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Advances in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

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A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Therapy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 March 2025 | Viewed by 2387

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Rie Sugimoto

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Guest Editor

Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatology, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka 8111395, Japan
Interests: hepatocellular carcinoma; molecular targeted drugs; immune checkpoint inhibitors; sequential therapy; conversion therapy; immune microenvironment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fourth leading cause of death, and long-term survival rates have yet to improve. However, the recent introduction of new molecularly targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors has changed the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. There are many topics to consider, such as the use of various drugs, the combination of molecular-targeted drugs and local therapy, surgery after drug therapy, and the relationship between hepatic reserve capacity and drug therapy.

This Special Issue focuses on pharmacotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma and welcomes all research that brings readers the latest information on pharmacotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma, including drug therapy sequences that truly improve prognosis, combinations with local therapy and radiation therapy and conversion surgery, the microenvironment that governs immunity against hepatocellular carcinoma, and optimal drug therapy by reserve capacity and background factors.

Dr. Rie Sugimoto
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

hepatocellular carcinoma
molecular targeted drugs
immune checkpoint inhibitors
sequential therapy
conversion therapy
immune microenvironment

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 1166 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Significance of Prediction Models for Post-Hepatectomy Liver Failure Based on Type IV Collagen 7s Domain in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

by Takuma Okada, Hiroji Shinkawa, Satsuki Taniuchi, Masahiko Kinoshita, Kohei Nishio, Go Ohira, Kenjiro Kimura, Shogo Tanaka, Ayumi Shintani, Shoji Kubo and Takeaki Ishizawa

Cancers 2024, 16(10), 1938; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16101938 - 20 May 2024

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Abstract

Background: Previous studies have attempted to establish predictive models for post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing liver resection. However, a versatile and useful predictive model for PHLF remains to be developed. Therefore, we aimed to develop predictive models for PHLF based on type IV collagen 7s domain (7s collagen) in patients with HCC. Methods: We retrospectively collected data from 972 patients with HCC who had undergone initial curative liver resection between February 2000 and December 2020 at our hospital. Multivariate logistic regression analysis using a restricted cubic spline was performed to evaluate the effect of 7s collagen on the incidence of PHLF. A nomogram was developed based on 7s collagen. Results: PHLF grades B or C were identified in 104 patients (11%): 98 (10%) and 6 (1%) PHLF grades B and C, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the preoperative serum level of 7s collagen was significantly associated with a proportional increase in the risk of PHLF, which was confirmed in both laparoscopic and open liver resections. A nomogram was developed based on 7s collagen, with a concordance index of 0.768. The inclusion of 7s collagen values in the predictive model increased the predictive accuracy. Conclusion: The findings highlight the efficacy of the serum level of 7s collagen as a predictive factor for PHLF. Our novel nomogram using 7s collagen may be useful for predicting the risk of PHLF. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma)

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16 pages, 4350 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Usefulness of Tumor Marker Score for Predicting the Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Treated with Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

by Kazunari Tanaka, Kunihiko Tsuji, Atsushi Hiraoka, Toshifumi Tada, Masashi Hirooka, Kazuya Kariyama, Joji Tani, Masanori Atsukawa, Koichi Takaguchi, Ei Itobayashi, Shinya Fukunishi, Toru Ishikawa, Kazuto Tajiri, Hironori Ochi, Hidenori Toyoda, Chikara Ogawa, Takashi Nishimura, Takeshi Hatanaka, Satoru Kakizaki, Noritomo Shimada, Kazuhito Kawata, Atsushi Naganuma, Hisashi Kosaka, Tomomitsu Matono, Hidekatsu Kuroda, Yutaka Yata, Hideko Ohama, Fujimasa Tada, Kazuhiro Nouso, Asahiro Morishita, Akemi Tsutsui, Takuya Nagano, Norio Itokawa, Tomomi Okubo, Taeang Arai, Keisuke Yokohama, Hiroki Nishikawa, Michitaka Imai, Yohei Koizumi, Shinichiro Nakamura, Hiroko Iijima, Masaki Kaibori, Yoichi Hiasa and Takashi Kumada Show full author list Hide full author list

Cancers 2023, 15(17), 4348; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15174348 - 31 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1363

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of a previously reported tumor marker (TM) score involving alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), fucosylated AFP (AFP-L3), and des gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) as TMs in predicting the prognosis and therapeutic efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients administered atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atez/Bev) as first-line treatment. Materials/Methods: The study period covered September 2020 to December 2022 and involved 371 HCC patients treated with Atez/Bev. The values of the TMs AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP were measured upon introducing Atez/Bev. Elevations in the values of AFP (≥100 ng/mL), AFP-L3 (≥10%), and DCP (≥100 mAU/mL) were considered to indicate a positive TM. The number of positive TMs was summed up and used as the TM score, as previously proposed. Hepatic reserve function was assessed using the modified albumin–bilirubin grade (mALBI). Predictive values for prognosis were evaluated retrospectively. Results: A TM score of 0 was shown in 81 HCC patients (21.8%), 1 in 110 (29.6%), 2 in 112 (29.9%), and 3 in 68 (18.3%). The median overall survival (OS) times for TM scores 0, 1, 2, and 3 were not applicable [NA] (95% CI NA-NA), 24.0 months (95% CI 17.8-NA), 16.7 months (95% CI 17.8-NA), and NA (95% CI 8.3-NA), respectively (p < 0.001). The median progression-free survival (PFS) times for TM scores 0, 1, 2, and 3 were 16.5 months (95% CI 8.0-not applicable [NA]), 13.8 months (95% CI 10.6–21.3), 7.7 months (95% CI 5.3–8.9), and 5.8 months (95% CI 3.0–7.6), respectively (p < 0.001). OS was well stratified in mALBI 1/2a and mALBI 2a/2b. PFS was well stratified in mALBI 2a/2b, but not in mALBI 1/2a. Conclusions: The TM score involving AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP as TMs was useful in predicting the prognosis and therapeutic efficacy in terms of OS and PFS in HCC patients administered Atez/Bev as first-line treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma)

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Review

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20 pages, 3585 KiB

Open AccessReview

Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Beyond the Border of Advanced Stage Therapy

by Yusra Zarlashat, Shakil Abbas and Abdul Ghaffar

Cancers 2024, 16(11), 2034; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16112034 - 27 May 2024

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Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the deadliest emergent health issue around the globe. The stronger oncogenic effect, proteins, and weakened immune response are precisely linked with a significant prospect of developing HCC. Several conventional systemic therapies, antiangiogenic therapy, and immunotherapy techniques have significantly improved the outcomes for early-, intermediate-, and advanced-stage HCC patients, giving new hope for effective HCC management and prolonged survival rates. Innovative therapeutic approaches beyond conventional treatments have altered the landscape of managing HCC, particularly focusing on targeted therapies and immunotherapies. The advancement in HCC treatment suggested by the Food and Drug Administration is multidimensional treatment options, including multikinase inhibitors (sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, ramucirumab, and cabozantinib) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (atezolizumab, pembrolizumab, durvalumab, tremelimumab, ipilimumab, and nivolumab), in monotherapy and in combination therapy to increase life expectancy of HCC patients. This review highlights the efficacy of multikinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors in monotherapy and combination therapy through the analysis of phase II, and III clinical trials, targeting the key molecular pathways involved in cellular signaling and immune response for the prospective treatment of advanced and unresectable HCC and discusses the upcoming combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors-tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors-vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors. Finally, the hidden challenges with pharmacological therapy for HCC, feasible solutions for the future, and implications of possible presumptions to develop drugs for HCC treatment are reported. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma)

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