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Badwei N. Molecular Clues for Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence After Liver Transplantation. J Clin Exp Hepatol 2023; 13:804-812. [PMID: 37693263 PMCID: PMC10482986 DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2023.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the commonest causes of cancer-related mortality. Thus, advances in the HCC molecular features have paid researchers great attention to identifying the different risk factors that could aid in liver cancer initiation and progression for earlier prediction of post-operative HCC recurrence risk. Our review has focused on the possible molecular onco-drivers' for HCC recurrence post-LT that may represent diagnostic/prognostic tools and scoring models for the proper selection of LT candidates with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nourhan Badwei
- Tropical Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
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2
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Bodard S, Liu Y, Guinebert S, Yousra K, Asselah T. Prognostic value of genotyping in hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review. J Viral Hepat 2023; 30:582-587. [PMID: 36922710 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Primary liver cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death. Advances in sequencing technology are opening genomics to widespread application for diagnosis and research. The poor prognosis of advanced HCC warrants a personalized approach. The objective was to assess the value of genotyping for risk stratification and prognostication of HCC. We performed a systematic review of manuscripts published on MEDLINE from 1 January 2009 to 1 January 2022, addressing the value of genotyping for HCC risk stratification and prognostication. Publication information for each has been collected using a standardized data extraction form. Twenty-five articles were analysed. This study showed that various genomics approaches (i.e., NGS, SNP, CASP or polymorphisms in circadian genes' association) provided predictive and prognostic information, such as disease control rate, median progression-free survival, and shorter median overall survival. Genotyping, which advances in understanding the molecular origin, could be a solution to predict prognosis or treatment response in patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Bodard
- AP-HP-centre, Service d'Imagerie Adulte, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, F-75015, France
- Université de Paris Cité, Paris, F-75006, France
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR, INSERM, Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale (LIB), Paris, F-75006, France
| | - Yan Liu
- Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
- Median Technologies, 1800 Route des Crêtes, Valbonne, F-06560, France
| | - Sylvain Guinebert
- AP-HP-centre, Service d'Imagerie Adulte, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, F-75015, France
- Université de Paris Cité, Paris, F-75006, France
| | | | - Tarik Asselah
- Université de Paris Cité, Paris, F-75006, France
- APHP.Nord, Service d'hépatologie, INSERM, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, F-92110, France
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3
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Pommergaard HC. Prognostic biomarkers in and selection of surgical patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. APMIS 2023; 131 Suppl 146:1-39. [PMID: 37186326 DOI: 10.1111/apm.13309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
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Fu PY, Hu B, Ma XL, Tang WG, Yang ZF, Sun HX, Yu MC, Huang A, Hu JW, Zhou CH, Fan J, Xu Y, Zhou J. Far upstream element-binding protein 1 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma invasion and metastasis. Carcinogenesis 2021; 41:950-960. [PMID: 31587040 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgz171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research suggests that far upstream element-binding protein 1 (FUBP1) plays an important role in various tumors including epatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the role of FUBP1 in liver cancer remains controversial, and the regulatory pathway by FUBP1 awaits to be determined. This study aims to identify the role of FUBP1 in HCC progression. Our result shows that the high level of FUBP1 expression in HCC predicts poor prognosis after surgery. Overexpression of FUBP1 promotes HCC proliferation, invasion, and metastasis by activating transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad pathway and enhancing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and in vivo. Inhibitor of Thrombospondin-1 (LSKL) could inhibit HCC proliferation and invasion in vitro and in vivo by blocking the activation of TGF-β/Smad pathway mediated by thrombospondin-1 (THBS1). Our study identified the critical role of FUBP1-THBS1-TGF-β signaling axis in HCC and provides potentially new therapeutic modalities in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Yao Fu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Hu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Lu Ma
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Shanghai Tumor Center of Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Wei-Guo Tang
- Institute of Fudan-Minhang Academic Health System, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Zhang-Fu Yang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Hai-Xiang Sun
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Min-Cheng Yu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, 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, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin-Wu Hu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen-Hao Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Fan
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Xu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Retraction: Genetic Variations in Plasma Circulating DNA of HBV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Predict Recurrence after Liver Transplantation. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222258. [PMID: 31483845 PMCID: PMC6726219 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
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Elian FA, Yan E, Walter MA. FOXC1, the new player in the cancer sandbox. Oncotarget 2018; 9:8165-8178. [PMID: 29487724 PMCID: PMC5814291 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.22742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, rapidly accumulating evidence implicates forkhead box C1 (FOXC1) in cancer, especially in studies of basal-like breast cancer (BLBC). Other studies have followed suit, demonstrating that FOXC1 is not only a major player in this breast cancer subtype, but also in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), endometrial cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The FOXC1 gene encodes a transcription factor that is crucial to mesodermal, neural crest, and ocular development, and mutations found in FOXC1 have been found to cause dominantly inherited Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome (ARS). Interestingly, while FOXC1 missense mutations that are associated with ARS usually reduce gene activity, increased FOXC1 function now appears to be often linked to more aggressive cancer phenotypes in BLBC, HCC, HL, and NHL. This review discusses not only the role of FOXC1 in cancer cell progression, proliferation, differentiation, and metastasis, but also the underlying mechanisms of how FOXC1 can contribute to aggressive cancer phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahed A. Elian
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Yan
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Michael A. Walter
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Zhou J, Huang A, Yang XR. Liquid Biopsy and its Potential for Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Gastrointest Cancer 2017; 47:157-67. [PMID: 26969471 DOI: 10.1007/s12029-016-9801-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We summarized the recent findings of liquid biopsy in cancer field and discussed its potential utility in hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS Literature published in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Science Direct electronic databases was searched and reviewed. RESULTS Liquid biopsy specially referred to the detection of nucleic acids (circulating cell-free DNA, cfDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood of cancer patients. Compared to conventional single-site sampling or biopsy method, liquid biopsy had the advantages such as non-invasiveness, dynamic monitoring, and the most important of all, overcoming the limit of spatial and temporal heterogeneity. The genomic information of cancer could be profiled by genotyping cfDNA/CTC and subsequently applied to make molecular classification, targeted therapy guidance, and unveil drug resistance mechanisms. The serial sampling feature of liquid biopsy made it possible to monitor treatment response in a real-time manner and predict tumor metastasis/recurrence in advance. CONCLUSIONS Liquid biopsy is a non-invasive, dynamic, and informative sampling method with important clinical translational significance in cancer research and practice. Much work needs to be done before it is used in the management of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhou
- Liver Surgery Department, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 20032, China.
| | - Ao Huang
- Liver Surgery Department, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 20032, China
| | - Xin-Rong Yang
- Liver Surgery Department, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 20032, China
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Liquid Biopsy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Circulating Tumor-Derived Biomarkers. DISEASE MARKERS 2016; 2016:1427849. [PMID: 27403030 PMCID: PMC4925990 DOI: 10.1155/2016/1427849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Revised: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/15/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide due to latent liver disease, late diagnosis, and nonresponse to systemic treatments. Till now, surgical and/or biopsy specimens are still generally used as a gold standard by the clinicians for clinical decision-making. However, apart from their invasive characteristics, tumor biopsy only mirrors a single spot of the tumor, failing to reflect current cancer dynamics and progression. Therefore, it is imperative to develop new diagnostic strategies with significant effectiveness and reliability to monitor high-risk populations and detect HCC at an early stage. In the past decade, the potent utilities of “liquid biopsy” have attracted intense concern and were developed to evaluate cancer progression in several clinical trials. “Liquid biopsies” represent a series of noninvasive tests that detect cancer byproducts easily accessible in peripheral blood, mainly including circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cell-free nucleic acids (cfNAs) that are shed into the blood from the tumor sites. In this review, we focus on the recent developments in the field of “liquid biopsy” as well as the diagnostic and prognostic significance of CTCs and cfNAs in HCC patients.
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Nie W, Yan L, Lee YH, Guha C, Kurland IJ, Lu H. Advanced mass spectrometry-based multi-omics technologies for exploring the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2016; 35:331-349. [PMID: 24890331 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2013] [Revised: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the primary hepatic malignancies and is the third most common cause of cancer related death worldwide. Although a wealth of knowledge has been gained concerning the initiation and progression of HCC over the last half century, efforts to improve our understanding of its pathogenesis at a molecular level are still greatly needed, to enable clinicians to enhance the standards of the current diagnosis and treatment of HCC. In the post-genome era, advanced mass spectrometry driven multi-omics technologies (e.g., profiling of DNA damage adducts, RNA modification profiling, proteomics, and metabolomics) stand at the interface between chemistry and biology, and have yielded valuable outcomes from the study of a diversity of complicated diseases. Particularly, these technologies are being broadly used to dissect various biological aspects of HCC with the purpose of biomarker discovery, interrogating pathogenesis as well as for therapeutic discovery. This proof of knowledge-based critical review aims at exploring the selected applications of those defined omics technologies in the HCC niche with an emphasis on translational applications driven by advanced mass spectrometry, toward the specific clinical use for HCC patients. This approach will enable the biomedical community, through both basic research and the clinical sciences, to enhance the applicability of mass spectrometry-based omics technologies in dissecting the pathogenesis of HCC and could lead to novel therapeutic discoveries for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenna Nie
- Chongqing University Innovative Drug Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing, 401331, PR China
| | - Leyu Yan
- Chongqing University Innovative Drug Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing, 401331, PR China
| | - Yie H Lee
- Interdisciplinary Research Group in Infectious Diseases, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research & Technology, Singapore, 138602, Singapore
| | - Chandan Guha
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, New York, New York, 10461
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, 10461
| | - Irwin J Kurland
- Stable Isotope and Metabolomics Core Facility, Diabetes Research and Training Center, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, 10461
| | - Haitao Lu
- Chongqing University Innovative Drug Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing, 401331, PR China
- Tissue Repair and Regeneration Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia
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Pommergaard HC, Burcharth J, Rosenberg J, Rasmussen A. Serologic and molecular biomarkers for recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Transplant Rev (Orlando) 2016; 30:171-7. [PMID: 27118303 DOI: 10.1016/j.trre.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Revised: 03/13/2016] [Accepted: 03/25/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of mortality. Knowledge on biomarkers may contribute to better surveillance based on the patients' risk of recurrence. Reviewing the literature, we aimed to identify serological and molecular biomarkers for recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation. METHODS A literature search was performed in the databases PubMed and Scopus to identify observational studies evaluating serological or molecular biomarkers for recurrence of HCC after LT using adjusted analysis to correct for confounding. RESULTS Of 502 records, 69 mainly retrospective studies were included with a total of 15,213 patients. Of these, 41 studies were suitable for meta-analyses, which showed that the serum markers pre-transplant α-fetoprotein (AFP) (hazard ratio (HR) 2.69 [2.08-3.47]), pre-transplant des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) (HR 5.99 [3.27-10.98]), and allelic imbalance in microsatellites in DNA of tumor tissue (HR 13.49 [3.17-57.30]) were related to recurrence. CONCLUSIONS AFP, DCP and allelic imbalance in microsatellites may be used to predict recurrence. Together with other modalities, biomarkers may be used in future transplantation criteria to optimize selection of suitable patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Christian Pommergaard
- Hvidovre Hospital - University of Copenhagen, Department of Surgery, Kettegård Allé 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark.
| | - Jakob Burcharth
- Herlev Hospital - University of Copenhagen, Department of Surgery, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730 Herlev, Denmark
| | - Jacob Rosenberg
- Herlev Hospital - University of Copenhagen, Department of Surgery, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730 Herlev, Denmark
| | - Allan Rasmussen
- Rigshospitalet - University of Copenhagen, Department of Surgical Gastroenterology and Transplantation, Abdominal Centre, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Lei JY, Wang WT, Yan LN. "Metroticket" predictor for assessing liver transplantation to treat hepatocellular carcinoma: a single-center analysis in mainland China. World J Gastroenterol 2013; 19:8093-8. [PMID: 24307805 PMCID: PMC3848159 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i44.8093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2013] [Revised: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 11/01/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To validate the "Metroticket" predictor using a large cohort of liver transplantation (LT) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in China. METHODS In total, 230 cases of LT for HCC treatment at our center, from July 2000 to August 2008, were included in the present study. The predicted 1-, 3- and 5-year post-LT survival rates were calculated using the Metroticket model (http://89.96.76.14/metroticket/calculator/). The predicted and observed long-term survival rates were then compared and analyzed. RESULTS The predicted survival rates for all 230 cases, as calculated by the Metroticket model, were 64.7% and 56.2% at 3 and 5 years, respectively, and the observed survival rates for these patients were 71.3% and 57.8%, respectively. For the 23 cases with macrovascular invasion, the predicted 5-year survival rate was 43.5%, whereas the observed 5-year survival rate was only 8.7%. For the 42 cases with microvascular invasion but an absence of macrovascular invasion, the predicted 5-year survival rate was 44.9%, and the observed 5-year survival rate was 50%. For the remaining 165 patients without any vascular invasion, the predicted 5-year survival rate was 65.8%, and the observed 5-year survival rate was 66.7%. CONCLUSION The Metroticket model can be used to accurately predict survival in HCC-related LT cases with an absence of macrovascular invasion.
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Yan J, Tan C, Gu F, Jiang J, Xu M, Huang X, Dai Z, Wang Z, Fan J, Zhou J. Sorafenib delays recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation in a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma with high expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase. Liver Transpl 2013; 19:507-20. [PMID: 23408515 DOI: 10.1002/lt.23619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2012] [Accepted: 01/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Liver transplantation (LT) is one of the curative treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, cancer recurrence and metastasis after LT are common in some HCC patients with high-risk factors (even in those within the Milan criteria). It remains unclear whether adjuvant therapy with sorafenib inhibits HCC recurrence and metastasis after LT. Therefore, we performed orthotopic LT in an August Irish Copenhagen (ACI) rat model of HCC. Because LT involves immune rejection and tolerance and it is unknown whether sorafenib influences the immune response, we also investigated the effects of sorafenib on immune balance. In this study, we established an allogeneic rat LT model in which liver grafts were taken from Lewis rats and transplanted into ACI rats with orthotopic HCC, and they were administered cyclosporine A to prevent acute allograft rejection. From day 7 after LT, sorafenib was administrated at 30 mg/kg/day for 3 weeks. Our results showed that the serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor significantly increased after LT, and the T helper 1 (T(h)1)/T helper 2 (T(h)2) immune balance was shifted toward a T(h)2 response after immunosuppressant administration. In comparison with controls, the rats in the sorafenib group showed significantly inhibited extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation and improved progression-free survival and overall survival. The tumor proliferation rate and angiogenesis in posttransplant recurrent tumor tissues decreased in the sorafenib group, and the tumor apoptosis rate increased. There was no significant difference in the T(h)1/T(h)2 immune balance between the sorafenib and control groups. In conclusion, adjuvant therapy with sorafenib is highly effective at inhibiting cancer recurrence and metastasis without influencing the immune balance after LT for HCC with high expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase. This study suggests that sorafenib may have potential, particularly as part of a stratified medicine approach to HCC treatment after LT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yan
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Zhu K, Dai Z, Zhou J. Biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma: progression in early diagnosis, prognosis, and personalized therapy. Biomark Res 2013; 1:10. [PMID: 24252133 PMCID: PMC4177612 DOI: 10.1186/2050-7771-1-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2012] [Accepted: 02/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world. Currently, surgical resection, liver transplantation, and local ablation are considered curative therapeutic practices for HCC. The diagnosis of HCC without pathologic confirmation is achieved by analyzing serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels combined with imaging techniques, including ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and computerized tomography. Although progress has been made in the diagnosis and management of HCC, its prognosis remains dismal. Various new technologies have identified numerous novel biomarkers with potential diagnostic as well as prognostic value, including Dickkopf-1 and Golgi protein 73. These biomarkers not only help in the early diagnosis and prediction of prognosis, but also assist in identifying potential targets for therapeutic interventions. In this article, we provide an up-to-date review of the biomarkers that are used for early diagnosis, prognosis prediction, and personalized treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhu
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zhi Dai
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
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Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered to be a fatal disease because of its late diagnosis, underlying liver disease, and refractoriness to systemic treatments. Biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity that are minimally invasive, reproducible, and easily available have important clinical utility for early diagnosis, prognostication, and pharmacodynamics evaluation. Until now, most of the circulating HCC biomarkers used in clinical practice were protein molecules. However, these biomarkers often had low sensitivity and specificity. In the past decade, circulating cell-free nucleic acids (cfNAs) have been extensively studied. We review the studies that evaluated cfNAs as circulating HCC biomarkers and discuss recent advances with regard to their diagnostic and prognostic significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Xu ZY, Ding SM, Zhou L, Xie HY, Chen KJ, Zhang W, Xing CY, Guo HJ, Zheng SS. FOXC1 contributes to microvascular invasion in primary hepatocellular carcinoma via regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Int J Biol Sci 2012; 8:1130-41. [PMID: 22991501 PMCID: PMC3445051 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.4769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2012] [Accepted: 08/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The existence of microvascular invasion (MVI) formation is one of the most important risk factors predicting poor outcome in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its mechanism remains largely unknown. Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) has been suggested to be involved in many steps of the invasion-metastasis cascade. To elucidate the possible contribution of EMT to MVI, we initially evaluated the expression of 8 EMT-related transcription factors (TFs) in HCC patients with or without MVI and found that FOXC1 expression was significantly higher in patients with MVI than those without MVI (P < 0.05). Knockdown of FOXC1 expression in HCC cells resulted in a partial conversion of their EMT progresses, mainly regulating the mesenchymal component. Ectopic expression of snail, twist or TGF-β1 could induce expression of FOXC1, but none of the expression of snail, twist, slug or TGF-β was consistently down-regulated in response to FOXC1 silencing, suggesting FOXC1 might operate the downstream of other EMT regulators. In addition, knockdown of FOXC1 expression led to cytoskeleton modification accompanied by decreased ability of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Meanwhile, some matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and VEGF-A were also simultaneously down-regulated. Together, our findings demonstrate that FOXC1 is one of candidate predictive markers of MVI, and that inhibition of FOXC1 expression can partially reverse EMT program, offering a potential molecular therapeutic target for reducing tumor metastasis in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Yuan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, Zhejiang Province; Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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