Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Haining Liu, Xuezhen Zeng, Xuxin Ren, Yifan Zhang, Manling Huang, Li Tan, Zihao Dai, Jiaming Lai, Wenxuan Xie, Zebin Chen, Sui Peng, Lixia Xu, Shuling Chen, Shunli Shen, Ming Kuang, Shuibin Lin
Summary: This study reveals that PMN-MDSCs, enriched in advanced ICCs, are significantly correlated with N-7-methylguanosine tRNA methyltransferase METTL1. METTL1 promotes PMN-MDSC accumulation and ICC progression by regulating translational targets like CXCL8 and Cxcl5. Furthermore, co-blockade of METTL1 and its downstream chemokine pathway enhances the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy.
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Yuqian Mo, Zhilin Zou, Erbao Chen
Summary: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor with complex survival mechanism and drug resistance. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent regulated cell death, has been proposed as an effective strategy in curbing the proliferation and invasion of HCC. Although immunotherapy has made some progress, it has not completely inhibited HCC growth, invasion, and drug resistance. Ferroptosis is widely observed in the HCC immune microenvironment and mediates the response of many targeted drugs and immunotherapy. Clarifying the role of ferroptosis in these complex processes is of great importance for HCC treatment.
HEPATOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Biology
Laith R. Sultan, Mrigendra B. Karmacharya, Stephen J. Hunt, Andrew K. W. Wood, Chandra M. Sehgal
Summary: The study evaluated the use of repeated subsequent AVUS therapy to optimize therapeutic efficacy in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Short intervals between subsequent AVUS treatments showed significant improvement in tumor perfusion reduction, while longer intervals resulted in diminished effects. The findings suggest the importance of tumor viability in maximizing the therapeutic effects of targeted tumor vasculature therapies.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Li-Gong Lu, Zhi-Ling Zhou, Xu-Yan Wang, Bo-Yuan Liu, Jin-Ying Lu, Shuai Liu, Guang-Bo Zhang, Mei-Xiao Zhan, Yun Chen
Summary: In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), PD-L1(+) host macrophages are a major cellular source of PD-L1 in tumors, displaying a glycolytic phenotype and producing antitumor IL-12p70. The regulation of these macrophages involves fibronectin 1-induced PKM2, controlling both antitumor properties and inflammation-mediated PD-L1 expression. Modulating the context of glycolytic macrophages in HCC tumors may restore their antitumor properties and offer a precise strategy for anticancer therapy.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Xiaomeng Dai, Yixuan Guo, Yan Hu, Xuanwen Bao, Xudong Zhu, Qihan Fu, Hangyu Zhang, Zhou Tong, Lulu Liu, Yi Zheng, Peng Zhao, Weijia Fang
Summary: The rapid development and remarkable success of checkpoint inhibitors in cancer treatment, including hepatocellular carcinoma, has provided significant breakthroughs. However, only a small percentage of patients benefit from these inhibitors, as cancer stem cells play a crucial role in recurrence, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. Understanding the mechanisms of immune evasion by CSCs in HCC is essential for developing effective therapies.
Article
Immunology
Magdalena Lang, Corinna Krump, Anastasia Meshcheryakova, Carmen Tam-Amersdorfer, Elke Schwarzenberger, Christina Passegger, Sally Connolly, Diana Mechtcheriakova, Herbert Strobl
Summary: Inflammatory and psoriatic epidermal signals instruct cDC2 cells to differentiate and acquire characteristics of multiple tissue-resident cell subsets. These cells express the efferocytosis receptor Axl and exhibit a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and p38MAPK signaling marker. In addition, inflammatory signals also induce the expression of the non-classical NFkB transcription factor RelB in a subset of cDC2 cells.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Renhong Huang, Han Wang, Jin Hong, Jiayi Wu, Ou Huang, Jianrong He, Weiguo Chen, Yafen Li, Xiaosong Chen, Kunwei Shen, Zheng Wang
Summary: The study demonstrates that SLC7A5 plays a crucial role in the glutamine metabolic reprogramming of TNBC cells. Inhibition of SLC7A5 significantly suppresses TNBC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while increasing immune cell infiltration. Combining SLC7A5 blockade with anti-PD-1 antibody synergistically enhances immune cell infiltration and inhibits tumor progression.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Yulong Han, Qiuzhong Pan, Zhixing Guo, Yufei Du, Yaojun Zhang, Yingying Liu, Jingjing Zhao, Jinfeng Xu, Jieying Yang, Dijun Ouyang, Yan Tang, Qijing Wang, Yongqiang Li, Jia He, Mengjuan Yang, Hao Chen, Chaopin Yang, Xinyi Yang, Jinqi You, Yuanyuan Chen, Minghao Ren, Yao Zhu, Jianchuan Xia, Tong Xiang
Summary: This study found that HBV infection leads to downregulation of BMP9 gene, resulting in vascular abnormalities in patients with HCC and inhibition of infiltration of cytotoxic lymphocytes. These findings suggest that combining BMP9-based therapy with immunotherapy may be a rational choice for treating HBV-associated HCC.
CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Rainer Knoll, Lorenzo Bonaguro, Jessica C. dos Santos, Stefanie Warnat-Herresthal, Maartje C. P. Jacobs-Cleophas, Edda Bluemel, Nico Reusch, Arik Horne, Miriam Herbert, Melanie Nuesch-Germano, Twan Otten, Wouter A. Van der Heijden, Lisa Van de Wijer, Alex K. Shalek, Kristian Handler, Matthias Becker, Marc D. Beyer, Mihai G. Netea, Leo A. B. Joosten, Andre J. A. M. Van der Ven, Joachim L. Schultze, Anna C. Aschenbrenner
Summary: The study found that immune cells of PLHIV have altered transcriptomes, and single-cell RNA sequencing can identify drug candidates to reverse this state. These scientific findings and technological advancements provide the basis for further large-scale cohort studies.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Yu Zhang, Shujie Pang, Bo Sun, Minbo Zhang, Xiaoxiao Jiao, Linying Lai, Yiting Qian, Ning Yang, Wenzhuo Yang
Summary: The study found significant expression alterations in the ELOVLs family at the pan-cancer level. In liver cancer, ELOVL1 and ELOVL3 are strongly associated with poor prognosis of HCC. ELOVL1 plays an important role in HCC and may affect immune responses.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Alessandra Zecca, Valeria Barili, Andrea Olivani, Elisabetta Biasini, Carolina Boni, Paola Fisicaro, Ilaria Montali, Camilla Tiezzi, Raffaele Dalla Valle, Carlo Ferrari, Elisabetta Cariani, Gabriele Missale
Summary: NK cell exhaustion in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with tumor progression and poor clinical outcome. The hostile tumor microenvironment leads to metabolic deregulation and functional defects of infiltrating NK cells. Targeting p38 kinase can restore the metabolic and functional impairments of HCC-infiltrating NK cells. These findings provide a basis for the development of a new immunotherapeutic strategy for HCC.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Longhao Zhang, Jingnan Xue, Nan Zhang, Yunchao Wang, Xu Yang, Shanshan Wang, Mingjian Piao, Kai Liu, Chengpei Zhu, Yanyu Wang, Jiashuo Chao, Cong Ning, Xinmu Zhang, Ziyu Xun, Yiran Li, Huishan Sun, Xiaobo Yang, Lijin Zhao, Haitao Zhao
Summary: This study evaluated the anti-tumor activity of adding bevacizumab as a means to reduce the blood vessels necessary for tumor growth in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC) who experienced disease progression after lenvatinib and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) treatment. The group that received bevacizumab had prolonged progression-free survival and a trend towards a benefit for overall survival duration compared to the control group. Bevacizumab could be a potential treatment option for aHCC patients after lenvatinib and PD-1/PD-L1 treatment.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Guilin Nie, Dingzhong Peng, Ningyuan Wen, Yaoqun Wang, Jiong Lu, Bei Li
Summary: Cuproptosis, a type of programmed cell death, has been found to play a role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A CRG score model was constructed, which showed good performance in predicting the prognosis of HCC patients. Significant differences were observed in metabolic gene expression, immune cell subtypes, and sorafenib sensitivity between the high-CRG group and low-CRG group. The gene GLS, included in the model, may be involved in the process of cuproptosis and sorafenib treatment in HCC cell lines.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wuchang Zhang, Wei Liu, Lingfei Jia, Demeng Chen, Insoon Chang, Michael Lake, Laurent A. Bentolila, Cun-Yu Wang
Summary: Inhibition of KDM4A promotes heterochromatin compaction and DNA replication stress in SCC, activating tumor-cell-intrinsic cGAS-STING signaling. KDM4A inhibition collaborates with PD1 blockade to inhibit SCC growth and metastasis, efficiently eliminating cancer stem cells. Targeting KDM4A can activate anti-tumor immunity and enhance PD1 blockade immunotherapy in SCC by aggravating replication stress.
Review
Immunology
Huimei Huang, Shisheng Li, Qinglai Tang, Gangcai Zhu
Summary: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor characterized by geographic distribution and EBV infection. Metabolic reprogramming in NPC cells may facilitate cancer progression and immunosuppression through cell-cell communications with surrounding immune cells. This review discusses dysregulated metabolism processes in NPC and the potential connections between reprogrammed metabolism, tumor immunity, and therapy.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Xuezhen Zeng, Guanrui Liao, Shumin Li, Haining Liu, Xiao Zhao, Shuang Li, Kai Lei, Shenghua Zhu, Zhihang Chen, Yi Zhao, Xuxin Ren, Tianhong Su, Alfred Sze-Lok Cheng, Sui Peng, Shuibin Lin, Ji Wang, Shuling Chen, Ming Kuang
Summary: METTL1 plays a role in shaping the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment after insufficient RFA, influencing tumor recurrence and treatment efficacy.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Huapeng Lin, Terry Cheuk-Fung Yip, Xinrong Zhang, Guanlin Li, Yee-Kit Tse, Vicki Wing-Ki Hui, Lilian Yan Liang, Jimmy Che-To Lai, Stephen Lam Chan, Henry Lik-Yuen Chan, Grace Lai-Hung Wong, Vincent Wai-Sun Wong
Summary: The relative importance of liver-related death increases with age in patients with NAFLD, especially among women.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xiaoyu Liu, Jingying Zhou, Haoran Wu, Shufen Chen, Lingyun Zhang, Wenshu Tang, Liang Duan, Ying Wang, Eleanor McCabe, Mengying Hu, Zhuo Yu, Hanzhuang Liu, Chung Hang Jonathan Choi, Joseph Jao-yiu Sung, Leaf Huang, Rihe Liu, Alfred Sze-lok Cheng
Summary: The local microenvironment where tumors develop can affect cancer progression and treatment outcomes. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which often develops in a liver fibrotic environment, nanodelivery of a PD-L1 trap gene shows superior efficacy compared to conventional monoclonal antibodies in treating fibrosis-associated HCC.
Editorial Material
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Alfred Sze-Lok Cheng
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Zhiwu Tan, Mei Sum Chiu, Xinxiang Yang, Ming Yue, Tan To Cheung, Dongyan Zhou, Yuewen Wang, Anthony Wing-Hung Chan, Chi Wing Yan, Ka Yi Kwan, Yik Chun Wong, Xin Li, Jingying Zhou, Ka Fai To, Jiye Zhu, Chung Mau Lo, Alfred Sze-Lok Cheng, Stephen Lam Chan, Li Liu, You-Qiang Song, Kwan Man, Zhiwei Chen
Summary: A PD-1 isoform called Delta 42PD-1 plays an important role in the development and resistance to nivolumab immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the role of Delta 42PD-1 in HCC patients and found that Delta 42PD-1(+) T cells accounted for up to 71% of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in untreated HCC patients and were associated with HCC severity. These Delta 42PD-1(+) T cells were more exhausted than PD-1(+) T cells. HCC patients treated with anti-PD-1 ICB showed increased frequencies of Delta 42PD-1(+) T cells over time, especially in patients with progressive disease. Delta 42PD-1(+) T cells sustained HCC through toll-like receptor 4 signaling. An anti-Delta 42PD-1 antibody inhibited tumor growth in murine HCC models.
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Do Young Kim, Bao Nguyen Toan, Chee-Kiat Tan, Irsan Hasan, Lyana Setiawan, Ming -Lung Yu, Namiki Izumi, Nguyen Nguyen Huyen, Pierce Kah-Hoe Chow, Rosmawati Mohamed, Stephen Lam Chan, Tawesak Tanwandee, Teng-Yu Lee, Thi Thanh Nguyen Hai, Tian Yang, Woo -Chang Lee, Henry Lik Yuen Chan
Summary: PIVKA-II is valuable for detecting AFP-negative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and could be used in combination with AFP for early HCC detection. It is clinically useful for monitoring HCC treatment, predicting recurrence and microvascular invasion risk, and facilitating patient selection for liver transplant. However, more evidence is needed for its role in surveillance, including small HCC.
CLINICAL AND MOLECULAR HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhiwei Chen, Yaoji Sun, Jiawei Wang, Xi Zhou, Xiangjian Kong, Jiashen Meng, Xingcai Zhang
Summary: The intelligent responsive drug delivery system has great potential in cancer precision therapy by intelligently releasing antitumor drugs through pH response and thermal stimulation.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Ping Gu, Kai Ding, Lei Lu, Yu Zhang, Wei Wang, Qingyu Guo, Yannian Liao, Bingjie Yang, Tiantian Wang, Changsheng Zhou, Bin Lu, Alice P. S. Kong, Alfred S. Cheng, Hannah Xiaoyan Hui, Jiaqing Shao
Summary: This study investigated the expressions of major brown adipose markers in white adipose tissue (WAT) of different ages and their associations with metabolic parameters and key adipokines. The findings suggest that UCP1 and PRDM16 have differential clinical correlations with metabolic features in human WAT in an age-dependent manner. UCP1 and PRDM16 may participate in the pathogenesis of ageing-related metabolic diseases with distinct mechanisms.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Lok Yan Yim, Ka Shing Lam, Tsz-Yat Luk, Yufei Mo, Xiaofan Lu, Jinlin Wang, Ka-Wai Cheung, Grace Chung Yan Lui, Denise Pui Chung Chan, Bonnie Chun Kwan Wong, Thomas Tsz-Kan Lau, Chiu Bong Ngan, Dongyan Zhou, Yik Chun Wong, Zhiwu Tan, Li Liu, Hao Wu, Tong Zhang, Shui Shan Lee, Zhiwei Chen
Summary: The study reveals that plasma transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is elevated during acute HIV-1 infection in men who have sex with men (MSM). TGF-beta signaling plays a crucial role in mediating HIV-1 infection of activated and resting memory CD4(+) T cells by upregulating the HIV-1 coreceptor CCR5. TGF-beta also increases CCR7 and CXCR3 expression on memory CD4(+) T cells, potentially promoting viral infection and latency establishment.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Claudia Wing-Kwan Wu, Rashid Nok-Shun Lui, Vincent Wai-Sun Wong, Tsz-Fai Yam, Terry Cheuk-Fung Yip, Ken Liu, Jimmy Che-To Lai, Yee-Kit Tse, Tony Shu-Kam Mok, Henry Lik-Yuen Chan, Kelvin Kwok-Chai Ng, Grace Lai-Hung Wong, Stephen Lam Chan
Summary: The study successfully validated the efficacy of the Baveno VII criteria in predicting high-risk varices in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, providing a non-invasive method for assessing the risk of variceal bleeding and hepatic decompensation.
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Tan-To Cheung, Simon Chun-Ho Yu, Stephen L. Chan, Ronnie T. P. Poon, Philip Kwok, Ann-Shing Lee, Anna Tai, Derek Tam, Chin-Cheung Cheung, Tak-Wing Lai, Nam-Hung Chia, Ada Law, Tracy Shum, Yim-Kwan Lam, Vince Lau, Victor Lee, Charing Chong, Chung-Ngai Tang, Thomas Yau
Summary: This article summarizes the expertise and latest evidence-based recommendations on the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by Hong Kong clinicians.
HEPATOBILIARY SURGERY AND NUTRITION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Landon L. Chan, Stephen L. Chan
CLINICAL AND MOLECULAR HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Runhong Zhou, Na Liu, Xin Li, Qiaoli Peng, Cheuk-Kwan Yiu, Haode Huang, Dawei Yang, Zhenglong Du, Hau-Yee Kwok, Ka-Kit Au, Jian-Piao Cai, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, Kelvin Kai -Wang To, Xiaoning Xu, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Zhiwei Chen
Summary: The ongoing outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 infections in Hong Kong, the model city of universal masking of the world, has resulted in a major public health crisis. The timely third-dose vaccination provided significant protection with lower incidence rates of breakthrough infections. Third-dose vaccination activated spike (S)-specific memory B cells and Omicron cross-reactive T cell responses, which correlated with reduced frequencies of breakthrough infections and disease severity.
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-WESTERN PACIFIC
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Haoran Xu, Runhong Zhou, Zhiwei Chen
Summary: This article discusses the unique role of TRM cells in immune defense, explores the cellular mechanisms underlying their development and their responsiveness in different tissue microenvironments, and emphasizes the translational potential of TRM cells and their applications in disease protection.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Changhoon Yoo, Jaewon Hyung, Stephen L. Chan
Summary: Background: The incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCCA) is increasing globally, making it a major global health issue. Conventionally, systemic therapy has been the mainstay of treatment for advanced cholangiocarcinoma. This review discusses recent advances in systemic treatments for patients with IHCCA. Summary: The addition of durvalumab to a gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GemCis) regimen has significantly improved overall survival (OS) in the phase 3 TOPAZ-1 trial and is recommended as the standard first-line treatment. Second-line fluoropyrimidine plus oxaliplatin and fluoropyrimidine plus nanoliposomal irinotecan have shown benefits in treating patients without actionable alterations. Targeted agents have shown efficacy in treating patients with actionable genomic alterations. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are being investigated for previously treated patients. Key Messages: Recent advances in systemic treatments have improved clinical outcomes for advanced IHCCA patients. However, resistance and tumor progression remain challenges, and further efforts are needed to improve outcomes.
