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Saleh Y, Abu Hejleh T, Abdelrahim M, Shamseddine A, Chehade L, Alawabdeh T, Mohamad I, Sammour M, Turfa R. Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Evolving Role of Systemic Therapies as a Bridging Treatment to Liver Transplantation. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2081. [PMID: 38893200 PMCID: PMC11171314 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16112081] [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: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths. Classically, liver transplantation (LT) can be curative for HCC tumors within the Milan criteria. Bridging strategies to reduce the dropouts from LT waiting lists and/or to downstage patients who are beyond the Milan criteria are widely utilized. We conducted a literature-based review to evaluate the role of systemic therapies as a bridging treatment to liver transplantation (LT) in HCC patients. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) can be used as a systemic bridging therapy to LT in patients with contraindications for locoregional liver-directed therapies. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment can be utilized either as a monotherapy or as a combination therapy with bevacizumab or TKIs prior to LT. Acute rejection after liver transplantation is a concern in the context of ICI treatment. Thus, a safe ICI washout period before LT and cautious post-LT immunosuppression strategies are required to reduce post-LT rejections and to optimize clinical outcomes. Nevertheless, prospective clinical trials are needed to establish definitive conclusions about the utility of systemic therapy as a bridging modality prior to LT in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yacob Saleh
- Department of Internal Medicine, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman 11941, Jordan; (T.A.H.); (T.A.); (M.S.)
| | - Taher Abu Hejleh
- Department of Internal Medicine, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman 11941, Jordan; (T.A.H.); (T.A.); (M.S.)
| | - Maen Abdelrahim
- Section of GI Oncology, Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Ali Shamseddine
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut P.O. Box 11-0236, Lebanon; (A.S.); (L.C.)
| | - Laudy Chehade
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut P.O. Box 11-0236, Lebanon; (A.S.); (L.C.)
| | - Tala Alawabdeh
- Department of Internal Medicine, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman 11941, Jordan; (T.A.H.); (T.A.); (M.S.)
| | - Issa Mohamad
- Department of Radiation Oncology, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman 11941, Jordan;
| | - Mohammad Sammour
- Department of Internal Medicine, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman 11941, Jordan; (T.A.H.); (T.A.); (M.S.)
| | - Rim Turfa
- Department of Internal Medicine, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman 11941, Jordan; (T.A.H.); (T.A.); (M.S.)
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Cheng M, Zheng X, Wei J, Liu M. Current state and challenges of emerging biomarkers for immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (Review). Exp Ther Med 2023; 26:586. [PMID: 38023367 PMCID: PMC10665984 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.12285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent form of primary liver cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, among patients diagnosed with advanced liver cancer, HCC has the sixth-highest incident rate, resulting in a poor prognosis. Surgery, radiofrequency ablation, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy are the current treatment options available. Immunotherapy, which has emerged as an innovative treatment strategy over the past decade, is serving a vital role in the treatment of advanced liver cancer. Since only a small number of individuals can benefit from immunotherapy, biomarkers are required to help clinicians identify the target populations for this precision medicine. These biomarkers, such as PD-1/PD-L1, tumor mutational burden and circulating tumor DNA, can be used to investigate interactions between immune checkpoint inhibitors and tumors. The present review summarizes information on the currently available biomarkers used for immunotherapy and the challenges that are present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo Cheng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Xiufeng Zheng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Jing Wei
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Ming Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
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Raj R, Wehrle CJ, Aykun N, Stitzel H, Ma WW, Krishnamurthi S, Estfan B, Kamath S, Kwon DCH, Aucejo F. Immunotherapy Plus Locoregional Therapy Leading to Curative-Intent Hepatectomy in HCC: Proof of Concept Producing Durable Survival Benefits Detectable with Liquid Biopsy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5220. [PMID: 37958394 PMCID: PMC10650763 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215220] [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: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunotherapy has emerged as an improved systemic treatment for select patients with advanced unresectable HCC. Objective response is reported in 30% of patients, yet complete response (pCR) allowing for curative-intent resection is rare. Locoregional therapies (LRTs) seem to show synergistic effects with immunotherapy, though this effect has not been scientifically reported. We report a cohort of patients showing pCR to immunotherapy + LRT as a proof of concept for the proposed treatment approach for locally unresectable HCC. METHODS Patients with unresectable HCC treated with immunotherapy as an intended destination therapy from 2016 to 2023 were included. The electronic health record was queried for oncologic information, locoregional therapies, surgical interventions, and long-term outcomes. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing was obtained using Guardant360, and tumor mutational burden (TMB) was defined as the number of somatic mutations per megabase. RESULTS Ninety-six patients with advanced HCC received immunotherapy + LRT as a destination therapy. In total, 11 of 96 patients showed a complete response according to mRECIST criteria. Four of these (36.4%) ultimately underwent curative-intent resection. The median follow-up was 24.9 (IQR 15.6-38.3) months. Overall survival rates in those with complete response at 1, 3, and 5 years were 100%, 91%, and 81.8%, respectively, which were significantly improved compared to those of the cohort not achieving pCR (p < 0.001). All four patients undergoing immunotherapy + LRT followed by curative-intent hepatectomy have no evidence of disease (NED). Of those undergoing surgery, ctDNA was cleared in 75% (n = 3), providing an additional objective measurement of complete response. All four patients were TMB+ before beginning this treatment course, with three being TMB-, indicating stable and complete disease response. CONCLUSIONS Immunotherapy + locoregional therapy can help downstage a significant proportion of patients with initially unresectable HCC, allowing for curative-intent surgery. The survival benefit associated with complete response seems durable up to 3 years after achieving this response. ctDNA measurement was converted from positive to negative in this cohort, providing additional indication of response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roma Raj
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary & Liver Transplant Surgery, Digestive Diseases and Surgery Institute, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (R.R.); (N.A.); (H.S.); (D.C.H.K.); (F.A.)
| | - Chase J. Wehrle
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary & Liver Transplant Surgery, Digestive Diseases and Surgery Institute, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (R.R.); (N.A.); (H.S.); (D.C.H.K.); (F.A.)
| | - Nihal Aykun
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary & Liver Transplant Surgery, Digestive Diseases and Surgery Institute, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (R.R.); (N.A.); (H.S.); (D.C.H.K.); (F.A.)
| | - Henry Stitzel
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary & Liver Transplant Surgery, Digestive Diseases and Surgery Institute, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (R.R.); (N.A.); (H.S.); (D.C.H.K.); (F.A.)
| | - Wen Wee Ma
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (W.W.M.); (S.K.); (B.E.); (S.K.)
| | - Smitha Krishnamurthi
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (W.W.M.); (S.K.); (B.E.); (S.K.)
| | - Bassam Estfan
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (W.W.M.); (S.K.); (B.E.); (S.K.)
| | - Suneel Kamath
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (W.W.M.); (S.K.); (B.E.); (S.K.)
| | - David C. H. Kwon
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary & Liver Transplant Surgery, Digestive Diseases and Surgery Institute, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (R.R.); (N.A.); (H.S.); (D.C.H.K.); (F.A.)
| | - Federico Aucejo
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary & Liver Transplant Surgery, Digestive Diseases and Surgery Institute, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (R.R.); (N.A.); (H.S.); (D.C.H.K.); (F.A.)
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Yamauchi M, Ono A, Amioka K, Fujii Y, Nakahara H, Teraoka Y, Uchikawa S, Fujino H, Nakahara T, Murakami E, Okamoto W, Miki D, Kawaoka T, Tsuge M, Imamura M, Hayes CN, Ohishi W, Kishi T, Kimura M, Suzuki N, Arihiro K, Aikata H, Chayama K, Oka S. Lenvatinib activates anti-tumor immunity by suppressing immunoinhibitory infiltrates in the tumor microenvironment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE 2023; 3:152. [PMID: 37880538 PMCID: PMC10600115 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-023-00390-x] [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: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lenvatinib, a multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, might exert antitumor effects via tumor immune modulation. However, changes in the tumor immune microenvironment induced by lenvatinib are poorly understood. We investigated the effect of lenvatinib on immune features in clinical samples from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS Fifty-one patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who received lenvatinib monotherapy as first-line treatment were enrolled. We collected blood sample (n = 51) and tumor tissue (n, baseline/four weeks after treatment initiation/post-progression = 50/8/12). DNA, RNA, and proteins extracted from the tissues were subjected to multi-omics analysis, and patients were classified into two groups according to baseline immune status. Each group was investigated in terms of the dynamics of tumor signaling. We also longitudinally analyzed circulating immune proteins and chemokines in peripheral blood. RESULTS Here we show that lenvatinib has similar anti-tumor efficacy with objective response rate and progression-free survival in both Immune-Hot and Immune-Cold subtypes. Immune signatures associated with T-cell functions and interferon responses are enriched in the early phase of treatment, while signatures associated with immunoinhibitory cells are downregulated along with efficient vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and fibroblast growth factor receptor blockades. These findings are supported by imaging mass cytometry, T-cell receptor repertoire analysis and kinetics of circulating proteins. We also identify interleukin-8 and angiopoietin-2 as possible targets of intervention to overcome resistance to existing immunotherapies. CONCLUSIONS Our findings show the ability of lenvatinib to modulate tumor immunity in clinical samples of hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masami Yamauchi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
| | - Atsushi Ono
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kei Amioka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yasutoshi Fujii
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hikaru Nakahara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Genetics, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yuji Teraoka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Uchikawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hatsue Fujino
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Takashi Nakahara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Eisuke Murakami
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Wataru Okamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Daiki Miki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Tomokazu Kawaoka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Masataka Tsuge
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Michio Imamura
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - C Nelson Hayes
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Waka Ohishi
- Department of Clinical Studies, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kishi
- Department of Clinical Studies, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Mizuki Kimura
- Oncology Department, HQs, Eisai Co., Ltd, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Koji Arihiro
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Aikata
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Chayama
- Collaborative Research Laboratory of Medical Innovation, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
- Hiroshima Institute of Life Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan.
| | - Shiro Oka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
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Chen J, Niu C, Yang N, Liu C, Zou SS, Zhu S. Biomarker discovery and application-An opportunity to resolve the challenge of liver cancer diagnosis and treatment. Pharmacol Res 2023; 189:106674. [PMID: 36702425 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most common malignancies, with severe morbidity and mortality. While considerable progress has been made in liver cancer treatment, the 5-year overall survival (OS) of patients has not improved significantly. Reasons include the inadequate capability of early screening and diagnosis, a high incidence of recurrence and metastasis, a high degree of tumor heterogeneity, and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Therefore, the identification and validation of specific and robust liver cancer biomarkers are of major importance for early screening, timely diagnosis, accurate prognosis, and the prevention of tumor progression. In this review, we highlight some of the latest research progress and potential applications of liver cancer biomarkers, describing hotspots and prospective directions in biomarker discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingtao Chen
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Chao Niu
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Ning Yang
- Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Chunyan Liu
- Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Shan-Shan Zou
- Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Shan Zhu
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
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Tomiyama T, Itoh S, Toshida K, Morinaga A, Fujimoto-Kosai Y, Tomino T, Kurihara T, Nagao Y, Morita K, Harada N, Kohashi K, Eguchi Y, Oda Y, Mori M, Yoshizumi T. A rare case of unresectable, microsatellite instability-high hepatocellular carcinoma and an examination of the tumor microenvironment. Int Cancer Conf J 2023; 12:81-86. [PMID: 36605838 PMCID: PMC9807723 DOI: 10.1007/s13691-022-00585-4] [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: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and the mortality rate of patients with unresectable HCC is very high. Microsatellite instability (MSI) is an essential biomarker for response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in various tumors. However, the frequency of MSI in HCC is low (1.11%). There is only one case report of MSI-high HCC, and it is not well understood how high MSI affects the tumor microenvironment of HCC. Hence, we describe an interesting patient with unresectable MSI-high HCC, including the evaluation of immune status in the tumor microenvironment. A 68-year-old man presented to our department with HCC in liver segment 1. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed a liver tumor of 6.0 cm in maximum size. The patient underwent extended left and caudate lobectomy of the liver for HCC. Four months after surgical resection, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) detected 13 recurrent nodules. The patient was diagnosed with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence, and we decided to administer systematic chemotherapy. Lenvatinib was administered over approximately 2 years as a first-line treatment, which resulted in intrahepatic tumor shrinkage. However, follow-up CECT showed new lesions, hepatogastric mesentery lymph node swelling, and peritoneal dissemination. After MSI-high status was identified, the patient began to receive pembrolizumab (200 mg, every 3 weeks). Eleven cycles of pembrolizumab therapy were administered over approximately 8 months, during which the diameter of the hepatogastric mesentery lymph node swelling and peritoneal dissemination showed shrinkage but later re-increased. As the third- and fourth-line therapy has been administered, the tumors and lymph nodes have shrunk. We report a rare case in which multikinase inhibitors were effectively used to treat MSI-high HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Tomiyama
- Department of Surgery and Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka City, 812-8582 Japan
| | - Shinji Itoh
- Department of Surgery and Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka City, 812-8582 Japan
| | - Katsuya Toshida
- Department of Surgery and Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka City, 812-8582 Japan
| | - Akinari Morinaga
- Department of Surgery and Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka City, 812-8582 Japan
| | - Yukiko Fujimoto-Kosai
- Department of Surgery and Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka City, 812-8582 Japan
| | - Takahiro Tomino
- Department of Surgery and Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka City, 812-8582 Japan
| | - Takeshi Kurihara
- Department of Surgery and Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka City, 812-8582 Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Nagao
- Department of Surgery and Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka City, 812-8582 Japan
| | - Kazutoyo Morita
- Department of Surgery and Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka City, 812-8582 Japan
| | - Noboru Harada
- Department of Surgery and Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka City, 812-8582 Japan
| | - Kenichi Kohashi
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka City, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Eguchi
- Loco Medical General Institute, 1178-1, Kaneda, Mikazuki, Ogi City, Saga Japan
| | - Yoshinao Oda
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka City, Japan
| | - Masaki Mori
- Tokai University School of Medicine, 143, Shimokasuya, Isehara City, Kanagawa Japan
| | - Tomoharu Yoshizumi
- Department of Surgery and Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka City, 812-8582 Japan
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Muhammed A, D'Alessio A, Enica A, Talbot T, Fulgenzi CAM, Nteliopoulos G, Goldin RD, Cortellini A, Pinato DJ. Predictive biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2022; 22:253-264. [PMID: 35236211 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2022.2049244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and fourth leading cause of cancer death. While drug discovery to improve disease survival was historically poor, there is now evidence of significant potential for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs) in treatment of the disease, and indeed such drug approvals are beginning to emerge. AREAS COVERED HCC typically arises in the context of cirrhosis and chronic liver disease (CLD), and HCC exhibits significant biological heterogeneity, in part reflecting the broad range of aetiologies of CLD. Different classes and combinations of ICPI-based therapy exist, but not all patients will respond and predictive biomarkers are not yet available to guide clinician decision making, unlike some other cancer types. In this review, we discuss the emerging biomarkers for ICPI sensitivity in HCC, including tumour genomic features, perturbation of the gut microbiome and systemic inflammatory markers. EXPERT OPINION Additional profiling studies are required to appreciate existing trends with clinical outcome and to further drive clinical studies in disease stratification by response. This will only be possible within collaborative and international efforts, especially regarding biopsy collection. A close collaboration between basic scientists and clinicians will be the key to shape the next future of HCC biomarker research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antonio D'Alessio
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, UK.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Italy
| | - Andrei Enica
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Thomas Talbot
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Claudia Angela Maria Fulgenzi
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, UK.,Division of Medical Oncology, Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | - David J Pinato
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, UK.,Division of Oncology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
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Mukai S, Kanzaki H, Ogasawara S, Ishino T, Ogawa K, Nakagawa M, Fujiwara K, Unozawa H, Iwanaga T, Sakuma T, Fujita N, Koroki K, Kobayashi K, Kanogawa N, Kiyono S, Nakamura M, Kondo T, Saito T, Nakagawa R, Suzuki E, Ooka Y, Muroyama R, Nakamoto S, Tawada A, Chiba T, Arai M, Kato J, Shiina M, Ota M, Ikeda JI, Takiguchi Y, Ohtsuka M, Kato N. Exploring microsatellite instability in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and its tumor microenvironment. JGH Open 2021; 5:1266-1274. [PMID: 34816012 PMCID: PMC8593775 DOI: 10.1002/jgh3.12660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background and Aim Immune checkpoint inhibitors and their combination with other agents have recently been available in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hence, a thorough understanding of the tumor microenvironment based on tumor samples is yet to be achieved. This study aimed to explore the tumor microenvironment in advanced HCC in terms of microsatellite instability‐high (MSI‐H) by using tumor samples from advanced HCC patients eligible for systemic therapy. Methods MSI‐H was assessed by polymerase chain reaction, and the expression of mismatch repair proteins, PD‐L1, CD8, VEGF, and HLA‐class1 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Whole‐exome sequencing was performed for MSI‐H tumor samples. Results Of 50 patients, one (2.0%) was confirmed with MSI‐H. In the MSI‐H advanced HCC tumor, a high tumor mutation burden, infiltration of CD8+ lymphocytes, and low expression of VEGF were identified. Although PD‐L1 expression was negative, there was shrinkage of tumor following pembrolizumab. However, another tumor nonresponsive to pembrolizumab was present simultaneously. Checking the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we found a similar case to this patient. The TCGA case had unique gene features of miR‐21 and miR‐155 overexpression and hypermethylation of the MSH2 gene. Conclusion We identified a very small number of MSI‐H cases in HCC using one tumor biopsy sample for each patient with advanced HCC. In addition, epigenetic aberrations possibly lead to MSI‐H in HCC patients. Since different HCC clones might coexist in the liver, sampling from multiple tumors should be considered to clarify the true proportion of MSI‐H in HCC and to analyze tumor microenvironments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shohei Mukai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kanzaki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Sadahisa Ogasawara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan.,Translational Research and Development Center Chiba University Hospital Chiba Japan
| | - Takamasa Ishino
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Keita Ogawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Miyuki Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Kisako Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Hidemi Unozawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Terunao Iwanaga
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Takafumi Sakuma
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Naoto Fujita
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Keisuke Koroki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Kazufumi Kobayashi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan.,Translational Research and Development Center Chiba University Hospital Chiba Japan
| | - Naoya Kanogawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Soichiro Kiyono
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Masato Nakamura
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Takayuki Kondo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Tomoko Saito
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Ryo Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Eiichiro Suzuki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Yoshihiko Ooka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Ryosuke Muroyama
- Department of Molecular Virology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Shingo Nakamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Akinobu Tawada
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan.,Department of Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Tetsuhiro Chiba
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Makoto Arai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan.,Department of Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Jun Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Manayu Shiina
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Masayuki Ota
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Jun-Ichiro Ikeda
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Yuichi Takiguchi
- Department of Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Masayuki Ohtsuka
- Department of General Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
| | - Naoya Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University Chiba Japan
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9
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Tong K, Kothari OA, Haro KS, Panda A, Bandari MM, Carrick JN, Hur JJ, Zhang L, Chan CS, Xing J, Gatza ML, Ganesan S, Verzi MP. SMAD4 is critical in suppression of BRAF-V600E serrated tumorigenesis. Oncogene 2021; 40:6034-6048. [PMID: 34453124 PMCID: PMC8559887 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-01997-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BRAF-driven colorectal cancer is among the poorest prognosis subtypes of colon cancer. Previous studies suggest that BRAF-mutant serrated cancers frequently exhibit Microsatellite Instability (MSI) and elevated levels of WNT signaling. The loss of tumor-suppressor Smad4 in oncogenic BRAF-V600E mouse models promotes rapid serrated tumor development and progression, and SMAD4 mutations co-occur in human patient tumors with BRAF-V600E mutations. This study assesses the role of SMAD4 in early-stage serrated tumorigenesis. SMAD4 loss promotes microsatellite stable (MSS) serrated tumors in an oncogenic BRAF-V600E context, providing a model for MSS serrated cancers. Inactivation of Msh2 in these mice accelerated tumor formation, and whole-exome sequencing of both MSS and MSI serrated tumors derived from these mouse models revealed that all serrated tumors developed oncogenic WNT mutations, predominantly in the WNT-effector gene Ctnnb1 (β-catenin). Mouse models mimicking the oncogenic β-catenin mutation show that the combination of three oncogenic mutations (Ctnnb1, Braf, and Smad4) are critical to drive rapid serrated dysplasia formation. Re-analysis of human tumor data reveals BRAF-V600E mutations co-occur with oncogenic mutations in both WNT and SMAD4/TGFβ pathways. These findings identify SMAD4 as a critical factor in early-stage serrated cancers and helps broaden the knowledge of this rare but aggressive subset of colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Tong
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey (HGINJ), Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Om A. Kothari
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey (HGINJ), Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Katherine S. Haro
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey (HGINJ), Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Anshuman Panda
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ), 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA
| | - Manisha M. Bandari
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey (HGINJ), Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Jillian N. Carrick
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey (HGINJ), Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Joseph J. Hur
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey (HGINJ), Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Lanjing Zhang
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ), 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA,Department of Pathology, Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, Plainsboro, NJ, USA
| | - Chang S. Chan
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Jinchuan Xing
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey (HGINJ), Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Michael L. Gatza
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ), 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA,Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Shridar Ganesan
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ), 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA
| | - Michael P. Verzi
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey (HGINJ), Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA,Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ), 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA,Corresponding Author: Michael P. Verzi,
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10
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D'Alessio A, Rimassa L, Cortellini A, Pinato DJ. PD-1 Blockade for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Research and Future Prospects. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2021; 8:887-897. [PMID: 34386437 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s284440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has witnessed radical changes over the last few years, with the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in clinical practice, namely the combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab as the standard of care for first-line treatment of advanced HCC. The immunosuppressive microenvironment of the chronically inflamed liver makes HCC a fertile ground for the use of ICI. This review focuses on anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibodies (mAb), which have been extensively studied, as monotherapy, in combination with other ICI or with antiangiogenic agents. Currently, anti-PD-1 agents are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for second-line treatment in advanced HCC: nivolumab, alone or in combination with ipilimumab, and pembrolizumab. Lack of demonstration of survival benefit in first and second line led to the investigation of PD-1 agents in combination with multi-kinase inhibitors, with a number of first-line treatment regimens being actively investigated. Mounting evidence suggests a potential role of PD-1 blockade as adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapies. A key challenge remains the identification of biomarkers of response, since only a minority of patients appear to benefit from ICI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio D'Alessio
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, W120HS, UK.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy.,Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessio Cortellini
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, W120HS, UK.,Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - David James Pinato
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, W120HS, UK.,Division of Oncology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
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11
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Zeng Z, Yang B, Liao Z. Biomarkers in Immunotherapy-Based Precision Treatments of Digestive System Tumors. Front Oncol 2021; 11:650481. [PMID: 33777812 PMCID: PMC7991593 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.650481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy, represented by immune checkpoint inhibitors (mainly referring to programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) blockades), derives durable remission and survival benefits for multiple tumor types including digestive system tumors [gastric cancer (GC), colorectal cancer (CRC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)], particularly those with metastatic or recurrent lesions. Even so, not all patients would respond well to anti-programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 agents (anti-PD-1/PD-L1) in gastrointestinal malignancies, suggesting the need for biomarkers to identify the responders and non-responders, as well as to predict the clinical outcomes. PD-L1expression has increasingly emerged as a potential biomarker when predicting the immunotherapy-based efficacy; but regrettably, PD-L1 alone is not sufficient to differentiate patients. Other molecules, such as tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as well, are involved in further explorations. Overall, there are not still no perfect or well-established biomarkers in immunotherapy for digestive system tumors at present as a result of the inherent limitations, especially for HCC. Standardizing and harmonizing the assessments of existing biomarkers, and meanwhile, switching to other novel biomarkers are presumably wise and feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Zeng
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Medical School, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Biao Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhengyin Liao
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Medical School, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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12
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Ziogas IA, Evangeliou AP, Giannis D, Hayat MH, Mylonas KS, Tohme S, Geller DA, Elias N, Goyal L, Tsoulfas G. The Role of Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis of 2,402 Patients. Oncologist 2021; 26:e1036-e1049. [PMID: 33314549 DOI: 10.1002/onco.13638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as a treatment option for several malignancies. Nivolumab, pembrolizumab, nivolumab plus ipilimumab, and atezolizumab plus bevacizumab have been approved for the management of advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to systematically review the literature and summarize the characteristics and outcomes of patients with HCC treated with ICIs. METHODS A systematic literature search of PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov was performed according to the PRISMA statement (end of search date: November 7, 2020). Quality of evidence assessment was also performed. RESULTS Sixty-three articles including 2,402 patients were analyzed, 2,376 of whom received ICIs for unresectable HCC. Response to ICIs could be evaluated in 2,116 patients; the overall objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 22.7% and 60.7%, respectively, and the mean overall survival (OS) was 15.8 months. The ORR, DCR, and OS for nivolumab (n = 846) were 19.7%, 51.1%, and 18.7 months, respectively; for pembrolizumab (n = 435) they were 20.7%, 64.6% and 13.3 months, respectively. The combination of atezolizumab/bevacizumab (n = 460) demonstrated an ORR and DCR of 30% and 77%, respectively. The overall rate of treatment discontinuation because of adverse events was 14.9%. Fifteen patients received ICIs in the liver transplant (LT) setting (one pre-LT for bridging, 14 for post-LT recurrence); fatal graft rejection was reported in 40.0% (n = 6/15) and mortality in 80.0% (n = 12/15). CONCLUSION ICIs are safe and effective against unresectable HCC, but caution is warranted regarding their use in the LT setting because of the high graft rejection rate. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE This systematic review pooled the outcomes from studies reporting on the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the management of 2,402 patients with advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 2,376 of whom had unresectable HCC. The objective response rate and disease control rate were 22.7% and 60.7%, respectively, and the mean overall survival was 15.8 months. The overall rate of treatment discontinuation because of adverse events was 14.9%. Fifteen patients received ICIs in the liver transplant (LT) setting (one pre-LT for bridging, 14 for post-LT recurrence). Six of these patients experienced graft rejection (40.0%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis A Ziogas
- First Department of Surgery, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.,Surgery Working Group, Society of Junior Doctors, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Dimitrios Giannis
- Surgery Working Group, Society of Junior Doctors, Athens, Greece.,Institute of Health Innovations and Outcomes Research, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Muhammad H Hayat
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Konstantinos S Mylonas
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Samer Tohme
- Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David A Geller
- Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nahel Elias
- Transplantation Unit, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lipika Goyal
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Georgios Tsoulfas
- First Department of Surgery, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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13
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Eso Y. Microsatellite instability analysis using multiplex polymerase chain reaction with fluorescently labeled primers for amplification of five mononucleotide repeat markers. Hepatol Res 2020; 50:1391-1392. [PMID: 32618030 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.13542] [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: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Eso
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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14
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Zeng Z, Yang B, Liao ZY. Current progress and prospect of immune checkpoint inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol Lett 2020; 20:45. [PMID: 32802167 PMCID: PMC7412709 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.11909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the incidence of liver cancer has increased and is currently the sixth most common tumor and the second leading cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. Most cases of liver cancer are hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Surgery, including liver transplantation or resection, and radiofrequency ablation therapies are all considered to be the curative treatment options for early-stage HCC. However, most patients have advanced HCC at the time of diagnosis, contributing to a poor prognosis. Therefore, improved treatment for late-stage HCC is needed. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), among which programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1)/PD-ligand 1 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 are the representative immunological checkpoints, have shown great promise and progress for HCC treatment. The present review summarizes recent studies that have focused on ICIs and discusses the present limitations affecting the development of new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Zeng
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Biao Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Zheng-Yin Liao
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
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15
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Sasaki R, Kanda T, Fujisawa M, Matsumoto N, Masuzaki R, Ogawa M, Matsuoka S, Kuroda K, Moriyama M. Different Mechanisms of Action of Regorafenib and Lenvatinib on Toll-Like Receptor-Signaling Pathways in Human Hepatoma Cell Lines. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21093349. [PMID: 32397371 PMCID: PMC7246870 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple kinase inhibitors are available for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is largely unknown whether regorafenib or lenvatinib modulates innate immunity including Toll-like receptor (TLR)-signaling pathways in HCC. We performed real-time RT-PCR to investigate 84 TLR-associated gene expression levels and compared these gene expression levels in each hepatoma cells treated with or without regorafenib or lenvatinib. In response to regorafenib, nine and 10 genes were upregulated in Huh7 and HepG2 cells, respectively, and only C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 was upregulated in both cell lines. A total of 14 and 12 genes were downregulated in Huh7 and HepG2 cells, respectively, and two genes (Fos proto-oncogene, AP-1 transcription factor subunit, and ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2 N) were downregulated in both cell lines. In response to lenvatinib, four and 16 genes were upregulated in Huh7 and HepG2 cells, respectively, and two genes (interleukin 1 alpha and TLR4) were upregulated in both cells. Six and one genes were downregulated in Huh7 and HepG2, respectively, and no genes were downregulated in both cell lines. In summary, regorafenib and lenvatinib affect TLR signaling pathways in human hepatoma cell lines. Modulation of TLR signaling pathway may improve the treatment of HCC patients with refractory disease.
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