutations in BAP1, IDH1/IDH2, and PBRM1 may favor ICC. The goal of this study was to assess the role of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in further subclassifying indeterminate liver lesions sampled by FNA. METHODS A retrospective review of liver cytology cases with NGS on cell block material was performed. Age, radiologic features, background hepatic disease and treatment, outcome, and NGS data were obtained from the electronic medical record. RESULTS Twelve FNA biopsies that had cell blocks from clinically suspected primary hepatic masses were identified. The presence of a TERT promoter mutation supported a diagnosis of HCC for one well differentiated neoplasm. For three patients, the presence of mutations, such as IDH1, CDKN2A/CDKN2B, and BRAF, supported a diagnosis of ICC. Of the eight poorly differentiated carcinomas, NGS helped refine the diagnosis in six of eight cases, with one HCC, three ICCs, and two that had combined HCC-ICC, with two cases remaining unclassified. CONCLUSIONS Molecular diagnostics can be helpful to distinguish HCC and ICC on FNA specimens, although a subset of primary hepatic tumors may remain unclassifiable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana J Balitzer
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Nancy Y Greenland
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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3
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Jang B, Kwon SM, Kim JH, Kim JM, Chung T, Yoo JE, Kim H, Calderaro J, Woo HG, Park YN. Transcriptomic profiling of intermediate cell carcinoma of the liver. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0505. [PMID: 39101773 PMCID: PMC11299988 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intermediate cell carcinoma (Int-CA) is a rare and enigmatic primary liver cancer characterized by uniform tumor cells exhibiting mixed features of both HCC and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Despite the unique pathological features of int-CA, its molecular characteristics remain unclear yet. METHODS RNA sequencing and whole genome sequencing profiling were performed on int-CA tumors and compared with those of HCC and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. RESULTS Int-CAs unveiled a distinct and intermediate transcriptomic feature that is strikingly different from both HCC and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The marked abundance of splicing events leading to intron retention emerged as a signature feature of int-CA, along with a prominent expression of Notch signaling. Further exploration revealed that METTL16 was suppressed within int-CA, showing a DNA copy number-dependent transcriptional deregulation. Notably, experimental investigations confirmed that METTL16 suppression facilitated invasive tumor characteristics through the activation of the Notch signaling cascade. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide a molecular landscape of int-CA featured by METTL16 suppression and frequent intron retention events, which may play pivotal roles in the acquisition of the aggressive phenotype of Int-CA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byungchan Jang
- Department of Physiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - So Mee Kwon
- Department of Physiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jang Hyun Kim
- Department of Physiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Mo Kim
- Ajou Translational Omics Center (ATOC), Research Institute for Innovative Medicine, Ajou University Medical Center, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Taek Chung
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Eun Yoo
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Haeryoung Kim
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Julien Calderaro
- Department of Pathology, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Hyun Goo Woo
- Department of Physiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Ajou Translational Omics Center (ATOC), Research Institute for Innovative Medicine, Ajou University Medical Center, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Nyun Park
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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4
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Nishikawa Y. Aberrant differentiation and proliferation of hepatocytes in chronic liver injury and liver tumors. Pathol Int 2024; 74:361-378. [PMID: 38837539 DOI: 10.1111/pin.13441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Chronic liver injury induces liver cirrhosis and facilitates hepatocarcinogenesis. However, the effects of this condition on hepatocyte proliferation and differentiation are unclear. We showed that rodent hepatocytes display a ductular phenotype when they are cultured within a collagenous matrix. This process involves transdifferentiation without the emergence of hepatoblastic features and is at least partially reversible. During the ductular reaction in chronic liver diseases with progressive fibrosis, some hepatocytes, especially those adjacent to ectopic ductules, demonstrate ductular transdifferentiation, but the majority of increased ductules originate from the existing bile ductular system that undergoes extensive remodeling. In chronic injury, hepatocyte proliferation is weak but sustained, and most regenerative nodules in liver cirrhosis are composed of clonally proliferating hepatocytes, suggesting that a small fraction of hepatocytes maintain their proliferative capacity in chronic injury. In mouse hepatocarcinogenesis models, hepatocytes activate the expression of various fetal/neonatal genes, indicating that these cells undergo dedifferentiation. Hepatocyte-specific somatic integration of various oncogenes in mice demonstrated that hepatocytes may be the cells of origin for a broad spectrum of liver tumors through transdifferentiation and dedifferentiation. In conclusion, the phenotypic plasticity and heterogeneity of mature hepatocytes are important for understanding the pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases and liver tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Nishikawa
- President's Office, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan
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5
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Sasaki M, Sato Y, Nakanuma Y. Expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) in combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: clinicopathological study. Virchows Arch 2024; 484:915-923. [PMID: 38532197 PMCID: PMC11186861 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-024-03792-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Genetic alterations including fusions in fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) are detected in 10-20% of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), and FGFR2 inhibitors are effective for the treatment of iCCA. We examined a prevalence of FGFR2 genetic alterations and their clinicopathological significance in combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA). FGFR2 expression, which is a surrogate marker for FGFR2 genetic alterations, was immunohistochemically assessed in the liver sections from 75 patients with cHCC-CCA, 35 with small duct-type iCCA, 30 with large duct-type iCCA, and 35 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). FGFR2 genetic alterations were detected by reverse transcription-PCR and direct sequence. An association of FGFR2 expression with clinicopathological features was investigated in cHCC-CCAs. FGFR2 expression was detected in significantly more patients with cHCC-CCA (21.3%) and small duct-type iCCA (25.7%), compared to those with large duct-type iCCA (3.3%) and HCC (0%) (p < 0.05). FGFR2-positive cHCC-CCAs were significantly smaller size (p < 0.05), with more predominant cholangiolocarcinoma component (p < 0.01) and less nestin expression (p < 0.05). Genetic alterations of ARID1A and BAP1 and multiple genes were significantly more frequent in FGFR2-positive cHCC-CCAs (p < 0.05). 5'/3' imbalance in FGFR2 genes indicating exon18-truncated FGFR2 was significantly more frequently detected in FGFR2-positive cHCC-CCAs and small duct iCCAs, compared to FGFR2-negative ones (p < 0.05). FGFR2::BICC fusion was detected in a case of cHCC-CCAs. FGFR2 genetic alterations may be prevalent in cHCC-CCAs as well as small duct-type iCCAs, which suggest cHCC-CCAs may also be a possible therapeutic target of FGFR2 inhibitors.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Cholangiocarcinoma/pathology
- Cholangiocarcinoma/genetics
- Cholangiocarcinoma/metabolism
- Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2/genetics
- Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2/metabolism
- Female
- Male
- Bile Duct Neoplasms/pathology
- Bile Duct Neoplasms/genetics
- Bile Duct Neoplasms/metabolism
- Middle Aged
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Liver Neoplasms/genetics
- Liver Neoplasms/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism
- Aged
- Adult
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Aged, 80 and over
- Immunohistochemistry
- Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics
- Tumor Suppressor Proteins/metabolism
- Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
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Affiliation(s)
- Motoko Sasaki
- Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan.
| | - Yasunori Sato
- Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Yasuni Nakanuma
- Division of Pathology, Fukui Saiseikai Hospital, Fukui, Japan
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6
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Vij M, Veerankutty FH, Rammohan A, Rela M. Combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma: A clinicopathological update. World J Hepatol 2024; 16:766-775. [PMID: 38818284 PMCID: PMC11135265 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v16.i5.766] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) is a rare primary liver cancer associated with an appalling prognosis. The diagnosis and management of this entity have been challenging to physicians, radiologists, surgeons, pathologists, and oncologists alike. The diagnostic and prognostic value of biomarkers such as the immunohistochemical expression of nestin, a progenitor cell marker, have been explored recently. With a better understanding of biology and the clinical course of cHCC-CCA, newer treatment modalities like immune checkpoint inhibitors are being tried to improve the survival of patients with this rare disease. In this review, we give an account of the recent developments in the pathology, diagnostic approach, and management of cHCC-CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukul Vij
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Liver Disease and Transplantation, Chennai 600044, India
| | - Fadl H Veerankutty
- Comprehensive Liver Care Institute, VPS Lakeshore, Cochin 682040, India
- Institute of Liver Disease and Transplantation, Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre, Chennai 600044, India.
| | - Ashwin Rammohan
- Institute of Liver Disease and Transplantation, Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre, Chennai 600044, India
| | - Mohamed Rela
- Institute of Liver Disease and Transplantation, Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre, Chennai 600044, India
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7
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Makino K, Ishii T, Takeda H, Saito Y, Fujiwara Y, Fujimoto M, Ito T, Wakama S, Kumagai K, Munekage F, Horie H, Tomofuji K, Oshima Y, Uebayashi EY, Kawai T, Ogiso S, Fukumitsu K, Takai A, Seno H, Hatano E. Integrated analyses of the genetic and clinicopathological features of cholangiolocarcinoma: cholangiolocarcinoma may be characterized by mismatch-repair deficiency. J Pathol 2024; 263:32-46. [PMID: 38362598 DOI: 10.1002/path.6257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Cholangiolocarcinoma (CLC) is a primary liver carcinoma that resembles the canals of Hering and that has been reported to be associated with stem cell features. Due to its rarity, the nature of CLC remains unclear, and its pathological classification remains controversial. To clarify the positioning of CLC in primary liver cancers and identify characteristics that could distinguish CLC from other liver cancers, we performed integrated analyses using whole-exome sequencing (WES), immunohistochemistry, and a retrospective review of clinical information on eight CLC cases and two cases of recurrent CLC. WES demonstrated that CLC includes IDH1 and BAP1 mutations, which are characteristic of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). A mutational signature analysis showed a pattern similar to that of iCCA, which was different from that of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). CLC cells, including CK7, CK19, and EpCAM, were positive for cholangiocytic differentiation markers. However, the hepatocytic differentiation marker AFP and stem cell marker SALL4 were completely negative. The immunostaining patterns of CLC with CD56 and epithelial membrane antigen were similar to those of the noncancerous bile ductules. In contrast, mutational signature cluster analyses revealed that CLC formed a cluster associated with mismatch-repair deficiency (dMMR), which was separate from iCCA. Therefore, to evaluate MMR status, we performed immunostaining of four MMR proteins (PMS2, MSH6, MLH1, and MSH2) and detected dMMR in almost all CLCs. In conclusion, CLC had highly similar characteristics to iCCA but not to HCC. CLC can be categorized as a subtype of iCCA. In contrast, CLC has characteristics of dMMR tumors that are not found in iCCA, suggesting that it should be treated distinctly from iCCA. © 2024 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Makino
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takamichi Ishii
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Takeda
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoichi Saito
- Laboratory of Bioengineering, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yukio Fujiwara
- Department of Cell Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Masakazu Fujimoto
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takashi Ito
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Satoshi Wakama
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ken Kumagai
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Fumiaki Munekage
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Horie
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Katsuhiro Tomofuji
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yu Oshima
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Takayuki Kawai
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Medical Research Institute Kitano Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ogiso
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ken Fukumitsu
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Atsushi Takai
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Seno
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Etsuro Hatano
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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8
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Zhang YZ, Liu YC, Su T, Shi JN, Huang Y, Liang B. Current advances and future directions in combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma. Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf) 2024; 12:goae031. [PMID: 38628397 PMCID: PMC11018545 DOI: 10.1093/gastro/goae031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The low incidence of combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) is an important factor limiting research progression. Our study extensively included nearly three decades of relevant literature and assembled the most comprehensive database comprising 5,742 patients with cHCC-CCA. We summarized the characteristics, tumor markers, and clinical features of these patients. Additionally, we present the evolution of cHCC-CCA classification and explain the underlying rationale for these classification standards. We reviewed cHCC-CCA diagnostic advances using imaging features, tumor markers, and postoperative pathology, as well as treatment options such as surgical, adjuvant, and immune-targeted therapies. In addition, recent advances in more effective chemotherapeutic regimens and immune-targeted therapies were explored. Furthermore, we described the molecular mutation features and potential specific markers of cHCC-CCA. The prognostic value of Nestin has been proven, and we speculate that Nestin will also play a role in classification and diagnosis. However, further research is needed. Moreover, we believe that the possibility of using machine learning liquid biopsy for preoperative diagnosis and establishing a scoring system are directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Zhu Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Yu-Chen Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
- Queen Mary School, Jiangxi Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Tong Su
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Jiang-Nan Shi
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Yi Huang
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Bo Liang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
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9
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Long C, Peng H, Yang W, Wang M, Luo B, Hao J, Dong Y, Zuo W. Targeted Delivery of Gemcitabine for Precision Therapy of Cholangiocarcinoma Using Hyaluronic Acid-Modified Metal-Organic Framework Nanoparticles. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:11998-12005. [PMID: 38496964 PMCID: PMC10938583 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Chemotherapy is widely recognized as an important approach for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. Gemcitabine (GEM) has been considered a first-line drug for treating cholangiocarcinoma due to its ability to effectively inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of liver cancer cells. However, the systemic toxicity, premature degradation, and lack of tumor-targeting properties of GEM limit its application in cholangiocarcinoma chemotherapy. Additionally, precise targeted delivery of GEM is necessary to align with the current concept of precision medicine. In this study, considering the overexpression of hyaluronic acid (HA) receptors (CD44) on cholangiocarcinoma cells, we designed GEM@ZIF-67-HA NPs by loading GEM onto ZIF-67 and modifying its surface with HA. The structure, size, morphology, and elemental composition of GEM@ZIF-67-HA were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ζ-potential, and isothermal adsorption. Cell toxicity experiments demonstrated that GEM@ZIF-67-HA NPs not only reduced cytotoxicity to normal cells but also effectively inhibited the viability of two types of cholangiocarcinoma tumor cells. In a subcutaneous tumor model, GEM@ZIF-67-HA significantly suppressed tumor growth. The tumor-targeting and controllable properties of GEM@ZIF-67-HA NPs hold promise for further development in the strategy of precise targeted therapy for cholangiocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Long
- Department
of Otolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of
Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610000, China
| | - Han Peng
- Department
of Oncology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical
University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Department
of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu
University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610000, China
| | - Min Wang
- Department
of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital
of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610000, China
| | - Bo Luo
- Department
of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital
of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610000, China
| | - Jie Hao
- Department
of Oncology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical
University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Yan Dong
- Department
of Oncology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical
University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Wenwei Zuo
- Department
of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital
of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610000, China
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10
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Ito T, Ishii T, Takeda H, Sumiyoshi S, Tomofuji K, Wakama S, Makino K, Horie H, Kumagai K, Takai A, Uebayashi EY, Ogiso S, Fukumitsu K, Haga H, Seno H, Hatano E. Comprehensive analyses of the clinicopathological features and genomic mutations of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatol Res 2024; 54:103-115. [PMID: 37699724 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.13965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
AIM Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) is a rare primary liver cancer that has two different tumor phenotypes in a single tumor nodule. The relationship between genetic mutations and clinicopathological features of cHCC-CCA remains to be elucidated. METHODS Whole-exome sequencing analyses were carried out in 13 primary and 2 recurrent cHCC-CCAs. The whole-exome analyses and clinicopathological information were integrated. RESULTS TP53 was the most frequently mutated gene in this cohort, followed by BAP1, IDH1/2, and NFE2L2 mutations in multiple cases. All tumors with diameters <3 cm had TP53 mutations. In contrast, six of seven tumors with diameters ≥3 cm did not have TP53 mutations, but all seven tumors had mutations in genes associated with various pathways, including Wnt, RAS/PI3K, and epigenetic modulators. In the signature analysis, the pattern of mutations shown in the TP53 mutation group tended to be more similar to HCC than the TP53 nonmutation group. Mutations in recurrent cHCC-CCA tumors were frequently identical to those in the primary tumor, suggesting that those tumors originated from identical clones of the primary cHCC-CCA tumors. Recurrent and co-occurrent HCC tumors in the same patients with cHCC-CCA had either common or different mutation patterns from the primary cHCC-CCA tumors in each case. CONCLUSIONS The study suggested that there were two subtypes of cHCC-CCA, one involving TP53 mutations in the early stage of the carcinogenic process and the other not involving such mutations. The comparison of the variants between primary and recurrent tumors suggested that cHCC-CCA was derived from an identical clone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Ito
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takamichi Ishii
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Takeda
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Katsuhiro Tomofuji
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Satoshi Wakama
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kenta Makino
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Horie
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ken Kumagai
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Atsushi Takai
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Satoshi Ogiso
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ken Fukumitsu
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Kyoto Katsura Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hironori Haga
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Seno
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Etsuro Hatano
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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11
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Na HY, Kim JH, Kim H, Cho JY, Han HS, Jang ES, Kim JW, Jeong SH, Heo J, Kim JW, Kim JW, Ahn S. Multiregional analysis of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma reveals histologic diversity and molecular clonality. Histopathology 2024; 84:402-408. [PMID: 37903726 DOI: 10.1111/his.15081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) is a rare type of liver tumour that exhibits both hepatocytic and biliary differentiation within the same tumour. The histology and genomic alterations of recurrent/metastatic cHCC-CC are poorly understood. We selected six patients with cHCC-CC whose recurrent or metastatic tumours were histologically confirmed. Four patients with classic cHCC-CCs and two with intermediate cell carcinomas (ICs) were included. The clinicopathological features were evaluated, and next-generation sequencing was performed in 17 multiregional and longitudinal tumour samples. The histology of recurrent/metastatic lesions of classic cHCC-CCs was variable: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was observed in one (25.0%) patient, cHCC-CC in one (25.0%) patient, and cholangiocarcinoma (CC) in two (50.0%) patients. Among 13 samples from four classic cHCC-CC patients, the most frequent pathological variants were TP53 (46.2%), TERT promoter (38.5%), ARID1A mutations (23.1%), and MET amplification (30.8%). In the sequencing analysis of each HCC and CC component, three (75.0%) of the four classic cHCC-CCs shared pathogenic variants. A large proportion of mutations, both pathogenic and those of undetermined significance, were shared by each HCC and CC component. Regarding ICs, the ATM mutation was detected in one patient. In conclusion, the histology of recurrent/metastatic cHCC-CCs was heterogeneous. Genomic profiling of classic cHCC-CCs revealed similar genomic alterations to those of HCC. Considerable overlapping genomic alterations in each HCC and CC component were observed, suggesting a monoclonal origin. Genetic alterations in ICs were different from those in either HCC or CC, suggesting the distinct nature of this tumour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee Young Na
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Jee Hyun Kim
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Haeryoung Kim
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jai Young Cho
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Ho-Seong Han
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Eun Sun Jang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Jin-Wook Kim
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Sook-Hyang Jeong
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Jayoon Heo
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea
| | - Ji-Won Kim
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Jin Won Kim
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Soomin Ahn
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
- Department of Pathology and Translational Genomics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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12
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Dibra D, Gagea M, Qi Y, Chau GP, Su X, Lozano G. p53R245W Mutation Fuels Cancer Initiation and Metastases in NASH-driven Liver Tumorigenesis. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:2640-2652. [PMID: 38047594 PMCID: PMC10761659 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Obesity is a significant global health concern. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are common risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and are closely associated with metabolic comorbidities, including obesity and diabetes. The TP53 tumor suppressor is the most frequently mutated gene in liver cancers, with half of these alterations being missense mutations. These mutations produce highly abundant proteins in cancer cells which have both inhibitory effects on wildtype (WT) p53, and gain-of-function (GOF) activities that contribute to tumor progression. A Western diet increases p53 activity in the liver. To elucidate the functional consequences of Trp53 mutations in a NASH-driven liver tumorigenesis model, we generated somatic mouse models with Trp53 deletion or the missense hotspot mutant p53R245W only in hepatocytes and placed mice on a high-fat, choline-deficient diet. p53R245W in the presence of diet increased fatty liver, compensatory proliferation in the liver parenchyma, and enriched genes of tumor-promoting pathways such as KRAS signaling, MYC, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition when compared with controls in the premalignant liver. Moreover, p53R245W suppressed transcriptional activity of WT p53 in the liver in vivo under metabolic challenges, and shortened survival and doubling of HCC incidence as compared with control heterozygous mice. Complete loss of Trp53 also significantly accelerated liver tumor incidence and lowered time-to-tumor development compared with WT controls. p53R245W GOF properties increased carcinoma initiation, fueled mixed hepatocholangial carcinoma incidence, and tripled metastatic disease. Collectively, our in vivo studies indicate that p53R245W has stronger tumor promoting activities than Trp53 loss in the context of NASH. SIGNIFICANCE Using somatic NASH-driven mouse models with p53 deletion or mutant p53R245W only in hepatocytes, we discovered that p53R245W increased carcinoma initiation, fueled hepatocholangial carcinoma incidence, and tripled metastases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denada Dibra
- Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Mihai Gagea
- Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Yuan Qi
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Gilda P. Chau
- Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Xiaoping Su
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Guillermina Lozano
- Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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13
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Rushbrook SM, Kendall TJ, Zen Y, Albazaz R, Manoharan P, Pereira SP, Sturgess R, Davidson BR, Malik HZ, Manas D, Heaton N, Prasad KR, Bridgewater J, Valle JW, Goody R, Hawkins M, Prentice W, Morement H, Walmsley M, Khan SA. British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines for the diagnosis and management of cholangiocarcinoma. Gut 2023; 73:16-46. [PMID: 37770126 PMCID: PMC10715509 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-330029] [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] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
These guidelines for the diagnosis and management of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) were commissioned by the British Society of Gastroenterology liver section. The guideline writing committee included a multidisciplinary team of experts from various specialties involved in the management of CCA, as well as patient/public representatives from AMMF (the Cholangiocarcinoma Charity) and PSC Support. Quality of evidence is presented using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) format. The recommendations arising are to be used as guidance rather than as a strict protocol-based reference, as the management of patients with CCA is often complex and always requires individual patient-centred considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon M Rushbrook
- Department of Hepatology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Trust, Norwich, UK
| | - Timothy James Kendall
- Division of Pathology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- University of Edinburgh MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Yoh Zen
- Department of Pathology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Raneem Albazaz
- Department of Radiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | | | | | - Richard Sturgess
- Digestive Diseases Unit, Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Brian R Davidson
- Department of Surgery, Royal Free Campus, UCL Medical School, London, UK
| | - Hassan Z Malik
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, UK
| | - Derek Manas
- Department of Surgery, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, UK
| | - Nigel Heaton
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, King's College London, London, UK
| | - K Raj Prasad
- John Goligher Colorectal Unit, St. James University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - John Bridgewater
- Department of Oncology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Juan W Valle
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust/University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Rebecca Goody
- Department of Oncology, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Maria Hawkins
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Wendy Prentice
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | | | - Shahid A Khan
- Hepatology and Gastroenterology Section, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
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14
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Zhou N, Lei CF, Tan SR, Huang QY, Zhang SY, Liang ZX, Gou HF. Case report: Remarkable response to sintilimab, lenvatinib, and nab-paclitaxel in postoperative metastatic chemotherapy-resistant combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1190967. [PMID: 37900166 PMCID: PMC10603266 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1190967] [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: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) is a highly aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. However, there are no consensus treatment guidelines, and decisions are usually extrapolated from intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Given that cHCC-CCA owns the unequivocal presence of both hepatocytic and cholangiocytic differentiation, a combination regimen of anti-PD1 antibody, multikinase inhibitor, and chemotherapy targeting against both components might be an optimal choice. Case presentation: We present the case of a patient with postoperative metastatic chemotherapy-resistant cHCC-CCA who exhibited a durable response and reasonable tolerability to a combination therapy consisting of the anti-PD1 antibody sintilimab, multikinase inhibitor lenvatinib, and nab-paclitaxel, despite having a low tumor mutational burden (TMB-L), microsatellite stability (MSS), and negative programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1). Conclusion: The combination regimen of immune checkpoint inhibitor sintilimab, multikinase inhibitor lenvatinib, and chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel, which targets both the HCC and ICC components, may represent a promising treatment option for patients with cHCC-CCA. Further research is warranted to validate these findings in larger patient cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chuan-Fen Lei
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Si-Rui Tan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qi-Yue Huang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shun-Yu Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zheng-Xin Liang
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Hong-Feng Gou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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15
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Ke K, Lin J, Huang N, Yan L, Liao R, Yang W. Transthyretin promotes the invasion of combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma by tumor-associated macrophages. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2023; 6:e1888. [PMID: 37688511 PMCID: PMC10598247 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1888] [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: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) have limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the most abundant infiltrating immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and promote tumor stemness, proliferation, invasion and metastasis. Evidence suggested that transthyretin (TTR) influenced the prolifetation and invasion functions of different tumors and play an essential role in the tumor microenvironment. AIMS To investigate the involvement of TTR in TAMs affecting the invasion of cHCC-CCA. METHODS AND RESULTS Data sets obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database were integrated. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained using R software, and modules associated with cHCC-CCA were screened by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Human THP-1 cells were induced to differentiate into macrophages and then co-cultured with HCCC9810 cells and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) to simulate the inflammatory microenvironment of cHCC-CAA. In addition, small interfering RNA against TTR was transfected into HCCC9810 cells, and recombinant TTR and ERK and AKT-specific inhibitors were added to HCCC9810 cells, respectively; after that, the levels of NF-κB protein and phosphorylated ERK and AKT were measured. The invasive abilities of HCCC9810 cells were also tested. One hundred forty-five DEGs were associated with cHCC-CCA, of which TTR was up-regulated. Turquoise modules containing TTR in WGCNA were most significantly associated with cHCC-CCA. TTR was highly expressed in HCCC9810 compared to Huh-28. HCCC9810 showed enhanced invasive capacity after co-culture with TNF-α + macrophages (p < .05). After interfering with TTR, the invasive ability of HCCC9810 was diminished, accompanied by decreased expression of NF-κB, p-ERK1/2, and p-AKT (p < .05). After treating HCCC9810 with ERK and AKT-specific inhibitors, the invasive ability of HCCC9810 was diminished, accompanied by decreased expression of NF-κB and TTR (p < .05). CONCLUSION TTR can promote the invasive ability of cHCC-CCA by regulating AKT/NF-κB and ERK pathways with the assistance of TAMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Ke
- Department of Interventional RadiologyFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouChina
| | - Junqing Lin
- Department of Interventional RadiologyFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouChina
| | - Ning Huang
- Department of Interventional RadiologyFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouChina
| | - Leye Yan
- Department of Interventional RadiologyFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouChina
| | - Rihua Liao
- Department of Interventional RadiologyFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouChina
| | - Weizhu Yang
- Department of Interventional RadiologyFujian Medical University Union HospitalFuzhouChina
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16
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Satake T, Shibuki T, Watanabe K, Sasaki M, Imaoka H, Mitsunaga S, Kojima M, Ikeda M. Case Report: Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab for combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1234113. [PMID: 37546425 PMCID: PMC10401838 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1234113] [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: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) is a rare subtype of primary liver cancers. Therapeutic strategies for patients with cHCC-CCA are limited, and no standard systemic treatment has been established for unresectable cHCC-CCA. Here, we present six cases of cHCC-CCA treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. We observed three partial responses and one stable disease as the best responses; two of these patients were still being treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab at the time of reporting (at least five months of treatment), whereas the remaining two patients were unable to continue treatment owing to adverse events. Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab may be an effective treatment for unresectable cHCC-CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyuki Satake
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Taro Shibuki
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Kazuo Watanabe
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Mitsuhito Sasaki
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Imaoka
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Shuichi Mitsunaga
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Motohiro Kojima
- Division of Pathology, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Masafumi Ikeda
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan
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17
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Tavolari S, Brandi G. Mutational Landscape of Cholangiocarcinoma According to Different Etiologies: A Review. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091216. [PMID: 37174616 PMCID: PMC10177226 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091216] [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: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent next-generation sequencing (NGS) studies on large cohorts of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients have clearly revealed the extreme intra- and inter-tumoral molecular heterogeneity that characterizes this malignancy. The lack of a stereotyped molecular signature in CCA makes the identification of actionable therapeutic targets challenging, making it mandatory to have a better understanding of the origin of such heterogeneity in order to improve the clinical outcome of these patients. Compelling evidence has shown that the CCA genomic landscape significantly differs according to anatomical subtypes and the underlying etiology, highlighting the importance of conducting molecular studies in different populations of CCA patients. Currently, some risk factors have been recognized in CCA development, while others are emerging from recent epidemiological studies. Nevertheless, the role of each etiologic factor in driving CCA genetic heterogeneity still remains unclear, and available studies are limited. In an attempt to shed more light on this issue, here we review the current literature data on the mutational spectrum of this disease according to different etiologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Tavolari
- Medical Oncology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Brandi
- Medical Oncology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
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18
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Gigante E, Cazier H, Albuquerque M, Laouirem S, Beaufrère A, Paradis V. MALDI Imaging, a Powerful Multiplex Approach to Decipher Intratumoral Heterogeneity: Combined Hepato-Cholangiocarcinomas as Proof of Concept. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15072143. [PMID: 37046807 PMCID: PMC10093162 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Combined hepato-cholangiocarcinomas (cHCC-CCA) belong to the spectrum of primary liver carcinomas, which include hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (iCCA) at both ends of the spectrum. Mainly due to the high intratumor heterogeneity of cHCC-CCA, its diagnosis and pathological description remain challenging. Taking advantage of in situ non-targeted molecular mapping provided by MALDI (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization) imaging, we sought to develop a multiscale and multiparametric morphological approach, integrating molecular and conventional pathological analysis. MALDI imaging was applied to five representative cases of resected cHCC-CCA. Principal component analysis and segmentations with MALDI imaging techniques identified areas related to either iCCA or HCC and also hidden tumor areas not visible microscopically. In addition, the overlap between MALDI segmentation and immunostaining provided a comprehensive description of cHCC-CCA tumor heterogeneity by identifying transitional and micro-metastatic areas. Moreover, a list of peptides derived from in silico digestion was obtained for each immunohistochemical marker and was matched within the peptide peak list acquired by MALDI. Comparison of immunostaining images with ions from in silico digestion revealed an accurate identification of iCCA and HCC areas. Our study provides further evidence on the performance of MALDI imaging in exploring intratumor heterogeneity and offering virtual multiplex immunostaining through a single acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elia Gigante
- Centre de Recherche sur L'inflammation, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, F-75018 Paris, France
- Service d’Hépato-Gastroentérologie et Cancérologie Digestive, Hôpital Robert Debré, F-51090 Reims, France
| | - Hélène Cazier
- Centre de Recherche sur L'inflammation, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, F-75018 Paris, France
- Plateforme iMAP, Centre de Recherche sur L'inflammation, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, F-75018 Paris, France
| | - Miguel Albuquerque
- Département de Pathologie, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, FHU MOSAIC, Hôpital Beaujon, F-92110 Clichy, France
| | - Samira Laouirem
- Centre de Recherche sur L'inflammation, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, F-75018 Paris, France
| | - Aurélie Beaufrère
- Centre de Recherche sur L'inflammation, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, F-75018 Paris, France
- Département de Pathologie, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, FHU MOSAIC, Hôpital Beaujon, F-92110 Clichy, France
| | - Valérie Paradis
- Centre de Recherche sur L'inflammation, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, F-75018 Paris, France
- Département de Pathologie, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, FHU MOSAIC, Hôpital Beaujon, F-92110 Clichy, France
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19
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Shen YT, Yue WW, Xu HX. Non-invasive imaging in the diagnosis of combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2023; 48:2019-2037. [PMID: 36961531 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-023-03879-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) is a rare type of primary liver cancer. It is a complex "biphenotypic" tumor type consisting of bipotential hepatic progenitor cells that can differentiate into cholangiocytes subtype and hepatocytes subtype. The prognosis of patients with cHCC-CC is quite poor with its specific and more aggressive nature. Furthermore, there are no definite demographic or clinical features of cHCC-CC, thus a clear preoperative identification and accurate non-invasive imaging diagnostic analysis of cHCC-CC are of great value. In this review, we first summarized the epidemiological features, pathological findings, molecular biological information and serological indicators of cHCC-CC disease. Then we reviewed the important applications of non-invasive imaging modalities-particularly ultrasound (US)-in cHCC-CC, covering both diagnostic and prognostic assessment of patients with cHCC-CC. Finally, we presented the shortcomings and potential outlooks for imaging studies in cHCC-CC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ting Shen
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Wen-Wen Yue
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Center of Minimally Invasive Treatment for Tumor, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Ultrasound Diagnosis and Treatment, Shanghai, 200072, China.
| | - Hui-Xiong Xu
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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20
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Wilhelm AB, Cunningham AG, Kassab C, Fitz EC, Dong J, Radhakrishnan RS, Ranganathan S, Tan D, Stevenson HL. Pediatric combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) with neuroendocrine features: distinguishing genetic alterations detected by chromosomal microarray. Diagn Pathol 2023; 18:20. [PMID: 36782322 PMCID: PMC9926826 DOI: 10.1186/s13000-023-01305-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver tumors exhibiting hepatocellular, cholangiocarcinoma, and neuroendocrine features are extremely rare, with only five cases reported in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION We present an unusual case of a combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) with neuroendocrine features in a pediatric patient. A 16-year-old presented with abdominal pain and a 21.0 cm mass in the right hepatic lobe with extension into the left lobe. Histology showed a poorly differentiated tumor with a solid, tubuloglandular, and microcystic architecture. Immunohistochemistry results were negative for hepatic markers, positive for markers of biliary differentiation, and positive for neuroendocrine differentiation. The neoplasm was reviewed at several institutions with differing diagnoses. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chromosomal microarray (CMA) showed large deletions within chromosomes 6q and 13q in both the hepatocellular-like areas and the cholangiocarcinoma-like areas, with additional large deletions in the cholangiocarcinoma-like areas, supporting origin from hepatocellular carcinoma. The final diagnosis was a cHCC-CC with neuroendocrine features. CONCLUSIONS Diagnosis of cHCC-CCs relies predominately on histomorphology, as per the 2018 International Consensus Group on the nomenclature of cHCC-CC. These findings in this case support that the pathological classification of these lesions be based on molecular data, which could better direct treatment. Further classification of cHCC-CCs and determination of their clinicopathological relevance will require more interobserver consistency and continued molecular profiling of these lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyeesha B Wilhelm
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Arwyn G Cunningham
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Cynthia Kassab
- Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Eric C Fitz
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Jianli Dong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Ravi S Radhakrishnan
- Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | | | - Dongfeng Tan
- Department of Pathology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Heather L Stevenson
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
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21
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Gabbia D, De Martin S. Tumor Mutational Burden for Predicting Prognosis and Therapy Outcome of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043441. [PMID: 36834851 PMCID: PMC9960420 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the primary hepatic malignancy, represents the second-highest cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Many efforts have been devoted to finding novel biomarkers for predicting both patients' survival and the outcome of pharmacological treatments, with a particular focus on immunotherapy. In this regard, recent studies have focused on unravelling the role of tumor mutational burden (TMB), i.e., the total number of mutations per coding area of a tumor genome, to ascertain whether it can be considered a reliable biomarker to be used either for the stratification of HCC patients in subgroups with different responsiveness to immunotherapy, or for the prediction of disease progression, particularly in relation to the different HCC etiologies. In this review, we summarize the recent advances on the study of TMB and TMB-related biomarkers in the HCC landscape, focusing on their feasibility as guides for therapy decisions and/or predictors of clinical outcome.
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22
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Perioperative and oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic versus open liver resection for combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma: a propensity score matching analysis. Surg Endosc 2023; 37:967-976. [PMID: 36076103 DOI: 10.1007/s00464-022-09579-y] [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: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has now been established as a safe and minimally invasive technique that is deemed feasible for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). However, the role of LLR in treating combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) patients has been rarely reported. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of LLR when compared with open liver resection (OLR) procedure for patients with cHCC-CC. METHODS A total of 229 cHCC-CC patients who underwent hepatic resection (34 LLR and 195 OLR patients) from January 2014 to December 2018 in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University were enrolled and underwent a 1:2 propensity score matching (PSM) analysis between the LLR and OLR groups to compare perioperative and oncologic outcomes. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) parameters were assessed by the log-rank test and the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS A total of 34 LLR and 68 OLR patients were included after PSM analysis. The LLR group displayed a shorter postoperative hospital stay (6.61 vs. 8.26 days; p value < 0.001) when compared with the OLR group. No significant differences were observed in the postoperative complications' incidence or a negative surgical margin rate between the two groups (p value = 0.409 and p value = 1.000, respectively). The aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and inflammatory indicators in the LLR group were significantly lower than those in the OLR group on the first and third postoperative days. Additionally, OS and RFS were comparable in both the LLR and OLR groups (p value = 0.700 and p value = 0.780, respectively), and similar results were obtained by conducting a sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSION LLR can impart less liver function damage, better inflammatory response attenuation contributing to a faster recovery, and parallel oncologic outcomes when compared with OLR. Therefore, LLR can be recommended as a safe and effective therapeutic modality for treating selected cHCC-CC patients, especially for those with small tumors in favorable location.
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23
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Pathology of Combined Hepatocellular Carcinoma-Cholangiocarcinoma: An Update. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020494. [PMID: 36672443 PMCID: PMC9856551 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020494] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Combined hepatocellular carcinoma-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) is a rare primary liver cancer that is composed of both hepatocellular and cholangiocellular differentiated cells. It is slightly more common in men and among Asian and Pacific islanders. Overall, risk factors are similar to classic risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The classification has significantly evolved over time. The last WHO classification (2019) mainly emphasized diagnosis on morphological basis with routine stainings, discarded previously recognized classifications with carcinomas with stem cell features, introduced intermediate cell carcinoma as a specific subtype and considered cholangiolocarcinoma as a subtype of cholangiocellular carcinoma. Immunohistochemical markers may be applied for further specification but have limited value for diagnosis. Recent discoveries in molecular pathway regulation may pioneer new therapeutic approaches for this poor prognostic and challenging diagnosis.
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24
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Li Y, Ni X, Liu X, Yang C, Wang Y, Lu X, Zhou C. Prognosis of Primary Liver Cancer Based on LI-RADS Classification with Extracellular Agent-Enhanced MRI. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2023; 10:399-411. [PMID: 36926054 PMCID: PMC10010934 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s394840] [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: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The prognostic value of the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) 2018 in differentiating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from other primary liver cancers (PLC) with cirrhosis is unclear. We aim to evaluate the value of LI-RADS 2018 with agent-enhanced MRI in the postoperative prognosis of PLC patients with cirrhosis. Methods Between 2016 and 2021, 432 patients with cirrhosis and surgically proven single primary liver cancer were retrospectively evaluated. Two radiologists evaluated the preoperative MRI features independently and assigned each lesion a LI-RADS category. Overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and their associated factors were evaluated by using the Kaplan-Meier method, Log rank test, and Cox proportional hazards model. Results The mean age of 432 patients (239 HCCs, 93 ICCs, and 100 cHCC-CCAs) was 57.27±10.92 years. The LR-M category showed poorer OS and RFS than the LR-4 or LR-5 category did for all primary liver cancers (P <0.001 for both), and so did HCCs with tumor size less than 30mm (P =0.003 and P =0.04, respectively). In the multivariable analysis, the LI-RADS category and tumor size > 30 mm had independent correlations with OS and RFS (all P < 0.05). Multivariable Cox analysis identified rim arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE) as independent determinants of poor OS and RFS in primary liver cancers (all P < 0.05). Conclusion The LI-RADS categories can predict the postsurgical prognosis of primary liver cancers independently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubo Li
- Department of MRI, Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (the Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China.,Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Department of Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyan Ni
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Department of Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinai Liu
- Department of MRI, Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (the Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Chun Yang
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Department of Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Department of Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Lu
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Department of Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Changwu Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Department of Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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25
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Testa U, Pelosi E, Castelli G. Cholangiocarcinoma: Molecular Abnormalities and Cells of Origin. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2023; 22:15330338221128689. [PMID: 36872875 PMCID: PMC9989414 DOI: 10.1177/15330338221128689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinomas (CCAs) are a group of heterogeneous epithelial malignancies that can originate at the level of any location of the biliary tree. These tumors are relatively rare but associated with a high rate of mortality. CCAs are morphologically and molecularly heterogeneous and for their location can be distinguished as intracellular and extracellular, subdivided into perihilar and distal. Recent epidemiological, molecular, and cellular studies have supported that the consistent heterogeneity observed for CCAs may result from the convergence of various key elements mainly represented by risk factors, heterogeneity of the associated molecular abnormalities at genetic and epigenetic levels and by different potential cells of origin. These studies have consistently contributed to better defining the pathogenesis of CCAs and to identify in some instances new therapeutic targets. Although the therapeutic progress were still limited, these observations suggest that a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying CCA in the future will help to develop more efficacious treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugo Testa
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Supeirore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Elvira Pelosi
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Supeirore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Germana Castelli
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Supeirore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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26
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Eschrich J, Kobus Z, Geisel D, Halskov S, Roßner F, Roderburg C, Mohr R, Tacke F. The Diagnostic Approach towards Combined Hepatocellular-Cholangiocarcinoma-State of the Art and Future Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15010301. [PMID: 36612297 PMCID: PMC9818385 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) is a rare primary liver cancer which displays clinicopathologic features of both hepatocellular (HCC) and cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCA). The similarity to HCC and CCA makes the diagnostic workup particularly challenging. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) are blood tumour markers related with HCC and CCA, respectively. They can be used as diagnostic markers in cHCC-CCA as well, albeit with low sensitivity. The imaging features of cHCC-CCA overlap with those of HCC and CCA, dependent on the predominant histopathological component. Using the Liver Imaging and Reporting Data System (LI-RADS), as many as half of cHCC-CCAs may be falsely categorised as HCC. This is especially relevant since the diagnosis of HCC may be made without histopathological confirmation in certain cases. Thus, in instances of diagnostic uncertainty (e.g., simultaneous radiological HCC and CCA features, elevation of CA 19-9 and AFP, HCC imaging features and elevated CA 19-9, and vice versa) multiple image-guided core needle biopsies should be performed and analysed by an experienced pathologist. Recent advances in the molecular characterisation of cHCC-CCA, innovative diagnostic approaches (e.g., liquid biopsies) and methods to analyse multiple data points (e.g., clinical, radiological, laboratory, molecular, histopathological features) in an all-encompassing way (e.g., by using artificial intelligence) might help to address some of the existing diagnostic challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Eschrich
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Zuzanna Kobus
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dominik Geisel
- Department for Radiology, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Halskov
- Department for Radiology, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Florian Roßner
- Department of Pathology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Roderburg
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Raphael Mohr
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
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Yoshuantari N, Jeng YM, Liau JY, Lee CH, Tsai JH. Hepatic Sarcomatoid Carcinoma Is an Aggressive Hepatic Neoplasm Sharing Common Molecular Features With Its Conventional Carcinomatous Counterparts. Mod Pathol 2023; 36:100042. [PMID: 36788061 DOI: 10.1016/j.modpat.2022.100042] [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: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic sarcomatoid carcinoma is a rare hepatic tumor with an aggressive clinical behavior and dismal outcome. However, the molecular pathogenesis is incompletely defined. In this study, we analyzed 59 hepatic sarcomatoid carcinomas using targeted next-generation sequencing and immunohistochemistry. A panel of 14 genes commonly mutated in primary liver carcinomas was examined. PD-L1 and loss of expression for switch/sucrose nonfermenting complexes, including BAP1, ARID1A, ARID2, and PBRM1, were detected by immunohistochemistry. The 59 hepatic sarcomatoid carcinomas encompass various carcinomatous subtypes and tumors with complete sarcomatoid transformation. Mutations in TP53 and promoter of TERT (pTERT) were frequently identified in sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma, sarcomatoid combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma, and hepatic sarcomatoid carcinomas with complete sarcomatoid transformation but rarely in sarcomatoid cholangiocarcinoma. Alterations involving switch/sucrose nonfermenting complexes were uncommon in hepatic sarcomatoid carcinoma (n = 2). PD-L1 expressed in tumor-associated immune cells in 67% of the tumors and in tumor cells in 33% of the tumors. A multivariate survival analysis indicated that PD-L1 expression in immune cells served as an independent favorable predictive factor of patient survival (P = .036). In conclusion, hepatic sarcomatoid carcinoma displays molecular similarity with its conventional carcinomatous counterparts. This finding suggests persistent genetic characteristics during sarcomatous evolution. PD-L1 expression in immune cells is a favorable prognostic factor for patient outcomes and may be a potential biomarker for immunotherapeutic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Yoshuantari
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada/Dr Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Yung-Ming Jeng
- Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Pathology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jau-Yu Liau
- Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Pathology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hsiang Lee
- Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Huei Tsai
- Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Pathology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Combined Hepatocellular-Cholangiocarcinoma: An Update on Pathology and Diagnostic Approach. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081826. [PMID: 36009374 PMCID: PMC9405224 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) is a rare primary liver carcinoma displaying both hepatocytic and cholangiocytic differentiation within the same tumor. Relative to classic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cHCC-CCA has more aggressive behavior and a poorer prognosis. Though recent advances have improved our understanding of the biology underlying cHCC-CCAs, they remain diagnostically challenging for pathologists because of their morphologic and phenotypic diversity. Accurate diagnosis of cHCC-CCA is important for patient management and prognostication. Herein, we review recent updates on cHCC-CCA, focusing on tumor classification, pathology, and diagnostic approach.
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29
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The immune microenvironment features and response to immunotherapy in EBV-associated lymphoepithelioma-like cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatol Int 2022; 16:1137-1149. [PMID: 35780451 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-022-10346-3] [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: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Limited data are available for tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoepithelioma-like cholangiocarcinoma (EBV-LELCC), a rare subtype of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC). We aimed to investigate TIME features in EBV-LELCC and the correlation between the components of TIME and the clinical outcomes. METHODS Tumor tissues from five EBV-LELCC cases confirmed through EBER in situ hybridization and five stage-matched conventional IHCC (non-EBV IHCC) cases were collected. These samples were used to evaluate genetic alterations, TIME composition, and PD-L1 expression through ion AmpliSeq comprehensive cancer panel, PanCancer immune profiling panel, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining. The correlation between clinical outcomes and TIME components was analyzed in the two EBV-LELCC cases receiving anti-PD-1 treatment. RESULTS The genetic mutations identified in EBV-LELCC were BARD1, CD19, CD79B, EPHA5, KDM5A, MUC6, MUC16, PTEN, RECQL4, TET1, and TNFAIP3. Both CD79B and TNFAIP3 mutations were involved in the NF-κB signaling pathway. PD-L1 was highly expressed in tumor-infiltrating immune cells, especially the T cells and macrophages. The TIME of EBV-LELCC displayed abundant immune cell infiltration with a stronger adaptive immune response. Increased Th1 cells, NK CD56dim cells, and M1 macrophages, decreased M2 macrophages, exhausted CD8 T cell infiltration, and increased T cell activation signatures in TIME were associated with longer survival. Two patients with metastatic EBV-LELCC had good disease control after anti-PD-1 antibody treatment. A significantly larger TIME component made EBV-LELCCs more sensitive to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). CONCLUSION A better understanding of the composition of TIME in EBV-LELCC is critical for predicting the clinical outcomes of ICB treatment.
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30
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Risk stratification of LI-RADS M and LI-RADS 4/5 combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma: prognostic values of MR imaging features and clinicopathological factors. Eur Radiol 2022; 32:5166-5178. [PMID: 35316365 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-022-08691-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the role of clinicopathological factors and MR imaging factors in risk stratification of combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) patients who were classified as LR-M and LR-4/5. METHODS We retrospectively identified consecutive patients who were confirmed as cHCC-CCA after surgical surgery in our institution from June 2015 to November 2020. Two radiologists evaluated the preoperative MR imaging features independently, and each lesion was assigned with a LI-RADS category. Preoperative clinical data were also collected. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was applied to separately identify the independent factors correlated with the recurrence of cHCC-CCAs in LR-M and LR-4/5. Risk stratifications were conducted separately in LR-M and LR-4/5. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates and overall survival (OS) rates were analyzed by using the Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank test. RESULTS A total of 131 patients with single primary lesion which met the 2019 WHO classification criteria were finally included. Corona enhancement, delayed central enhancement, and microvascular invasion (MVI) were identified as predictors of RFS in LR-M. Mosaic architecture, CA19-9, and MVI were independently associated with RFS in LR-4/5. Based on the number of these independent predictors, patients were stratified into favorable-outcome groups (LR-ML subgroup and LR-4/5L subgroup) and dismal-outcome groups (LR-MH subgroup and LR-4/5H subgroup). The corresponding median RFS for LR-ML, LR-MH, LR-5L, and LR-5H were 25.6 months, 8.2 months, 51.7 months, and 18.1 months. CONCLUSION Our study explored the prognostic values of imaging and clinicopathological factors for LR-M and LR-4/5 cHCC-CCA patients, and different survival outcomes were observed among four subgroups after conducting risk stratifications. KEY POINTS • Corona enhancement, delayed central enhancement, and MVI were identified as predictors of RFS in cHCC-CCAs which were classified into LR-M. Mosaic architecture, CA19-9, and MVI were independently associated with RFS in cHCC-CCAs which were classified into LR-4/5. • Based on the identified risk factors, LR-M and LR-4/5 cHCC-CCA patients could be stratified into two subgroups respectively, with significantly different RFS and OS. • cHCC-CCA patients from LR-M did not always have worse RFS and OS than those from LR-4/5 in some cases.
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31
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Yagi N, Suzuki T, Mizuno S, Kojima M, Kudo M, Sugimoto M, Kobayashi S, Gotohda N, Ishii G, Nakatsura T. The component with abundant immune-related cells in combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma identified by cluster analysis. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:1564-1574. [PMID: 35226764 PMCID: PMC9128159 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC‐CCA) is a heterogeneous tumor sharing histological features with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of cHCC‐CCA is unclear. We compared the TIME of cHCC‐CCA with that of HCC and iCCA. Twenty‐three patients with cHCC‐CCA after hepatectomy were evaluated in this study. Twenty‐three patients with iCCA and HCC were also included. iCCA was matched for size, and HCC was matched for size and hepatitis virus infection with cHCC‐CCA. Immune‐related cells among the iCCA‐component of cHCC‐CCA (C‐com), HCC‐component of cHCC‐CCA (H‐com), iCCA, and HCC were assessed using multiplex fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Among C‐com, H‐com, iCCA, and HCC, multiple comparisons and cluster analysis with k‐nearest neighbor algorithms were performed using immunological variables. Although HCC had more T lymphocytes and lower PD‐L1 expression than iCCA (P < 0.05), there were no significant differences in immunological variables between C‐com and H‐com. C‐com tended to have more T lymphocytes than iCCA (P = 0.09), and C‐com and H‐com had fewer macrophages than HCC (P < 0.05). In cluster analysis, all samples were classified into two clusters: one cluster had more immune‐related cells than the other, and 12 of 23 H‐com and eight of 23 C‐com were identified in this cluster. The TIME of C‐com and H‐com may be similar, and some immunological features in these components were different from those in HCC and some iCCA. Cluster analysis identified components with abundant immune‐related cells in cHCC‐iCCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Yagi
- Division of Cancer Immunotherapy, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Japan.,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Japan.,Course of Advanced Clinical Research of Cancer, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Suzuki
- Division of Cancer Immunotherapy, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Japan.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shoichi Mizuno
- Division of Cancer Immunotherapy, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Japan
| | - Motohiro Kojima
- Division of Pathology, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Japan
| | - Masashi Kudo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Japan
| | - Motokazu Sugimoto
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Japan
| | - Shin Kobayashi
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Japan
| | - Naoto Gotohda
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Japan.,Course of Advanced Clinical Research of Cancer, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Genichiro Ishii
- Course of Advanced Clinical Research of Cancer, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Nakatsura
- Division of Cancer Immunotherapy, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Japan
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32
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Chen F, Wang J, Wu Y, Gao Q, Zhang S. Potential Biomarkers for Liver Cancer Diagnosis Based on Multi-Omics Strategy. Front Oncol 2022; 12:822449. [PMID: 35186756 PMCID: PMC8851237 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.822449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for about 85%-90% of all primary liver malignancies. However, only 20-30% of HCC patients are eligible for curative therapy mainly due to the lack of early-detection strategies, highlighting the significance of reliable and accurate biomarkers. The integration of multi-omics became an important tool for biomarker screening and unique alterations in tumor-associated genes, transcripts, proteins, post-translational modifications and metabolites have been observed. We here summarized the novel biomarkers for HCC diagnosis based on multi-omics technology as well as the clinical significance of these potential biomarkers in the early detection of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanghua Chen
- Center for Tumor Diagnosis & Therapy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Junming Wang
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingcheng Wu
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Gao
- Center for Tumor Diagnosis & Therapy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu Zhang
- Center for Tumor Diagnosis & Therapy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Shu Zhang,
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Guerrero Llobet S, Bhattacharya A, Everts M, Kok K, van der Vegt B, Fehrmann RSN, van Vugt MATM. An mRNA expression-based signature for oncogene-induced replication-stress. Oncogene 2022; 41:1216-1224. [PMID: 35091678 PMCID: PMC7612401 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-02162-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Oncogene-induced replication stress characterizes many aggressive cancers. Several treatments are being developed that target replication stress, however, identification of tumors with high levels of replication stress remains challenging. We describe a gene expression signature of oncogene-induced replication stress. A panel of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and non-transformed cell lines were engineered to overexpress CDC25A, CCNE1 or MYC, which resulted in slower replication kinetics. RNA sequencing analysis revealed a set of 52 commonly upregulated genes. In parallel, mRNA expression analysis of patient-derived tumor samples (TCGA, n = 10,592) also revealed differential gene expression in tumors with amplification of oncogenes that trigger replication stress (CDC25A, CCNE1, MYC, CCND1, MYB, MOS, KRAS, ERBB2, and E2F1). Upon integration, we identified a six-gene signature of oncogene-induced replication stress (NAT10, DDX27, ZNF48, C8ORF33, MOCS3, and MPP6). Immunohistochemical analysis of NAT10 in breast cancer samples (n = 330) showed strong correlation with expression of phospho-RPA (R = 0.451, p = 1.82 × 10-20) and γH2AX (R = 0.304, p = 2.95 × 10-9). Finally, we applied our oncogene-induced replication stress signature to patient samples from TCGA (n = 8,862) and GEO (n = 13,912) to define the levels of replication stress across 27 tumor subtypes, identifying diffuse large B cell lymphoma, ovarian cancer, TNBC and colorectal carcinoma as cancer subtypes with high levels of oncogene-induced replication stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Guerrero Llobet
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Arkajyoti Bhattacharya
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke Everts
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Klaas Kok
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Bert van der Vegt
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Rudolf S N Fehrmann
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marcel A T M van Vugt
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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Ohni S, Yamaguchi H, Hirotani Y, Nakanishi Y, Midorikawa Y, Sugitani M, Naruse H, Nakayama T, Makishima M, Esumi M. Direct molecular evidence for both multicentric and monoclonal carcinogenesis followed by transdifferentiation from hepatocellular carcinoma to cholangiocarcinoma in a case of metachronous liver cancer. Oncol Lett 2022; 23:22. [PMID: 34868359 PMCID: PMC8630812 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.13140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Frequent recurrence is a major issue in liver cancer and histological heterogeneity frequently occurs in this cancer type. However, it has remained elusive whether such cancers are multicentric or monoclonal. To elucidate the clonal evolution of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) development, the somatic mutation frequency and signatures in a patient with triple occurrence of liver cancer every three years were examined, with samples designated as #1HCC, #2HCC and #3cHCC-CCA, respectively. A total of four tumor regions, including HCC (#3HCC) and intrahepatic CCA (#3iCCA) components of #3cHCC-CCA, and three nontumor regions (#1N, #2N and #3N) were precisely dissected from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of each surgical specimen. DNA was extracted and subjected to tumor-specific somatic mutation determination. Of note, five nonsynonymous single-nucleotide variants (SNVs), namely those of KMT2D, TP53, DNMT3A, PKHD1 and TLR4, were identified in #3cHCC-CCA. All five SNVs were detected in both #3HCC and #3iCCA and #2HCC but not in #1HCC. The telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutation C228T, but not C250T, was observed in all tumors. Digital PCR of C228T also indicated the presence of the TERT promoter mutation C228T in nontumorous liver tissues (#1N, #2N and #3N) at a frequency of 0.11-0.83% compared with normal liver and blood samples. These results suggest the following phylogenetic evolution of three metachronous liver cancers: #1HCC was not related to #2HCC, #3HCC and #3iCCA; both #3HCC and #3iCCA arose from #2HCC. From the above, three novel findings were deduced: i) Both multicentric occurrence and intrahepatic metastasis may be involved in liver cancer in a three-year interval; ii) transdifferentiation from HCC to iCCA is a possible pathogenic mechanism of cHCC-CCA; and iii) a nontumorous, noncirrhotic liver may contain a preneoplastic region with a cancer driver mutation in the TERT promoter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumie Ohni
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Hiromi Yamaguchi
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Yukari Hirotani
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Yoko Nakanishi
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Yutaka Midorikawa
- Department of Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Masahiko Sugitani
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Hiromu Naruse
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Nakayama
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Makoto Makishima
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Mariko Esumi
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
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Morbidity, Prognostic Factors, and Competing Risk Nomogram for Combined Hepatocellular-Cholangiocarcinoma. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2021; 2021:3002480. [PMID: 34925507 PMCID: PMC8683178 DOI: 10.1155/2021/3002480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (CHC) is a rare and heterogeneous histological subtype of primary liver cancer, which is still poorly understood. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological and clinical features, investigate the prognostic indicators, and develop a competing risk nomogram for CHC. Methods The study cohort was taken from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The annual percent change (APC) in incidence was calculated using the joinpoint regression. The nomogram was developed based on multivariate competing risk survival analyses and validated by calibration curves. Akaike information criterion, Bayesian information criterion, Harrell's C-index, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curves were obtained to compare prognostic performance. Decision curve analysis was introduced to examine the clinical value of the models. Results The overall incidence of CHC was 0.062 per 100,000 individuals in 2004 and 0.081 per 100,000 individuals in 2018, with an APC of 1.0% (P > 0.05). CHC displayed intermediate clinicopathological features of hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Race, tumor size, vascular invasion, extrahepatic invasion, distant metastasis, grade, surgery, and Metavir stage were confirmed as the independent predictors of cancer-specific survival. The constructed nomogram was well calibrated, which showed better discrimination power and higher net benefits than the current American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system. Patients with liver transplantation had better survival than those with hepatectomy, especially patients within the Milan Criteria (P=0.022 and P=0.015). There was no survival difference between liver transplantation and hepatectomy in patients beyond the Milan Criteria (P=0.340). Conclusion The morbidity of CHC remained stable between 2004 and 2018. The constructed nomogram could predict the prognosis with good performance, which was meaningful to individual treatment strategies optimization. CHC patients should also be considered as potential liver transplantation recipients, especially those within the Milan Criteria, but the finding still needs more evidence to be further confirmed.
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Yang Z, Shi G. Survival outcomes of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma compared with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A SEER population-based cohort study. Cancer Med 2021; 11:692-704. [PMID: 34862762 PMCID: PMC8817088 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Combined hepatocellular‐cholangiocarcinoma (CHC) is a heterogeneous group of primary liver cancers characterized by the coexistence of both hepatic and biliary cellular contents. The aim of this study was to compare CHC and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and investigate the treatment and survival of patients with CHC. Methods Data on CHC and ICC, including clinicopathological characteristics, treatments, and survival outcomes were extracted from the SEER database between 2004 and 2016. Univariate and multivariate analyses of all data were performed to identify the risk factors associated with survival outcomes. The overall survival (OS) rates of CHC patients who underwent hepatic resection (HR) or liver transplantation (LT) were also assessed before and after propensity score matching. Results A total of 1066 consecutive patients who had been diagnosed with CHC (n = 286) or ICC (n = 780) were identified. The mean age of the CHC cohort was 60.8±10.7 years old. Among the CHC group, a large proportion of the patients were men and of White ethnicity (73.1% and 71.3%, respectively). The majority of tumors were poorly differentiated (37.8%), while the most common AJCC stage at presentation was stage I (31.4%). Multivariable analysis of all CHC patients revealed that only tumor size, M1 stage, AJCC stage IIIC, AJCC stage IV, surgery, and chemotherapy were significantly associated with OS. The OS was comparable with the ICC in the initial 36 months and better in the subsequent follow‐up after treatment. Surgery was associated with better survival outcomes, whether in the early or advanced stages. Regarding the specific types of surgery, the OS rates were similar in selected patients following HR or LT. Conclusion In patients with CHC, surgical intervention resulted in better long‐term survival outcomes than nonsurgical treatments. The OS rate of CHC patients compared with that of ICC patients was discriminated before and after a 3‐year follow‐up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Yang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, P.R. China
| | - Guangjun Shi
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, P.R. China
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Nguyen CT, Caruso S, Maille P, Beaufrère A, Augustin J, Favre L, Pujals A, Boulagnon-Rombi C, Rhaiem R, Amaddeo G, di Tommaso L, Luciani A, Regnault H, Brustia R, Scatton O, Charlotte F, Brochériou I, Sommacale D, Soussan P, Leroy V, Laurent A, Le VK, Ta VT, Trinh HS, Tran TL, Gentien D, Rapinat A, Nault JC, Allaire M, Mulé S, Zucman-Rossi J, Pawlotsky JM, Tournigand C, Lafdil F, Paradis V, Calderaro J. Immune profiling of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma reveals distinct subtypes and activation of gene signatures predictive of response to immunotherapy. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 28:540-551. [PMID: 34785581 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-1219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) is a rare malignancy associated with an overall poor prognosis. We aimed to investigate the immune profile of cHCC-CCA and determine its impact on disease outcome. Experimental Design: We performed a multicenter study of 96 patients with cHCC-CCA. Gene expression profile was analyzed using nCounter PanCancer IO 360 Panel. Densities of main immune cells subsets were quantified from digital slides of immunohistochemical stainings. Genetic alterations were investigated using targeted next generation sequencing. Results: Two main immune subtypes of cHCC-CCA were identified by clustering analysis: an "Immune High" (IH) subtype (57% of the cases) and an "Immune Low" (IL) subtype (43% of the cases). Tumors classified as IH showed overexpression of genes related to immune cells recruitment, adaptive and innate immunity, antigen presentation, cytotoxicity, immune suppression, and inflammation (p<0.0001). IH cHCC-CCAs also displayed activation of gene signatures recently shown to be associated with response to immunotherapy in patients with HCC. Immunostainings confirmed that IH tumors were also characterized by higher densities of immune cells. Immune subtypes were not associated with any genetic alterations. Finally, multivariate analysis showed that the IH subtype was an independent predictor of improved overall survival. Conclusions: We have identified a subgroup of cHCC-CCA that displays features of an ongoing intra-tumor immune response, along with an activation of gene signatures predictive of response to immunotherapy in HCC. This tumor subclass is associated with an improved clinical outcome. These findings suggest that a subset of patients with cHCC-CCA may benefit from immunomodulating therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Trung Nguyen
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Créteil, France
- INSERM, U955, Equipe 18 "Physiopathologie et Thérapeutiques des Hépatites Virales Chroniques et des cancers liés", Créteil, France
| | - Stefano Caruso
- INSERM UMR-1162, Génomique Fonctionnelle des Tumeurs Solides, Paris, France
| | - Pascale Maille
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Créteil, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Département de Pathologie, Créteil, France
| | - Aurélie Beaufrère
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Beaujon, Service d'Anatomo-Pathologie, Clichy, France
| | - Jérémy Augustin
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service d'Anatomie et de Cytologie Pathologiques, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Loetitia Favre
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Créteil, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Département de Pathologie, Créteil, France
| | - Anaïs Pujals
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Créteil, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Département de Pathologie, Créteil, France
| | - Camille Boulagnon-Rombi
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Reims, Service d'Anatomie et de Cytologie Pathologiques, Reims, France
| | - Rami Rhaiem
- Hôpital Robert Debré, Service de Chirurgie Digestive et Hépatobiliaire, Reims, France
| | - Giuliana Amaddeo
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Créteil, France
- INSERM, U955, Equipe 18 "Physiopathologie et Thérapeutiques des Hépatites Virales Chroniques et des cancers liés", Créteil, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Service d'Hépatologie, Créteil, France
| | - Luca di Tommaso
- Department of Pathology, Humanitas University, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alain Luciani
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Créteil, France
- INSERM, U955, Equipe 18 "Physiopathologie et Thérapeutiques des Hépatites Virales Chroniques et des cancers liés", Créteil, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Service d'Imagerie Médicale, Créteil, France
| | - Hélène Regnault
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Service d'Hépatologie, Créteil, France
| | - Raffaele Brustia
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Chirurgie Digestive, Hépato-Bilio-Pancréatique et Transplantation Hépatique, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Scatton
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Chirurgie Digestive, Hépato-Bilio-Pancréatique et Transplantation Hépatique, Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Charlotte
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service d'Anatomie et de Cytologie Pathologiques, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Brochériou
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service d'Anatomie et de Cytologie Pathologiques, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Daniele Sommacale
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Créteil, France
- INSERM, U955, Equipe 18 "Physiopathologie et Thérapeutiques des Hépatites Virales Chroniques et des cancers liés", Créteil, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Service de Chirurgie Digestive et Hépato-bilio-pancréatique, Créteil, France
| | - Patrick Soussan
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, ERL8255), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm, UMR1135), Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Leroy
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Créteil, France
- INSERM, U955, Equipe 18 "Physiopathologie et Thérapeutiques des Hépatites Virales Chroniques et des cancers liés", Créteil, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Service d'Hépatologie, Créteil, France
| | - Alexis Laurent
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Créteil, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Service de Chirurgie Digestive et Hépato-bilio-pancréatique, Créteil, France
| | - Van Ky Le
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Van To Ta
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Hong Son Trinh
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Vietduc Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Thi Lan Tran
- Department of Pathology, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - David Gentien
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Translational Research Department, Genomics platform, Paris, France
| | - Audrey Rapinat
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Translational Research Department, Genomics platform, Paris, France
| | - Jean Charles Nault
- INSERM UMR-1162, Génomique Fonctionnelle des Tumeurs Solides, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Jean Verdier, Service d'Hépatologie, Bondy, France
| | - Manon Allaire
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service d'Hépatologie, Paris, France
| | - Sebastien Mulé
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Créteil, France
- INSERM, U955, Equipe 18 "Physiopathologie et Thérapeutiques des Hépatites Virales Chroniques et des cancers liés", Créteil, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Service d'Imagerie Médicale, Créteil, France
| | - Jessica Zucman-Rossi
- INSERM UMR-1162, Génomique Fonctionnelle des Tumeurs Solides, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Service d'Oncologie Médicale, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Université Paris Diderot, Université Paris 13, France
| | - Jean-Michel Pawlotsky
- INSERM, U955, Equipe 18 "Physiopathologie et Thérapeutiques des Hépatites Virales Chroniques et des cancers liés", Créteil, France
| | - Christophe Tournigand
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Créteil, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Service d'Oncologie Médicale, Créteil, France
| | - Fouad Lafdil
- INSERM, U955, Equipe 18 "Physiopathologie et Thérapeutiques des Hépatites Virales Chroniques et des cancers liés", Créteil, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
| | - Valérie Paradis
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Beaujon, Service d'Anatomo-Pathologie, Clichy, France
- Université de Paris, Centre de recherche sur l'inflammation, Inserm, U1149, CNRS, ERL8252, Paris, France
| | - Julien Calderaro
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Créteil, France.
- INSERM, U955, Equipe 18 "Physiopathologie et Thérapeutiques des Hépatites Virales Chroniques et des cancers liés", Créteil, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Département de Pathologie, Créteil, France
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Fan C, Kam S, Ramadori P. Metabolism-Associated Epigenetic and Immunoepigenetic Reprogramming in Liver Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13205250. [PMID: 34680398 PMCID: PMC8534280 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13205250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic changes have been characterized as hallmarks of liver cancer. Independently of etiology, oncogenic pathways as well as the availability of different energetic substrates critically influence cellular metabolism, and the resulting perturbations often cause aberrant epigenetic alterations, not only in cancer cells but also in the hepatic tumor microenvironment. Metabolic intermediates serve as crucial substrates for various epigenetic modulations, from post-translational modification of histones to DNA methylation. In turn, epigenetic changes can alter the expression of metabolic genes supporting on the one hand, the increased energetic demand of cancer cells and, on the other hand, influence the activity of tumor-associated immune cell populations. In this review, we will illustrate the most recent findings about metabolic reprogramming in liver cancer. We will focus on the metabolic changes characterizing the tumor microenvironment and on how these alterations impact on epigenetic mechanisms involved in the malignant progression. Furthermore, we will report our current knowledge about the influence of cancer-specific metabolites on epigenetic reprogramming of immune cells and we will highlight how this favors a tumor-permissive immune environment. Finally, we will review the current strategies to target metabolic and epigenetic pathways and their therapeutic potential in liver cancer, alone or in combinatorial approaches.
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Kelley RK, Joseph NM, Nimeiri HS, Hwang J, Kulik LM, Ngo Z, Behr SC, Onodera C, Zhang K, Bocobo AG, Benson AB, Venook AP, Gordan JD. Phase II Trial of the Combination of Temsirolimus and Sorafenib in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Tumor Mutation Profiling. Liver Cancer 2021; 10:561-571. [PMID: 34950179 PMCID: PMC8647100 DOI: 10.1159/000518297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is upregulated in nearly half of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors and is associated with poor prognosis. In preclinical models of HCC, the combination of mTOR pathway inhibition with the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib improves treatment efficacy. A prior phase I study of the allosteric mTOR inhibitor temsirolimus combined with sorafenib demonstrated acceptable safety at the recommended phase II dose. METHODS We conducted a single-arm, multicenter phase II trial of the combination of temsirolimus 10 mg intravenously weekly plus sorafenib 200 mg b.i.d. The primary endpoint was time to progression (TTP) with efficacy target of median TTP of at least 6 months; secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), objective response rate, safety, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) tumor marker response. Next-generation tumor sequencing was performed as an exploratory endpoint. RESULTS Twenty-nine patients were enrolled, including 48% with hepatitis C virus infection and 28% with hepatitis B virus; 86% had Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage C disease. Among 28 patients evaluable for efficacy, the median TTP was 3.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.2, 5.3) months, with 14% of patients achieving TTP of at least 6 months. The median OS was 8.8 (95% CI: 6.8, 14.8) months. There were no complete or partial responses; 75% of patients had stable disease as best response. AFP decline by at least 50% was associated with prolonged TTP and OS. Serious adverse events occurred in 21%; the most common treatment-related adverse events of CTCAE grade 3 or higher were hypophosphatemia (36%), thrombocytopenia (14%), and rash (11%). There were no grade 5 events attributed to sorafenib or temsirolimus. Tumor next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed in a subgroup of 24 patients with adequate tumor samples. Tumor mTOR pathway mutations were identified in 42%. There was no association between tumor mutation profile and OS or TTP. CONCLUSIONS The combination of temsirolimus and sorafenib demonstrated acceptable safety but did not achieve the target threshold for efficacy in this phase II study. Tumor NGS including the presence of mTOR pathway mutations was not associated with treatment response in an exploratory subgroup analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin K. Kelley
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (HDFCCC), University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, USA,*Robin K. Kelley,
| | - Nancy M. Joseph
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Halla S. Nimeiri
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jimmy Hwang
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (HDFCCC), University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Laura M. Kulik
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Zoe Ngo
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (HDFCCC), University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Spencer C. Behr
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Courtney Onodera
- Clinical Cancer Genomics Lab, UCSF Health, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Karen Zhang
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (HDFCCC), University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, USA,*Robin K. Kelley,
| | - Andrea G. Bocobo
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (HDFCCC), University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Al B. Benson
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Alan P. Venook
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (HDFCCC), University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, USA
| | - John D. Gordan
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (HDFCCC), University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, USA
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Calcifying nested stromal-epithelial tumor: a clinicopathologic and molecular genetic study of eight cases highlighting metastatic potential and recurrent CTNNB1 and TERT promoter alterations. Mod Pathol 2021; 34:1696-1703. [PMID: 33994539 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-021-00822-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Calcifying nested stromal-epithelial tumor (CNSET) is a rare hepatic tumor that occurs in children and young adults. With <40 cases in the literature, the mechanism for tumorigenesis and the biological behavior of CNSET remain uncertain. Here, we studied the clinicopathologic and molecular genetic features of eight CNSETs. Six patients (75%) were female, and the median age at presentation was 22.5 years (range 14-34 years). The median tumor size was 14 cm (range 2.7-18 cm). All tumors had fibrous stroma that contained organoid nests of epithelioid to spindled tumor cells with moderate amounts of palely eosinophilic cytoplasm and ovoid, vesicular nuclei. Five tumors showed calcifications, and one showed lymphovascular invasion. Necrosis was absent in all. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated nuclear β-catenin expression in five of five tested tumors and focal to diffuse nuclear WT-1 positivity in five of seven. Hepatocellular markers (HepPar-1, arginase-1, and albumin in situ hybridization) and neuroendocrine markers (synaptophysin, chromogranin, and INSM1) were uniformly negative. Next-generation sequencing demonstrated CTNNB1 alterations in all seven sequenced tumors. Sanger sequencing demonstrated TERT promoter mutations in all six sequenced tumors. Clinical follow-up was available for seven patients (median duration 4.4 years; range 1.2-6.2 years): four (57%) developed metastatic disease; all four developed lung metastases; and two also had abdominal metastases. All four patients with metastatic disease also had persistent or recurrent liver tumors. Three patients with metastases were alive with disease at the most recent follow-up and one died of disease. The other three patients with available follow-up did not develop metastasis or recurrence. One tumor treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy showed no response, and another showed 90% tumor fibrosis; the latter patient remained disease-free at 6.2 years of follow-up. Our series demonstrates the presence of TERT promoter mutations and CTNNB1 alterations in all sequenced tumors and suggests that CNSET might perhaps be more aggressive than previously reported.
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HNRNPU-AS1 regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis via miR-205-5p/AXIN2 axis and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in cervical cancer. Mol Cell Biol 2021; 41:e0011521. [PMID: 34309414 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00115-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have key functions in modulating cervical cancer (CC) genesis and progression. This work focused on exploring lncRNA HNRNPU-AS1's function in CC and the underlying mechanism. HNRNPU-AS1, AXIN2 and miR-205-5p levels in CC cases were measured through RT-qPCR. Relationship between miR-205-5p and AXIN2 or HNRNPU-AS1 was validated through dual-luciferase assay. Cell proliferation was examined by CCK-8, while cell apoptosis by colony formation and flow cytometry analysis. HNRNPU-AS1 expression loss could be observed in CC patients and cell lines, which predicted the dismal prognosis of CC cases. Moreover, it was identified that the miR-205-5p level was up-regulated, which acted as an inhibitory target of HNRNPU-AS1 and AXIN2. HNRNPU-AS1 inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. As revealed by Kaplan-Meier curve, CC cases showing low HNRNPU-AS1, high miR-205-5p, and low AXIN2 levels had the poorest prognosis. AXIN2 reversed the CC cell proliferation-promoting, apoptosis-inhibiting and Wnt/β-catenin signaling-activating mediated by miR-205-5p or HNRNPU-AS1 knockout. In conclusion, the overexpression of lncRNA HNRNPU-AS1 suppressed CC progression by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin pathway through miR-205-5p/AXIN2 axis.
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Renzulli M, Ramai D, Singh J, Sinha S, Brandi N, Ierardi AM, Albertini E, Sacco R, Facciorusso A, Golfieri R. Locoregional Treatments in Cholangiocarcinoma and Combined Hepatocellular Cholangiocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3336. [PMID: 34283065 PMCID: PMC8268054 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a primary and aggressive cancer of the biliary tree. Combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (CHC) is a distinctive primary liver malignancy which has properties of both hepatocytic and cholangiocytic differentiation. CHC appears to have a worse prognosis compared to hepatocellular carcinoma, and similar to that of intrahepatic CCA. While significant advances have been made in understanding the pathophysiology and treatment of these two tumor types, their prognosis remains poor. Currently, liver resection is the primary treatment modality; however, only a minority of patients are eligible for surgery. However, the use of locoregional therapies proves an alternative approach to treating locally advanced disease with the aim of converting to resectability or even transplantation. Locoregional therapies such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and photodynamic therapy (PDT) can provide patients with tumor control and increase the chances of survival. In this review, we appraise the evidence surrounding the use of locoregional therapies in treating patients with CCA and CHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Renzulli
- Department of Radiology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (N.B.); (R.G.)
| | - Daryl Ramai
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11201, USA; (D.R.); (S.S.)
| | - Jameel Singh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mather Hospital, Northwell Health, Port Jefferson, New York, NY 11777, USA;
| | - Samridhi Sinha
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11201, USA; (D.R.); (S.S.)
| | - Nicolò Brandi
- Department of Radiology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (N.B.); (R.G.)
| | - Anna Maria Ierardi
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Paolo Hospital, 20142 Milan, Italy;
| | - Elisa Albertini
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Rodolfo Sacco
- Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (R.S.); (A.F.)
| | - Antonio Facciorusso
- Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (R.S.); (A.F.)
| | - Rita Golfieri
- Department of Radiology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (N.B.); (R.G.)
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Liu Y, Xin B, Yamamoto M, Goto M, Ooshio T, Kamikokura Y, Tanaka H, Meng L, Okada Y, Mizukami Y, Nishikawa Y. Generation of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma through transdifferentiation and dedifferentiation in p53-knockout mice. Cancer Sci 2021; 112:3111-3124. [PMID: 34051011 PMCID: PMC8353893 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The two principal histological types of primary liver cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma, can coexist within a tumor, comprising combined hepatocellular‐cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC‐CCA). Although the possible involvement of liver stem/progenitor cells has been proposed for the pathogenesis of cHCC‐CCA, the cells might originate from transformed hepatocytes that undergo ductular transdifferentiation or dedifferentiation. We previously demonstrated that concomitant introduction of mutant HRASV12 (HRAS) and Myc into mouse hepatocytes induced dedifferentiated tumors that expressed fetal/neonatal liver genes and proteins. Here, we examine whether the phenotype of HRAS‐ or HRAS/Myc‐induced tumors might be affected by the disruption of the Trp53 gene, which has been shown to induce biliary differentiation in mouse liver tumors. Hepatocyte‐derived liver tumors were induced in heterozygous and homozygous p53‐knockout (KO) mice by hydrodynamic tail vein injection of HRAS‐ or Myc‐containing transposon cassette plasmids, which were modified by deleting loxP sites, with a transposase‐expressing plasmid. The HRAS‐induced and HRAS/Myc‐induced tumors in the wild‐type mice demonstrated histological features of HCC, whereas the phenotype of the tumors generated in the p53‐KO mice was consistent with cHCC‐CCA. The expression of fetal/neonatal liver proteins, including delta‐like 1, was detected in the HRAS/Myc‐induced but not in the HRAS‐induced cHCC‐CCA tissues. The dedifferentiation in the HRAS/Myc‐induced tumors was more marked in the homozygous p53‐KO mice than in the heterozygous p53‐KO mice and was associated with activation of Myc and YAP and suppression of ERK phosphorylation. Our results suggest that the loss of p53 promotes ductular differentiation of hepatocyte‐derived tumor cells through either transdifferentiation or Myc‐mediated dedifferentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Division of Tumor Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.,Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Bing Xin
- Department of Pathology, Division of Tumor Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Masahiro Yamamoto
- Department of Pathology, Division of Tumor Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Masanori Goto
- Department of Pathology, Division of Tumor Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Takako Ooshio
- Department of Pathology, Division of Tumor Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Yuki Kamikokura
- Department of Pathology, Division of Tumor Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Hiroki Tanaka
- Department of Pathology, Division of Tumor Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Lingtong Meng
- Department of Pathology, Division of Tumor Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Yoko Okada
- Department of Pathology, Division of Tumor Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Yusuke Mizukami
- Department of Medicine, Cancer Genomics and Precision Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Yuji Nishikawa
- Department of Pathology, Division of Tumor Pathology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
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Zhao S, Xu Y, Wu W, Wang P, Wang Y, Jiang H, Zhu J. ARID1A Variations in Cholangiocarcinoma: Clinical Significances and Molecular Mechanisms. Front Oncol 2021; 11:693295. [PMID: 34249744 PMCID: PMC8267411 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.693295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a high mortality malignant carcinoma characterized by advanced disease and frequent recurrence, constitutes a major challenge for treatment and prognosis. AT-rich interaction domain 1A (ARID1A) variation is a distinct genetic entity in CCA, getting mounting concerns recently. Here, we comprehensively reviewed the clinical significance and molecular mechanisms of ARID1A alterations in CCA. Based on the independent data derived from 29 relevant studies, the variation rate of ARID1A in intrahepatic and extrahepatic CCA is reported at 6.9-68.2% and 5-55%, respectively. Most of the included studies (28/29, 96.6%) suggest that ARID1A serves as a tumor suppressor in CCA. ARID1A variation may be an important prognostic indicator to predict disease mortality, metastasis, and recurrence in patients with CCA. Multifactorial molecular mechanisms are involved in the relationship between ARID1A variations and the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of CCA, including disruption of the cell cycle, chromatin remodeling, oxidative stress damage, DNA hypermethylation, and the interaction of multiple genes being affected. This review describes that ARID1A variation might be a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for CCA. Future diagnoses and treatments targeting ARID1A hint towards a precision medicine strategy in the management of CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shankun Zhao
- Department of Urology, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, China
| | - Youwen Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, China
| | - Weizhou Wu
- Department of Urology, Maoming People's Hospital, Maoming, China
| | - Pan Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, China
| | - Yichao Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, China
| | - Hao Jiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, China
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Histological Heterogeneity of Primary Liver Cancers: Clinical Relevance, Diagnostic Pitfalls and the Pathologist's Role. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13122871. [PMID: 34201284 PMCID: PMC8228556 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13122871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Primary liver cancers (PLCs) mainly comprise hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), and combined (c)HCC-CCA. Both small duct types iCCA (a subtype pf iCCA) and cHCC-CCA are known to be tumors with histological heterogeneity. Understanding key tumor heterogeneity is crucial as it reflects tumor aggressiveness, patient outcome, treatment choice, and is predictive of treatment efficacy. In addition, PLCs often present with multiple liver tumors, which can be a combination of different types of PLCs or HCCs (intrahepatic metastasis or multicentric occurrence), and the pathological interpretation plays an important role in these cases. The aim of this review is to clarify the pathological features of HCC, iCCA, and cHCC-CCA, including their diagnostic pitfalls, molecular profiles, and the correlation between tumor subtypes and treatment choice. Abstract Primary liver cancers (PLCs) mainly comprise hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), and cHCC-CCA. Combined HCC-CCA and small duct type iCCA show similar clinical presentations, and their histological features are more complex than seen in HCC. Therefore, while their treatment strategy differs, it is difficult to properly diagnose these tumors. Currently, HCC is the only tumor that can be treated by liver transplantation. In addition, small duct type iCCA harbors IDH1/2 mutations and FGFR2 fusions, which can be used for targeted therapy. Thus, improving diagnostic accuracy is crucial. A further point to note is that PLCs often present as multiple liver tumors, and they can be a combination of different types of PLCs or HCCs. In the case of HCCs, two different scenarios are possible, namely intrahepatic metastasis, or multicentric occurrence. Therefore, it is essential to characterize the type of multiple liver tumors. This review aims to clarify the pathological features of HCC, iCCA and cHCC-CCA, including their diagnostic pitfalls and clinical relevance. It is designed to be of use to clinicians who are dealing with PLCs, to provide a better understanding of the pathology of these tumors, and to enable a more accurate diagnosis and optimal treatment choice.
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Beaufrère A, Calderaro J, Paradis V. Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma: An update. J Hepatol 2021; 74:1212-1224. [PMID: 33545267 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) is a tumour that exhibits both hepatocytic and biliary differentiation. Classical risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) seem to also predispose patients to the development of cHCC-CCA. The pathological definition of cHCC-CCA has significantly evolved over time. The last 2019 WHO classification highlighted that the diagnosis of cHCC-CCA should be primarily based on morphology using routine stainings, with additional immunostaining used to refine the identification of subtypes. Among them, "intermediate cell carcinoma" is recognised as a specific subtype, while "cholangiolocellular carcinoma" is now considered a subtype of iCCA. Increasing molecular evidence supports the clonal nature of cHCC-CCA and parallels its biphenotypic histological appearance, with genetic alterations that are classically observed in HCC and/or iCCA. That said, the morphological diagnosis of cHCC-CCA is still challenging for radiologists and pathologists, especially on biopsy specimens. Identification of cHCC-CCA's cell of origin remains an area of active research. Its prognosis is generally worse than that of HCC, and similar to that of iCCA. Resection with lymph node dissection is unfortunately the only curative option for patients with cHCC-CCA. Thus, there remains an urgent need to develop specific therapeutic strategies for this unique clinical entity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Beaufrère
- Université de Paris, INSERM U1149, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France; Pathology Department, Hôpital Beaujon, AP-HP, Clichy, France
| | | | - Valérie Paradis
- Université de Paris, INSERM U1149, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France; Pathology Department, Hôpital Beaujon, AP-HP, Clichy, France.
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Vij M, Calderaro J. Pathologic and molecular features of hepatocellular carcinoma: An update. World J Hepatol 2021; 13:393-410. [PMID: 33959223 PMCID: PMC8080551 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v13.i4.393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Morphological diversity and several new distinct pathologic subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are now well-recognized. Recent advances in tumor genomics and transcriptomics have identified several recurrent somatic/genetic alterations that are closely related with histomorphological subtypes and have therefore, greatly improved our understanding of HCC pathogenesis. Pathologic subtyping allows for a diagnosis which is clinically helpful and can have important implication in patient prognostication as some of these subtypes are extremely aggressive with vascular invasion, early recurrence, and worst outcomes. Several targeted treatments are now being considered in HCC, and the reporting of subtypes may be quite useful for personalized therapeutic purpose. This manuscript reviews the recently identified histomorphological subtypes and molecular alterations in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukul Vij
- Department ofPathology, Dr Rela Institute and Medical Center, Chennai 600044, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Julien Calderaro
- Department of Pathology, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Creteil F-94010, France
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Hou GM, Liu HL, Wu H, Zeng Y. Prediction of Prognosis for cHCC-CC Patients After Surgery: Comparison of Tumor Marker Score Based on AFP, CEA, CA19-9, and Other Clinical Stages. Ann Surg Oncol 2021; 28:7647-7660. [PMID: 33900502 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-021-09949-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effectiveness of clinical stage as a prognostic factor in combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) patients is controversial. PATIENTS AND METHODS Medical records of all pathologically confirmed cHCC-CC patients from 2000 to 2017 at West China Hospital were retrieved. Tumor marker score (TMS) was determined from optimal AFP, CEA, and CA19-9 cutoff values. Interaction and subgroup analysis were conducted according to potential confounders. Prognostic value of TMS and other prognostic models were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier (K-M) analysis, c-index, and time-dependent receiver operating curves (td-ROC). RESULTS Optimal cutoff values for preoperative AFP, CEA, and CA19-9 were 10.76 ng/mL, 5.24 ng/mL, and 31.54 U/mL, respectively. Among 128 patients, 24, 58, and 46 were classified into TMS 0, TMS 1, and TMS ≥ 2, respectively. TMS could stratify our series into groups of statistically different prognosis. Subgroup analysis according to potential confounders and test for interactions showed that TMS 1 and TMS ≥ 2 were stable risk factors relative to TMS 0. Univariate (HR: TMS1 = 2.30, p = 0.014; TMS ≥ 2 = 5.1, p < 0.001) and multivariate Cox regression analyses (HR: TMS1 = 1.72, p = 0.124; TMS ≥ 2 = 4.15, p < 0.001) identified TMS as an independent prognostic risk factor. TMS had good discrimination (c-index 0.666, 95% CI 0.619-0.714), and calibration plots revealed favorable consistency. Area under the curve (AUC) value of td-ROC for TMS and integrated AUC was higher than for other clinical stages at any month within 5 years postoperation. CONCLUSION TMS exhibited optimal prognostic value over other widely used clinical stages for cHCC-CC after surgery and may guide clinicians in prognostic prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gui-Min Hou
- Department of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Laboratory of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Hai-Ling Liu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Laboratory of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Hong Wu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Laboratory of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yong Zeng
- Department of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. .,Laboratory of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. .,Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
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Lymphoepithelioma-like Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Is a Distinct Entity With Frequent pTERT/TP53 Mutations and Comprises 2 Subgroups Based on Epstein-Barr Virus Infection. Am J Surg Pathol 2021; 45:1409-1418. [PMID: 33859071 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000001716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The molecular characteristics of lymphoepithelioma-like intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (LELCC) remain elusive. We examined 27 LELCC cases through next-generation sequencing using a panel of genes commonly mutated in primary liver cancers. Alterations in BAP1, ARID1A, ARID2, and PBRM1 were detected through immunohistochemistry. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed to analyze FGFR2 fusions and CCND1 amplification. LELCC is histologically classified as predominantly undifferentiated or glandular. Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA (EBER) expression was found in 16 LELCCs. Approximately 50% of LELCCs expressed programmed death-ligand 1 strongly. Notably, recurrent pTERT and TP53 mutations were detected in 9 (38%) and 8 (33%) tumors, respectively. Only 2 LELCCs exhibited loss of expression for PBRM1. Alterations in genes typically involved in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, including IDH1, IDH2, ARID1A, ARID2, and BAP1, and FGFR2 fusions, were not identified. The 2-step clustering analysis showed 2 distinct subgroups in LELCC, which were separated by EBER expression. A meta-analysis of all reported cases (n=85) has shown that EBER+ LELCC is strongly associated with the female sex, younger age, and exhibited predominantly glandular differentiation (P=0.001, 0.012, and <0.001, respectively). Patients with EBER- LELCC were more likely to have viral hepatitis and cirrhosis (P=0.003 and 0.005, respectively). Genetic analysis demonstrated that EBER- LELCC was significantly associated with pTERT and TP53 mutations (P=0.033 and 0.008, respectively). In conclusion, LELCC is genetically distinct from intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. EBER- LELCC may exhibit a different pathogenesis from EBER+ LELCC. High programmed death-ligand 1 expression in LELCC has implications for potential immunotherapeutic strategies.
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50
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Xu X, Liu Y, Lu H. Editorial for "Combined Hepatocellular-Cholangiocarcinoma: MRI Features and Prognosis According to Risk Factors for Hepatocellular Carcinoma". J Magn Reson Imaging 2021; 53:1813-1814. [PMID: 33749963 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.27593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopan Xu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Air Force Medical University (Fourth Military Medical University), Xi'an, China
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Air Force Medical University (Fourth Military Medical University), Xi'an, China
| | - Hongbing Lu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Air Force Medical University (Fourth Military Medical University), Xi'an, China
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