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Zhao Y, Zhao L, Jin H, Xie Y, Chen L, Zhang W, Dong L, Zhang L, Huang Y, Wan K, Yang Q, Wang S. Plasma methylated GNB4 and Riplet as a novel dual-marker panel for the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma. Epigenetics 2024; 19:2299044. [PMID: 38154055 PMCID: PMC10761049 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2023.2299044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can greatly improve the survival rate of patients. We aimed to develop a novel marker panel based on cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation for the detection of HCC. The differentially methylated CpG sites (DMCs) specific for HCC blood diagnosis were selected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, then validated by the whole genome bisulphite sequencing (WGBS) of 12 paired HCC and paracancerous tissues. The clinical performance of the panel was evaluated using tissue samples [32 HCC, chronic liver disease (CLD), and healthy individuals] and plasma cohorts (173 HCC, 199 CLD, and 98 healthy individuals). The combination of G protein subunit beta 4 (GNB4) and Riplet had the optimal area under the curve (AUC) in seven candidates through TCGA, GEO, and WGBS analyses. In tissue validation, the GNB4 and Riplet showed an AUC of 100% with a sensitivity and specificity of 100% for detecting any-stage HCC. In plasma, it demonstrated a high sensitivity of 84.39% at 91.92% specificity, with an AUC of 92.51% for detecting any-stage HCC. The dual-marker panel had a higher sensitivity of 78.26% for stage I HCC than alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) of 47.83%, and a high sensitivity of 70.27% for detecting a single tumour (size ≤3 cm). In conclusion, we developed a novel dual-marker panel that demonstrates high accuracy in detecting HCC, surpassing the performance of AFP testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanteng Zhao
- Department of Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- Plastic maxillofacial surgery, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Huifang Jin
- Department of Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ying Xie
- Department of Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Liyinghui Chen
- Department of Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Research and development department, Wuhan Ammunition Life-tech Company, Ltd., Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lanlan Dong
- Research and development department, Wuhan Ammunition Life-tech Company, Ltd., Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lianglu Zhang
- Research and development department, Wuhan Ammunition Life-tech Company, Ltd., Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yue Huang
- Research and development department, Wuhan Ammunition Life-tech Company, Ltd., Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Kangkang Wan
- Research and development department, Wuhan Ammunition Life-tech Company, Ltd., Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qiankun Yang
- Department of Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Shaochi Wang
- Translational Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Moctezuma-Velazquez C, Wong YJ, Montano-Loza AJ. Promise and pitfalls of a natural killer cell signature for HCC detection in patients with HCV with sustained virological response. Hepatology 2024; 80:24-26. [PMID: 38353564 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
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Singal AG, Parikh ND, Shetty K, Han SH, Xie C, Ning J, Rinaudo JA, Arvind A, Lok AS, Kanwal F. Natural History of Indeterminate Liver Nodules in Patients With Advanced Liver Disease: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study. Am J Gastroenterol 2024:00000434-990000000-01151. [PMID: 38686922 DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Indeterminate liver nodules (ILNs) are frequently encountered on diagnostic imaging after positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance results, but their natural history remains unclear. METHODS We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study among patients with ≥1 newly detected LI-RADS 3 (LR-3) lesion ≥1 cm or LI-RADS 4 (LR-4) lesion of any size (per LI-RADS v2018) between January 2018 and December 2019. Patients were followed with repeat imaging at each site per institutional standard of care. Multivariable Fine-Gray models were used to evaluate associations between potential risk factors and patient-level time-to-HCC diagnosis, with death and liver transplantation as competing risks. RESULTS Of 307 patients with ILNs, 208 had LR-3 lesions, 83 had LR-4 lesions, and 16 had both LR-3 and LR-4 lesions. HCC incidence rates for patients with LR-3 and LR-4 lesions were 110 (95% CI 70-150) and 420 (95% CI 310-560) per 1,000 person-year, respectively. In multivariable analysis, incident HCC among patients with LR-3 lesions was associated with older age, thrombocytopenia (platelet count ≤150 ×10 9 /L), and elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein levels. Among those with LR-4 lesions, incident HCC was associated with a maximum lesion diameter >1 cm. Although most patients had follow-up computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, 13.7% had no follow-up imaging and another 14.3% had follow-up ultrasound only. DISCUSSION ILNs have a high but variable risk of HCC, with 4-fold higher risk in patients with LR-4 lesions than those with LR-3 lesions, highlighting a need for accurate risk stratification tools and close follow-up in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Neehar D Parikh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Kirti Shetty
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Steven-Huy Han
- Pfleger Liver Institute, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Cassie Xie
- Department of Biostatistics, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jing Ning
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Ashwini Arvind
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Anna S Lok
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Fasiha Kanwal
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- VA HSR'D Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety (IQuESt), Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Heumann P, Albert A, Gülow K, Tümen D, Müller M, Kandulski A. Insights in Molecular Therapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1831. [PMID: 38791911 PMCID: PMC11120383 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101831] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
We conducted a comprehensive review of the current literature of published data and clinical trials (MEDLINE), as well as published congress contributions and active recruiting clinical trials on targeted therapies in hepatocellular carcinoma. Combinations of different agents and medical therapy along with radiological interventions were analyzed for the setting of advanced HCC. Those settings were also analyzed in combination with adjuvant situations after resection or radiological treatments. We summarized the current knowledge for each therapeutic setting and combination that currently is or has been under clinical evaluation. We further discuss the results in the background of current treatment guidelines. In addition, we review the pathophysiological mechanisms and pathways for each of these investigated targets and drugs to further elucidate the molecular background and underlying mechanisms of action. Established and recommended targeted treatment options that already exist for patients are considered for systemic treatment: atezolizumab/bevacizumab, durvalumab/tremelimumab, sorafenib, lenvatinib, cabozantinib, regorafenib, and ramucirumab. Combination treatment for systemic treatment and local ablative treatment or transarterial chemoembolization and adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment strategies are under clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Heumann
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany (K.G.); (D.T.)
| | | | | | | | | | - Arne Kandulski
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany (K.G.); (D.T.)
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Yeo YH, Lee YT, Tseng HR, Zhu Y, You S, Agopian VG, Yang JD. Alpha-fetoprotein: Past, present, and future. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0422. [PMID: 38619448 PMCID: PMC11019827 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a glycoprotein that plays an important role in immune regulation with critical involvement in early human development and maintaining the immune balance during pregnancy. Postfetal development, the regulatory mechanisms controlling AFP undergo a shift and AFP gene transcription is suppressed. Instead, these enhancers refocus their activity to maintain albumin gene transcription throughout adulthood. During the postnatal period, AFP expression can increase in the setting of hepatocyte injury, regeneration, and malignant transformation. It is the first oncoprotein discovered and is routinely used as part of a screening strategy for HCC. AFP has been shown to be a powerful prognostic biomarker, and multiple HCC prognosis models confirmed the independent prognostic utility of AFP. AFP is also a useful predictive biomarker for monitoring the treatment response of HCC. In addition to its role as a biomarker, AFP plays important roles in immune modulation to promote tumorigenesis and thus has been investigated as a therapeutic target in HCC. In this review article, we aim to provide an overview of AFP, encompassing the discovery, biological role, and utility as an HCC biomarker in combination with other biomarkers and how it impacts clinical practice and future direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yee Hui Yeo
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yi-Te Lee
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Hsian-Rong Tseng
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yazhen Zhu
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Ronald Reagan Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sungyong You
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Vatche G. Agopian
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ju Dong Yang
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
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6
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Guo DZ, Huang A, Wang YC, Zhou S, Wang H, Xing XL, Zhang SY, Cheng JW, Xie KH, Yang QC, Ma CC, Li Q, Chen Y, Su ZX, Fan J, Liu R, Liu XL, Zhou J, Yang XR. Early detection and prognosis evaluation for hepatocellular carcinoma by circulating tumour DNA methylation: A multicentre cohort study. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1652. [PMID: 38741204 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can significantly improve patient survival. We aimed to develop a blood-based assay to aid in the diagnosis, detection and prognostic evaluation of HCC. METHODS A three-phase multicentre study was conducted to screen, optimise and validate HCC-specific differentially methylated regions (DMRs) using next-generation sequencing and quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP). RESULTS Genome-wide methylation profiling was conducted to identify DMRs distinguishing HCC tumours from peritumoural tissues and healthy plasmas. The twenty most effective DMRs were verified and incorporated into a multilocus qMSP assay (HepaAiQ). The HepaAiQ model was trained to separate 293 HCC patients (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage 0/A, 224) from 266 controls including chronic hepatitis B (CHB) or liver cirrhosis (LC) (CHB/LC, 96), benign hepatic lesions (BHL, 23), and healthy controls (HC, 147). The model achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.944 with a sensitivity of 86.0% in HCC and a specificity of 92.1% in controls. Blind validation of the HepaAiQ model in a cohort of 523 participants resulted in an AUC of 0.940 with a sensitivity of 84.4% in 205 HCC cases (BCLC stage 0/A, 167) and a specificity of 90.3% in 318 controls (CHB/LC, 100; BHL, 102; HC, 116). When evaluated in an independent test set, the HepaAiQ model exhibited a sensitivity of 70.8% in 65 HCC patients at BCLC stage 0/A and a specificity of 89.5% in 124 patients with CHB/LC. Moreover, HepaAiQ model was assessed in paired pre- and postoperative plasma samples from 103 HCC patients and correlated with 2-year patient outcomes. Patients with high postoperative HepaAiQ score showed a higher recurrence risk (Hazard ratio, 3.33, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS HepaAiQ, a noninvasive qMSP assay, was developed to accurately measure HCC-specific DMRs and shows great potential for the diagnosis, detection and prognosis of HCC, benefiting at-risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-Zhen Guo
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Ao Huang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying-Chao Wang
- The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, P. R. China
| | | | - Hui Wang
- Singlera Genomics Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Xiang-Lei Xing
- Biliary Tract Surgery Department IV, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Shi-Yu Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian-Wen Cheng
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | | | | | | | - Qing Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yan Chen
- XiangYa Medical Laboratory, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhi-Xi Su
- Singlera Genomics Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Fan
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Rui Liu
- Singlera Genomics Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Long Liu
- The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, P. R. China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin-Rong Yang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
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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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8
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Sogbe M, Bilbao I, Marchese FP, Zazpe J, De Vito A, Pozuelo M, D’Avola D, Iñarrairaegui M, Berasain C, Arechederra M, Argemi J, Sangro B. Prognostic value of ultra-low-pass whole-genome sequencing of circulating tumor DNA in hepatocellular carcinoma under systemic treatment. Clin Mol Hepatol 2024; 30:177-190. [PMID: 38163441 PMCID: PMC11016491 DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2023.0426] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS New prognostic markers are needed to identify patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who carry a worse prognosis. Ultra-low-pass whole-genome sequencing (ULP-WGS) (≤0.5× coverage) of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has emerged as a low-cost promising tool to assess both circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) fraction and large structural genomic alterations. Here, we studied the performance of ULP-WGS of plasma cfDNA to infer prognosis in patients with HCC. METHODS Plasma samples were obtained from patients with HCC prior to surgery, locoregional or systemic therapy, and were analyzed by ULP-WGS of cfDNA to an average genome-wide fold coverage of 0.3x. ctDNA and copy number alterations (CNA) were estimated using the software package ichorCNA. RESULTS Samples were obtained from 73 HCC patients at different BCLC stages (BCLC 0/A: n=37, 50.7%; BCLC B/C: n=36, 49.3%). ctDNA was detected in 18 out of 31 patients who received systemic treatment. Patients with detectable ctDNA showed significantly worse overall survival (median, 13.96 months vs not reached). ctDNA remained an independent predictor of prognosis after adjustment by clinical-pathologic features and type of systemic treatment (hazard ratio 7.69; 95%, CI 2.09-28.27). Among ctDNA-positive patients under systemic treatments, the loss of large genomic regions in 5q and 16q arms was associated with worse prognosis after multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION ULP-WGS of cfDNA provides clinically relevant information about the tumor biology. The presence of ctDNA and the loss of 5q and 16q arms in ctDNA-positive patients are independent predictors of worse prognosis in patients with advanced HCC receiving systemic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Sogbe
- Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Liver Unit, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Idoia Bilbao
- Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Liver Unit, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Francesco P. Marchese
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), Computational Biology and Translational Genomics Program, Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Jon Zazpe
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), Computational Biology and Translational Genomics Program, Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Annarosaria De Vito
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), Computational Biology and Translational Genomics Program, Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Marta Pozuelo
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), Computational Biology and Translational Genomics Program, Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Delia D’Avola
- Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Internal Medicine Department, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Mercedes Iñarrairaegui
- Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Liver Unit, Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Carmen Berasain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Pamplona, Spain
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), Hepatology Laboratory, Solid Tumors Program, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Maria Arechederra
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Pamplona, Spain
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), Hepatology Laboratory, Solid Tumors Program, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Josepmaria Argemi
- Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Liver Unit, Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Pamplona, Spain
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), Hepatology Laboratory, Solid Tumors Program, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Bruno Sangro
- Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Liver Unit, Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
- Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Liver Unit, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Pamplona, Spain
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Ju L, Luo Y, Cui X, Zhang H, Chen L, Yao M. CircGPC3 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression and metastasis by sponging miR-578 and regulating RAB7A/PSME3 expression. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7632. [PMID: 38561366 PMCID: PMC10984923 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58004-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
CircRNAs are a class of highly stable noncoding RNAs that play an important role in the progression of many diseases, especially cancer. In this study, high-throughput sequencing was used to screen for abnormally expressed circRNAs, and we found that circGPC3 was overexpressed in HCC tissues. However, the underlying mechanism of circGPC3 in the development and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. In our study, we found that circGPC3 was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cells and that its overexpression was positively correlated with overall survival, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that circGPC3 knockdown repressed HCC cell migration, invasion and proliferation and promoted apoptosis. Mechanistically, circGPC3 promoted HCC proliferation and metastasis through the miR-578/RAB7A/PSME3 axis. Our results demonstrate that circGPC3 contributes to the progression of HCC and provides an intervention target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linling Ju
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Institute of Liver Diseases, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital,, 60 Middle Qingnian Road, Nantong, 226000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yunfeng Luo
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Institute of Liver Diseases, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital,, 60 Middle Qingnian Road, Nantong, 226000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaohui Cui
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Institute of Liver Diseases, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital,, 60 Middle Qingnian Road, Nantong, 226000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Nantong Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 41 Jianshe Road, Nantong, 226009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Institute of Liver Diseases, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital,, 60 Middle Qingnian Road, Nantong, 226000, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Min Yao
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Institute of Liver Diseases, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital,, 60 Middle Qingnian Road, Nantong, 226000, Jiangsu, China.
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10
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Huang C, Xiao X, Tong L, Gao Z, Ji J, Zhou L, Li Y, Liu L, Feng H, Fang M, Gao C. Risks and Clinical Predictors of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chinese Populations: A Real-World Study of 10,359 Patients in Six Medical Centers. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:411-425. [PMID: 38435681 PMCID: PMC10908286 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s447700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through surveillance could reduce this cancer-associated mortality. We aimed to develop and validate algorithms using panel serum biomarkers to identify HCC in a real-world multi-center study in China. Patients and Methods A total of 10,359 eligible subjects, including HCCs and benign liver diseases (BLDs), were recruited from six Chinese medical centers. The three nomograms were built using logistic regression and their sensitivities and specificities were carefully assessed in training and validation cohorts. HCC patients after surgical resection were followed to determine the prognostic values of these algorithms. Prospective surveillance performance was assessed in a cohort of chronic hepatitis B patients during 144 weeks follow-up. Results Independent risk factors such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), lens cuinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP (AFP-L3), des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP), albumin (ALB), and total bilirubin (TBIL) obtained from train cohort were used to construct three nomograms (LAD, C-GALAD, and TAGALAD) using logistic regression. In the training and two validation cohorts, their AUCs were all over 0.900, and the higher AUCs appeared in TAGALAD and C-GALAD. Furthermore, the three nomograms could effectively stratify HCC into two groups with different survival and recurrence outcomes in follow-up validation. Notably, TAGALAD could predict HCC up to 48 weeks (AUC: 0.984) and 24 weeks (AUC: 0.900) before clinical diagnosis. Conclusion The proposed nomograms generated from real-world Chinese populations are effective and easy-to use for HCC surveillance, diagnosis, as well as prognostic evaluation in various clinical scenarios based on data feasibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenjun Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine Center, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine Center, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lin Tong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, 200438, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiyuan Gao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine Center, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jun Ji
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, 200438, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lin Zhou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, 200003, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ya Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lijuan Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huijuan Feng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Meng Fang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, 200438, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chunfang Gao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine Center, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, 200438, People’s Republic of China
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11
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Chew V, Chuang CH, Hsu C. Translational research on drug development and biomarker discovery for hepatocellular carcinoma. J Biomed Sci 2024; 31:22. [PMID: 38368324 PMCID: PMC10874078 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-024-01011-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Translational research plays a key role in drug development and biomarker discovery for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, unique challenges exist in this field because of the limited availability of human tumor samples from surgery, the lack of homogenous oncogenic driver mutations, and the paucity of adequate experimental models. In this review, we provide insights into these challenges and review recent advancements, with a particular focus on the two main agents currently used as mainstream therapies for HCC: anti-angiogenic agents and immunotherapy. First, we examine the pre-clinical and clinical studies to highlight the challenges of determining the optimal therapeutic combinations with biologically effective dosage for HCC. Second, we discuss biomarker studies focusing on anti-PD1/anti-PD-L1-based combination therapy. Finally, we discuss the progress made in our collective understanding of tumor immunology and in multi-omics analysis technology, which enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying immunotherapy, characterize different patient subgroups, and facilitate the development of novel combination approaches to improve treatment efficacy. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive overview of efforts in translational research aiming at advancing our understanding of and improving the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Chew
- Translational Immunology Institute, SingHealth-DukeNUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chien-Huai Chuang
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Taiwan University Cancer Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chiun Hsu
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Taiwan University Cancer Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Oncology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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12
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Alolyan A, Alshammari K, Arabi M, Alshehri A, Alsuhaibani H, Ibnshamsah F, Alsharm A, Mahrous M, Al Zanbagi A, Hassanain M, Bazarbashi S. Treatment Patterns and Recommendations for Improving the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Saudi Arabia. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:349-362. [PMID: 38385059 PMCID: PMC10879627 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s442842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common type of cancer in the world associated with high morbidity and mortality. Despite being a significant healthcare burden there is limited information on the unmet needs and current treatment practices for intermediate and advanced-stage HCC in Saudi Arabia. This article analyzes the gaps and provides expert consensus on the management strategies for unresectable HCC in Saudi Arabia. A pre-meeting online questionnaire, comprising 20 objective questions about the treatment landscape and diagnosis of HCC in Saudi Arabia, was distributed to experts in the field of HCC management. An advisory board meeting including a panel of 13 experts was held in September 2022 where the responses to the survey questionnaire were reviewed and discussed. The survey results and experts' discussion highlighted the growing incidence of liver cancer in Saudi Arabia. HCC comprised the majority of all liver cancer cases due to rising rates of chronic viral infections and lifestyle-related risk factors. Most physicians in Saudi Arabia follow the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer guidelines as a prognostic tool for the detection and staging of patients with HCC. Most of the patients with HCC in Saudi Arabia are diagnosed in the intermediate or advanced stages with poor prognoses and limited therapeutic options. Establishing evidence-based surveillance techniques, a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis, and better accessibility of treatment options is vital for the management of HCC in Saudi Arabia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwaq Alolyan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kanan Alshammari
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Arabi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Alshehri
- Department of Oncology, King Khalid National Guard Hospital Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hamad Alsuhaibani
- Department of Radiology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad Ibnshamsah
- Department of Medical Oncology, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Alsharm
- Department of Medical Oncology, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mervat Mahrous
- Department of Oncology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medicine, Minia University of Egypt, Faculty of Medicine, Minia, Egypt
| | - Adnan Al Zanbagi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mazen Hassanain
- Department of Surgery, King Saudi University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shouki Bazarbashi
- Department of Oncology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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13
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Gil-Rojas S, Suárez M, Martínez-Blanco P, Torres AM, Martínez-García N, Blasco P, Torralba M, Mateo J. Application of Machine Learning Techniques to Assess Alpha-Fetoprotein at Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1996. [PMID: 38396674 PMCID: PMC10888351 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25041996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver tumor and is associated with high mortality rates. Approximately 80% of cases occur in cirrhotic livers, posing a significant challenge for appropriate therapeutic management. Adequate screening programs in high-risk groups are essential for early-stage detection. The extent of extrahepatic tumor spread and hepatic functional reserve are recognized as two of the most influential prognostic factors. In this retrospective multicenter study, we utilized machine learning (ML) methods to analyze predictors of mortality at the time of diagnosis in a total of 208 patients. The eXtreme gradient boosting (XGB) method achieved the highest values in identifying key prognostic factors for HCC at diagnosis. The etiology of HCC was found to be the variable most strongly associated with a poorer prognosis. The widely used Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) classification in our setting demonstrated superiority over the TNM classification. Although alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) remains the most commonly used biological marker, elevated levels did not correlate with reduced survival. Our findings suggest the need to explore new prognostic biomarkers for individualized management of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Gil-Rojas
- Gastroenterology Department, Virgen de la Luz Hospital, 16002 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Institute of Technology, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 16071 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Miguel Suárez
- Gastroenterology Department, Virgen de la Luz Hospital, 16002 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Institute of Technology, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 16071 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Pablo Martínez-Blanco
- Gastroenterology Department, Virgen de la Luz Hospital, 16002 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Institute of Technology, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 16071 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Ana M. Torres
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Institute of Technology, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 16071 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | | | - Pilar Blasco
- Department of Pharmacy, General University Hospital, 46014 Valencia, Spain
| | - Miguel Torralba
- Internal Medicine Unit, University Hospital of Guadalajara, 19002 Guadalajara, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Translational Research Group in Cellular Immunology (GITIC), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Jorge Mateo
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Institute of Technology, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 16071 Cuenca, Spain
- Medical Analysis Expert Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
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14
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Liu X, Fu B, Chen J, Sun Z, Zheng D, Li Z, Gu B, Zhang Y, Lu H. High-throughput intact Glycopeptide quantification strategy with targeted-MS (HTiGQs-target) reveals site-specific IgG N-glycopeptides as biomarkers for hepatic disorder diagnosis and staging. Carbohydr Polym 2024; 325:121499. [PMID: 38008487 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Liver disease is one of the leading causes of global mortality, and identifying biomarkers for diagnosing the progression of liver diseases is crucial for improving its outcomes. Targeted mass spectrometry technology is a powerful tool with unique advantages for verifying biomarker candidates and clinical applications. It is particularly useful in validating protein biomarkers with post-translational modifications, eliminating the need for site-specific antibodies. Especially, targeted mass spectrometry technique is particularly critical for translation of glycoproteins into clinical applications as there are no site-specific antibodies for N-glycosylation. Nevertheless, its limitation in analyzing only one sample per run has become apparent when dealing with a large number of clinical samples. Herein, we developed a high-throughput intact N-glycopeptides quantification strategy with targeted-MS (HTiGQs-Target), which allows the validation of 20 samples per run with an average analysis time of only 3 min per sample. We applied HTiGQs-Target in a cohort of 461 serum samples (including 120 healthy controls (HC), 127 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) cases, 106 liver cirrhosis (LC) cases, and 108 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) cases) and found that a panel of 10 IgG N-glycopeptides have strong clinical utility in evaluating the severity of the liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejiao Liu
- Liver Cancer Institute of Zhongshan Hospital and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Chemistry and NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugates Research, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Bin Fu
- Department of Chemistry and NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugates Research, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jierong Chen
- Laboratory Medicine of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and Guangdong, Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, China
| | - Zhenyu Sun
- Liver Cancer Institute of Zhongshan Hospital and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Dongdong Zheng
- Department of Ultrasound, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zhonghua Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Bing Gu
- Laboratory Medicine of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and Guangdong, Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, China.
| | - Ying Zhang
- Liver Cancer Institute of Zhongshan Hospital and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Chemistry and NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugates Research, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Haojie Lu
- Liver Cancer Institute of Zhongshan Hospital and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Chemistry and NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugates Research, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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15
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Daher D, Seif El Dahan K, Cano A, Gonzales M, Ransom C, Jaurez E, Carranza O, Quirk L, Morgan T, Gopal P, Patel MS, Lieber S, Louissaint J, Cotter TG, VanWagner LB, Yang JD, Parikh ND, Yopp A, Rich NE, Singal AG. Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance Patterns and Outcomes in Patients With Cirrhosis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 22:295-304.e2. [PMID: 37573986 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2023.08.003] [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: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance is associated with improved early detection and reduced mortality, although practice patterns and effectiveness vary in clinical practice. We aimed to characterize HCC surveillance patterns in a large, diverse cohort of patients with HCC. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with HCC between January 2008 and December 2022 at 2 large US health systems. We recorded imaging receipt in the year before HCC diagnosis: ultrasound plus α-fetoprotein (AFP), ultrasound alone, multiphasic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and no liver imaging. We used multivariable logistic and Cox regression analysis to compare early tumor detection, curative treatment receipt, and overall survival between surveillance strategies. RESULTS Among 2028 patients with HCC (46.7% Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage A), 703 (34.7%) had ultrasound plus AFP, 293 (14.5%) had ultrasound alone, 326 (16.1%) had multiphasic CT/MRI, and 706 (34.8%) had no imaging in the year before HCC diagnosis. Over the study period, proportions without imaging were stable, whereas use of CT/MRI increased. Compared with no imaging, CT/MRI and ultrasound plus AFP, but not ultrasound alone, were associated with early stage HCC detection and curative treatment. Compared with ultrasound alone, CT/MRI and ultrasound plus AFP were associated with increased early stage detection. CONCLUSIONS HCC surveillance patterns vary in clinical practice and are associated with differing clinical outcomes. While awaiting data to determine if CT or MRI surveillance can be performed in a cost-effective manner in selected patients, AFP has a complementary role to ultrasound-based surveillance, supporting its adoption in practice guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darine Daher
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Karim Seif El Dahan
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Alva Cano
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Michael Gonzales
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Crystal Ransom
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Erik Jaurez
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Osiris Carranza
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Lisa Quirk
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Todd Morgan
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Purva Gopal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Madhukar S Patel
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Sarah Lieber
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Jeremy Louissaint
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Thomas G Cotter
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Lisa B VanWagner
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Ju Dong Yang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Neehar D Parikh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Adam Yopp
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Nicole E Rich
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
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16
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Wu Y, Liu S, Fan Z, Tian Y, Zhang L, Liu S. Establishment and Validation of a Blood Test-based Nomogram to Diagnose Patients with AFP-negative HCC. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2024; 24:556-564. [PMID: 38178672 DOI: 10.2174/0115680096264770231113103930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Alpha-protein (AFP) is the most widely used blood biomarker for HCC. However, elevated serum AFP is only observed in part of HCC. AIMS This study aimed to develop an efficient nomogram model to distinguish patients with alpha- protein-negative HCC and liver cirrhosis. OBJECTIVES A total of 1130 patients (508 HCC patients + 622 cirrhosis patients) were enrolled in the training cohort. A total of 244 HCC patients and 246 cirrhosis patients were enrolled in the validation cohort. METHODS A total of 41 parameters about blood tests were analyzed with logistic regression. The nomogram was based on independent factors and validated both internally and externally. RESULTS Independent factors were eosinophils %, hemoglobin concentration distribution width, fibrinogen, platelet counts, total bile acid, and mitochondria aspartate aminotransferase. The calibration curve for the probability of HCC showed good agreement between prediction by nomogram and actual observation. The concordance index was 0.851. In the validation cohort, the nomogram distinguished HCC from liver cirrhosis with an area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic of 0.754. CONCLUSION This proposed nomogram was an accurate and useful method to distinguish patients with AFP-negative HCC from liver cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujing Wu
- The Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Extracorporeal Life Support for Critical Diseases, Artificial Cell Engineering Technology Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Hepatobiliary Disease, 83 Jintang Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300170, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- The Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Extracorporeal Life Support for Critical Diseases, Artificial Cell Engineering Technology Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Hepatobiliary Disease, 83 Jintang Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300170, China
| | - Zhijuan Fan
- The Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Extracorporeal Life Support for Critical Diseases, Artificial Cell Engineering Technology Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Hepatobiliary Disease, 83 Jintang Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300170, China
| | - Yaqiong Tian
- The Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Extracorporeal Life Support for Critical Diseases, Artificial Cell Engineering Technology Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Hepatobiliary Disease, 83 Jintang Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300170, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- The Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Extracorporeal Life Support for Critical Diseases, Artificial Cell Engineering Technology Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Hepatobiliary Disease, 83 Jintang Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300170, China
| | - Shuye Liu
- The Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Extracorporeal Life Support for Critical Diseases, Artificial Cell Engineering Technology Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Hepatobiliary Disease, 83 Jintang Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300170, China
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17
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Koh JH, Wang M, Suzuki H, Muthiah M, Ng CH, Huang DQ. NAFLD and NAFLD-related HCC in Asia: Burden and Surveillance. J Clin Exp Hepatol 2024; 14:101213. [PMID: 38076360 PMCID: PMC10701133 DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2023.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly emerging as a leading etiology of chronic liver disease (CLD) in Asia. The increasing incidence of NAFLD is projected to drive a surge in NAFLD-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A notable characteristic of NAFLD-HCC is its capacity for development in individuals without cirrhosis in more than a third of patients. Most practice guidelines recommend biannual ultrasound screening for patients with cirrhosis. In cases of severe limitations to ultrasound visualisation, cross-sectional abdominal imaging may be warranted. Improved strategies for HCC risk stratification are required for people with NAFLD but without cirrhosis. In this Review, we discuss the evolving trends of NAFLD and HCC in Asia, and implications for surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia H. Koh
- Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hiroyuki Suzuki
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
| | - Mark Muthiah
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Cheng H. Ng
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Daniel Q. Huang
- NAFLD Research Center, University of California at San Diego, USA
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18
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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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19
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Wang AE, Leven EA, Grinspan LT, Villanueva A. Novel biomarkers and strategies for HCC diagnosis and care. Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken) 2024; 23:e0152. [PMID: 38707238 PMCID: PMC11068134 DOI: 10.1097/cld.0000000000000152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Allison E. Wang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Mount Sinai Morningside-West, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emily A. Leven
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lauren T. Grinspan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Liver Diseases, Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Augusto Villanueva
- Department of Medicine, Divisions of Liver Disease and Hematology/Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Huang DQ, Singal AG, Kanwal F, Lampertico P, Buti M, Sirlin CB, Nguyen MH, Loomba R. Hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance - utilization, barriers and the impact of changing aetiology. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 20:797-809. [PMID: 37537332 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-023-00818-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Surveillance for HCC is critical for early detection and treatment, but fewer than one-quarter of individuals at risk of HCC undergo surveillance. Multiple failures across the screening process contribute to the underutilization of surveillance, including limited disease awareness among patients and health-care providers, knowledge gaps, and difficulty recognizing patients who are at risk. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcohol-associated liver disease are the fastest-rising causes of HCC-related death worldwide and are associated with unique barriers to surveillance. In particular, more than one-third of patients with HCC related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease do not have cirrhosis and therefore lack a routine indication for HCC surveillance on the basis of current practice guidelines. Semi-annual abdominal ultrasound with measurement of α-fetoprotein levels is recommended for HCC surveillance, but the sensitivity of this approach for early HCC is limited, especially for patients with cirrhosis or obesity. In this Review, we discuss the current status of HCC surveillance and the remaining challenges, including the changing aetiology of liver disease. We also discuss strategies to improve the utilization and quality of surveillance for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Q Huang
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Fasiha Kanwal
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuESt), Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Pietro Lampertico
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Milan, Italy
- CRC "A. M. and A. Migliavacca" Center for Liver Disease, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Buti
- Liver Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Valle d'Hebron, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER-EHD del Instituto Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claude B Sirlin
- Liver Imaging Group, Department of Radiology, UCSD School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mindie H Nguyen
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Rohit Loomba
- NAFLD Research Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
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21
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Singal AG, Llovet JM, Yarchoan M, Mehta N, Heimbach JK, Dawson LA, Jou JH, Kulik LM, Agopian VG, Marrero JA, Mendiratta-Lala M, Brown DB, Rilling WS, Goyal L, Wei AC, Taddei TH. AASLD Practice Guidance on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2023; 78:1922-1965. [PMID: 37199193 PMCID: PMC10663390 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 201.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Amit G. Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Josep M. Llovet
- Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Translational Research in Hepatic Oncology, Liver Unit, August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Mark Yarchoan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Neil Mehta
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Laura A. Dawson
- Radiation Medicine Program/University Health Network, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Janice H. Jou
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Laura M. Kulik
- Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Vatche G. Agopian
- The Dumont–University of California, Los Angeles, Transplant Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jorge A. Marrero
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mishal Mendiratta-Lala
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Daniel B. Brown
- Department of Radiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - William S. Rilling
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Lipika Goyal
- Department of Medicine, Stanford School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Alice C. Wei
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Tamar H. Taddei
- Department of Medicine (Digestive Diseases), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
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22
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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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23
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Cagnin S, Donghia R, Martini A, Pesole PL, Coletta S, Shahini E, Boninsegna G, Biasiolo A, Pontisso P, Giannelli G. Galad Score as a Prognostic Marker for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16485. [PMID: 38003675 PMCID: PMC10671761 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for more than 75% of primary liver cancers, which are the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The GALAD (gender, age, AFP-L3, AFP, and des-carboxy-prothrombin) score is a diagnostic tool developed based on gender, age, alpha-fetoprotein, alpha-fetoprotein L3, and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin, originally designed as a diagnostic tool for HCC in high-risk patients. METHODS We analyzed 212 patients with and without cirrhosis. The population study was divided into patients with liver cirrhosis without evidence of HCC at the time of serum sample collection for GALAD score determination and patients with liver cirrhosis and a confirmed diagnosis of HCC at the time of serum sample collection for GALAD score determination. Patients were followed up until death or liver transplantation. The association between variables and HCC mortality risk was performed, and the results were presented as hazard ratio (HR). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the performance of the GALAD HCC diagnosis. The survival probability was explored using the non-parametric test, and the equality of survival amongst categories was assessed with the log-rank test. RESULTS Biomarkers were higher in the HCC group compared to cirrhosis. Kaplan-Meier survival probability analysis for individual GALAD categories revealed that a high GALAD level was associated with decreased survival during follow-up, and the difference between the curves was statistically significant (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the GALAD score has promise as a prognostic tool, with implications for improving patient management and treatment strategies for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Cagnin
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35123 Padova, Italy; (S.C.); (A.M.); (G.B.); (A.B.); (P.P.)
| | - Rossella Donghia
- National Institute of Gastroenterology–IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, 70013 Castellana Grotte, Italy; (R.D.); (P.L.P.); (S.C.); (E.S.)
| | - Andrea Martini
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35123 Padova, Italy; (S.C.); (A.M.); (G.B.); (A.B.); (P.P.)
| | - Pasqua Letizia Pesole
- National Institute of Gastroenterology–IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, 70013 Castellana Grotte, Italy; (R.D.); (P.L.P.); (S.C.); (E.S.)
| | - Sergio Coletta
- National Institute of Gastroenterology–IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, 70013 Castellana Grotte, Italy; (R.D.); (P.L.P.); (S.C.); (E.S.)
| | - Endrit Shahini
- National Institute of Gastroenterology–IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, 70013 Castellana Grotte, Italy; (R.D.); (P.L.P.); (S.C.); (E.S.)
| | - Giulia Boninsegna
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35123 Padova, Italy; (S.C.); (A.M.); (G.B.); (A.B.); (P.P.)
| | - Alessandra Biasiolo
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35123 Padova, Italy; (S.C.); (A.M.); (G.B.); (A.B.); (P.P.)
| | - Patrizia Pontisso
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35123 Padova, Italy; (S.C.); (A.M.); (G.B.); (A.B.); (P.P.)
| | - Gianluigi Giannelli
- National Institute of Gastroenterology–IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, 70013 Castellana Grotte, Italy; (R.D.); (P.L.P.); (S.C.); (E.S.)
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24
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Hui S, Bell S, Le S, Dev A. Hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in Australia: current and future perspectives. Med J Aust 2023; 219:432-438. [PMID: 37803907 DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and is increasing in incidence in Australia. For most people with cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis B, HCC screening and surveillance is recommended with 6-monthly ultrasound. However, most patients with HCC are still diagnosed outside of surveillance with incurable disease. While HCC surveillance almost certainly reduces cancer-related mortality, the potential harms of surveillance are incompletely understood. Surveillance uptake remains suboptimal in many contexts, and stems from a combination of patient, clinician and system level barriers. Improved case-finding strategies may be required to identify high risk individuals in need of surveillance, as cirrhosis and viral hepatitis are often asymptomatic. HCC prediction models and novel surveillance tools such as biomarker panels, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging may have a future role in personalised HCC surveillance. Analyses suggest surveillance may be cost-effective, but Australian data remain limited. A centralised HCC surveillance program may ultimately have a role in delivering improved and more equitable care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Hui
- School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC
| | - Sally Bell
- School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC
| | - Suong Le
- School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC
| | - Anouk Dev
- School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC
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25
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Koksal AR, Ekmen N, Aydin Y, Nunez K, Sandow T, Delk M, Moehlen M, Thevenot P, Cohen A, Dash S. A Single-Step Immunocapture Assay to Quantify HCC Exosomes Using the Highly Sensitive Fluorescence Nanoparticle-Tracking Analysis. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2023; 10:1935-1954. [PMID: 37936599 PMCID: PMC10627088 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s423043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Extracellular vesicles could serve as a non-invasive biomarker for early cancer detection. However, limited methods to quantitate cancer-derived vesicles in the native state remain a significant barrier to clinical translation. Aim This research aims to develop a rapid, one-step immunoaffinity approach to quantify HCC exosomes directly from a small serum volume. Methods HCC-derived exosomes in the serum were captured using fluorescent phycoerythrin (PE)-conjugated antibodies targeted to GPC3 and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Total and HCC-specific exosomes were then quantified in culture supernatant or patient-derived serums using fluorescence nanoparticle tracking analysis (F-NTA). The performance of HCC exosome quantification in the serum was compared with the tumor size determined by MRI. Results Initially we tested the detection limits of the F-NTA using synthetic fluorescent and non-fluorescent beads. The assay showed an acceptable sensitivity with a detection range of 104-108 particles/mL. Additionally, the combination of immunocapture followed by size-exclusion column purification allows the isolation of smaller-size EVs and quantification by F-NTA. Our assay demonstrated that HCC cell culture releases a significantly higher quantity of GPC3 or GPC3+AFP positive EVs (100-200 particles/cell) compared to non-HCC culture (10-40 particles/cell) (p<0.01 and p<0.05 respectively). The F-NTA enables absolute counting of HCC-specific exosomes in the clinical samples with preserved biological immunoreactivity. The performance of F-NTA was clinically validated in serum from patients ± cirrhosis and with confirmed HCC. F-NTA quantification data show selective enrichment of AFP and GPC3 positive EVs in HCC serum compared to malignancy-free cirrhosis (AUC values for GPC3, AFP, and GPC3/AFP were found 0.79, 0.71, and 0.72 respectively). The MRI-confirmed patient cohort indicated that there was a positive correlation between total tumor size and GPC3-positive exosome concentration (r:0.78 and p<0.001). Conclusion We developed an immunocapture assay that can be used for simultaneous isolation and quantification of HCC-derived exosomes from a small serum volume with high accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Riza Koksal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Nergiz Ekmen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Yucel Aydin
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Kelley Nunez
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Institute of Translational Research, Ochsner Health, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Tyler Sandow
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Translational Research, Ochsner Health, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Molly Delk
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Martin Moehlen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Paul Thevenot
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Institute of Translational Research, Ochsner Health, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Ari Cohen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Institute of Translational Research, Ochsner Health, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Multi-Organ Transplant Institute, Ochsner Health, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Srikanta Dash
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, LA, USA
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26
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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: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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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27
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Liu ZY, Li YH, Zhang QK, Li BW, Xin L. Development and validation of a ubiquitin-proteasome system gene signature for prognostic prediction and immune microenvironment evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:13363-13382. [PMID: 37490101 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05189-w] [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: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ubiquitin proteasome has a major role in the development of many tumors. However, the prognostic importance of ubiquitin proteasome-system genes (UPSGs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not fully defined. METHODS The TCGA and ICGC datasets were utilized to obtain transcriptional profiling data as well as clinicopathological information about HCC. The 3-UPSGs signature for the TCGA cohort was developed via univariate and LASSO Cox regression analyses. Differential expression of genes was demonstrated by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Biological pathways were studied using GSVA and GSEA. Six algorithms were used to compare immune infiltration between the two risk groups. Furthermore, drug sensitivity was measured using the "pRRophetic" R package. The predictive capacity of the 3-UPSGs signature for sensitivity to immunotherapy was also explored. Moreover, we performed a pan-cancer analysis of the 3-UPSGs signature. RESULTS A risk model containing 3 UPSGs (DCAF13, CDC20 and PSMB5) was developed. IHC and qRT-PCR results showed that signature genes were significantly overexpressed in HCC tissues. The high-risk group had a worse prognosis, with a higher clinicopathological grade, higher levels of tumor mutation burden (TMB), elevated levels of immune checkpoint (IC) expression, as well as increased sensitivity to immunotherapy. The two risk groups also differ in their sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs. Furthermore, the three UPSGs may play crucial roles in the progression of multiple types of cancers. CONCLUSION We created a 3-UPSGs signature to estimate the prognosis of HCC and to assist in individualized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Yang Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, China
| | - Yi-He Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Qing-Kun Zhang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Bo-Wen Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, China
| | - Lin Xin
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, China.
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28
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Kulkarni AV, Tevethia H, Kumar K, Premkumar M, Muttaiah MD, Hiraoka A, Hatanaka T, Tada T, Kumada T, Kakizaki S, Vogel A, Finn RS, Rao PN, Pillai A, Reddy DN, Singal AG. Effectiveness and safety of atezolizumab-bevacizumab in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 63:102179. [PMID: 37680945 PMCID: PMC10480543 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Atezolizumab-bevacizumab (atezo-bev) is recommended as first-line therapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). However, its effectiveness and safety in other populations, including those with Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class B cirrhosis, is unclear. Methods For this systematic review and meta-analysis, electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, were searched from 1st May, 2020 till 5th October, 2022; the last date of access was January 31, 2023. Pooled progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and radiological response rate among patients receiving atezo-bev were compared between patients with CTP-A and CTP-B cirrhosis, with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and among those receiving the drug as first-line and later line therapy. The protocol was registered in Prospero (CRD42022364430). Findings Among 47 studies (n = 5400 patients), pooled PFS and OS were 6.86 (95% CI, 6.31-7.41) and 13.8 months (95% CI, 11.81-15.8), respectively. Objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate were 26.7% (24.6-29.1) and 75.3% (73.1-77.4) using RECIST criteria, and 34% (30.3-37.8) and 73.6% (68.8-78) using mRECIST criteria, respectively. Among those receiving atezo-bev, patients with CTP-B cirrhosis had similar ORRs by RECIST (odds ratio [OR], 1.42 [0.77-2.6]; P = 0.25) and mRECIST criteria (OR, 1.33 [0.52-3.39]; P = 0.53) but shorter PFS (mean difference [MD]:3.83 months [1.81-5.84]) than those with CTP-A cirrhosis. Compared to patients receiving TKIs, those receiving atezo-bev had longer PFS (MD: 2.27 months [0.94-3.5]) and higher ORR (RECIST: OR, 1.44 [1.01-2.04] and mRECIST: OR, 1.33 [1.01-1.75]). Compared to first-line therapy, later-line therapy had lower ORR (RECIST: OR, 1.82 [1.3-2.53]; P < 0.001 and mRECIST: OR, 2.02 [1.34-3.05]) but comparable PFS (MD: 0.58 months [-0.18 to 1.35]) among nine studies. The incidence of grade ≥3 adverse events among patients with CTP-A and CTP-B cirrhosis was comparable (OR, 0.89 [0.45-1.74]) as it was for patients receiving atezo-bev and TKIs (OR, 0.86 [0.61-1.2]). Interpretation Our findings suggest that atezo-bev is safe and effective as first-line systemic therapy for patients with uHCC and CTP-A or CTP-B cirrhosis. Funding An unsolicited grant from ROCHE Products India Pvt Ltd. was received for publication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand V. Kulkarni
- Department of Hepatology, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad, India
| | | | - Karan Kumar
- Department of Hepatology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur, India
| | | | - Mark D. Muttaiah
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Atsushi Hiraoka
- Gastroenterology Centre, Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Takeshi Hatanaka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Tada
- Department of Internal Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Himeji Hospital, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Takashi Kumada
- Department of Nursing, Gifu Kyoritsu University, Ogaki, Japan
| | - Satoru Kakizaki
- Department of Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Takasaki General Medical Centre, Takasaki, Japan
| | - Arndt Vogel
- Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover 30625, Germany
| | - Richard S. Finn
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Padaki Nagaraja Rao
- Department of Hepatology, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Anjana Pillai
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Amit G. Singal
- Department of Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Centre, Dallas, TX, USA
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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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30
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El-Serag HB, Ward JW, Asrani SK, Singal AG, Rich N, Thrift AP, Deshpande S, Turner BJ, Kaseb AO, Harrison AC, Fortune BE, Kanwal F. Prevention of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). White Paper of the Texas Collaborative Center for Hepatocellular Cancer (TeCH) Multi-stakeholder Conference. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 21:2183-2192. [PMID: 37086825 PMCID: PMC10524305 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2023.03.029] [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: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Texas has the highest age-adjusted incidence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States. The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas has funded the Texas Collaborative Center for Hepatocellular Cancer (TeCH) to facilitate HCC research, education, and advocacy activities with the overall goal of reducing HCC mortality in Texas through coordination, collaboration, and advocacy. METHODS On September 17, 2022, TeCH co-sponsored a multi-stakeholder conference on HCC with the Baker Institute Center for Health and Biosciences. This conference was attended by HCC researchers, policy makers, payers, members from pharmaceutical industry and patient advocacy groups in and outside of Texas. This report summarizes the results of the conference. RESULTS The goal of this meeting was to identify different strategies for preventing HCC and evaluate their readiness for implementation. CONCLUSIONS We call for a statewide (1) viral hepatitis elimination program; (2) program to increase nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and obesity awareness; (3) research program to develop health care models that integrate alcohol associated liver disease treatment and treatment for alcohol use disorder; and (4) demonstration projects to evaluate the effectiveness of identifying and linking patient with advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis to clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John W Ward
- The Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, The Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia
| | | | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Texas
| | - Nicole Rich
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Texas
| | - Aaron P Thrift
- Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Barbara J Turner
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California
| | - Ahmed O Kaseb
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Ariel C Harrison
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Brett E Fortune
- Department of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
| | - Fasiha Kanwal
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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Yu J, Park R, Kim R. Promising Novel Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Diagnostic and Prognostic Insights. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2023; 10:1105-1127. [PMID: 37483311 PMCID: PMC10362916 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s341195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The systemic therapy landscape for hepatocellular carcinoma is rapidly evolving, as the recent approvals of checkpoint inhibitor-based regimens such as atezolizumab-bevacizumab and durvalumab-tremelimumab in advanced disease have led to an expanding therapeutic armamentarium. The development of biomarkers, however, has not kept up with the approvals of new agents. Nevertheless, biomarker research for hepatocellular carcinoma has recently been growing at a rapid pace. The most active areas of research are biomarkers for early detection and screening, accurate prognostication, and detection of minimal residual disease following curative intent therapies, and, perhaps most importantly, predictive markers to guide selection and sequencing of the individual agents, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy. In this review, we briefly summarize the recent developments in systemic therapeutics for hepatocellular carcinoma, introduce the key completed and ongoing prospective and retrospective studies evaluating diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers with high clinical relevance, highlight several potentially important areas of future research, and share our insights for each biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Yu
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Robin Park
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Richard Kim
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
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Singal AG, Kudo M, Bruix J. Breakthroughs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapies. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 21:2135-2149. [PMID: 36813012 PMCID: PMC10293061 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2023.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Several breakthroughs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy across tumor stages provide hope to improve its dismal prognosis. Although surgical and local ablative therapies have few significant changes in technique, an improved understanding of tumor biology has facilitated increase numbers of patients who are now eligible to undergo curative-intent procedures. Most notably, acceptable post-transplant outcomes can be achieved in well selected patients whose tumors are downstaged into Milan Criteria. Adjuvant therapy in patients at high risk of recurrence also significantly improves recurrence-free survival after resection or ablation. For patients with liver-localized disease who are not eligible for curative-intent procedures, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was historically the treatment modality of choice, regardless of tumor burden; however, there is now increased recognition of patients who are "TACE unsuitable" and may be better treated with systemic therapy. The greatest evolution in HCC treatment options has occurred with systemic therapy, where several new agents are now available in the first- and second-line setting, including immune checkpoint inhibitor combinations. Objective responses are observed in approximately 30% of patients and median survival is approaching 2 years. The availability of immune checkpoint inhibitors has renewed interest in combination therapies for earlier tumor stages, with several phase III trials ongoing. Considering increasing complexities of HCC care, requiring decisions between therapies delivered by different providers, multidisciplinary care is critical and is associated with improved clinical outcomes. In this review, we detail major breakthroughs in HCC therapy, how these breakthroughs can be applied in clinical practice, and remaining areas in need of further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
| | - Masatoshi Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka Japan.
| | - Jordi Bruix
- Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Group, Liver Unit, August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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Singal AG, Sanduzzi-Zamparelli M, Nahon P, Ronot M, Hoshida Y, Rich N, Reig M, Vilgrain V, Marrero J, Llovet JM, Parikh ND, Villanueva A. International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) white paper on hepatocellular carcinoma risk stratification and surveillance. J Hepatol 2023; 79:226-239. [PMID: 36854345 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.02.022] [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: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Major research efforts in liver cancer have been devoted to increasing the efficacy and effectiveness of surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As with other cancers, surveillance programmes aim to detect tumours at an early stage, facilitate curative-intent treatment, and reduce cancer-related mortality. HCC surveillance is supported by a large randomised-controlled trial in patients with chronic HBV infection and several cohort studies in cirrhosis; however, effectiveness in clinical practice is limited by several barriers, including inadequate risk stratification, underuse of surveillance, and suboptimal accuracy of screening tests. There are several proposed strategies to address these limitations, including risk stratification algorithms and biomarkers to better identity at-risk individuals, interventions to increase surveillance, and emerging imaging- and blood-based surveillance tests with improved sensitivity and specificity for early HCC detection. Beyond clinical validation, data are needed to establish clinical utility, i.e. increased early tumour detection and reduced HCC-related mortality. If successful, these data could facilitate a precision screening paradigm in which surveillance strategies are tailored to individual HCC risk to maximise overall surveillance value. However, practical and logistical considerations must be considered when designing and implementing these validation efforts. To address these issues, ILCA (the International Liver Cancer Association) adjourned a single topic workshop on HCC risk stratification and surveillance in June 2022. Herein, we present a white paper on these topics, including the status of the field, ongoing research efforts, and barriers to the translation of emerging strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Marco Sanduzzi-Zamparelli
- BCLC Group, Liver Oncology Unit, Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions, Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), CIBERehd, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pierre Nahon
- APHP, Liver Unit, Bobigny, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, F-93000 Bobigny, France; Inserm, UMR-1138 "Functional Genomics of Solid Tumors", Centre de recherche des Cordeliers, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Maxime Ronot
- Université Paris Cité, CRI INSERM UMR 1149, Paris & Department of radiology, Hôpital Beaujon, APHP. Nord, Clichy, France
| | - Yujin Hoshida
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Nicole Rich
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Maria Reig
- BCLC Group, Liver Oncology Unit, Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions, Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), CIBERehd, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Valerie Vilgrain
- Université Paris Cité, CRI INSERM UMR 1149, Paris & Department of radiology, Hôpital Beaujon, APHP. Nord, Clichy, France
| | - Jorge Marrero
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 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, Catalonia, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Neehar D Parikh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Augusto Villanueva
- Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Lee YT, Fujiwara N, Yang JD, Hoshida Y. Risk stratification and early detection biomarkers for precision HCC screening. Hepatology 2023; 78:319-362. [PMID: 36082510 PMCID: PMC9995677 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mortality remains high primarily due to late diagnosis as a consequence of failed early detection. Professional societies recommend semi-annual HCC screening in at-risk patients with chronic liver disease to increase the likelihood of curative treatment receipt and improve survival. However, recent dynamic shift of HCC etiologies from viral to metabolic liver diseases has significantly increased the potential target population for the screening, whereas annual incidence rate has become substantially lower. Thus, with the contemporary HCC etiologies, the traditional screening approach might not be practical and cost-effective. HCC screening consists of (i) definition of rational at-risk population, and subsequent (ii) repeated application of early detection tests to the population at regular intervals. The suboptimal performance of the currently available HCC screening tests highlights an urgent need for new modalities and strategies to improve early HCC detection. In this review, we overview recent developments of clinical, molecular, and imaging-based tools to address the current challenge, and discuss conceptual framework and approaches of their clinical translation and implementation. These encouraging progresses are expected to transform the current "one-size-fits-all" HCC screening into individualized precision approaches to early HCC detection and ultimately improve the poor HCC prognosis in the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Te Lee
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - 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, Texas
| | - Ju Dong Yang
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California; Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Yujin Hoshida
- 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, Texas
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Chhatwal J, Samur S, Yang JD, Roberts LR, Nguyen MH, Ozbay AB, Ayer T, Parikh ND, Singal AG. Effectiveness of HCC surveillance programs using multitarget blood test: A modeling study. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e0146. [PMID: 37204402 PMCID: PMC10538878 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effectiveness of ultrasound-based surveillance for HCC in patients with cirrhosis is limited by suboptimal sensitivity for early tumor detection and poor adherence. Emerging blood-based biomarkers have been proposed as an alternative surveillance strategy. We aimed to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of a multitarget HCC blood test (mt-HBT)-with and without improved adherence-against ultrasound-based HCC surveillance. METHODS We developed a Markov-based mathematical model that simulated a virtual trial in patients with compensated cirrhosis comparing potential surveillance strategies: biannual surveillance using ultrasound, ultrasound plus AFP, and mt-HBT with or without improved adherence (+10% increase). We used published data to inform underlying liver disease progression rates, HCC tumor growth patterns, performance characteristics of surveillance modalities, and efficacy of treatments. Primary outcomes of interest were the number of early-stage HCCs detected and life years gained. RESULTS Per 100,000 patients with cirrhosis, mt-HBT detected 1680 more early-stage HCCs than ultrasound alone and 350 more early-stage HCCs than ultrasound + AFP, yielding an additional 5720 and 1000 life years, respectively. mt-HBT with improved adherence detected 2200 more early-stage HCCs than ultrasound and 880 more early-stage HCCs than ultrasound + AFP, yielding an additional 8140 and 3420 life years, respectively. The number of screening tests needed to detect one HCC case was 139 with ultrasound, 122 with ultrasound + AFP, 119 with mt-HBT, and 124 with mt-HBT with improved adherence. CONCLUSIONS mt-HBT is a promising alternative to ultrasound-based HCC surveillance, particularly given anticipated improved adherence with blood-based biomarkers could increase HCC surveillance effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagpreet Chhatwal
- Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Technology Assessment, Harvard Medical School, Department of Radiology, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Ju Dong Yang
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lewis R. Roberts
- Mayo Clinic, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Mindie H. Nguyen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | | | - Turgay Ayer
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Emory Medical School, Department of Internal Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Amit G. Singal
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Dallas, Texas, USA
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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: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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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Xie DY, Zhu K, Ren ZG, Zhou J, Fan J, Gao Q. A review of 2022 Chinese clinical guidelines on the management of hepatocellular carcinoma: updates and insights. Hepatobiliary Surg Nutr 2023; 12:216-228. [PMID: 37124695 PMCID: PMC10129899 DOI: 10.21037/hbsn-22-469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Significant improvements in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during the past three years have urged the timely update of clinical guidelines in China. In brief, aMAP score is newly recommended as an effective risk stratification tool to predict HCC occurrence especially for non-cirrhotic patients. Biomarker-based surveillance including 7 micro-RNA panel and GALAD score are advocated to assist early diagnosis. China liver cancer (CNLC) staging system proposed in the 2017 guideline continues to be the standard model for staging with modifications in the treatment allocations. Conversion therapies using multi-modal, high intensity strategies are advocated to facilitate subsequent resection for patients with technically unresectable CNLC stage Ia, Ib, IIa HCC, or technically resectable IIb, IIIa HCC. Super-selective transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with the assistance of Cone-Beam CT if necessary is recommended to guarantee the efficacy of TACE. Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) using oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin (FOLFOX) regimen alone or in combination with systemic therapy is recommended for TACE-refractory patients or for patients with locally advanced HCC. The systemic treatments for HCC have evolved considerably since atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, and suntilimab plus bevacizumab analogue showing superior survival benefit to sorafenib, and donafenib with comparable efficacy with sorafenib are added to the first-line treatments. In addition to regorafenib, apatinib, camrelizumab and tislelizumab are added as the second-line systemic therapies for patients who progressed on sorafenib. Updates in the 2022 Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) guidelines and Japanese Society of Hepatology (JSH) consensus statement are also introduced and compared with the 2022 Chinese guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di-Yang Xie
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kai Zhu
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng-Gang Ren
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Fan
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Gao
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Albarrak J, Al-Shamsi H. Current Status of Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in The Gulf Region: Challenges and Recommendations. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15072001. [PMID: 37046662 PMCID: PMC10093592 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The burden of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is on the rise in the Gulf region, with most patients being diagnosed in the intermediate or advanced stages. Surgery is a treatment option for only a few, and the majority of patients receive either locoregional treatment (percutaneous ethanol injection, radiofrequency ablation, transarterial chemoembolization [TACE], radioembolization, radiotherapy, or transarterial radioembolization) or systemic therapy (for those ineligible for locoregional treatments or who do not benefit from TACE). The recent emergence of novel immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors has begun to change the landscape of systemic HCC treatment in the Gulf. The combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab is currently the preferred first-line therapy in patients not at risk of bleeding. Additionally, the HIMALAYA trial has demonstrated the superiority of the durvalumab plus tremelimumab combination (STRIDE regimen) therapy in efficacy and safety compared with sorafenib in patients with unresectable HCC. However, there is a lack of data on post-progression treatment after first-line therapy with either atezolizumab plus bevacizumab or durvalumab plus tremelimumab regimens, highlighting the need for better-designed studies for improved management of patients with unresectable HCC in the Gulf region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasem Albarrak
- Kuwait Cancer Control Center, Sabah Health Region, Kuwait City 8WF3+WR8, Kuwait;
| | - Humaid Al-Shamsi
- Burjeel Medical City- Burjeel Holding, Abu Dhabi 92510, United Arab Emirates
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
- Emirates Oncology Society, Dubai 22107, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence:
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Leowattana W, Leowattana T, Leowattana P. Systemic treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:1407-1424. [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i10.1407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is most commonly found in the context of liver cirrhosis and, in rare cases, in a healthy liver. Its prevalence has risen in recent years, particularly in Western nations, due to the increasing frequency of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Advanced HCC has a poor prognosis. For many years, the only proven therapy for unresectable HCC (uHCC) was sorafenib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Recently, the synergistic effect of an immune checkpoint inhibitor, atezolizumab, and bevacizumab outperformed sorafenib alone in terms of survival, making it the recommended first-line therapy. Other multikinase inhibitors, lenvatinib and regorafenib, were also recommended as first and second-line drugs, respectively. Intermediate-stage HCC patients with retained liver function, particularly uHCC without extrahepatic metastasis, may benefit from trans-arterial chemoembolization. The current problem in uHCC is selecting a patient for the best treatment while considering the preexisting liver condition and liver function. Indeed, all study patients had a Child-Pugh class A, and the best therapy for other individuals is unknown. Additionally, in the absence of a medical contraindication, atezolizumab could be combined with bevacizumab for uHCC systemic therapy. Several studies are now underway to evaluate immune checkpoint inhibitors in combination with anti-angiogenic drugs, and the first findings are encouraging. The paradigm of uHCC therapy is changing dramatically, and many obstacles remain for optimum patient management in the near future. The purpose of this commentary review was to give an insight into current systemic treatment options for patients with uHCC who are not candidates for surgery to cure the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wattana Leowattana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Tawithep Leowattana
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
| | - PathompThep Leowattana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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40
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Leowattana W, Leowattana T, Leowattana P. Systemic treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:1551-1568. [PMID: 36970588 PMCID: PMC10037251 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i10.1551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is most commonly found in the context of liver cirrhosis and, in rare cases, in a healthy liver. Its prevalence has risen in recent years, particularly in Western nations, due to the increasing frequency of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Advanced HCC has a poor prognosis. For many years, the only proven therapy for unresectable HCC (uHCC) was sorafenib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Recently, the synergistic effect of an immune checkpoint inhibitor, atezolizumab, and bevacizumab outperformed sorafenib alone in terms of survival, making it the recommended first-line therapy. Other multikinase inhibitors, lenvatinib and regorafenib, were also recommended as first and second-line drugs, respectively. Intermediate-stage HCC patients with retained liver function, particularly uHCC without extrahepatic metastasis, may benefit from trans-arterial chemoembolization. The current problem in uHCC is selecting a patient for the best treatment while considering the preexisting liver condition and liver function. Indeed, all study patients had a Child-Pugh class A, and the best therapy for other individuals is unknown. Additionally, in the absence of a medical contraindication, atezolizumab could be combined with bevacizumab for uHCC systemic therapy. Several studies are now underway to evaluate immune checkpoint inhibitors in combination with anti-angiogenic drugs, and the first findings are encouraging. The paradigm of uHCC therapy is changing dramatically, and many obstacles remain for optimum patient management in the near future. The purpose of this commentary review was to give an insight into current systemic treatment options for patients with uHCC who are not candidates for surgery to cure the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wattana Leowattana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Tawithep Leowattana
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
| | - PathompThep Leowattana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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Gautam SK, Khan P, Natarajan G, Atri P, Aithal A, Ganti AK, Batra SK, Nasser MW, Jain M. Mucins as Potential Biomarkers for Early Detection of Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:1640. [PMID: 36980526 PMCID: PMC10046558 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Early detection significantly correlates with improved survival in cancer patients. So far, a limited number of biomarkers have been validated to diagnose cancers at an early stage. Considering the leading cancer types that contribute to more than 50% of deaths in the USA, we discuss the ongoing endeavors toward early detection of lung, breast, ovarian, colon, prostate, liver, and pancreatic cancers to highlight the significance of mucin glycoproteins in cancer diagnosis. As mucin deregulation is one of the earliest events in most epithelial malignancies following oncogenic transformation, these high-molecular-weight glycoproteins are considered potential candidates for biomarker development. The diagnostic potential of mucins is mainly attributed to their deregulated expression, altered glycosylation, splicing, and ability to induce autoantibodies. Secretory and shed mucins are commonly detected in patients' sera, body fluids, and tumor biopsies. For instance, CA125, also called MUC16, is one of the biomarkers implemented for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer and is currently being investigated for other malignancies. Similarly, MUC5AC, a secretory mucin, is a potential biomarker for pancreatic cancer. Moreover, anti-mucin autoantibodies and mucin-packaged exosomes have opened new avenues of biomarker development for early cancer diagnosis. In this review, we discuss the diagnostic potential of mucins in epithelial cancers and provide evidence and a rationale for developing a mucin-based biomarker panel for early cancer detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shailendra K. Gautam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Parvez Khan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Gopalakrishnan Natarajan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Pranita Atri
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Abhijit Aithal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Apar K. Ganti
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Division of Oncology-Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Surinder K. Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Mohd W. Nasser
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Maneesh Jain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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Daher D, Dahan KSE, Singal AG. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-related hepatocellular carcinoma. JOURNAL OF LIVER CANCER 2023; 23:127-142. [PMID: 37384032 PMCID: PMC10202236 DOI: 10.17998/jlc.2022.12.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), one of the most common causes of liver disease, is an increasingly common cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Several demographic, clinical, and genetic factors contribute to HCC risk in NAFLD patients, which may inform risk stratification scores. Proven efficacious approaches to primary prevention approach in patients with non-viral liver disease remain an area of need. Semi-annual surveillance is associated with improved early tumor detection and reduced HCC-related mortality; however, patients with NAFLD have several challenges to effective surveillance, including under-recognition of at-risk patients, low surveillance utilization in clinical practice, and lower sensitivity of current tools for early-stage HCC detection. Treatment decisions are best made in a multidisciplinary fashion and are informed by several factors including tumor burden, liver dysfunction, performance status, and patient preferences. Although patients with NAFLD often have larger tumor burden and increased comorbidities compared to counterparts, they can achieve similar post-treatment survival with careful patient selection. Therefore, surgical therapies continue to provide a curative treatment option for patients diagnosed at an early stage. Although there has been debate about the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with NAFLD, current data are insufficient to change treatment selection based on liver disease etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darine Daher
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Karim Seif El Dahan
- 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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Singal AG, Nagar SP, Hitchens A, Davis KL, Iyer S. Real-World Effectiveness of Lenvatinib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 21:830-831.e1. [PMID: 34813942 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2021.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer and the fourth most common cause of cancer-related deaths globally.1 Although most cases of HCC were historically attributed to underlying chronic viral hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is projected to become the most common risk factor for HCC with the rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus and increasing availability of effective treatments for hepatitis B and C infection.2 Although patients with viral and nonviral HCC seem to have similar overall prognosis,3 prior data have suggested possible differential efficacy of systemic therapies by liver disease etiology. For example, sorafenib was shown to have greater efficacy in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection than other etiologies.4 The aim of our descriptive study was to report the effectiveness of lenvatinib in a real-world cohort of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver Disease, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
| | - Saurabh P Nagar
- RTI Health Solutions, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Abby Hitchens
- RTI Health Solutions, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Keith L Davis
- RTI Health Solutions, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
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2022 KLCA-NCC Korea practice guidelines for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma. JOURNAL OF LIVER CANCER 2023; 23:1-120. [PMID: 37384024 PMCID: PMC10202234 DOI: 10.17998/jlc.2022.11.07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the fourth most common cancer among men in South Korea, where the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection is high in middle and old age. The current practice guidelines will provide useful and sensible advice for the clinical management of patients with HCC. A total of 49 experts in the fields of hepatology, oncology, surgery, radiology, and radiation oncology from the Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center Korea Practice Guideline Revision Committee revised the 2018 Korean guidelines and developed new recommendations that integrate the most up-to-date research findings and expert opinions. These guidelines provide useful information and direction for all clinicians, trainees, and researchers in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Korean Liver Cancer Association (KLCA) and National Cancer Center (NCC) Korea
- Corresponding author: KLCA-NCC Korea Practice Guideline Revision Committee (KPGRC) (Committee Chair: Joong-Won Park) Center for Liver and Pancreatobiliary Cancer, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang 10408, Korea Tel. +82-31-920-1605, Fax: +82-31-920-1520, E-mail:
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Sun N, Zhang C, Lee YT, Tran BV, Wang J, Kim H, Lee J, Zhang RY, Wang JJ, Hu J, Zhang Z, Alsudaney MS, Hou KC, Tang H, Zhang TX, Liang IY, Zhou Z, Chen M, Hsiao-Jiun Yeh A, Li W, Zhou XJ, Chang HR, Han SHB, Sadeghi S, Finn RS, Saab S, Busuttil RW, Noureddin M, Ayoub WS, Kuo A, Sundaram V, Al-Ghaieb B, Palomique J, Kosari K, Kim IK, Todo T, Nissen NN, Tomasi ML, You S, Posadas EM, Wu JX, Wadehra M, Sim MS, Li Y, Wang HL, French SW, Lu SC, Wu L, Pei R, Liang L, Yang JD, Agopian VG, Tseng HR, Zhu Y. HCC EV ECG score: An extracellular vesicle-based protein assay for detection of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2023; 77:774-788. [PMID: 35908246 PMCID: PMC9887095 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The sensitivity of current surveillance methods for detecting early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is suboptimal. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are promising circulating biomarkers for early cancer detection. In this study, we aim to develop an HCC EV-based surface protein assay for early detection of HCC. APPROACH AND RESULTS Tissue microarray was used to evaluate four potential HCC-associated protein markers. An HCC EV surface protein assay, composed of covalent chemistry-mediated HCC EV purification and real-time immuno-polymerase chain reaction readouts, was developed and optimized for quantifying subpopulations of EVs. An HCC EV ECG score, calculated from the readouts of three HCC EV subpopulations ( E pCAM + CD63 + , C D147 + CD63 + , and G PC3 + CD63 + HCC EVs), was established for detecting early-stage HCC. A phase 2 biomarker study was conducted to evaluate the performance of ECG score in a training cohort ( n = 106) and an independent validation cohort ( n = 72).Overall, 99.7% of tissue microarray stained positive for at least one of the four HCC-associated protein markers (EpCAM, CD147, GPC3, and ASGPR1) that were subsequently validated in HCC EVs. In the training cohort, HCC EV ECG score demonstrated an area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) of 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90-0.99) for distinguishing early-stage HCC from cirrhosis with a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 90%. The AUROCs of the HCC EV ECG score remained excellent in the validation cohort (0.93; 95% CI, 0.87-0.99) and in the subgroups by etiology (viral: 0.95; 95% CI, 0.90-1.00; nonviral: 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88-0.99). CONCLUSION HCC EV ECG score demonstrated great potential for detecting early-stage HCC. It could augment current surveillance methods and improve patients' outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Sun
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Ceng Zhang
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Pathology, Basic Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Te Lee
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Benjamin V. Tran
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Hyoyong Kim
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Junseok Lee
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ryan Y. Zhang
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jasmine J. Wang
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Junhui Hu
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Zhicheng Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Manaf S. Alsudaney
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kuan-Chu Hou
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Hubert Tang
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Tiffany X. Zhang
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Icy Y. Liang
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ziang Zhou
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Mengxiang Chen
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Angela Hsiao-Jiun Yeh
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Wenyuan Li
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Ronald Reagan Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Xianghong Jasmine Zhou
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Ronald Reagan Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Helena R. Chang
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Steven-Huy B. Han
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Saeed Sadeghi
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Richard S. Finn
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sammy Saab
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ronald W. Busuttil
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Mazen Noureddin
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Walid S. Ayoub
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Alexander Kuo
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Vinay Sundaram
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Buraq Al-Ghaieb
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Juvelyn Palomique
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kambiz Kosari
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Irene K. Kim
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Tsuyoshi Todo
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Nicholas N. Nissen
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Maria Lauda Tomasi
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sungyong You
- Departments of Surgery and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Edwin M. Posadas
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - James X. Wu
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Madhuri Wadehra
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Ronald Reagan Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Myung-Shin Sim
- Department of Medicine, Statistics Core, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yunfeng Li
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Ronald Reagan Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Hanlin L. Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Ronald Reagan Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Samuel W. French
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Ronald Reagan Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Shelly C. Lu
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lily Wu
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Renjun Pei
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Liang
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital and Basic Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Ju Dong Yang
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Vatche G. Agopian
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Hsian-Rong Tseng
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yazhen Zhu
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Ronald Reagan Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Lee YT, Zhu Y, Yang JD, Agopian VG, Tseng HR. Reply. Hepatology 2023; 77:E53-E54. [PMID: 36056798 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Te Lee
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology , University of California , Los Angeles , California , USA
| | - Yazhen Zhu
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology , University of California , Los Angeles , California , USA.,Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center , University of California , Los Angeles , California , USA.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine , University of California , Los Angeles , California , USA
| | - Ju Dong Yang
- Comprehensive Transplant Center , Cedars-Sinai Medical Center , Los Angeles , California , USA.,Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology , Cedars-Sinai Medical Center , Los Angeles , California , USA.,Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute , Cedars-Sinai Medical Center , Los Angeles , California , USA
| | - Vatche G Agopian
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center , University of California , Los Angeles , California , USA.,Division of Liver and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery , David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center , Los Angeles , California , USA
| | - Hsian-Rong Tseng
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology , University of California , Los Angeles , California , USA.,Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center , University of California , Los Angeles , California , USA
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Fan F, Dong G, Han C, Ding W, Li X, Dong X, Wang Z, Liang P, Yu J. Peripheral immune factors aiding clinical parameter for better early recurrence prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma after thermal ablation. Int J Hyperthermia 2023; 40:2172219. [PMID: 36775652 DOI: 10.1080/02656736.2023.2172219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Current predictors are largely unsatisfied for early recurrence (ER) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after thermal ablation. We aimed to explore the prognostic value of peripheral immune factors (PIFs) for better ER prediction of HCC after thermal ablation. METHODS Patients who received peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) tests before thermal ablation were included. Clinical parameters and 18 PIFs were selected to construct ModelClin, ModelPIFs and the hybrid ModelPIFs-Clin. Model performances were evaluated using area under the curve (AUC), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank tests. RESULTS 244 patients were included and were randomly divided in 3:1 ratio to discovery and validation cohorts. Clinical parameters including tumor size and AFP, and PIFs including neutrophils, platelets, CD3+CD16+CD56+ NKT and CD8+CD28- T lymphocytes were selected. The ModelPIFs-Clin showed increase in predictive performance compared with ModelClin, with the AUC improved from 0.664 (95%CI:0.588-0.740) to 0.801 (95%CI:0.734-0.867) in discovery cohort (p < 0.0001), and from 0.645 (95%CI:0.510-0.781) to 0.737(95%CI:0.608-0.865) in validation cohort (p = 0.1006). ModelPIFs-Clin enabled ER risk stratification of patients. Patients predicted in ModelPIFs-Clin high-risk subgroup had a poor RFS compared with those predicted as ModelPIFs-Clin low-risk subgroup, with the median RFS was 18.00 month versus 100.78 month in discovery cohort (p < 0.0001); and 24.00 month versus 60.35 month in validation cohort (p = 0.288). Patients in different risk subgroups exhibited distinct peripheral immune contexture. CONCLUSIONS Peripheral immune cells aiding clinical parameters boosted the prediction ability for ER of HCC after thermal ablation, which be helpful for pre-ablation ER risk stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangying Fan
- Fifth Medical Center of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.,Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China
| | - Guoping Dong
- Fifth Medical Center of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chuanhui Han
- Peking University International Cancer Institute, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Wenzhen Ding
- Fifth Medical Center of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Li
- Fifth Medical Center of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xuejuan Dong
- Fifth Medical Center of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Fifth Medical Center of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Liang
- Fifth Medical Center of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.,Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Yu
- Fifth Medical Center of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.,Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China
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48
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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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49
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Cholankeril G, El-Serag HB. Current Challenges and Future Direction in Surveillance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Semin Liver Dis 2023; 43:89-99. [PMID: 36216350 DOI: 10.1055/a-1957-8540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The burden for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) attributed to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) continues to grow in parallel with rising global trends in obesity. The risk of HCC is elevated among patients with NAFLD-related cirrhosis to a level that justifies surveillance based on cost-effectiveness argument. The quality of current evidence for HCC surveillance in all patients with chronic liver disease is poor, and even lower in those with NAFLD. For a lack of more precise risk-stratification tools, current approaches to defining a target population in noncirrhotic NAFLD are limited to noninvasive tests for liver fibrosis, as a proxy for liver-related morbidity and mortality. Beyond etiology and severity of liver disease, traditional and metabolic risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus, older age, male gender and tobacco smoking, are not enough for HCC risk stratification for surveillance efficacy and effectiveness in NAFLD. There is an association between molecular and genetic factors and HCC risk in NAFLD, and risk models integrating both clinical and genetic factors will be key to personalizing HCC risk. In this review, we discuss concerns regarding defining a target population, surveillance test accuracy, surveillance underuse, and other cost-effective considerations for HCC surveillance in individuals with NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Cholankeril
- Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Hashem B El-Serag
- Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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50
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Cammarota A, Zanuso V, Manfredi GF, Murphy R, Pinato DJ, Rimassa L. Immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma: how will it reshape treatment sequencing? Ther Adv Med Oncol 2023; 15:17588359221148029. [PMID: 36643654 PMCID: PMC9837292 DOI: 10.1177/17588359221148029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The treatment landscape of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has broadened with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) setting a novel standard of care. With the increased number of therapies either in first or in further line, disentangling the possible treatment sequences has become much more complex. Yet, all the second-line therapies have been evaluated after sorafenib. After ICIs, offering multikinase inhibitors is a widespread approach, either shifting forward sorafenib or lenvatinib, or choosing among regorafenib or cabozantinib, already approved in the refractory setting. Under specific circumstances, ICIs could be maintained beyond disease progression in patients with proven clinical benefit, as supported by some data emerging from phase III clinical trials with immunotherapy in HCC. Rechallenge with ICIs is an additional attractive alternative, although requiring careful and individual evaluation as efficacy and safety of such a strategy have not been yet clarified. Still, a considerable number of patients displays primary resistance to ICIs and might benefit from antiangiogenics either alone or in addition to ICIs instead. Hopefully, the ongoing clinical trials will enlighten regarding the most effective treatment pathways. The identification of predictive correlates of response to immunotherapy will help treatment allocation at each stage, thus representing an urgent matter to address in HCC research. With programmed death ligand 1 expression, tumor mutational burden, and microsatellite status being inadequate biomarkers in HCC, patient characteristics, drug safety profile, and regulatory approval remain key elements to acknowledge in routine practice. Despite the tissue remaining a preferred source, biomarkers discovery could take advantage of liquid biopsy to overcome the matter of tissue availability and track tumor changes. Lastly, tumor genetic phenotypes, tumor microenvironment features, gut microbiome, and markers of immune response and systemic inflammation are all potential emergent predictors of response to ICIs, pending validation in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Cammarota
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (Milan), Italy
- Drug Development Unit, Sarah Cannon Research Institute UK, London, UK
| | - Valentina Zanuso
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (Milan), Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano (Milan), Italy
| | - Giulia Francesca Manfredi
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Ravindhi Murphy
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - David James Pinato
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Division of Oncology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele (Milan), Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano (Milan), Italy
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