The evolving landscape of systemic treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and biliary tract cancer

An Eight-mRNA Prognostic Model to Predict Survival in Hepatic Cellular Cancer

Background. Transcriptional dysregulation plays a critical role in the onset and development of malignant tumors. Employing gene dysregulation to forecast the change of tumors is valuable for cancer diagnosis. However, the prognostic prediction for HCC using combined gene models remains insufficient. Methods. The expression profiles of GSE103512 and TCGA-LIHC were downloaded. Gene Ontology (Go) was used to evaluate the overlapping differential genes (DEG) in TCGA and GSE103512. The core genes in the critical module most significantly related to HCC were obtained by WGCNA. Eight genes most significantly related to HCC and OS were identified by reweighted coexpression network analysis and Cox regression. Results. We selected eight genes, FZEB1, CDK1, RAD54L, COL1A2, ATP1B3, CASP8, USP39, and HOXB7. Moreover, we constructed an eight-gene model and forecasted the prognosis of HCC. ROC curve of the eight-mRNA prognostic model was screened out ( $\text{AUC}=0.635$ ), suggesting that this model exhibited a good prediction performance. Survival analysis showed that the survival rate of patients in the high-risk group was significantly lower than that in the low-risk group. Conclusion. The eight-mRNAs model might forecast the OS of HCC patients and advance remedial decision-making.

The Role of Cytokines in the Different Stages of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Simple Summary

Non-homeostatic cytokine expression during hepatocellular carcinogenesis, together with simple and inexpensive cytokine detection techniques, has opened up its use as potential biomarkers, from cancer detection to prognosis. However, carcinogenic programs during cancer progression are not linear. Therefore, cytokines with prognostic potential in one stage may not be relevant in another. Here, we reviewed cytokines with clinical potential in different settings during hepatocellular carcinoma progression.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the primary form of liver cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Early detection remains the most effective strategy in HCC management. However, the spectrum of underlying liver diseases preceding HCC, its genetic complexity, and the lack of symptomatology in early stages challenge early detection. Regardless of underlying etiology, unresolved chronic inflammation is a common denominator in HCC. Hence, many inflammatory molecules, including cytokines, have been investigated as potential biomarkers to predict different stages of HCC. Soluble cytokines carry cell-signaling functions and are easy to detect in the bloodstream. However, its biomarkers’ role remains limited due to the dysregulation of immune parameters related to the primary liver process and their ability to differentiate carcinogenesis from the underlying disease. In this review, we discuss and provide insight on cytokines with clinical relevance for HCC differentiating those implicated in tumor formation, early detection, advanced disease, and response to therapy.

Targeted Therapies in Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma: A Focus on FGFR Inhibitors

Despite advanced diseases continuing to be associated with grim prognoses, the past decade has witnessed the advent of several novel treatment options for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients. In fact, CCA has emerged as a heterogeneous group of malignancies harboring potentially druggable mutations in approximately 50% of cases, and thus, molecularly targeted therapies have been actively explored in this setting. Among these, fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitors have reported important results, as witnessed by the FDA approval of pemigatinib in previously treated metastatic CCA patients harboring FGFR2 fusion or other rearrangements. Herein, we provide an overview of available evidence on FGFR inhibitors in CCA, especially focusing on the development, pitfalls and challenges of emerging treatments in this setting.