Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, especially aspirin, are linked to lower risk and better survival of hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis

Naples Prognostic Score is an Independent Prognostic Factor in Patients Undergoing Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Nutritional and inflammatory status has been reported to be associated with the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but many studies did not include all biomarkers simultaneously. The present study aimed to determine the impact of Naples prognostic score (NPS) on the long-term survival in patients undergoing hepatectomy for HCC.

Methods

Patients with HCC after curative resection were eligible. Then, all patients were stratified into three groups according to the NPS. Clinical features and survival outcomes were compared among the three groups. Independent prognostic factors were determined by COX analysis. The time dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare prognostic performance with other immunonutrition scoring systems.

Results

A total of 476 patients were enrolled eventually. Baseline characteristics showed that patients with higher NPS had a higher proportion of poor liver function and advanced tumor features. Accordingly, Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that patients with higher NPS had a lower rate of overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Multivariable COX analysis demonstrated that NPS was an independent risk factor of OS (NPS group 2 vs 1: HR=1.958, 95% CI: 1.038-3.369, p = 0.038; NPS group 3 vs 1: HR=2.608, 95% CI: 1.358-5.008, p=0.004, respectively) and RFS (NPS group 2 vs 1: HR=2.014, 95% CI: 1.299-2-3.124, p=0.002; NPS group 3 vs 1: HR=2.002, 95% CI: 1.262-3.175, p=0.003, respectively). The time-dependent ROC curve showed that NPS was superior to other models in prognostic performance and discriminatory power for long-term survival (median AUC 0.675, 95% CI: 0.586-0.712, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The NPS is a simple tool strongly associated with long-term survival in patients undergoing curative hepatectomy for HCC.

Predictive value of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in recurrent or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma received anti-PD1 therapy

BACKGROUND

Clinical trials have shown that anti-PD1 therapy, either as a monotherapy or in combination, is effective and well-tolerated in patients with recurrent or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic value of immune-nutritional biomarkers in measuring the effects of anti-PD1 therapy in these patients.

METHODS

We enrolled and followed up with 85 patients diagnosed with advanced HCC who underwent anti-PD1 therapy at the First Medical Centre of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital between January 2016 and January 2021. The retrospective analysis aimed to determine whether immune-nutritional biomarkers could serve as promising prognostic indices in these patients.

RESULTS

In this retrospective study, patients in the PNI-high group showed a better progression-free survival (PFS) compared to those in the PNI-low group (9.5 months vs. 4.2 months, P = 0.039). Similarly, the median overall survival (OS) was longer in the PNI-high group (23.9 months, 95%CI 17.45-30.35) than in the PNI-low group (11.7 months, 95%CI 9.27-14.13) (P = 0.002). These results were consistent with sub-analyses of the anti-PD1 therapy. Furthermore, both univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that a higher pre-treatment PNI ( > = 44.91) was a significant predictive factor for favorable outcomes in this patient cohort (HR = 0.411, P = 0.023).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that pre-treatment PNI is a critical predictive factor in patients with recurrent or unresectable HCC undergoing anti-PD1 therapy.

Stromal inflammation, fibrosis and cancer: An old intuition with promising potential

It is now well established that the biology of cancer is influenced by not only malignant cells but also other components of the tumour microenvironment. Chronic inflammation and fibrosis have long been postulated to be involved in carcinogenesis. Chronic inflammation can promote tumorigenesis via growth factor/cytokine-mediated cellular proliferation, apoptotic resistance, immunosuppression; and free-radical-induced oxidative deoxyribonucleic acid damage. Fibrosis could cause a perturbation in the dynamics of the tumour microenvironment, potentially damaging the genome surveillance machinery of normal epithelial cells. In this review, we will provide an in-depth discussion of various diseases characterised by inflammation and fibrosis that have been associated with an increased risk of malignancy. In particular, we will present a comprehensive overview of the impact of alterations in stromal composition on tumorigenesis, induced as a consequence of inflammation and/or fibrosis. Strategies including the application of various therapeutic agents with stromal manipulation potential and targeted cancer screening for certain inflammatory diseases which can reduce the risk of cancer will also be discussed.

The Effect of Aspirin Use on Incident Hepatocellular Carcinoma-An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

An increasing number of observational studies have described an association between aspirin use and a reduced risk of incident hepatocellular carcinoma. We performed this meta-analysis to provide a comprehensive and updated aggregate assessment of the effect of aspirin on HCC incidence. Two independent authors performed a systematic search of the literature, utilising the Medline, Embase, Scopus, and PubMed databases. A total of 16 studies (12 cohort studies, and 4 case-control studies) were selected for inclusion, with a large number of studies excluded, due to an overlapping study population. The pooled analysis of cohort studies involving a total population of approximately 2.5 million subjects, 822,680 aspirin users, and 20,626 HCC cases demonstrated a 30% reduced risk of HCC associated with aspirin use (adjusted HR 0.70, 95%CI 0.60-0.81). There was a similar but non-significant association observed across the case-control studies (adjusted OR 0.60, 95%CI 0.32-1.15, p = 0.13), which involved a total of 1961 HCC cases. In a subgroup meta-analysis of patients with cirrhosis, the relationship between aspirin use and incident HCC diminished to non-significance (adjusted HR 0.96, 95%CI 0.84-1.09). Aspirin use was associated with a statistically significant increase in bleeding events when all relevant studies were pooled together (adjusted HR 1.11, 95%CI 1.02-1.22). Prospectively collected data should be sought, to define the optimal patient group in which aspirin is safe and effective for the chemoprophylaxis of HCC.

Impact of Aspirin Use on Outcomes in Patients With Hepatocellular Cancer: A Nationwide Analysis

Background

Despite the use of new immunotherapies, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor survival rate. Through multiple molecular mechanisms, aspirin (ASA) has demonstrated a reduced incidence of HCC, however, the impact of long-term ASA use on in-hospital outcomes has not been studied.

Methods

We queried the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2016 to 2020 to identify patients with HCC. Patients were stratified into two groups, based on long-term ASA use. Information was collected regarding patient demographics, Elixhauser comorbidities, interventions, etiology, and decompensations of liver disease. Outcomes studied included sepsis, shock, acute kidney injury (AKI), intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and in-hospital mortality. The association between long-term ASA use and outcomes was studied using multivariate analysis.

Results

A total of 224,735 patients were included in the study. Of them, 18,835 (8.4%) patients were on long-term ASA. The majority of the patients with ASA use were White (61.3%), men (78.2%), and aged > 65 years old (68.8%). Patients in the ASA group had a higher incidence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and decreased rates of hepatic decompensation than those not on ASA. Patients with ASA use had lower incidence of sepsis (2.76% vs. 3.54%), shock (4.86% vs. 8.23%), AKI (30.9% vs. 33.4%), ICU admission (3.88% vs. 7.4%) and in-hospital mortality (5.18% vs. 9.87%). After adjusting for confounding factors, ASA use was associated with a 30% lower risk of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.70, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.60 - 0.82, P < 0.001). ASA users also had 21% lower odds of developing shock (aOR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.67 - 0.94, P = 0.007) and 31% lower odds of requiring ICU admission (aOR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.54 - 0.78, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our study noted that patients on long-term ASA use had better in-hospital outcomes such as mortality, shock, and ICU admissions compared to non-ASA users. These findings are of interest, and further randomized clinical trials confirming the benefits of ASA in improving outcomes in HCC patients need to be conducted.

Sorafenib increases cytochrome P450 lipid metabolites in patient with hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer death, and medical treatment options are limited. The multikinase inhibitor sorafenib was the first approved drug widely used for systemic therapy in advanced HCC. Sorafenib might affect polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)-derived epoxygenated metabolite levels, as it is also a potent inhibitor of the soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), which catalyzes the conversion of cytochrome-P450 (CYP)-derived epoxide metabolites derived from PUFA, such as omega-6 arachidonic acid (AA) and omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), into their corresponding dihydroxy metabolites. Experimental studies with AA-derived epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) have shown that they can promote tumor growth and metastasis, while DHA-derived 19,20-epoxydocosapentaenoic acid (19,20-EDP) was shown to have anti-tumor activity in mice. In this study, we found a significant increase in EET levels in 43 HCC patients treated with sorafenib and a trend towards increased levels of DHA-derived 19,20-EDP. We demonstrate that the effect of sorafenib on CYP- metabolites led to an increase of 19,20-EDP and its dihydroxy metabolite, whereas DHA plasma levels decreased under sorafenib treatment. These data indicate that specific supplementation with DHA could be used to increase levels of the epoxy compound 19,20-EDP with potential anti-tumor activity in HCC patients receiving sorafenib therapy.

Systems Pharmacology-Based Strategy to Investigate the Mechanism of Ruangan Lidan Decoction for Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

epatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading contributors to cancer mortality worldwide. Currently, the prevention and treatment of HCC remains a major challenge. As a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, Ruangan Lidan decoction (RGLD) has been proved to own the effect of relieving HCC symptoms. However, due to its biological effects and complex compositions, its underlying mechanism of actions (MOAs) have not been fully clarified yet. In this study, we proposed a pharmacological framework to systematically explore the MOAs of RGLD against HCC. We firstly integrated the active ingredients and potential targets of RGLD. We next highlighted 25 key targets that played vital roles in both RGLD and HCC disease via a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. Furthermore, an ingredient-target network of RGLD consisting of 216 ingredients with 306 targets was constructed, and multilevel systems pharmacology analyses indicated that RGLD could act on multiple biological processes related to the pathogenesis of HCC, such as cellular response to hypoxia and cell proliferation. Additionally, integrated pathway analysis of RGLD uncovered that RGLD might treat HCC through regulating various pathways, including MAPK signaling pathway, PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and ERBB signaling pathway. Survival analysis results showed that HCC patients with low expression of VEGFA, HIF1A, CASP8, and TOP2A were related with a higher survival rate than those with high expression, indicating the potential clinical significance for HCC. Finally, molecular docking results of core ingredients and targets further proved the feasibility of RGLD in the treatment of HCC. Overall, this study indicates that RGLD may treat HCC through multiple mechanisms, which also provides a potential paradigm to investigate the MOAs of TCM prescription.

Efficacy and Safety of Aspirin for Prevention of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Updated Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Previous meta-analyses have shown that aspirin use may reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the optimal dose, frequency, and duration of aspirin use or the safety and efficacy of aspirin in target populations for HCC prevention remain unclear. The study aim was to investigate the efficacy and safety of aspirin for prevention of HCC.

METHODS

Publications were retrieved by a comprehensive literature research of several databases. Based on a random-effects model, hazard ratios (HRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the pooled risk. The dose-response relationship between aspirin use and HCC risk was assessed with a restricted cubic spline model.

RESULTS

Twenty-two studies were included in the meta-analysis. Aspirin use was associated with a reduced risk of HCC (HR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.56-0.75). The effect was robust across sex and age; however, women and the non-elderly had the greatest benefit from aspirin use. The preventive effect was well reproduced in those with comorbidities. Daily use and long-term use of aspirin appeared to offer greater benefits. Aspirin 100 mg/d was associated with maximum reduction of HCC risk. Aspirin use did slightly increase the risk of bleeding (HR=1.14, 95% CI: 1.02-1.27).

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis confirmed that use of aspirin significantly reduced the incident risk of HCC. Regular and long-term aspirin use offers a greater advantage. Aspirin use was associated with an increased risk of bleeding. We recommend 100 mg/d aspirin as a feasible dose for further research on primary prevention of HCC in a broad at-risk population.

Senolytic treatment reduces cell senescence and necroptosis in Sod1 knockout mice that is associated with reduced inflammation and hepatocellular carcinoma

The goal of this study was to test the role cellular senescence plays in the increased inflammation, chronic liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma seen in mice null for Cu/Zn-Superoxide dismutase (Sod1KO). To inhibit senescence, wildtype (WT) and Sod1KO mice were given the senolytics, dasatinib, and quercetin (D + Q) at 6 months of age when the Sod1KO mice begin exhibiting signs of accelerated aging. Seven months of D + Q treatment reduced the expression of p16 in the livers of Sod1KO mice to WT levels and the expression of several senescence-associated secretory phenotype factors (IL-6, IL-1β, CXCL-1, and GDF-15). D + Q treatment also reduced markers of inflammation in livers of the Sod1KO mice, for example, cytokines, chemokines, macrophage levels, and Kupffer cell clusters. D + Q treatment had no effect on various markers of liver fibrosis in the Sod1KO mice but reduced the expression of genes involved in liver cancer and dramatically reduced the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Surprisingly, D + Q also reduced markers of necroptosis (phosphorylated and oligomerized MLKL) in the Sod1KO mice to WT levels. We also found that inhibiting necroptosis in the Sod1KO mice with necrostatin-1s reduced the markers of cellular senescence (p16, p21, and p53). Our study suggests that an interaction occurs between cellular senescence and necroptosis in the liver of Sod1KO mice. We propose that these two cell fates interact through a positive feedback loop resulting in a cycle amplifying both cellular senescence and necroptosis leading to inflammaging and age-associated pathology in the Sod1KO mice.

Aspirin Use and the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION AND AIM

The use of aspirin is a potential protective factor against the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the contribution of aspirin to the risk of HCC.

METHODS

We searched for PubMed and EMBASE through September 2021.

RESULTS

Eighteen studies (16 cohort, 2 case-control) were included. Aspirin users were less likely to develop HCC than nonusers [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 0.54; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.44-0.66]. Stratified analysis showed that aspirin reduced the risk of HCC in Asian and Western populations (OR, 0.59 vs. 0.67). Besides, aspirin has protective effects against HCC after hepatitis B virus (OR, 0.70; 95% CI: 0.52-0.93) and hepatitis C virus infections (OR, 0.41; 95% CI: 0.23-0.73). Aspirin has protective effects on people with chronic liver disease (OR, 0.46; 95% CI: 0.31-0.67) and on the general population (OR, 0.65; 95% CI: 0.54-0.79). In addition, confounding factors have an important impact on the results of aspirin prevention of liver cancer before (OR, 0.28; 95% CI: 0.06-1.27) and after (OR, 0.58; 95% CI: 0.47-0.71) adjustment. Further studies have shown that those in the long duration group do not experience better effects in preventing HCC (OR, 0.62 vs. 0.63). A further meta-analysis of 3 articles showed that the use of aspirin did not increase the risk of bleeding in patients with HCC (OR, 1.19; 95% CI: 0.87-1.64).

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analysis shows that the use of aspirin is associated with a lower risk of liver cancer.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: Association of Aspirin With Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Aim: To explore the relationship between the use of aspirin and the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched systematically from the earliest available date to 13 March 2020. The primary outcome was incidence of HCC, and the secondary outcomes were recurrence and mortality of HCC. The results were expressed as the Hazard Ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Based on the heterogeneity evaluated with the I 2 statistic, a meta-analysis was performed using either a random- or fixed-effects model. Results: A total of sixteen articles (2781100 participants) were included. There was lower incidence of HCC in aspirin users than those in non-aspirin users (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.46-0.69; p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis further showed that the incidence of liver cancer in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (HR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.09-0.22; p < 0.001) and virus hepatitis (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.62-0.74; p < 0.001) who use aspirin was lower than that of patients who do not use aspirin. In addition, aspirin was found to associate with decreased risk of HCC mortality (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.65-0.78; p < 0.001), not HCC recurrence (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.15-1.76; p = 0.291). Conclusions: Aspirin use is significantly associated with the low incidence rate of liver cancer.

Aspirin for the prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma: an updated meta-analysis with particular focus on patients with chronic liver disease

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have suggested a chemoprotective effect of aspirin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but evidence is limited for patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Thus, we performed a meta-analysis of all observational studies, and aimed to provide a comprehensive and quantitative understanding of this topic.

METHODS

The PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched until September 2021. We pooled the hazard ratio (HR) of HCC for aspirin use versus non-use and investigated the possible dose-risk and duration-risk associations.

RESULTS

Ten studies involving 202,567 CLD patients were enrolled in this study. The pooled results showed a significant reduction in HCC risk in aspirin users than in non-users (HR = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.54-0.77; p_{heterogeneity} < 0.001; I² = 84.9%). In subgroup analyses, an aspirin dose of 100 mg/day (0.56, 0.44-0.72) showed a significant protective effect against HCC than 160 mg/day. The linear model showed a significant inverse association between the duration of aspirin use and HCC risk (exb(b) = 0.92; 95% CI = 0.90-0.94); also, a non-linear model revealed a comparable association (coef₁ = 0.80, p₁ < 0.001; coef₂ = 1.13, p₂ = 0.001). No significantly higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding of the aspirin-treated group was detected.

CONCLUSIONS

The present meta-analysis suggested a significant and duration-related association between reduced HCC risk and aspirin use in a broad at-risk population. Nevertheless, aspirin therapy applied to CLD patients should be carefully monitored, although there was no significantly higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

REGISTRATION

PROSPERO, CRD42021229892.

Effect of Lipopolysaccharides on Liver Tumor Metastasis of twist1a/krasV12 Double Transgenic Zebrafish

The poor prognosis of patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is directly associated with the multi-step process of tumor metastasis. TWIST1, a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, is the most important epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) gene involved in embryonic development, tumor progression, and metastasis. However, the role that TWIST1 gene plays in the process of liver tumor metastasis in vivo is still not well understood. Zebrafish can serve as a powerful model for cancer research. Thus, in this study, we crossed twist1a+ and kras+ transgenic zebrafish, which, respectively, express hepatocyte-specific mCherry and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP); they also drive overexpression of their respective transcription factors. This was found to exacerbate the development of metastatic HCC. Fluorescence of mCherry and EGFP-labeled hepatocytes revealed that approximately 37.5% to 45.5% of the twist1a+/kras+ double transgenic zebrafish exhibited spontaneous tumor metastasis from the liver to the abdomen and tail areas, respectively. We also investigated the inflammatory effects of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on the hepatocyte-specific co-expression of twist1a+ and kras+ in double transgenic zebrafish. Following LPS exposure, co-expression of twist1a+ and kras+ was found to increase tumor metastasis by 57.8%, likely due to crosstalk with the EMT pathway. Our results confirm that twist1a and kras are important mediators in the development of metastatic HCC. Taken together, our in-vivo model demonstrated that co-expression of twist1a+/kras+ in conjunction with exposure to LPS enhanced metastatic HCC offers a useful platform for the study of tumor initiation and metastasis in liver cancer.

Association of aspirin and nonaspirin NSAIDs therapy with the incidence risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis on cohort studies

According to the current research evidence, the therapy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might effectively decrease the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence. Investigations have been conducted on the relationship between NSAIDs (aspirin and nonaspirin NSAIDs) and the risk of HCC incidence. We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library databases for cohort studies published prior to 15 March 2020 and screened eligible studies. There were a total of 12 eligible studies (published between 2012 and 2020). We observed a lower risk of HCC among aspirin users [hazard ratio 0.53; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.43-0.65]. However, there were no statistically significant associations discovered between nonaspirin NSAID use and the risk of HCC incidence (hazard ratio 0.95; 95% CI, 0.79-1.15). Furthermore, aspirin use has also been found to reduce the risk of HCC in patients with cirrhosis or viral hepatitis compared to that in the general population (hazard ratio 0.15; 95% CI, 0.10-0.23; hazard ratio 0.65; 95% CI, 0.56-0.76, respectively). Moreover, no statistical associations were found between aspirin use and a higher risk of bleeding risk, with a hazard ratio value of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.51-1.13). In summary, the conducted meta-analysis reveals that aspirin, rather than nonaspirin NSAIDs, can significantly decrease the risk of HCC, particularly in patients with cirrhosis or viral hepatitis.

Influence of aspirin use on clinical outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Aspirin use has been suggested to reduce cancer risk. However, previous studies showed inconsistent results as for the association between aspirin use and mortality in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of aspirin use on clinical outcomes of patients with HCC in a meta-analysis.

MATERIALS

Studies were obtained via systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane's Library, and Embase databases. A random-effect model, which incorporated the potential heterogeneity, was used to pool the results.

RESULTS

Six retrospective cohort studies including 18,855 HCC patients that underwent liver resection or transarterial chemoembolization were included. Pooled results showed that compared to the non-users, aspirin users of HCC had significantly reduced risk of HCC recurrence (risk ratio [RR]: 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59-0.93, p = 0.01; I² = 34%) and all-cause mortality (RR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.47-0.73, p < 0.001; I² = 0%) after controlling of potential confounding factors. In addition, pooled results showed that aspirin use was not associated with a significantly increased risk of major bleeding events (RR: 1.42, 95% CI: 0.81-2.51, p = 0.22; I² = 29%) in patients with HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence from retrospective studies suggests that aspirin use is associated with reduced recurrence and all-cause mortality of HCC. These results should be validated in prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials.

Systematic review with meta-analysis: The effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-platelet therapy on the incidence and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Chemoprevention with NSAIDs, including aspirin, and anti-platelet therapy (APT), has been suggested to reduce the incidence and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

AIM

To determine by meta-analysis whether NSAIDs and APT use affected HCC incidence, HCC recurrence and liver-related mortality in at-risk populations with chronic liver disease.

METHOD

Electronic databases including Pubmed, Scopus, Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched (from inception to 31 May 2021) for eligible studies evaluating the impacts of NSAID or APT use on HCC incidence, recurrence and mortality. Data on HCC incidence, recurrence, liver-related mortality or bleeding complications had to be available. Studies were included if they evaluated adults with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis that were administered at least one NSAID or APT for a defined period of time and were followed for at least 6 months. The primary outcome was HCC incidence. Secondary outcomes included: HCC recurrence, liver-related mortality and bleeding complications. Data were pooled using a random effects model with hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) presented.

RESULTS

Of 3773 articles screened, 19 studies were included, with a total of 147 283 participants. Aspirin use reduced the risk of HCC incidence (HR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.36-0.72); and improved liver-related mortality (OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.15-0.70), with a small increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding events (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.08-1.94). With respect to HCC recurrence following treatment, analysis of all aspirin and NSAID treatment (including; aspirin only; non-aspirin NSAIDs only; and combination NSAIDs groups) was associated with a decreased risk of HCC recurrence (HR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.75-0.86). By stratified analysis, only the non-aspirin NSAID group showed significant risk reduction (HR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.63-0.84).

CONCLUSION

The study supports the use of aspirin in at-risk individuals to reduce the incidence of HCC and liver-related mortality. HCC recurrence following treatment was lower with NSAID treatment.

Aspirin in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Preclinical and clinical studies provide evidence for aspirin as a preventative agent for cancer. Compelling direct evidence supports a chemopreventive effect of aspirin in individuals at high risk of developing colorectal cancer due to Lynch syndrome, while indirect evidence indicates that aspirin may reduce the risk of and mortality from sporadic colorectal cancer. There is weaker evidence for a protective effect of aspirin against all cancers taken as a group. Nevertheless, the results of recent retrospective cohort studies consistently indicate a beneficial effect of aspirin as a chemopreventive or adjuvant chemotherapeutic agent in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Epidemiologic studies conducted in the general population or in selected populations at higher risk for HCC reveal that regular aspirin use is associated with reduced HCC incidence. In addition, aspirin may act as an adjuvant to other therapies in reducing HCC recurrence. According to studies in animal models, the cancer-preventative effect of aspirin may be related to its antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory activities. Prospective studies are warranted to determine whether aspirin should be recommended to diverse populations of patients at risk for HCC.

The impact of thrombocytopenia on prognosis of HBV-related small hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score matching analysis

Background

Thrombocytopenia was reported both detrimental and advantageous to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there is little evidence showing clearly the clinical value of preoperative thrombocytopenia on the surgical outcome of patients with small HCC. This retrospective study aimed at elucidating the correlation between preoperative thrombocytopenia and surgical outcome of small HCC patients within Milan criteria treated with liver resection.

Methods

Data of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related small HCC patients were retrospectively analyzed, and we performed the propensity score matching (PSM) analysis to overcome the imbalance of clinicopathological features. Patients enrolled were subsequently categorized into two groups according to preoperative platelet counts: thrombocytopenia group and non-thrombocytopenia group. Survival outcomes of the patients in both groups were described with the Kaplan-Meier method, and the difference was compared with a log-rank test. Cox regression analysis was applied to identify the risk factors of surgical outcome.

Results

After PSM, the estimated 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for small HCC patients in the thrombocytopenia group were 94.5%, 77.0%, and 57.6%, and 95.0%, 79.6%, and 68.0%, respectively, for small HCC patients in the non-thrombocytopenia group (P = 0.042). And the 1-, 3-, and 5-year estimated recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates for small HCC patients in the thrombocytopenia group were 70.4%, 51.0%, and 42.1%, and 83.8%, 63.7%, and 46.7%, respectively, for small HCC patients in the non-thrombocytopenia group (P = 0.035). Multivariate analysis indicated preoperative thrombocytopenia was a significant prognosticator of poor RFS (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.388, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.028~1.874, P = 0.033).

Conclusion

Preoperative thrombocytopenia had an undesirable impact on the recurrence of small HCC patients treated with liver resection.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12957-021-02160-2.

Aspirin Use Is Associated with a Reduced Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third-leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with a growing incidence and poor prognosis. While some recent studies suggest an inverse association between aspirin use and reduced HCC incidence, other data are conflicting. To date, the precise magnitude of risk reduction-and whether there are dose-dependent and duration-dependent associations-remains unclear. To provide an updated and comprehensive assessment of the association between aspirin use and incident HCC risk, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of all observational studies published through September 2020. Using random-effects meta-analysis, we calculated the pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between aspirin use and incident HCC risk. Where data were available, we evaluated HCC risk according to the defined daily dose of aspirin use. Among 2,389,019 participants, and 20,479 cases of incident HCC, aspirin use was associated with significantly lower HCC risk (adjusted RR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.51-0.73; P ≤ 0.001; I2 = 90.4%). In subgroup analyses, the magnitude of benefit associated with aspirin was significantly stronger in studies that adjusted for concurrent statin and/or metformin use (RR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.28-0.64) versus those that did not (P heterogeneity = 0.02), studies that accounted for cirrhosis (RR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.45-0.52) versus those that did not (P heterogeneity = 0.02), and studies that confirmed HCC through imaging/biopsy (RR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.15-0.58) compared with billing codes (P heterogeneity < 0.001). In four studies, each defined daily dose was associated with significantly lower HCC risk (RR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97-0.98), corresponding to an 8.4% risk reduction per year of aspirin use. Conclusion: In this comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis, aspirin use was associated with a significant reduction in HCC risk. These benefits appeared to increase with increasing dose and duration of aspirin use.

The Effect of Novel Oleanolic Acid Oximes Conjugated with Indomethacin on the Nrf2-ARE And NF-κB Signaling Pathways in Normal Hepatocytes and Human Hepatocellular Cancer Cells

Nrf2 and NF-κB play a key role in inflammation-driven cancers. Conjugation of anti-inflammatory drugs with oleanolic acid oxime (OAO) may enhance their therapeutic potential as a result of downregulation of these pathways. Novel OAO derivatives conjugated with indomethacin (IND) were synthesized, and their effect on the activation and expression of Nrf2 and NF-κB in HepG2 hepatoma cells and THLE-2 immortalized normal hepatocytes was evaluated in relation to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Treatment with OAO–IND conjugates reduced the activation of Nrf2 and NF-κB and the expression of their active forms in HepG2 cells, while in normal hepatocytes, the activation of Nrf2 was increased and NF-κB diminished. Compounds 3d, 3-indomethacinoxyiminoolean-12-en-28-oic acid morpholide, and 3c, 3-indomethacinoxyiminoolean-12-en-28-oic acid benzyl ester, were the most efficient. In THLE-2 cells, as opposed to HepG2 cells, the expressions of SOD-1 and NQO1 were significantly enhanced after treatment with these compounds. The COX-2 expression was diminished in both cell lines. OAO–IND derivatives affected the cell cycle arrest at G2/M, leading to increased apoptosis and increased number of resting HepG2 cells. Therefore, the conjugation of IND with OAO derivatives may preserve cancer cells against chemoresistance through the inhibition of the Nrf2-ARE pathway and NF-κB and, at the same time, exert a chemopreventive effect in normal hepatocytes.

Naples prognostic score is an independent prognostic factor in patients with operable endometrial cancer: Results from a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Naples prognosis score (NPS) is a new immune and nutritional assessment method that can be used to predict tumor prognosis. This study aimed to identify whether NPS is an independent prognostic indicator of operable endometrial cancer (EC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 1038 patients with endometrial cancer who underwent surgery. Patients were grouped according to NPS (NPS group 0, n = 362; NPS group 1, n = 589; and NPS group 2, n = 87), and differences in clinical characteristics were compared among the groups. Survival analysis was performed by the Kaplan-Meier method, P values were calculated by log-rank test, and prognostic factors were assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression models.

RESULTS

Serum albumin levels, total cholesterol levels, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte-monocyte ratio, total lymphocyte count, CA-125 levels, age, body mass index, FIGO stage, myometrial invasion depth, controlling nutritional status score, and systemic inflammation score were significantly different among the groups; significant differences in progression-free survival(PFS) and overall survival (OS) were also found. On multivariate analysis, NPS was identified as an independent prognostic factor for PFS (NPS group 0 vs. 1: aHR = 4.32, 95%CI = 1.133-16.47; NPS group 0 vs. 2: aHR = 21.336, 95%CI = 3.498-130.121) and OS (NPS group 0 vs. 1: aHR = 5.029, 95%CI = 1.638-15.441; NPS group 0 vs. 2: aHR = 20.789, 95%CI = 4.381-98.664). Moreover, NPS is an independent prognostic factor for PFS and OS in grade 2 or 3 EC (aHR = 7.768, 95%CI = 2.411-25.029 and aHR = 4.717, 95%CI = 1.794-12.407, respectively).

CONCLUSION

High NPS is associated with poor PFS and OS and is a valuable independent prognostic factor in patients with EC.

Aspirin inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo via inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

Aspirin, a nonsteroidal anti‑inflammatory drug (NSAID), is known to inhibit cell proliferation in a variety of cancers. However, the underlying mechanism of this inhibition remains unknown. We investigated the effects of aspirin on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells using in vitro and in vivo models. Six HCC cell lines and a liver cancer cell line including Huh‑7 were used in assays that evaluated cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Flow cytometry, enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blot analysis, and phosphorylated receptor tyrosine kinase array were used to evaluate the effects of aspirin on the cells, and microRNAs (miRNAs) were analyzed by a miRNA array chip. The results were validated in vivo using a nude mouse model of Huh‑7‑xenografted tumors. Our results showed that aspirin exhibited an antiproliferative effect on all cell lines. Moreover, aspirin induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and modulated the levels of cell cycle‑related molecules such as cyclin E, cyclin D1, and cyclin‑dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2). In addition, aspirin upregulated the levels of caspase‑cleaved cytokeratin 18, increased the proportion of early apoptotic cells, decreased the levels of clusterin and heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70), upregulated the levels of miRNA‑137 and inhibited epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation. In addition, we observed that aspirin suppressed cell proliferation partially through the miRNA‑137/EGFR pathway. Our in vivo results showed that aspirin reduced the growth of xenograft tumors in nude mice. In conclusion, aspirin was able to inhibit the growth of HCC cells by cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and alteration of miRNA levels in in vitro and in vivo models.

Inflammatory Mechanisms of HCC Development

HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with several etiologic causes, mostly inflammation-associated. Different inflammatory responses in the liver can be triggered by different etiological agents. The inflammatory process can be resolved or be persistent, depending on the etiology and multiple other factors. Chronic inflammation, tissue remodeling, genetic alterations, and modifications in cellular signaling are considered to be key processes promoting immunosuppression. The progressive immunosuppression leads to the inactivation of anti-tumor immunity involved in HCC carcinogenesis and progression. Tumor cellular processes including DNA damage, necrosis, and ER (endoplasmic reticulum) stress can affect both immune-surveillance and cancer-promoting inflammation, supporting a mutual interdependence. Here, we review the current understanding of how chronic liver injury and inflammation is triggered and sustained, and how inflammation is linked to HCC. The identification of many hepatic microenvironmental inflammatory processes and their effector molecules, has resulted in extensive translational work and promising clinical trials of new immunomodulatory agents.

Effects of general anesthesia versus local anesthesia in primary hepatocellular carcinoma patients presenting for thermal ablation surgery: a multiple center retrospective cohort study with propensity score matching

Background

Whether anesthesia methods affect the prognosis of tumor patients is controversial. With the aim of comparing the effects of general anesthesia (GA) and local anesthesia (LA) in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients presenting for elective thermal ablation (TA) surgeries, a multiple center retrospective cohort study was designed and implemented.

Methods

Patients who received elective TA surgery under GA or LA from Jan. 2014 to Dec. 2016 and met the eligibility criteria were included. Survival analysis was used to identify the influence of anesthesia methods on recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to minimize the bias between the GA group and the LA group.

Results

A total of 244 patients with GA and 245 with LA were eligible for analysis. After PSM, 178 patients remained in each group. In the matched groups, GA showed a significantly higher recurrence rate compared with LA by both the Kaplan-Meier survival analyses (P=0.011) and multivariable Cox regression analyses (P=0.002). The multivariable Cox regression model also revealed that GA had a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.746 (P=0.036) for death compared with the LA group.

Conclusions

GA is associated with decreased RFS and OS after surgery compared with LA in HCC patients undergoing TA surgery. Prospective trials exploring the effects of different anesthetic methods on cancer outcome in these patients are warranted.

Second cancers in MPN: Survival analysis from an international study

One out of ten patients with Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) develop a second cancer (SC): in such patients we aimed at assessing the survival impact of SC itself and of MPN-specific therapies. Data were therefore extracted from an international nested case-control study, recruiting 798 patients with SC diagnosed concurrently or after the MPN. Overall, 2995 person-years (PYs) were accumulated and mortality rate (MR) since SC diagnosis was 5.9 (5.1-6.9) deaths for every 100 PYs. A "poor prognosis" SC (stomach, esophagus, liver, pancreas, lung, ovary, head-and-neck or nervous system, osteosarcomas, multiple myeloma, aggressive lymphoma, acute leukemia) was reported in 26.3% of the patients and was the cause of death in 65% of them (MR 11.0/100 PYs). In contrast, patients with a "non-poor prognosis" SC (NPPSC) incurred a MR of 4.6/100 PYs: 31% of the deaths were attributed to SC and 15% to MPN evolution. At multivariable analysis, death after SC diagnosis was independently predicted (HR and 95% CI) by patient age greater than 70 years (2.68; 1.88-3.81), the SC prognostic group (2.57; 1.86-3.55), SC relapse (1.53; 10.6-2.21), MPN evolution (2.72; 1.84-4.02), anemia at SC diagnosis (2.32; 1.49-3.59), exposure to hydroxyurea (1.89; 1.26-2.85) and to ruxolitinib (3.63; 1.97-6.71). Aspirin was protective for patients with a NPPSC (0.60; 0.38-0.95). In conclusion, SC is a relevant cause of death competing with MPN evolution. Prospective data are awaited to confirm the role of cytoreductive and anti-platelet drugs in modulating patient survival after the occurrence of a SC.

Effects of low-dose aspirin on clinical outcome and disease progression in patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm

Objective: The chemopreventive effect of aspirin (ASA) has been observed in the setting of colorectal cancer and other solid neoplasms. Recently, ASA has demonstrated a promising anti-proliferative effect on GEP-NENs in vitro. However, the direct anti-neoplastic impact of ASA on GEP-NEN clinical outcome is yet to be clarified. Materials and methods: All the GEP-NEN patients followed up in three European Centers from January 2005 to September 2016 were retrospectively enrolled. Patients taking ASA in doses of 75-100 mg daily for cardiovascular prevention for at least six months were evaluated. The possible association between ASA and disease grading, staging, primary site, OS and PFS were evaluated. Results: Two hundred fifty one patients were included (117 males, median age 63 years). Of these, 64 patients were prescribed with ASA. No clear impact on OS or PFS was observed in GEP-NEN patients taking ASA compared to those not taking it. ASA intake was related with the patients' older age. At Cox multivariate analysis, stage IV and Ki-67 resulted independent predictors for OS and PFS. In the setting of intestinal NENs, a suggestive, but not statistically significant, protective role of ASA on PFS was observed [HR 0.41 (95% CI: 0.13-1.29)]. Conclusions: Despite ASA showed promising anti-proliferative effects in vitro and a chemopreventive action in NENs has been reported, a clear impact of ASA on survival in NENs has not emerged from the present study. However, in the subgroup of patients with small-intestine NENs, ASA showed a trend toward a protective role.

Propofol-based total intravenous anaesthesia is associated with better survival than desflurane anaesthesia in hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that anaesthetic technique can affect outcomes of cancer surgery. We investigated the association between anaesthetic technique and patient outcomes after elective hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

This was a retrospective single-centre cohort study of patients who received elective hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma from January 2005 to December 2014. Patients were grouped according to propofol or desflurane anaesthesia. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed and survival curves were constructed from the date of surgery to death. After propensity matching, univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were used to compare hazard ratios for death. Subgroup analyses were performed for tumour-node-metastasis staging and distant metastasis and local recurrence.

RESULTS

A total of 492 patients (369 deaths, 75.0%) with desflurane anaesthesia and 452 (139 deaths, 30.8%) with propofol anaesthesia were eligible for analysis. After propensity matching, 335 patients remained in each group. In the matched analysis, propofol anaesthesia had a better survival with hazard ratio of 0.47 (95% confidence interval, 0.38-0.59; P<0.001). Subgroup analyses also showed significantly better survival in the absence of distant metastasis (hazard ratio, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.37-0.60; P<0.001) or local recurrence (hazard ratio, 0.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.14-0.34; P<0.001) in the matched groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Propofol anaesthesia was associated with better survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients who underwent hepatectomy. Prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the effects of propofol anaesthesia on surgical outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma: An immunohistochemistry study

BACKGROUND

Although hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most vascular solid tumors, antiangiogenic therapy has not induced the expected results.

AIM

To uncover immunohistochemical (IHC) aspects of angiogenesis in HCC.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed and 50 cases of HCC were randomly selected. The angiogenesis particularities were evaluated based on the IHC markers Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A and the endothelial area (EA) was counted using the antibodies CD31 and CD105.

RESULTS

The angiogenic phenotype evaluated with VEGF-A was more expressed in small tumors without vascular invasion (pT1), whereas COX-2 was rather expressed in dedifferentiated tumors developed in non-cirrhotic liver. The CD31-related EA value decreased in parallel with increasing COX-2 intensity but was higher in HCC cases developed in patients with cirrhosis. The CD105-related EA was higher in tumors developed in patients without associated hepatitis.

CONCLUSION

In patients with HCC developed in cirrhosis, the newly formed vessels are rather immature and their genesis is mediated via VEGF. In patients with non-cirrhotic liver, COX-2 intensity and number of mature neoformed vessels increases in parallel with HCC dedifferentiation.