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Zhang DY, Bai FH. Research trends and hotspots in the immune microenvironment related to hepatocellular carcinoma: A bibliometric and visualization study. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024; 16:3321-3330. [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i7.3321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The immune microenvironment (IME) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) plays a pivotal role in determining patient outcomes and responses to treatment. This area is witnessing rapid growth in research interest. However, there is a lack of comprehensive bibliometric analyses that dissect trends and potential focal points in this field.
AIM To explore the evolution of research on the IME in HCC from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2023, using bibliometric methodologies.
METHODS English articles and reviews concerning the IME of HCC were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection with a search date of December 31, 2023. The R package Bibliometrix was employed to compute basic bibliometric characteristics, illustrate collaborations among countries and authors, and create a three-field diagram illustrating the connections between authors, affiliations, and keywords. Analyses of country and institutional co-authorship, as well as keyword co-occurrence, were conducted using VOSviewer. Additionally, CiteSpace was utilized for the cite burst analysis of keywords and cited literature.
RESULTS The study encompassed 3125 documents in the research areas related to HCC of IME, revealing a substantial and continuous increase in the annual publication trend over time. China and Fudan University emerged as leading contributors, with 2103 and 165 publications, respectively. Frontiers in immunology was the most prolific journal in this domain. Among the top ten researchers in the field, eight are based in China. Key research terms identified include tumour microenvironment, expression, immunotherapy, and prognosis.
CONCLUSION The relationship between HCC and IME is receiving increasing attention, and related research is in a highly developed stage. Key focus areas, including IME and immune checkpoint inhibitors, immunotherapy are poised to be central to future research endeavors, offering promising pathways for further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-Ya Zhang
- Department of Graduate School, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, Hainan Province, China
| | - Fei-Hu Bai
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570216, Hainan Province, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Gastroenterology Clinical Medical Center of Hainan Province, Haikou 570216, Hainan Province, China
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2
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Ali FEM, Ibrahim IM, Althagafy HS, Hassanein EHM. Role of immunotherapies and stem cell therapy in the management of liver cancer: A comprehensive review. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 132:112011. [PMID: 38581991 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Liver cancer (LC) is the sixth most common disease and the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality. The WHO predicts that more than 1 million deaths will occur from LC by 2030. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common form of primary LC. Today, the management of LC involves multiple disciplines, and multimodal therapy is typically selected on an individual basis, considering the intricate interactions between the patient's overall health, the stage of the tumor, and the degree of underlying liver disease. Currently, the treatment of cancers, including LC, has undergone a paradigm shift in the last ten years because of immuno-oncology. To treat HCC, immune therapy approaches have been developed to enhance or cause the body's natural immune response to specifically target tumor cells. In this context, immune checkpoint pathway inhibitors, engineered cytokines, adoptive cell therapy, immune cells modified with chimeric antigen receptors, and therapeutic cancer vaccines have advanced to clinical trials and offered new hope to cancer patients. The outcomes of these treatments are encouraging. Additionally, treatment using stem cells is a new approach for restoring deteriorated tissues because of their strong differentiation potential and capacity to release cytokines that encourage cell division and the formation of blood vessels. Although there is no proof that stem cell therapy works for many types of cancer, preclinical research on stem cells has shown promise in treating HCC. This review provides a recent update regarding the impact of immunotherapy and stem cells in HCC and promising outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fares E M Ali
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71524, Egypt; Michael Sayegh, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aqaba University of Technology, Aqaba 77110, Jordan.
| | - Islam M Ibrahim
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut Branch, Assiut, 71524, Egypt
| | - Hanan S Althagafy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Emad H M Hassanein
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71524, Egypt
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3
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Wang K, Xiang YJ, Yu HM, Cheng YQ, Liu ZH, Qin YY, Shi J, Guo WX, Lu CD, Zheng YX, Zhou FG, Yan ML, Zhou HK, Liang C, Zhang F, Wei WJ, Lau WY, Li JJ, Liu YF, Cheng SQ. Adjuvant sintilimab in resected high-risk hepatocellular carcinoma: a randomized, controlled, phase 2 trial. Nat Med 2024; 30:708-715. [PMID: 38242982 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02786-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly when accompanied by microvascular invasion (MVI), has a markedly high risk of recurrence after liver resection. Adjuvant immunotherapy is considered a promising avenue. This multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled, phase 2 trial was conducted at six hospitals in China to assess the efficacy and safety of adjuvant sintilimab, a programmed cell death protein 1 inhibitor, in these patients. Eligible patients with HCC with MVI were randomized (1:1) into the sintilimab or active surveillance group. The sintilimab group received intravenous injections every 3 weeks for a total of eight cycles. The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival (RFS) in the intention-to-treat population. Key secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS) and safety. From September 1, 2020, to April 23, 2022, a total of 198 eligible patients were randomly allocated to receive adjuvant sintilimab (n = 99) or undergo active surveillance (n = 99). After a median follow-up of 23.3 months, the trial met the prespecified endpoints. Sintilimab significantly prolonged RFS compared to active surveillance (median RFS, 27.7 versus 15.5 months; hazard ratio 0.534, 95% confidence interval 0.360-0.792; P = 0.002). Further follow-up is needed to confirm the difference in OS. In the sintilimab group, 12.4% of patients experienced grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events, the most common of which were elevated alanine aminotransferase levels (5.2%) and anemia (4.1%). These findings support the potential of immune checkpoint inhibitors as effective adjuvant therapy for these high-risk patients. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry identifier: ChiCTR2000037655 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Wang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Hepatobiliary Cancer Research Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan-Jun Xiang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
- National Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong-Ming Yu
- Department of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Hepatobiliary Cancer Research Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Qiang Cheng
- Department of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Hepatobiliary Cancer Research Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zong-Han Liu
- Department of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying-Yi Qin
- Department of Health Statistics, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Shi
- Department of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei-Xing Guo
- Department of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chong-De Lu
- Department of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya-Xin Zheng
- Department of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei-Guo Zhou
- Department of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mao-Lin Yan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hong-Kun Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Hospital of Jiaxing, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing College, Jiaxing, China
| | - Chao Liang
- Department of Oncology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Binzhou, China
| | - Wen-Jing Wei
- Department of General Surgery, Taiyuan People's Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Wan Yee Lau
- Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jing-Jing Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan-Fang Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Pathology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Shu-Qun Cheng
- Department of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Hepatobiliary Cancer Research Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China.
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Li J, Zhou K, Wu M, Zhang R, Jin X, Qiao H, Li J, Cao X, Zhang S, Dong G. The Characteristics of Transcription Factors Regulating T Cell Exhaustion Were Analyzed to Predict the Prognosis and Therapeutic Effect in Patients with HCC. Int J Gen Med 2023; 16:5597-5619. [PMID: 38045905 PMCID: PMC10693252 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s435620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks as the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths, posing a significant threat to people in diverse regions. T-cell exhaustion (Tex) can hinder the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with HCC, and the transcription factors that regulate Tex in HCC have not yet been fully elucidated. Patients and Methods We used the single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) method to define the transcription factor pathway that regulates Tex and employed LASSO regression analysis to establish Tex related genes (TEXRS). To predict differences in immunotherapy efficacy between the two groups, we used the immunophenotype score and submap algorithm. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression levels of the model genes in 21 pairs of HCC tissues. Finally, we assessed the cell communication strength and identified ligand receptors using the "CellChat" R package. Results Nine Tex transcription factors were identified as regulators of the HCC immune microenvironment, with Tex scores affecting patient survival. Patients with a high Tex Risk Score (TEXRS) had significantly worse overall survival compared to patients with low TEXRS. After adjusting for confounding factors, TEXRS remained an independent prognostic factor. Importantly, TEXRS performed well in multiple independent external validation cohorts. Various algorithms have shown that patients in the low-TEXRS group might benefit more from immunotherapy. Finally, RT-qPCR analysis of 21 HCC samples showed that C7, CD5L, and SDS were significantly downregulated in HCC tissues, consistent with the bioinformatics analysis results. Conclusion TEXRS proved to be a valuable predictor of immunotherapy and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization efficacy in patients with HCC. This holds promise for enhancing the prognosis and treatment outcomes of patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingbo Li
- Department of Anesthesiology Research Institute, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kun Zhou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Beidahuang Industry Group General Hospital, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
- Scientific Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Meng Wu
- Scientific Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Rongzheng Zhang
- Scientific Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xi Jin
- Scientific Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Han Qiao
- Scientific Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiaqi Li
- Scientific Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyang Cao
- Scientific Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuyun Zhang
- Scientific Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guanglu Dong
- Department of Tumor Radiotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
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Gudd CLC, Sheth R, Thursz MR, Triantafyllou E, Possamai LA. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Liver Injury. Semin Liver Dis 2023; 43:402-417. [PMID: 38101418 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1776761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
In recent years cancer treatment has been revolutionized by the development and wide application of checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) drugs, which are a form of immunotherapy. CPI treatment is associated with immune-related adverse events, off-target tissue destructive inflammatory complications, which may affect a range of organs, with liver inflammation (hepatitis) being one of the more commonly noted events. This is a novel form of drug-induced liver injury and a rapidly evolving field, as our understanding of both the basic immunopathology of CPI hepatitis (CPI-H) and optimal clinical management, races to catch up with the increasing application of this form of immunotherapy in clinical practice. In this review, we summarize current evidence and understanding of CPI-H, from fundamental immunology to practical patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathrin L C Gudd
- Section of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Roosey Sheth
- Institute of Liver Studies, Department of Inflammation Biology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark R Thursz
- Section of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Liver and Antiviral Unit, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Evangelos Triantafyllou
- Section of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lucia A Possamai
- Section of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Liver and Antiviral Unit, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
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6
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Wasilewicz MP. Possible Therapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma-Preparing for the Modern War with the Insidious Enemy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12536. [PMID: 37628717 PMCID: PMC10454545 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 7% of all malignancies and about 90% of all primary liver malignancies, making it the most common type of malignant liver neoplasm [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał P Wasilewicz
- Liver Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Unii Lubelskiej Str. 1, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland
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