Online risk scores for pre- and postoperative prediction of early recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing conversion liver resection after tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors therapy.

Background: Conversion therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) offers the potential for curative resection in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, early recurrence (≤2 years) after conversion liver resection remains a major concern. This study aimed to develop and validate online preoperative and postoperative risk scores to predict early recurrence in patients undergoing conversion liver resection.

Adjuvant lenvatinib in combination with transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with high risk of postoperative recurrence: A multicenter prospective cohort study.

Background: The high recurrent rate after surgery hinders the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib plus transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as an adjuvant therapy in HCC patients with high risk of recurrence.

Methods: Patients were enrolled from eight hepatobiliary centers in China.

Radiogenomics of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma predicts immunochemotherapy response and identifies therapeutic target.

Background/aims: Identifying patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) likely to benefit from immunochemotherapy, the new front-line treatment, remains challenging. We aimed to unveil a novel radiotranscriptomic signature that can facilitate treatment response prediction by multi-omics integration and multiscale modelling.

Methods: We analyzed bulk, single-cell and spatial transcriptomic data comprising 457 ICC patients to identify an immune-related score (IRS), followed by decoding its spatial immune context.

Particular Chinese contributions to extracorporeal liver surgery.

Extracorporeal liver surgery (ELS), also known as liver autotransplantation, is a hybrid (cross-fertilized) surgery incorporating the technical knowledge from extreme liver and transplant liver surgeries, and recently became more embraced and popularized among leading centers. ELS could be summarized into three major categories, namely, ex-situ liver resection and autotransplantation (ELRA), ante-situm liver resection and autotransplantation (ALRA) and auxiliary partial liver autotransplantation (APLA). The successful development of ELS during the past 37 years is definitely inseparable from continuous efforts done by Chinese surgeons and researchers.

Preoperative clinical and contrasted-enhanced CT features to predict perineural invasion in gallbladder carcinoma: focus on clinical T3-4 stage.

Purpose: To investigate the utility of combining clinical and contrasted-enhanced tomography (CECT) parameters for the preoperative evaluation of perineural invasion (PNI) in gallbladder carcinoma (GBC).

Methods: A total of 134 patients with GBC (male/female, 52/82; age, 64.4 ± 9.

CircUGP2 Suppresses Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Progression via p53 Signaling Through Interacting With PURB to Regulate ADGRB1 Transcription and Sponging miR-3191-5p.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary liver cancer and its prognosis remains poor. Although growing numbers of studies have verified the involvement of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in various cancer types, their specific functions in ICC remain elusive. Herein, a circRNA, circUGP2 is identified by circRNA sequencing, which is downregulated in ICC tissues and correlated with patients' prognosis.

Differentiation and immunosuppressive function of CD19CD24CD27 regulatory B cells are regulated through the miR-29a-3p/NFAT5 pathway.

Background: Regulatory B cells (Bregs) is an indispensable element in inducing immune tolerance after liver transplantation. As one of the microRNAs (miRNAs), miR-29a-3p also inhibits translation by degrading the target mRNA, and yet the relationship between Bregs and miR-29a-3p has not yet been fully explored. This study aimed to investigate the impact of miR-29a-3p on the regulation of differentiation and immunosuppressive functions of memory Bregs (mBregs) and ultimately provide potentially effective therapies in inducing immune tolerance after liver transplantation.

Apolipoprotein A-1 Accelerated Liver Regeneration Through Regulating Autophagy Via AMPK-ULK1 Pathway.

Background & Aims: Apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA-1), the main apolipoprotein of high-density lipoprotein, has been well studied in the area of lipid metabolism and cardiovascular diseases. In this project, we clarify the function and mechanism of ApoA-1 in liver regeneration.

Methods: Seventy percent of partial hepatectomy was applied in male ApoA-1 knockout mice and wild-type mice to investigate the effects of ApoA-1 on liver regeneration.

Translating imaging traits of mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma into the clinic: From prognostic to therapeutic insights.

Background & Aims: The progress toward clinical translation of imaging biomarkers for mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (MICC) is slower than anticipated. Questions remain on the biologic behaviour underlying imaging traits. We developed and validated imaging-based prognostic systems for resected MICCs with an appraisal of the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) underpinning patient-specific imaging traits.

Pemigatinib in previously treated Chinese patients with locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma carrying FGFR2 fusions or rearrangements: A phase II study.

Objective: This study evaluated the antitumor activity and safety of pemigatinib in previously treated Chinese patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) fusions or rearrangements.

Background: Pemigatinib provided clinical benefits for previously treated patients with cholangiocarcinoma carrying FGFR2 fusions or rearrangements and was approved for this indication in multiple countries.

Methods: In this ongoing, multicenter, single-arm, phase II study, adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma carrying centrally confirmed FGFR2 fusions or rearrangements who had progressed on ≥1 systemic therapy received 13.

CT-based clinico-radiological nomograms for prognosis prediction in patients with intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma: a multi-institutional study.

Objectives: To establish prognostic nomograms based on CT imaging features for predicting the prognosis in patients with intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma (IMCC) before and after surgery.

Methods: Two models were established for overall survival (OS) prediction in a training set (179 IMCC patients underwent surgery at institution 1 from 2009 to 2019): imaging-based nomogram included imaging features and clinical characteristics acquired before surgery; postoperative nomogram included imaging-based score, equal to the linear predictor of the imaging-based nomogram, and pathological parameters. Both prognostic nomograms were validated in an independent external dataset (103 IMCC patients received surgical treatment at two independent institutions from 2009 to 2019).

Development and validation of a gradient boosting machine to predict prognosis after liver resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Accurate prognosis assessment is essential for surgically resected intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) while published prognostic tools are limited by modest performance. We therefore aimed to establish a novel model to predict survival in resected ICC based on readily-available clinical parameters using machine learning technique.

Methods: A gradient boosting machine (GBM) was trained and validated to predict the likelihood of cancer-specific survival (CSS) on data from a Chinese hospital-based database using nested cross-validation, and then tested on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

Machine Learning to Improve Prognosis Prediction of Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Surgical Resection.

Background: Improved prognostic prediction is needed to stratify patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma (EHCC) to refine selection of adjuvant therapy. We aimed to develop a machine learning (ML)-based model to predict survival after liver resection for EHCC based on readily available clinical data.

Methods: We analyzed data of surgically resected EHCC (tumor≤5 cm without evidence of extrahepatic disease or major vascular invasion) patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program to train and internally validate a gradient-boosting ML model to predict disease-specific survival (DSS).

BUB1B promotes extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma progression via JNK/c-Jun pathways.

Currently, the controversy regarding the expression profile and function of BUB1B in different malignancies still exist. In this project, we aimed to explore the role and molecular mechanism of BUB1B in the progression of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC). The expression levels of BUB1B in human ECC were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, western blot, and real-time PCR.

Integrating Machine Learning and Tumor Immune Signature to Predict Oncologic Outcomes in Resected Biliary Tract Cancer.

Background: Improved methods are needed to predict outcomes in biliary tract cancers (BTCs). We aimed to build an immune-related signature and establish holistic models using machine learning.

Methods: Samples were from 305 BTC patients treated with curative-intent resection, divided into derivation and validation cohorts in a two-to-one ratio.

FTY720 Suppresses Liver Tumor Growth and Metastasis by Reducing Circulating Regulating T Cells and Enhancing the Anti-Tumor Effect of Rapamycin.

Background: In this study, we aimed to study the effect of FTY720 treatment in reducing circulating Tregs level and then suppressing liver tumor metastasis after hepatectomy and I/R injury in animal models. Furthermore, we also investigated the synergistic anti-tumor effect of FTY720 combined with rapamycin on hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: The effect of FTY720 on suppressing Tregs mobilization and tumor metastasis after hepatectomy was investigated in an orthotopic liver tumor rat model with hepatectomy and hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

Development and Validation of Pre- and Post-Operative Models to Predict Recurrence After Resection of Solitary Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multi-Institutional Study.

Background: The ideal candidates for resection are patients with solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, postoperative recurrence rate remains high. We aimed to establish prognostic models to predict HCC recurrence based on readily accessible clinical parameters and multi-institutional databases.

Patients And Methods: A total of 485 patients undergoing curative resection for solitary HCC were recruited from two independent institutions and the Cancer Imaging Archive database.

MiR-30a-5p promotes cholangiocarcinoma cell proliferation through targeting SOCS3.

: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the occurrence and development of cancers. In this project, we aimed to explore the role and molecular mechanism of mir-30a-5p in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). : The expression profile and clinical significance of miR-30a-5p in CCA patients were investigated in 31 ICC and 52 ECC patients respectively.

Surgical Strategies for the Treatment of Bismuth Type I and II Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma: Bile Duct Resection with or Without Hepatectomy?

Background: The role of hepatic resection in the treatment of type I and II hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) remains controversial. In the present study, we aimed to identify whether hepatic resection was necessary for type I and II HCCA.

Methods: A total of 23 patients classified as type I and II HCCA undergoing surgical resection were included in this study.

The Inhibition of Aldose Reductase Accelerates Liver Regeneration through Regulating Energy Metabolism.

Objectives: Our previous study showed that aldose reductase (AR) played key roles in fatty liver ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury by regulating inflammatory response and energy metabolism. Here, we aim to investigate the role and mechanism of AR in the regeneration of normal and fatty livers after liver surgery.

Methods: The association of AR expression with liver regeneration was studied in the rat small-for-size liver transplantation model and the mice major hepatectomy and hepatic IR injury model with or without fatty change.

Radiomic Features at Contrast-enhanced CT Predict Recurrence in Early Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multi-Institutional Study.

Background Early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the ideal candidate for resection in patients with preserved liver function; however, cancer will recur in half of these patients and no reliable prognostic tool has been established. Purpose To investigate the effectiveness of radiomic features in predicting tumor recurrence after resection of early stage HCC. Materials and Methods In total, 295 patients (median age, 58 years; interquartile range, 50-65 years; 221 men) who underwent contrast material-enhanced CT and curative resection for early stage HCC that met the Milan criteria between February 2009 and December 2016 were retrospectively recruited from three independent institutions.

Preoperative Bilirubin Level Predicts Overall Survival and Tumor Recurrence After Resection for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma Patients.

Objective: Currently, the correlation between preoperative bilirubin level and overall survival (OS) remains poorly defined in respectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (CC). The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the outcomes of perihilar CC after resection and then to analyze factors influencing curative resection, tumor recurrence and OS.

Methods: 115 patients with perihilar CC underwent surgical resection were retrospectively analyzed based on clinic characteristics, operative details, tumor recurrence and long-term survival data.