Perioperative and oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic versus open liver resection for combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma: a propensity score matching analysis.

Background: Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has now been established as a safe and minimally invasive technique that is deemed feasible for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). However, the role of LLR in treating combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) patients has been rarely reported. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of LLR when compared with open liver resection (OLR) procedure for patients with cHCC-CC.

Adjuvant apatinib treatment after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis: a phase II trial.

Background: Survival after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) still remains poor. Apatinib, a vascular endothelial cell growth factor receptor 2 inhibitor, has been shown to be safe and effective in patients with advanced HCC, so in the present study its efficacy and safety in the adjuvant setting was explored.

Methods: In this single-center, open-label phase II trial, the patients received apatinib (500 mg/day) until they experienced disease recurrence or intolerable toxicity.

KDM5C Represses FASN-Mediated Lipid Metabolism to Exert Tumor Suppressor Activity in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

KDM5C is a histone H3K4-specific demethylase, which has multiple biological functions during development and disease. However, the role of KDM5C in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) remains unknown. Expression levels of KDM5C in ICC patients were determined by qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemical assay.

Core fucosylated glycan-dependent inhibitory effect of QSOX1-S on invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The goal of the present study was to identify glycoproteins associated with the postoperative relapse of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to investigate their potential role in HCC metastasis. A method for quantitating N-glycoproteome was used to screen for, and identify, recurrence-related N-linked glycoproteins from 100 serum samples taken from patients with early-stage HCC. The prognostic significance of candidate glycoproteins was then validated in 193 HCC tissues using immunohistochemical staining.

Genome-Wide RNAi Screen Identifies PMPCB as a Therapeutic Vulnerability in EpCAM Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a genetically heterogeneous disease for which a dominant actionable molecular driver has not been identified. Patients with the stem cell-like EpCAMAFP HCC subtype have poor prognosis. Here, we performed a genome-wide RNAi screen to identify genes with a synthetic lethal interaction with EpCAM as a potential therapeutic target for the EpCAMAFP HCC subtype.

T mapping on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging predicts recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy.

Purpose: Our purpose was to demonstrate the prognostic significance of T mapping on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging in prediction of recurrence of single HCC after hepatectomy.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and seven patients with single nodular HCC (≤3 cm) who underwent preoperative gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI were included in the study. T mapping with syngo MapIt was obtained on a 1.

GOLM1 Modulates EGFR/RTK Cell-Surface Recycling to Drive Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis.

The mechanism of cancer metastasis remains poorly understood. Using gene profiling of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues, we have identified GOLM1 as a leading gene relating to HCC metastasis. GOLM1 expression is correlated with early recurrence, metastasis, and poor survival of HCC patients.

Cholecystectomy is associated with higher risk of early recurrence and poorer survival after curative resection for early stage hepatocellular carcinoma.

Although cholecystectomy has been reported to be associated with increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the association between cholecystectomy and prognosis of HCC patients underwent curative resection has never been examined. Through retrospective analysis of the data of 3933 patients underwent curative resection for HCC, we found that cholecystectomy was an independent prognostic factor for recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients at early stage (BCLC stage 0/A) (p = 0.020, HR: 1.

Peritumoral Cbl is a strong independent prognostic marker after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Growing evidences support the concept that peritumoral microenvironment gene expression is an important element for physicians to make an accurate prognosis. Nonetheless, the correlation between peritumoral ubiquitin ligases and the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) survival remains unclear till this present. The expression of intratumoral and peritumoral Casitas B-lineage Lymphoma (Cbl) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) followed by curative resection was assessed by tissue microarray-based immune-histochemistry in two independent cohorts (n = 352).

Positive HBcAb is associated with higher risk of early recurrence and poorer survival after curative resection of HBV-related HCC.

Background & Aims: Previous studies predicted the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mainly based on tumour-related factors, whereas the impacts of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related factors are usually ignored. The objective of this exploratory study was to investigate the prognostic role of hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) on post-operative survival and recurrence of HCC.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 3388 HBsAg positive (HBV-related) HCC patients treated by curative resection was performed.

Involvement of acid-sensing ion channel 1α in hepatic carcinoma cell migration and invasion.

An acidic microenvironment promotes carcinoma cell proliferation and migration. Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are H(+), Ca(2+), and Na(+)-gated cation channels that are activated by changes in the extracellular pH, and ASIC1α may be associated with tumor proliferation and migration. Here, we investigated the role of ASIC1α in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) migration and invasion.

Integrative genomic and transcriptomic characterization of matched primary and metastatic liver and colorectal carcinoma.

Metastasis is the main cause of cancer mortality but its process remains poorly understood and thus hampers more effective treatment and improved cancer prognosis. To search for metastasis driver genes responsible for tumor spread, we integrated genomic and transcriptomic profiles of 61 matched primary tumors and distant metastases of liver or colorectal carcinoma isolated by laser-capture microdissection and assayed by array-based technologies. We found that primary tumor lesions and their matched distant metastases were largely similar at the genomic and transcriptomic levels, but substantial differences could be found between primary tumors with or without accompanying metastases.

Clinical characteristics, outcome, and risk factors for early and late intrahepatic recurrence of female patients after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: There have been progressive increases in both the incidence and death rates of female patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our objective was to investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors influencing the recurrence and survival of female patients with HCC.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 459 consecutive female and 2,936 male patients with HCC who underwent curative resection.

MST4 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis via activation of the p-ERK pathway.

Mammalian sterile-20-like kinase 4 (MST4) has been implicated in cell proliferation and differentiation. In a previous study, we found MST4 to be an important candidate gene for metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the molecular mechanism of the promoting role of MST4 in HCC metastasis is poorly understood. In this study, we show that high expression of MST4 was detected in highly invasive HCC cells and in human HCC specimens with vascular invasion.

Modulation of miR-29 expression by α-fetoprotein is linked to the hepatocellular carcinoma epigenome.

Unlabelled: Globally, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 70%-85% of primary liver cancers and ranks as the second leading cause of male cancer death. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), normally highly expressed in the liver only during fetal development, is reactivated in 60% of HCC tumors and associated with poor patient outcome. We hypothesize that AFP+ and AFP- tumors differ biologically.

MicroRNA-26a suppresses angiogenesis in human hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting hepatocyte growth factor-cMet pathway.

Unlabelled: MicroRNA (miR)-26a can suppress tumor growth and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Since angiogenesis is important for tumor growth and metastasis, we investigated the possible roles of miR-26a in tumor angiogenesis. Down-regulation of miR-26a was found to correlate with an increased angiogenic potential of HCC.

Staging, prognostic factors and adjuvant therapy of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma after curative resection.

Background & Aims: Prognostic factors and adjuvant therapy of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) after curative resection were not clear. We aim to analyse prognostic factors after curative resection and evaluate adjuvant therapy and survival based on the new staging system.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 283 patients who underwent surgical exploration for ICC was performed.

Correlation and prognostic value of osteopontin and Bcl-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after curative resection.

Osteopontin (OPN) may facilitate tumorigenesis and metastasis through prevention of tumor cells from apoptosis. Although previous studies have suggested involvement of enhanced Bcl-2 protein family expression, the role of OPN together with Bcl-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. In this study, we used western blotting to detect the OPN and Bcl-2 expression levels in cell lines with different OPN backgrounds and HCC tissues, and tumor tissue microarrays to examine OPN and Bcl-2 expression levels in 454 HCC cases.

First in-human intraoperative imaging of HCC using the fluorescence goggle system and transarterial delivery of near-infrared fluorescent imaging agent: a pilot study.

Surgical resections remain the primary curative interventions for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, lack of real-time intraoperative image guidance confines surgeons to subjective visual assessment of the surgical bed, leading to poor visualization of small positive nodules and the extension of diffuse HCC. To address this problem, we developed a wearable fluorescence imaging and display system (fluorescence goggle) for intraoperative imaging of HCCs in human patients.

Evaluation of midkine as a diagnostic serum biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the value of serum midkine (MDK) as a diagnostic biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma, particularly for those with negative alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and at an early stage.

Experimental Design: MDK expression in tumors was assessed by immunohistochemistry from 105 patients with hepatocellular carcinomas or liver cirrhosis. Serum MDK levels were detected by ELISA in 933 participants including hepatocellular carcinomas and hospital controls from different medical centers.

Randomized controlled trial of cetuximab plus chemotherapy for patients with KRAS wild-type unresectable colorectal liver-limited metastases.

Purpose: To assess the effects of cetuximab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CLMs).

Patients And Methods: After resection of their primary tumors, patients with KRAS wild-type synchronous nonresectable liver-limited metastases from colorectal cancer were randomly assigned to receive chemotherapy (FOLFIRI [fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan] or mFOLFOX6 [modified fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin]) plus cetuximab (arm A) or chemotherapy alone (arm B). The primary end point was the rate of patients converted to resection for liver metastases.

PROX1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis by way of up-regulating hypoxia-inducible factor 1α expression and protein stability.

Unlabelled: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers and the third leading cause of death from cancer worldwide. HCC has a very poor prognosis because of tumor invasiveness, frequent intrahepatic spread, and extrahepatic metastasis. The molecular mechanism of HCC invasiveness and metastasis is poorly understood.

MicroRNA-26a suppresses tumor growth and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting interleukin-6-Stat3 pathway.

Unlabelled: Down-regulation of microRNA-26a (miR-26a) is associated with poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its functional mechanism in HCC remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the roles of miR-26a in tumor growth and metastasis of HCC and found that miR-26a was frequently down-regulated in HCC tissues. Down-regulation of miR-26a correlated with HCC recurrence and metastasis.