Objective To explore the differential expressions of seven microRNAs between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adjacent nontumorous tissues (NT), analyze the correlations between differential expressing microRNAs and the levels of tumor markers in serum, and furnish evidence for novel diagnostic and prognostic tool of HCC. Methods Real-time quantitative PCR technique was used to measure the differential expressions of seven microRNAs in HCC tissues compared with NT. Results Compared with NT, the relative expressions of seven microRNAs in HCC tissues manifested statistical difference (Plt;0.05). MiR-34c, miR-21, miR-16, and miR-10b presented higher expressions in the HCC samples than those in the NT samples, while miR-200a, miR-148b, and miR-Let-7i demonstrated lower expressions in the HCC samples than those in the NT samples. In addition, miR-200a and miR-148b were markedly down-regulated in the HCC tissues than those in the NT. The differential expressions of miR-200a in HCC compared with NT samples was correlated with serum AFP level of the patients (r=0.848 9, Plt;0.01), while the differential expressions of the other six microRNAs had no correlation with the levels of tumor markers in serum (Pgt;0.05). Conclusions There are differential expressions of microRNAs between HCC and NT. MiR-200a may serve as a novel diagnostic and prognostic tool of HCC.
ObjectiveTo study the expression of survivin protein in primary hepatocellular carcinoma(PHC) and its relationship to the proliferation of the tumor cells and prognosis of PHC. MethodsThe expression of survivin protein and the proliferation of tumor cells marked by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in 48 cases of PHC were determined by immunohistochemical method. ResultsThe survivin protein was expressed in 31 of 48 cases of PHC (64.6%). The expression of PCNA was significantly higher in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with positive survivin expression than in HCC with negative survivin expression. The patients with positive survivin expression had the worse prognosis than those with negative survivin expression. ConclusionThe expression of survivin may play an important role in the proliferation of PHC cells and closely associate with the prognosis of PHC, and probably become the prognostic factor and an important target of therapy.
Objective To compare the effect of two chemotherapeutic patterns after hepatectomy of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） with portal vein tumor thrombi（PVTT）. Methods The clinical data of 51 HCC patients with PVTT who were treated in our department from June 2006 to December 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Fifty-one HCC patients with PVTT who were performed hepatectomy and treatment of antivirus and improve immune were divided into two groups according to chemotherapeutic patterns after operation： portal vein infusion drug deliver system （PVIDDS）group （n=19） and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization（TACE） group（n=32），and to compare the treatment effect of the two groups. Results The recurrence rate of 1-month, 1-year，3-year， and 5-year after operation in TACE group was 3.1%（1/32），46.9%（15/32），84.4%（27/32）， and 100%（32/32），respectively. And in PVIDDS group, which was 5.3%（1/19），52.6%（10/19），100%（19/19）， and 100%（19/19），respectively. There were no differences in recurrence rate of 1-month, 1-year, and 5-year after operation in two groups（P＞0.05）. Recurrence rate of 3-year after operation in TACE group was lower than that in PVIDDS group（P＜0.05）. There were no differences in medial survival time（17.1 months vs.15.9 months）， survival rate of 1-year（93.8% vs.94.7%） and 3-year（40.6% vs. 36.8%） after operation in TACE group and PVIDDS group（P＞0.05）. Survival rate of 5-year after operation in TACE group was higher than that in PVIDDS group（21.9% vs.0, P＜0.05）. The rate of complication in TACE group was lower than that in PVIDDS group（65.6% vs.94.7%，P＜0.05）. Conclusions If the HCC patients with PVTT could endure operation，surgical resection should be considered firstly，furthermore antivirus treatment, improving immune，and chemotherapy should be considered after operation. The effect of TACE is better than PVIDDS.
ObjectiveTo review the role of intestinal flora on the tumor microenvironment and the effect of both on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with a view to providing new ideas on the causes of HCC development and progression. MethodRelevant articles in the direction of intestinal flora and tumor microenvironment and HCC as well as the relationship between intestinal flora and tumor microenvironment in recent years were searched and summarized. ResultsThe tumor microenvironment played an important role in the occurrence, development and postoperative recurrence of HCC. The intestinal flora, as one of the important regulators of tumor microenvironment, could induce HCC by affecting the tumor microenvironment in addition to interacting with the liver through the gut-liver axis. ConclusionIntestinal flora can influence to HCC by regulating the tumor microenvironment, and its specific mechanism of action still needs to be further investigated, which can be a new direction for HCC research.
【Abstract】Objective To investigate the change of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in HepG2 cells under hypoxia. Methods HepG2 cells were cultured under hypoxia（hypoxia group） and normal condition (control group). VEGF expression of HepG2 cells was examined by immunohistochemical staining. The growth of HepG2 cells was examined by MTT colorimetry and cell count. VEGF level in the culture medium was measured by ELISA.Results After 48 h and 72 h of culture, the growth rate of HepG2 cells in hypoxia group was lower than that in control group (P＜0.05). The cell count in hypoxia group (2.51×104/μl and 2.69×104/μl, respectively) was much lower than that in control group(3.01×104/μl and 3.52×104/μl) after 48h and 72h of culture (P＜0.05). In hypoxia group, VEGF level in the culture medium after 24 h and 48 h was higher than that in control group (P＜0.05, P＜0.01). Conclusion Hypoxia may enhance the VEGF expression in HepG2 cells and this could be the reason of high expression of VEGF after transcatheterized hepatic arterial chemoembolization.
ObjectiveTo introduce the new nomenclature scheme of the International Working Group (1995) on hepatic nodules, and summarize the imaging features of various hepatic nodules in light of their pathological characteristics, and evaluate the diagnostic values of various imaging facilities.MethodsUltrasound, computed tomography(CT), magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), and angiographic CT were reviewed and introduced.ResultsMany of these types of hepatic nodules play a role in the de novo and stepwise carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in the following steps: regenerative nodule, lowgrade dysplastic nodule, highgrade dysplastic nodule, small HCC, and large HCC. Accompanying such transformations, there are significant alterations in the blood supply and perfusion of these hepatic nodules.ConclusionModern stateoftheart medical imaging facilities can not only delineate and depict these hepatic nodules, but also provide important clues for the characterization of focal hepatic lesions in most cases, thus facilitating the early detection, diagnosis and management of HCC in its early stage.
Objective To investigate the expressions of CD90, IGF1R, and hTERT protein in hepatocellular carcinoma, and the correlations of each other in the development of carcinoma. Methods The expressions of CD90, IGF1R, and hTERT protein in hepatocellular carcinoma were detected by S-P immunohistochemical staining, 20 cases of normal liver tissues were collected as contrast, and to compare the relations between expression and prognosis or survival rate. Results The positive rate of CD90, IGF1R, and hTERT protein in hepatocellular carcinoma group were obviously higher than that in contrast group（P＜0.05）, which was 63.9% vs. 0, 52.8% vs.5.0%, and 47.2% vs.0, respectively. The positive rate of CD90, IGF1R, and hTERT protein were higher in UICC Ⅲ-Ⅳ stage group than that in UICC stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ group（P＜0.05）, which was 79.2% vs.33.3%, 70.8% vs.16.7%, and 62.5% vs.16.7%, respectively. There was a statistically significant positive correlation observed between the expressions of CD90 and IGF1R protein （Kendall’s tau-b=0.563 1, P＜0.05）, so it was with CD90 and hTERT protein （Kendall’s tau-b=0.363 6, P＜0.05）. The survival rates of positive expressions of CD90, IGF1R, and hTERT protein were lower than negative expressions of CD90, IGF1R, and hTERT（P＜0.05）, which was 21.7% vs.50.0%, 17.6% vs.43.8%, and 20.0% vs.38.9%, respectively. Conclusions The expressions of CD90, IGF1R, and hTERT may have correlations with the progress of HCC, and may serve as a marker for HCC prognosis potentially.
ObjectiveTo investigate the predictive value of preoperative plasma fibrinogen and serum albumin score (FA score) for postoperative survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatectomy.MethodWe retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data and follow-up information of 275 patients with HCC who underwent hepatectomy in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from March 2009 to December 2013.ResultsThere’s no statistically significant difference in gender, ALT, total bilirubin, hepatitis B virus surface antigens, AFP, cirrhosis, macrovascular invasion, tumor differentiation, TNM stage, and postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization of HCC patients between FA score of 0 group and FA score of 1 and 2 group (P>0.05). There’s statistically significant difference in age, AST, tumor size, tumor number, microvascular invasion, and BCLC stage (P<0.05). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses revealed that FA score (1 and 2) was an independent risk factor for HCC patients’ overall survival rate [HR=1.632, 95%CI was (1.141, 2.335), P=0.007] and early recurrence-free survival rate [HR=1.678, 95%CI was (1.083, 2.598), P=0.021], the overall survival rate and early recurrence free survival rate of HCC patients with FA score of 0 group were better than those of patients with FA score of 1 and2 group.ConclusionsThe preoperative FA score has a good prognostic value for survival of HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy. Preoperative FA score of 1 and 2 is an independent risk factor for overall survival rate and early recurrence free survival rate of HCC patients after hepatectomy.