ObjectiveTo study the epidemiologic characteristics of primary liver cancer (PLC). MethodsThe literatures about regional distribution and etiologic epidemiology of PLC were reviewed. Results PLC was mainly distributed on caostland in the south-east of China. The main cause of PLC was hepatitis B virus, aflatoxin and contamination of drinking water. Otherwise, PLS was also related with lack of some trace element, sex horemones, genealogy cause and so on.Conclusion The genesis of PLC was by multiple factors.
ObjectiveTo explore value of multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussion in comprehensive downstaging treatment of liver cancer.MethodThe clinical data of 2 patients with liver cancer who could not undergo the radical surgery admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsCase 1 was diagnosed as the liver cancer with extensive double lung metastasis at admission. The clinical stage was stage Ⅲb; After MDT discussion, the patient was treated with chemotherapy and embolization via hepatic artery and bronchial artery; At the same time, the patient was treated with apatinib; At present, the metastasis of both lungs disappeared completely; The clinical stage was stage ⅡB, and the radical resection was proposed. Case 2 was diagnosed as the right liver cancer at admission. The clinical stage was stage Ⅰ b. The preoperative examination showed that the hepatic reserve function was poor and the patient could not tolerate the half hepatectomy; After MDT discussion, the patient was treated with the combination of chemotherapy and embolization via the hepatic artery and apatinib in the same period; At the same time, the patient was treated with liver protection. The clinical stage was reduced to stage Ⅰ a. The hepatic reserve function improved and the laparoscopic right hemihepatectomy was performed, no recurrence or metastasis was found after 3 months follow-up.ConclusionComprehensive downstaging treatment based on MDT model could bring better clinical outcomes for patients with liver cancer who are unable to undergo one-stage radical surgery.
Objective To summarize the role of the relationship between liver cancer and cellular immunological function, and the role of immune therapy in clinical application. Methods To analyze the relationship between liver cancer and cellular immunological function, and the present research situation of immune therapy for liver cancer in clinical application retrospectively via review the related domestic and foreign literatures. Results The cellular immune dysfunction existed in all liver cancer patients. The state of body’s cellular immunological function is closely related with the arising and development of liver cancer, and the lowness of cellular immunological function is an important factor of hepatocellular carcinoma hard to cure or recurrence and metastasis. Immune therapy plays an important role in the treatment of liver cancer by adjusting the body’s cellular immunological function. Conclusions Liver cancer is closely related with the body’s cellular immunological function. Immune therapy is expected to offer a new way for the treatment of liver cancer, which can also be used as an important auxiliary treatment way.
Objective To study the effects of pcDNA3/AFP/TK/Angio fusion gene targeting therapy for human primary liver cancer in nude mice implanted with SMMC-7721. Methods Human liver cancer cell line SMMC-7721 was implanted subcutaneously in nude mice to establish experiment model. Animals bearing liver cancer were randomly divided into five groups: control group, vector group, GCV (ganciclovir) group, pcDNA3/TK/Angio group; pcDNA3/AFP/TK/Angio group. Different plasmids were directly injected into tumors and GCV was intraperitoneally administrated simultaneously according to different groups. The growth of tumors was observed and the pathology was examined as well. Serum AFP level was measured by radioimmunology, the ultrastructural change of tumor cells was studied by using electron microscopy, the expressions of MVD and VEGF were respectively detected with immunohistochemistry and the cell apoptosis in situ was detected by TUNEL. Results The success rate to establish subcutaneous implanted liver cancer model in nude mice was 100%. The tumor volume, serum AFP level, VEGF and MVD expressions of pcDNA3/TK/Angio group and pcDNA3/AFP/TK/Angio group were lower than those in control group, vector group and GCV group (P<0.05) and more apoptosis cells could be observed. While the tumor volume, serum AFP level, VEGF and MVD expressions of pcDNA3/AFP/TK/Angio group was lower than those in pcDNA3/TK/Angio group (P<0.05); and apoptosis index was higher than that of the latter (P<0.05).Conclusion pcDNA3/AFP/TK/Angio fusion gene inhibits the growth of tumor remarkably and becomes a promising new biological agent to treat human primary liver cancer.
ObjectiveTo study the clinical role of spleen/remnant liver volume ratio in evaluating liver reserve function after surgical treatment for liver cancer. MethodsTo calculate the ratio of spleen volume/remnant liver volume after tumor excision with imaging method and immersion method; to analyze the relationships between spleen/remnant liver volume ratio and liver function score after operation as well as hospital stay. ResultsLiver function ChildPugh score was related mainly with spleen/remnant liver volume ratio (t=7.831, P=0.000), which was proved by multiple regression analysis. The median hospital stay of the group with spleen/remnant liver ratio ≤0.9 was 14 d (12-16 d), which was less than that (22 d, 15-29 d) of the other group with the ratio gt;0.9 (P=0.000). ConclusionsSpleen/remnant liver volume ratio can predict effectively recovery ability of patients after operation for liver cancer, and assess correctly the reserve function of liver. When the ratio is less than or equal 0.9, the operation is safe.
The serum level of testosterone (T), estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) in 86 cases with primary liver cancer (PLC) (male:76 cases; female:10 cases) was determined by RIA method. The result showed that for male cases, serum level of T and ratio of T/E2 in operation group and nonoperation group was significantly higher than that in benign hepatic diseases group (BHD group) and normal control group (NC group), but the value of E2 obviously lower than the later two groups. After tumor resection, the level of E2 increased, while serum level of T and value of T/E2 decreased, which had no significant difference as contrasted with BHD group and NC group. The serum level of T,E2 in female PLC group made no difference to BHD group and NC group, but the value of T/E2 much higher than NC group. No obvious changes of the serum level of progesterone can be observed in both male and female cases. Our research showed that high serum testosterone level and low estradiol level may be concerned with PLC. The possibility and importance of sex hormone imbalance on initializing and developing of PLC is suggested.
ObjectiveTo summarize the common imaging features of liver cancer after local-regional therapy in order to more accurately evaluate the post-treatment response of it. MethodThe literatures of studies on imaging features after ablation, transcatheter therapy, and radiotherapy of liver cancer in recent years were searched and reviewed. ResultsIt was not accurate to evaluate the response of liver cancer after treatment only by comparing the size of tumor before and after treatment. We should follow up and observe the changes of enhancement components after tumor treatment, and pay attention to identify the normal features after treatment. ConclusionsImaging evaluation after local-regional therapy of liver cancer is of great significance in management and clinical decision-making of patients with liver cancer. Standard response evaluation systems such as EASL or mRECIST should be carefully applied after local-regional therapy of liver cancer. Treatment response of patients should be comprehensively evaluated in combination with the characteristics of local-regional therapy methods and timing, so as to avoid delaying timing of secondary treatment and causing excessive treatment.
Objective To state operative details of lip-shaped hepatectomy (LSH) and evaluate its advantage in treatment of primary liver cancer (PLC).Methods LSH is one of the irregular hepatectomies. The key lies in the following five operative kinks: ①adequately mobilizing perihepatic ligaments; ②designing lip-shaped hepatic incision; ③laying sutures on both sides of the hepatic incision for traction; ④wedge-shapedly resecting the tumor and the surrounding liver; ⑤closely sewing up the hepatic cutting surface.Results Two hundreds and thirty three patients with PLC were treated by LSH between Oct. 1991 and Dec. 1997 in Zhongshan hospital, Shanghai medical university. Among them 8 cases underwent initial hepatectomy and resection for recurrence of the tumor. The operative mortality rate was 1.2%, 2 died of hepatic failure and 1 renal failure. In addition to bile leakage in 3 cases and hydropsy at the operative area in one case, no severe postoperative complications were found, such as intraperitoneal bleeding, subphrenic abscess and so on. The 1-,3-,5-year survival rates were 89.8%, 64.3% and 55.9% respectively, in 233 patients with 241 LSHs. 25 patients survived more than 5 years. The result indicated that the most advantage of LSH was to increase operative safety on the basis of guarantee of radical resection of PLC, especially to decrease some complications from hepatic cutting surface.Conclusion LSH is a relatively simple, safe, reasonable and recommendable hepatectomic modality.
ObjectiveTo explore the risk factors that affect the long-term prognosis of liver cancer after liver transplantation, and to evaluate the clinical value of the Chinese Medical Association’s new microvascular invasion pathological classification.MethodsThe clinical pathology and follow-up data of 112 patients with liver cancer who underwent liver transplantation from January 2015 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Prognostic risk factors were analyzed by Cox proportional hazard regression model.ResultsAll of the 112 patients were followed up. The postoperative follow-up period was 12 to 60 months [(28.3±13.5) months], and the median overall survival time was 38-month. The results of the Cox proportional hazard regression model suggested that the preoperative Child classification and microvascular invasion pathological classification were independent factors affecting the prognosis of patients (P<0.05), the higher microvascular invasion pathological classification and Child grade, the worse the prognosis.ConclusionThe Chinese Medical Association’s new microvascular invasion pathological classification can predict the prognosis of patients with liver cancer after liver transplantation and has a good predictive value.
Objective To study the effect of splenectomy on the anti-tumor immunity in rats with induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods At the second and fourth month of the induced HCC, the NK cell activity, TNF-α level and total lymphcyte in blood were measured in the group of splenectomy and the control group. Results There were no different in the total lymphcyte and TNF-α in the blood in two groups, but there were significant difference in the NK cell activity between the group of splenectomy and the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion There are some change in the anti-tumor immunity after splenectomy in rats, in which NK cell activity is at low level continuously. TNF-α isn′t affected after the second month after splenectomy.