Comparison of percutaneous and surgical approaches for radiofrequency ablation of small and medium hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hypothesis: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be performed by percutaneous or surgical approach. Tumor size is an important consideration while deciding the treatment approach.

Design: Case series with prospective data collection.

Inhibition of Stat3 activity by YC-1 enhances chemo-sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The present study investigated the effect of YC-1, a novel anti-cancer agent, on the chemo-sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). YC-1 was administered with chemo-cytotoxic drug, cisplatin, both in vitro and in vivo. YC-1 alone downregulated the expression of phosphorylated form of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (P-Stat3[705]), a key mediator in chemo-resistance.

Management of carcinoma of the gallbladder: a single-institution experience in 16 years.

Background: Radical surgery is the only curative treatment for carcinoma of gallbladder. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of patients with carcinoma of gallbladder managed in a single institution over 16 years.

Methods: From April 1988 to November 2003, 86 patients (29 males, 57 females) were diagnosed to have carcinoma of gallbladder.

Ischemia-reperfusion of small liver remnant promotes liver tumor growth and metastases--activation of cell invasion and migration pathways.

Elucidating the mechanism of liver tumor growth and metastasis after hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury of a small liver remnant will lay the foundation for the development of therapeutic strategies to target small liver remnant injury, and will reduce the likelihood of tumor recurrence after major hepatectomy or liver transplantation for liver cancer patients. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the effect of hepatic I/R injury of a small liver remnant on liver tumor development and metastases, and to explore the precise molecular mechanisms. A rat liver tumor model that underwent partial hepatic I/R injury with or without major hepatectomy was investigated.

Duodenopleural fistula formation after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a treatment option in the management of unresectable or recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It can be performed either through laparotomy or in a minimally invasive manner by percutaneous, laparoscopic or thoracoscopic routes. Percutaneous RFA is associated with reduced surgical trauma and thus can be performed in patients with significant comorbidities.

Liver transplantation for solitary hepatocellular carcinoma less than 3 cm in diameter in Child A cirrhosis.

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the treatment of choice for patients with unresectable tumors within the Milan criteria associated with Child B or C cirrhosis. Liver transplantation provides the best cure for both the HCC and the underlying cirrhosis. In recent years, some authors have advocated liver transplantation even for resectable early HCC associated with Child A cirrhosis, leading to a controversy of whether resection or transplantation should be the first-line therapy for patients with small HCC in Child A cirrhosis.

Lupeol suppresses cisplatin-induced nuclear factor-kappaB activation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and inhibits local invasion and nodal metastasis in an orthotopic nude mouse model.

A poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients is commonly associated with the presence of regional metastasis. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy concurrent with radiation therapy is commonly used in the treatment of locally advanced HNSCC. However, the result is dismal due to common acquisition of chemoresistance and radioresistance.

Analysis of recurrence pattern and its influence on survival outcome after radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective local ablation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with favorable long-term outcome. There is no data on the analysis of recurrence pattern and its influence on long-term survival outcome after RFA in HCC patients.

Aim Of Study: To evaluate the tumor recurrence pattern and its influence on long-term survival in patients with HCC treated with RFA.

Oncoproteomics of hepatocellular carcinoma: from cancer markers' discovery to functional pathways.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous cancer with no promising treatment and remains one of the most prevailing and lethal malignancies in the world. Researchers in many biological areas now routinely identify and characterize protein markers by a mass spectrometry-based proteomic approach, a method that has been commonly used to discover diagnostic biomarkers for cancer detection. The proteomic research platforms span from the classical two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE) to the latest Protein Chip or array technology, which are often integrated with the MALDI (matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization), SELDI (surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization) or tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).

Current treatment strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

With the current practice of surveillance programs in high-risk patients, early stage hepatocellular carcinoma HCC is commonly diagnosed. This poses great challenge to clinicians, in terms of prognostic estimation, patient stratification to various treatment modalities and patient management during long-term follow-up. This review focuses on the current trends in the management of HCC, with special attention to tumor staging, treatment algorithm, and outcome of various treatment modalities.

External drainage of pancreatic duct with a stent to reduce leakage rate of pancreaticojejunostomy after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a prospective randomized trial.

Objective: Pancreatic fistula is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after pancreaticoduodenectomy. External drainage of pancreatic duct with a stent has been shown to reduce pancreatic fistula rate of pancreaticojejunostomy in a few retrospective or prospective nonrandomized studies, but no randomized controlled trial has been reported thus far. This single-center prospective randomized trial compared the results of pancreaticoduodenectomy with external drainage stent versus no stent for pancreaticojejunal anastomosis.

Sustained disease remission after spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion is associated with reduction in fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis B Chinese patients.

Unlabelled: Recently, controversies have arisen about whether hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion can result in regression of fibrosis, thus improving the clinical outcome of Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B. In this study, we determined if spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion is associated with regression of fibrosis in Chinese chronic hepatitis B patients. We evaluated the histology of liver samples from 128 HBeAg-positive treatment-naive Chinese patients who had undergone 2 liver biopsies over the years.

Genomic and proteomic biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most deadly liver malignancies found worldwide, with hepatitis virus infection being the prominent risk factor for this lesion. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are usually first diagnosed when in the advanced stage; thus, long-term clinical outcomes are poor and patients have limited treatment options. Currently, surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma relies upon serological testing of alpha-fetoprotein levels and hepatic ultrasonography, which have low sensitivity and specificity, and are sometimes operator-dependent, respectively.

A phase I/II trial of chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma using a novel intra-arterial drug-eluting bead.

Background & Aims: To assess the safety and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) using doxorubicin-eluting beads (DEB) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Patients with incurable HCC and Child-Pugh class A cirrhosis were considered eligible for this phase I/II trial. Two courses of TACE using DEB were given at an interval of 2 months, and tumor response was assessed by computerized tomography scan.

A randomized, controlled trial of postoperative adjuvant interferon therapy after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: We conducted a randomized controlled trial of adjuvant interferon therapy in patients with predominantly hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to investigate whether the prognosis after hepatic resection could be improved.

Summary Background Data: Recurrence is common after hepatic resection for HCC. Interferon possesses antiviral, immunomodulatory, antiproliferative, and antiangiogenic effects and may be an effective form of adjuvant therapy.

Fascin over-expression is associated with aggressiveness of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is associated with a high potential of tumor recurrence and metastasis, leading to poor prognosis. Cell motility is an important factor in the progression and metastasis of cancers. Recently, Fascin has been linked to tumor progression by induction of cell motility.

Current role of laparoscopic surgery for liver malignancies.

The use of laparoscopic surgery in managing liver malignancies has been developed only recently because of the complexity of liver surgery. Diagnostic laparoscopy is useful in staging liver malignancies before resection. The need for laparoscopic staging of colorectal liver metastasis has diminished as a result of better imaging technology such as positron emission tomography (PET).

High serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels predict poor prognosis after radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma: importance of tumor biomarker in ablative therapies.

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a recently developed treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus far, the prognostic impact of tumor biomarkers has not been evaluated in this treatment. High serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to predict microscopic vascular invasion and metastasis in HCC.

Induction of long-term liver allograft survival by delayed immunosuppression is dependent on interleukin-10.

This study aims to investigate the potential role of endogenous interleukin (IL)-10 in long-term liver allograft survival induced by delayed immunosuppression (FK506 days 2-7). Liver transplantation was performed by using Dark Agouti and Lewis rats as donors and recipients, respectively. The delayed immunosuppression protocol induced indefinite allograft survival.

Antiinflammatory properties of IL-10 rescue small-for-size liver grafts.

The present study aims to investigate the potential therapeutic role of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in small-for-size liver transplantation. A syngenic rat orthotopic liver transplantation model was performed using either whole or 40% liver volume of Lewis rats as grafts according to the experimental design. IL-10 was given to the 40% grafts right after reperfusion, and also at 24 and 48 hours after transplantation.

Pin1 interacts with a specific serine-proline motif of hepatitis B virus X-protein to enhance hepatocarcinogenesis.

Background And Aims: The peptidyl prolyl isomerase Pin1 frequently is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the most common etiologic agent in HCC, and its encoded X-protein (HBx) is oncogenic and possesses a serine-proline motif that may bind Pin1. The role of Pin1 in hepatocarcinogenesis, particularly in HBV-related HCC, was investigated.

Clinical implications of angiogenesis in cancers.

Angiogenesis plays an important role in the growth and progression of cancer. The regulation of tumor angiogenesis depends on a net balance of angiogenic factors and antiangiogenic factors, which are secreted by both tumor cells and host-infiltrating cells. Numerous studies have indicated that assessment of angiogenic activity by either microvessel density or expression of angiogenic factors in cancer can provide prognostic information independent of conventional clinicopathological factors such as tumor staging.

Tumor size and operative risks of extended right-sided hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma: implication for preoperative portal vein embolization.

Hypothesis: Major hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with high operative morbidity and mortality, especially in patients with underlying chronic liver disease. The present study evaluated the factors associated with increased operative risks in patients who underwent extended right-sided hepatic resection for HCC.

Design: Retrospective study.