Recent insights on risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma

Plasma Insulin/Erythrocytic Aldose Reductase Ratio as a Predictor for Hepatocellular Carcinoma among Type II Diabetics and Hepatitis C Virus-infected Patients

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a possible oncogenic progression during persistent hepatitis C-infection +/- type II diabetes mellitus (DM). We aim to investigate the plasma insulin, erythrocytic aldose reductase (AR) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) as possible predictive tools for HCC in hepatitis C-infected patients (HCV) +/- DM. Erythrocytes (RBCs) were adopted as a possible vehicle for pre-malignant variations being of short life span.    Methods: The study included 20 healthy control and 100 patients of 48-64 years old, divided into 5 equal groups as; type II DM, HCC, HCC with DM, DM- HCV infected and non-DM HCV infected. Plasma levels of AFP and insulin were measured.

RESULTS

It showed an elevated AR, significant reduction of SDH in RBCs and plasma of DM patients. These values were greatly elevated among HCV, HCC, diabetic HCV, and diabetic HCC patients. All DM patients showed elevated insulin levels than normoglycemic controls.

CONCLUSION

The study substantiated the use of RBCs as a vehicle for early diagnostic markers better than plasma. We recommend the use of insulin/ erythrocytic AR ratio as a new laboratory marker for predicting HCC among type II diabetics or non-treated HCV-infected patients with control insulin/ erythrocytic AR ratio by each laboratory.

Chemopreventive Strategies for Inflammation-Related Carcinogenesis: Current Status and Future Direction

A sustained and chronically-inflamed environment is characterized by the presence of heterogeneous inflammatory cellular components, including neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes and fibroblasts. These infiltrated cells produce growth stimulating mediators (inflammatory cytokines and growth factors), chemotactic factors (chemokines) and genotoxic substances (reactive oxygen species and nitrogen oxide) and induce DNA damage and methylation. Therefore, chronic inflammation serves as an intrinsic niche for carcinogenesis and tumor progression. In this article, we summarize the up-to-date findings regarding definitive/possible causes and mechanisms of inflammation-related carcinogenesis derived from experimental and clinical studies. We also propose 10 strategies, as well as candidate agents for the prevention of inflammation-related carcinogenesis.

Serum serotonin as unexpected potential marker for staging of experimental hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the primary cancer of the liver. The present study aimed to assess the potential role of the endogenous regulators of angiogenesis like neurotransmitters, as possible HCC biomarkers. Five groups of rats were used in this study (8 rats per each): control healthy group (I), four intoxicated groups (II, III, IV, and V) used for induction of HCC with a single IP dose of diethylnitrosamine (DENA), 200mg/kg. Groups II, III, IV, and V were sacrificed after 8, 16, 24, and 32 weeks of DENA injection respectively. Serum levels of epinephrine, nor-epinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine of all animals were estimated using high performance liquid chromatography technique coupled with fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD). Development of HCC was confirmed histopathologically. Our results showed a significant increase in 3 neurotransmitters (epinephrine, nor-epinephrine, and serotonin) in DENA intoxicated HCC rat model. Only serotonin exhibited a significant increase in early histological stage HCC development (16 weeks post DENA injection) in comparison to alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), (24 weeks post DENA injection). These results suggest that neurotransmitters (Epinephrine and Norepinephrine) may have a role as a biomarker for late histological stage HCC. Like AFP, while serotonin may be used for early stage HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in Asia: Prevention strategy and planning

AIM: To review all of epidemiological and etiological aspects of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and examined the prevention of this disease in Asia.

METHODS: We conducted a systematic review according to the PRISMA guidelines. We were chosen articles that published previously, from PubMed (MEDLINE), the Cochrane database and Scopus. The key words used in this research were as follows: HCC in Asia and the way of prevention of this disease, with no language limitations. We selected those papers published before 2014 that we considered to be most important and appropriate. All relevant articles were accessed in full text and all relevant materials was evaluated and reviewed.

RESULTS: More than 70% of all new cases of liver cancer were diagnosed in Asia, a region that 75% of all those chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the world. Chronic HBV infection is the main cause of HCC in Asia, where the virus is endemic and vertical transmission is common. Japan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan are exception because of high prevalence of HCV infection in these regions. The prevalence of this cancer is high in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, But Middle Eastern countries are characterized as moderate prevalence rate of HCC region and Central Asia and some part of Middle Eastern countries are known as low prevalence rate of HCC. In addition of HBV and HCV the other factors such as aflatoxin, alcohol, obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) might be responsible for a low prevalence of HCC in Asian countries. Currently available HCC therapies, chemotherapy, surgical are inefficient, mainly due to usually late diagnosis and high recurrence rates after surgical resection, and usually end with treatment failure. Liver transplantation also remains as a difficult strategy in patients with HCC. Thus prevention of HCC by treating and prevention HBV and HCV infection, the major causative agents of HCC, and the other risk factors such as aflatoxin, alcohol, obesity, diabetes and NAFLD is of a great medical importance.

CONCLUSION: The main challenge which still present in Asia, is the high prevalence of chronic hepatitis. So, prevention of HBV and HCV is the key strategy to reduce the incidence of HCC in Asia.

The effect of co-administration of Lawsonia inermis extract and octreotide on experimental hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effect of Lawsonia inermis total methanolic extract (LIE) and octreotide (OC) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression, depending on somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR-2) and Alfa fetoprotein (AFP) perturbations.

METHODS

Sixty albino mice, divided into five groups (12/each); all except control were injected with single diethyl nitrosamine (DENA) dose of 90 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally (IP). DENA group was killed at the last day of week 18. LIE group was given 200 mg/100 ml drinking water from first day of DENA injection until end of week 18. OC group received OC (0.1 mg/kg body weight, twice daily by subcutaneous injection, SC from the first day of week 17 till end of week 18. LIE + OC was given medications till the last day of week 18. Serum AFP, liver tissue SSTR-2 mRNA, its protein expression, reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were analyzed.

RESULTS

A significant increase in plasma AFP and hepatic mRNA, associated to liver tissue neoplastic changes, SSTR-2 expression and MDA with decreased hepatic GSH were observed in DENA group. These changes were significantly improved by LIE and/or OC.

CONCLUSIONS

LIE and/or OC treatment has effective chemopreventive action due to their ability to alleviate oxidative stress, desensitizing cellular growth receptor to SST.

Serum anti-P53 antibodies and alpha-fetoprotein in patients with non-B non-C hepatocellular carcinoma

The rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing worldwide including Egypt. Non-B non-C HCC was reported in some countries. We aimed to investigate P53 antibodies and alpha-fetoprotein in patients with non-B non-C HCC in our region. In a case series study, included 281 patients with HCC and 20 patients with liver cirrhosis of matched age, sex and social factors were received for management at Tanta University Hospitals. Sera were tested for HCV and HBV markers by ELISA/PCR, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level and anti-p53 antibody were evaluated by ELISA. Antinuclear antibody, serum copper and iron were assessed in non-viral HCC. Liver scanning and biopsy were evaluated. Non-B non-C HCC patients were 13.87% of total. P53 antibody serum level in non-B non-C HCC patients showed insignificant difference (p>0.05) as compared to viral-associated HCC, while significant as compared to cirrhosis. They had significant decrease in serum AFP level (p<0.001) as compared to viral-associated HCC. Their tumors were mainly solitary, and have smaller-sizes. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy test of anti P53 antibody positive patients were 91.52%, 84.63%, 90.34%, 80.2% and 74.8% respectively. It correlates positively with AFP, tumor size and staging, MELD score and Child-Pugh score. Non-B non-C HCC showed high serum prevalence of anti-p53 as viral-associated HCC suggesting an evidence of high onchogenecity. It appears of much benefit in diagnosis, follow up and differentiation from cirrhosis in presence of low levels of alpha-fetoprotein.

Polyol profile as an early diagnostic and prognostic marker in natural product chemoprevention of hepatocellular carcinoma in diabetic rats

AIM

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It directs glucose to sorbitol and fructose in polyol pathway (PP). To pursue contribution of PP in hepatocarcinogenesis.

METHODS

We utilized ascorbic acid (AA) and diallyl sulfide (DAS) in experimental DM and HCC against control. HCC was induced by diethyl nitrosamine (DENA, one intraperitoneal (IP) dose 125 mg/kg), DM, by streptozotocin (STZ, IP dose 65 mg/kg). AA was given as 7.4 g/kg/d, I.P., DAS 200mg/kg/d, orally. All animals were killed after 10 weeks.

RESULTS

DENA elevated serum AFP, erythrocyte sorbitol (ES), neoplastic changes in liver, lowered blood glucose, increased hepatocyte aldose reductase (AR) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), significantly alleviated by DAS/AA combination. DM elevated ES activating AR, inhibiting SDH, improved by DAS and AA.

CONCLUSION

Co-induction of DM and HCC increased liver tissue lesion, serum AFP, ES, liver AR and SDH. Co-administration of DAS/AA reduced ES, AR without changing SDH. DAS/AA co-therapy lowered ES by depressing AR without affecting SDH, meaning that AR is activated by cancer and DM in different ways. PP is early marker for HCC detection and response to chemoprevention. DAS/AA combination is promising cost effective chemopreventive and anti-diabetic combination.