ObjectiveTo exclusively compare the short-and long-term outcomes of hepatic resection (HR) patients with multifocal tumors meeting the Milan criteria between locating in same and different sections. MethodsA total of 219 consecutive HR patients with multifocal tumors meeting the Milan criteria were divided into group SS (n=97, same section) and group DS (n=122, different sections) according to their anatomical location (Couinaud's segmentation). ResultsThe 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were significantly higher in the group SS than those in the group DS (P < 0.05). The subgroup analysis showed that patients with 2 tumors and those undergoing en bloc resection were associated with better OS and RFS (P < 0.05). ConclusionsFor HCC patients with multifocal tumors meeting the Milan criteria, those with tumors locating in same hepatic section may have better longterm survival and lower HCC recurrence rates than those locating in different sections after HR.
Objective To explore the effects of overexpression of human tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 (hTIMP-1) on proliferation of human liver cancer cell line HepG2 in vitro. Methods A recombinant adenoviral vector containing full-length cDNA of hTIMP-1 was generated and transfected into HepG2. The viral titer was checked by measuring GFP, and the expression of hTIMP-1 in vitro was detected by the techniques of Western blot and semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscope and the effects of overexpression of hTIMP-1 on proliferation of HepG2 in vitro was analyzed by MTT assay and growth curve. Results The resultant AdhTIMP-1 was successfully constructed and the expression of hTIMP-1 was detected by Western blot and RT-PCR. The growth and proliferation of HepG2, which had been transfected with AdhTIMP-1, was significantly inhibited. Conclusion The proliferation of HepG2 was markedly inhibited by recombinant adenovirus-mediated overexpression of hTIMP-1, which may pave the way for further application in liver gene therapy.
Laparoscopic hepatectomy is routinely used in the surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, and has formed a standardized operating procedure. Tumors located in the segments Ⅶ and Ⅷ of liver as well as the paracaval subsegment of caudate lobe are considered to be difficult sites for laparoscopic hepatectomy due to the deep anatomical location, proximity to important vascular structures, difficulty in exposing the visual field under laparoscopy, and limited operating space. Based on the experience of our team and related research reports, the authors analyzed and summarized countermeasures for the difficulties of laparoscopic hepatectomy in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in difficult sites. Adhering to the tumor-centered and margin-based principles, accurate preoperative assessment, selection of the correct surgical approach, designing liver resection plane guided by hepatic vena while taking into account portal vein territory, and giving preference to ananatomical hepatectomy while preserving functional liver parenchyma as much as possible are the prerequisites for ensuring minimally invasive and oncology benefits for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in difficult sites.
Objective To summarize the effect of lenvatinib + transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) + programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) antibody in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with main portal vein tumor thrombus and cavernous transformation. Methods In this study, we reported the clinical data of four patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with main portal vein tumor thrombus and cavernous transformation who received conversion therapy with lenvatinib combined with TACE and PD-1 antibody in West China Hospital. Results Among the four patients, two patients achieved complete response and two achieved partial response; tumor markers were significantly decreased after combination treatment. However, all four patients failed to undergo hepatectomy. ConclusionsLenvatinib + TACE + PD-1 antibody is effective for hepatocellular carcinoma with main portal vein tumor thrombus and cavernous transformation. However, there are still many problems worthy of further discussion.
【Abstract】Objective To investigate the imaging features of malignant invasion of major intrahepatic ductal structures (the portal and hepatic venous vasculature, the bilie duct) by primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using multidetector-row spiral CT (MDCT). Methods We retrospectively analyzed 68 documented HCC patients with tumorous invasion of the major intrahepatic ductal structures who had undergone contrast-enhanced dual-phase MDCT scanning of the upper abdomen.The morphological changes of the portal and hepatic venous vasculature, the bile duct, and the liver parenchyma at both the hepatic arterial phase and portal venous phase images were carefully observed and recorded. Results Among the 68 patients, 47 patients had malignant invasion of the intrahepatic portal venous vessels with secondary tumor thrombus formation; 12 patients had tumor involvement of the hepatic veins and intraheptic segment of the inferior vena cava; Tumor invasion of the bile duct was seen in 9 patents. The direct CT signs of tumor invasion of intrahepatic venous vessels included: ①dilatation or enlargement of the involved vein with intraluminal softtissue “filling defect”； ②enhancement of the tumor thrombus at hepatic arterial phase, the so-called “venous arterialization” phenomenon. The indirect CT signs included: ①arterial-venous shunt, ②early and heterogeneous enhancement of the hepatic parenchyma adjacent to HCC focus, ③cavernous transformation of the portal vein. The CT signs suggesting tumor invasion of the bile duct included: ①dilation of the bile ducts near or proximal to HCC lesion, ②soft-tissue nodule or mass inside the bile ducts. Conclusion Invasion of major intrahepatic ductal structures by HCC will present corresponding CT imaging features. Contrast-enhanced MDCT dualphase scanning combined with appropriate image postprocessing techniques can better evaluate the malignant invasion of major intrahepatic ductal structures.
Primary liver cancer is the sixth most common malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes the majority of primary liver cancer cases. The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) was introduced to standardize the lexicon, acquisition, interpretation, reporting, and data collection of imaging results in patients at increased risk for HCC. LI-RADS allows effective categorization of focal liver lesions, and has been applied in the full clinical spectrum of HCC from diagnosis, biological behavior characterization, prognosis prediction, to treatment response assessment. This review aimed to summarize the recent applications of CT/MRI LI-RADS in the diagnosis, biological behavior characterization and prognosis prediction of HCC, discuss current challenges and shed light on potential future directions.
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-EOB-DTPA-MRI) in gross morphological classification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MethodsThe clinicopathologic data of patients with HCC who received surgical treatment in the Affiliated Huai’an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2017 to December 2022 were retrospectively gathered. The Gd-EOB-DTPA-MRI was performed before operation. Two radiologists independently assessed the gross morphological classification of HCC according to the imaging performance. The tumors were cut into sections in a coronal plane and were taken pictures for recording pathological features after operation. The tumors were assigned into 4 types according to the references and clinical experiences: single nodular type (SN), single nodular with extranodular growth type (SN-EG), confluent multi-nodular type (CMN), and infiltration type (IF). Matching degree of morphological classification was analyzed between by the Gd-EOB-DTPA-MRI and resected specimen. The pathological features of 4 types of HCC were also analyzed. ResultsA total of 87 patients with HCC were included. The gross morphological classification by the Gd-EOB-DTPA-MRI was 28 (32.2%) patients with SN, 28 (32.2%) patients with SN-EG, 21 (24.1%) patients with CMN, 10 (11.5%) patients with IF, which by the resected specimen was 33 (37.9%) patients with SN, 24 (27.6%) patients with SN-EG, 21 (24.1%) patients with CMN, and 9 (10.4%) patients with IF in the 87 patients with HCC. The Kappa’s coefficient of agreement between the results of Gd-EOB-DTPA-MRI and postoperative resection specimens was 0.776 (P=0.199). There were statistical differences in the tumor diameter and microvascular invasion (MVI) among the 4 types of gross morphology classification (F=2.937, P=0.038; χ2=16.852, P=0.001), the MVI rate was highest and tumor diameter was biggest in the patients with IF among the 4 types of gross morphology classification (P<0.05). ConclusionsFrom the results of this study, the gross morphological classification of HCC is closely related to the tumor diameter and MVI. Results of Gd-EOB-DTPA-MRI and postoperative resection specimens in assessing the gross morphological classification are good agreement. Therefore, an accurate preoperative planning and better therapy strategy for the patients with HCC can be provided according to gross morphological classification by preoperative Gd-EOB-DTPA-MRI.
Objective To study the effects of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor (PPAR) γ on the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and explore the roles of phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) and phospho-Akt in this process. Methods SMMC-7721 cells were treated with 15-d-PGJ2 or pioglitazone, which were two kinds of PPARγ ligands, at different concentrations. The viability of SMMC-7721 cells was evaluated by MTT assay. The cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. PTEN mRNA level was determined by RT-PCR. The protein expressions of PTEN and pAkt were measured by Western blot analysis. Results It was demonstrated through MTT assay that both 15-d-PGJ2 and pioglitazone had an inhibitory effect on the growth of SMMC-7721 cells in a time- and dose- dependent manner. According to flow cytometry detection, more cells were arrested in G0/G1 phase. Increased expression of PTEN mRNA was detected in 15-d-PGJ2 or pioglitazone-treated cells through RT-PCR. Increased expression of PTEN protein and decreased expression of pAkt were confirmed by Western blot analysis. Conclusion The ligands of PPARγ could inhibit SMMC-7721 cells proliferation in a time- and dose- dependent manner. The upregulation of PTEN may be involved in the underlying mechanism.
ObjectiveTo investigate the application progress of peripheral blood neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in various treatment methods of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), aiming to fully understand the value of NLR and PLR in various treatments of HCC.MethodRetrieved and reviewed domestic and foreign literatures related to peripheral blood NLR and PLR and HCC in recent years.ResultsThe treatment of HCC mainly included liver resection, liver transplantation, transarterial chemoembolization, radiofrequency ablation, and sorafenib. Peripheral blood NLR and PLR were related to the survival of HCC patients after treatment. High NLR and PLR often indicated poor prognosis for HCC patients.ConclusionNLR and PLR play a certain role in various treatment methods of HCC, and have a certain value in judging tumor prognosis, recurrence, and metastasis.
【Abstract】Objective To investigate the change of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in HepG2 cells under hypoxia. Methods HepG2 cells were cultured under hypoxia（hypoxia group） and normal condition (control group). VEGF expression of HepG2 cells was examined by immunohistochemical staining. The growth of HepG2 cells was examined by MTT colorimetry and cell count. VEGF level in the culture medium was measured by ELISA.Results After 48 h and 72 h of culture, the growth rate of HepG2 cells in hypoxia group was lower than that in control group (P＜0.05). The cell count in hypoxia group (2.51×104/μl and 2.69×104/μl, respectively) was much lower than that in control group(3.01×104/μl and 3.52×104/μl) after 48h and 72h of culture (P＜0.05). In hypoxia group, VEGF level in the culture medium after 24 h and 48 h was higher than that in control group (P＜0.05, P＜0.01). Conclusion Hypoxia may enhance the VEGF expression in HepG2 cells and this could be the reason of high expression of VEGF after transcatheterized hepatic arterial chemoembolization.