Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zeno Sparchez, Rares Craciun, Iuliana Nenu, Lavinia Patricia Mocan, Mihaela Sparchez, Tudor Mocan
Summary: In recent years, the field of hepatocellular carcinoma has seen significant changes, emphasizing different HCC phenotypes and the emergence of novel, specific therapies that pave the way for personalized treatment of primary liver cancer. The role of liver biopsy has slowly shifted from a confirmatory method to a technique capable of providing in-depth characterization of nodules. It is expected that liver biopsy will regain its position in HCC, and combining it with other available methods could improve treatment selection and outcomes.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Agnieszka Kopystecka, Rafal Patryn, Magdalena Lesniewska, Julia Budzynska, Ilona Koziol
Summary: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common primary liver cancer with a poor prognosis. Imaging and liver biopsy have limitations in detecting small nodules and atypical features. Liquid biopsy and molecular analysis provide new biomarkers for early diagnosis and monitoring of HCC. ctDNA testing can benefit patients with liver and biliary malignancies, indicating personalized cancer treatment based on specific tumor DNA mutations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Ao Huang, De-Zhen Guo, Yu-Peng Wang, Guo-Huan Yang, Qi-Man Sun, Xin Zhang, Yi-Feng He, Kang Song, Xiao-Wu Huang, Xin-Rong Yang, Jia Fan, Jian Zhou, Jie Hu
Summary: The study demonstrated the significance of plasma microRNA panel for predicting and monitoring early tumor recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma patients following liver transplantation. The positive status of microRNA panel was associated with a higher recurrence rate, and it changed from negative to positive earlier than AFP and DCP upon recurrence.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Miner Hu, Xiaojun Xia, Lichao Chen, Yunpeng Jin, Zhenhua Hu, Shudong Xia, Xudong Yao
Summary: Most cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be diagnosed through regular surveillance in patients with chronic hepatitis B or cirrhosis. However, 50% of global cases may be incidentally detected at an advanced stage after liver dysfunction worsens. A systematic search identified various newer surveillance modalities for early-stage HCC detection, such as secretory proteins, DNA methylation, miRNAs, and genome sequencing analysis. Harmonization of analytical approaches and data interpretation is needed for more accurate HCC incidence. The combination of molecular-secretory biomarkers, high-definition imaging, and clinical indexes offers a comprehensive range of potential indicators for HCC in a surveillance setting.
ANNALS OF HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Victor Amado, Sandra Gonzalez-Rubio, Javier Zamora, Rafael Alejandre, Maria Lola Espejo-Cruz, Clara Linares, Marina Sanchez-Frias, Gema Garcia-Jurado, Jose Luis Montero, Ruben Ciria, Manuel Rodriguez-Peralvarez, Gustavo Ferrin, Manuel De la Mata
Summary: Liver transplantation and surgical resection are potential curative options for patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, but tumor recurrence remains a frequent issue. This study aimed to assess the role of circulating tumor cells in HCC patients undergoing surgery and their association with other markers of poor prognosis. Results suggest that incomplete clearance of circulating tumor cells post-surgery may serve as a surrogate marker of HCC aggressiveness.
Review
Oncology
Siyu Fu, Jose D. Debes, Andre Boonstra
Summary: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common primary liver malignancy with poor prognosis. Epigenetic modification, specifically DNA methylation, plays a significant role in HCC development by impacting cell differentiation, proliferation, and function. Methylated DNA markers have shown promise as specific biomarkers for early-stage HCC detection, offering higher sensitivity and specificity compared to current surveillance methods. However, the immediate application of these biomarkers is limited by various factors. This review provides a detailed rationale for using methylation biomarkers in HCC detection and summarizes recent studies on methylated DNA markers, emphasizing the importance of the underlying cause of liver disease in cancer mechanisms.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Matteo Renzulli, Anna Pecorelli, Nicolo Brandi, Stefano Brocchi, Francesco Tovoli, Alessandro Granito, Gianpaolo Carrafiello, Anna Maria Ierardi, Rita Golfieri
Summary: The feasibility of biopsy for atypical liver nodules in patients under surveillance for HCC was determined in this study. The study found that the size and location of the liver nodules were the main factors influencing the feasibility of biopsy.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Alkistis Papatheodoridi, George Papatheodoridis
Summary: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major public health problem and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses have been identified as oncoviruses and are responsible for most cases of HCC, while the role of hepatitis D (HDV) virus in liver cancer development remains unclear. Coinfection of HDV/HBV is associated with more severe liver damage than HBV mono-infection, and recent studies suggest that HDV/HBV patients are at increased risk of developing HCC compared to those with HBV alone. This review summarizes the current literature on the impact of HDV in HCC development and discusses the potential interactions between HBV, HDV, and neighboring liver tissue in liver carcinogenesis.
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Xuan-vinh Kevin Nguyen, Jason Zhang, Ken Lee Chin, Stephen Bloom, Amanda J. Nicoll
Summary: This study compared the characteristics and survival rates of NAFLD-HCC patients to non-NAFLD-HCC patients, finding that NAFLD-HCC patients were more likely to be diagnosed based on symptoms and at an older age, with lower survival rates.
Article
Oncology
Victor Chun-Lam Wong, Ming-In Wong, Chi-Tat Lam, Maria Li Lung, Ka-On Lam, Victor Ho-Fun Lee
Summary: This study developed a liquid biopsy assay using circulating miRNAs and machine learning models to accurately identify HCC and differentiate it from CRC liver metastasis, showing promising diagnostic performance and clinical application potential in HCC differential diagnosis.
Article
Oncology
Jingjing Jiao, Suet-Ying Kwan, Caroline M. Sabotta, Honami Tanaka, Lucas Veillon, Marc O. Warmoes, Philip L. Lorenzi, Ying Wang, Peng Wei, Ernest T. Hawk, Jose Luis Almeda, Joseph B. McCormick, Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, Laura Beretta
Summary: The study showed that low plasma concentrations of VLC n-3 PUFAs and VLC SFAs were strongly associated with advanced liver fibrosis and HCC in the Hispanic population of South Texas, with genetic factors also playing a role in the low concentrations of these FAs.
CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY BIOMARKERS & PREVENTION
(2021)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Romain Donne, Amaia Lujambio
Summary: The liver is a common site for primary cancer and a major cause of cancer death. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for the majority of liver cancers. Immune-checkpoint inhibitors have shown promise in the treatment of HCC, but further understanding of the tumor microenvironment and the development of additional biomarkers are needed. Other immune-targeting strategies are also being developed. This review provides an overview of the HCC immune microenvironment and current immunotherapies.
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Guillermo Carbonell, Paul Kennedy, Octavia Bane, Ammar Kirmani, Maria El Homsi, Daniel Stocker, Daniela Said, Pritam Mukherjee, Olivier Gevaert, Sara Lewis, Stefanie Hectors, Bachir Taouli
Summary: The precision of MRI radiomics features in HCC tumors and liver parenchyma shows moderate to excellent test-retest repeatability within the same MRI system. However, there is poor inter-platform reproducibility across different MRI systems, except for shape and 1st-order features on T1WI. Inter-observer reproducibility is good to excellent in HCCs but moderate to good in liver tissue.
EUROPEAN RADIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Haozhen Ren, Yuyan Chen, Zhengyi Zhu, Jinkun Xia, Shujun Liu, Yingzhe Hu, Xueqian Qin, Lu Zhang, Yitao Ding, Senzhe Xia, Jinglin Wang
Summary: This study found a correlation between the balance of Th17/Treg cells and FOXO1 in IRI-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence by using RNA sequencing and other experimental methods. Upregulation of FOXO1 alleviated the negative effects of IRI by reducing Th17 cell polarization. Therefore, the FOXO1-Th17/Treg axis could be a promising target for reducing HCC recurrence after hepatectomy.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa, Lin Wu, Augusto Villanueva
Summary: Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma is crucial for reducing mortality rates, but sensitive biomarkers are still lacking. Research into circulating tumor-derived molecular features, such as circulating tumor DNA and RNA, has potential for noninvasive biomarker candidates in various tumor types.
