Circulating MicroRNA-21 and MicroRNA-122 as Prognostic Biomarkers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Treated with Transarterial Chemoembolization.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been proposed as biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aim at evaluating miR-21 and miR-122 in HCC patients treated with drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) as prognostic biomarkers and investigating their correlation with hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) serum levels.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 12 healthy subjects, 28 cirrhotics, and 54 HCC patients (tested before and four weeks after DEB-TACE) were included.

Monofocal hepatocellular carcinoma: How much does size matter?

Background & Aims: According to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system, monofocal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is classified as early (BCLC A) irrespective of its size, even though controversies still exist regarding staging and treatment of large tumours. We aimed at evaluating the appropriate staging and treatment for large (>5 cm) monofocal (HCC).

Methods: From the Italian Liver Cancer database, we selected 924 patients with small early monofocal HCC (2-5 cm; SEM-HCC), 163 patients with larger tumours (>5 cm; LEM-HCC) and 1048 intermediate stage patients (BCLC B).

SCCA-IgM in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with transarterial chemoembolization: gender-related differences.

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen immune complexed with immunoglobulin M (SCCA-IgM) is a useful but not completely satisfactory biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Considering its gender-specific behavior in preclinical models, we investigated gender-related differences of SCCA-IgM as a prognostic marker in HCC. Two hundred and eight prospectively recruited patients treated with transarterial chemoembolization in a single tertiary care hospital were retrospectively evaluated.

Capecitabine in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A multicenter experience.

Background: Recent data suggest a potential activity and a good tolerability of capecitabine in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Aims: To evaluate capecitabine activity and safety in a wide cohort of advanced HCC patients.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 143 capecitabine-treated patients (January 2010 to December 2017) in three centers of the Veneto Oncology Network.

When and how should we perform a biopsy for HCC in patients with liver cirrhosis in 2018? A review.

The role of liver biopsy in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has changed over time. The diagnostic algorithm for this tumor is nowadays mainly based on radiological imaging, relegating histology to controversial cases, in which imaging techniques cannot establish a clear-cut diagnosis. This most commonly happens in small lesions, where biopsies frequently become mandatory, or in larger hypovascularized lesions.