Nano-Gold PCR in Detection of TERT Methylation and Its Correlation with Hepatitis B-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 1284-1292
Author(s):  
Jie Zhao ◽  
Li Li ◽  
Liying Guo ◽  
Rui Wang ◽  
Yan Zhao ◽  
...  

This study aimed to introduce nano-gold PCR for detection of TERT methylation, and explore the correlation between TERT methylation and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). From March 2016 to March 2018, 154 HBV carriers treated in our hospital were enrolled in the study and divided into HCC (68 cases), cirrhosis (45 cases) and chronic hepatitis (CH) groups (41 cases) based on clinical disease. HCC patients were further divided into methylation (30 cases) and non-methylation (38 cases) subgroup based on methylation status of the TERT. TERT methylation of HCC specimens were 44.12% and 35.24% by nano-PCR and conventional PCR, respectively. The TERT methylation and TERT expression in HCC specimens were higher than for cirrhosis and CH specimens. A significant positive correlation was observed between TERT methylation and TERT expression. AFP, Edmondson classification, tumor size, hilar lymph node and intrahepatic metastasis, and TNM staging in the methylation group were higher than in non-methylation group. Further, overall survival and progression-free survival were significantly shorter. Nano-gold PCR is more sensitive in detecting TERT methylation. As CHB progresses, TERT methylation increases. Greater methylation of the gene is associated with worse prognosis in HCC patients.

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Zhang ◽  
Junjun Zhang ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
Jie Li ◽  
Juan Tan ◽  
...  

Background: Bcl-2 associated athanogene2 (BAG2) is reported to act as an oncogene or a tumor-suppressor in tumors in a context-dependent way; however, its function in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear.Methods: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, apoptotic assay, cell invasion assay and a set of bioinformatics tools were integrated to analyze the role of BAG2 in hepatocellular carcinoma.Results: BAG2 was significantly up-regulated in HCC. Prognostic analysis indicated that HCC patients with high expression of BAG2 had significantly shorter overall survival, progression free survival and disease specific survival. Besides, silencing BAG2 in HCC cells impaired cell proliferation, facilitated apoptosis and repressed invasion of the cells. Bioinformatics analysis showed that BAG2 might regulate ribosome biogenesis in HCC.Conclusion: This study revealed that the up-regulated BAG2 in HCC was associated with a worse prognosis and might favor the progression of the disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 1075
Author(s):  
Luca Bedon ◽  
Michele Dal Bo ◽  
Monica Mossenta ◽  
Davide Busato ◽  
Giuseppe Toffoli ◽  
...  

Although extensive advancements have been made in treatment against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the prognosis of HCC patients remains unsatisfied. It is now clearly established that extensive epigenetic changes act as a driver in human tumors. This study exploits HCC epigenetic deregulation to define a novel prognostic model for monitoring the progression of HCC. We analyzed the genome-wide DNA methylation profile of 374 primary tumor specimens using the Illumina 450 K array data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. We initially used a novel combination of Machine Learning algorithms (Recursive Features Selection, Boruta) to capture early tumor progression features. The subsets of probes obtained were used to train and validate Random Forest models to predict a Progression Free Survival greater or less than 6 months. The model based on 34 epigenetic probes showed the best performance, scoring 0.80 accuracy and 0.51 Matthews Correlation Coefficient on testset. Then, we generated and validated a progression signature based on 4 methylation probes capable of stratifying HCC patients at high and low risk of progression. Survival analysis showed that high risk patients are characterized by a poorer progression free survival compared to low risk patients. Moreover, decision curve analysis confirmed the strength of this predictive tool over conventional clinical parameters. Functional enrichment analysis highlighted that high risk patients differentiated themselves by the upregulation of proliferative pathways. Ultimately, we propose the oncogenic MCM2 gene as a methylation-driven gene of which the representative epigenetic markers could serve both as predictive and prognostic markers. Briefly, our work provides several potential HCC progression epigenetic biomarkers as well as a new signature that may enhance patients surveillance and advances in personalized treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsushi Hiraoka ◽  
Takashi Kumada ◽  
Toshifumi Tada ◽  
Joji Tani ◽  
Kazuya Kariyama ◽  
...  

AbstractIt was recently reported that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are not responsive to immune-checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of lenvatinib in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/NASH-related unresectable-HCC (u-HCC). Five hundred thirty u-HCC patients with Child–Pugh A were enrolled, and divided into the NAFLD/NASH (n = 103) and Viral/Alcohol (n = 427) groups. Clinical features were compared in a retrospective manner. Progression-free survival (PFS) was better in the NAFLD/NASH than the Viral/Alcohol group (median 9.3 vs. 7.5 months, P = 0.012), while there was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) (20.5 vs. 16.9 months, P = 0.057). In Cox-hazard analysis of prognostic factors for PFS, elevated ALT (≥ 30 U/L) (HR 1.247, P = 0.029), modified ALBI grade 2b (HR 1.236, P = 0.047), elevated AFP (≥ 400 ng/mL) (HR 1.294, P = 0.014), and NAFLD/NASH etiology (HR 0.763, P = 0.036) were significant prognostic factors. NAFLD/NASH etiology was not a significant prognostic factor in Cox-hazard analysis for OS (HR0.758, P = 0.092), whereas AFP (≥ 400 ng/mL) (HR 1.402, P = 0.009), BCLC C stage (HR 1.297, P = 0.035), later line use (HR 0.737, P = 0.014), and modified ALBI grade 2b (HR 1.875, P < 0.001) were significant. Lenvatinib can improve the prognosis of patients affected by u-HCC irrespective of HCC etiology or its line of treatment.


Oncology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Kensuke Naruto ◽  
Tomokazu Kawaoka ◽  
Kei Amioka ◽  
Yutaro Ogawa ◽  
Kikukawa Chihiro ◽  
...  

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> This study compared clinical outcomes of 2nd- and 3rd-line regorafenib in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In this retrospective cohort study, 48 patients were treated with regorafenib for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Thirty-five and 13 patients were initiated on 2nd- and 3rd-line therapy, respectively. We assessed the responses to and safety of the therapy. <b><i>Results:</i></b> There were no statistically significant differences in clinical characteristics at the start of 2nd- or 3rd-line regorafenib therapy. The overall response rate of 2nd- and 3rd-line regorafenib was 20 and 8%, respectively. The disease control rate was 57 and 54%, respectively. Median overall survival (mOS) from the start of 2nd-line regorafenib was 17.5 months. mOS from the start of 3rd-line regorafenib was not obtained. Median progression-free survival of 2nd- and 3rd-line regorafenib was 4.9 and 2.3 months, respectively. mOS from 1st-line therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitor plus sorafenib-regorafenib-lenvatinib was 29.5 months; that with lenvatinib-sorafenib-regorafenib was not obtained. Patients on 3rd-line therapy tended to have better Child-Pugh scores and tumor factors at the start of 1st-line therapy than other patients. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Patients on 2nd- and 3rd-line regorafenib showed favorable responses. Good Child-Pugh scores and tumor factors may be associated with a better response rate and OS.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 122
Author(s):  
Julie Pellegrinelli ◽  
Olivier Chevallier ◽  
Sylvain Manfredi ◽  
Inna Dygai-Cochet ◽  
Claire Tabouret-Viaud ◽  
...  

Liver tumors are common and may be unamenable to surgery or ablative treatments. Consequently, other treatments have been devised. To assess the safety and efficacy of transarterial radioembolization (TARE) with Yttrium-90 for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver-dominant hepatic colorectal cancer metastases (mCRC), and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), performed according to current recommendations, we conducted a single-center retrospective study in 70 patients treated with TARE (HCC, n = 44; mCRC, n = 20; CCA, n = 6). Safety and toxicity were assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria. Treatment response was evaluated every 3 months on imaging studies using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) or mRECIST criteria. Overall survival and progression-free survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The median delivered dose was 1.6 GBq, with SIR-Spheres® or TheraSphere® microspheres. TARE-related grade 3 adverse events affected 17.1% of patients. Median follow-up was 32.1 months. Median progression-free survival was 5.6 months and median overall time from TARE to death was 16.1 months and was significantly shorter in men. Progression-free survival was significantly longer in women (HR, 0.49; 95%CI, 0.26–0.90; p = 0.031). Risk of death or progression increased with the number of systemic chemotherapy lines. TARE can be safe and effective in patients with intermediate- or advanced-stage HCC, CCA, or mCRC refractory or intolerant to appropriate treatments.


Cancers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lujun Shen ◽  
Mian Xi ◽  
Lei Zhao ◽  
Xuhui Zhang ◽  
Xiuchen Wang ◽  
...  

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has shown promising results in the control of macroscopic vascular invasion in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, its efficacy in comparison to sorafenib when combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) remains to be determined. Between 2009 and 2017, 77 HCC patients with macroscopic vascular invasion receiving TACE–SBRT or TACE–sorafenib combination therapies were enrolled. The best treatment responses, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) of the two treatment arms were compared. Of the patients enrolled, 26 patients (33.8%) received TACE–SBRT treatment, and 51 (66.2%) received TACE–sorafenib treatment. The patients in the TACE–SBRT group were more frequently classified as elder in age (p = 0.012), having recurrent disease (p = 0.026), and showing lower rates of multiple hepatic lesions (p = 0.005) than patients in TACE–sorafenib group. After propensity score matching (PSM), 26 pairs of well-matched HCC patients were selected; patients in the TACE–SBRT group showed better overall response rates in trend compared to those in the TACE–sorafenib group. The hazard ratio (HR) of OS to PFS for the TACE–SBRT approach and the TACE–sorafenib approach was 0.36 (95% CI, 0.17–0.75; p = 0.007) and 0.35 (95% CI, 0.20–0.62; p < 0.001), respectively. For HCC patients with macrovascular invasion, TACE plus SBRT could provide improved OS and PFS compared to TACE–sorafenib therapy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weihao Kong ◽  
Xiaomin Zuo ◽  
Hao Liang ◽  
Jingxiong Hu ◽  
Huabing Zhang ◽  
...  

Background. Previous studies have shown the prognostic value of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the results are not persuasive. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to quantitatively explore the prognostic value of LDH in hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods. We searched the Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library for literature published before October 2018 on the prognostic value of LDH in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The combined hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were utilized to assess the prognostic value of LDH in overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and progression-free survival (PFS) of HCC. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and metaregression were used to explore the source of heterogeneity. Funnel plots with Begg’s test and Egger’s test were used to detect potential publication biases. Furthermore, combined odds ratios (ORs) were utilized to assess the correlation between LDH and clinicopathological features.Results. A total of 10 nonrandomized controlled studies were included in this meta-analysis. The combined effects of LDH on HCC patients’ OS, RFS/DFS, and PFS were HR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.63-2.62, P < 0.001; HR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.37-1.90, P < 0.001; and HR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.14-3.36, P = 0.014, respectively. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis showed that the outcome was stable, and the results of the metaregression also identified statistical models as an important source of heterogeneity. Potential publication bias was detected in the OS studies, so the trim-and-fill method was used to explore publication bias, and the results showed stability. Furthermore, the combined OR suggests that LDH was significantly correlated with gender, Child-Pugh grade, alpha-fetoprotein, vascular invasion, and tumor size.Conclusions. Preoperative LDH elevation is significantly associated with poor prognosis in patients with HCC, which may be a promising factor in assessing the prognosis of patients with HCC.


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