Pancreatic Juice-Derived microRNA-4516 and microRNA-4674 as Novel Biomarkers for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Background And Aims: Precise diagnostic biomarkers are urgently required for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify PDAC-specific exosomal microRNAs (Ex-miRs) from pancreatic juice (PJ) and evaluate their diagnostic potential.

Methods: Exosomes in PJ and serum were extracted using ultracentrifugation and confirmed morphologically and biochemically.

Hepatic arterial infusion of autologous CD34 cells for hepatitis C virus-related decompensated cirrhosis: A multicenter, open-label, exploratory randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: In this multicenter clinical study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of the transhepatic arterial administration of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized autologous peripheral blood (PB)-CD34 cells compared with standard therapy in patients with decompensated cirrhosis type C.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to the CD34 cell transplant (CD34 cell) or standard-of-care (SOC) group and followed up for 52 weeks. The primary endpoints were the non-progression rate of Child-Pugh (CP) scores at 24 weeks post-enrollment and the safety of the protocol treatment.

A tumor endothelial cell-specific microRNA replacement therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Current approved anti-angiogenic drugs (AAD) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) inhibit tumor angiogenesis, but affect the hepatic vasculature resulting in adverse effects. Tumor endothelial cells (TECs) differ from normal endothelial cells. In this study, we aimed to detect TEC-specific miRNAs and develop an anti-angiogenic treatment specific for TECs.

Impact of non-obese metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease on risk factors for the recurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection: A multicenter study.

Aim: Metabolic dysfunction is a risk factor for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We investigated the impact of the recently proposed metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and its subtypes on ESCC recurrence after endoscopic treatment.

Methods: This multicenter observational cohort study enrolled consecutive patients newly diagnosed with ESCC after endoscopic treatment.

Efficacy of Lenvatinib Combined with Transcatheter Intra-Arterial Therapies for Patients with Advanced-Stage of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Score Matching.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of lenvatinib (LEN) combined with transcatheter intra-arterial therapy (TIT) for advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after propensity score matching (PSM). This retrospective study enrolled 115 patients with advanced-stage HCC who received LEN treatment. The patients were categorized into the LEN combined with TIT group ( = 30) or the LEN monotherapy group ( = 85).

Anti-PD-L1 antibodies promote cellular proliferation by activating the PD-L1-AXL signal relay in liver cancer cells.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are emerging treatments for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, evidence has shown they may induce hyperprogressive disease via unexplained mechanisms.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the possible stimulative effect of ICIs on programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-harboring liver cancer cells under immunocompetent cell-free conditions.

Results: The sarcomatous HAK-5 cell line displayed the highest expression of PD-L1 among 11 human liver cancer cell lines used in this study.

Preoperative Chemotherapy Followed by Hepatectomy for Potentially Resectable UICC7 Stage IIIA, IIIB Hepatocellular Carcinoma; A Phase II Clinical Trial.

Background: The Japanese guideline for therapeutic strategy in HCC does not recognize any benefit of preoperative chemotherapy for potentially resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and only upfront resec tion is recommended even for an advanced HCC. Data on preoperative chemotherapy for advanced HCC is still limited. Poor prognostic factors of HCC after resection are tumor more than 5 cm in diameter, multiple lesions, and gross tumor thrombosis, which constitute UICC7 Stage IIIA and IIIB HCC.

Characteristics of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Colitis: A Systematic Review.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) including anti-CTLA-4, anti-PD-1, and anti-PD-L1 antibodies have been increasingly used for various malignancies. These ICIs activate immune functions to treat malignant tumors; however, this causes characteristic complications called immune-related adverse events (irAE). In the gastrointestinal tract, ICIs cause adverse events such as diarrhea and enterocolitis, thus warranting treatment discontinuation.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Japan Society of Hepatology 2021 version (5th JSH-HCC Guidelines).

The fifth version of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Hepatocellular Carcinoma was revised by the Japan Society of Hepatology, according to the methodology of evidence-based medicine and partly to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system, which was published in October 2021 in Japanese. In addition to surveillance-diagnostic and treatment algorithms, a new algorithm for systemic therapy has been created, as multiple drugs for hepatocellular carcinoma can be currently selected. Here, new or revised algorithms and evidence on which the recommendations are based are described.

Tumor-derived insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 contributes to resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma to tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Background: Antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) provide one of the few therapeutic options for effective treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, patients with HCC often develop resistance toward antiangiogenic TKIs, and the underlying mechanisms are not understood. The aim of this study was to determine the mechanisms underlying antiangiogenic TKI resistance in HCC.

Real Life Study of Lenvatinib Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: RELEVANT Study.

Introduction: In the REFLECT trial, lenvatinib was found to be noninferior compared to sorafenib in terms of overall survival. Here, we analyze the effects of lenvatinib in the real-life experience of several centers across the world and identify clinical factors that could be significantly associated with survival outcomes.

Methods: The study population was derived from retrospectively collected data of HCC patients treated with lenvatinib.

The Clinical Impact of Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy New-FP for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Preserved Liver Function.

Background: Systemic treatments are recommended for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in preserved liver function. However, their effects are unsatisfactory in some tumor conditions, particularly macrovascular invasion (MVI) including major portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). We compared the efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) regimens New-FP and sorafenib for various tumor conditions in preserved liver function.

Deterioration of liver function and aging disturb sequential systemic therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), who were eligible for sequential systemic therapy. We evaluated 365 patients with HCC who underwent systemic therapy after 2017. The overall survival (OS) was 13.

The beneficial impact of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease on lenvatinib treatment in patients with non-viral hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: Lenvatinib is used to treat advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is becoming a major etiology of HCC. We aimed to evaluate the impact of MAFLD on the efficacy of lenvatinib.

Subcutaneous Fat Thickness of the Lower Limb is Associated with Trunk Muscle Mass in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Simple Assessment for Sarcopenia Using Conventional Ultrasonography.

Objective: Trunk muscle mass can be evaluated by skeletal muscle index (SMI), which is a prognostic factor in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, this requires the use of computed tomography, and a simpler assessment for trunk muscle mass is urgently needed. We aimed to examine whether an association between SMI and lower extremity compartments including muscle and subcutaneous fat thickness of lower limbs (SFT-LL) could be identified by means of ultrasonography in patients with HCC.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled male patients with HCC (n=30).

Effect of Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents on Gastroesophageal Varices in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus-Related Cirrhosis.

Aim: In patients with hepatitis C virus-related liver cirrhosis (LC) who achieve sustained virological responses (SVRs) through treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs), it remains unclear whether there are improvements in gastroesophageal varices (GEVs) and portal hypertension. We investigated changes in liver function and GEVs that occurred after DAA therapy. Materials and Methods: We evaluated the medical records of 195 patients with hepatitis C virus-related LC who received DAAs.

Final Results of TACTICS: A Randomized, Prospective Trial Comparing Transarterial Chemoembolization Plus Sorafenib to Transarterial Chemoembolization Alone in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Introduction: Several clinical trials comparing the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus molecular-targeted agents versus TACE alone revealed no clinical benefits in progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS). Here, we report the final OS analysis from the TACTICS trial, which previously demonstrated significant improvement in PFS with TACE plus sorafenib in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (NCT01217034).

Methods: Patients with unresectable HCC were randomized to a TACE plus sorafenib group ( = 80) or a TACE alone group ( = 76).

Hyperlipidemia as a risk factor for Trousseau syndrome-related cerebral infarction in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer.

Trousseau syndrome-related cerebral infarction rarely occurs during chemotherapy in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, and its clinical features remain unclear. The present study aimed to examine the clinical features of Trousseau syndrome-related cerebral infarction developed during chemotherapy for GI cancer. The present retrospective cohort study consecutively enrolled 878 patients with unresectable GI cancer who received chemotherapy at the Multidisciplinary Treatment Cancer Center, Kurume University Hospital (Kurume, Japan) between April 2014 and March 2020.

Durable complete response is achieved by balloon-occluded transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma.

In 2013 and 2014, the development of microcatheters with balloons for the 4-Fr system and new embolization materials provided various options for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), expanding the range of treatment strategies. At our hospital, balloon-occluded TACE (B-TACE), conventional TACE (C-TACE), and drug-eluting bead TACE (DEB-TACE) have been actively performed for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study compared the local recurrence-free (LRF) periods of nodules with complete necrosis (TE4) obtained using each treatment method by extracting the nodules evaluated as complete response by the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.

Growth differentiation factor 15 as a novel diagnostic and therapeutic marker for autoimmune hepatitis.

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) has been reported to be associated with fibrosis and cancer in liver disease. Diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is often difficult because of the lack of specific markers. We investigated whether GDF15 is useful for diagnosing AIH and determined its therapeutic effects.

Lean/normal-weight metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease is a risk factor for reflux esophagitis.

Aim: Reflux esophagitis is associated with metabolic dysfunction. Recently, fatty liver has been redefined as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). We investigated the impact of MAFLD and its subtypes on the incidence of reflux esophagitis.

Case Report: A Rare Case of Benign Recurrent Intrahepatic Cholestasis-Type 1 With a Novel Heterozygous Pathogenic Variant of .

Benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis type 1 (BRIC1) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that is characterized by intermittent episodes of jaundice and intense pruritus and caused by pathogenic variants of (). The presence of genetic heterogeneity in the variants of is suggested. Herein, we describe a unique clinical course in a patient with BRIC1 and a novel heterozygous pathogenic variant of .