Effect of external beam radiation therapy versus transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for non-diffuse hepatocellular carcinoma (≥ 5 cm): a multicenter experience over a ten-year period

Elucidating the multifaceted role of MGAT1 in hepatocellular carcinoma: integrative single-cell and spatial transcriptomics reveal novel therapeutic insights

Background

Glycosyltransferase-associated genes play a crucial role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathogenesis. This study investigates their impact on the tumor microenvironment and molecular mechanisms, offering insights into innovative immunotherapeutic strategies for HCC.

Methods

We utilized cutting-edge single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to examine HCC heterogeneity. Four single-cell scoring techniques were employed to evaluate glycosyltransferase genes. Spatial transcriptomic findings were validated, and bulk RNA-seq analysis was conducted to identify prognostic glycosyltransferase-related genes and potential immunotherapeutic targets. MGAT1's role was further explored through various functional assays.

Results

Our analysis revealed diverse cell subpopulations in HCC with distinct glycosyltransferase gene activities, particularly in macrophages. Key glycosyltransferase genes specific to macrophages were identified. Temporal analysis illustrated macrophage evolution during tumor progression, while spatial transcriptomics highlighted reduced expression of these genes in core tumor macrophages. Integrating scRNA-seq, bulk RNA-seq, and spatial transcriptomics, MGAT1 emerged as a promising therapeutic target, showing significant potential in HCC immunotherapy.

Conclusion

This comprehensive study delves into glycosyltransferase-associated genes in HCC, elucidating their critical roles in cellular dynamics and immune cell interactions. Our findings open new avenues for immunotherapeutic interventions and personalized HCC management, pushing the boundaries of HCC immunotherapy.

Exploiting gender-based biomarkers and drug targets: advancing personalized therapeutic strategies in hepatocellular carcinoma

This review systematically examines gender differences in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), identifying the influence of sex hormones, genetic variance, and environmental factors on the disease's epidemiology and treatment outcomes. Recognizing the liver as a sexually dimorphic organ, we highlight how gender-specific risk factors, such as alcohol consumption and obesity, contribute differently to hepatocarcinogenesis in men and women. We explore molecular mechanisms, including the differential expression of androgen and estrogen receptors, which mediate diverse pathways in tumor biology such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA repair. Our analysis underscores the critical need for gender-specific research in liver cancer, from molecular studies to clinical trials, to improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic effectiveness. By incorporating a gender perspective into all facets of liver cancer research, we advocate for a more precise and personalized approach to cancer treatment that acknowledges gender as a significant factor in both the progression of HCC and its response to treatment. This review aims to foster a deeper understanding of the biological and molecular bases of gender differences in HCC and to promote the development of tailored interventions that enhance outcomes for all patients.

Causal relationship between immune cells and hepatocellular carcinoma: a Mendelian randomisation study

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the predominant malignancy of the digestive tract, ranks as the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality globally, significantly impeding human health and lifespan. Emerging immunotherapeutic approaches have ignited fresh optimism for patient outcomes. This investigation probes the link between 731 immune cell phenotypes and HCC through Mendelian Randomization and single-cell sequencing, aiming to unearth viable drug targets and dissect HCC's etiology. Methods: We conducted an exhaustive two-sample Mendelian Randomization analysis to ascertain the causal links between immune cell features and HCC, utilizing publicly accessible genetic datasets to explore the causal connections of 731 immune cell traits with HCC susceptibility. The integrity, diversity, and potential horizontal pleiotropy of these findings were rigorously assessed through extensive sensitivity analyses. Furthermore, single-cell sequencing was employed to penetrate the pathogenic underpinnings of HCC. Results: Establishing a significance threshold of pval_Inverse.variance.weighted at 0.05, our study pinpointed five immune characteristics potentially elevating HCC risk: B cell % CD3- lymphocyte (TBNK panel), CD25 on IgD+ (B cell panel), HVEM on TD CD4+ (Maturation stages of T cell panel), CD14 on CD14+ CD16- monocyte (Monocyte panel), CD4 on CD39+ activated Treg ( Treg panel). Conversely, various cellular phenotypes tied to BAFF-R expression emerged as protective elements. Single-cell sequencing unveiled profound immune cell phenotype interactions, highlighting marked disparities in cell communication and metabolic activities. Conclusion: Leveraging MR and scRNA-seq techniques, our study elucidates potential associations between 731 immune cell phenotypes and HCC, offering a window into the molecular interplays among cellular phenotypes, and addressing the limitations of mono-antibody therapeutic targets.

Macroscopic Characterization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Underexploited Source of Prognostic Factors

The macroscopic appearance of a tumor such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may be defined as its phenotype which is de facto dictated by its genotype. Therefore, macroscopic characteristics of HCC are unlikely random but rather reflect genomic traits of cancer, presumably acting as a valuable source of information that can be retrieved and exploited to infer prognosis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the available data on the prognostic value of macroscopic characterization in HCC. A total of 57 studies meeting eligible criteria were identified, including patients undergoing liver resection (LR; 47 studies, 83%) or liver transplant (LT; 9 studies, 16%). The following macroscopic variables were investigated: tumor size (n = 42 studies), number of nodules (n = 28), vascular invasion (n = 24), bile duct invasion (n = 6), growth pattern (n = 15), resection margin (n = 11), tumor location (n = 6), capsule (n = 2) and satellite (n = 1). Although the selected studies provided insightful data with notable prognostic performances, a lack of standardization and substantial gaps were noted in the report and the analysis of gross findings. This topic remains incompletely covered. While the available studies underscored the value of macroscopic variables in HCC prognostication, important lacks were also observed. Macroscopic characterization of HCC is likely an underexploited source of prognostic factors that must be actively explored by future multidisciplinary research.

A dynamic study of VEGF-A siDOX-EVs trafficking through the in-vitro insert co-culture blood-brain barrier model by digital holographic microscopy

Introduction

Modeling the blood-brain barrier has long been a challenge for pharmacological studies. Up to the present, numerous attempts have been devoted to recapitulating the endothelial barrier in vitro to assess drug delivery vehicles' efficiency for brain disorders. In the current work, we presented a new approach for analyzing the morphometric parameters of the cells of an insert co-culture blood-brain barrier model using rat brain astrocytes, rat brain microvascular endothelial cells, and rat brain pericytes. This analytical approach could aid in getting further information on drug trafficking through the blood-brain barrier and its impact on the brain indirectly.

Methods

In the current work, we cultured rat brain astrocytes, rat brain microvascular endothelial cells, and rat brain pericytes and then used an insert well to culture the cells in contact with each other to model the blood-brain barrier. Then, the morphometric parameters of the porous membrane of the insert well, as well as each cell type were imaged by digital holographic microscopy before and after cell seeding. At last, we performed folate conjugation on the surface of the EVs we have previously tested for glioma therapy in our previous work called VEGF-A siDOX-EVs and checked how the trafficking of EVs improves after folate conjugation as a clathrin-mediated delivery setup. the trafficking and passage of EVs were assessed by flow cytometry and morphometric analysis of the digital holographic microscopy holograms.

Results

Our results indicated that EVs successfully entered through the proposed endothelial barrier assessed by flow cytometry analysis and furthermore, folate conjugation significantly improved EV passage through the blood-brain barrier. Moreover, our results indicated that the VEGF-A siDOX-EVs insert cytotoxic impact on the cells of the bottom of the culture plate.

Conclusion

folate-conjugation on the surface of EVs improves their trafficking through the blood-brain barrier and by using digital holographic microscopy analysis, we could directly assess the morphometric changes of the blood-brain barrier cells for pharmacological purposes as an easy, label-free, and real-time analysis.

Survival analysis of palliative radiotherapy in patients with HER-2+ metastatic breast cancer

Background

Whether radiotherapy can improve the long-term survival of HER-2+ metastatic breast cancer remains unclear. We launched this study to explore the effect of HER-2+ metastatic breast cancer patients through anti-HER-2 targeted therapy + radiotherapy.

Methods

488 HER-2 + metastatic breast cancer patients who received anti-HER2 targeted ± local radiotherapy from March 2006 to September 2021 were retrospectively collected. Patients were divided into a radiotherapy group (n=207) and a non-radiotherapy group (n=281) based on whether they received radiotherapy or not. 1: 1 propensity matching analysis was used to determine two groups of patients with similar baselines.

Results

Before matching, the radiotherapy group (n=207) had a median overall survival (mOS) of 51.7 months (48.8-63.8), which was superior to the non-radiotherapy group's (n=281) mOS of 33.9 months (27.9-39.9) (P < 0.0001). Moreover, the radiotherapy group exhibited better 1-year (94.6% vs 83.9%), 3-year (70.8% vs 45.5%), and 5-year (43.3% vs 25.0%) survival rates compared to the control group. Propensity score matching analysis identified 135 pairs of baseline-matched patients. In the matched groups, the mOS was 57.2 (44.5-69.8) months in the radiotherapy group (n=135) and 34.1 (27.5-40.6) months in the non-radiotherapy group (n=135), showing a statistically significant difference (P < 0.0001). Additionally, the radiotherapy group demonstrated 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of 93.2%, 71.5%, and 46.9%, respectively, while those in the non-radiotherapy group were 89.4%, 45.8%, and 22.2%, respectively. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that the presence of brain metastasis, liver metastasis, and radiotherapy were identified as independent predictive factors significantly associated with OS.

Conclusion

In patients with HER-2 positive metastatic breast cancer, radiotherapy was associated with better survival benefits compared to those who did not receive radiotherapy.

Comprehensive analysis of disulfidptosis-related lncRNA features for prognosis and immune landscape prediction in colorectal cancer

Disulfidptosis is a novel mechanism underlying actin-cytoskeleton-associated cell death, but its function in colorectal cancer (CRC) is still elusive. In this study, we investigated the potential role of Disulfidptosis-Related Long Non-Coding RNAs (DRLs) as prognostic indicators in CRC. Through transcriptome data from TCGA CRC cases, we identified 44 prognosis-correlated DRLs by Univariate Cox Regression Analysis and observed a differential expression pattern of these DRLs between CRC and normal tissues. Consensus clustering analysis based on DRL expression led to subgroup classification of CRC patients with distinct molecular fingerprints, accompanied by a superior survival outcome in cluster 2. We are encouraged to develop a score model incorporating 12 key DRLs to predict patient outcomes. Notably, this model displayed more reliable accuracy than other predictive indicators since DRLs are intimately related to tumor immune cell infiltration, suggesting a considerable potential of our DRL-score model for tumor therapy. Our data offered a valuable insight into the prognostic significance of DRLs in CRC and broke a new avenue for tumor prognosis prediction.

Postoperative adjuvant immunotherapy for high-risk hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Background and aim

Standardized approach to postoperative adjuvant therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains elusive. This study endeavors to examine the effects of postoperative PD-1 adjuvant therapy on the short-term and long-term prognosis of patients at a heightened risk of post-surgical recurrence.

Methods

The data of HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy at our center from June 2018 to March 2023 were collected from the hospital database. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to perform a 1:1 match between the postoperative anti-PD-1 antibody group and the postoperative non-anti-PD-1 antibody group. Kaplan-Meier method was utilized to compare the overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) between the two groups. Cox regression analysis was conducted to identify the prognostic factors affecting patient outcomes. Subgroup analyses were performed for different high-risk factors.

Results

Among the 446 patients included in the study, 122 patients received adjuvant therapy with postoperative anti-PD-1 antibodies. After PSM, the PD-1 group had postoperative 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, and 4-year OS rates of 93.1%, 86.8%, 78.2%, and 51.1%, respectively, while the non-PD-1 group had rates of 85.3%, 70.2%, 47.7%, and 30.0%. The PD-1 group had postoperative 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, and 4-year RFS rates of 81.7%, 77.0%, 52.3%, and 23.1%, respectively, whereas the non-PD-1 group had rates of 68.4%, 47.7%, and 25.8% in 1-year, 2-year, 3-year. A multifactorial Cox regression analysis revealed that postoperative PD-1 use was a prognostic protective factor associated with OS and RFS. Subgroup analysis results indicated that HCC patients with high recurrence risks significantly benefited from postoperative anti-PD-1 antibody treatment in terms of OS and RFS.

Conclusion

For HCC patients with high-risk recurrence factors and undergoing hepatectomy, postoperative adjuvant therapy with anti-PD-1 antibodies can effectively improve their survival prognosis.