Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt for Preventing Rebleeding of Esophageal Varices in Patients with Portal Cavernous Transformation.

Purpose: Recurrent esophageal variceal bleeding and/or refractory ascites in patients with cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV) is associated with a high fatality rate. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) provides a treatment option for preventing esophageal variceal rebleeding and/or refractory ascites. This retrospective study evaluated the safety and efficacy of TIPS for the patients involved.

Blocking TGFβR synergistically enhances anti-tumor effects of anti-PD-1 antibody in a mouse model of incomplete thermal ablation.

The mechanism of early tumor recurrence after incomplete microwave ablation (iMWA) is poorly understood. The anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) monotherapy is reported to be ineffective to prevent the progression of residual tumor resulted from iMWA. Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signaling pathway plays an important role in tumorigenesis and development.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody/tyrosine kinase inhibitors with or without transarterial chemoembolization as first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (CHANCE2201): a target trial emulation study.

Background: The role of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unconfirmed. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) plus anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) antibody/tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) with or without TACE as first-line treatment for advanced HCC.

Methods: This nationwide, multicenter, retrospective cohort study included advanced HCC patients receiving either TACE with ICIs plus anti-VEGF antibody/TKIs (TACE-ICI-VEGF) or only ICIs plus anti-VEGF antibody/TKIs (ICI-VEGF) from January 2018 to December 2022.

Pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator‑activated receptor γ agonist, induces cell death and inhibits the proliferation of hypoxic HepG2 cells by promoting excessive production of reactive oxygen species.

Hypoxia is a hallmark of solid tumors. Hypoxic cancer cells adjust their metabolic characteristics to regulate the production of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and facilitate ROS-mediated metastasis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a nuclear receptor that regulates the transcription of fatty acid metabolism-related genes that have a key role in the survival and proliferation function of hypoxic cancer cells.

Transarterial chemoembolization combined donafenib with/without PD-1 for unresectable HCC in a multicenter retrospective study.

Background & Aims: This multicenter retrospective study evaluated the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with donafenib and a programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor (TACE+DP) and TACE combined with donafenib (TACE+D) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC).

Methods: The clinical data of 388 patients with uHCC who received TACE+DP or TACE+D as first-line treatment at six Chinese academic centers from July 2021 to July 2022 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Patients in the TACE+DP group received an intravenous administration of a PD-1 inhibitor every three weeks and oral donafenib (0.

The C-type lectin COLEC10 is predominantly produced by hepatic stellate cells and involved in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis.

Hepatic stellate cell is one of the major nonparenchymal cell types in liver. It has been proved the hepatic stellate cells are activated upon liver injury and produce excessive extracellular matrix to induce liver fibrosis. Single-cell RNA sequencing has been introduced to identify the subpopulations and function of hepatic stellate cells for its remarkable resolution of representation of single-cell transcriptome.

Oncogenic pathways refine a new perspective on the classification of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Genetic alterations in oncogenic pathways are critical for cancer initiation, development, and treatment resistance. However, studies are limited regarding pathways correlated with prognosis, sorafenib, and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: In this study, 1928 patients from 11 independent datasets and a clinical in-house cohort were screened to explore the relationships among canonical pathway alterations in HCC patients.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization using CalliSpheres beads loaded with arsenic trioxide for unresectable large or huge hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective study.

Objectives: To determine the safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with CalliSpheres® beads loaded with arsenic trioxide (CBATO-TACE) in the first-line treatment of patients with large (5 cm ≤ maximum diameter < 10 cm) or huge (maximum diameter ≥ 10 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Patients were randomly allocated to the CBATO-TACE group and the conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (cTACE) group. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS).

Covered SEMS failed to cure airway fistula closed by an amplatzer device.

Background: Airway fistula is a rare but threatening complication associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. We report the experience of Amplatzer device application in airway fistulae that failed to be cured with a covered self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS).

Materials And Methods: Patients who failed occlusion with a covered self-expandable metallic stent and received Amplatzer device placement from Jan 2015 to Jan 2020 were retrospectively enrolled.

Correlation between magnetic resonance images of peritumor margin enhancement and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma after drug-eluting bead transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the morphological characteristics and clinical significance of magnetic resonance (MR) images of peritumor margin enhancement in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after drug-eluting bead transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE).

Methods: From January 2017 to December 2020, a total of 162 patients who received a diagnosis of HCC were included in our study. We began the follow-up with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for complete response assessment, and peritumor margin enhancements were classified as sharp and rough types according to morphology.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus apatinib with or without camrelizumab for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Background: The evidence of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus tyrosine kinase inhibitor and immune checkpoint inhibitor in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was limited. This study aimed to evaluate the role of TACE plus apatinib (TACE + A) and TACE combined with apatinib plus camrelizumab (TACE + AC) in patients with unresectable HCC.

Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed patients with unresectable HCC who received TACE + A or TACE + AC in 20 centers of China from January 1, 2019 to June 31, 2021.

The impact of drug-eluting bead (vs. conventional) transarterial chemoembolization on hepatic fibrosis in treating intermediate or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: Limited studies have reported the impact of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) on hepatic fibrosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study evaluated multiple hepatic fibrosis indicators, aiming to comprehensively compare the influence of DEB-TACE and conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) on hepatic fibrosis in treating HCC patients.

Methods: Intermediate/advanced HCC patients (N = 121) were divided into the DEB-TACE group (n = 62) and the cTACE group (n = 59) based on their chosen treatment.

Nrf2-siRNA Enhanced the Anti-Tumor Effects of AsO in 5-Fluorouracil-Resistant Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Inhibiting HIF-1α/HSP70 Signaling.

Purpose: Chemoresistance is a major factor contributing to the failure of cancer treatment. The conventional chemotherapy agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been used for cancer treatment for decades. However, its use is limited in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) due to acquired resistance.

The addition of camrelizumab is effective and safe among unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma patients who progress after drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization plus apatinib therapy.

Objective: Camrelizumab synergizes with apatinib or transarterial chemoembolization via tumor immunity and chemosensitivity. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of camrelizumab plus apatinib with or without drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after progression to DEB-TACE plus apatinib.

Methods: Eighty-nine unresectable HCC patients accepted previous DEB-TACE plus apatinib therapy, then further received second-line camrelizumab plus apatinib with or without DEB-TACE treatment.

Covalent organic polymer induces apoptosis of liver cancer cells photodynamic and photothermal effects.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to explore the photodynamic and photothermal effects of the supramolecular material Purp@COP and to test the anti-cancer effect on HepG2 cells .

Materials And Methods: Purp@COP is a covalent organic polymer (COP) with robust tailoring heteroatom incorporation, plentiful pore structure, and multiple functions similar to the metal-organic framework (MOF). Hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 was cultured with Purp@COP for 24 h and treated with near-infrared 808-nm laser 1 W/cm for 10 min.

siRNA targeting PD-L1 delivered with attenuated Salmonella enhanced the anti-tumor effect of lenvatinib on mice bearing Hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer representing serious harm to human health. The effective treatment of HCC is challenging. Lenvatinib is an inhibitor of polytyrosine kinase that exerts an effect against HCC by blocking the VEGF signaling pathway.

Development and validation of a novel luciferase reporter gene assay to detect pyrogen.

To develop and validate a novel reporter gene assay (RGA) to detect pyrogen, HL60 cells were transfected with an NF-κB-RE plasmid containing the luciferase gene to generate stably transfected cells. Through stimulation with pyrogens, a signal was obtained that was dose-dependent with the concentration of pyrogen. Using the cells, we selected and optimized the parameters and found that the optimal conditions may be with 5 × 10/ml cells that were seeded and incubated with pyrogen for 3-6 h in IMDM medium with 2% FBS.

Establishment of a pseudovirus neutralization assay based on SARS-CoV-2 S protein incorporated into lentiviral particles.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still causing a wide range of infections and deaths due to the high variability of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Therefore, it is necessary to establish a reliable and convenient pseudovirus-based neutralization assay to develop drug targeted variants of SARS-CoV-2. Based on the HIV-1 backbone, we generated a high titer luciferase (Luc)-expressing pseudovirus packaging system.

Liposome quercetin enhances the ablation effects of microwave ablation in treating the rabbit VX2 liver tumor model.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether liposomal quercetin (LQ) could enhance the effects of microwave ablation (MVA) in treating the rabbit VX2 liver tumor model.

Methods: Rabbits with VX2 liver tumors were randomly divided into three groups: intravenous LQ group (LQ group), MWA group and LQ combined with MWA (LQ + MWA) group. Five rabbits were randomly selected and sacrificed from each group at 12 h and on days 3, 7 and 14 of the operation.

Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization followed by apatinib is effective and safe in treating hepatocellular carcinoma patients with BCLC stage C.

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) followed by apatinib in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage C.

Methods: Totally, 110 HCC patients with BCLC stage C treated with DEB-TACE followed by apatinib were consecutively enrolled. Treatment response (including complete response rate (CR), objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR)), survival data (progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS)), and adverse events were documented during the follow-up.