Preoperative clinical and contrasted-enhanced CT features to predict perineural invasion in gallbladder carcinoma: focus on clinical T3-4 stage.

Purpose: To investigate the utility of combining clinical and contrasted-enhanced tomography (CECT) parameters for the preoperative evaluation of perineural invasion (PNI) in gallbladder carcinoma (GBC).

Methods: A total of 134 patients with GBC (male/female, 52/82; age, 64.4 ± 9.

CircUGP2 Suppresses Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Progression via p53 Signaling Through Interacting With PURB to Regulate ADGRB1 Transcription and Sponging miR-3191-5p.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary liver cancer and its prognosis remains poor. Although growing numbers of studies have verified the involvement of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in various cancer types, their specific functions in ICC remain elusive. Herein, a circRNA, circUGP2 is identified by circRNA sequencing, which is downregulated in ICC tissues and correlated with patients' prognosis.

Apolipoprotein A-1 Accelerated Liver Regeneration Through Regulating Autophagy Via AMPK-ULK1 Pathway.

Background & Aims: Apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA-1), the main apolipoprotein of high-density lipoprotein, has been well studied in the area of lipid metabolism and cardiovascular diseases. In this project, we clarify the function and mechanism of ApoA-1 in liver regeneration.

Methods: Seventy percent of partial hepatectomy was applied in male ApoA-1 knockout mice and wild-type mice to investigate the effects of ApoA-1 on liver regeneration.

BUB1B promotes extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma progression via JNK/c-Jun pathways.

Currently, the controversy regarding the expression profile and function of BUB1B in different malignancies still exist. In this project, we aimed to explore the role and molecular mechanism of BUB1B in the progression of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC). The expression levels of BUB1B in human ECC were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, western blot, and real-time PCR.

Clinical significance and functional role of transmembrane protein 47 (TMEM47) in chemoresistance of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Chemoresistance is the main cause of chemotherapy failure in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The gene encoding transmembrane protein 47 (TMEM47) was previously identified to be significantly upregulated in HCC cell lines with acquired chemoresistance. The aim of the present study was to characterize the clinical significance and function of TMEM47 in HCC chemoresistance.

FTY720 Suppresses Liver Tumor Growth and Metastasis by Reducing Circulating Regulating T Cells and Enhancing the Anti-Tumor Effect of Rapamycin.

Background: In this study, we aimed to study the effect of FTY720 treatment in reducing circulating Tregs level and then suppressing liver tumor metastasis after hepatectomy and I/R injury in animal models. Furthermore, we also investigated the synergistic anti-tumor effect of FTY720 combined with rapamycin on hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: The effect of FTY720 on suppressing Tregs mobilization and tumor metastasis after hepatectomy was investigated in an orthotopic liver tumor rat model with hepatectomy and hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

MiR-30a-5p promotes cholangiocarcinoma cell proliferation through targeting SOCS3.

: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the occurrence and development of cancers. In this project, we aimed to explore the role and molecular mechanism of mir-30a-5p in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). : The expression profile and clinical significance of miR-30a-5p in CCA patients were investigated in 31 ICC and 52 ECC patients respectively.

Surgical Strategies for the Treatment of Bismuth Type I and II Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma: Bile Duct Resection with or Without Hepatectomy?

Background: The role of hepatic resection in the treatment of type I and II hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) remains controversial. In the present study, we aimed to identify whether hepatic resection was necessary for type I and II HCCA.

Methods: A total of 23 patients classified as type I and II HCCA undergoing surgical resection were included in this study.

The Inhibition of Aldose Reductase Accelerates Liver Regeneration through Regulating Energy Metabolism.

Objectives: Our previous study showed that aldose reductase (AR) played key roles in fatty liver ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury by regulating inflammatory response and energy metabolism. Here, we aim to investigate the role and mechanism of AR in the regeneration of normal and fatty livers after liver surgery.

Methods: The association of AR expression with liver regeneration was studied in the rat small-for-size liver transplantation model and the mice major hepatectomy and hepatic IR injury model with or without fatty change.

Preoperative Bilirubin Level Predicts Overall Survival and Tumor Recurrence After Resection for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma Patients.

Objective: Currently, the correlation between preoperative bilirubin level and overall survival (OS) remains poorly defined in respectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (CC). The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the outcomes of perihilar CC after resection and then to analyze factors influencing curative resection, tumor recurrence and OS.

Methods: 115 patients with perihilar CC underwent surgical resection were retrospectively analyzed based on clinic characteristics, operative details, tumor recurrence and long-term survival data.

ApoA-1 accelerates regeneration of small-for-size fatty liver graft after transplantation.

Objectives: Apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA-1) is involved in regulating both lipid and energy metabolism, which may play important roles in liver regeneration, especially for the liver with steatosis. We here intended to investigate the role of ApoA-1 in regeneration of small-for-size fatty liver graft and to explore the underlying mechanism.

Methods: The association of ApoA-1 expression with liver regeneration was studied in rat liver transplantation models using small-for-size normal graft or small-for-size fatty graft.

Glutathione Peroxidase 3 Delivered by hiPSC-MSCs Ameliorated Hepatic IR Injury via Inhibition of Hepatic Senescence.

Down-regulation of GPx3 accelerated hepatic senescence, which further caused overwhelming inflammation and severe liver graft injury. MSCs derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-MSCs) have been developed as more efficient delivery vehicle with the property of injury tropism. Here, we aimed to explore the suppressive role of GPx3 in hepatic IR injury using novel delivery system of hiPSC-MSCs.

Oval Cells Contribute to Fibrogenesis of Marginal Liver Grafts under Stepwise Regulation of Aldose Reductase and Notch Signaling.

Expanded donor criteria poses increased risk for late phase complications such as fibrosis that lead to graft dysfunction in liver transplantation. There remains a need to elucidate the precise mechanisms of post-transplant liver damage in order to improve the long-term outcomes of marginal liver grafts. In this study, we aimed to examine the role of oval cells in fibrogenic development of marginal liver grafts and explore the underlying mechanisms.

A hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier sensitized Cisplatin based chemotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Objective: Our previous study showed that liver graft injury not only promotes tumor recurrence, but also induces chemoresistance in recurrent HCC after liver transplantation. Recently, we found that the hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier"YQ23" significantly ameliorates hepatic IR injury and prevent tumor recurrence. Here, we intended to explore the novel therapeutic strategy using oxygen carrier "YQ23"to sensitize chemotherapy in HCC.

The Impact of Liver Graft Injury on Cancer Recurrence Posttransplantation.

Liver transplantation is the most effective treatment for selected patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. However, cancer recurrence, posttransplantation, remains to be the critical issue that affects the long-term outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma recipients. In addition to tumor biology itself, increasing evidence demonstrates that acute-phase liver graft injury is a result of hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury (which is an inevitable consequence during liver transplantation) and may promote cancer recurrence at late phase posttransplantation.

NLRP3 inflammasome induced liver graft injury through activation of telomere-independent RAP1/KC axis.

Acute-phase inflammation plays a critical role in liver graft injury. Inflammasomes, multi-molecular complexes in the cytoplasm, are responsible for initiating inflammation. Here, we aimed to explore the role of inflammasomes in liver graft injury and further to investigate the regulatory mechanism.

'Obligate' anaerobic strain YB1 suppresses liver tumor growth and metastasis in nude mice.

The antitumor properties of bacteria have been demonstrated over the past decades. However, the efficacy is limited and unclear. Furthermore, systemic infection remains a serious concern in bacteria treatment.

CXCL10/CXCR3 signaling mobilized-regulatory T cells promote liver tumor recurrence after transplantation.

Background & Aims: Liver graft injury and tumor recurrence are the major challenges of liver transplantation for the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we aimed to explore the role and mechanism of liver graft injury mobilizing regulatory T cells (Tregs), which lead to late phase tumor recurrence after liver transplantation.

Methods: The correlation among tumor recurrence, liver graft injury and Tregs mobilization were studied in 257 liver transplant recipients with HCC and orthotopic rat liver transplantation models.

The Clinical Significance and Potential Therapeutic Role of GPx3 in Tumor Recurrence after Liver Transplantation.

Background And Aims: Our previous study showed that small-for-size liver graft may provide favorable micro-environment for tumor growth. GPx3, an anti-oxidant, not only attenuates oxidative stress, but also suppresses liver tumor growth in our recent study. Here, we aimed to characterize the clinical significance and explore the functional role of GPx3 in HCC recurrence after liver transplantation.

Repressor and activator protein accelerates hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury by promoting neutrophil inflammatory response.

Repressor and activator protein (Rap1) directly regulates nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) dependent signaling, which contributes to hepatic IRI. We here intended to investigate the effect of Rap1 in hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) and to explore the underlying mechanisms. The association of Rap1 expression with hepatic inflammatory response were investigated in both human and rat liver transplantation.

Early-phase circulating miRNAs predict tumor recurrence and survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients after liver transplantation.

Post-liver transplantation tumor recurrence is a major challenge for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recipients. We aimed to identify early-phase circulating microRNAs after liver transplantation for predicting tumor recurrence and survival of HCC recipients. Circulating microRNA profiles at early-phase (2-hour after portal vein reperfusion) after liver transplantation were compared between HCC recipients with (n=4) and without tumor recurrence (n=8) by microarray analyses.