Temporal Dynamics and Treatment Outcomes of Hepatitis C Virus/Human Immunodeficiency Virus Coinfection: A Multicenter Retrospective Study from South Korea.

Background/aims: Due to the very low incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in South Korea, epidemiological data on hepatitis C virus (HCV)/HIV coinfection are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with HCV/HIV coinfection in South Korea.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data from patients diagnosed with HCV/HIV coinfection at 12 academic hospitals in South Korea from 2009 to 2020.

Development and validation of a risk prediction model for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving atezolizumab-bevacizumab.

Background And Aims: Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (AB) has become the standard first-line treatment for advanced HCC. However, identifying reliable prognostic biomarkers remains a critical challenge. We aimed to develop a comprehensive scoring system to predict overall survival (OS) in advanced HCC patients receiving first-line AB.

Peripheral blood inflammatory score using a cytokine multiplex assay predicts clinical outcomes in patients treated with atezolizumab-bevacizumab for unresectable HCC.

Background: Several serum cytokines have been proposed as biomarkers for predicting the outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, their role in atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (AB) treatment needs to be more elucidated.

Methods: We examined various serum cytokines, including interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-12, IL-17, IL-2, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor, using a Luminex cytokine multiplex assay before AB treatment in prospectively enrolled 116 AB-treatment patients for the derivation cohort and 54 patients for the external validation cohort.

Prediction of long-term HBsAg seroclearance in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.

Background & Aims: Predicting the long-term HBsAg seroclearance, an ideal endpoint, is relevant for decision-making regarding antiviral therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study aimed to identify predictors and develop a prediction model for HBsAg seroclearance in patients with HBeAg-negative CHB.

Methods: A total of 2,032 untreated HBeAg-negative patients who underwent a 2-year baseline observation period were enrolled.

Evaluation of the LI-RADS radiation treatment response assessment v2024 in comparison with the modified RECIST.

Objectives: Conventional radiologic response criteria inadequately address imaging features and delayed responses after radiation-based therapies, limiting clinical decisions. This study evaluated treatment response to radiation-based locoregional therapies using modified RECIST (mRECIST), LI-RADS treatment response algorithm (LR-TRA) v2017, and radiation LR-TRA v2024, assessed changes in response categories during follow-up, and evaluated their association with overall survival (OS).

Materials And Methods: This single-center retrospective study included consecutive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with transarterial radioembolization or external beam radiation therapy between 2011 and 2023.

Subset of Child-Pugh Score 7 Shows Comparable Survival Outcomes to Child-Pugh Score 6 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Treated with Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab.

Purpose: Given the limited data on the effectiveness of Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab (Ate/Bev) in HCC patients with a Child-Pugh score (CPS) of 7, this study aims to evaluate the treatment's efficacy in this population and identify specific CPS 7 subgroups that may benefit from it.

Experimental Design: This study included patients with advanced HCC who received Ate/Bev as first-line therapy between September 2020 and December 2023 at seven university hospitals. The primary outcome was OS, while secondary outcomes included PFS and treatment response.

Differential Infiltration of T-Cell Populations in Tumor and Liver Tissues Predicts Recurrence-Free Survival in Surgically Resected Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

: Liver and tumor-infiltrating T cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are heterogeneous, comprising the CD69 tissue-resident T-cell and the CD69 circulating T-cell populations. However, the impact of these distinct T-cell populations on patient prognosis is unclear; hence, further studies are needed. : Tumor and distant liver tissues from 57 HCC patients with various chronic liver disease etiologies were analyzed.

Incorporating ALBI Grade with Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Enhances Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk Stratification.

Introduction: Despite its prognostic impact, nutritional status has not yet been integrated into the assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study investigated the association between geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and overall survival (OS) in patients with HCC using a nationwide registry.

Methods: Data from the Korea Central Cancer Registry between 2008 and 2019 were analyzed.

Predicting Mortality and Cirrhosis-Related Complications with MELD3.0: A Multicenter Cohort Analysis.

Background: /Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) 3.0 for predicting mortality and liver-related complications compared with the Child-Pugh classification, albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, the MELD, and the MELD sodium (MELDNa) score.

Methods: We evaluated a multicenter retrospective cohort of incorporated patients with cirrhosis between 2013 and 2019.

Dynamic Peripheral T-Cell Analysis Identifies On-Treatment Prognostic Biomarkers of Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Introduction: Variability in response to atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (AB) treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) underscores the critical need for the development of effective biomarkers. We sought to identify peripheral blood biomarkers reflecting response to AB treatment.

Methods: We analyzed dynamic changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a prospective, multicenter cohort of 65 patients with HCC, using flow cytometry to evaluate the T-cell population before and 3 weeks after the first AB treatment.

Switching to besifovir in patients with chronic hepatitis B receiving tenofovir disoproxil fumarate: A randomized trial.

Background/aims: Besifovir (BSV) showed comparable antiviral activity and superior safety profiles to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, no data are available regarding the antiviral efficacy and safety of BSV in patients with CHB who switched from long-term TDF to BSV. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of a 48-week BSV therapy in patients with CHB who switched from long-term TDF treatment.

Male preference for TERT alterations and HBV integration in young-age HBV-related HCC: implications for sex disparity.

Background/aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exhibits significant sex disparities in incidence, yet its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We explored the role of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) genetic alterations and hepatitis B virus (HBV) integration, both known major contributors to HCC, in sex-specific risk for HBV-related HCC.

Methods: We examined 310 HBV-related HCC tissues to investigate sex-specific TERT promoter (TERT-pro) mutations and HBV integration profiles, stratified by sex and age, and validated with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data.

Improved survival with second-line hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy after atezolizumab-bevacizumab failure in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: There is no established second-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following atezolizumab-bevacizumab (ate-beva) failure. This study assessed the efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) as a salvage therapy by comparing survival outcomes and treatment responses between HAIC as a first-line treatment and as a second-line option after ate-beva failure.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 100 patients with advanced HCC treated with HAIC between March 2022 and July 2024.

Prognostic significance of combined PD-L1 expression in malignant and infiltrating cells in hepatocellular carcinoma treated with atezolizumab and bevacizumab.

Background: Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is abundant not only in malignant cells but also in infiltrating cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study explored the association between PD-L1 expression in TME and outcomes in HCC patients treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (AB), emphasizing the implications of PD-L1 expression in both malignant and tumor-infiltrating cells.

Methods: This study included 72 patients with HCC who underwent percutaneous core needle liver biopsy before AB treatment between September 2020 and December 2023.

Chitinase 1: a novel therapeutic target in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is characterized by persistent inflammatory cascades, with macrophage activation playing a pivotal role. Chitinase 1 (CHIT1), produced by activated macrophages, is a key player in this cascade. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of CHIT1 in MASH with progressive liver fibrosis.

The Critical Role of Regulatory T Cells in Immune Tolerance and Rejection Following Liver Transplantation: Interactions With the Gut Microbiome.

Liver transplantation (LT) is the ultimate treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease or early hepatocellular carcinoma. In the context of LT, because of the unique immunological characteristics of human liver allograft, 5%-20% of selected LT recipients can achieve operational tolerance. Nonetheless, there remains a risk of rejection in LT patients.

Optimal tacrolimus levels for reducing CKD risk and the impact of intrapatient variability on CKD and ESRD development following liver transplantation.

Background/aims: This study aimed to identify the risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) following liver transplantation (LT), with a specific focus on tacrolimus levels and intrapatient variability (IPV).

Methods: Among the 1,076 patients who underwent LT between 2000 and 2018, 952 were included in the analysis. The tacrolimus doses and levels were recorded every 3 months, and the IPV was calculated using the coefficient of variability.

The Impact of Histologic Portal T-Cell Density on the Clinical Outcomes in Hepatic Graft-versus-Host Disease and Autoimmune Liver Diseases.

Hepatic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) significantly impacts morbidity and mortality among allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. However, the relationship between clinical and immunopathological phenotypes and their influence on clinical outcomes in hepatic GVHD is not well understood. In this study, we aimed to study the implications of portal T-cell infiltration on the clinical outcomes in hepatic GHVD and its similarities to autoimmune liver disease.

Evolving trends in treatment patterns for hepatocellular carcinoma in Korea from 2008 to 2022: a nationwide population-based study.

Backgrounds/aims: The treatment landscape for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has significantly evolved over the past decade. We aimed to analyze trends in treatment patterns for HCC using a nationwide claims database from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.

Methods: This retrospective population-based cohort study analyzed 171,002 newly diagnosed HCC patients between 2008 and 2022.

Analysis of Immune-Related Adverse Events of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multicentre Cohort Study.

Introduction: Despite the emergence of atezolizumab and bevacizumab (A + B) as standard first-line systemic therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a comprehensive understanding of the clinical significance of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) remains limited. We aimed to assess the impact of irAEs on patients with HCC undergoing A + B treatment.

Methods: This multicentre retrospective study included consecutive patients with HCC who were treated with the A + B regimen from September 2020 to December 2022.

RECIST 1.1, mRECIST, and Choi criteria for evaluating treatment response and survival outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab.

Objectives: We aimed to compare the early responder rates, defined as complete or partial responders, using response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) 1.1, modified RECIST (mRECIST), and Choi criteria in advanced HCC patients treated with atezolizumab-bevacizumab (atezo-bev), and to correlate them with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Methods: This retrospective study included advanced HCC patients treated with ≥ 3 cycles of atezo-bev.

Differential HBV replicative markers and covalently closed circular DNA transcription in immune-active chronic hepatitis B with and without HBeAg.

Background And Aims: Molecular processes driving immune-active chronic hepatitis B (CHB) with and without hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate expression profiles of serum and intrahepatic HBV markers and replicative activity of HBV in CHB patients with or without HBeAg.

Methods: This study recruited 111 untreated immune-active CHB (60 HBeAg-positive and 51 HBeAg-negative) patients and quantified intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), pre-genomic RNA (pgRNA), total HBV DNA (tDNA), and replicative intermediates as well as serum HBV markers (HBV DNA, hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B core-related antigen).

Effect of Biliary Drainage on the Prognosis of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Bile Duct Invasion.

Background/aims: Bile duct invasion (BDI) is rarely observed in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), leading to hyperbilirubinemia. However, the efficacy of pretreatment biliary drainage for HCC patients with BDI and obstructive jaundice is currently unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of biliary drainage on the prognosis of these patients.