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Duan Y, Zhang H, Tan T, Ye W, Yin K, Yu Y, Kang M, Yang J, Liao R. The immune response of hepatocellular carcinoma after locoregional and systemic therapies: The available combination option for immunotherapy. Biosci Trends 2024; 17:427-444. [PMID: 37981319 DOI: 10.5582/bst.2023.01275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with a highly heterogeneous immune environment that produces an immune response to various locoregional treatments (LRTs), which in turn affects the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Although LRTs still dominate HCC therapies, 50-60% of patients will ultimately be treated with systemic therapies and might receive those treatments for the rest of their life. TACE, SIRT, and thermal ablation can dramatically increase the immunosuppressive state of HCC, a condition that can be addressed by combination with immunotherapy to restore the activity of lymphocytes and the secretion of cellular immune factors. Immune treatment with locoregional and systemic treatments has dramatically changed the management of HCC. In this review, we examine the research on the changes in the immune microenvironment after locoregional or systemic treatment. We also summarize the regulation of various immune cells and immune factors in the tumor microenvironment and discuss the different infiltration degrees of immune cells and factors on the prognosis of HCC to better compare the efficacy between different treatment methods from the perspective of the tumor microenvironment. This information can be used to help develop treatment options for the upcoming new era of HCC treatment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Duan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tao Tan
- Chongqing Health Statistics Information Center, Chongqing, China
| | - Wentao Ye
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kunli Yin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yanxi Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Meiqing Kang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jian Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Rui Liao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Li Q, Zhang J, Xiao S, Hu M, Cheng J, Yao C, Zhuang Q. The impact of liver fibrosis on the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via a hypoxia-immune-integrated prognostic model. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 125:111136. [PMID: 37935090 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111136] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
The impact of liver fibrosis on the deterioration of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains controversial. We hope to explore this issue through establishing a fibrosis-hypoxia-glycolysis-immune related prognostic model. Liver fibrosis-related genes from Molecular Signatures Database were used to evaluate the degree of fibrosis in HCC patients from the TCGA database. The patients were divided into two groups using the fibrosis-related expression matrix based on the algorithm uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) and evaluated for fibrosis by UMAP cluster and gene enrichment analysis. Prognostic model was constructed by differential analysis, LASSO, and multivariate regression analysis. Immune-infiltration analysis was performed by CIBERSORT. Quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed to measure the gene expression levels in HCC patients from our hospital. In 365 HCC patients from the TCGA database, 111 HCC patients with high fibrosis score have a worse prognosis than those with low fibrosis based on 129 genes related to liver fibrosis, which may be caused by the interaction between fibrosis, angiogenesis, hypoxia, glycolysis, inflammatory response, and high immune infiltration. We constructed a Fibrosis-Hypoxia-Glycolysis-Immune Prognostic Model (FHGISig), which could significantly predict disease progression in HCC patients. Furthermore, we revealed a close correlation between FHGISig and immune cell infiltration level as well as immune checkpoints. Finally, PCR results found TFF3 mRNA was significantly lower in cirrhotic HCC patients compared with non-cirrhotic ones. Liver fibrosis is a poor-prognostic factor for HCC, and our FHGISig could significantly predict disease progression, which could also be a potential predictive marker for immunotherapy in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianyuan Li
- Department of Hematology, The 3rd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Junbo Zhang
- Transplantation Center, The 3rd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Sheng Xiao
- Department of Pathology, The 3rd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Min Hu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 570105, China
| | - Jie Cheng
- Department of Hematology, The 3rd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Chenjiao Yao
- Department of General Medicine, The 3rd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China.
| | - Quan Zhuang
- Transplantation Center, The 3rd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China; Research Center of National Health Ministry on Transplantation Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China.
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Peng D, Cai Y, Chen G, Hou M, Luo X, Dongzhi Z, Xie H, Liu Y. Efficacy and safety of apatinib versus sorafenib/placebo in first-line treatment for intermediate and advanced primary liver cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1101063. [PMID: 37153777 PMCID: PMC10160361 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1101063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Apatinib is a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). For decades, sorafenib has been a classic first-line treatment option for patients with HCC. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of apatinib versus sorafenib/placebo as first-line treatment for intermediate and advanced primary liver cancer (PLC). Methods: A literature search was performed via PubMed, Web of Science, CENTRAL, Embase, CNKI, VIP, and CBM. Data extraction from databases of other languages is not restricted. The Cochrane risk of bias tool, modified Jadad scale, Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS), and non-randomized studies of interventions (ROBINS-I) tool were employed to evaluate methodological qualities in original studies. Influence analysis was applied to assess the reliability of pooled results. Publication bias was evaluated using the funnel plot with Begg's test and Egger's test. Results: Seven studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one clinical controlled trial (CCT) were used for comparing apatinib with placebo, and two retrospective clinical studies (RCSs) were used for comparing apatinib with sorafenib. Apatinib led to higher overall effects in objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and mean survival time (MST) over placebo (RR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.46-2.81, p < 0.0001, I2 = 0%; RR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.04-1.33, p = 0.009, I2 = 45.8%; SMD = 2.63; 95% CI = 1.47-3.78, p < 0.0001, I2 = 92.7%, respectively). Compared to sorafenib, apatinib showed no superiority in ORR and DCR but was inferior in the 6-month and 1-year survival rate (RR = 1.99, 95% CI = 0.85-4.65, p = 0.111, I2 = 68.3%; RR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.73-1.47, p = 0.840, I2 = 0.0%; RR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.42-0.97, p = 0.036, I2 = 0.0%; RR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.29-0.79, p < 0.0001, I2 = 0.0%, respectively). Apatinib had similar adverse effects over placebo but possessed a greater incidence rate of proteinuria and hypertension over sorafenib. Conclusion: In the first-line setting, apatinib might be an alternative treatment approach for patients with intermediate and advanced PLC. Sorafenib alone showed a better survival rate within 1 year and a lower incidence rate in hypertension and proteinuria than apatinib monotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Peng
- Department of Pharmacy, Army Medical Center, Chongqing, China
| | - Yongqing Cai
- Department of Pharmacy, Army Medical Center, Chongqing, China
| | - Geng Chen
- Department of Hepatology, Army Medical Center, Chongqing, China
| | - Min Hou
- Department of Pharmacy, Army Medical Center, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Luo
- Department of Pharmacy, Army Medical Center, Chongqing, China
| | | | - Hongjun Xie
- Medical College of Tibet University, Lhasa, China
| | - Yao Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Army Medical Center, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Yao Liu,
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UBAP2L promotes gastric cancer metastasis by activating NF-κB through PI3K/AKT pathway. Cell Death Dis 2022; 8:123. [PMID: 35304439 PMCID: PMC8933503 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-022-00916-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Ubiquitin-associated protein 2-like (UBAP2L) is highly expressed in various types of tumors and has been shown to participate in tumor growth and metastasis; however, its role in gastric cancer (GC) remains unknown. In this study, we observed that UBAP2L expression was markedly elevated in GC tissues and five GC cell lines. Higher expression of UBAP2L was associated with poor prognosis as revealed by bioinformatics analysis on online websites and laboratory experiments. Knockdown of UBAP2L impeded the migration and invasion abilities of GC cell lines. In contrast, its overexpression enhanced the migration and invasion abilities of GC cell lines. Overexpression of UBAP2L also increased the number and size of lung metastatic nodules in vivo. According to the results of mass spectrometry and pathway annotation of the identified proteins, the PI3K/AKT pathway was found to be related to UBAP2L regulation. Further exploration and rescue experiments revealed that UBAP2L stimulates the expression and nuclear aggregation of p65 and promotes the expression of SP1 by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway. In summary, our findings indicate that UBAP2L regulates GC metastasis through the PI3K/AKT/SP1/NF-κB axis. Thus, targeting UBAP2L may be a potential therapeutic strategy for GC.
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Liu R, Sun Y, Wu H, Ni S, Wang J, Li T, Bi Y, Feng X, Zhang C, Sun Y. In-depth investigation of the effective substances of traditional Chinese medicine formula based on the novel concept of co-decoction reaction-using Zuojin decoction as a model sample. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2021; 1179:122869. [PMID: 34333214 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2021.122869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Revised: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Zuojin decoction (ZJD) is a classic pair composed of Coptidis Rhizoma and Evodiae Fructus, which is suitable for treating gastrointestinal diseases and tumours, etc. In recent years, scientists have been widely focused on research into the treatment of liver cancer using ZJD; however, the effective substances have not yet been comprehensively elucidated. The difference between the co-decoction and the single decoction of ZJD is revealed in this paper based on the UPLC-QE-Orbitrap-MS, and the chemical components absorbed into the blood and liver of mice have been analyzed simultaneously. In addition, the combination of prototype components absorbed into the liver with liver cancer-related targets has been performed via molecular docking to explore the mechanism of ZJD in treating liver cancer. By comparing the co-decoction and single decoction of ZJD, 44 new components appeared during co-decoction and 76 known chemical compounds have been identified at the same time. It has been confirmed that 35 known components and 11 new components were absorbed into the blood. Furthermore, 20 known components were discovered from the sample of liver tissue. Molecular docking results showed that 3-O-feruloylquinic acid has good conjugation with Bcl-2, Stat3, mTOR, and mmp9. Catechin has the lowest binding energy with CDK6 and β-catenin. The study provides data for the further confirmation of the material basis and mechanism of ZJD in treating liver cancer, and provides a new idea for the researches on the compatibility mechanism of prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runhua Liu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Yu Sun
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Hao Wu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Shiting Ni
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Jiaqi Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Tianyi Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Yuelin Bi
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Xin Feng
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Chenning Zhang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China.
| | - Yikun Sun
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China.
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