Articles tagged with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Scientists have found that the hepatitis B virus primes liver cells to turn cancerous by 'turning off' an enzyme called GSK-3ß, which normally suppresses tumor formation. This discovery has potential relevance for other cancers and could lead to novel therapeutic approaches, including gene therapy and small molecules.
Studies show that smoking, red meat intake, and alcohol use increase the risk of serious gastrointestinal cancers. Patients who used tobacco and/or alcohol were diagnosed three to five years earlier on average than those who never smoked or drank.
A nested case-control study found that higher HBV viral loads were associated with increased liver cancer risk in Taiwanese men. Genotype C was also linked to a five-fold increased risk of HCC, with effects exacerbated by high viral load levels.
A study has identified two distinct subclasses of liver cancer with differing survival rates, providing new molecular insight into the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. The findings suggest that gene expression profiles can accurately predict patient survival and may lead to the development of more targeted therapies.
A US study found that liver transplantation significantly improves five-year survival rates for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), from 25.3% in the late 1980s to 61.1% in the early 2000s. The study suggests that careful patient selection based on improved criteria may be a key factor in these improvements.
Researchers identified a specific gene required for liver cancer metastasis, which may serve as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target. The study found that the activity of genes in tumors with metastatic potential differed from those without, enabling early detection and potentially improving treatment outcomes.
A new treatment option called TheraSphere appears safe and effective in reducing liver tumors and improving quality of life for patients with advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma. The novel treatment emits beta rays via microscopic glass beads, delivering a higher dose to the liver than standard radiotherapy.
A study by University of Pittsburgh surgeons found that liver cancer patients wait nearly a year for transplants, allowing tumors to grow too large to be cured. Modifying the policy could improve survival rates for Stage IV patients with four or more nodules less than 3 cm.
Mutations in the beta-catenin gene are frequent in hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer. The study found that about 50% of tumors in transgenic mice contained these mutations, and 26% of human liver cancer samples also had similar genetic alterations.