Predictive value of immunogenic cell death biomarkers HMGB1, sRAGE, and DNase in liver cancer patients receiving transarterial chemoembolization therapy.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy is an effective locoregional anticancer treatment for liver cancer patients. Serum biomarkers involved in immunogenic cell death may be valuable for early predicting therapy response and estimating prognosis. Sera of 50 prospectively and consecutively included hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, undergoing TACE therapy, were taken before and 24 h after TACE application.

Circulating nucleosomes and biomarkers of immunogenic cell death as predictive and prognostic markers in cancer patients undergoing cytotoxic therapy.

Introduction: Immunogenic cell death markers are released from apoptotic and necrotic cells upon pathologic or therapeutic causes and stimulate the innate and adaptive immune system. Cell death products such as nucleosomes, damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecules such as the high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) and its receptor of advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) are supposed to play an essential role in driving this process. However, this immunogenic activation may have dual effects, either by sensitizing the immune system for more efficient tumor cell removal or by creating a favorable tumor microenvironment that facilitates tumor growth, proliferation and invasiveness.

Prognostic relevance of oncological serum biomarkers in liver cancer patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization therapy.

As transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy is an effective locoregional treatment for patients with advanced liver cancer, prognostic biomarkers are highly needed for pretherapeutic stratification of patients to TACE therapy. Sera of 50 prospectively and consecutively included patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing TACE were taken before and 24 h after TACE application. Levels of liver-specific, tumor-related, and cell death biomarkers were analyzed and correlated with overall patient survival.

Relevance of circulating nucleosomes and oncological biomarkers for predicting response to transarterial chemoembolization therapy in liver cancer patients.

Background: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy is an effective locoregional treatment in hepatocellular cancer (HCC) patients. For early modification of therapy, markers predicting therapy response are urgently required.

Methods: Here, sera of 50 prospectively and consecutively included HCC patients undergoing 71 TACE therapies were taken before and 3 h, 6 h and 24 h after TACE application to analyze concentrations of circulating nucleosomes, cytokeratin-19 fragments (CYFRA 21-1), alpha fetoprotein (AFP), C-reactive protein (CRP) and several liver biomarkers, and to compare these with radiological response to therapy.