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Guo L, Hao X, Chen L, Qian Y, Wang C, Liu X, Fan X, Jiang G, Zheng D, Gao P, Bai H, Wang C, Yu Y, Dai W, Gao Y, Liang X, Liu J, Sun J, Tian J, Wang H, Hou J, Fan R. Early warning of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients by three-phase CT-based deep learning radiomics model: a retrospective, multicentre, cohort study. EClinicalMedicine 2024; 74:102718. [PMID: 39070173 PMCID: PMC11279308 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often experiences latency, ultimately leading to unfavorable patient outcomes due to delayed therapeutic interventions. Our study is designed to develop and validate a model that employs triple-phase computerized tomography (CT)-based deep learning radiomics and clinical variables for early warning of HCC in patients with cirrhosis. Methods We studied 1858 patients with cirrhosis primarily from the PreCar cohort (NCT03588442) between June 2018 and January 2020 at 11 centres, and collected triple-phase CT images and laboratory results 3-12 months prior to HCC diagnosis or non-HCC final follow-up. Using radiomics and deep learning techniques, early warning model was developed in the discovery cohort (n = 924), and then validated in an internal validation cohort (n = 231), and an external validation cohort from 10 external centres (n = 703). Findings We developed a hybrid model, named ALARM model, which integrates deep learning radiomics with clinical variables, enabling early warning of the majority of HCC cases. The ALARM model effectively predicted short-term HCC development in cirrhotic patients with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.929 (95% confidence interval 0.918-0.941) in the discovery cohort, 0.902 (0.818-0.987) in the internal validation cohort, and 0.918 (0.898-0.961) in the external validation cohort. By applying optimal thresholds of 0.21 and 0.65, the high-risk (n = 221, 11.9%) and medium-risk (n = 433, 23.3%) groups, which covered 94.4% (84/89) of the patients who developed HCC, had significantly higher rates of HCC occurrence compared to the low-risk group (n = 1204, 64.8%) (24.3% vs 6.4% vs 0.42%, P < 0.001). Furthermore, ALARM also demonstrated consistent performance in subgroup analysis. Interpretation The novel ALARM model, based on deep learning radiomics with clinical variables, provides reliable estimates of short-term HCC development for cirrhotic patients, and may have the potential to improve the precision in clinical decision-making and early initiation of HCC treatments. Funding This work was supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFC2303600, 2022YFC2304800), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82170610), Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2023A1515011211).
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangxu Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Viral Hepatitis, Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Research in South China, Ministry of Education, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Hao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Viral Hepatitis, Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Research in South China, Ministry of Education, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Chen
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, National Center for Liver Cancer, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute/hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunsong Qian
- Hepatology Department, Ningbo Hwamei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
| | | | - Xiaolong Liu
- The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiaotang Fan
- Department of Hepatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Guoqing Jiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Dan Zheng
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Pujun Gao
- The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Honglian Bai
- The Department of Infectious Disease, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
| | - Chuanxin Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yanlong Yu
- Chifeng Clinical Medical School of Inner, Mongolia Medical University, Chifeng, China
| | - Wencong Dai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Viral Hepatitis, Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Research in South China, Ministry of Education, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanhang Gao
- The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xieer Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Viral Hepatitis, Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Research in South China, Ministry of Education, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingfeng Liu
- The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jian Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Viral Hepatitis, Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Research in South China, Ministry of Education, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Tian
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Institute of Automation, Beijing, China
| | - Hongyang Wang
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, National Center for Liver Cancer, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute/hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinlin Hou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Viral Hepatitis, Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Research in South China, Ministry of Education, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rong Fan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Viral Hepatitis, Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Research in South China, Ministry of Education, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Fiehn F, Beisel C, Binder M. Hepatitis C virus and hepatocellular carcinoma: carcinogenesis in the era of direct-acting antivirals. Curr Opin Virol 2024; 67:101423. [PMID: 38925094 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2024.101423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis, with a risk for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although highly effective direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are available, the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of HCV-associated HCC are still high. This article reviews the current knowledge of the mechanisms of HCV-induced carcinogenesis with a special focus on those processes that continue after virus clearance and outlines implications for patient surveillance after DAA treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Fiehn
- Research Group "Dynamics of Early Viral Infection and the Innate Antiviral Response", Division Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis (D430), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Claudia Beisel
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marco Binder
- Research Group "Dynamics of Early Viral Infection and the Innate Antiviral Response", Division Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis (D430), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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3
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Al-Hasan M, Mehta N, Yang JD, Singal AG. Role of biomarkers in the diagnosis and management of HCC. Liver Transpl 2024:01445473-990000000-00379. [PMID: 38738964 DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
For many cancers, biomarkers have served as an important tool across the cancer care continuum from risk stratification and early detection to diagnosis and treatment. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) remains one of the few validated biomarkers for patients with HCC. Although AFP has shown potential for each of these steps, its performance, when used alone, has often been suboptimal. There continue to be discordant recommendations about AFP's value when combined with ultrasound for surveillance, as well as its role in diagnostic algorithms. Conversely, high AFP levels are associated with aggressive tumor biology and survival, so it remains a key factor for the selection of candidates for liver transplant. There have been immense efforts to identify and validate additional biomarkers for each of these steps in the HCC care continuum. Indeed, biomarker panels have shown promising data for HCC risk stratification and surveillance among patients with cirrhosis, as well as prognostication and detection of minimal residual disease in patients undergoing HCC treatment. Several large prospective studies are currently ongoing to evaluate the role of these emerging biomarkers in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Al-Hasan
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Neil Mehta
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Ju Dong Yang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cedars Sinai, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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Mendiratta-Lala M, Fetzer D, Kamaya A, Parikh ND, Singal AG. The Future Role of Abdominal US in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance. Radiology 2024; 311:e232624. [PMID: 38742973 PMCID: PMC11140528 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.232624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Abdominal US is currently the best-validated surveillance strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in at-risk patients. It is the only modality shown to have completed all five phases of validation and can achieve high sensitivity and specificity for HCC detection, especially when conducted by expert sonographers in high-volume centers. However, US also has limitations, including operator dependency and varying sensitivity in clinical practice. Further, the sensitivity of US for early-stage HCC detection is lower in patients with obesity or nonviral liver disease, increasingly common populations undergoing surveillance. Imaging-based and blood-based surveillance strategies, including abbreviated MRI and biomarker panels, may overcome some limitations of US-based surveillance. Both strategies have promising test performance in phase II and phase III biomarker studies and are undergoing prospective validation. Considering the variation in HCC risk and test performance between patients, there will likely be a shift away from a one-size-fits-all approach and toward precision screening, in which the "best" test is selected based on individual patient characteristics. In this upcoming era of precision HCC screening among patients with cirrhosis, US will likely continue to have an important, albeit reduced, surveillance role.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Aya Kamaya
- From the Departments of Radiology (M.M.L.) and Internal Medicine
(N.D.P.), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich; Department of Radiology
(D.F.) and Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Digestive and Liver
Diseases (A.G.S.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5959 Harry
Hines Blvd, Ste 420, POB 1, Dallas, TX 75390-8887; and Department of Radiology,
Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif (A.K.)
| | - Neehar D. Parikh
- From the Departments of Radiology (M.M.L.) and Internal Medicine
(N.D.P.), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich; Department of Radiology
(D.F.) and Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Digestive and Liver
Diseases (A.G.S.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5959 Harry
Hines Blvd, Ste 420, POB 1, Dallas, TX 75390-8887; and Department of Radiology,
Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif (A.K.)
| | - Amit G. Singal
- From the Departments of Radiology (M.M.L.) and Internal Medicine
(N.D.P.), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich; Department of Radiology
(D.F.) and Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Digestive and Liver
Diseases (A.G.S.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5959 Harry
Hines Blvd, Ste 420, POB 1, Dallas, TX 75390-8887; and Department of Radiology,
Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif (A.K.)
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Lu Y, Lin B, Li M. The role of alpha-fetoprotein in the tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1363695. [PMID: 38660138 PMCID: PMC11039944 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1363695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent malignant cancer worldwide, characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a glycoprotein synthesized by the liver and yolk sac during fetal development. However, the serum levels of AFP exhibit a significant correlation with the onset and progression of HCC in adults. Extensive research has demonstrated that the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in the malignant transformation of HCC, and AFP is a key factor in the TME, promoting HCC development. The objective of this review was to analyze the existing knowledge regarding the role of AFP in the TME. Specifically, this review focused on the effect of AFP on various cells in the TME, tumor immune evasion, and clinical application of AFP in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC. These findings offer valuable insights into the clinical treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lu
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Bo Lin
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Mengsen Li
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, Hainan, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, Hainan, China
- Institution of Tumor, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, Hainan, China
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Xiang X, Bhowmick K, Shetty K, Ohshiro K, Yang X, Wong LL, Yu H, Latham PS, Satapathy SK, Brennan C, Dima RJ, Chambwe N, Sharifova G, Cacaj F, John S, Crawford JM, Huang H, Dasarathy S, Krainer AR, He AR, Amdur RL, Mishra L. Mechanistically based blood proteomic markers in the TGF-β pathway stratify risk of hepatocellular cancer in patients with cirrhosis. Genes Cancer 2024; 15:1-14. [PMID: 38323119 PMCID: PMC10843195 DOI: 10.18632/genesandcancer.234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of death from cancer worldwide but is often diagnosed at an advanced incurable stage. Yet, despite the urgent need for blood-based biomarkers for early detection, few studies capture ongoing biology to identify risk-stratifying biomarkers. We address this gap using the TGF-β pathway because of its biological role in liver disease and cancer, established through rigorous animal models and human studies. Using machine learning methods with blood levels of 108 proteomic markers in the TGF-β family, we found a pattern that differentiates HCC from non-HCC in a cohort of 216 patients with cirrhosis, which we refer to as TGF-β based Protein Markers for Early Detection of HCC (TPEARLE) comprising 31 markers. Notably, 20 of the patients with cirrhosis alone presented an HCC-like pattern, suggesting that they may be a group with as yet undetected HCC or at high risk for developing HCC. In addition, we found two other biologically relevant markers, Myostatin and Pyruvate Kinase M2 (PKM2), which were significantly associated with HCC. We tested these for risk stratification of HCC in multivariable models adjusted for demographic and clinical variables, as well as batch and site. These markers reflect ongoing biology in the liver. They potentially indicate the presence of HCC early in its evolution and before it is manifest as a detectable lesion, thereby providing a set of markers that may be able to stratify risk for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyan Xiang
- The Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Krishanu Bhowmick
- The Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Kirti Shetty
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Kazufumi Ohshiro
- The Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Xiaochun Yang
- The Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Linda L. Wong
- Department of Surgery, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Herbert Yu
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Patricia S. Latham
- Department of Pathology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Sanjaya K. Satapathy
- Department of Medicine, Sandra Atlas Bass Center for Liver Diseases and Transplantation, North Shore University Hospital/Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Christina Brennan
- Office of Clinical Research, Northwell Health, Lake Success, NY 11042, USA
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Richard J. Dima
- Office of Clinical Research, Northwell Health, Lake Success, NY 11042, USA
| | - Nyasha Chambwe
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Gulru Sharifova
- Department of Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA
| | - Fellanza Cacaj
- The Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Sahara John
- The Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | | | - Hai Huang
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Srinivasan Dasarathy
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | | | - Aiwu R. He
- Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA
| | - Richard L. Amdur
- The Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
- Quantitative Intelligence, The Institutes for Health Systems Science, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Lopa Mishra
- The Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
- Department of Surgery, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
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Koo E, Singal AG. Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance: Evidence-Based Tailored Approach. Surg Oncol Clin N Am 2024; 33:13-28. [PMID: 37945138 DOI: 10.1016/j.soc.2023.06.005] [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] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance is recommended by professional society guidelines given a consistent association with reduced HCC-related mortality. HCC surveillance should be performed using semiannual abdominal ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein, although this combination has suboptimal sensitivity and can miss more than one-third of HCC at an early stage. There are promising emerging blood-based and imaging-based strategies, including abbreviated MRI and biomarker panels; however, these require further validation before routine use in clinical practice. HCC surveillance is underused in clinical practice due to patient-related and provider-related barriers, highlighting a need for interventions to improve surveillance utilization in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eden Koo
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5959 Harry Hines Boulevard, POB 1, Suite 420, Dallas, TX 75390-8887, USA.
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8
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Giannone F, Slovic N, Pessaux P, Schuster C, Baumert TF, Lupberger J. Inflammation-related prognostic markers in resected hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1267870. [PMID: 38144522 PMCID: PMC10746354 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1267870] [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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is usually detected late and therapeutic options are unsatisfactory. Despite marked progress in patient care, HCC remains among the deadliest cancers world-wide. While surgical resection remains a key option for early-stage HCC, the 5-year survival rates after surgical resection are limited. One reason for limited outcomes is the lack of reliable prognostic biomarkers to predict HCC recurrence. HCC prognosis has been shown to correlate with different systemic and pathological markers which are associated with patient survival and HCC recurrence. Liver inflammatory processes offer a large variety of systemic and pathological markers which may be exploited to improve the reliability of prognosis and decision making of liver surgeons and hepatologists. The following review aims to dissect the potential tools, targets and prognostic meaning of inflammatory markers in patients with resectable HCC. We analyze changes in circulant cellular populations and assess inflammatory biomarkers as a surrogate of impaired outcomes and provide an overview on predictive gene expression signatures including inflammatory transcriptional patterns, which are representative of poor survival in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Giannone
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)_S1110, Strasbourg, France
- Unité de Chirurgie Hépato-Biliaire et Pancréatique, Service de Chirurgie Viscérale and Digestive, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU), Strasbourg, France
| | - Nevena Slovic
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)_S1110, Strasbourg, France
| | - Patrick Pessaux
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)_S1110, Strasbourg, France
- Unité de Chirurgie Hépato-Biliaire et Pancréatique, Service de Chirurgie Viscérale and Digestive, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU), Strasbourg, France
| | - Catherine Schuster
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)_S1110, Strasbourg, France
| | - Thomas F. Baumert
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)_S1110, Strasbourg, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU), Strasbourg, France
- Service d’hépato-gastroentérologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
| | - Joachim Lupberger
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)_S1110, Strasbourg, France
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Kanwal F, Khaderi S, Singal AG, Marrero JA, Asrani SK, Amos CI, Thrift AP, Kramer JR, Yu X, Cao Y, Luster M, Al-Sarraj A, Ning J, El-Serag HB. Risk Stratification Model for Hepatocellular Cancer in Patients With Cirrhosis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 21:3296-3304.e3. [PMID: 37390101 PMCID: PMC10661677 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2023.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The available risk stratification indices for hepatocellular cancer (HCC) have limited applicability. We developed and externally validated an HCC risk stratification index in U.S. cohorts of patients with cirrhosis. METHODS We used data from 2 prospective U.S. cohorts to develop the risk index. Patients with cirrhosis were enrolled from 8 centers and followed until development of HCC, death, or December 31, 2021. We identified an optimal set of predictors with the highest discriminatory ability (C-index) for HCC. The predictors were refit using competing risk regression and its predictive performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUROC). External validation was performed in a cohort of 21,550 patients with cirrhosis seen in the U.S Veterans Affairs system between 2018 and 2019 with follow-up through 2021. RESULTS We developed the model in 2431 patients (mean age 60 years, 31% women, 24% cured hepatitis C, 16% alcoholic liver disease, and 29% nonalcoholic fatty liver disease). The selected model had a C-index of 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73-0.81), and the predictors were age, sex, smoking, alcohol use, body mass index, etiology, α-fetoprotein, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, and platelet levels. The AUROCs were 0.75 (95% CI, 0.65-0.85) at 1 year and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.71-0.83) at 2 years, and the model was well calibrated. In the external validation cohort, the AUROC at 2 years was 0.70 with excellent calibration. CONCLUSION The risk index, including objective and routinely available risk factors, can differentiate patients with cirrhosis who will develop HCC and help guide discussions regarding HCC surveillance and prevention. Future studies are needed for additional external validation and refinement of risk stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fasiha Kanwal
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Section of Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; VA HSR&D Center for Innovatio ns in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas.
| | - Saira Khaderi
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Amit G Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Jorge A Marrero
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Sumeet K Asrani
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Christopher I Amos
- Section of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Aaron P Thrift
- Section of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Jennifer R Kramer
- Section of Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; VA HSR&D Center for Innovatio ns in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Xian Yu
- Section of Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; VA HSR&D Center for Innovatio ns in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Yumei Cao
- Section of Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; VA HSR&D Center for Innovatio ns in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Michelle Luster
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Abeer Al-Sarraj
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Section of Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; VA HSR&D Center for Innovatio ns in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jing Ning
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Hashem B El-Serag
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Section of Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; VA HSR&D Center for Innovatio ns in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas.
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10
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Singal AG, Kanwal F, Llovet JM. Global trends in hepatocellular carcinoma epidemiology: implications for screening, prevention and therapy. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2023; 20:864-884. [PMID: 37884736 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-023-00825-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mortality rates are increasing globally, and particularly in the Western world. Cirrhosis remains the predominant risk factor for HCC. However, epidemiological shifts in the incidence of HCC from patients with virus-related liver disease to those with non-viral aetiologies, including alcohol-associated and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, have important implications for prevention, surveillance and treatment. Hepatitis B vaccination and antiviral therapy for hepatitis B and C are effective for primary prevention of virus-related HCCs, but chemoprevention strategies for non-viral liver disease remain an unmet need. Emerging data suggest associations between aspirin, statins, metformin and coffee and reduced HCC incidence, although none has been proved to be causally related. Secondary prevention of HCC via semi-annual surveillance is associated with improvements in early detection and thus reduced mortality; however, current tools, including abdominal ultrasonography, have suboptimal sensitivity for the detection of early stage HCC, particularly in patients with obesity and/or non-viral liver disease. Promising blood-based or imaging-based surveillance strategies are emerging, although these approaches require further validation before adoption in clinical practice. In the interim, efforts should be focused on maximizing use of the existing surveillance tools given their prevalent underuse globally. Remarkable advances have been made in the treatment of HCC, including expanded eligibility for surgical therapies, improved patient selection for locoregional treatments and increased systemic treatment options, including immune-checkpoint inhibitors. In this Review, we discuss trends in the epidemiology of HCC and their implications for screening, prevention and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Fasiha Kanwal
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Section of Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- VA Health Services Research & Development Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety (IQuESt), Houston, TX, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Josep M Llovet
- Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Translational Research in Hepatic Oncology, Liver Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
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11
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Greten TF, Villanueva A, Korangy F, Ruf B, Yarchoan M, Ma L, Ruppin E, Wang XW. Biomarkers for immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2023; 20:780-798. [PMID: 37726418 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-023-00816-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are now widely used for the treatment of patients with advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Two different ICI-containing regimens, atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and tremelimumab plus durvalumab, are now approved standard-of-care first-line therapies in this setting. However, and despite substantial improvements in survival outcomes relative to sorafenib, most patients with advanced-stage HCC do not derive durable benefit from these regimens. Advances in genome sequencing including the use of single-cell RNA sequencing (both of tumour material and blood samples), as well as immune cell identification strategies and other techniques such as radiomics and analysis of the microbiota, have created considerable potential for the identification of novel predictive biomarkers enabling the accurate selection of patients who are most likely to derive benefit from ICIs. In this Review, we summarize data on the immunology of HCC and the outcomes in patients receiving ICIs for the treatment of this disease. We then provide an overview of current biomarker use and developments in the past 5 years, including gene signatures, circulating tumour cells, high-dimensional flow cytometry, single-cell RNA sequencing as well as approaches involving the microbiome, radiomics and clinical markers. Novel concepts for further biomarker development in HCC are then discussed including biomarker-driven trials, spatial transcriptomics and integrated 'big data' analysis approaches. These concepts all have the potential to better identify patients who are most likely to benefit from ICIs and to promote the development of new treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim F Greten
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
- Liver Cancer Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Augusto Villanueva
- Divisions of Liver Disease and Hematology/Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Firouzeh Korangy
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Benjamin Ruf
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mark Yarchoan
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lichun Ma
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eytan Ruppin
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Xin W Wang
- Liver Cancer Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Liver Carcinogenesis Section, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
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12
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Tamai Y, Fujiwara N, Tanaka T, Mizuno S, Nakagawa H. Combination Therapy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors with Locoregional Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5072. [PMID: 37894439 PMCID: PMC10605879 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15205072] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is estimated to be the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, and its overall prognosis is dismal because most cases are diagnosed at a late stage and are unamenable to curative treatment. The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has dramatically improved the therapeutic efficacy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma; however, their response rates remain unsatisfactory, partly because >50% of HCC exhibit an ICI-nonresponsive tumor microenvironment characterized by a paucity of cytotoxic T cells (immune-cold), as well as difficulty in their infiltration into tumor sites (immune excluded). To overcome this limitation, combination therapies with locoregional therapies, including ablation, transarterial embolization, and radiotherapy, which are usually used for early stage HCCs, have been actively explored to enhance ICI efficacy by promoting the release of tumor-associated antigens and cytokines, and eventually accelerating the so-called cancer-immunity cycle. Various combination therapies have been investigated in early- to late-phase clinical trials, and some have shown promising results. This comprehensive article provides an overview of the immune landscape for HCC to understand ICI efficacy and its limitations and, subsequently, reviews the status of combinatorial therapies of ICIs with locoregional therapy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyuki Tamai
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan; (Y.T.); (T.T.); (H.N.)
| | - Naoto Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan; (Y.T.); (T.T.); (H.N.)
| | - Takamitsu Tanaka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan; (Y.T.); (T.T.); (H.N.)
| | - Shugo Mizuno
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic and Transplant Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan;
| | - Hayato Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan; (Y.T.); (T.T.); (H.N.)
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13
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Fujiwara N, Nakagawa H. Clinico-histological and molecular features of hepatocellular carcinoma from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Cancer Sci 2023; 114:3825-3833. [PMID: 37545384 PMCID: PMC10551597 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15925] [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: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) continue to increase with the epidemics of obesity, and NAFLD is estimated to become the most prevalent etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, NAFLD-HCC has been recognized to have clinico-histologically and molecularly distinct features from those from other etiologies, including a lower incidence rate of HCC and less therapeutic efficacy to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Consistent with the clinical observations that up to 50% of NAFLD-HCC occurs in the absence of cirrhosis, the imbalance of pro- and antitumorigenic hepatic stellate cells termed as myHSC and cyHSC can contribute to the creation of an HCC-prone hepatic environment, independent of the absolute fibrosis abundance. Immune deregulations by accumulated metabolites in NAFLD-affected livers, such as a fatty-acid-induced loss of cytotoxic CD4 T cells serving for immune surveillance and "auto-aggressive" CXCR6+ CD8 T cells, may promote hepatocarcinogenesis and diminish therapeutic response to ICIs. Steatohepatitic HCC (SH-HCC), characterized by the presence of fat accumulation in tumor cells, ballooned tumor cells, Mallory-Denk body, interstitial fibrosis, and intratumor immune cell infiltration, may represent a metabolic reprogramming for adapting to a lipid-rich tumor microenvironment by downregulating CPT2 and leveraging its intermediates as an "oncometabolite." Genome-wide analyses suggested that SH-HCC may be more responsive to ICIs given its mutual exclusiveness with β-catenin mutation/activation that promotes immune evasion. Thus, further understanding of NAFLD-specific hepatocarcinogenesis and HCC would enable us to improve the current daily practice and eventually the prognoses of patients with NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoto Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyGraduate School of Medicine, Mie UniversityTsu cityJapan
| | - Hayato Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyGraduate School of Medicine, Mie UniversityTsu cityJapan
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Taru MG, Lupsor-Platon M. Exploring Opportunities to Enhance the Screening and Surveillance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) through Risk Stratification Algorithms Incorporating Ultrasound Elastography. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4097. [PMID: 37627125 PMCID: PMC10452922 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15164097] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), with its progressive form, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), has emerged as a significant public health concern, affecting over 30% of the global population. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a complication associated with both cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic NAFLD, has shown a significant increase in incidence. A substantial proportion of NAFLD-related HCC occurs in non-cirrhotic livers, highlighting the need for improved risk stratification and surveillance strategies. This comprehensive review explores the potential role of liver ultrasound elastography as a risk assessment tool for HCC development in NAFLD and highlights the importance of effective screening tools for early, cost-effective detection and improved management of NAFLD-related HCC. The integration of non-invasive tools and algorithms into risk stratification strategies could have the capacity to enhance NAFLD-related HCC screening and surveillance effectiveness. Alongside exploring the potential advancement of non-invasive tools and algorithms for effectively stratifying HCC risk in NAFLD, we offer essential perspectives that could enable readers to improve the personalized assessment of NAFLD-related HCC risk through a more methodical screening approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madalina-Gabriela Taru
- Hepatology Department, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology “Octavian Fodor”, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Monica Lupsor-Platon
- “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Medical Imaging Department, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology “Octavian Fodor”, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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15
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Salaheldin M, Aly H, Lau L, Afify S, El-Kassas M. Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Next Threat after Viral Hepatitis. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:2631. [PMID: 37627890 PMCID: PMC10453181 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13162631] [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: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
For many years, we have faced the complications of viral hepatitis and alcohol-related liver diseases such as cirrhosis, decompensation, portal hypertension, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, we have seen a dynamic change in the field of hepatology. With the significant achievements in eradicating the hepatitis C virus by direct-acting antiviral agents and the rising epidemic of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome, there is a paradigm shift in the leading cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Current data highlight the rapidly rising incidence of NAFLD-related HCC worldwide and expose the unseen part of the iceberg. In this review, we aim to update knowledge about the pathogenesis of NAFLD-induced HCC, surveillance difficulties, and promising disease markers. Molecular biomarkers, for example, may become a promising cornerstone for risk-stratified surveillance, early detection, and treatment selection for NAFLD-related HCC. Physicians can offer personalized and tailor-made clinical decisions for this unique patient subgroup.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Salaheldin
- Tropical Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt; (M.S.); (H.A.)
| | - Heba Aly
- Tropical Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt; (M.S.); (H.A.)
| | - Louis Lau
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 518172, China;
| | - Shimaa Afify
- National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute, Cairo 11796, Egypt
| | - Mohamed El-Kassas
- Endemic Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt
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16
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McMahon B, Cohen C, Brown Jr RS, El-Serag H, Ioannou GN, Lok AS, Roberts LR, Singal AG, Block T. Opportunities to address gaps in early detection and improve outcomes of liver cancer. JNCI Cancer Spectr 2023; 7:pkad034. [PMID: 37144952 PMCID: PMC10212536 DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pkad034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Death rates from primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]) have continued to rise in the United States over the recent decades despite the availability of an increasing range of treatment modalities, including new systemic therapies. Prognosis is strongly associated with tumor stage at diagnosis; however, most cases of HCC are diagnosed beyond an early stage. This lack of early detection has contributed to low survival rates. Professional society guidelines recommend semiannual ultrasound-based HCC screening for at-risk populations, yet HCC surveillance continues to be underused in clinical practice. On April 28, 2022, the Hepatitis B Foundation convened a workshop to discuss the most pressing challenges and barriers to early HCC detection and the need to better leverage existing and emerging tools and technologies that could improve HCC screening and early detection. In this commentary, we summarize technical, patient-level, provider-level, and system-level challenges and opportunities to improve processes and outcomes across the HCC screening continuum. We highlight promising approaches to HCC risk stratification and screening, including new biomarkers, advanced imaging incorporating artificial intelligence, and algorithms for risk stratification. Workshop participants emphasized that action to improve early detection and reduce HCC mortality is urgently needed, noting concern that many of the challenges we face today are the same or similar to those faced a decade ago and that HCC mortality rates have not meaningfully improved. Increasing the uptake of HCC screening was identified as a short-term priority while developing and validating better screening tests and risk-appropriate surveillance strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian McMahon
- Liver Disease and Hepatitis Program, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | | | - Robert S Brown Jr
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hashem El-Serag
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - George N Ioannou
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Anna S Lok
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lewis R Roberts
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Timothy Block
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute and Hepatitis B Foundation, Doylestown, PA, USA
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17
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Arvind A, Joshi S, Zaki T, Burkholder D, Parikh ND, Singal AG. Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Indeterminate (LI-RADS 3) Liver Observations. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 21:1091-1093.e3. [PMID: 34902571 PMCID: PMC9184301 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2021.11.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Early hepatocellular cancer (HCC) detection is associated with curative treatment and improved survival.1 The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases recommends semiannual ultrasound and α-fetoprotein (AFP) in patients with cirrhosis, and those with abnormal results should undergo diagnostic multiphase computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).2 The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) was devised to standardize reporting of liver observations in at-risk individuals, ranging from LR-1 ("definitely benign") to LR-5 ("definitely HCC''), with indeterminate observations classified as LR-3 ("intermediate probability of malignancy").3 A study among 999 cirrhosis patients found that indeterminate liver observations are common, being reported on diagnostic CT or MRI in 98 (38.3%) of 256 patients with abnormal ultrasound results.4 Prior studies have reported a wide range in HCC risk, from 4% to 31%, for LR-3 observations, so there is insufficient evidence to recommend a standardized strategy for monitoring LR-3 observations.5,6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwini Arvind
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Sagar Joshi
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Timothy Zaki
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Daniel Burkholder
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Neehar D Parikh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; Department of Internal Medicine, Parkland Health and Hospital System, Dallas, Texas.
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18
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Singal AG, Parikh ND, Hoshida Y. Precision HCC Surveillance: It Is All in the Number (Needed). Dig Dis Sci 2023; 68:720-722. [PMID: 36302995 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-022-07735-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amit G Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5959 Harry Hines Blvd, POB 1, Suite 420, Dallas, TX, 75390-8887, USA.
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48320, USA.
| | - Neehar D Parikh
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5959 Harry Hines Blvd, POB 1, Suite 420, Dallas, TX, 75390-8887, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48320, USA
| | - Yujin Hoshida
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5959 Harry Hines Blvd, POB 1, Suite 420, Dallas, TX, 75390-8887, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48320, USA
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19
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Singal AG, Ghaziani TT, Mehta N, Zhou K, Grinspan LT, Benhammou JN, Moon AM, Yang JD, Salgia R, Pillai A, Zheng E, Rich NE, Gopal P, Jalal P, Verna E, Yekkaluri S, Phen S, Melendez-Torres J, Alshuwaykh O, Choi H, Junus K, Grady J, Song M, Leven EA, Yum J, Gowda V, Alsudaney M, Hernandez P, Desai N, Parikh ND. Recall patterns and risk of primary liver cancer for subcentimeter ultrasound liver observations: a multicenter study. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e0073. [PMID: 36881615 PMCID: PMC9995094 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with cirrhosis and subcentimeter lesions on liver ultrasound are recommended to undergo short-interval follow-up ultrasound because of the presumed low risk of primary liver cancer (PLC). AIMS The aim of this study is to characterize recall patterns and risk of PLC in patients with subcentimeter liver lesions on ultrasound. METHODS We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study among patients with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B infection who had subcentimeter ultrasound lesions between January 2017 and December 2019. We excluded patients with a history of PLC or concomitant lesions ≥1 cm in diameter. We used Kaplan Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses to characterize time-to-PLC and factors associated with PLC, respectively. RESULTS Of 746 eligible patients, most (66.0%) had a single observation, and the median diameter was 0.7 cm (interquartile range: 0.5-0.8 cm). Recall strategies varied, with only 27.8% of patients undergoing guideline-concordant ultrasound within 3-6 months. Over a median follow-up of 26 months, 42 patients developed PLC (39 HCC and 3 cholangiocarcinoma), yielding an incidence of 25.7 cases (95% CI, 6.2-47.0) per 1000 person-years, with 3.9% and 6.7% developing PLC at 2 and 3 years, respectively. Factors associated with time-to-PLC were baseline alpha-fetoprotein >10 ng/mL (HR: 4.01, 95% CI, 1.85-8.71), platelet count ≤150 (HR: 4.90, 95% CI, 1.95-12.28), and Child-Pugh B cirrhosis (vs. Child-Pugh A: HR: 2.54, 95% CI, 1.27-5.08). CONCLUSIONS Recall patterns for patients with subcentimeter liver lesions on ultrasound varied widely. The low risk of PLC in these patients supports short-interval ultrasound in 3-6 months, although diagnostic CT/MRI may be warranted for high-risk subgroups such as those with elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G. Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - T. Tara Ghaziani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Neil Mehta
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kali Zhou
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lauren T. Grinspan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jihane N. Benhammou
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Andrew M. Moon
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ju Dong Yang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cedar Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Reena Salgia
- Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Anjana Pillai
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Elizabeth Zheng
- Department of Internal Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nicole E Rich
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Purva Gopal
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Prasun Jalal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Elizabeth Verna
- Department of Internal Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sruthi Yekkaluri
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Samuel Phen
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | | | - Omar Alshuwaykh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Hailey Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kevin Junus
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - John Grady
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Michael Song
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Emily A. Leven
- Department of Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jung Yum
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Vrushab Gowda
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Manaf Alsudaney
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cedar Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Perla Hernandez
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cedar Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Nirmal Desai
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Neehar D. Parikh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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20
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Seif El Dahan K, Daher D, Singal AG. Hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Clin Mol Hepatol 2023; 29:S207-S219. [PMID: 36103899 PMCID: PMC10029960 DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2022.0247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may progress to cirrhotic or non-cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and is currently recognized as the fastest growing cause of HCC worldwide. Accordingly, professional society guidelines recommend HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis from any etiology, and some may consider it beneficial in subgroups with non-cirrhotic NAFLD at higher risk for HCC. Notably, patients with NAFLD-related HCC are more likely to have HCC diagnosed at more advanced stages and have poorer outcomes when compared to other etiologies, and suboptimal effectiveness of HCC surveillance programs is a major culprit. In this review, we summarize the current guidelines for HCC surveillance and discuss its benefits versus potential harms for NAFLD patients. We also address the unique challenges of HCC surveillance in NAFLD, including higher proportion of NAFLD-related HCC without cirrhosis, poor recognition of at-risk patients, lack of consensus regarding the value of surveillance in non-cirrhotic NAFLD, subpar effectiveness of surveillance tools related to NAFLD phenotype, and preponderant surveillance underuse among NAFLD patients. Finally, we examine the effectiveness of currently used surveillance tools (i.e., ultrasound and alpha fetoprotein) and outline future perspectives including emerging risk stratification tools, imaging surveillance strategies (e.g., abbreviated magnetic resonance imaging protocols), blood-based biomarkers (e.g., GALAD and circulating tumor DNA panels), and interventions to improve surveillance adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Seif El Dahan
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Darine Daher
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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21
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Parikh ND, Tayob N, Singal AG. Blood-based biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma screening: Approaching the end of the ultrasound era? J Hepatol 2023; 78:207-216. [PMID: 36089157 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, in part because of inadequate early detection strategies. Current recommendations for screening consist of semi-annual abdominal ultrasound with or without serum alpha-fetoprotein in patients with cirrhosis and in demographic subgroups with chronic hepatitis B infection. However, this screening strategy has several deficiencies, including suboptimal early-stage sensitivity, false positives with subsequent harms, inter-operator variability in ultrasound performance, and poor adherence. A blood-based biomarker with sufficient performance characteristics for early-stage disease could overcome several of these barriers to improving early-stage detection. However, prior to use of a biomarker for screening in clinical practice, a multistep validation is required in order to understand test performance characteristics. These steps include case-control validation, followed by validation in prospective cohorts of at-risk patients. Until recently, we lacked adequate longitudinal validation cohorts for early HCC detection; however, several validation cohorts are maturing, including the Hepatocellular Carcinoma Early Detection Study and the Texas Hepatocellular Carcinoma Consortium, which will allow for rigorous validation of candidate biomarkers. While there are several promising biomarkers awaiting validation, in order to supplant abdominal ultrasound, a candidate biomarker must show adequate test performance and overcome practical hurdles to ensure adoption in clinical practice. The promise of blood-based biomarkers is significant, especially given the limitations of ultrasound-based screening; however, they require adequate validation and several logistical obstacles must be overcome prior to clinical implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neehar D Parikh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Nabihah Tayob
- Department of Biostatistics, Dana Farber Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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22
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Microbiome and Metabolomics in Liver Cancer: Scientific Technology. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010537. [PMID: 36613980 PMCID: PMC9820585 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancer is a heterogeneous disease. Liver cancer metabolism includes both the reprogramming of intracellular metabolism to enable cancer cells to proliferate inappropriately and adapt to the tumor microenvironment and fluctuations in regular tissue metabolism. Currently, metabolomics and metabolite profiling in liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been in the spotlight in terms of cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy. Metabolomics is the global analysis of small molecules, chemicals, and metabolites. Metabolomics technologies can provide critical information about the liver cancer state. Here, we review how liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and HCC therapies interact with metabolism at the cellular and systemic levels. An overview of liver metabolomics is provided, with a focus on currently available technologies and how they have been used in clinical and translational research. We also list scalable methods, including chemometrics, followed by pathway processing in liver cancer. We conclude that important drivers of metabolomics science and scientific technologies are novel therapeutic tools and liver cancer biomarker analysis.
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23
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Kanneganti M, Marrero JA, Parikh ND, Kanwal F, Yokoo T, Mendiratta-Lala M, Rich NE, Gopal P, Singal AG. Clinical outcomes of patients with Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System 3 or Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System 4 observations in patients with cirrhosis: A systematic review. Liver Transpl 2022; 28:1865-1875. [PMID: 35980600 PMCID: PMC9669163 DOI: 10.1002/lt.26562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Patients with indeterminate liver nodules, classified as LR-3 and LR-4 observations per the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System, are at risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but risk estimates remain imprecise. We conducted a systematic review of Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases from inception to December 2021 to identify cohort studies examining HCC incidence among patients with LR-3 or LR-4 observations on computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Predictors of HCC were abstracted from each study, when available. Of 13 total studies, nine conducted LR-3 observation-level analyses, with the proportions of incident HCC ranging from 1.2% to 12.5% at 12 months and 4.2% to 44.4% during longer study follow-up. Among three studies with patient-level analyses, 8%-22.2% of patients with LR-3 lesions developed LR-4 observations and 11.1%-24.5% developed HCC. Among nine studies conducting LR-4 observation-level analyses, incident HCC ranged from 30.8% to 44.0% at 12 months and 30.9% to 71.0% during study follow-up; conversely, 6%-42% of observations were downgraded to LR-3 or lower. Patient-level factors associated with HCC included older age, male sex, higher alpha-fetoprotein levels, viral etiology, and prior history of HCC; observation-level factors included maximum diameter, threshold growth, T2 hyperintensity, and visibility on ultrasound. Studies were limited by small sample sizes, inclusion of patients with prior HCC, short follow-up duration, and failure to account for clustering of observations in patients or competing risks of transplantation and death. LR-3 and LR-4 observations have elevated but variable risks of HCC. Higher quality studies are necessary to identify high-risk patients who warrant close CT or MRI-based follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mounika Kanneganti
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Jorge A Marrero
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Neehar D. Parikh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Fasiha Kanwal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Takeshi Yokoo
- Department of Radiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | | | - Nicole E. Rich
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Purva Gopal
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Amit G. Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
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24
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Melendez-Torres J, Singal AG. Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma: roadmap for improvement. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2022; 22:621-632. [PMID: 35514249 PMCID: PMC9845108 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2022.2074404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor prognosis, related, in part, to frequent late-stage diagnosis. Improved implementation of effective HCC surveillance is critical to reduce HCC mortality. AREAS COVERED We performed a targeted literature review to identify intervention targets for improving HCC surveillance effectiveness, including enriched risk stratification tools, improved surveillance tools with higher accuracy for early HCC detection, and increasing surveillance adherence. EXPERT OPINION HCC surveillance has been demonstrated to be efficacious in several cohort studies but has lower surveillance effectiveness in clinical practice. HCC surveillance is currently recommended in all patients with cirrhosis, and improved risk stratification using clinical risk scores, genetic scores, and novel biomarkers are important to move from a 'one-size-fits-all' strategy to one more aligned with values of precision medicine. Current surveillance modalities, ultrasound, and AFP, miss over one-third of HCC at an early stage and are associated with potential surveillance harms, underscoring a need for alternative surveillance strategies with higher accuracy. MRI- and biomarker-based surveillance strategies have promising early data in phase II studies but require validation in phase III cohorts before routine use in practice. Finally, surveillance is underused in clinical practice, highlighting a need for intervention strategies to increase utilization.
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25
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Fujiwara N, Fobar AJ, Raman I, Li QZ, Marrero JA, Parikh ND, Singal AG, Hoshida Y. A Blood-Based Prognostic Liver Secretome Signature Predicts Long-term Risk of Hepatic Decompensation in Cirrhosis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 20:e1188-e1191. [PMID: 33727162 PMCID: PMC8435537 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2021.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cirrhosis is the terminal stage of progressive liver fibrosis, affecting 1%-2% of the global population and accounting for 1.3 million deaths annually.1,2 Median survival for persons with compensated cirrhosis is approximately 12 years, compared with only 2 years for those with hepatic decompensation. Accurate prediction of hepatic decompensation is an unmet need to enable identification of patients with cirrhosis who could benefit from close monitoring and timely medical interventions. Besides, risk stratification of patients with cirrhosis could help inform patient selection for trials evaluating therapies to prevent hepatic decompensation. Although various clinical scores, such as the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) indices (ALBI-FIB4 score) have been proposed to predict long-term risk of hepatic decompensation,3 external validation has often shown suboptimal prognostic capability and revealed room for improvement.4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoto Fujiwara
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Austin J Fobar
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Indu Raman
- Microarray Core Facility, Department of Immunology, BioCenter, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Quan-Zhen Li
- Microarray Core Facility, Department of Immunology, BioCenter, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Jorge A Marrero
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Neehar D Parikh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Amit G Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Yujin Hoshida
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
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26
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Qian T, Fujiwara N, Koneru B, Ono A, Kubota N, Jajoriya AK, Tung MG, Crouchet E, Song WM, Marquez CA, Panda G, Hoshida A, Raman I, Li QZ, Lewis C, Yopp A, Rich NE, Singal AG, Nakagawa S, Goossens N, Higashi T, Koh AP, Bian CB, Hoshida H, Tabrizian P, Gunasekaran G, Florman S, Schwarz ME, Hiotis SP, Nakahara T, Aikata H, Murakami E, Beppu T, Baba H, Warren A, Bhatia S, Kobayashi M, Kumada H, Fobar AJ, Parikh ND, Marrero JA, Rwema SH, Nair V, Patel M, Kim-Schulze S, Corey K, O’Leary JG, Klintmalm GB, Thomas DL, Dibas M, Rodriguez G, Zhang B, Friedman SL, Baumert TF, Fuchs BC, Chayama K, Zhu S, Chung RT, Hoshida Y. Molecular Signature Predictive of Long-Term Liver Fibrosis Progression to Inform Antifibrotic Drug Development. Gastroenterology 2022; 162:1210-1225. [PMID: 34951993 PMCID: PMC8934284 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.12.250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS There is a major unmet need to assess the prognostic impact of antifibrotics in clinical trials because of the slow rate of liver fibrosis progression. We aimed to develop a surrogate biomarker to predict future fibrosis progression. METHODS A fibrosis progression signature (FPS) was defined to predict fibrosis progression within 5 years in patients with hepatitis C virus and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with no to minimal fibrosis at baseline (n = 421) and was validated in an independent NAFLD cohort (n = 78). The FPS was used to assess response to 13 candidate antifibrotics in organotypic ex vivo cultures of clinical fibrotic liver tissues (n = 78) and cenicriviroc in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis enrolled in a clinical trial (n = 19, NCT02217475). A serum protein-based surrogate FPS was developed and tested in a cohort of compensated cirrhosis patients (n = 122). RESULTS A 20-gene FPS was defined and validated in an independent NAFLD cohort (adjusted odds ratio, 10.93; area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.86). Among computationally inferred fibrosis-driving FPS genes, BCL2 was confirmed as a potential pharmacologic target using clinical liver tissues. Systematic ex vivo evaluation of 13 candidate antifibrotics identified rational combination therapies based on epigallocatechin gallate, which were validated for enhanced antifibrotic effect in ex vivo culture of clinical liver tissues. In patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis treated with cenicriviroc, FPS modulation was associated with 1-year fibrosis improvement accompanied by suppression of the E2F pathway. Induction of the PPARα pathway was absent in patients without fibrosis improvement, suggesting a benefit of combining PPARα agonism to improve the antifibrotic efficacy of cenicriviroc. A 7-protein serum protein-based surrogate FPS was associated with the development of decompensation in cirrhosis patients. CONCLUSION The FPS predicts long-term fibrosis progression in an etiology-agnostic manner, which can inform antifibrotic drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongqi Qian
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | - Naoto Fujiwara
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S.,Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Bhuvaneswari Koneru
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | - Atsushi Ono
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S.,Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Naoto Kubota
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | - Arun K Jajoriya
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | - Matthew G Tung
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, U.S
| | - Emilie Crouchet
- Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Inserm U1110, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Won-Min Song
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, U.S
| | - Cesia Ammi Marquez
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | - Gayatri Panda
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | - Ayaka Hoshida
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | - Indu Raman
- Microarray Core Facility, Department of Immunology, BioCenter, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | - Quan-Zhen Li
- Microarray Core Facility, Department of Immunology, BioCenter, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | - Cheryl Lewis
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | - Adam Yopp
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | - Nicole E Rich
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | - Shigeki Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Nicolas Goossens
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Geneva University Hospital, Switzerland
| | - Takaaki Higashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Anna P Koh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | - C Billie Bian
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | - Hiroki Hoshida
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | - Parissa Tabrizian
- Department of Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, U.S
| | - Ganesh Gunasekaran
- Department of Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, U.S
| | - Sander Florman
- Department of Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, U.S
| | - Myron E Schwarz
- Department of Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, U.S
| | - Spiros P Hiotis
- Department of Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, U.S
| | - Takashi Nakahara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Aikata
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Eisuke Murakami
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Toru Beppu
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | - Hideo Baba
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S
| | | | | | | | | | - Austin J Fobar
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, U.S
| | - Neehar D Parikh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, U.S
| | - Jorge A Marrero
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, U.S.,Division of Gastroenterology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, U.S
| | | | - Venugopalan Nair
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, U.S
| | - Manishkumar Patel
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, U.S
| | | | - Kathleen Corey
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, U.S
| | | | | | - David L Thomas
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, U.S
| | | | | | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, U.S
| | - Scott L Friedman
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, U.S
| | - Thomas F Baumert
- Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Inserm U1110, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,IHU, Pole hépato-digestif, Strasbourg University Hospitals, Strasbourg, France
| | - Bryan C Fuchs
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, U.S., Ferring Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, U.S
| | - Kazuaki Chayama
- Collaborative Research Laboratory of Medical Innovation, Research Center for Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Shijia Zhu
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
| | - Raymond T Chung
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Yujin Hoshida
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
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27
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Fujiwara N, Trépo E, Raman I, Li QZ, Degré D, Gustot T, Moreno C, Hoshida Y. Plasma-Signature-Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Score to Predict Survival in Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 20:651-657. [PMID: 33667676 PMCID: PMC8410886 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2021.02.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a highly lethal condition and it is still a challenge to predict the outcome. We previously identified and validated a composite score of hepatic 123-gene prognostic signature and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score: gene signature-MELD. However, the need for liver biopsy limits its clinical application. Therefore, we aimed to identify a plasma protein-based surrogate of the gene signature and independently validate its prognostic capability. METHODS All patients were diagnosed with severe AH at Cliniques universitaires de Bruxelles Hôpital Erasme (Brussels, Belgium), and the plasma samples were collected at admission before any treatment. The primary outcome was death or liver transplantation within 90 days. Using our computational pipeline, named translation of tissue expression to secretome (TexSEC), a hepatic-transcriptome-based prognostic signature was converted to a plasma-based secretome signature, which was optimized in 50 patients by comparing their hepatic molecular dysregulation status and combining it with the MELD score. The composite score was validated independently in 57 patients. RESULTS The TexSEC and optimization process identified a 6-plasma-protein panel as a surrogate for the 123-gene signature. A composite score with the MELD score, the plasma-signature (ps)-MELD score, was created by using the coefficients of the gene signature-MELD equation. In the validation cohort, the high-risk ps-MELD (n = 23; 40%) was associated significantly with death or liver transplantation within 90 days (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.57; 95% CI, 2.15-9.30; P < .001). The ps-MELD score showed a stable, high prognostic association (time-dependent area under receiver operating characteristics curve, >0.80) and was well calibrated over time; it consistently outperformed existing clinical scores as indicated by various model performance indices. CONCLUSIONS The high-risk ps-MELD score was associated with short-term survival in patients with severe AH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoto Fujiwara
- Liver Tumor Translational Research Program, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, U.S.,Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eric Trépo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatopancreatology, and Digestive Oncology, C.U.B. Hôpital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium,Laboratory of Experimental Gastroenterology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Indu Raman
- Microarray Core Facility, Department of Immunology, BioCenter, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, U.S
| | - Quan-Zhen Li
- Microarray Core Facility, Department of Immunology, BioCenter, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, U.S
| | - Delphine Degré
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatopancreatology, and Digestive Oncology, C.U.B. Hôpital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium,Laboratory of Experimental Gastroenterology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Thierry Gustot
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatopancreatology, and Digestive Oncology, C.U.B. Hôpital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium,Laboratory of Experimental Gastroenterology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Christophe Moreno
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatopancreatology, and Digestive Oncology, C.U.B. Hôpital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium,Laboratory of Experimental Gastroenterology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yujin Hoshida
- Liver Tumor Translational Research Program, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Dallas, Texas.
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28
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Singal A, C W. Insights on the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in PatientsWith Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y) 2022; 18:43-46. [PMID: 35505765 PMCID: PMC9053500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Amit Singal
- Maddrey Distinguished Chair in Liver Disease Professor of Internal Medicine Medical Director of the Liver Tumor Program Chief of Hepatology UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Texas
| | - Willis C
- Maddrey Distinguished Chair in Liver Disease Professor of Internal Medicine Medical Director of the Liver Tumor Program Chief of Hepatology UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Texas
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29
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Crouchet E, Schuster C, Baumert TF. Liver cell circuits and therapeutic discovery for advanced liver disease and cancer. C R Biol 2021; 344:233-248. [PMID: 35786628 PMCID: PMC7613418 DOI: 10.5802/crbiol.64] [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: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health challenge with rising incidence. Despite the previous approval of several novel therapeutic approaches, HCC remains the second common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The vast majority of HCCs arises in the context of chronic fibrotic liver diseases caused by viral or metabolic etiologies. In patients with advanced liver disease the risk of HCC persists even after viral cure or control of infection. Moreover, given the change in the lifestyle and increase of obesity and metabolic disorders, HCC incidence is predicted to drastically augment in the next decade. Early detection, improvement of the screening method in patient at-risk and development of chemopreventive strategies are therefore urgently needed to reduce HCC risk. This review summarizes the major challenges in the identification of patient at risk for HCC and the emergent strategies for HCC prevention to improve patients’ outcome.
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30
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