Evaluating microvascular invasion in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma based on contrast-enhanced computed tomography radiomics and clinicoradiological factors.

Background: Microvascular invasion (MVI) is a significant indicator of the aggressive behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Expanding the surgical resection margin and performing anatomical liver resection may improve outcomes in patients with MVI. However, no reliable preoperative method currently exists to predict MVI status or to identify patients at high-risk group (M2).

Probiotics and fructo-oligosaccharide intervention modulate the microbiota-gut brain axis to improve autism spectrum reducing also the hyper-serotonergic state and the dopamine metabolism disorder.

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is increasing, but its etiology remains elusive and hence an effective treatment is not available. Previous research conducted on animal models suggests that microbiota-gut-brain axis may contribute to ASD pathology and more human research is needed. This study was divided into two stages,.

Perioperative analgesia with parecoxib sodium improves postoperative pain and immune function in patients undergoing hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Rationale, Aims, And Objectives: Acute postoperative pain can result in immune dysfunction, which can be partly mitigated by efficient pain management. Opioids that have been widely applied to analgesia have been shown to suppress immune function, which has a negative impact on the treatment of patients with cancer. This study investigated the effects of perioperative fentanyl analgesia alone or in combination with parecoxib sodium on postoperative pain, immune function, and prognosis in patients undergoing hepatectomy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Expression of Fra-1 in human hepatocellular carcinoma and its prognostic significance.

This study aimed to explore the clinical significance and prognostic value of Fra-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after curative resection. Fra-1 expression was investigated using a combination of techniques: immunohistochemistry for 66 samples of hepatocellular carcinoma and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting assays for 19 matched hepatocellular carcinoma specimens. Fra-1 was present in 38 of 66 (57.

Prognostic value of polarized macrophages in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection.

As the most predominant tumour-infiltrating immune cells, tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) are significant for fostering tumour growth, progression and metastasis. CD68-positive TAMs display dissimilarly polarized programmes comprising CD11c-positive pro-inflammatory macrophages (M1) and CD206-positive immunosuppressive macrophages (M2). The aim of this study is to determine the prognostic significance of diametrically polarized TAMs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their application to risk stratification of patients according to their specific prognostic values.

STAT3 activation mediates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Background/aims: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is critical for the development of the invasion and metastasis in human cancers. Recently, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation has been linked to EMT program in breast cancer. However, the actual association of STAT3 activation with EMT, and its mediated tumor invasion and metastasis remains elusive in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Kindlin-2: a novel prognostic biomarker for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

The association of aberrant expression of Kindlin-2 with tumor progression has been reported in recent years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of Kindlin-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to evaluate its clinical and prognostic significance. The mRNA and protein levels of Kindlin-2 in HCC and adjacent non-cancerous tissues were examined by real-time PCR and western blotting.

Expression of Kindlin-1 in human hepatocellular carcinoma and its prognostic significance.

Kindlin-1 is a member of the Kindlin family of focal adhesion proteins and is implicated in cell adhesion, proliferation, polarity, and motility. Although expression of Kindlin-1 has recently been reported in a variety of human cancers, studies on its expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are currently lacking. This study aimed to determine the clinicopathological parameters and prognostic value of Kindlin-1 in HCC patients after surgical resection.

Overexpression of HOXA13 as a potential marker for diagnosis and poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

HOXA13 is a member of homeobox genes that encode transcription factors regulating embryonic development and cell fate. Abnormal HOXA13 expression was reported in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its correlation with tumor angiogenesis and prognosis still remain unclear. This study was aimed to uncover the expression, diagnostic and prognostic significance of HOXA13 in HCC.

Protective effect of S-adenosylmethionine on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury during hepatectomy in HCC patients with chronic HBV infection.

Background: Although hepatectomy is often performed with the Pringle maneuver, the problem of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) can also be serious. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) on HIRI, especially for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and cirrhosis.

Methods: Eighty-one HCC patients with chronic HBV infection, undergoing partial hepatectomy with inflow occlusion, were divided into three groups.

The expression of chitinase 3-like 1: a novel prognostic predictor for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objectives: Chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) is associated with poor prognosis of various human cancers. However, the clinical and prognostic significance of CHI3L1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is largely unknown. The aim of the present study is to investigate the expression of CHI3L1 in human HCC cell lines, clinical HCC specimens and its association with expressions of phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt), E-cadherin and prognostic significance.

Beneficial effects of S-adenosyl-L-methionine on post-hepatectomy residual liver function: a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Background/aims: Hepatectomy is associated with high rates of postoperative liver dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis. Since S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) can be used to treat liver disease, we performed a prospective clinical trial to investigate whether it could be used after hepatectomy to benefit residual liver function.

Methodology: We studied 79 hepatitis-related chronic patients who underwent resection of hepatocellular carcinoma; 39 patients were randomly assigned to receive postoperative intravenous SAMe treatment, and 40 were randomly assigned to a control group.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) induces apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

The docosahexaenoic (DHA), a ω-3 fatty acid, could play a beneficial inhibition of the incidence and progress of a series of human diseases including cancer. It has been report that DHA is involved in cell apoptosis. Recent studies show that the signal transduction pathway links with bcl-2, bax, caspase-3 and MMP-9 molecules.

[Prognosis after hepatectomy for primary liver cancer of segment 7 or 8].

Objective: To investigate the results of surgical treatment for primary liver cancer of segment VII or VIII.

Methods: The clinical data of 149 patients with primary liver cancer who underwent hepatectomy between January 2005 and December 2010 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 120 male and 29 female patients, aging from 19 to 75 years with a mean of 53.

Efficacy and feasibility of radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Background/aims: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a new treatment which is used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We performed this clinical trial to investigate whether it could reduce the damage of residual liver function.

Methodology: We studied 40 hepatitis-related chronic patients who underwent RFA for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Prognostic significance of osteopontin in hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis.

Osteopontin (OPN) has been implicated in tumor development and progression for several years. However, the prognostic value of OPN overexpression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains controversial. We performed a meta-analysis to assess the relationship between OPN overexpression and clinical outcome of HCC.

Effects of interferon treatment on development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic virus infection: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Available literature on the effects of interferon (IFN) treatment on development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic virus infection reports controversial results. The primary objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of IFN on HCC risk in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection; IFN's efficacy on local tumor progression and survival of advanced HCC patients was also assessed. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing IFN with no antiviral treatment were selected.

Activation of STAT3 signal pathway correlates with twist and E-cadherin expression in hepatocellular carcinoma and their clinical significance.

Background: To examine the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and its activated form (p-STAT3), Twist, and E-cadherin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and explore their correlations with HCC progression and prognosis.

Materials And Methods: The expression profiles of STAT3, p-STAT3, Twist, and E-cadherin were assessed on 100 clinical HCC samples and 10 normal liver tissues by using an immunohistochemical staining method, and their correlations with clinicopathologic parameters and survival of HCC patients were statistically analyzed.

Results: The results demonstrated that the positive rate of STAT3, p-STAT3, and Twist in HCC was significantly higher than that in normal liver tissues; furthermore, 52% of HCC lesions showed reduced E-cadherin expression.

[Expression of estrogen receptor α in hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma and its clinical significance].

Objective: To investigate the expression and its clinical significance of estrogen receptor (ERα) and phosphorylated estrogen receptor (p-ERα) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The associations between ERα, p-ERα and IL-6 were also analyzed.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of ERα, p-ERα and IL-6 in tumor tissues from 77 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma.

[Effects of celecoxib combined with fluvastatin on tumor growth and cell apoptosis in a xenograft model of hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate effects of celecoxib (a selective cox-2 inhibitor)combined with fluvastatin (a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor) on tumor growth and cell apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft in nude mice.

Methods: Hepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7402 cells were inoculated subcutaneously into the left armpit of nude mice, the mice (n = 32) were then randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group, the celecoxib group,the fluvastatin group and the combination group. At the end of the study, Tumor Tissues were collected for analysis.

Extracellular matrix protein 1, a novel prognostic factor, is associated with metastatic potential of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) is a glycoprotein involved in a number of biologic processes. To investigate the expression of ECM1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and determine its correlation with tumor progression and prognosis, the expression levels of ECM1 in three HCC and one normal liver cell lines, tumor, and corresponding adjacent tissues from 18 HCC patients were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. Immunohistochemistry assay was used to determine the expression of ECM1 in HCC and corresponding paracarcinomatous tissues from 77 patients.

Prognostic significance and mechanisms of patterned matrix vasculogenic mimicry in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM), including tubular VM and patterned matrix VM, has been generally recognized as a new pattern of tumor neovascularization. Pilot studies of tubular VM showed that it was present in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and associated with poor clinical prognosis. However, whether patterned matrix VM is clinically significant in HCC is unknown.

Octreotide therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review of the evidence from randomized controlled trials.

Currently no standard treatment for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and available literature assessing octreotide's treatment effect on HCC reports discordant results. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of octreotide therapy on patient survival. The secondary endpoints were to assess tumor response, quality of life and adverse effects.

Can hepatocellular carcinoma be treated by Yondelis through targeting both tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages?

Background/aims: The initiation, progression, invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma are closely associated with chronic inflammation caused by hepatitis virus infection, while tumor-associated macrophages are a major component of inflammatory infiltrates in intratumoral or peritumoral tissue of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methodology: Search MEDLINE, PUBMED databases, identify related articles and analyze related data.

Results: Evidence indicated that tumor-associated macrophages play an important role in disease progression, recurrence and survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients.