Depletion of proteasome subunit PSMD1 induces cancer cell death via protein ubiquitination and DNA damage, irrespective of p53 status.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by high incidence and fatality rates worldwide. In our exploration of prognostic factors in HCC, the 26s proteasome subunit, non-ATPase 1 (PSMD1) protein emerged as a significant contributor, demonstrating its potential as a therapeutic target in this aggressive cancer. PSMD1 is a subunit of the 19S regulatory particle in the 26S proteasome complex; the 19S particle controls the deubiquitination of ubiquitinated proteins, which are then degraded by the proteolytic activity of the complex.

A Cell-Penetrant Peptide Disrupting the Transcription Factor CP2c Complexes Induces Cancer-Specific Synthetic Lethality.

Despite advances in precision oncology, cancer remains a global public health issue. In this report, proof-of-principle evidence is presented that a cell-penetrable peptide (ACP52C) dissociates transcription factor CP2c complexes and induces apoptosis in most CP2c oncogene-addicted cancer cells through transcription activity-independent mechanisms. CP2cs dissociated from complexes directly interact with and degrade YY1, leading to apoptosis via the MDM2-p53 pathway.

NPFFR2 Contributes to the Malignancy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development by Activating RhoA/YAP Signaling.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a diverse family of cell surface receptors implicated in various physiological functions, making them common targets for approved drugs. Many GPCRs are abnormally activated in cancers and have emerged as therapeutic targets for cancer. Neuropeptide FF receptor 2 (NPFFR2) is a GPCR that helps regulate pain and modulates the opioid system; however, its function remains unknown in cancers.

Prognosis after intrahepatic recurrence in the patients who underwent curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Backgrounds/aims: Intrahepatic recurrence is frequent result after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We analyzed the clinical results of patients who had the intrahepatic recurrences of HCC after curative surgical resections.

Methods: From January 2009 to December 2016, 320 patients underwent curative surgical resection for HCC in department of Surgery, Korea Cancer Center Hospital.

Comparison of the clinical results of surgical resection for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas: Hilar cholangiocarcinoma and mid-to-distal cholangiocarcinoma.

Backgrounds/aims: Hilar cholangiocarcinomas (HLC) are known to have worse prognoses than mid-to-distal cholangiocarcinomas (CBDC). We analyzed the clinical results of surgical resections for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas to validate the differences in the prognoses of HLC and CBDC.

Methods: Two hundred and eighty-one patients underwent curative surgical resections for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas at the Department of Surgery in the Korea Cancer Center Hospital.

A phase 2 multicenter study of stereotactic body radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: Safety and efficacy.

Background: Although several prospective studies have reported the efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), treatment-related toxicity varies and has not been determined. Therefore, the authors evaluated the safety and efficacy of SBRT for patients with HCC in a hepatitis B virus-endemic area.

Methods: This multicenter phase 2 trial enrolled patients with unresectable HCC.

TMEM165, a Golgi transmembrane protein, is a novel marker for hepatocellular carcinoma and its depletion impairs invasion activity.

Transmembrane protein 165 (TMEM165), a Golgi protein, functions in ion homeostasis and vesicular trafficking in the Golgi apparatus. While mutations in TMEM165 are known to cause human 'congenital disorders of glycosylation', a recessive autosomal metabolic disease, the potential association of this protein with human cancer development has not been explored to date. In the present study, we revealed that TMEM165 is overexpressed in HCC and its depletion weakens the invasive activity of cancer cells through suppression of matrix metalloproteinase‑2 (MMP‑2) expression.

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 is implicated in the aggressiveness of human hepatocellular carcinoma and controls the invasive activity of cancer cells.

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is a protein that catalyzes transfer of methyl groups to the arginine residues of proteins and is involved in diverse cellular and biological responses. While the participation of PRMT5 in cancer progression has been increasingly documented, its association with the invasive phenotype currently remains poorly understood. In the present study, we revealed that PRMT5 is overexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and in colon cancer and its depletion leads to the suppression of cell invasive activity via the reduction of the expression of MMP-2.

The mitochondrial hinge protein, UQCRH, is a novel prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Alterations in mitochondrial respiration contribute to the development and progression of cancer via abnormal biogenesis, including generation of reactive oxygen species. Ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase hinge protein (UQCRH) consists of the cytochrome bc1 complex serving respiration in mitochondria. In the present study, we analyzed UQCRH abnormalities in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its association with clinical outcomes of patients.

Hepatectomy, combined with intraoperative radiofrequency ablation in patients with multiple hepatocellular carcinomas.

Backgrounds/aims: We compared the efficacy and safety of a hepatectomy, combined with intraoperative radiofrequency ablation to those of wider extent hepatectomy, alone, in patients with multiple hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).

Methods: Between January 2004 and December 2013, 78 patients with multiple HCCs underwent surgery. 25 patients were treated by hepatectomy, combined with intraoperative radiofrequency ablation (RFA) (group A), and 53 underwent hepatectomy only (group B).

CD44 expression in patients with combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma.

Purpose: Combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (ChC) is a rare type of primary liver cancer, which is thought to have a poorer prognosis than hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cancer stem cells are associated with tumorigenesis, tumor progression, recurrence, metastasis, and poor prognosis in several malignancies including HCC. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of cancer stem cell markers in ChC and HCC, and to evaluate whether this pattern correlated to patient prognosis.

Prognostic Value of SUVmax Measured by Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography with Computed Tomography in Patients with Gallbladder Cancer.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic value of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in gallbladder cancer patients.

Methods: From June 2004 to June 2010, a total of 50 patients with gallbladder cancer who underwent diagnostic staging with F-18 FDG PET/CT following curative or palliative treatments were retrospectively evaluated. For the analysis, all patients were classified by age, sex, maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), lymph node (LN) or distant metastasis, serum level of CA19-9 and CEA, type of treatment and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage.

High-dose stereotactic body radiotherapy correlates increased local control and overall survival in patients with inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Recent studies using stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have reported high tumor response and local control. However, the optimal SBRT dose remains unknown, and it is still not clear whether a dose response relationship for local control (LC) and overall survival (OS) exist or not. We performed this study to determine whether a dose response relationship for LC and OS is observed in SBRT for inoperable HCC.

Hepatic resection for hepatic metastases from gastric adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: The effects of hepatic resection on patients with metastatic tumors from gastric adenocarcinomas are unclear. Therefore, we analyzed early clinical outcomes in patients who underwent surgical resection for hepatic metastases from gastric adenocarcinomas.

Materials And Methods: From January 2003 to December 2010, 1,508 patients with primary gastric cancers underwent curative gastric resections at the Korea Cancer Center Hospital.

Laparoscopic major liver resection in Korea: a multicenter study.

Introduction: We report our experience with laparoscopic major liver resection in Korea based on a multicenter retrospective study.

Materials And Methods: Data from 1,009 laparoscopic liver resections conducted from 2001 to 2011 were retrospectively collected. Twelve tertiary medical centers with specialized hepatic surgeons participated in this study.

Extrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative hepatic resection.

Backgrounds/aims: This study was designed to compare the recurrence patterns after curative hepatectomy, to compare the prognosis according to the initial site of metastasis, and to investigate the independent predictive factors associated with extrahepatic recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after curative hepatectomy.

Methods: From January 2000 to July 2009, 307 patients underwent curative hepatectomies for HCC at our institution; 152 patients showed recurrences. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their initial recurrence site: the intrahepatic recurrence (IHR) group and extrahepatic recurrence (EHR) group.

Fat Tissue Infiltration into the Pancreas Parenchyme and Its Effect on the Result of Surgery.

Purpose: In Korea, there are few reports regarding the infiltration of fat tissue in pancreatic parenchyma in surgically resected organs. It is necessary to ascertain the correlation between the presence of fat tissue in the resection margin of the pancreas and the surgery outcome.

Methods: Fifty four patients who underwent pancreatic resection from Jan.

Hypophosphatemia after live donor right hepatectomy.

Background: It is known that hypophosphatemia can frequently develop after hepatectomy and may result from an increased renal phosphate leak. However, its clinical significance has not been well defined in live donor right hepatectomy (LDRH). The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between postoperative hypophosphatemia and both donor morbidity and the degree of hepatic resection in LDRH.

The right small-for-size graft results in better outcomes than the left small-for-size graft in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation.

Background: The recent outcome of adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (ALDLT) using small-for-size grafts (SFSGs; GRWR <0.8%) has been excellent after right grafts were exclusively used in large-volume ALDLT centers.

Methods: We compared the outcome of ALDLTs using 11 right SFSGs (group R) with that using 18 left SFSGs (group L) of our center.

Effect of preoperative biliary drainage on surgical results after pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients with distal common bile duct cancer: focused on the rate of decrease in serum bilirubin.

Aim: To examine if the rate of decrease in serum bilirubin after preoperative biliary drainagecan be used as a predicting factor for surgical complications and postoperative recovery after pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients with distal common bile duct cancer.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 49 consecutive patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for distal common bile duct cancer. Potential risk factors were compared between the complicated and uncomplicated groups.

Acute graft versus host disease following living donor liver transplantation: first Korean report.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after liver transplantation is an uncommon fatal complication and no effective preventive or therapeutic measure is available. We report the first case of fatal GVHD after liver transplantation in Korea. A 51-year-old male underwent living donor liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Classification and prognosis of intrahepatic biliary stricture after liver transplantation.

Intrahepatic biliary stricture (IHBS) after liver transplantation (LT) may develop in patients with hepatic artery thrombosis, chronic rejection, or ABO incompatibility, as well as in patients with prolonged warm ischemia in non-heart-beating donor (NHBD) LT. However, the clinical course and methods of management have not been well defined for IHBSs to date. Thus, the purpose of this study was to provide a classification of post-LT IHBS and to investigate patient prognosis.

Preoperative lamivudine therapy in HBV DNA positive recipients: is it always necessary?

Background/aims: Long-term preoperative lamivudine therapy has been recommended for patients with positive HBV DNA to suppress HBV replication before liver transplantation. However, it is unclear whether preoperative lamivudine therapy is mandatory in HBV DNA positive patients to reliably prevent HBV recurrence or whether transplantation should be delayed to allow time for sufficient preoperative lamivudine therapy.

Methodology: From January 2000 to January 2004, thirty-eight patients serum positive for HBV DNA who survived more than 3 months after transplantation and received postoperative combination prophylaxis with hepatitis B immune globulin and lamivudine were enrolled.