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Peng X, Gong C, Zhang W, Zhou A. Advanced development of biomarkers for immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 12:1091088. [PMID: 36727075 PMCID: PMC9885011 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1091088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the world. Mono-immunotherapy and combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) inhibitors have become new standard therapies in advanced HCC (aHCC). However, the clinical benefit of these treatments is still limited. Thus, proper biomarkers which can predict treatment response to immunotherapy to maximize clinical benefit while sparing unnecessary toxicity are urgently needed. Contrary to other malignancies, up until now, no acknowledged biomarkers are available to predict resistance or response to immunotherapy for HCC patients. Furthermore, biomarkers, which are established in other cancer types, such as programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and tumor mutational burden (TMB), have no stable predictive effect in HCC. Thus, plenty of research focusing on biomarkers for HCC is under exploration. In this review, we summarize the predictive and prognostic biomarkers as well as the potential predictive mechanism in order to guide future research direction for biomarker exploration and clinical treatment options in HCC.
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Geh D, Leslie J, Rumney R, Reeves HL, Bird TG, Mann DA. Neutrophils as potential therapeutic targets in hepatocellular carcinoma. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 19:257-273. [PMID: 35022608 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-021-00568-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The success of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab treatment contributed to a shift in systemic therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) towards combinations that include cancer immunotherapeutic agents. Thus far, the principal focus of cancer immunotherapy has been on interrupting immune checkpoints that suppress antitumour lymphocytes. As well as lymphocytes, the HCC environment includes numerous other immune cell types, among which neutrophils are emerging as an important contributor to the pathogenesis of HCC. A growing body of evidence supports neutrophils as key mediators of the immunosuppressive environment in which some cancers develop, as well as drivers of tumour progression. If neutrophils have a similar role in HCC, approaches that target or manipulate neutrophils might have therapeutic benefits, potentially including sensitization of tumours to conventional immunotherapy. Several neutrophil-directed therapies for patients with HCC (and other cancers) are now entering clinical trials. This Review outlines the evidence in support of neutrophils as drivers of HCC and details their mechanistic roles in development, progression and metastasis, highlighting the reasons that neutrophils are well worth investigating despite the challenges associated with studying them. Neutrophil-modulating anticancer therapies entering clinical trials are also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Geh
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Jack Leslie
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Rob Rumney
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Helen L Reeves
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- The Liver Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Multidisciplinary Team, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Thomas G Bird
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
- MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Derek A Mann
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of Medicine, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey.
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Mouchli M, Reddy S, Gerrard M, Boardman L, Rubio M. Usefulness of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a prognostic predictor after treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma." Review article. Ann Hepatol 2021; 22:100249. [PMID: 32896610 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2020.08.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an inflammatory marker which has been investigated as a prognostic indicator in post-therapeutic recurrence and survival of patients with HCC. Our aim was to review all studies that assessed the prognostic value of pre-treatment NLR in predicting patient survival, cancer recurrence, and graft survival in patients undergoing various therapies for HCC. We searched the database of PubMed and Google Scholar to review all studies that have the word "NLR" and the word "HCC." We included all studies that assessed pre-treatment NLR as a prognostic factor in predicting outcomes in HCC patients. We excluded studies that assessed the correlation between post-treatment NLR or dynamic changes in NLR after treatment and HCC outcomes in an effort to minimize the confounding effect of each treatment on NLR. We reviewed 123 studies that studied the correlation between pre-treatment NLR and patient survival, 72 studies that evaluated the correlation between pre-treatment NLR and tumor recurrence, 21 studies that evaluated the correlation between NLR and tumor behavior, and 4 studies that assessed the correlation between NLR and graft survival. We found a remarkable heterogeneity between the methods of the studies, which is likely responsible for the differences in outcomes. The majority of the studies suggested a correlation between higher levels of pre-treatment NLR and poor outcomes. We concluded that NLR is a reliable and inexpensive biomarker and should be incorporated into other prognostic models to help determine outcomes following HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Mouchli
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Roanoke, VA, United States; Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, Roanoke, VA, United States; Mayo Clinic, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Rochester, MN, United States; Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Cleveland, OH, United States.
| | - Shravani Reddy
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Miranda Gerrard
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Lisa Boardman
- Mayo Clinic, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Marrieth Rubio
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Roanoke, VA, United States; Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, Roanoke, VA, United States
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Bannaga A, Arasaradnam RP. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and albumin bilirubin grade in hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review. World J Gastroenterol 2020; 26:5022-5049. [PMID: 32952347 PMCID: PMC7476180 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v26.i33.5022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a frequent cause of cancer related death globally. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and albumin bilirubin (ALBI) grade are emerging prognostic indicators in HCC.
AIM To study published literature of NLR and ALBI over the last five years, and to validate NLR and ALBI locally in our centre as indicators of HCC survival.
METHODS A systematic review of the published literature on PubMed of NLR and ALBI in HCC over the last five years. The search followed the guidelines of the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Additionally, we also investigated HCC cases between December 2013 and December 2018 in our centre.
RESULTS There were 54 studies describing the relation between HCC and NLR and 95 studies describing the relation between HCC and ALBI grade over the last five years. Our local cohort of patients showed NLR to have a significant negative relationship to survival (P = 0.011). There was also significant inverse relationship between the size of the largest HCC nodule and survival (P = 0.009). Median survival with alpha fetoprotein (AFP) < 10 KU/L was 20 mo and with AFP > 10 KU/L was 5 mo. We found that AFP was inversely related to survival, this relationship was not statically significant (P = 0.132). Mean survival for ALBI grade 1 was 37.7 mo, ALBI grade 2 was 13.4 months and ALBI grade 3 was 4.5 mo. ALBI grades performed better than Child Turcotte Pugh score in detecting death from HCC.
CONCLUSION NLR and ALBI grade in HCC predict survival better than the conventional alpha fetoprotein. ALBI grade performs better than Child Turcotte Pugh score. These markers are done as part of routine clinical care and in cases of normal alpha fetoprotein, these markers could give a better understanding of the patient disease progression. NLR and ALBI grade could have a role in modified easier to learn staging and prognostic systems for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman Bannaga
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry CV2 2DX, West Midlands, United Kingdom
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7HL, West Midlands, United Kingdom
| | - Ramesh P Arasaradnam
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry CV2 2DX, West Midlands, United Kingdom
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7HL, West Midlands, United Kingdom
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Bernsmeier C, Cavazza A, Fatourou EM, Theocharidou E, Akintimehin A, Baumgartner B, Dhar A, Auzinger G, Thursz M, Bernal W, Wendon JA, Karvellas CJ, Antoniades CG, McPhail MJW. Leucocyte ratios are biomarkers of mortality in patients with acute decompensation of cirrhosis and acute-on-chronic liver failure. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2020; 52:855-865. [PMID: 32683724 DOI: 10.1111/apt.15932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In patients with cirrhosis, progression to acute decompensation (AD) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) has been associated with poor prognosis. Differential leucocyte ratios might predict mortality in systemic inflammatory conditions. AIM To evaluate differential leucocyte ratios as prognostic biomarkers in patients with cirrhosis. METHODS Patients with AD and ACLF were recruited from four centres in three countries. Peripheral blood differential leucocytes were measured (three centres using flow cytometry) on hospital admission and at 48 hours. Ratios were correlated to model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), chronic liver failure-sequential organ failure (CLIF-SOFA), suspected/culture-positive bacterial infection and survival. RESULTS Nine hundred twenty-six patients (562 (61%) male, median age 55 (25-94) years) were studied. Overall, 350 (37%) did not survive to hospital discharge. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) were elevated in patients with AD and ACLF who died during their hospital stay. On multivariate analysis NLR retained statistical significance independently of CLIF-SOFA or MELD. NLR >30 was associated with an 80% 90-day mortality in patients with ACLF but not AD. On sensitivity analysis for subgroups (alcohol-related liver disease and suspected sepsis), NLR and MLR retained statistically robust accuracy for the prediction of mortality. Significant predictive accuracy was only observed in centres using flow cytometry. CONCLUSION Leucocyte ratios are simple and robust biomarkers of outcome in ACLF, which are comparable to CLIF-SOFA score but dependent on leucocyte quantification method. NLR and MLR may be used as screening tools for mortality prediction in patients with acutely deteriorating cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Bernsmeier
- Liver Intensive Therapy Unit, Kings College Hospital, King's College, London, UK.,Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cantonal Hospital, St Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Anna Cavazza
- Liver Intensive Therapy Unit, Kings College Hospital, King's College, London, UK.,Division of Digestive Diseases, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Evangelia M Fatourou
- Liver Intensive Therapy Unit, Kings College Hospital, King's College, London, UK.,Division of Digestive Diseases, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Eleni Theocharidou
- Liver Intensive Therapy Unit, Kings College Hospital, King's College, London, UK
| | - Abisoye Akintimehin
- Liver Intensive Therapy Unit, Kings College Hospital, King's College, London, UK
| | | | - Ameet Dhar
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Georg Auzinger
- Liver Intensive Therapy Unit, Kings College Hospital, King's College, London, UK
| | - Mark Thursz
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - William Bernal
- Liver Intensive Therapy Unit, Kings College Hospital, King's College, London, UK
| | - Julia A Wendon
- Liver Intensive Therapy Unit, Kings College Hospital, King's College, London, UK
| | - Constantine J Karvellas
- Division of Gastroenterology (Liver Unit) and Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Charalambos G Antoniades
- Liver Intensive Therapy Unit, Kings College Hospital, King's College, London, UK.,Division of Digestive Diseases, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Mark J W McPhail
- Liver Intensive Therapy Unit, Kings College Hospital, King's College, London, UK
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McVey JC, Sasaki K, Firl DJ. Risk assessment criteria in liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: proposal to improve transplant oncology. Hepat Oncol 2020; 7:HEP26. [PMID: 32774836 PMCID: PMC7399580 DOI: 10.2217/hep-2020-0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma has proved to be a highly effective cure if the right patient can be selected. Milan criteria has traditionally guided physicians toward appropriate liver allocation but changes in clinical practice, patient populations and recent developments in biomarkers are decreasing Milan criteria’s utility. At the same time, the literature has flooded with a diversity of new criteria that demonstrate strong predictive power and are better suited for current clinical practice. In this article, the utility of newly proposed criteria will be reviewed and important issues to improve future criteria will be addressed in hopes of opening a discussion on how key questions surrounding criteria for liver transplantation of hepatocellular carcinoma can be answered.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C McVey
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44113, USA.,Gastrointestinal & Thoracic Malignancy Section, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kazunari Sasaki
- Department of General Surgery, Digestive Disease & Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44113, USA
| | - Daniel J Firl
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27705, USA
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