Articles tagged with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
A research team has developed a novel peptide drug called FFW that shows promise in reducing tumour growth and slowing down the spread of cancer cells. The drug targets SALL4 protein interactions, previously considered undruggable, and has shown effective results in lab experiments.
A new potential combined treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) has shown positive results, increasing overall survival in tumor-bearing mice. Researchers found that the combination of mTOR inhibitors and Phenformin causes a metabolic shift to glycolysis, sensitizing liver tumors to dual inhibition of mTOR.
Kanazawa University researchers discover that interstitial and alveolar macrophages play key role in spreading liver cancer to lungs. The study reveals the production of inflammatory lipid leukotriene B4 promotes tumor growth and invasiveness, sparking hope for novel treatment approaches.
A novel technique called radiation segmentectomy (RS) uses yttrium-90 to destroy tumors while sparing surrounding tissue. The procedure has shown positive response in 71% of patients and improved survival outcomes, with a median overall survival of 6.7 years.
Researchers have discovered that acyclic retinoid targets EpCAM-positive cancer stem cells by repressing MYCN expression, slowing cell growth and leading to greater cell death. This finding has significant implications for decreasing cancer recurrence and curing patients.
A nationwide US study confirms a significant decrease in liver transplant probabilities for HCC patients between 2005-2007 and 2014-2016. Patients with Medicaid insurance were less likely to receive transplants than those with private/commercial insurance.
The SORAMIC study found no overall survival benefit of adding selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) to sorafenib for patients with unresectable primary liver cancer. However, subgroup analyses suggested possible survival benefits in younger patients and those with certain cirrhosis characteristics.
A new assay using droplet digital PCR has been developed to detect closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in serum, single cells, and preserved tissue samples. This allows for the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and more effective treatment.
Researchers developed personalized T cell adoptive immunotherapy for patients with HBV-related HCC, resulting in an objective positive response with volumetric reduction of lung lesions and no new lesions detected. The therapy showed promise with no therapy-related adverse events.
A Canadian study found that biannual ultrasound screening for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with hepatitis C-related liver cirrhosis after achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) to direct-acting antiviral agents is likely to be cost-effective. However, surveillance is unlikely to be cost-effective in patients wit...
Researchers identify dioxin receptor as a key protein controlling cancer stem cell pluripotency and tumour differentiation. The study's findings have implications for developing new therapeutic options for liver cancer and melanoma.
Researchers have developed a method to identify splicing-based biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. These biomarkers may help predict disease progression and are associated with poor patient survival.
Researchers found that mTOR stimulates liver tumor formation through increased lipid synthesis. The study shows how mTORC2 promotes the new synthesis of fatty acids and lipids in hepatocytes, enabling rapid cell growth and energy production.
Researchers have developed a new diagnostic method for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma, based on a simple blood sample containing circulating tumor DNA. The test has been shown to highly correlate with tumor burden, treatment response, and stage of cancer.
Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma can start with a lower dose of sorafenib without affecting overall survival, experiencing fewer side effects and lower treatment costs. The reduced dose approach allows patients to ramp up as they show tolerance, while the standard dose may require ramping down due to toxicities.
A compound has been identified that enhances tumor-targeting viruses' ability to selectively kill liver cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. The oncolytic virus M1 was boosted by combining it with Eeyarestatin I, increasing its potency 3,600-fold against cancer cells in culture and animal models.
A new study identified over 11,000 miR-122 binding sites in a mouse model and found that three conserved target genes are associated with poor human HCC patient survival. The findings could help doctors predict liver cancer patient survival and develop an anticancer drug.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have successfully defined a rare pediatric malignant liver disease, HEMNOS, which showed positive treatment outcomes when treated like hepatoblastoma. The study found that all patients survived and achieved remission despite being considered high risk.
The SARAH trial found SIRT resulted in higher tumor response rates and controlled tumor progression compared to sorafenib, with better side-effect profiles and quality of life scores. However, it did not increase overall survival in HCC patients.
The CheckMate 040 study found that nivolumab produces durable responses with long-term survival rates of up to 59.9% in sorafenib-experienced patients with advanced HCC, regardless of Hepatitis B or C infection status.
Recent studies present contrasting evidence on DAA therapy's association with liver cancer. A study found a higher recurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients who received DAAs, while another found no difference in HCC occurrence or recurrence between DAA and interferon-based therapies.
Research reveals liver progenitor cells become activated and expand due to oncogenic signals from malignant hepatocytes. Progenitor cells can lead to benign or aggressive tumours, contributing to tumour heterogeneity.
A new study links protein c-Fos to liver carcinogenesis, highlighting the importance of maintaining healthy cholesterol levels in preventing liver cancer. The research suggests that statins may also prevent deleterious changes in hepatocytes caused by hypercholesterolemia and reduce inflammation.
Researchers developed a novel therapy using iPS-cell derived immune cells that produce interferon-β to combat liver cancer. The treatment was found to inhibit tumor cell proliferation and cause death, with high concentrations of IFN-β detected at targeted sites.
Sanford Simon at Rockefeller University has received a $600,000 grant from the Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation to develop a therapy for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. The disease typically affects adolescents and young adults with no history of liver disease, and there is currently no standard treatment regimen.
Following screening guidelines for HCC in cirrhotic patients significantly increases life expectancy, with a 5-month average gain compared to 'real life' monitoring. Cost-effectiveness analysis reveals that standardized surveillance is cost-effective at $1754/yr per life year gained in French costs and $32,415/yr in US costs.
A recent study published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics found that the 10-year incidence of liver cancer in UK patients with cirrhosis is as low as 4%. Patients with cirrhosis due to chronic viral hepatitis have the highest risk, but even then, it's lower than expected.
A new digital assay using circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has been developed to detect liver cancer, showing high specificity and sensitivity. The test can identify HCC in patients with a positive score, even when other methods like AFP screening are negative.
A phase 3 trial found regorafenib significantly improved overall survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a form of liver cancer. The study showed that regorafenib can improve survival in patients whose HCC progressed during treatment with sorafenib, an existing drug.
A new study reveals that RAF1 acts as a negative regulator of hepatocellular carcinoma, while promoting growth in inflammatory cells. This finding highlights the need for a more thorough understanding of the disease at the molecular level to design novel therapies.
Researchers from Charité have found that high blood selenium levels are associated with a decreased risk of developing liver cancer. Selenium deficiency is identified as a major risk factor for liver cancer, with the third of the population having lowest selenium status facing a five- to ten-fold increased risk.
A study found that biphenotypic primary liver carcinoma can be misclassified as hepatocellular carcinoma if only major imaging features are considered. The study suggests using a comprehensive algorithm for liver lesion assessment, such as Liver Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (LI-RADS), to accurately classify these malignancies.
Sorafenib treatment reduces immune-suppressive phenotypes in HCC patients, including decreased PD-1 expression and lower regulatory T cells. These responses correlate with increased overall survival.
CNIO researchers reveal that proinflammatory cytokine IL-17A triggers non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), two conditions with no current treatment. Blocking IL-17A or inhibiting cells that secrete it may prevent NASH in high-risk patients.
The phase III RESORCE trial shows regorafenib achieves improved survival rates compared to placebo in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The study demonstrates significant efficacy and safety benefits of the new agent as a second-line treatment option, providing hope for improved patient outcomes.
Recent evidence suggests that AAV vectors used for gene therapy can trigger liver cancer in rare patients. A new article challenges re-interpreted data, reaffirming the link between insertional mutagenesis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
A new study found significant racial disparities in liver cancer survival rates, with black patients facing a 33% increased risk of death and being transplanted less often. The disparity is attributed to factors such as larger tumor sizes at diagnosis, lower access to care, and higher prevalence of viral hepatitis.
A new prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma, ITA.LI.CA, shows superior survival prediction in Italian and Taiwanese cohorts, integrating tumor staging, liver function, functional status, and alpha-fetoprotein level. The resulting score has concordance indices of 0.71 and 0.78 in internal and external validation cohorts.
A new study found that patients with a prior history of hepatocellular carcinoma and treated with direct-acting antivirals for Hepatitis C have a higher-than-expected early recurrence rate of their liver cancer, with rates exceeding 40% in some subgroups. The recurrences may be due to a weakened immune system following DAA therapy.
A new study found that patients with Hepatitis C virus who took direct-acting antiviral treatments had a 'high rate' of re-developing their illness, including liver cancer. The study suggests that these patients require close monitoring due to the high risk of recurrence.
Researchers aim to develop precision treatment for HCC by targeting genetic abnormalities and chromosomal alterations. Targeted agents such as sorafenib have been developed, but further research is needed to utilize molecular profiles for therapy selection.
Liver cancer experts say following international guidelines is costing lives in Peru due to a lack of tailored treatment. The study suggests that using local knowledge and data can lead to better management of the disease in developing countries.
Researchers in gene therapy challenge a recent study linking adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2) to liver cancer development, citing flawed experimental methods and data interpretation. AAV2 is found in up to 90% of humans, yet liver cancer affects only about 10/100,000 people in the US.
Research suggests that retroviral long-terminal-repeat promoters may contribute to the emergence of hepatocellular carcinoma. The study found that these elements are highly activated in liver cancer tumors and non-tumor tissue from patients with different etiologies, including viral hepatitis or alcohol use.
A new study has found that detecting small fragments of tumor DNA in a patient's pre-surgery serum samples can predict early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma and guide treatment. This non-invasive method may lead to improved survival rates for liver cancer patients.
A new test for liver cancer is being developed based on analyzing the stable isotope compositions of rocks and minerals. The researchers found that patients with HCC have enriched quantities of certain isotopes, such as copper-63 and sulphur-32, in their blood compared to normal controls.
Researchers found that hepatitis B patients develop HCC at a younger age with more aggressive disease, while hepatitis C patients have underlying cirrhosis and diabetes. The study highlights the need to consider hepatitis status when developing treatment plans for newly diagnosed patients.
BLU-554, a small molecule inhibitor of FGFR4, has been identified as a potential treatment option for up to 30% of HCC patients. The investigational drug was shown to be potent and 'exquisitely selective' for FGFR4 compared to other kinases targeting the FGFR family.
Researchers identified specific molecular profiles and mutational patterns that can help determine which hepatocellular carcinoma patients benefit from targeted anticancer treatments. The study suggests that exome sequencing can be used to identify potential new targets for therapy, leading to optimized personalized patient care.
A large cohort study found that long-term use of entecavir (ETV) or tenofovir (TDF) results in excellent 5-year survival for Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), with a significant proportion of deaths coming from liver-unrelated causes. The development of hepatocellular carcinoma plays a major role in mortality.
Scientists from RIKEN have found that chronic hepatitis infection and inflammation can lead to similar genetic mutations in liver tumors, potentially paving the way for targeted therapies. The study identified changes in mutations associated with aggressive biliary-type liver cancers and discovered new targets for future treatments.
A study found that AAV vector integration and microRNA expression influenced liver cancer development after gene therapy. The study highlights the importance of considering vector design features when designing AAV vectors for gene therapy.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is associated with a complex tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), leading to carcinogenic progression. Targeted therapies targeting the microenvironment offer promise for treating this disease.
Researchers from CNIO discovered that a derivative of vitamin B3, nicotinamide riboside, prevents the development of liver tumors and induces tumor regression in mice. The study suggests that boosting NAD+ levels may have beneficial effects on cancer.
Researchers identified CD44 as a potential marker to select patients unresponsive to Sorafenib, a common liver cancer treatment. Patients with a less differentiated mesenchymal phenotype expressing CD44 tend to resist Sorafenib's action, highlighting the need for alternative therapies.
A team of scientists led by Prof. Mathias Heikenwälder found that immune cells, particularly CD8+ T cells and NK T cells, play a crucial role in the development of fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and liver cancer. The study suggests that an existing metabolic imbalance triggers the activation and migration of...
Researchers have found that protein AIM can prevent liver cancer development by triggering the complement cascade to eliminate cancerous cells. AIM accumulates on the surface of HCC cells, leading to their destruction.
A phase II clinical trial combining Sorafenib and Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) achieved improved patient survival, with median overall survival of 20.3 months for intermediate stage HCC patients. The treatment also showed promise in downstaging locally advanced HCC to potentially curative treatment.
A team of scientists has discovered a compound named triptolide, isolated from the thunder god vine, which is far more potent than current therapies against hepatocellular carcinoma. The researchers used nanotechnology to improve delivery and reduce toxicity, showing increased efficacy in tumor accumulation and uptake into cancer cells.
A new mouse model closely resembles human non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and demonstrates that interfering with key inflammatory proteins inhibits disease development and cancer progression. The study uses a genetically modified mouse strain to show the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory compounds in preventing NASH.