Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.0
4.5
Journals
Cancers
Special Issues
Targeted Treatment and Immunotherapy for Hepato-Biliary Tumors
share announcement

Targeted Treatment and Immunotherapy for Hepato-Biliary Tumors

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 15587

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Girolamo Ranieri

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
‎Interventional and Medical Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, Viale Orazio Flacco 65, 70124 Bari, Italy
Interests: gastro-intestinal cancers; mast-cells; tryptase; angiogenesis; hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy
Dr. Carmelo Laface

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Interventional and Medical Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, Viale Orazio Flacco 65, 70124 Bari, Italy
Interests: gastro-intestinal cancers; mast cells; tryptase; angiogenesis; hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hepato-biliary tumors can be distinguished in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and bile tract tumors (BTT). HCC is the most frequent primary liver cancer, the sixth most common cancer, and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. BTT are the second most frequent primary liver cancer counting for 15% of all.

Advanced hepatobiliary cancers have a poor prognosis, with a median overall survival (OS) of 5–12 months. Sorafenib, Lenvatinib, Cabozantinib, and Regorafenib are the principal targeted drugs approved for the treatment of advanced HCC. They are all tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), blocking different kinase enzymes involved in several cellular pathways inducing uncontrolled proliferation and angiogenesis. In addition, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab, have been approved in second-line treatment for advanced HCC resistant to Sorafenib, with the aim to disengage the block of immune T-cells induced by the tumor. Moreover, current studies are exploring the combination of TKIs and ICI with encouraging results. With regard to advanced BTT, Gemcitabine plus platin-based chemotherapy allow obtaining a median OS of 11.7 months. More recently, research has identified IDH1 mutations and FGFR2 fusions as the two main driver alterations in ICC. Consequently, several trials are evaluating specific anti-targeted agents. Moreover, many other alterations such as NTRK rearrangements or BRAF mutations are also emerging as new potential targets in BTT. Finally, the role of immunotherapy in BTT is currently under investigation.

This Special Issue aims to deepen knowledge about the current immunotherapeutic and targeted approaches to the management of patients affected by advanced hepato-biliary tumors. Original research articles and reviews are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Girolamo Ranieri
Dr. Carmelo Laface
Guest Editors

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 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

  • hepatocarcinoma
  • biliary tract tumors
  • immunotherapy
  • checkpoint inhibitors
  • targeted therapy
  • anti-angiogenesis
  • tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitors

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 5540 KiB  
Article
Intra-Tumoral Secondary Follicle-like Tertiary Lymphoid Structures Are Associated with a Superior Prognosis of Overall Survival of Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma
by Fa-Peng Zhang, Ke Zhu, Tai-Feng Zhu, Chao-Qun Liu, Hong-Hua Zhang, Lei-Bo Xu, Gang Xiao and Chao Liu
Cancers 2022, 14(24), 6107; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14246107 - 12 Dec 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1799
Abstract
Ectopic lymphoid structures termed tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) have an immunomodulatory function and positively affect prognosis in certain cancers. However, their clinical relevance and prognostic utility in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) are unknown. Therefore, determining the involvement and prognostic utility of TLSs in pCCA [...] Read more.
Ectopic lymphoid structures termed tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) have an immunomodulatory function and positively affect prognosis in certain cancers. However, their clinical relevance and prognostic utility in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) are unknown. Therefore, determining the involvement and prognostic utility of TLSs in pCCA is the aim of this study. Ninety-three patients with surgically resected pCCA were included retrospectively. Hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining identified and classified the TLSs, and multiplex immunofluorescence determined the TLS composition in the pCCA sample. The correlations between clinical features and TLSs were analyzed using either Fisher’s exact test or the Chi-squared test. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) correlations with TLSs were analyzed using Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier analyses. We identified TLSs in 86% of patients with pCCA, including lymphoid aggregates (6.45%), primary (13.98%) and secondary follicles (65.59%). Patients with intra-tumoral secondary follicle-like TLSs (S-TLSs) had better OS (p = 0.003) and RFS (p = 0.0313). The multivariate analysis identified the presence of S-TLSs as a good independent prognostic indicator for OS but not for RFS. Interestingly, the presence of S-TLS only indicated better 5-year OS in 54 patients without lymph node metastasis (LNM−, p = 0.0232) but not in the 39 patients with lymph node metastasis (LNM+, p = 0.1244). Intra-tumoral S-TLSs predicted longer OS in patients with surgically resected pCCA, suggesting intra-tumoral S-TLSs’ contribution to effective antitumor immunity and that S-TLSs hold promise for diagnostic and therapeutic development in pCCA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Targeted Treatment and Immunotherapy for Hepato-Biliary Tumors)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

19 pages, 358 KiB  
Review
Immunotherapy and the Combination with Targeted Therapies for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
by Carmelo Laface, Girolamo Ranieri, Felicia Maria Maselli, Francesca Ambrogio, Caterina Foti, Michele Ammendola, Marigia Laterza, Gerardo Cazzato, Riccardo Memeo, Giovanni Mastrandrea, Marco Lioce and Palma Fedele
Cancers 2023, 15(3), 654; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15030654 - 20 Jan 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2288
Abstract
One of the most important abilities of a tumor is to establish a state of immunosuppression inside the tumor microenvironment. This is made possible through numerous mechanisms of tumor immune escape that have been identified in experimental studies during the last decades. In [...] Read more.
One of the most important abilities of a tumor is to establish a state of immunosuppression inside the tumor microenvironment. This is made possible through numerous mechanisms of tumor immune escape that have been identified in experimental studies during the last decades. In addition, the hepatic microenvironment is commonly oriented towards a state of immune tolerance because the liver receives blood from the hepatic arteries and portal veins containing a variety of endogenous antigens. Therefore, the hepatic microenvironment establishes an autoimmune tolerance, preventing an autoimmune reaction in the liver. On this basis, hepatic tumor cells may escape the immune system, avoiding being recognized and destroyed by immune cells. Moreover, since the etiology of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is often related to cirrhosis, and hepatitis B or C, this tumor develops in the context of chronic inflammation. Thus, the HCC microenvironment is characterized by important immune cell infiltration. Given these data and the poor prognosis of advanced HCC, different immunotherapeutic strategies have been developed and evaluated for these patients. In this review, we describe all the clinical applications of immunotherapy for advanced HCC, from the drugs that have already been approved to the ongoing clinical trials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Targeted Treatment and Immunotherapy for Hepato-Biliary Tumors)
16 pages, 1261 KiB  
Review
Mechanisms of Primary and Acquired Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
by Stefania De Lorenzo, Francesco Tovoli and Franco Trevisani
Cancers 2022, 14(19), 4616; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14194616 - 23 Sep 2022
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3173
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer and a relevant global health problem. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent the most effective systemic treatment for HCC. However, due to primary resistance, approximately 40% of HCC patients do not achieve a disease control [...] Read more.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer and a relevant global health problem. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent the most effective systemic treatment for HCC. However, due to primary resistance, approximately 40% of HCC patients do not achieve a disease control with ICIs. Moreover, a similar proportion will experience disease progression after an initial response caused by secondary resistance. This review describes the mechanisms of primary and secondary resistance and reports the ongoing therapeutic strategies to overcome these obstacles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Targeted Treatment and Immunotherapy for Hepato-Biliary Tumors)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 384 KiB  
Review
Targeted Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Old and New Opportunities
by Carmelo Laface, Palma Fedele, Felicia Maria Maselli, Francesca Ambrogio, Caterina Foti, Pasquale Molinari, Michele Ammendola, Marco Lioce and Girolamo Ranieri
Cancers 2022, 14(16), 4028; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14164028 - 20 Aug 2022
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 4619
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primitive cancer of the liver, accounting for 90% of all recorded cases. HCC is the third most common cause of cancer-related death, with a 5-year survival rate of just 3%. In the advanced stages, systemic treatments [...] Read more.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primitive cancer of the liver, accounting for 90% of all recorded cases. HCC is the third most common cause of cancer-related death, with a 5-year survival rate of just 3%. In the advanced stages, systemic treatments allow doctors to obtain clinical benefits, although the prognosis remains very poor. In the past few decades, new molecular targeted therapies against receptor tyrosine kinases have been developed and clinically evaluated. Sorafenib was the first oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) approved for the treatment of advanced HCC in 2007. Subsequently, other TKIs, including Cabozantinib, Regorafenib, Lenvatinib, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) inhibitors such as Ramucirumab and VEGF inhibitors such as Bevacizumab have been approved as first- or second-line treatments. More recently, the combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and VEGF inhibitors (Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab) have been analyzed and approved for the treatment of advanced HCC. On the basis of the poor prognoses and the meager benefits deriving from the available systemic therapies, research into new treatments is extremely necessary. In this review, we focus on the available systemic therapies for advanced HCC, with a look toward the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Targeted Treatment and Immunotherapy for Hepato-Biliary Tumors)
14 pages, 947 KiB  
Review
Timeline of FDA-Approved Targeted Therapy for Cholangiocarcinoma
by Su Min Cho, Abdullah Esmail, Ali Raza, Sunil Dacha and Maen Abdelrahim
Cancers 2022, 14(11), 2641; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14112641 - 26 May 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3093
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) represents approximately 3% of gastrointestinal malignancies worldwide and constitutes around 10–15% of all primary liver cancers, being only second to hepatocellular carcinoma. Mortality from CCA has been on the rise in recent decades, and in the United States alone there has [...] Read more.
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) represents approximately 3% of gastrointestinal malignancies worldwide and constitutes around 10–15% of all primary liver cancers, being only second to hepatocellular carcinoma. Mortality from CCA has been on the rise in recent decades, and in the United States alone there has been a 36% increase in CCA from 1999 to 2014, with over 7000 CCA mortalities since 2013. Targeted therapies, which have been gaining interest due to their greater specificity toward cancer cells, have only recently started gaining FDA approval for the treatment of CCA. In this manuscript, we will go through the timeline of current FDA-approved targeted therapies as well as those that have gained FDA breakthrough therapy designation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Targeted Treatment and Immunotherapy for Hepato-Biliary Tumors)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop