Usefulness of alpha-fetoprotein response in patients treated with sorafenib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Radiographic and serologic response in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma receiving systemic antineoplastic treatments: A trial-level analysis

BACKGROUND

In a disease like unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, overall survival is an inadequate outcome measure for evaluating the effectiveness of treatments given the high risk of death from liver failure. There is an unmet need for reliable alternative end points for clinical trials and daily clinical practice. To evaluate treatment response in patients with unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (mHCC), imaging-related end points are often used, whereas serologic end points have been developed for patients with serum alpha-fetoprotein levels >20 ng/mL. The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical trials that report concomitant assessment of radiographic and serologic response in patients with mHCC.

METHODS

After a systematic review, studies that evaluated response according to radiographic and serologic criteria were selected. A correlation between progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was performed, and a linear regression of each response-related outcome measure with OS was reported. Finally, the effect of eight baseline variables on OS and response-related measures was evaluated.

RESULTS

Twenty-six studies were included, including 16 first-line studies and 10 second-line studies. PFS and response rates demonstrated a significant relationship with OS, whereas disease control rates did not. The responses were correlated with OS, particularly in the first-line setting, after targeted therapy, and whenever assessment was early. Among the baseline variables, only performance status had a prognostic role, whereas hepatitis B virus-related liver disease was associated with higher radiographic response rates.

CONCLUSIONS

PFS and radiographic and serologic response rates appear to be reliable intermediate end points in patients with mHCC who are undergoing systemic antineoplastic therapy. However, the serologic response is available earlier.

Serum alpha-fetoprotein response as a preoperative prognostic indicator in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma with salvage hepatectomy following conversion therapy: a multicenter retrospective study

Background

This study evaluates the efficacy of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) response as a surrogate marker for determining recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) who undergo salvage hepatectomy following conversion therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and anti-PD-1 antibody-based regimen.

Methods

This multicenter retrospective study included 74 patients with uHCC and positive AFP (>20 ng/mL) at diagnosis, who underwent salvage hepatectomy after treatment with TKIs and anti-PD-1 antibody-based regimens. The association between AFP response-defined as a ≥ 80% decrease in final AFP levels before salvage hepatectomy from diagnosis-and RFS post-hepatectomy was investigated.

Results

AFP responders demonstrated significantly better postoperative RFS compared to non-responders (P<0.001). The median RFS was not reached for AFP responders, with 1-year and 2-year RFS rates of 81.3% and 70.8%, respectively. In contrast, AFP non-responders had a median RFS of 7.43 months, with 1-year and 2-year RFS rates at 37.1% and 37.1%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified AFP response as an independent predictor of RFS. Integrating AFP response with radiologic tumor response facilitated further stratification of patients into distinct risk categories: those with radiologic remission experienced the most favorable RFS, followed by patients with partial response/stable disease and AFP response, and the least favorable RFS among patients with partial response/stable disease but without AFP response. Sensitivity analyses further confirmed the association between AFP response and improved RFS across various cutoff values and in patients with AFP ≥ 200 ng/mL at diagnosis (all P<0.05).

Conclusion

The "20-80" rule based on AFP response could be helpful for clinicians to preoperatively stratify the risk of patients undergoing salvage hepatectomy, enabling identification and management of those unlikely to benefit from this procedure.

The rapidly evolving landscape of HCC: Selecting the optimal systemic therapy

Over the past years, there has been a remarkable advance in the systemic treatment options for advanced HCC. The overall survival has gradually increased over time, with larger benefits for patients with sensitive tumors and preserved liver function, the latter being an essential condition for the delivery of sequential lines of treatment and optimization of clinical outcomes. With the approval of new first-line agents and the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitor-based therapies, the treatment landscape of advanced HCC is becoming wider than ever. Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and, more recently, durvalumab plus tremelimumab have entered the clinical practice and are the current standard of care for treatment-naïve patients, surpassing sorafenib and lenvatinib monopoly. As no head-to-head comparisons are available among all the first-line treatment options, the recommendation for the most appropriate choice and sequence is patient-driven and integrates efficacy data with clinical comorbidities, background liver disease, and the safety profile of available drugs. In addition, predictive biomarkers for successful patients' stratification are yet to be available and constitute the focus of ongoing research. The treatment algorithm is likely to become even more complex since systemic therapeutic approaches are now being translated into earlier stages of the disease, with an impact on the evolution of the sequential treatment of patients with HCC.

Identifying optimal candidates for post-TIPS patients with HCC undergoing TACE: a multicenter observational study

OBJECTIVE

To develop a prognostic model for post-transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beyond the Milan criteria treated by transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

DESIGN

Between January 2013 and January 2020, 512 patients with HCC beyond the Milan criteria who underwent TACE after TIPS were retrospectively recruited from 15 tertiary centers. Patients were randomly sorted into a training set (n = 382) and a validation set (n = 130). Medical data and overall survival were assessed. A prediction model was developed using multivariate Cox regression analyses. Predictive performance and discrimination were evaluated and compared with other prognostic models.

RESULTS

Vascular invasion, log₁₀(AFP), 1/creatinine, extrahepatic spread, and log₁₀(ALT) were the most significant prognostic factors of survival. These five parameters were included in a new VACEA score. This score was able to stratify patients in the training set into four distinct risk grades whose median overall survival were 25.2, 15.1, 8.9, and 6.2 months, respectively. The 6-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year AUROC values and C-index of the VACEA model were 0.819, 0.806, 0.779, 0.825, and 0.735, respectively, and higher than those of other seven currently available models in both the training and validation sets, as well as in different subgroups.

CONCLUSION

The VACEA score could stratify post-TIPS patients with HCC beyond the Milan criteria treated by TACE and help to identify candidates who benefit from this treatment.

KEY POINTS

• Vascular invasion, AFP, creatinine, extrahepatic spread, and ALT were independent significant prognostic factors of survival for HCC patients who underwent TACE after TIPS. • Our new model, named VACEA score, can accurately predict prognosis at the individual level and stratify patients into four distinct risk grades. • The VACEA model showed better prognostic discrimination and calibration than other current TACE-/TIPS-specific models Graphical abstract.

Association between early response of alpha-fetoprotein and treatment efficacy of systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A multicenter cohort study from China

Background

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a well-identified biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, only limited AFP-related studies have evaluated its early response to systemic therapy. This study was performed with the aim of assessing the value of early AFP response in predicting overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in advanced HCC patients receiving systemic therapy.

Methods

This cohort study included HCC patients with baseline AFP ≥ 200 ng/ml and no prior treatment history. A > 20% decline in the serum AFP level from baseline to the first follow-up (i.e., 4~6 weeks after treatment) was defined as an early AFP response. Patient demographic information, clinical characteristics, radiological response, and survival rates were compared between patients with early AFP response and patients without early AFP response. We further utilized multivariate Cox regression to seek characteristics related to OS and PFS.

Results

Among 154 patients, 69 patients (44.8%) showed an early AFP response. The disease control rate (76.8 vs. 54.1%; P = 0.003) and objective response rate (38.4 vs. 11.8%; P = 0.001) were significantly higher in patients with an early AFP response. By performing multivariate analysis, early AFP response remained a prognostic factor for longer PFS (HR 0.546; 95% CI 0.371-0.804; P = 0.002) and longer OS (HR 0.529; 95% CI 0.335-0.834; P = 0.006).

Conclusion

An early AFP response is correlated with longer overall survival and progression-free survival for advanced HCC patients receiving systemic therapy. Moreover, an early AFP response is an independent prognostic factor for longer OS and PFS.

Early alpha-fetoprotein response predicts prognosis of immune checkpoint inhibitor and targeted therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The prognostic value of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) response for efficacy of targeted therapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has not been established. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to elucidate the relationship between AFP response and survival outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who received targeted therapy or ICIs.

METHODS

The hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to evaluate the relationship between AFP response and overall survival (OS)/progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Twenty-six articles containing 3056 HCC patients were finally included in the study. The pooled results showed that after targeted therapy or ICIs, patients with decrease in AFP had better prognosis (OS:HR = 0.48, 95%CI:0.40-0.56; PFS:HR = 0.39, 95%CI:0.33-0.46), while patients with increase in AFP had worse prognosis (OS:HR = 2.30, 95%CI:1.82-2.89; PFS:HR = 2.34, 95%CI = 1.69-3.24). Subgroup analysis revealed that compared to AFP decrease >50%, AFP decrease >20% can better predict the prognosis of patients who received targeted therapy (OS:HR = 0.51, 95%CI:0.41-0.62; PFS:HR = 0.39, 95%CI:0.30-0.51) or ICIs treatment (OS:HR = 0.34, 95%CI:0.16-0.71; PFS:HR = 0.22, 95%CI:0.10-0.47), and 8 weeks after targeted therapy may be the appropriate time point for AFP assessment.

CONCLUSION

AFP decrease >20% within 8 weeks may be the appropriate definition for early AFP response which probably works best in predicting the efficacy of therapy.

REGISTRATION

The review was not registered.

Optimal threshold of alpha-fetoprotein response in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with atezolizumab and bevacizumab

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) response (relative decline in AFP) is associated with imaging response evaluated by response evaluation criteria in solid tumors ver1.1 (RECIST) and survival in treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the optimal threshold of AFP response is still unknown, especially in atezolizumab and bevacizumab (Atez/Bev) treatment. In this prospective multicenter study, we aimed to investigate an optimal threshold of AFP response in Atez/Bev treatment. Out of 284 patients with unresectable HCC who were treated with Atez/Bev, 91 patients with AFP ≥ 10 ng/ml were enrolled in the multicenter study. We investigated the relationship between various AFP response thresholds (relative decline ≥ 20%, ≥ 50%, and ≥ 75%) and treatment response and progression-free survival (PFS). An AFP relative decrease of ≥ 50% was associated with an overall response rate (ORR) with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) of 5.7 (1.9-17). Disease control rate (DCR) was associated with an AFP relative decrease of ≥ 20%, with a 100% positive predictive value and a 52.0% sensitivity. AFP relative decreases of ≥ 50% and ≥ 20% were significantly associated with PFS with a hazard ratio (HR) of 5.60 (95% CI: 1.6-19, p = 0.006) and a HR of 4.44 (95% CI: 1.9-10, p < 0.001), respectively. AFP response of ≥ 50% and ≥ 20% were related to ORR and DCR, respectively, and both of these responses were also associated with PFS. AFP can be used as a real-time monitor during Atez/Bev treatment and is helpful for treatment optimization.

Assessment and Monitoring of Response to Systemic Treatment in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Insights

Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) management has become more complex as novel therapies have been proven effective. After sorafenib, the approval of other multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) and immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICIs) has considerably increased the number of systemic therapies available. Therefore, careful assessment and monitoring of response to systemic treatment are essential to identify surrogate endpoints of overall survival (OS) in clinical trials and reliable tools to gauge treatment benefit in clinical practice. Progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) are early informative parameters of efficacy that are not influenced by further lines of therapy. However, none of them has shown sufficient surrogacy to be recommended in place of OS in phase 3 trials. With such a wealth of therapeutic options, the prime intent of tumor assessments is no longer limited to identifying progressive disease to spare ineffective treatments to non-responders. Indeed, the early detection of responders could also help tailor treatment sequencing. Tumor assessment relies on the Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumors (RECIST), which are easy to interpret – being based on dimensional principles – but could misread the activity of targeted agents. The HCC-specific modified RECIST (mRECIST), considering both the MKI-induced biological modifications and some of the cirrhosis-induced liver changes, better capture tumor response. Yet, mRECIST could not be considered a standard in advanced HCC. Further prognosticators including progression patterns, baseline and on-treatment liver function deterioration, and baseline alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and AFP response have been extensively evaluated for MKIs. However, limited information is available for patients receiving ICIs and regarding their predictive role. Finally, there is increasing interest in incorporating novel imaging techniques which go beyond sizes and novel serum biomarkers in the advanced HCC framework. Hopefully, multiparametric models grouping dimensional and functional radiological parameters with biochemical markers will most precisely reflect treatment response.

Alpha-Fetoprotein as a Potential Surrogate Biomarker for Atezolizumab + Bevacizumab Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PURPOSE

Atezolizumab + bevacizumab is the new standard of care for systemic treatment-naïve, unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This exploratory study investigated on-treatment alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) response as a potential surrogate biomarker of prognosis for the combination therapy.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Data from Group A of the phase Ib GO30140 study were used to identify the optimal time for AFP measurement and AFP cutoffs to differentiate patients by their best confirmed response per independent review facility-assessed RECIST (IRF-RECIST) version 1.1: responders from nonresponders and patients with disease control from primary progressors. We applied these cutoffs to independent data from the atezolizumab + bevacizumab arm of the phase III IMbrave150 trial to distinguish patients based on (i) overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) per IRF-RECIST 1.1 and (ii) best confirmed response per IRF-RECIST 1.1.

RESULTS

We derived AFP cutoffs of ≥75% decrease and ≤10% increase from baseline at 6 weeks to identify responders and those who had disease control, respectively. These cutoffs had high sensitivity and specificity in GO30140. In IMbrave150 patients, sensitivity was 0.59 and specificity was 0.86 for the ≥75% decrease AFP cutoff; the sensitivity was 0.77 and specificity was 0.44 for the ≤10% increase AFP cutoff. Both AFP cutoffs were associated with longer OS and PFS, particularly in patients with hepatitis B virus etiology (HR < 0.5; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

AFP response at 6 weeks after initiating treatment is a potential surrogate biomarker of prognosis for patients with HCC receiving atezolizumab + bevacizumab. See related commentary by Cappuyns and Llovet, p. 3405.

Performance of pre-transplant criteria in prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma progression and waitlist dropout

BACKGROUND & AIM

Liver transplantation (LT) selection models for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been proposed to predict waitlist dropout because of tumour progression. The aim of this study was to compare the alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) model and other pre-LT models in their prediction of HCC dropout.

METHODS

A multicentre cohort study was conducted in 20 Latin American transplant centres, including 994 listed patients for LT with HCC from 2012 to 2018. Longitudinal tumour characteristics, and patterns of progression were recorded at time of listing, after treatments and at last follow-up over the waitlist period. Competing risk regression models were performed, and model's discrimination was compared estimating Harrell's adapted c-statistics.

RESULTS

HCC dropout rate was significantly higher in patients beyond (24% [95% CI 16-28]) compared to those within Milan criteria (8% [95% IC 5%-12%]; p < .0001), with a SHR of 3.01 [95% CI 2.03-4.47]), adjusted for waiting list time and bridging therapies (c-index 0.63 [95% CI 0.57; 0.69). HCC dropout rates were higher in patients with AFP scores >2 (adjusted SHR of 3.17 [CI 2.13-4.71]), c-index of 0.71 (95% CI 0.65-0.77; p = .09 vs Milan). Similar discrimination power for HCC dropout was observed between the AFP score and the Metroticket 2.0 model. In patients within Milan, an AFP score >2 points discriminated two populations with a higher risk of HCC dropout (SHR 1.68 [95% CI 1.08-2.61]).

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-transplant selection models similarly predicted HCC dropout. However, the AFP model can discriminate a higher risk of dropout among patients within Milan criteria.

Prognostic implication of serum AFP in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with regorafenib

Background: This multicenter study investigated the predictive value of baseline AFP and on-treatment AFP response for survival in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with regorafenib. Materials & methods: A total of 578 patients with HCC treated with regorafenib from 12 institutions in South Korea and Italy were included. Baseline AFP (cutoff, 400 ng/ml) and AFP response (20% reduction from baseline) were analyzed for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: Baseline AFP below 400 ng/ml was a significant factor that was independently associated with longer OS and PFS. AFP response was also a significant factor independently associated with longer OS and PFS. Conclusion: Baseline AFP and AFP response may be used as prognostic factors for survival in HCC treated with regorafenib.

Second-line treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: Time for more individualized treatment options?

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequently diagnosed primary tumor of the liver and is usually detected as advanced disease. It is an aggressive disease that often progresses rapidly when it fails to respond to treatment. As such, patients have limited opportunities to try different subsequent-line treatment regimens. In the last 5 years, the number of agents and/or regimens available for the treatment of advanced HCC has significantly increased, which has made treatment choices for this patient population increasingly complex. In the second-line setting, several phase III trials of regorafenib (RESORCE), ramucirumab (REACH/REACH-2), and cabozantinib (CELESTIAL) have demonstrated clinically meaningful survival benefits in patients with the disease. However, the median overall survival of patients with advanced HCC remains unchanged at approximately 12 mo from the start of systemic second-line therapy, with a limited duration of response. Evidence from the REACH/REACH-2 trials demonstrated for the first time that baseline alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels can be used as an identification factor to select those who are likely to benefit the most from ramucirumab treatment. Ramucirumab is both well tolerated and efficacious and has a clinically acceptable safety profile. Therefore, it should be considered an option for patients with AFP levels ≥ 400 ng/mL.

Idarubicin-Loaded DEB-TACE plus Lenvatinib versus Lenvatinib for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A propensity score-matching analysis

AIMS

To investigate the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib and idarubicin-loaded drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (IDADEB-TACE) in primary advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients with primary advanced HCC who received either lenvatinib monotherapy or lenvatinib plus IDADEB-TACE as first-line treatment from September 2019 to September 2020 at three institutes. Overall survival (OS), time to progression (TTP), objective response rate (ORR), and adverse events were compared. Propensity score-matching was used to reduce the influence of confounding factors on the outcomes.

RESULTS

The study reviewed 118 patients who received lenvatinib plus IDADEB-TACE (LIDA group) and 182 who received lenvatinib alone (LEN group). After propensity score-matching, 78 pairs of patients remained. Compared to patients in the LEN group, those in the LIDA group had better post-treatment ORR (57.7% vs. 25.6%, p < 0.001, respectively), median OS and TTP (15.7 vs. 11.3 months, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.50, p < 0.001; 8.0 vs. 5.0 months, HR = 0.60, p = 0.003, respectively), 6- and 12-month OS rates (88.5% vs. 71.4%; 67.6% vs. 43.4%, respectively), and progression-free rates at 6 and 12 months (60.3% vs. 42.3%; 21.1% vs. 10.3%, respectively). Vascular invasion, α-fetoprotein level, and treatment type were independent OS predictors, and vascular invasion and treatment type were independent TTP predictors. Incidences of nausea/vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and increased ALT/AST were higher in the LIDA group than in the LEN group.

CONCLUSIONS

Lenvatinib plus IDADEB-TACE is well-tolerated and more effective than lenvatinib monotherapy in patients with advanced HCC.

Real-world efficacy and safety of cabozantinib in Korean patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicenter retrospective analysis

Background:

Cabozantinib, a multiple kinase inhibitor, was recently approved for patients with previously treated unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). We investigated the real-world safety and efficacy profiles of cabozantinib.

Methods:

This multicenter retrospective study included 110 patients with uHCC who received cabozantinib after progression on other systemic treatments between October 2019 and May 2021.

Results:

The median age was 58 (range, 20–77) years, and 98 (89.1%) were male. Prior to cabozantinib, all patients were treated with other systemic therapies: sorafenib (n = 104, 94.5%) and regorafenib (n = 91, 82.7%) were the most commonly used agents. Immune checkpoint inhibitors were previously used in 93 patients (84.5%). Cabozantinib was used beyond the third-line of therapy in most patients (n = 90, 81.8%). With a median follow-up duration of 11.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 10.8–17.2], the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.7 months (95% CI, 3.1–4.9), and the median overall survival (OS) was 7.5 months (95% CI, 5.5–9.5). The disease control rate and overall response rate (ORR) were 66.3% and 3.6%, respectively. In the Child–Pugh A cohort (n = 88), the ORR was 4.5%, and the median PFS and OS were 4.3 months (95% CI, 3.6–5.8) and 9.0 months (95% CI, 7.5–11.7), respectively.

Conclusion:

Cabozantinib showed consistent efficacy outcomes with a prior phase III trial, although in this study, it was used as later-line therapy for patients who were refractory to multiple systemic treatments, including immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Clusterin and Related Scoring Index as Potential Early Predictors of Response to Sorafenib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a highly lethal malignancy, although several systemic therapeutic options are available, including sorafenib (SFN), which has been one of the standard treatment agents for almost a decade. As early prediction of response to SFN remains challenging, biomarkers that enable early prediction using a clinically feasible method are needed. Here, we report that the serum secretory form of clusterin (sCLU) protein and its related predictive index are potential beneficial biomarkers for early prediction of SFN response. Using high-throughput screening and subsequent multivariate analysis in the derivation cohort, we found that changes in the concentrations of CLU, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM1), and α-fetoprotein were significantly associated with response to SFN. Furthermore, we confirmed that an increase in CLU serum level 1 month after treatment initiation was significantly associated with shorter progression-free survival. In addition, "NR-index," which comprises these proteins, was evaluated as a tool for accurately predicting the efficacy of SFN and confirmed in the validation cohort. We also established SFN-resistant HepG2 cells (HepG2-SR) and found that sCLU significantly increased in HepG2-SR cells compared with normal HepG2 cells, and confirmed that HepG2-SR cells treated with SFN were resistant to apoptosis. The mechanism underlying activation of sCLU expression in acquired SFN resistance involves aberrant signaling and expression of Akt, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and a nutrient-related transcription factor, sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c). Furthermore, the PI3K and mTOR inhibitor BEZ235 markedly decreased sCLU expression in HepG2-SR cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that measurement of sCLU serum levels and the sCLU-related NR-index are promising clinical tools for the early prediction of SFN response in HCC. Additionally, sCLU-overexpressing HCC might be susceptible to mTOR inhibition.

Trajectories of serum α-fetoprotein and intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma outcomes after transarterial chemoembolization: A longitudinal, retrospective, multicentre, cohort study

BACKGROUND

α-fetoprotein (AFP) response has been proven a key tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its definition remains controversial. This study aims to characterize AFP trajectories after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and examine its impact on clinical outcomes.

METHODS

This longitudinal, multicenter, retrospective, cohort study examined data from the electronic medical record system of four hospitals in China between January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2016. A latent class growth mixed model was applied to distinguish potential AFP dynamic changing trajectories. The multivariable Cox models were used to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% CIs for overall survival. Inverse-probability-of-treatment weighted analyses were performed to eliminate unmeasured confounders through marginal structural models.

FINDINGS

A total of 881 patients, who had intermediate-stage HCC with AFP repeatedly measured 3 to 10 times, were included in the study. Three distinct trajectories were identified using the latent class growth mixture model: high-rising (25.7%; n = 226), low-stable (58.7%; n = 517), and sharp-falling (AFP serological response, 15.6%; n = 138). Compared with the low-stable class, the aHRs for death were 5.13 (3.71, 7.10) and 0.52 (0.33, 0.81) for the high-rising and sharp-falling class, adjusted by gender, baseline major tumor size, intrahepatic lesions number, and logAFP(smooth). Furthermore, high-rising class had a significantly higher HR in the subgroup of female patients (10.60, 95%CI: 6.29, 17.86), age<55 (6.78, 95%CI: 4.79, 9.59) and Child-Pugh class B (23.01, 95%CI:8.07, 65.63) (P = 0.014, 0.046 and 0.033 for interaction, respectively). Trajectories of AFP had the highest relative importance of each parameter to survival, including largest tumor size, intrahepatic lesions number, Child-Pugh class, and baseline AFP.

INTERPRETATION

AFP trajectories were associated with overall survival for intermediate-stage HCC after TACE.

FUNDING

The Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province (Nos. 2018J01352, 2016J01576 and 2016J01586); the Science and Technology Innovation Joint Foundation of Fujian Province (Nos. 2017Y9125).

Early Predictive Value of Circulating Biomarkers for Sorafenib in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Sorafenib is currently the first-line therapeutic regimen for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, many patients did not experience any benefit and suffered extreme adverse events and heavy economic burden. Thus, the early identification of patients who are most likely to benefit from sorafenib is needed.

AREAS COVERED

This review focused on the clinical application of circulating biomarkers (including conventional biomarkers, immune biomarkers, genetic biomarkers, and some novel biomarkers) in advanced HCC patients treated with sorafenib. An online search on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library was conducted from the inception to Aug 15, 2021. Studies investigating the predictive or prognostic value of these biomarkers were included.

EXPERT OPINION

The distinction of patients who may benefit from sorafenib treatment is of utmost importance. The predictive roles of circulating biomarkers could solve this problem. Many biomarkers can be obtained by liquid biopsy, which is a less or non-invasive approach. The short half-life of sorafenib could reflect the dynamic changes of tumor progression and monitor the treatment response. Circulating biomarkers obtained from liquid biopsy resulted as a promising assessment method in HCC, allowing for better treatment decisions in the near future.

Early Alpha-Fetoprotein Response Is Associated With Survival in Patients With HBV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Receiving Lenvatinib

Background/Purpose

Lenvatinib is a first-line treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). We assessed the value of early alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) response for predicting clinical outcomes with lenvatinib treatment in patients with HBV-related uHCC and elevated AFP levels.

Methods

This retrospective analysis included patients with HBV-related uHCC and baseline AFP levels ≥20 ng/ml who received lenvatinib for >1 month between November 2018 and May 2021. Early AFP response was defined as a >20% decrease in AFP serum level from baseline after 4 weeks of lenvatinib treatment. Radiological response (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.1), progression-free survival, and overall survival were assessed in AFP responders and non-responders.

Results

Of the 46 patients analyzed, 30 (65.2%) were early AFP responders and 16 (34.8%) were non-responders. Compared to the non-responders, early AFP responders had a significantly higher objective response rate (34.5% vs 6.3%, p=0.0349), disease control rate (82.8% vs 50.0%; p=0.0203) and longer median progression-free survival (13.0 vs 7.0 months; HR, 0.464; 95% CI, 0.222-0.967; p=0.028). A subsequent multivariate analysis confirmed that early AFP response (HR, 0.387; 95% CI, 0.183-0.992; p=0.0154), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of 0 (HR, 0.890; 95% CI, 0.811-0.976; p=0.0132) and Albumin-Bilirubin grade 1 (HR, 0.457; 95% CI, 0.269-0.963; p=0.0327) were independent prognostic factors for longer progression-free survival.

Conclusion

AFP is an important prognostic factor and a predictive biomarker for survival benefit with lenvatinib treatment in patients with HBV-related uHCC.

The dual checkpoint blockade in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: Opportunities emerging in clinical trials

INTRODUCTION

To prevent damage from an immune response against autoantigens and toxins originating from the gut, the liver promotes an immune-tolerant milieu providing fertile ground for immune escape of cancer cells. Therefore, the use and evaluation of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a treatment rationale.

AREA COVERED

In this article, we discuss the role of the dual ICIs blockade in advanced HCC, covering the biological basis for their combination, their mechanism of action, and the results of the early phase studies testing nivolumab plus ipilimumab and durvalumab plus tremelimumab. Furthermore, we provide the results of the phase III HIMALAYA trial and an overview of the ongoing trials investigating the dual ICIs in different disease stages.

EXPERT OPINION

The potential approval of the dual ICIs blockade strategies for advanced HCC will set the entry of antiangiogenic-free options, expanding the proportion of patients eligible for a first-line treatment. However, it will pose a series of clinical challenges with a sizeable proportion of patients, namely Child-Pugh B, elderly, and immunocompromised patients, still marginalized. Also, given the rate of disease progression, identifying reliable predictive biomarkers is crucial to inform treatment choice and sequences. Finally, the compelling response rate of such combinations is paving the way for their evaluation in earlier stages.

Outcomes Based on Plasma Biomarkers for the Phase 3 CELESTIAL Trial of Cabozantinib versus Placebo in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Cabozantinib, an inhibitor of MET, AXL, and VEGF receptors, significantly improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) versus placebo in patients with previously treated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this exploratory analysis, outcomes were evaluated according to plasma biomarker levels.

METHODS

Baseline plasma levels were evaluated for MET, AXL, VEGFR2, HGF, GAS6, VEGF-A, PlGF, IL-8, EPO, ANG2, IGF-1, VEGF-C, and c-KIT for 674/707 randomized patients; and Week 4 levels were evaluated for MET, AXL, VEGFR2, HGF, GAS6, VEGF-A, PlGF, IL-8, and EPO for 614 patients. OS and PFS were analyzed by baseline levels as dichotomized or continuous variables and by on-treatment changes at Week 4 as continuous variables; biomarkers were considered potentially prognostic if p < 0.05 and predictive if p < 0.05 for the interaction between treatment and the biomarker. Multivariable analyses adjusting for clinical covariates were also performed.

RESULTS

In the placebo group, high levels of MET, HGF, GAS6, IL-8, and ANG2 and low levels of IGF-1 were associated with shorter OS in univariate and multivariable analyses; these associations were also observed for MET, IL-8, and ANG2 in the cabozantinib group. Hazard ratios for OS and PFS favored cabozantinib over the placebo at low and high baseline levels for all biomarkers. No baseline biomarkers were predictive of a treatment benefit. Cabozantinib promoted pharmacodynamic changes in several biomarkers, including increases in VEGF-A, PlGF, AXL, and GAS6 levels and decreases in VEGFR2 and HGF levels; these changes were not associated with OS or PFS.

CONCLUSION

Cabozantinib improved OS and PFS versus placebo at high and low baseline concentrations for all biomarkers analyzed. Low baseline levels of MET, HGF, GAS6, IL-8, and ANG2 and high levels of IGF-1 were identified as potential favorable prognostic biomarkers for survival in previously treated advanced HCC. Although cabozantinib promoted pharmacodynamic changes in several biomarkers, these changes were not associated with survival.

Regorafenib for Taiwanese patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma after sorafenib failure: Impact of alpha-fetoprotein levels

Background and Aims

Regorafenib has demonstrated its survival benefit for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) patients in a phase III clinical trial. We aimed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of regorafenib and the predictors of treatment outcomes in Taiwanese patients.

Methods

We analyzed the survival, best overall response, predictors of treatment outcomes, and safety for uHCC patients who had tumor progression on sorafenib therapy and received regorafenib as salvage therapy between March 2018 and November 2020.

Results

Eighty‐six patients with uHCC were enrolled (median age, 66.5 years; 76.7% male). The median regorafenib treatment duration was 4.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.6–4.6). The most frequently reported adverse events were hand‐foot skin reaction (44.2%), diarrhea (36.0%), and fatigue (29.1%). No unpredictable toxicity was observed during treatment. The median overall survival (OS) with regorafenib was 12.4 months (95% CI, 7.8–17.0) and the median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 4.2 months (95% CI, 3.7–4.7). Of 82 patients with regorafenib responses assessable, 4 patients (4.9%) achieved a partial response, and 33 (40.2%) had stable disease, leading to a disease control rate (DCR) of 45.1% (n = 37). Patients possessing baseline AFP < 400 ng/ml exhibited a markedly longer median OS, median PFS, and higher DCR compared with their counterparts (15.7 vs. 8.1 months, 4.6 vs. 3.7 months, 60.9% vs. 27.5%, respectively). Despite possessing high baseline AFP levels, patients with early AFP response (>10% reduction at 4 weeks or >20% reduction at 8 weeks after regorafenib administration) exhibited comparable treatment outcomes to those with baseline AFP < 400 ng/ml.

Conclusions

The results of this real‐world study verified the tolerability and efficacy of regorafenib treatment for uHCC patients who failed prior sorafenib therapy, especially for those with lower baseline AFP levels or with early AFP response.

Predictive biomarkers for systemic therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and the third cancer-related cause of death worldwide. In recent years, several systemic therapy drugs including sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, cabozantinib, ramucicurab, nivilumab, and pembrolizumab have been approved by FDA for advanced HCC. However, their insufficient efficacy, toxicity, and drug resistance require clinically applicable and validated predictive biomarkers.Areas covered: Our review covers the recent advancements in the identification of proteomic/genomic/epigenomic/transcriptomic biomarkers for predicting HCC treatment efficacy with the use of multi-kinase inhibitors (MKIs), CDK4/6 inhibitors, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Alpha-fetoprotein, des-carboxyprothrombin, vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin-2, and dysregulated MTOR, VEGFR2, c-KIT, RAF1, PDGFRβ have the potential of proteomic/genomic biomarkers for sorafenib treatment. Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and albumin-bilirubin grade can predict the efficacy of other MKIs. Rb, p16, and Ki-67, and genes involved in cell cycle regulation, CDK1-4, CCND1, CDKN1A, and CDKN2A have been proposed for CD4/6 inhibitors, while dysregulated TERT, CTNNB1, TP53 FGF19, and TP53 are found to be predictors for ICI efficacy.Expert opinion: There are still limited clinically applicable and validated predictive biomarkers to identify HCC patients who benefit from systemic therapy. Further prospective biomarker validation studies for HCC personalized systemic therapy are required.

Systemic treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: An EASL position paper

The last 5 years have witnessed relevant advances in the systemic treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. New data have emerged since the development of the EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of hepatocellular carcinoma in 2018. Drugs licensed in some countries now include 4 oral multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib and cabozantinib), 1 anti-angiogenic antibody (ramucirumab) and 4 immune checkpoint inhibitors, alone or in combination (atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab, ipilimumab in combination with nivolumab, nivolumab and pembrolizumab in monotherapy). Prolonged survival in excess of 2 years can be expected in most patients with sensitive tumours and well-preserved liver function that renders them fit for sequential therapies. With different choices available in any given setting, the robustness of the evidence of efficacy and a correct matching of the safety profile of a given agent with patient characteristics and preferences are key in making sound therapeutic decisions. The recommendations in this document amend the previous EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines and aim to help clinicians provide the best possible care for patients today. In view of several ongoing and promising trials, further advances in systemic therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma are foreseen in the near future and these recommendations will have to be updated regularly.

Phase II Trial of the Combination of Temsirolimus and Sorafenib in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Tumor Mutation Profiling

BACKGROUND

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is upregulated in nearly half of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors and is associated with poor prognosis. In preclinical models of HCC, the combination of mTOR pathway inhibition with the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib improves treatment efficacy. A prior phase I study of the allosteric mTOR inhibitor temsirolimus combined with sorafenib demonstrated acceptable safety at the recommended phase II dose.

METHODS

We conducted a single-arm, multicenter phase II trial of the combination of temsirolimus 10 mg intravenously weekly plus sorafenib 200 mg b.i.d. The primary endpoint was time to progression (TTP) with efficacy target of median TTP of at least 6 months; secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), objective response rate, safety, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) tumor marker response. Next-generation tumor sequencing was performed as an exploratory endpoint.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients were enrolled, including 48% with hepatitis C virus infection and 28% with hepatitis B virus; 86% had Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage C disease. Among 28 patients evaluable for efficacy, the median TTP was 3.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.2, 5.3) months, with 14% of patients achieving TTP of at least 6 months. The median OS was 8.8 (95% CI: 6.8, 14.8) months. There were no complete or partial responses; 75% of patients had stable disease as best response. AFP decline by at least 50% was associated with prolonged TTP and OS. Serious adverse events occurred in 21%; the most common treatment-related adverse events of CTCAE grade 3 or higher were hypophosphatemia (36%), thrombocytopenia (14%), and rash (11%). There were no grade 5 events attributed to sorafenib or temsirolimus. Tumor next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed in a subgroup of 24 patients with adequate tumor samples. Tumor mTOR pathway mutations were identified in 42%. There was no association between tumor mutation profile and OS or TTP.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of temsirolimus and sorafenib demonstrated acceptable safety but did not achieve the target threshold for efficacy in this phase II study. Tumor NGS including the presence of mTOR pathway mutations was not associated with treatment response in an exploratory subgroup analysis.

Role of the alpha-fetoprotein response in immune checkpoint inhibitor-based treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

PURPOSE

The dynamics of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level have been found to be a useful predictor of therapeutic responsiveness in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated whether AFP changes were able to accurately reflect imaging-based responses and predict prognosis in patients receiving therapies including immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

METHODS

A total of 108 HCC patients with baseline serum AFP ≥ 20 ng/mL who received ICI-based treatment were included. We evaluated AFP-based responses, coupled with radiographic responses by RECIST, at 6-10 (time-point 1, TP1) and 14-18 weeks (time-point 2, TP2) of therapy in terms of the change of AFP from baseline, with a > 20% decrease or increase in level corresponding to the AFP response and progression, respectively. We examined the correlations between AFP and imaging-based responses, and the prognostic implications of the AFP-based measure.

RESULTS

Based on AFP change, there were 24 and 20 responders and 74 and 24 progressors at TP1 and TP2, respectively. The AFP responders yielded radiological objective responses in 90.9% (10/11) and 93.8% (15/16) of the cases at TP1 and TP2, respectively, compared with only 1.4% and none, respectively, of the AFP progressors at the corresponding times. The agreement between progression by RECIST and increased AFP level at the two time-points was 93.8% and 95.0%, respectively. The accuracy of the AFP-based criterion for predicting radiologic response/progression was comparable at TP1 and TP2. Both "AFP responder" and "AFP progressor" at TP1 or TP2 independently predicted the overall survival of patients (adjusted hazard ratios [95% confidence intervals], 0.360 [0.174-0.743] and 0.315 [0.117-0.850]; and 2.525 [1.362-4.679] and 3.908 [1.563-9.769], respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that on-treatment AFP changes can complement imaging findings and provide prognostic information for evaluating patients with AFP-producing HCC treated with ICI-based regimens.

Argentinian clinical practice guideline for surveillance, diagnosis, staging and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

The A.A.E.E.H has developed this guideline for the best care of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from Argentina. It was done from May 2018 to March 2020. Specific clinical research questions were systematically searched. The quality of evidence and level of recommendations were organized according to GRADE. HCC surveillance is strongly recommended with abdominal ultrasound (US) every six months in the population at risk for HCC (cirrhosis, hepatitis B or hepatitis C); it is suggested to add alpha-feto protein (AFP) levels in case of inexeperienced sonographers. Imaging diagnosis in patients at risk for HCC has high specificity and tumor biopsy is not mandatory. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer algorithm is strongly recommended for HCC staging and treatment-decision processes. Liver resection is strongly recommended for patients without portal hypertension and preserved liver function. Composite models are suggested for liver transplant selection criteria. Therapies for HCC with robust clinical evidence include transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and first to second line systemic treatment options (sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, cabozantinib and ramucirumab). Immunotherapy with nivolumab and pembrolizumab has failed to show statistical benefit but the novel combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab has recently shown survival benefit over sorafenib in frontline.

Metabolic Switch in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Treated with Sorafenib: a Proof-of-Concept Trial

BACKGROUND

Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor used to treat advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, a preclinical trial has shown that response to sorafenib is associated with a metabolic shift towards aerobic glycolysis. To test this observation in humans, we decided to conduct a proof-of-concept trial investigating the role of metabolic shift detected on [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT in predicting survival and tumor response in HCC patients treated with sorafenib.

METHODS

We prospectively enrolled advanced HCC patients candidate to sorafenib and undergoing [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT at baseline, at 24 h, and at day 7 following treatment start. Response evaluation was obtained after 8 weeks according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). All clinical variables and metabolic parameters (i.e., SUVmax; metabolic tumor volume, MTV; total lesion glycolysis, TLG; and their variations, Δ) were compared with those of treatment response and correlated to progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

For this proof-of-concept trial, between August 2016 and August 2018, 13 patients (10 male, 3 female, median age 69) were enrolled. Considering the entire cohort, we demonstrated a significant negative correlation between ΔSUVmax at 24 h and 1 week (rho = - 0.733, p = 0.016). The metabolic shift, as expected, demonstrated median SUVmax, MTV, and TLG after 1 week lower in patients with a stable disease than a progressive disease (p = 0.019). Metabolic parameters and ECOG performance status (PS) resulted significantly correlated to PFS and OS at univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, only median MTV at 1 week resulted as an independent prognostic factor for PFS (p = 0.033).

CONCLUSIONS

As hypothesized, [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT resulted in able to evaluate metabolic shift at 24 h and early treatment response already 1 week after treatment start. Moreover, metabolic parameters and ECOG PS resulted in predictive and prognostic factors to PFS and OS, with MTV at 1 week appearing as an independent predictive factor for PFS.

Secretory NPC2 Protein-Mediated Free Cholesterol Levels Were Correlated with the Sorafenib Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignant tumor in the world. Sorafenib is the first-line drug for patients with advanced HCC. However, long-term treatment with sorafenib often results in reduced sensitivity of tumor cells to the drug, leading to acquired resistance. Identifying biomarkers which can predict the response to sorafenib treatment may represent a clinical challenge in the personalized treatment era. Niemann-Pick type C2 (NPC2), a secretory glycoprotein, plays an important role in regulating intracellular free cholesterol homeostasis. In HCC patients, downregulation of hepatic NPC2 is correlated with poor clinical pathological features through regulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation. This study aimed to investigate the roles of secretory NPC2-mediated free cholesterol levels as biomarkers when undergoing sorafenib treatment and evaluate its impact on acquired sorafenib resistance in HCC cells. Herein, we showed that NPC2 downregulation and free cholesterol accumulation weakened sorafenib’s efficacy through enhancing MAPK/AKT signaling in HCC cells. Meanwhile, NPC2 overexpression slightly enhanced the sorafenib-induced cytotoxic effect. Compared to normal diet feeding, mice fed a high-cholesterol diet had much higher tumor growth rates, whereas treatment with the free cholesterol-lowering agent, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, enhanced sorafenib’s tumor-inhibiting ability. In addition, sorafenib treatment induced higher NPC2 secretion, which was mediated by inhibition of the Ras/Raf/MAPK kinase (MEK)/ERK signaling pathway in HCC cells. In both acquired sorafenib-resistant cell and xenograft models, NPC2 and free cholesterol secretion were increased in culture supernatant and serum samples. In conclusion, NPC2-mediated free cholesterol secretion may represent a candidate biomarker for the likelihood of HCC cells developing resistance to sorafenib.

On-Treatment Albumin-Bilirubin Grade: Predictor of Response and Outcome of Sorafenib-Regorafenib Sequential Therapy in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Simple Summary

Regorafenib after sorafenib therapy improved survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in the RESORCE study. The aim of our retrospective study was to investigate the predictors of response and outcome of regorafenib therapy in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in whom sorafenib therapy had failed. We demonstrated that albumin-bilirubin grade at the initiation of regorafenib therapy is an independent predictor of disease control, progression-free survival, and overall survival. Patients with albumin-bilirubin grade 2 and an alpha-fetoprotein level of ≥20 ng/mL had the worst progression-free survival (after regorafenib therapy) and overall survival (after regorafenib and sorafenib therapy). Thus, a combination of albumin-bilirubin grade and alpha-fetoprotein level can be used to stratify patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma by progression-free survival and overall survival probability for sorafenib–regorafenib sequential therapy.

Abstract

In the RESORCE study, regorafenib after sorafenib therapy improved survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In total, 88 patients with unresectable HCC who received sorafenib–regorafenib sequential therapy were enrolled. The objective response rate and disease control rate were 19.3% and 48.9%, respectively, for regorafenib therapy (median duration: 8.1 months). Median progression-free survival (PFS) after regorafenib therapy was 4.2 months (95% CI: 3.2–5.1). The median overall survival (OS; from initiation of either sorafenib or regorafenib) was not reached in this cohort. According to multivariate Cox regression analyses, albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade at the initiation of regorafenib therapy is an independent predictor of disease control, PFS, and OS. Moreover, the combination of ALBI grade 2 and an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level of ≥20 ng/mL was an independent predictor of PFS (hazard ratio (HR): 3.088, 95% CI: 1.704–5.595; p < 0.001) for regorafenib therapy, and OS for both regorafenib (HR: 3.783, 95% CI: 1.316–10.88; p = 0.014) and sorafenib–regorafenib sequential (HR: 4.603, 95% CI: 1.386–15.29; p = 0.013) therapy. A combination of ALBI grade and AFP level can be used to stratify patients with unresectable HCC by PFS and OS probability for sorafenib–regorafenib sequential therapy.

The evolving treatment paradigm of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: putting all the pieces back together

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The therapeutic landscape of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become notably complex in recent years. With this review, we aimed to put the most recent findings in perspective and tried to delineate the rapidly changing treatment algorithm.

RECENT FINDINGS

The combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab has become the new first-line standard of care treatment for unresectable HCC after the positive results of the phase 3 IMbrave150 study. Nivolumab monotherapy failed to demonstrate advantage versus sorafenib in the CheckMate 459 trial, while two different therapeutic strategies (sintilimab and bevacizumab biosimilar and donafenib) outperformed sorafenib in two phase 2/3 studies conducted in the Chinese population. Several immunotherapy combinations are currently under study in large phase 3 trials after promising results in earlier phase studies. About further lines of treatment, the combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab was approved for sorafenib-pretreated patients after the positive results of the phase 1/2 CheckMate 040 study and apatinib was proven effective in the Chinese population in a phase 2/3 study, while pembrolizumab as monotherapy did not show statistically significant superiority when compared with placebo in the KEYNOTE-240 study.

SUMMARY

Because of the growing complexity of advanced HCC treatment, the implementation of predictive biomarkers of response is eagerly needed.

Sorafenib and hepatocellular carcinoma: is alpha-fetoprotein a biomarker predictive of tumor biology and primary resistance?

Background: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the only biomarker with proven prognostic value in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Preliminary data indicate crosstalk between AFP and VEGF signaling. Methods: The authors looked at 69 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who were previously tested for VEGFR2 expression, had available baseline AFP serum concentrations and were treated with sorafenib within clinical trials. Results: Shorter progression-free survival and overall survival were associated with increased AFP level and elevated VEGFR2 staining. At multivariate analysis of AFP level was the only independent prognostic factor for progression-free survival and overall survival. Conclusion: The authors' study confirms the adverse prognostic role of elevated baseline AFP and also suggests a possible role of AFP in primary resistance to sorafenib therapy.

Clinical Characteristics of Long-Term Survivors After Sorafenib Treatment for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Korean National Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Background/Aim

Sorafenib is the first systemic therapy for the treatment of advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and progressive HCC after locoregional therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors of long-term survivors after sorafenib treatment.

Methods

This multicenter, retrospective, cohort study included 1,566 unresectable HCC patients who received sorafenib treatment between 2007 and 2014 in nine tertiary centers in Korea. The patients were classified into a long-term survivor group (survival more than two years, n = 257) or a control group (n = 1309). The primary outcomes were the prognostic factors affecting long-term survival. Secondary endpoints included time-to-progression and other safety profiles.

Results

The patients were predominantly men (83.8%) with chronic hepatitis B (77.3%) and Barcelona clinic of liver cancer-stage C (BCLC-C) (78.3%). The median overall survival was 9.0 months. After treatment, eight patients (0.4%) achieved complete response and 139 patients (8.8%) achieved partial response according to the mRECIST criteria. The prognostic factors predicting long-term survival were metformin use (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 3.464; P < 0.001), hand-foot skin reaction (aHR = 1.688; P = 0.003), and concomitant treatment with chemoembolization or radiotherapy (aHR = 2.766; P < 0.001). Poor prognostic factors of long-term survival were a Child-Pugh score of B (HR = 0.422; P < 0.001), the presence of extrahepatic metastasis (HR = 0.639; P = 0.005), main portal vein invasion (HR = 0.502; P = 0.001), and elevated alpha-fetoprotein (>1,000 ng/mL; HR = 0.361; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

This large, multicenter, retrospective study showed an objective response rate of 9.1% and a proportion of long-term survivors of 16.4% in Korean patients. The prognostic factors derived in our study can be used in clinical practice during sorafenib treatment.

The Role of Cabozantinib as a Therapeutic Option for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Landscape and Future Challenges

The systemic treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has significantly changed over the last years, with the introduction of two new standard-of-care first-line treatments (lenvatinib and the combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab) and the success of several new agents in second line. In particular, after the approval of regorafenib, ramucirumab and cabozantinib, the landscape of second-line treatment has become notably complex, providing a serious challenge in clinical practice. In this review, we focus on cabozantinib, a multikinase inhibitor which was proven effective in improving overall and progression-free survival of patients previously treated with sorafenib in the randomized Phase III CELESTIAL trial. CELESTIAL is the only phase III study to have included patients in the third-line setting and cabozantinib efficacy was confirmed in several post hoc analyses, irrespective of alpha-fetoprotein levels, albumin-bilirubin score, age, and duration of previous sorafenib treatment. The safety profile of cabozantinib in the CELESTIAL trial was comparable with other multikinase inhibitors used for HCC and the most frequent grade ≥3 adverse events were diarrhea, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, fatigue, hypertension, and aspartate aminotransferase increase. Tolerability did not differ between younger and older patients and quality of life was significantly improved compared to placebo during the treatment. In this review, we also make a particular mention to the use of cabozantinib in populations which are normally excluded from clinical trials, such as older patients and Child-Pugh B patients. Finally, we present the new treatment strategies in which cabozantinib is being tested, most notably the combination of cabozantinib and atezolizumab in the first-line setting in the phase III COSMIC-312 trial and the use of cabozantinib after progression on immune-checkpoint inhibitors.

Association of Postoperative Biomarker Response with Recurrence and Survival in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and High Alpha-Fetoprotein Expressions (>400 ng/ml)

Background

High alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) expressions (>400 ng/mL) are associated with poor oncological characteristics for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, prognosis after liver resection for high-AFP HCC is poorly studied. To investigate long-term recurrence and survival after hepatectomy for high-AFP HCC, and to identify the predictive value of postoperative incomplete biomarker response (IBR) on overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS).

Methods

Patients undergoing curative resection for high-AFP HCC were analyzed. According to the decline magnitude of serum AFP as measured at first follow-up (4~6 weeks after surgery), all patients were divided into the complete biomarker response (CBR) and IBR groups. Characteristics, recurrence, and survival rates were compared. Univariate and Multivariate Cox-regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors associated with poorer OS and RFS after liver resection for high-AFP HCC.

Results

Among 549 patients, the overall and early recurrence rates in patients with IBR were significantly higher than patients with CBR (97.8%vs.56.4%, and 92.5%vs.33.3%, both P<0.001). On multivariate analysis, postoperative IBR was the strongest risk factor with the highest hazard ratio in predicting poor OS (HR 2.97; 95% CI 2.49~3.45; P<0.001) and RFS (HR 4.29; 95% CI 3.31~5.55; P<0.001).

Conclusion

Postoperative biomarker response of serum AFP can be used in predicting recurrence and survival for high-AFP HCC patients. Once postoperative IBR was identified at first follow-up, subsequent enhanced recurrence surveillance and available treatments against recurrence should actively be considered.

Comparison of Prognostic Scores in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated With Sorafenib

INTRODUCTION

Prognostic classifications for patients treated with sorafenib for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) facilitate stratification in trials and inform clinical decision making. Recently, 3 different prognostic models (hepatoma arterial-embolization prognosis [HAP] score, sorafenib advanced HCC prognosis [SAP] score, and Prediction Of Survival in Advanced Sorafenib-treated HCC [PROSASH]-II) have been proposed specifically for patients treated with sorafenib. This study aimed to compare the prognostic performance of different scores.

METHODS

We analyzed a large prospective database gathering data of 552 patients treated with sorafenib from 7 Italian centers. The performance of the HAP, SAP, and PROSASH-II models were compared with those of generic HCC prognostic models (including the Barcelona Clinic for Liver Cancer and Italian Liver Cancer staging systems, albumin-bilirubin grade, and Child-Pugh score) to verify whether they could provide additional information.

RESULTS

The PROSASH-II model improved discrimination (C-index 0.62) compared with existing prognostic scores (C-index ≤0.59). Its stratification significantly discriminated patients, with a median overall survival of 21.5, 15.3, 9.3, and 6.0 months for risk group 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The HAP and SAP score were also validated but with a poorer performance compared with the PROSASH-II.

DISCUSSION

Although suboptimal, PROSASH-II is the most effective prognostic classification model among other available scores in a large Italian population of patients treated with sorafenib.

ACSL4 is a predictive biomarker of sorafenib sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma

Sorafenib is the first-line treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there is a lack of validated biomarkers to predict sorafenib sensitivity. In this study we investigated the role of ACSL4, a positive-activating enzyme of ferroptosis, in sorafenib-induced cell death and HCC patient outcome. We showed that ACSL4 protein expression was negatively associated with IC50 values of sorafenib in a panel of HCC cell lines (R = -0.952, P < 0.001). Knockdown of ACSL4 expression by specific siRNA/sgRNA significantly attenuated sorafenib-induced lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis in Huh7 cells, and also rescued sorafenib-induced inhibition of xenograft tumor growth in vivo. We selected 29 HCC patients with surgery as primary treatment and sorafenib as postoperative adjunct therapy from a hospital-based cohort. A high proportion (66.7%) of HCC patients who had complete or partial responses to sorafenib treatment (according to the revised RECIST guideline) had higher ACSL4 expression in the pretreated HCC tissues, compared with those who had stable or progressed tumor growth (23.5%, P = 0.029). Since ACSL4 expression was independent of sorafenib treatment, it could serve as a useful predictive biomarker. Taken together, this study demonstrates that ACSL4 is essential for sorafenib-induced ferroptosis and useful for predicting sorafenib sensitivity in HCC. This study may have important translational impacts in precise treatment of HCC.

Changes in serum fibronectin levels predict tumor recurrence in patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma after curative treatment

Fibronectin, a matrix glycoprotein aberrantly expressed in various tumor cells, is a known candidate biomarker for the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we investigated whether serum fibronectin levels could predict tumor recurrence in patients with early-stage HCC after curative treatment. A total of 83 patients who showed complete response after initial curative treatment were included. The levels of serum fibronectin at baseline and 4–6 weeks after initial treatment were analyzed with regard to their associations with recurrence. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to construct a prognostic nomogram. Baseline fibronectin levels were not significantly correlated with tumor size, number, stage, and serum α-fetoprotein levels. However, decrease in serum fibronectin levels after treatment was significantly associated with reduced HCC recurrence in multivariate logistic regression (odds ratio, 0.009; p < 0.001). Furthermore, a nomogram consisting of gender and changes in serum fibronectin showed a good discriminatory capability for the prediction of HCC recurrence with an area under the receiver-operating curve of 0.87. In conclusion, changes in serum fibronectin levels may be a surrogate indicator for assessment of treatment response in patients with early HCC after curative treatment.

Hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus extends to the right atrium and portal vein: A case report

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most important primary malignant liver disease. A large proportion of patients with advanced HCC have macrovascular invasion. HCC tends to infiltrate vascular structures, particularly the portal vein and its branches, and more rarely, the hepatic veins. The intravascular tumor thrombus can affect the inferior vena cava (IVC) or even the right atrium (RA), the latter having a poor prognosis.

CASE SUMMARY

HCC is one of the most aggressive malignant tumors. Tumor thrombus (TT) formation in advanced HCC stages is common and usually involves the hepatic or portal veins. Herein, we report a 69-year-old woman who presented with dyspnea to the emergency department. A ventilation/perfusion lung scan was performed, ruling out pulmonary embolism. Hepatopulmonary syndrome and portopulmonary hypertension were discarded with contrasted echocardiography, but a mass in the RA was detected and confirmed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Abdominal computed tomography showed a liver mass with a dynamic enhancement pattern compatible with HCC and an intraluminal IVC mass extending from the hepatic vein into the RA. HCC with TT expansion to IVC and RA is rare and indicates poor prognosis.

CONCLUSION

HCC with TT expansion to IVC and RA is rare and indicates poor prognosis. There is no consensus about anticoagulation or other interventions in these patients.

Assessment of lenvatinib treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma with liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

The present study aimed to assess the clinical features of patients who received lenvatinib treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

The clinical characteristics, adverse events, and radiological responses were evaluated for 51 consecutive patients.

RESULTS

Of the study subjects, 37 patients had Child-Pugh class A (CPA) liver function, and 14 patients had Child-Pugh class B (CPB) liver function. The overall response rates in the CPA and CPB groups were 42.9% and 25.0%, respectively, and disease control rates were 82.9% and 83.3%, respectively, without significant difference (p = 0.2621 and 0.9697). There was no significant difference between CPA and CPB groups regarding the incidence of adverse events, except for hepatic coma. No significant difference was observed in the relative dose intensity between the CPA and CPB groups, for the first month, 1-2 months, or 2-3 months (p = 0.2368, 0.9368, and 0.9293).

CONCLUSION

The comparable outcomes between the CPA and CPB groups suggest the acceptability of lenvatinib treatment in patients with impaired liver function, at least in the acute phase. With careful follow-up, the dose can be relatively intensified, even in patients with impaired liver function and this may contribute to offering comparable treatment.

Serum Alpha-fetoprotein Levels and Clinical Outcomes in the Phase III CELESTIAL Study of Cabozantinib versus Placebo in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PURPOSE

The phase III CELESTIAL study demonstrated improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) with cabozantinib versus placebo in patients with previously treated, advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We analyzed outcomes by baseline alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and on-treatment AFP changes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Serum AFP was measured every 8 weeks by blinded, centralized testing. Outcomes were analyzed by baseline AFP bifurcated at 400 ng/mL and by on-treatment AFP response (≥20% decrease from baseline at Week 8). The optimal cutoff for change in AFP at Week 8 was evaluated using maximally selected rank statistics.

RESULTS

Median OS for cabozantinib versus placebo was 13.9 versus 10.3 months [HR, 0.81; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.62-1.04] for patients with baseline AFP <400 ng/mL, and 8.5 versus 5.2 months (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.54-0.94) for patients with baseline AFP ≥400 ng/mL. Week 8 AFP response rate was 50% for cabozantinib versus 13% for placebo. In the cabozantinib arm, median OS for patients with and without AFP response was 16.1 versus 9.1 months (HR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.45-0.84). AFP response was independently associated with longer OS. The optimal cutoff for association with OS in the cabozantinib arm was ≤0% change in AFP at Week 8 [AFP control; HR 0.50 (95% CI, 0.35-0.71)]. HRs for PFS were consistent with those for OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Cabozantinib improved outcomes versus placebo across a range of baseline AFP levels. On-treatment AFP response and control rates were higher with cabozantinib than placebo, and were associated with longer OS and PFS with cabozantinib.

Correlating serum alpha-fetoprotein in hepatocellular carcinoma with response to Yttrium-90 transarterial radioembolization with glass microspheres (TheraSphere™)

BACKGROUND

Few studies have assessed the relationship between serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioembolization response in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The objective of the study was to evaluate whether peri-procedural serum AFP was correlated with Y-90 therapy response in HCC.

METHODS

Patients undergoing Y-90 radioembolization with glass microspheres (TheraSphere™) for HCC between 2006 and 2013 at a single center were evaluated. The relationship between AFP and 6-month radiographic improvement (complete or partial response by modified RECIST criteria), overall (OS), and disease-specific survival (DSS) were analyzed.

RESULTS

Seventy-four patients underwent a total of 124 Y-90 infusions. Median age was 65 years, median AFP was 37 ng/mL (range: 2-112,593 ng/mL) and median model for end-stage liver disease score was 6.2 (range:1.8-11.2). Increased AFP was not associated with radiographic improvement (odds ratio (OR) = 0.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.75-1.30, p = 0.92). Median OS was 15.2 months and was increased in patients with low AFP compared to high AFP (30.8 months vs. 7.8 months, p < 0.001). On multivariable regression analysis, increased AFP was associated with worse OS (OR = 1.11, 95%CI = 1.01-1.22, p = 0.034) and DSS (OR = 1.13, 95%CI = 1.03-1.25, p = 0.018).

CONCLUSION

Pre-infusion AFP independently predicted survival after Y-90 treatment for HCC, but not radiographic response, and can help guide treatment decisions.

A Phase 2 Study of Galunisertib (TGF-β1 Receptor Type I Inhibitor) and Sorafenib in Patients With Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Inhibition of tumor growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptor type I potentiated the activity of sorafenib in preclinical models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Galunisertib is a small-molecule selective inhibitor of TGF-β1 receptor type I, which demonstrated activity in a phase 2 trial as second-line HCC treatment.

Biomarkers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment Response Assessment

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the main cancer-related causes of death worldwide. Thus, there is a constant search for improvement in screening, diagnosis, and treatment strategies to improve the prognosis of this malignancy. The identification of useful biomarkers for surveillance and early HCC diagnosis is still deficient, with available serum biomarkers showing low sensitivity and heterogeneous specificity despite different cut-off points, even when assessed longitudinally, or with a combination of serum biomarkers. In contrast, HCC biomarkers used for prognostic (when associated with clinical outcomes) or predictive purposes (when associated with treatment response) may have an increased clinical role in the near future. Furthermore, some serum biomarkers are already implicated as a treatment selection tool, whether to provide access to certain therapies or to assess clinical benefit after treatment. In the present review we will discuss the clinical utility and foreseen future of HCC biomarkers implicated in surveillance, diagnosis, prognosis, and post-treatment assessment.

Prognostic role of alpha-fetoprotein in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with repeat transarterial chemoembolisation

BACKGROUND

Repeat transarterial chemoembolisation (rTACE) is often required for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to achieve disease control, however, current practice guidelines regarding treatment allocation vary significantly. This study aims to identify key factors associated with patient survival following rTACE to facilitate treatment allocation and prognostic discussion.

METHOD

Patients with HCC undergoing rTACE at six Australian tertiary centers from 2009 to 2014 were included. Variables encompassing clinical, tumour, treatment type and response factors were analysed against the primary outcome of overall survival. Univariate analysis and multivariate Cox regression modelling were used to identify factors pre- and post-TACE therapy significantly associated with survival.

RESULTS

Total of 292 consecutive patients underwent rTACE with mainly Child Pugh A cirrhosis (61%) and BCLC stage A (57%) disease. Median overall survival (OS) was 30 months (IQR 15.2-50.2) from initial TACE. On multivariate analysis greater tumour number (p = 0.02), higher serum bilirubin (p = 0.007) post initial TACE, and hepatic decompensation (p = 0.001) post second TACE were associated with reduced survival. Patients with serum AFP ≥ 200 ng/ml following initial TACE had lower survival (p = 0.001), compared to patients with serum AFP level that remained < 200 ng/ml post-initial TACE, with an overall survival of 19.4 months versus 34.7 months (p = 0.0001) respectively.

CONCLUSION

Serum AFP level following initial treatment in patients undergoing repeat TACE for HCC is a simple and useful clinical prognostic marker. Moreover, it has the potential to facilitate appropriate patient selection for rTACE particularly when used in conjunction with baseline tumour burden and severity of hepatic dysfunction post-initial TACE.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Glypican-3 T-Cell Therapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Results of Phase I Trials

PURPOSE

Our preclinical studies demonstrated the potential of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-glypican-3 (GPC3) T-cell therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We report herein the first published results of CAR-GPC3 T-cell therapy for HCC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In two prospective phase I studies, adult patients with advanced GPC3⁺ HCC (Child-Pugh A) received autologous CAR-GPC3 T-cell therapy following cyclophosphamide- and fludarabine-induced lymphodepletion. The primary objective was to assess the treatment's safety. Adverse events were graded using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 4.03). Tumor responses were evaluated using the RECIST (version 1.1).

RESULTS

A total of 13 patients received a median of 19.9 × 10⁸ CAR-GPC3 T cells by a data cutoff date of July 24, 2019. We observed pyrexia, decreased lymphocyte count, and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in 13, 12, and nine patients, respectively. CRS (grade 1/2) was reversible in eight patients. One patient experienced grade 5 CRS. No patients had grade 3/4 neurotoxicity. The overall survival rates at 3 years, 1 year, and 6 months were 10.5%, 42.0%, and 50.3%, respectively, according to the Kaplan-Meier method. We confirmed two partial responses. One patient with sustained stable disease was alive after 44.2 months. CAR T-cell expansion tended to be positively associated with tumor response.

CONCLUSIONS

This report demonstrated the initial safety profile of CAR-GPC3 T-cell therapy. We observed early signs of antitumor activity of CAR-GPC3 T cells in patients with advanced HCC.

Biomarkers and overall survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with TGF-βRI inhibitor galunisertib

Background

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signalling is involved in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We followed changes in biomarkers during treatment of patients with HCC with the TGF-βRI/ALK5 inhibitor galunisertib.

Methods

This phase 2 study (NCT01246986) enrolled second-line patients with advanced HCC into one of two cohorts of baseline serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP): Part A (AFP ≥1.5x ULN) or Part B (AFP <1.5x ULN). Baseline and postbaseline levels of AFP, TGF-β1, E-cadherin, selected miRNAs, and other plasma proteins were monitored.

Results

The study enrolled 149 patients (Part A, 109; Part B, 40). Median OS was 7.3 months in Part A and 16.8 months in Part B. Baseline AFP, TGF-β1, E-cadherin, and an additional 16 plasma proteins (such as M-CSF, IL-6, ErbB3, ANG-2, neuropilin-1, MIP-3 alpha, KIM-1, uPA, IL-8, TIMP-1, ICAM-1, Apo A-1, CA-125, osteopontin, tetranectin, and IGFBP-1) were found to correlate with OS. In addition, a range of miRs were found to be associated with OS. In AFP responders (21% of patients in Part A with decrease of >20% from baseline) versus non-responders, median OS was 21.5 months versus 6.8 months (p = 0.0015). In TGF-β1 responders (51% of all patients) versus non-responders, median OS was 11.2 months versus 5.3 months (p = 0.0036).

Conclusions

Consistent with previous findings, both baseline levels and changes from baseline of circulating AFP and TGF-β1 function as prognostic indicators of survival. Future trials are needed to confirm and extend these results.

c-Myc-mediated SNRPB upregulation functions as an oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma

Dysregulation of genes involved in alternative splicing contributes to hepatocarcinogenesis. SNRPB, a component of spliceosome, is implicated in human cancers, yet its clinical significance and biological function in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. Here, we show that SNRPB expression is increased in HCC tissues, compared with the nontumorous tissues, at both messenger RNA and protein levels in two independent cohorts. High expression of SNRPB is significantly associated with higher pathological grade, vascular invasion, serum alpha-fetoprotein level, tumor metastasis, and poor disease-free and overall survivals. Luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrate that SNRPB upregulation in HCC is mediated by c-Myc. Positive correlation is found between SNRPB and c-Myc expression in clinical samples. In vitro studies show that ectopic expression of SNRPB promotes HCC cell proliferation and migration, whereas knockdown of SNRPB results in the opposite phenotypes. Collectively, our data suggest SNRPB function as an oncogene and serve as a potential prognostic factor in HCC.

Biology and significance of alpha-fetoprotein in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths globally due, in part, to the majority of patients being diagnosed with intermediate or advanced stage disease. Our increased understanding of the heterogeneous molecular pathogenesis of HCC has led to significant developments in novel targeted therapies. Despite these advances, there remains a high unmet need for new treatment options. HCC is a complex disease with multiple pathogenic mechanisms caused by a variety of risk factors, making it difficult to characterize with a single biomarker. In fact, numerous biomarkers have been studied in HCC, but alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) remains the most widely used and accepted serum marker since its discovery over 60 years ago. This review summarizes the most relevant studies associated with the regulation of AFP at the gene and protein levels; the pathophysiology of AFP as a pro-proliferative protein; and the correlation of AFP with molecular HCC subclasses, the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway and angiogenesis. Also described are the historical and current uses of AFP for screening and surveillance, diagnosis, its utility as a prognostic and predictive biomarker and its role as a tumour antigen in HCC. Taken together, these data demonstrate the relevance of AFP for patients with HCC and identify several remaining questions that will benefit from future research.