Clinical Presentation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in African Americans vs. Caucasians: A Retrospective Analysis

Addressing racial and ethnic disparities in US liver cancer care

HCC, the most common form of primary liver cancer, is the fastest rising cause of cancer-related death in the United States. HCC disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. A practical framework is needed to organize the complex patient, provider, health system, and societal factors that drive these racial and ethnic disparities. In this narrative review, we adapted and applied the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Research Framework to the HCC care continuum, as a step toward better understanding and addressing existing HCC-related disparities. We first summarize the literature on HCC-related disparities by race and ethnicity organized by the framework's 5 domains (biological, behavioral, physical/built environment, sociocultural environment, and health care system) and 4 levels (individual, interpersonal, community, and societal) of influence. We then offer strategies to guide future research initiatives toward promotion of health equity in HCC care. Clinicians and researchers may help mitigate further inequities and better address racial and ethnic disparities in HCC care by prioritizing the following in HCC research: (1) increasing racial and ethnic minority representation, (2) collecting and reporting HCC-related data by racial and ethnic subgroups, (3) assessing the patient experience of HCC care by race and ethnicity, and (4) evaluating HCC-specific social determinants of health by race and ethnicity. These 4 priorities will help inform the development of future programs and interventions that are tailored to the unique experiences of each racial and ethnic group.

Mechanism of PDZK1 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Complicated with Hyperuricemia

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a kind of primary liver cancer that accounts for more than 90% of primary hepatocellular carcinomas. Hyperuricemia is closely related to the development, recurrence, metastasis, and prognosis of cancer. Previous studies have proved that the serum uric acid level can increase the incidence rate and mortality of malignant tumors. However, the specific pathogenesis remains unstudied.

Methods

RT-qPCR analysis showed that the mRNA expression of PDZK1 and ABCG2 increased significantly after HCC cells were exposed to different concentrations of soluble uric acid (2.5, 5, 10, 20 mg/dl) for 24 hours. Then, in HCC shRNAs, PDZK1, or over expression PDZK1 were used. CCK8, wound healing, and Transwell assay showed that PDZK1 regulates cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Flow cytometry results revealed that PDZK1 affects cell apoptosis. Western blot results show that PDZK1 affects the STAT3/C-myc pathway. Then, in vivo tumorigenesis, allopurinol maybe an effective drug to advance: the prognosis of HCC.

Results

In our study, RT-qPCR analysis showed that the mRNA expression of PDZK1 and ABCG2 increased significantly after different concentrations of soluble uric acid in HCC. Then, PDZK1 affects the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of HCC through the STAT3/C-myc pathway.

Conclusions

Hyperuricemia response affects the expression of PDZK1; PDZK1 affects the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis through the STAT3/C-myc pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. It is suggested that PDZK1 maybe closely related to the occurrence, development, and prognosis of HCC and allopurinol maybe have potential anticancer effects.