23-hydroxybetulinic acid reduces tumorigenesis, metastasis and immunosuppression in a mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma via disruption of the MAPK signaling pathway.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) shows recurrence and lung metastasis even after treatment. 23-hydroxybetulinic acid (23-HBA), a major active constituent of Pulsatilla chinensis, exhibits potent antitumor activities. We herein investigate the biological effect of 23-HBA on metastasis and immunosuppression in a mouse model of HCC.

LncRNA ZNF674-AS1 Hinders Proliferation and Invasion of Hepatic Carcinoma Cells through the Glycolysis Pathway.

Purpose: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in regulating various functions of cells at the levels of transcription and posttranscription. Extensive investigations have illustrated that lncRNAs are critical in the glucose metabolism of tumor cells, but their mechanisms of action need to be further explored. This study evaluates the role of lncRNA ZNF674-AS1 on the apoptosis and proliferation of human hepatic carcinoma cells in vitro through the glucose metabolism and its related mechanisms.

A Five-Gene-Based Prognostic Signature for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

This study intends to identify potential prognostic marker genes associated with the prognosis of patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on TCGA and GEO analysis. TCGA-LIHC cohort was downloaded and the data related to HCC were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and subjected to differential analysis. HCC-related gene expression datasets were retrieved from the GEO database, followed by differential analysis.

Identification of the Pathogenic Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on RNA-seq Analyses.

The purpose of this study was to explore potential biomarkers in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on RNA-seq. The microarray data GSE98269 were downloaded from the GEO database, including the miRNA, mRNA and lncRNA expression profiles of 3 HCC tissues and 3 normal liver tissues from 3 HCC patients. The limma package was used to identify the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and the differentially expressed lncRNAs in HCC tissues compared with normal liver tissues.

Icotinib inhibits the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo dependently on EGFR activation and PDL1 expression.

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for one of the most prevalent tumor types in the world and still lacks an effective treatment regimen. The EGFR tyrosine-kinase inhibitor icotinib is capable of inhibiting proliferation of several kinds of cancer cells, but its anticancer effect in HCC is still not verified.

Methods: In the current study, ten HCC cell lines were selected to test their original EGFR-activation status and PDL1 protein level, and in vitro antiproliferation assays were also conducted to analyze the IC and further investigate the correlation between IC and protein level of phosphorylated EGFR and PDL1.

Impact of non-oncological factors on tumor recurrence after liver transplantation in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary neoplasm of the liver and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Liver transplantation (LT) has become one of the best curative therapeutic options for patients with HCC, although tumor recurrence after LT is a major and unaddressed cause of mortality. Furthermore, the factors that are associated with recurrence are not fully understood, and most previous studies have focused on the biological properties of HCC, such as the number and size of the HCC nodules, the degree of differentiation, the presence of hepatic vascular invasion, elevated serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein, and the tumor stage outside of the Milan criteria.

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Marked improvement in the prognosis for patients with liver cancer who undergo liver transplantation has been achieved as a result of advances in liver transplantation techniques. Given the current shortage of organs in China, a favorable long-term survival rate might be achieved with rigorous selection of suitable patients and therefore benefit society the most. Further study of the mechanism of cancer recurrence following liver transplantation, continuing to optimize pretreatment strategies prior to liver transplantation, and paying closer attention to the prevention and treatment of cancer recurrence following liver transplantation are important steps to improve the long-term clinical benefit of liver transplantation for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Middle hepatic vein allocation in adult right lobe living donor liver transplantation.

Introduction: When adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) using the right lobe is carried out, there is disagreement between different centers as to whether the middle hepatic vein (MHV) is included or retained by the donor.

Methods: Ninety-two cases of adult-to-adult LDLT were performed between January 2007 and December 2010 using a right lobe graft. A protocol for MHV allocation was applied according to the donor's remnant liver volume, overall graft/recipient weight ratio (GRWR), and anatomic characteristics of the hepatic vein.

Notch1-Snail1-E-cadherin pathway in metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.

Notch signaling, a critical pathway for tissue development, also contributes to tumorigenesis in many cancers, but its pathological function in liver cancer is not well defined. In our study, Notch1 expression and its clinicopathological parameters were evaluated in 82 human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Plasmid-based siNotch1 shRNA was transiently or stably transfected into metastatic HCC cells and subsequently evaluated for the effects on orthotopic liver tumor metastasis in a mouse model as well as the effects on downstream pathways.

Feasibility of using a liver infected with Clonorchis sinensis for liver transplantation: fourteen cases.

Use of livers infected with Clonorchis sinensis as donor organs for transplantation is controversial because of the potential associated risks. The low availability of donor livers at Tianjin First Center Hospital since 2003 prompted us to undertake cadaveric liver transplantation in 14 patients using donor livers infected with C. sinensis.

Liver retransplantation for ischemic-type biliary lesions after orthotopic liver transplantation: a clinical report of 66 cases.

Background: Ischemic-type biliary lesions (ITBLs) play an extremely important role in influencing the long-term survival and quality of life of recipients after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Some patients can be cured by interventional therapies, however others lose their grafts at last and receive liver retransplantation (re-OLT). The aim of this study was to analyze the data of 66 patients who had received re-OLT at our center because of ITBL and to discuss the treatment of ITBL after OLT.

[Long-term complications after liver transplantation].

Objective: To investigate the long-term complications after liver transplantation.

Methods: Totally 85 living patients who received liver transplantation from December 30th 1998 to May 28th 2002 in Tianjin First Central Hospital were followed up till October 2007. Liver and kidney functions, blood drug levels, blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood fat were recorded and ultrasound imaging was performed during follow-up.