Combination chemotherapy with capecitabine and cisplatin for patients with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma

Advances in traditional herbal formulation based nano-vaccine for cancer immunotherapy: Unraveling the enigma of complex tumor environment and multidrug resistance

Cancer is attributed to uncontrolled cell growth and is among the leading causes of death with no known effective treatment while complex tumor microenvironment (TME) and multidrug resistance (MDR) are major challenges for developing an effective therapeutic strategy. Advancement in cancer immunotherapy has been limited by the over-activation of the host immune response that ultimately affects healthy tissues or organs and leads to a feeble response of the patient's immune system against tumor cells. Besides, traditional herbal medicines (THM) have been well-known for their essential role in the treatment of cancer and are considered relatively safe due to their compatibility with the human body. Yet, poor solubility, low bio-availability, and lack of understanding about their pathophysiological mechanism halt their clinical application. Moreover, considering the complex TME and drug resistance, the most precarious and least discussed concerns for developing THM-based nano-vaccination, are identification of specific biomarkers for drug inhibitory protein and targeted delivery of bioactive ingredients of THM on the specific sites in tumor cells. The concept of THM-based nano-vaccination indicates immunomodulation of TME by THM-based bioactive adjuvants, exerting immunomodulatory effects, via targeted inhibition of key proteins involved in the metastasis of cancer. However, this concept is at its nascent stage and very few preclinical studies provided the evidence to support clinical translation. Therefore, we attempted to capsulize previously reported studies highlighting the role of THM-based nano-medicine in reducing the risk of MDR and combating complex tumor environments to provide a reference for future study design by discussing the challenges and opportunities for developing an effective and safe therapeutic strategy against cancer.

Co-Assembly of Cancer Drugs with Cyclo-HH Peptides: Insights from Simulations and Experiments

Peptide-based nanomaterials can serve as promising drug delivery agents, facilitating the release of active pharmaceutical ingredients while reducing the risk of adverse reactions. We previously demonstrated that Cyclo-Histidine-Histidine (Cyclo-HH), co-assembled with cancer drug Epirubicin, zinc, and nitrate ions, can constitute an attractive drug delivery system, combining drug self-encapsulation, enhanced fluorescence, and the ability to transport the drug into cells. Here, we investigated both computationally and experimentally whether Cyclo-HH could co-assemble, in the presence of zinc and nitrate ions, with other cancer drugs with different physicochemical properties. Our studies indicated that Methotrexate, in addition to Epirubicin and its epimer Doxorubicin, and to a lesser extent Mitomycin-C and 5-Fluorouracil, have the capacity to co-assemble with Cyclo-HH, zinc, and nitrate ions, while a significantly lower propensity was observed for Cisplatin. Epirubicin, Doxorubicin, and Methorexate showed improved drug encapsulation and drug release properties, compared to Mitomycin-C and 5-Fluorouracil. We demonstrated the biocompatibility of the co-assembled systems, as well as their ability to intracellularly release the drugs, particularly for Epirubicin, Doxorubicin, and Methorexate. Zinc and nitrate were shown to be important in the co-assembly, coordinating with drugs and/or Cyclo-HH, thereby enabling drug-peptide as well as drug-drug interactions in successfully formed nanocarriers. The insights could be used in the future design of advanced cancer therapeutic systems with improved properties.

Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Review of New Advances with Focus on Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy

With an expected incidence of more than 1 million cases by 2025, liver cancer remains a problem for world health. With over 90% of cases, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent kind of liver cancer. In this review, we presented the range of experimental therapeutics for patients with advanced HCC, the successes and failures of new treatments, areas for future development, the evaluation of dose-limiting toxicity in different drugs, and the safety profile in patients with liver dysfunction related to the underlying chronic liver disease. In addition to the unmet demand for biomarkers to guide treatment decisions and the burgeoning fields of immunotherapy and systemic therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma, the development of old and new drugs, including their failures and current advancements, has been reviewed. This review aims to evaluate the updated optimal clinical treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinomas in clinical practice, mainly through targeted therapy. Although surgical treatment can significantly enhance the survival probability of early and intermediate-stage patients, it is unsuitable for most HCC patients due to a lack of donors. Due to their severe toxicity, the few first-line anti-HCC drugs, such as sorafenib, are often reserved for advanced HCC patients for whom other therapies have failed. The second-line drugs are usually alternatives for patients with intolerance or resistance. Consequently, the ongoing growth of possible preclinical drugs and studies on miRNAs, lncRNAs, and numerous other signaling pathway targets for developing novel drugs may introduce additional treatment prospects for HCC.

Biological impact and therapeutic perspective of targeting PI3K/Akt signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma: Promises and Challenges

Cancer progression results from activation of various signaling networks. Among these, PI3K/Akt signaling contributes to proliferation, invasion, and inhibition of apoptosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer with high incidence rate, especially in regions with high prevalence of viral hepatitis infection. Autoimmune disorders, diabetes mellitus, obesity, alcohol consumption, and inflammation can also lead to initiation and development of HCC. The treatment of HCC depends on the identification of oncogenic factors that lead tumor cells to develop resistance to therapy. The present review article focuses on the role of PI3K/Akt signaling in HCC progression. Activation of PI3K/Akt signaling promotes glucose uptake, favors glycolysis and increases tumor cell proliferation. It inhibits both apoptosis and autophagy while promoting HCC cell survival. PI3K/Akt stimulates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and increases matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP) expression during HCC metastasis. In addition to increasing colony formation capacity and facilitating the spread of tumor cells, PI3K/Akt signaling stimulates angiogenesis. Therefore, silencing PI3K/Akt signaling prevents aggressive HCC cell behavior. Activation of PI3K/Akt signaling can confer drug resistance, particularly to sorafenib, and decreases the radio-sensitivity of HCC cells. Anti-cancer agents, like phytochemicals and small molecules can suppress PI3K/Akt signaling by limiting HCC progression. Being upregulated in tumor tissues and clinical samples, PI3K/Akt can also be used as a biomarker to predict patients' response to therapy.

A Face-To-Face Comparison of Tumor Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane (TCAM) In Ovo with Murine Models for Early Evaluation of Cancer Therapy and Early Drug Toxicity

Ethical considerations, cost, and time constraints have highlighted the need to develop alternatives to rodent in vivo models for evaluating drug candidates for cancer. The tumor chicken chorioallantoic membrane (TCAM) model provides an affordable and fast assay that permits direct visualization of tumor progression. Tumors from multiple species including rodents and human cell lines can be engrafted. In this study, we engrafted several tumor models onto the CAM and demonstrated that the TCAM model is an alternative to mouse models for preliminary cancer drug efficacy testing and toxicity analysis. Tumor cells were deposited onto CAM, and then grown for up to an additional 10 days before chronic treatments were administered. The drug response of anticancer therapies was screened in 12 tumor cell lines including glioblastoma, melanoma, breast, prostate, colorectal, liver, and lung cancer. Tumor-bearing eggs and tumor-bearing mice had a similar chemotherapy response (cisplatin and temozolomide) in four human and mouse tumor models. We also demonstrated that lethality observed in chicken embryos following chemotherapies such as cisplatin and cyclophosphamide were associated with corresponding side-effects in mice with body weight loss. According to our work, TCAM represents a relevant alternative model to mice in early preclinical oncology screening, providing insights for both the efficacy and the toxicity of anticancer drugs.

In silico, in vitro screening of antioxidant and anticancer potentials of bioactive secondary metabolites from an endophytic fungus (Curvularia sp.) from Phyllanthus niruri L

The main objective of this research work is to discover novel and efficient phytochemical substances from endophytic fungus found in medicinal plants. Curvularia geniculata L. (C. geniculata L.), an endophytic fungus isolated from Phyllanthus niruri L. (P. niruri L.), was tested against hepatoma cell lines (HepG2) in order to screen their antioxidant and anticancer potentials. The profiling of phytochemicals from the fungal extract was characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and molecular docking was done for the identified compounds against one of the potential receptors predominantly present in the hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Among the phytochemicals found, 2-methyl-7-phenylindole had the highest binding affinity (- 8.8 kcal mol^-1) for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The stability of 2-methyl-7-phenylindole in the EGFR-binding pockets was tested using in silico molecular dynamics simulation. The fungal extract showed the highest antioxidant activity as measured by DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging, and FRAP assays. In vitro cytotoxicity assay of fungal extract demonstrated the concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells after 24 h, and the IC₅₀ (50% cell death) value was estimated to be 62.23 μg mL^-1. Typical morphological changes such as condensation of nuclei and deformed membrane structures are indicative of ongoing apoptosis. The mitochondria of HepG2 cells were also targeted by the endophytic fungal extract, which resulted in substantial generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to the destruction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential integrity. These outcomes suggest that the ethyl acetate extract of C. geniculata L. has the potential to be an antioxidant agent and further to be exploited in developing potential anticancer agents.

A novel peptide encoded by N6-methyladenosine modified circMAP3K4 prevents apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) regulate various biological activities and have been shown to play crucial roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. However, only a few coding circRNAs have been identified in cancers, and their roles in HCC remain elusive. This study aimed to identify coding circRNAs and explore their function in HCC.

Methods

CircMAP3K4 was selected from the CIRCpedia database. We performed a series of experiments to determine the characteristics and coding capacity of circMAP3K4. We then used in vivo and in vitro assays to investigate the biological function and mechanism of circMAP3K4 and its protein product, circMAP3K4-455aa, in HCC.

Results

We found circMAP3K4 to be an upregulated circRNA with coding potential in HCC. IGF2BP1 recognized the circMAP3K4 N6-methyladenosine modification and promoted its translation into circMAP3K4-455aa. Functionally, circMAP3K4-455aa prevented cisplatin-induced apoptosis in HCC cells by interacting with AIF, thus protecting AIF from cleavage and decreasing its nuclear distribution. Moreover, circMAP3K4-455aa was degraded through the ubiquitin–proteasome E3 ligase MIB1 pathway. Clinically, a high level of circMAP3K4 is an independent prognostic factor for adverse overall survival and adverse disease-free survival of HCC patients.

Conclusions

CircMAP3K4 is a highly expressed circRNA in HCC. Driven by m6A modification, circMAP3K4 encoded circMAP3K4-455aa, protected HCC cells from cisplatin exposure, and predicted worse prognosis of HCC patients. Targeting circMAP3K4-455aa may provide a new therapeutic strategy for HCC patients, especially for those with chemoresistance.

Graphical Abstract

CircMAP3K4 is a highly expressed circRNA in HCC. Driven by m6A modification, IGF2BP1 facilitates circMAP3K4 peptide translation, then the circMAP3K4 peptide inhibits AIF cleavage and nuclear distribution, preventing HCC cells from cell death under stress and promoting HCC progression.

Mitochondrial fission factor promotes cisplatin resistancein hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver tumor and one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Chemotherapeutic agents/regimens such as cisplatin (DDP) are frequently used for advanced HCC treatment. However, drug resistance remains a major hindrance and the underline mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the expression pattern and function of mitochondrial fission factor (Mff) in cisplatin-resistant HCC. We found that Mff is highly expressed in cisplatin-resistant HCC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of Mff suppresses cell proliferation and promotes cell apoptosis of HCC/DDP cells. In addition, knockdown of Mff sensitizes Huh-7/DDP cells to cisplatin treatment, inhibits cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and enhances cell apoptosis. Confocal imaging showed that knockdown of Mff inhibits the mitochondrial fission and downregulates the expression of GTPase dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) in cisplatin-resistant Huh-7/DDP cells. Moreover, xenograft tumor model revealed that knockdown of Mff sensitizes Huh-7/DDP xenograft tumor to cisplatin treatment . In summary, our findings suggest that Mff regulates mitochondrial Drp1 expression and promotes cisplatin resistance in HCC, which provides a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of resistant HCC.

Systemic Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Updates and Outlook

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has emerged the culprit of cancer-related mortality worldwide with its dismal prognosis climbing. In recent years, ground-breaking progress has been made in systemic therapy for HCC. Targeted therapy based on specific signaling molecules, including sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, cabozantinib, and ramucirumab, has been widely used for advanced HCC (aHCC). Immunotherapies such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab greatly improve the survival of aHCC patients. More recently, synergistic combination therapy has boosted first-line (atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab) and second-line (ipilimumab in combination with nivolumab) therapeutic modalities for aHCC. This review aims to summarize recent updates of systemic therapy relying on the biological mechanisms of HCC, particularly highlighting the approved agents for aHCC. Adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy, as well as a combination with locoregional therapies (LRTs), are also discussed. Additionally, we describe the promising effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as systemic therapy on HCC. In this setting, the challenges and future directions of systemic therapy for HCC are also explored.

Use of chemotherapy to treat hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatic malignancies remain a global challenge. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for around 90% of patients with liver cancer and is the sixth most common neoplasm worldwide and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death. However, the long-term prognosis for HCC remains far from satisfactory, with a late diagnosis and limited treatment. DOX has served as conventional chemotherapy with the longest history of use. Although conventional chemotherapy is being challenged by molecular therapy and immune therapy, there is renewed optimism and interest in both systematic and locoregional therapy. Combined chemotherapy is widely used in clinical practice. In specific terms, FOLFOX can serve as a first-line (category 2B) option as recommended by the 2021 NCCN guidelines, while the efficacy of LTLD plus RFA has been confirmed in the phase III HEAT study. These approaches have challenged the dominant status of molecular therapy in terms of health economics and they have potential benefits in Asia, where HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma is prevalent. Moreover, locoregional chemotherapy can be achieved with TACE and HAIC (possibly involving FOLFOX, DOX, mitomycin C, cisplatin, epirubicin, etc.). TACE was officially recommended by the 2021 NCCN guidelines for patients with Child-Pugh class B liver disease. In addition, HAIC has demonstrated a potential advantage in preliminary clinical practice, although it hasn't been included in any guidelines. Hence, this review summarizes large-scale trials and studies examining the development and innovative use of chemotherapeutic agents. Mounting clinical evidence warrants an exploration of the efficacy of chemotherapy.

Advances of Targeted Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the common and fatal malignancies, which is a significant global health problem. The clinical applicability of traditional surgery and other locoregional therapies is limited, and these therapeutic strategies are far from satisfactory in improving the outcomes of advanced HCC. In the past decade, targeted therapy had made a ground-breaking progress in advanced HCC. Those targeted therapies exert antitumor effects through specific signals, including anti-angiogenesis or cell cycle progression. As a standard systemic therapy option, it tremendously improves the survival of this devastating disease. Moreover, the combination of targeted therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) has demonstrated more potent anticancer effects and becomes the hot topic in clinical studies. The combining medications bring about a paradigm shift in the treatment of advanced HCC. In this review, we presented all approved targeted agents for advanced HCC with an emphasis on their clinical efficacy, summarized the advances of multi-target drugs in research for HCC and potential therapeutic targets for drug development. We also discussed the exciting results of the combination between targeted therapy and ICI.

Cell death pathways and viruses: Role of microRNAs

Viral infections lead to the death of more than a million people each year around the world, both directly and indirectly. Viruses interfere with many cell functions, particularly critical pathways for cell death, by affecting various intracellular mediators. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a major example of these mediators because they are involved in many (if not most) cellular mechanisms. Virus-regulated miRNAs have been implicated in three cell death pathways, namely, apoptosis, autophagy, and anoikis. Several molecules (e.g., BECN1 and B cell lymphoma 2 [BCL2] family members) are involved in both apoptosis and autophagy, while activation of anoikis leads to cell death similar to apoptosis. These mechanistic similarities suggest that common regulators, including some miRNAs (e.g., miR-21 and miR-192), are involved in different cell death pathways. Because the balance between cell proliferation and cell death is pivotal to the homeostasis of the human body, miRNAs that regulate cell death pathways have drawn much attention from researchers. miR-21 is regulated by several viruses and can affect both apoptosis and anoikis via modulating various targets, such as PDCD4, PTEN, interleukin (IL)-12, Maspin, and Fas-L. miR-34 can be downregulated by viral infection and has different effects on apoptosis, depending on the type of virus and/or host cell. The present review summarizes the existing knowledge on virus-regulated miRNAs involved in the modulation of cell death pathways. Understanding the mechanisms for virus-mediated regulation of cell death pathways could provide valuable information to improve the diagnosis and treatment of many viral diseases.

BRAZILIAN SOCIETY OF HEPATOLOGY UPDATED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The Brazilian Society of Hepatology (SBH) published in 2015 its first recommendations about the management of HCC. Since then, new data have emerged in the literature, prompting the governing board of SBH to sponsor a single-topic meeting in August 2018 in São Paulo. All the invited experts were asked to make a systematic review of the literature reviewing the management of HCC in subjects with cirrhosis. After the meeting, all panelists gathered together for the discussion of the topics and the elaboration of updated recommendations. The text was subsequently submitted for suggestions and approval of all members of the Brazilian Society of Hepatology through its homepage. The present manuscript is the final version of the reviewed manuscript containing the recommendations of SBH.

Capecitabine in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A multicenter experience

BACKGROUND

Recent data suggest a potential activity and a good tolerability of capecitabine in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

AIMS

To evaluate capecitabine activity and safety in a wide cohort of advanced HCC patients.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 143 capecitabine-treated patients (January 2010 to December 2017) in three centers of the Veneto Oncology Network.

RESULTS

Capecitabine was administered in second and third line, but also in first line instead of sorafenib in Child-Pugh B patients (70%), compromised clinical conditions (14%) or contraindications to antiangiogenetics (16%). Median overall survival (OS) and time to progression (TTP) were 6.9 and 2.8 months, respectively. There were no differences in OS and TTP between the 32 patients treated with non-metronomic scheme (2000 mg/day for 14 days) and the 111 patients treated with metronomic scheme (1000 mg/day) after correction for prognostic factors at baseline with a propensity score analysis. Capecitabine was more active in patients intolerant to sorafenib than in those progressing during treatment (p = 0.024). At least one adverse event (mainly hematological) was experienced by 73% of patients but discontinuation was necessary only in 11 (8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Capecitabine can be considered an active and safe option in advanced HCC, especially for patients unfit for other treatments.

Network Pharmacology-Based Study on the Mechanism of Bushen-Jianpi Decoction in Liver Cancer Treatment

To investigate the mechanism of a Bushen-Jianpi decoction (BSJPD) in liver cancer (LC) treatment, we analyzed clinical therapy data, conducted network pharmacology analysis, and performed pharmacological experimental verification in vitro and in vivo. The univariate analysis of clinical therapy showed that the BSJPD was protective factor (p < 0.05). The network pharmacology analysis showed that 9 compounds were important nodes of BSJPD-LC therapy network. In experimental verification, the rate of apoptosis increased in the liver tumors of mice treated with the BSJPD (p < 0.05); drug serum with 20 % BSJPD inhibited cell viability (p < 0.05) and reduced the expression of PI3K, the Bcl-xL/BAD ratio, and the levels of p53 and p-Akt in HepG2 cells. Moreover, licochalcone A, alisol B, and hederagenin inhibited cell viability (p < 0.05), induced cell apoptosis (p < 0.01), reduced p-Akt levels, and increased cleaved-CASP3 (p < 0.05) and p53 expression levels in HepG2 cells. These data suggest that the BSJPD prolongs the survival of LC patients and induces apoptosis and that it may be associated with the regulation of PI3K, Akt, p53, CASP3, and Bcl-xL/BAD expression.

Chinese Herbal Medicines Facilitate the Control of Chemotherapy-Induced Side Effects in Colorectal Cancer: Progress and Perspective

Side effects, including nausea, vomiting, mucositis, peripheral neuropathy, and diarrhea, have been frequently reported in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients undergoing chemotherapy. Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHMs) display distinct clinical outcomes, as a result, they have been increasingly used as an adjuvant therapy to manage chemotherapy-induced side effects. In this review, we aim to intensively explore the molecular mechanisms of CHMs, underline the significance of CHMs in mitigating the side effects induced by chemotherapy, and examine the necessary studies required to understand the role of CHMs in alleviating chemotherapy-induced side effects. Specifically, ginger, Astragali Radix, and Liujunzi Decoction have been verified to ameliorate nausea and vomiting. Banxia Xiexin Decoction and Huangqin Decoction have been confirmed to be beneficial to mucositis and delayed-onset of diarrhea. Moreover, Niuche Shenqi Wan, Guilong Tongluo Decoction, Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction, and tumeric have been found to display potential therapeutic effects for preventing the genesis and development of peripheral neurotoxicity. These findings have further emphasized the pivotal role of CHMs in improving the outcomes of chemotherapy-induced side effects in CRC. Nonetheless, more molecular evidence is required to comprehensively understand and more appropriately apply CHMs in routine clinical practice for CRC.

Systematic Investigation of Scutellariae Barbatae Herba for Treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on Network Pharmacology

As the fifth most common type of malignant cancers globally, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. As a long-time medicinal herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Scutellariae Barbatae Herba (SBH) has also been used for treating various cancers including HCC, but its underlying mechanisms have not been completely clarified. Presently, an innovative network-pharmacology platform was introduced to systematically elucidate the pharmacological mechanisms of SBH against HCC, adopting active ingredients prescreening, target fishing, and network analysis. The results revealed that SBH appeared to work on HCC probably through regulating 4 molecular functions, 20 biological processes, and hitting on 21 candidate targets involved in 40 pathways. By in-depth analysis of the first-ranked signaling pathway and hit genes, only TTR was highly and specially expressed in the liver tissue. TTR might play a crucial role in neutrophil degranulation pathway during SBH against HCC. Hence, TTR might become a therapeutic target of HCC. The study investigated the anti-hepatoma mechanisms of SBH from a holistic perspective, which provided a theoretical foundation for further experimental research and rational clinical application of SBH.

Chemotherapy protocols and incidence of oral mucositis. An integrative review

This review aimed to analyze the scientific production on severity of oral mucositis as an adverse effect of chemotherapy. To this end, we performed a search at PubMed databases combining the keywords “oral mucositis” and “chemotherapy protocol”. To describe the investigation, the following variables were considered: journal, year/place, study design, sample, protocol used and incidence of oral mucositis. A total of 547 articles were retrieved, of which 26 were selected. Out of these 26, only 2 reported severity of oral mucositis; the others only reported the presence of the condition. Protocols for treating different types of carcinoma were evaluated in 16 (61.53%) studies, for hematological malignancies in 6 (23.07%), and for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 4 (15.4%). Protocols for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation entail a high risk for oral mucositis, just as chemotherapy with cytarabine and high-dose 5-fluorouracil, alkylating agents and platinumbased compounds. To provide the best prevention and treatment for oral mucositis, it is essential to know the chemotherapy protocols used and their effects on the oral cavity.

Metronomic capecitabine as second-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma after sorafenib discontinuation

PURPOSE

Metronomic capecitabine (MC) is a well-tolerated systemic treatment showing promising results in one retrospective study, as second-line therapy after sorafenib failure, in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

117 patients undergoing MC were compared to 112 patients, eligible for this treatment, but undergoing best supportive care (BSC) after sorafenib discontinuation for toxicity or HCC progression. The two groups were compared for demographic and clinical features. A multivariate regression analysis was conducted to detect independent prognostic factors. To balance confounding factors between the two groups, a propensity score model based on independent prognosticators (performance status, neoplastic thrombosis, causes of sorafenib discontinuation and pre-sorafenib treatment) was performed.

RESULTS

Patients undergoing MC showed better performance status, lower tumor burden, lower prevalence of portal vein thrombosis, and better cancer stage. Median (95% CI) post-sorafenib survival (PSS) was longer in MC than in BSC patients [9.5 (7.5-11.6) vs 5.0 (4.2-5.7) months (p < 0.001)]. Neoplastic thrombosis, cause of sorafenib discontinuation, pre-sorafenib treatment and MC were independent prognosticators. The benefit of capecitabine was confirmed in patients after matching with propensity score [PSS: 9.9 (6.8-12.9) vs. 5.8 (4.8-6.8) months, (p = 0.001)]. MC lowered the mortality risk by about 40%. MC achieved better results in patients who stopped sorafenib for adverse events than in those who progressed during it [PSS: 17.3 (10.5-24.1) vs. 7.8 (5.2-10.1) months, (p = 0.035)]. Treatment toxicity was low and easily manageable with dose modulation.

CONCLUSIONS

MC may be an efficient and safe second-line systemic therapy for HCC patients who discontinued sorafenib for toxicity or tumor progression.

Nuclear IKKα mediates microRNA-7/-103/107/21 inductions to downregulate maspin expression in response to HBx overexpression

Maspin is a tumor suppressor that stimulates apoptosis and inhibits metastasis in various cancer types, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our previous study has demonstrated that HBx induced microRNA-7, 103, 107, and 21 expressions to suppress maspin expression, leading to metastasis, chemoresistance, and poor prognosis in HCC patients. However, it remains unclear how HBx elicits these microRNA expressions. HBx has been known to induce aberrant activation and nuclear translocation of inhibitor-κB kinase-α (IKKα) to promote HCC progression. In this study, our data further revealed that nuclear IKKα expression was inversely correlated with maspin expression in HBV-associated patients. Nuclear IKKα but not IKKβ reduced maspin protein and mRNA expression, and inhibition of IKKα reverses HBx-mediated maspin downregulation and chemoresistance. In response to HBx overexpression, nuclear IKKα was further demonstrated to induce the gene expressions of microRNA-7, −103, −107, and −21 by directly targeting their promoters, thereby leading to maspin downregulation. These findings indicated nuclear IKKα as a critical regulator for HBx-mediated microRNA induction and maspin suppression, and suggest IKKα as a promising target to improve the therapeutic outcome of HCC patients.

Phase II Trial of Sorafenib in Combination with Capecitabine in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: INST 08-20

LESSONS LEARNED

There continues to be a lack of systemic options for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); sorafenib and, very recently, regorafenib are the only approved options. There exists a potential to combine sorafenib with chemotherapeutic agents shown to be active in HCC, such as capecitabine, safely.Good tumor response was observed, with objective improvement in a few patients seldom seen by single agent sorafenib; however, because of the limited number of patients, meaningful conclusions on survival cannot be drawn.

BACKGROUND

Sorafenib is the currently approved first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Capecitabine has antitumor activity in hepatobiliary cancers. The combination of the two, if tolerated, could possibly improve antitumor response, and survival.

METHODS

Patients with advanced HCC ineligible for locoregional therapy, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of ≤2, Child-Pugh class A or B-7 cirrhosis, hemoglobin ≥8.5 g/dL, platelets ≥50,000/μL, absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1,500 cells/μL, and serum creatinine of ≤2.0 mg/dL were recruited. All subjects received a combination of sorafenib and capecitabine, on a 14-day 7-days on 7-days off schedule. The primary end point was safety and secondary end points were overall survival (OS) and disease control rate.

RESULTS

A total of 15 out of 47 patients met inclusion criteria. Median age was 64 years (56-79) and 77% were male. With a median follow-up of 12 months, median OS was 12.7 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.5-23.4). Disease control rate was 77% (complete response 8%, partial response 8%, and stable disease 61%). Common adverse events were as follows: (a) thrombocytopenia (64%); (b) anemia (14%); (c) hypophosphatemia (21%); (d) hypomagnesemia (14%); (e) hyperbilirubinemia (21%); (f) increased aspartate transaminase (AST) (14%); (g) hand-foot syndrome (21%); and (h) deep vein thrombosis (21%).

CONCLUSION

At tolerable doses, the combination of sorafenib and capecitabine seems an active and safe palliative treatment for HCC in class A and B-7 patients with cirrhosis. The small sample size does not allow comparison with single-agent sorafenib.

Chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: The present and the future

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary tumor of the liver. Its relationship to chronic liver diseases, in particular cirrhosis, develops on a background of viral hepatitis, excessive alcohol intake or metabolic steatohepatitis, leads to a high incidence and prevalence of this neoplasia worldwide. Despite the spread of HCC, its treatment it’s still a hard challenge, due to high rate of late diagnosis and to lack of therapeutic options for advanced disease. In fact radical surgery and liver transplantation, the most radical therapeutic approaches, are indicated only in case of early diagnosis. Even local therapies, such as transarterial chemoembolization, find limited indications, leading to an important problem regarding treatment of advanced disease. In this situation, until terminal HCC occurs, systemic therapy is the only possible approach, with sorafenib as the only standard treatment available. Anyway, the efficacy of this drug is limited and many efforts are necessary to understand who could benefit more with this treatment. Therefore, other molecules for a targeted therapy were evaluated, but only regorafenib showed promising results. Beside molecular target therapy, also cytotoxic drugs, in particular oxaliplatin- and gemcitabine-based regimens, and immune-checkpoint inhibitors were tested with interesting results. The future of the treatment of this neoplasia is linked to our ability to understand its mechanisms of resistance and to find novel therapeutic targets, with the objective to purpose individualized approaches to patients affected by advanced HCC.

Oncolytic Virus-Based Immunotherapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is highly refractory cancer which is resistant to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, carrying a dismal prognosis. Although many anticancer drugs have been developed for treating HCC, sorafenib is the only effective treatment, but it only prolongs survival duration for about 3 months. Recently, oncolytic virotherapy has shown promising results in treating HCCs and the effects can be more enhanced by adopting immune modulatory molecules. This review discusses the current status of treating HCC and the effective strategy of oncolytic virus-based immunotherapy for the treatment of HCCs.

miRNA-7/21/107 contribute to HBx-induced hepatocellular carcinoma progression through suppression of maspin

Maspin suppresses tumor progression by promoting cell adhesion and apoptosis and by inhibiting cell motility. However, its role in tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. The gene regulation of maspin and its relationship with HCC patient prognosis were investigated in this study. Maspin expression was specifically reduced in HBV-associated patients and correlated with their poor prognosis. Maspin downregulation in HCC cells was induced by HBx to promote their motility and resistance to anoikis and chemotherapy. HBx-dependent induction of microRNA-7, -107, and -21 was further demonstrated to directly target maspin mRNA, leading to its protein downregulation. Higher expressions of these microRNAs also correlated with maspin downregulation in HBV-associated patients, and were associated with their poor overall survival. These data not only provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms of maspin deficiency by HBx, but also indicated that downregulation of maspin by microRNAs confers HBx-mediated aggressiveness and chemoresistance in HCC.

Molecular targets of Chinese herbs: a clinical study of hepatoma based on network pharmacology

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat tumors for years and has been demonstrated to be effective. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of herbs remain unclear. This study aims to ascertain molecular targets of herbs prolonging survival time of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on network pharmacology, and to establish a research method for accurate treatment of TCM. The survival benefit of TCM treatment with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) was proved by Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis among 288 patients. The correlation between herbs and survival time was performed by bivariate correlation analysis. Network pharmacology method was utilized to construct the active ingredient-target networks of herbs that were responsible for the beneficial effects against HCC. Cox regression analysis showed CHM was an independent favorable prognostic factor. The median survival time was 13 months and the 5-year overall survival rates were 2.61% in the TCM group, while there were 6 months, 0 in the non-TCM group. Correlation analysis demonstrated that 8 herbs closely associated with prognosis. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that the 8 herbs regulated multiple HCC relative genes, among which the genes affected proliferation (KRAS, AKT2, MAPK), metastasis (SRC, MMP), angiogenesis (PTGS2) and apoptosis (CASP3) etc.

Down-regulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p57 is mediated by Jab1/Csn5 in hepatocarcinogenesis

Down-regulation of p57 (KIP2) cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors accelerates the growth and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), suggesting that p57 may play an important role in liver carcinogenesis. However, the mechanism or oncogenic signal leading to p57 down-regulation in HCC remains to be determined. Herein, we demonstrated that Jab1/Csn5 expression is negatively correlated with p57 levels in HCC tissues. Kaplan-Meier analysis of tumor samples revealed that high Jab1/Csn5 expression with concurrent low p57 expression is associated with poor overall survival. The inverse pattern of Jab1 and p57 expression was also observed during carcinogenesis in a chemically induced rat HCC model. We also found that mechanistically, Jab1-mediated p57 proteolysis in HCC cells is dependent on 26S-proteasome inhibitors. We further demonstrated that direct physical interaction between Jab1 and p57 triggers p57 down-regulation, independently of Skp2 and Akt pathways, in HCC cells. These data suggest that Jab1 is an important upstream negative regulator of p57 and that aberrant expression of Jab1 in HCC could lead to a significant decrease in p57 levels and contribute to tumor cell growth. Furthermore, restoration of p57 levels induced by loss of Jab1 inhibited tumor cell growth and further increased cell apoptosis in HCC cells. Moreover, silencing Jab1 expression further enhanced the antitumor effects of cisplatin-induced apoptosis in HCC cells.

CONCLUSION

Jab1-p57 pathway confers resistance to chemotherapy and may represent a potential target for investigational therapy in HCC.

2014 KLCSG-NCC Korea Practice Guideline for the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The guideline for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was first developed in 2003 and revised in 2009 by the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group and the National Cancer Center, Korea. Since then, many studies on HCC have been carried out in Korea and other countries. In particular, a substantial body of knowledge has been accumulated on diagnosis, staging, and treatment specific to Asian characteristics, especially Koreans, prompting the proposal of new strategies. Accordingly, the new guideline presented herein was developed on the basis of recent evidence and expert opinions. The primary targets of this guideline are patients with suspicious or newly diagnosed HCC. This guideline provides recommendations for the initial treatment of patients with newly diagnosed HCC.

2014 Korean Liver Cancer Study Group-National Cancer Center Korea practice guideline for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma

The guideline for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was first developed in 2003 and revised in 2009 by the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group and the National Cancer Center, Korea. Since then, many studies on HCC have been carried out in Korea and other countries. In particular, a substantial body of knowledge has been accumulated on diagnosis, staging, and treatment specific to Asian characteristics, especially Koreans, prompting the proposal of new strategies. Accordingly, the new guideline presented herein was developed on the basis of recent evidence and expert opinions. The primary targets of this guideline are patients with suspicious or newly diagnosed HCC. This guideline provides recommendations for the initial treatment of patients with newly diagnosed HCC.

Chinese medicine herbal treatment based on syndrome differentiation improves the overall survival of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of Chinese medicine (CM) herbal treatment based on syndrome differentiation on patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

A total of 94 patients with unresectable HCC were reviewed between June 2008 and June 2011. Survival analysis was performed between patients who received CM with/without non-curative antitumor treatments of Western medicine (WM) (CM group, 30 cases) and patients who were not treated with CM but with non-curative antitumor treatments of WM or supportive treatment alone (non-CM group, 64 cases). Then, survival analysis was performed between patients treated with CM combined with non-curative antitumor treatments of WM (combination therapy group, 25 cases) and patients with non-curative antitumor treatments of WM alone (non-curative antitumor treatments group of WM, 52 cases). The survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method and prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) were assessed by the Cox proportional hazards regression model.

RESULTS

The median survival time (MST), 1- and 2-year survival rates of the CM group and the non-CM group were 36 months, 76.7%, 56.1% and 12 months, 48.4%, 26.6%, respectively. The Log-rank test revealed significant difference between the two groups in OS (P<0.01). Cox proportional multivariate analysis revealed that CM was an independent favorable prognostic factor for OS. The MST, 1- and 2-year survival rates of combination therapy group and non-curative antitumor treatments group of WM were 36 months, 76.0%, 55.5% and 13 months, 55.8%, 30.8%, respectively. There was significant difference in OS between the two groups (P=0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

CM herbs based on syndrome differentiation have positive effects on survival of patients with unresectable HCC. Furthermore, combination therapy of CM and WM are recommended in HCC treatment.

Efficacy of capecitabine and oxaliplatin regimen for extrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma following local treatments

AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CapeOx) for extrahepatic metastasis after local treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS: Thirty-two patients with extrahepatic metastasis of HCC after local treatment were prospectively enrolled. The CapeOx regimen consisted of capecitabine 1000 mg/m² taken orally twice daily on days 1-14, and oxaliplatin was administered at a total dose of 100 mg/m² on day 1. The treatment was repeated every 3 wk until disease progression or unaccetablle toxicity. Efficacy and safety were assessable for all enrolled patients. The primary objective of this study was to assess the overall response rate. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the overall survival (OS), the time to tumor progression (TTP) and the toxicity profile of the combined strategy. TTP and OS were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method and differences between the curves were analyzed using the log-rank test. The statistical software SPSS version 15.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, United States) was used for statistical analysis. All P values were 2-tailed, with statistical significance defined by P≤ 0.05.

RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were assessable for efficacy and toxicity. The median follow-up duration was 15 mo (range, 12-20 mo). At the cut-off date of March 31, 2012, 27 patients died due to tumor progression and one patient died of myocardial infarction. Four patients were still alive (three patients with disease progression). OR was 21.9% (n = 7), the stabilization rate was 40.6% (n = 13), and the disease control rate was 62.5%. The responses lasted from 4 to 19 mo (median, 6 mo). Median TTP was 4.2 mo (95%CI: 2.5-7.4), and the median OS time was 9.2 mo (95%CI: 6.5-17.8). The 1-year survival rate was 43.6% (95%CI: 29.0-66.0). In a multivariate analysis, OS was significantly longer in patients with a Child-Pugh class A compared with class B patients (P = 0.014), with a median OS of 10.1 mo vs 5.4 mo, and there were trends towards longer OS (P = 0.065) in patients without portal vein tumor thrombosis. There were no significant effects of age, gender, performance status, cirrhosis, metastatic sites, and level of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) or hepatitis B virus-DNA on OS. Among the 22 patients with elevated AFP levels at baseline (≥ 400 ng/mL), the level fell by more than 50% during treatment in 6 patients (27.3%). The most frequent treatment-related grade 3 to 4 toxicities included leucopenia/neutropenia, transient elevation of aminotransferases, hand-foot syndrome and fatigue.

CONCLUSION: CapeOx showed modest anti-tumor activity in metastatic HCC. However, the manageable toxicity profile and the encouraging disease control rate deserve further study for these patients.

Caffeine increases the antitumor effect of Cisplatin in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Caffeine is thought to increase the antitumor effect of cisplatin or DNA-damaging agents because it is known that caffeine inhibits DNA repair. Caffeine-assisted chemotherapy has been used in the treatment of osteosarcomas. In addition, there are several reports about combination chemotherapy with caffeine for certain malignancies other than osteosarcomas. However, there are no reports that show the utility of combination chemotherapy with caffeine for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We examined the combined effects of caffeine and cisplatin in human HCC cell lines, and screened for a more effective administration method of caffeine in vitro. Human HCC cell lines (HepG2, HLF, HuH-7, and Li-7) were exposed to caffeine (0-0.5 mM) and cisplatin (0-1.2 μg/mL) for 72 h, either alone or in combination. Cell numbers were measured by WST-8 assay, and cell apoptosis was determined by annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide (PI) binding assay. As a result, caffeine increased the antitumor effect of cisplatin on cell proliferation and cell apoptosis in the HCC cell lines. Moreover, this effect was dependent on the amount of exposure to caffeine. These results suggest that caffeine-assisted chemotherapy is useful for HCC treatment.

Role of intrahepatic tumor control in the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and extrahepatic metastases

BACKGROUND AND AIM

There has been little information about the long-term outcome and prognostic factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and extrahepatic metastases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical factors affecting survival after extrahepatic metastasis and to determine the survival benefit of controlling intrahepatic HCC.

METHODS

Between 2004 and 2009, a total of 240 consecutive patients with HCC and extrahepatic metastasis were recruited. Based on tumor extent, performance, and hepatic function, the patients underwent locoregional and/or systemic treatments. The treatment response of the intrahepatic tumor after extrahepatic metastasis and other prognostic parameters were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

During the mean follow up of 276 days, 222 patients died; the median survival time was 146 days. Multivariate analysis revealed that Child-Pugh class A, smaller hepatic tumor size, absence of portal venous invasion, single metastatic organ involvement, and objective treatment response of the intrahepatic tumor were the favorable prognostic factors for survival. Of the 183 evaluable patients, 24 achieved complete or partial response for intrahepatic tumors after treatment. The overall survival for the 24 responders was significantly improved, with a median of 521 days, as compared to 170 days for the remaining 159 patients without objective tumor response. The leading cause of death was progressive intrahepatic tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

Intrahepatic tumor status and hepatic reserve are among the significant predictors of survival in patients with HCC and extrahepatic metastases. This study indicates that even in patients with metastases from advanced HCC, therapeutic approaches to control intrahepatic tumors are important in improving patient survival.

Trichostatin A sensitizes HBx-expressing liver cancer cells to etoposide treatment

Agents commonly used in cancer chemotherapy rely on the induction of cell death via apoptosis, mitotic catastrophe, premature senescence and autophagy. Chemoresistance is the major factor limiting long-term treatment success in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent studies have revealed that the hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) exerts anti-apoptotic effects, resulting in an increased drug resistance in HCC cells. In this study, we showed that etoposide treatment activated caspase-8 and caspase-3, leading to cleavages of p53, Bid and PARP, which subsequently induced apoptosis. Furthermore, p53 and Bid were accumulated in cytoplasm following etoposide treatment. However, HBx significantly attenuated etoposide-induced cell death. In HBx-expressing cells, despite the translocation of p53 and Bid to cytoplasm, the activation of caspases was inhibited. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was markedly increased in HBx-expressing cells. Moreover, the pretreatment with trichostatin A (TSA, a histone deacetylase inhibitor) or TSA in combination with etoposide significantly sensitized HCC cells to apoptosis by inhibiting ERK phosphorylation, reactivating caspases and PARP, and inducing translocation of p53 and Bid to cytoplasm. Collectively, HBx reduces the sensitivity of HCC cells to chemotherapy. TSA in combination with etoposide can significantly overcome the increased resistance of HBx-expressing HCC cells to chemotherapy.

Phase I study of cediranib in combination with cisplatin plus fluoropyrimidine (S-1 or capecitabine) in Japanese patients with previously untreated advanced gastric cancer

PURPOSE

The primary objective of this Phase I study was to assess the safety and tolerability of the vascular endothelial growth factor signalling inhibitor cediranib in combination with cisplatin plus an oral fluoropyrimidine, in Japanese patients with previously untreated advanced gastric cancer.

METHODS

Patients received continuous, once-daily oral doses of cediranib 20 mg in combination with either cisplatin (60 mg/m(2) iv day 1) plus S-1 (40-60 mg bid, days 1-21) every 5 weeks for a maximum of eight cycles [Arm A]; or cisplatin (80 mg/m(2) iv, day 1) plus capecitabine (1,000 mg/m(2) bid, days 1-14) every 3 weeks for a maximum of six cycles [Arm B]. In both arms, the assessment period for dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) was the first 21 days of cycle 1.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients (Arm A, n = 6; Arm B, n = 8) were enrolled and received at least one dose of cediranib. One patient in each arm experienced a DLT (Arm A; decreased appetite, grade 3; Arm B, decreased appetite, fatigue and hyponatraemia, all grade 3). Overall, the most common adverse events were decreased appetite, fatigue and nausea (all n = 13 [92.9%]). Preliminary efficacy evaluation showed one confirmed (Arm A) and three unconfirmed (Arm A, n = 1; Arm B, n = 2) partial responses that were ongoing at data cut-off.

CONCLUSIONS

Cediranib 20 mg/day in combination with cisplatin and S-1 or capecitabine was tolerable, with no new toxicities identified, and showed preliminary evidence of antitumour activity.

Cell-specific delivery of diverse cargos by bacteriophage MS2 virus-like particles

Virus-like particles (VLPs) of bacteriophage MS2 possess numerous features that make them well-suited for use in targeted delivery of therapeutic and imaging agents. MS2 VLPs can be rapidly produced in large quantities using in vivo or in vitro synthesis techniques. Their capsids can be modified in precise locations via genetic insertion or chemical conjugation, facilitating the multivalent display of targeting ligands. MS2 VLPs also self-assemble in the presence of nucleic acids to specifically encapsidate siRNA and RNA-modified cargos. Here we report the use of MS2 VLPs to selectively deliver nanoparticles, chemotherapeutic drugs, siRNA cocktails, and protein toxins to human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MS2 VLPs modified with a peptide (SP94) that binds HCC exhibit a 10(4)-fold higher avidity for HCC than for hepatocytes, endothelial cells, monocytes, or lymphocytes and can deliver high concentrations of encapsidated cargo to the cytosol of HCC cells. SP94-targeted VLPs loaded with doxorubicin, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil selectively kill the HCC cell line, Hep3B, at drug concentrations <1 nM, while SP94-targeted VLPs that encapsidate a siRNA cocktail, which silences expression of cyclin family members, induce growth arrest and apoptosis of Hep3B at siRNA concentrations <150 pM. Impressively, MS2 VLPs, when loaded with ricin toxin A-chain (RTA) and modified to codisplay the SP94 targeting peptide and a histidine-rich fusogenic peptide (H5WYG) that promotes endosomal escape, kill virtually the entire population of Hep3B cells at an RTA concentration of 100 fM without affecting the viability of control cells. Our results demonstrate that MS2 VLPs, because of their tolerance of multivalent peptide display and their ability to specifically encapsidate a variety of chemically disparate cargos, induce selective cytotoxicity of cancer in vitro and represent a significant improvement in the characteristics of VLP-based delivery systems.

The targeted delivery of multicomponent cargos to cancer cells by nanoporous particle-supported lipid bilayers

Encapsulation of drugs within nanocarriers that selectively target malignant cells promises to mitigate side effects of conventional chemotherapy and to enable delivery of the unique drug combinations needed for personalized medicine. To realize this potential, however, targeted nanocarriers must simultaneously overcome multiple challenges, including specificity, stability and a high capacity for disparate cargos. Here we report porous nanoparticle-supported lipid bilayers (protocells) that synergistically combine properties of liposomes and nanoporous particles. Protocells modified with a targeting peptide that binds to human hepatocellular carcinoma exhibit a 10,000-fold greater affinity for human hepatocellular carcinoma than for hepatocytes, endothelial cells or immune cells. Furthermore, protocells can be loaded with combinations of therapeutic (drugs, small interfering RNA and toxins) and diagnostic (quantum dots) agents and modified to promote endosomal escape and nuclear accumulation of selected cargos. The enormous capacity of the high-surface-area nanoporous core combined with the enhanced targeting efficacy enabled by the fluid supported lipid bilayer enable a single protocell loaded with a drug cocktail to kill a drug-resistant human hepatocellular carcinoma cell, representing a 10(6)-fold improvement over comparable liposomes.

Cisplatin-Based Combination Chemotherapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Single Center Experience before the Sorafenib Era

PURPOSE

Systemic chemotherapy is the only option for patients with unresectable/metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are not candidates for local/regional treatment. However, the response to such treatment and survival are poor, especially in hepatitis B virus (HBV) endemic areas. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy and identify a subgroup of advanced HCC patients with favorable responses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The medical records of all consecutive patients with unresectable/metastatic HCC who received cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy between January 2003 and October 2009 were reviewed. Time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) were determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors for TTP and OS.

RESULTS

Data for 46 patients were analyzed. First-line chemotherapies consisted of cisplatin-based combination treatment with doxorubicin, fluoropyrimidines and gemcitabine. The response rate for all patients was 4.3%. The median TTP and OS were 1.8 (95%confidence interval [CI], 1.1 to 2.5) and 7.2 (95% CI, 3.0 to 11.5) months, respectively. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS), Child classification, Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) score and portal vein thrombosis (PVT) were identified by univariate analyses as prognostic factors for TTP and OS. ECOG PS (hazard ratio [HR], 4.51; 95% CI, 1.61 to 12.6; p=0.004) and PVT (HR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.10 to 4.11; p=0.026) were independent prognostic factors for TTP.

CONCLUSION

Cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy in patients with advanced HCC has a low response rate and short TTP regardless of the chemotherapy regimen used. Patients with a good ECOG PS and without PVT can be considered candidates for cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy.

The present and the future landscape of treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly lethal disease that is resistant to conventional cytotoxic drugs. Historically, effective systemic treatment options have not been available for patients with unresectable advanced disease. However, an improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate tumor initiation and progression over the past few years has led to the development of novel molecularly-targeted therapies that specifically block the different cellular signaling pathways involved. Recently, the antiangiogenesis and Raf kinase inhibitor, sorafenib showed a survival advantage in advanced stage HCC in two randomized, double-blind, controlled trials. These positive results were the first to demonstrate the efficacy of molecularly-targeted therapies in advanced HCC. Moreover, results from phase I and II trials evaluating other agents in this disease are promising and are under active clinical development. In the near future, we expect to have more data, knowledge, and evidence regarding the use of molecularly-targeted therapies in advanced HCC, both as single agents and in combination regimens. In this review, we will summarize the data concerning the present standard treatment for advanced HCC and discuss the newest, most promising clinical research that may affect the future treatment of this disease.