Serum Angiopoietin 2 acts as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma

A meta-analysis and of clinical values of 11 blood biomarkers, such as AFP, DCP, and GP73 for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma lacks ideal diagnostic biomarkers. There is a lack of scientific evaluation of relevant promising biomarkers as well. Therefore this study reanalyzes the related studies of 11 blood biomarkers of HCC, and compares the diagnostic value of these biomarkers for HCC systematically.

METHODS

The relevant literatures on the diagnostic value in HCC of 11 blood indexes in recent 5 years were searched in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane libraries. Data were extracted and analyzed.

RESULTS

Finally, 83 literature studies were brought into meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of AFP were 0.61 and 0.87, respectively. The AUC of AFP were 0.78. The AUC and sum of sensitivity and specificity of the combination of AFP and other biomarkers were all significantly higher than that of AFP, including AFP + AFP-L3 + DCP, AFP + DCP, AFP/DCP, AFP + GPC3. Among other biomarkers, the AUC and sum of sensitivity and specificity of biomarkers including DCP, GPC3, GP73, Hsp90alpha, midkine, and OPN were significantly higher than that of AFP. In this study, GP73 had the highest sum of sensitivity and specificity (1.78) and AUC (0.95).

CONCLUSIONS

The pooled sensitivity and specificity of AFP were 0.61 and 0.87, respectively. The AUC of AFP were 0.78. The combination of AFP and other biomarkers improved the diagnostic efficiency. The diagnostic value of biomarkers including DCP, GPC3, GP73, Hsp90alpha, midkine, and OPN was higher than that of AFP. GP73 had the best diagnostic value for HCC with the highest sum of sensitivity and specificity (1.78) and AUC (0.95).KEY MESSAGESThe pooled sensitivity and specificity of AFP were 0.61 and 0.87, respectively. The AUC of AFP were 0.78. The combination of AFP and other biomarkers improved the diagnostic efficiency of HCC.The diagnostic value of biomarkers including DCP, GPC3, GP73, Hsp90alpha, midkine, and OPN was higher than that of AFP.GP73 had the best diagnostic value for HCC.

Angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma: mechanisms and anti-angiogenic therapies

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-associated death worldwide. Angiogenesis, the process of formation of new blood vessels, is required for cancer cells to obtain nutrients and oxygen. HCC is a typical hypervascular solid tumor with an aberrant vascular network and angiogenesis that contribute to its growth, progression, invasion, and metastasis. Current anti-angiogenic therapies target mainly tyrosine kinases, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), and are considered effective strategies for HCC, particularly advanced HCC. However, because the survival benefits conferred by these anti-angiogenic therapies are modest, new anti-angiogenic targets must be identified. Several recent studies have determined the underlying molecular mechanisms, including pro-angiogenic factors secreted by HCC cells, the tumor microenvironment, and cancer stem cells. In this review, we summarize the roles of pro-angiogenic factors; the involvement of endothelial cells, hepatic stellate cells, tumor-associated macrophages, and tumor-associated neutrophils present in the tumor microenvironment; and the regulatory influence of cancer stem cells on angiogenesis in HCC. Furthermore, we discuss some of the clinically approved anti-angiogenic therapies and potential novel therapeutic targets for angiogenesis in HCC. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying angiogenesis may lead to the development of more optimized anti-angiogenic treatment modalities for HCC.

Comparison of efficacy and safety between transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with lenvatinib versus TACE combined with sorafenib in the treatment of intermediate and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To compare the clinical effect and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with lenvatinib versus TACE combined with sorafenib in the treatment of intermediate-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, 84 patients with intermediate-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC from June 2019 to June 2021 were enrolled. The control group was given TACE combined with sorafenib, and the experimental group was given TACE combined with lenvatinib. The clinical efficacy, tumor markers, liver function indexes, and occurrence of toxic and side effects were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The disease control rate (DCR) and the objective remission rate (ORR) of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Before treatment, there were no significant differences in the levels of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and des-gamma carboxyprothrombin (DCP) between the two groups (both P>0.05); after the treatment, the levels of AFP and DCP in both groups decreased, and those in the experimental group were lower than the control group (all P<0.05). Before treatment, there were no significant differences in the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), bilirubin (BIL) between the two groups (all P>0.05); after treatment, the levels of ALT, AST and LDH, BIL in both groups decreased, with the experimental group lower than the control group (all P<0.05). The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in the experimental group were significantly higher than in the control group (both P<0.05). The incidences of symptoms of diarrhea, hand-foot syndrome, hypertension and rash in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). Fatigue, digestive tract reaction, bone marrow suppression and abnormal liver function of the two groups were similar (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Compared with TACE plus sorafenib, TACE plus lenvatinib can better control disease progression, reduce the levels of tumor markers, and stabilize the liver function of patients with intermediate-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Impact of eradication of hepatitis C virus on liver-related and -unrelated diseases: morbidity and mortality of chronic hepatitis C after SVR

Hepatitis C virus infection is characterized by chronic liver inflammation and fibrogenesis, leading to end-stage liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma over the course of 20 to 30 years. It seems not only the chronicity of hepatitis C but also the presence of the virus in non-hepatic tissues creates a favorable environment for the potential development of pathogenic impacts on extrahepatic systems and organs. Numerous extra-hepatic manifestations have been reported in association with HCV infection, all of which can substantially affect morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. With the recent development of DAAs, antiviral treatment can cure almost all patients with HCV infection, even those intolerant of or unresponsive to IFN treatment, and several large multicenter studies have confirmed the association of DAA-induced SVR with reductions in liver-related and liver-unrelated complications, such as cardiovascular events, end stage renal disease, and so on. Because, in addition to liver-related diseases, extrahepatic lesions are threatening for patients, it is important to eradicate the virus before these progress and affect life prognosis; in other words, patients should be treated before reaching the point of no return. Tailored surveillance with biomarkers such as M2BPGi and Ang-2, which can be used to identify patients with an elevated risk of EHM, and early prevention or treatment for these patients could improve the morbidity, mortality and QOL. Advancement of both basic and clinical research in this field including the development of more precise biomarkers is highly anticipated.

Serum angiopoietin-2 levels predict regression of Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer-based liver fibrosis after hepatitis C virus eradication by direct-acting antiviral agents

AIM

It is desirable to identify predictors of regression of liver fibrosis after achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR) by direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) to antihepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy. Here, we retrospectively investigated the serum angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) level as a predictive indicator of regression of liver fibrosis after successful HCV eradication by DAA therapy.

METHODS

The study subjects were recruited from a historical cohort of 109 chronically HCV-infected patients who had achieved SVR by DAA therapy and whose serum Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) levels at baseline (before DAA therapy) were ≥2.0 the cut-off index (COI). We defined patients with M2BPGi levels <1.76 and ≥1.76 COI at 2 years after the end of treatment (EOT) as the regression (R, n = 69) and nonregression (NR, n = 40) groups, respectively.

RESULTS

Multivariate analyses revealed that the Ang-2 level at baseline and the Ang-2 level, albumin-bilirubin score, and FIB-4 index at 24 weeks after the EOT were significantly associated with regression of M2BPGi-based liver fibrosis. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses showed that the Ang-2 level at 24 weeks after the EOT had the largest area under the curve values (0.859). The same results were obtained even when the serum M2BPGi levels were aligned by propensity score matching and in patients with advanced M2BPGi-based liver fibrosis: M2BPGi levels ≥3.3 COI at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

The serum Ang-2 level at 24 weeks after the EOT is a feasible predictor of regression of M2BPGi-based liver fibrosis after achieving SVR by DAA therapy.