Cordycepin mediates pyroptosis in HCC through the upregulation of TXNIP and synergizes with anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors are effective treatments for HCC; however, their therapeutic efficacy is often limited by the development of drug resistance. Therefore, investigating new combination therapeutics involving immune checkpoint inhibitors is critical to improving patient prognosis. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of cordycepin (COR) in HCC and its synergistic effect with anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1) immunotherapy.

Radiographic and α-fetoprotein response predict pathologic complete response to immunotherapy plus a TKI in hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicenter study.

Background: Pathologic complete response (pCR) following preoperative systemic therapy is associated with improved outcomes after subsequent liver transplant/resection in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the relationship between radiographic and histopathological response remains unclear.

Methods: We retrospectively examined patients with initially unresectable HCC who received tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) plus anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1) therapy before undergoing liver resection between March 2019 and September 2021 across 7 hospitals in China.

Effectiveness and safety of lenvatinib plus anti-programmed death-1 antibodies in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A real-world cohort study.

Objective: Lenvatinib plus anti-programmed death-1 (anti-PD-1) antibody combinations have shown potent anti-tumor effect in phase I/II trials in advanced or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but real-world data are limited.

Methods: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of lenvatinib plus anti-PD-1 antibodies in a real-world cohort, we retrospectively evaluated 210 patients with unresectable or advanced HCC treated with these regimens between October 2018 and February 2022.

Results: The objective response rate and disease control rate per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.

The Safety Profile of Hepatectomy Following Preoperative Systemic Therapy with Lenvatinib Plus Anti-PD-1 Antibodies Versus Hepatectomy Alone in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Objective: To determine the safety of hepatectomy after combined lenvatinib and anti-PD-1 preoperative systemic therapy (PST) in patients with marginally resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Background: PST followed by hepatectomy (PSTH) is an emerging treatment for HCC. However, the impact of PST with lenvatinib plus anti-PD-1 antibodies on surgical safety is unknown.

Downstaging and Resection of Initially Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor and Anti-PD-1 Antibody Combinations.

Background: Combined therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and anti-PD-1 antibodies has shown high tumor response rates for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, using this treatment strategy to convert initially unresectable HCC to resectable HCC was not reported.

Methods: Consecutive patients with unresectable HCC who received first-line therapy with combined TKI/anti-PD-1 antibodies were analyzed.

Organ specific responses to first-line lenvatinib plus anti-PD-1 antibodies in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective analysis.

Background: We evaluated organ-specific response rates (OSRRs) to first-line lenvatinib plus anti-PD-1 antibodies in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: This retrospective analysis included Chinese patients with unresectable/advanced HCC who received first-line lenvatinib (8 mg/day) plus ≥3 infusions of anti-PD-1 antibodies between October 2018 and May 2020. Tumor and macrovascular tumor thrombi (MVTT) treatment responses were evaluated every 2 months using RECIST v1.

Plasma microRNA, a potential biomarker for acute rejection after liver transplantation.

Background: Acute rejection (AR) of an organ transplant is a life-threatening complication. Currently, there are few diagnostic biomarkers suitable for clinical application. We aim to determine the potential of plasma microRNAs as biomarkers for AR.

Activation of PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathway through a PDGFRβ-dependent feedback loop is involved in rapamycin resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Rapamycin is an attractive approach for the treatment and prevention of HCC recurrence after liver transplantation. However, the objective response rates of rapamycin achieved with single-agent therapy were modest, supporting that rapamycin resistance is a frequently observed characteristic of many cancers. Some studies have been devoted to understanding the mechanisms of rapamycin resistance, however, the mechanisms are cell-type-dependent and studies on rapamycin resistance in HCC are extremely limited.

An investigation of the effect of sorafenib on tumour growth and recurrence after liver cancer resection in nude mice independent of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase levels.

Objective: The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of sorafenib on tumor growth, recurrence and metastasis after curative resection of liver cancer.

Research Methods: SMMC-7721 and HCCLM3 liver tumors, each with different metastatic potential and basal phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK) levels, were orthotopically implanted into 56 nude mice. Mice were divided into a treatment sub study and a prevention sub study.

Oxaliplatin induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and inhibits tumor growth.

Objective: The platinum-based chemotherapeutic agent oxaliplatin displays a wide range of antitumor activities. To date, no detailed data are available about the effects of oxaliplatin on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Herein, the anti-proliferation effects of oxaliplatin on HCCLM3 and Hep3B cells in vitro and in vivo are studied.

Capn4 overexpression underlies tumor invasion and metastasis after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Unlabelled: Liver transplantation (LT) is one of the best therapeutic options for nonresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unfortunately, some HCC patients succumb to the disease after LT, which reduces long- and medium-term survival. To identify the proteins associated with HCC invasion and metastasis, HCC patients undergoing LT with complete follow-up data were included in this study and were categorized into recurrence and nonrecurrence groups.

Sirolimus inhibits the growth and metastatic progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Immunosuppressive therapy after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the major contributory factors for HCC recurrence and metastasis. Sirolimus, a potent immunosuppressant, has been reported to be an effective inhibitor in a variety of tumors. The present study is designed to explore whether sirolimus could block the growth and metastatic progression of HCC.