Clinical Edge Journal Scan

Key clinical point: For HCC patients treated with DEB-TACE, size or concentration of microspheres did not affect overall survival, but doxorubicin concentration did impact factors including treatment response and hospital stay.

Major finding: A total of 23 patients achieved complete response (CR), 32 achieved a partial response, 18 had stable disease, and 14 had progressive disease; no difference in treatment response was noted between 75-µm and 100-µm groups, but patients treated with half-loaded doxorubicin had significantly higher CR (53.3% vs 20.8%) and shorter hospital stays (1.7 days vs. 2.2 days) than patients treated with full-loaded doxorubicin.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study of 87 adults with HCC who underwent drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) with half-loaded or full-loaded doxorubicin in 75-µm or 100-µm microspheres.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Source: Lin C-Y et al. Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 10. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-91021-9.

Key clinical point: For HCC patients treated with DEB-TACE, size or concentration of microspheres did not affect overall survival, but doxorubicin concentration did impact factors including treatment response and hospital stay.

Major finding: A total of 23 patients achieved complete response (CR), 32 achieved a partial response, 18 had stable disease, and 14 had progressive disease; no difference in treatment response was noted between 75-µm and 100-µm groups, but patients treated with half-loaded doxorubicin had significantly higher CR (53.3% vs 20.8%) and shorter hospital stays (1.7 days vs. 2.2 days) than patients treated with full-loaded doxorubicin.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study of 87 adults with HCC who underwent drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) with half-loaded or full-loaded doxorubicin in 75-µm or 100-µm microspheres.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Source: Lin C-Y et al. Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 10. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-91021-9.

Key clinical point: For HCC patients treated with DEB-TACE, size or concentration of microspheres did not affect overall survival, but doxorubicin concentration did impact factors including treatment response and hospital stay.

Major finding: A total of 23 patients achieved complete response (CR), 32 achieved a partial response, 18 had stable disease, and 14 had progressive disease; no difference in treatment response was noted between 75-µm and 100-µm groups, but patients treated with half-loaded doxorubicin had significantly higher CR (53.3% vs 20.8%) and shorter hospital stays (1.7 days vs. 2.2 days) than patients treated with full-loaded doxorubicin.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study of 87 adults with HCC who underwent drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) with half-loaded or full-loaded doxorubicin in 75-µm or 100-µm microspheres.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Source: Lin C-Y et al. Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 10. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-91021-9.

Key clinical point: Overall survival rates were similar in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a multivariate analysis. However, iCCA patients had better overall survival in a subgroup analysis of patients with poor prognostic features such as tumor size and lymph node involvement.

Major finding: Overall survival was 9 months for iCCA vs. 13 months for HCC, but this difference lost significance in multivariate analysis. In a subgroup analysis, overall survival was greater in iCCA compared to HCC for patients with tumors of 5 cm or larger (adjusted hazard ratio 0.83), lymph node involvement (aHR 0.76), distant metastasis (aHR 0.76), poorly/undifferentiated tumors (aHR 0.88) and patients receiving non-curative treatment (aHR 0.96).

Study details: The data come from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program 18 Database (2000-2017), and the study population included 13,611 iCCA patients and 96,151 HCC patients. 

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose

Source: Lee Y-T et al. Hepatology. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1002/hep.32007.

Key clinical point: Overall survival rates were similar in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a multivariate analysis. However, iCCA patients had better overall survival in a subgroup analysis of patients with poor prognostic features such as tumor size and lymph node involvement.

Major finding: Overall survival was 9 months for iCCA vs. 13 months for HCC, but this difference lost significance in multivariate analysis. In a subgroup analysis, overall survival was greater in iCCA compared to HCC for patients with tumors of 5 cm or larger (adjusted hazard ratio 0.83), lymph node involvement (aHR 0.76), distant metastasis (aHR 0.76), poorly/undifferentiated tumors (aHR 0.88) and patients receiving non-curative treatment (aHR 0.96).

Study details: The data come from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program 18 Database (2000-2017), and the study population included 13,611 iCCA patients and 96,151 HCC patients. 

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose

Source: Lee Y-T et al. Hepatology. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1002/hep.32007.

Key clinical point: Overall survival rates were similar in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a multivariate analysis. However, iCCA patients had better overall survival in a subgroup analysis of patients with poor prognostic features such as tumor size and lymph node involvement.

Major finding: Overall survival was 9 months for iCCA vs. 13 months for HCC, but this difference lost significance in multivariate analysis. In a subgroup analysis, overall survival was greater in iCCA compared to HCC for patients with tumors of 5 cm or larger (adjusted hazard ratio 0.83), lymph node involvement (aHR 0.76), distant metastasis (aHR 0.76), poorly/undifferentiated tumors (aHR 0.88) and patients receiving non-curative treatment (aHR 0.96).

Study details: The data come from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program 18 Database (2000-2017), and the study population included 13,611 iCCA patients and 96,151 HCC patients. 

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose

Source: Lee Y-T et al. Hepatology. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1002/hep.32007.

Key clinical point: A combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab showed therapeutic potential for adults with unresectable HCC, as patients showed a strong initial therapeutic response; the most common adverse events were appetite loss, fatigue, and urine protein.

Major finding: After 6 weeks, the overall objective response rate for early tumor shrinkage was 10.6% and the disease control rate was 79.6%; results were similar for the subset of patients with no prior history of systemic treatment (9.7% and 12.2%).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study of 171 adults with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma who were treated with a combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab; 75 of these had no prior history of systemic treatment.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Institutional Ethics Committee of Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Source: Hiraoka A et al. Cancer Rep. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1002/cnr2.1464. 

Key clinical point: A combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab showed therapeutic potential for adults with unresectable HCC, as patients showed a strong initial therapeutic response; the most common adverse events were appetite loss, fatigue, and urine protein.

Major finding: After 6 weeks, the overall objective response rate for early tumor shrinkage was 10.6% and the disease control rate was 79.6%; results were similar for the subset of patients with no prior history of systemic treatment (9.7% and 12.2%).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study of 171 adults with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma who were treated with a combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab; 75 of these had no prior history of systemic treatment.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Institutional Ethics Committee of Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Source: Hiraoka A et al. Cancer Rep. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1002/cnr2.1464. 

Key clinical point: A combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab showed therapeutic potential for adults with unresectable HCC, as patients showed a strong initial therapeutic response; the most common adverse events were appetite loss, fatigue, and urine protein.

Major finding: After 6 weeks, the overall objective response rate for early tumor shrinkage was 10.6% and the disease control rate was 79.6%; results were similar for the subset of patients with no prior history of systemic treatment (9.7% and 12.2%).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study of 171 adults with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma who were treated with a combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab; 75 of these had no prior history of systemic treatment.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Institutional Ethics Committee of Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Source: Hiraoka A et al. Cancer Rep. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1002/cnr2.1464. 

Key clinical point: Overall, fatigue, frustration, and fear were the most prevalent experiences across all disease stages; abdominal pain and skin-related issues also were frequently reported by patients with stage C HCC.

Major finding: All participants reported fatigue, and 21 of 25 discussed it without prompting; the mean disturbance rating was 8.2. Abdominal pain was the most disturbing symptom, reported by 14 participants with a mean disturbance rating of 9.0.

Study details: The data come from interviews with 25 adults with hepatocellular carcinoma living in the United States; 68% were men, the median age was 63 years. Of these, 12% had stage A liver cancer, 32% had stage B, and 56% had stage C.

Disclosures: The study was funded by AstraZeneca; the lead author and several coauthors are employees of AstraZeneca and own shares in the company.

Source: Patel N et al. Qual Life Res. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1007/s11136-021-02903-4.

Key clinical point: Overall, fatigue, frustration, and fear were the most prevalent experiences across all disease stages; abdominal pain and skin-related issues also were frequently reported by patients with stage C HCC.

Major finding: All participants reported fatigue, and 21 of 25 discussed it without prompting; the mean disturbance rating was 8.2. Abdominal pain was the most disturbing symptom, reported by 14 participants with a mean disturbance rating of 9.0.

Study details: The data come from interviews with 25 adults with hepatocellular carcinoma living in the United States; 68% were men, the median age was 63 years. Of these, 12% had stage A liver cancer, 32% had stage B, and 56% had stage C.

Disclosures: The study was funded by AstraZeneca; the lead author and several coauthors are employees of AstraZeneca and own shares in the company.

Source: Patel N et al. Qual Life Res. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1007/s11136-021-02903-4.

Key clinical point: Overall, fatigue, frustration, and fear were the most prevalent experiences across all disease stages; abdominal pain and skin-related issues also were frequently reported by patients with stage C HCC.

Major finding: All participants reported fatigue, and 21 of 25 discussed it without prompting; the mean disturbance rating was 8.2. Abdominal pain was the most disturbing symptom, reported by 14 participants with a mean disturbance rating of 9.0.

Study details: The data come from interviews with 25 adults with hepatocellular carcinoma living in the United States; 68% were men, the median age was 63 years. Of these, 12% had stage A liver cancer, 32% had stage B, and 56% had stage C.

Disclosures: The study was funded by AstraZeneca; the lead author and several coauthors are employees of AstraZeneca and own shares in the company.

Source: Patel N et al. Qual Life Res. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1007/s11136-021-02903-4.

Key clinical point: Addition of dexamethasone significantly reduced the incidence of post-embolization syndrome in HCC patients after transarterial chemoembolization.

Major finding: The incidence of post-embolization events after TACE included abdominal pain in 55.6% in patients who underwent TACE plus lipiodol and chemotherapeutic emulsion vs. 36.1% in those who also received dexamethasone. Rates of fever, nausea, vomiting, and incidence of infection also were significantly lower in the dexamethasone patients compared to standard TACE patients.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study of 255 HCC patients who underwent transarterial chemoembolization (TACE); patients were divided into two groups nonrandomly to receive TACE using lipiodol + chemotherapeutic emulsion group (133 patients) or TACE using lipiodol + dexamethasone + chemotherapeutic emulsion group (122 patients).

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.  

Source: Lu H et al. BMC Gastroenterol. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1186/s12876-021-01839-w.

Key clinical point: Addition of dexamethasone significantly reduced the incidence of post-embolization syndrome in HCC patients after transarterial chemoembolization.

Major finding: The incidence of post-embolization events after TACE included abdominal pain in 55.6% in patients who underwent TACE plus lipiodol and chemotherapeutic emulsion vs. 36.1% in those who also received dexamethasone. Rates of fever, nausea, vomiting, and incidence of infection also were significantly lower in the dexamethasone patients compared to standard TACE patients.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study of 255 HCC patients who underwent transarterial chemoembolization (TACE); patients were divided into two groups nonrandomly to receive TACE using lipiodol + chemotherapeutic emulsion group (133 patients) or TACE using lipiodol + dexamethasone + chemotherapeutic emulsion group (122 patients).

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.  

Source: Lu H et al. BMC Gastroenterol. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1186/s12876-021-01839-w.

Key clinical point: Addition of dexamethasone significantly reduced the incidence of post-embolization syndrome in HCC patients after transarterial chemoembolization.

Major finding: The incidence of post-embolization events after TACE included abdominal pain in 55.6% in patients who underwent TACE plus lipiodol and chemotherapeutic emulsion vs. 36.1% in those who also received dexamethasone. Rates of fever, nausea, vomiting, and incidence of infection also were significantly lower in the dexamethasone patients compared to standard TACE patients.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study of 255 HCC patients who underwent transarterial chemoembolization (TACE); patients were divided into two groups nonrandomly to receive TACE using lipiodol + chemotherapeutic emulsion group (133 patients) or TACE using lipiodol + dexamethasone + chemotherapeutic emulsion group (122 patients).

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.  

Source: Lu H et al. BMC Gastroenterol. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1186/s12876-021-01839-w.

Key clinical point: HCC patients with a higher expression of microRNA-889 had lower overall survival rates compared to those with low expression of miR-889.

Major finding: Overexpression of miR-889 significantly increased HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in HCC cell lines, and overall survival was lower in the high expression of miR-889 (P = 0.013).

Study details: The data come from analysis of 113 fresh specimens of HCC and para-cancerous benign tissue from 113 patients with HCC who underwent partial or total hepatectomy between January 2010 and June 2015 at a single center.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.  

Source: Wang H et al. Diagn Pathol. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1186/s13000-021-01111-5.

Key clinical point: HCC patients with a higher expression of microRNA-889 had lower overall survival rates compared to those with low expression of miR-889.

Major finding: Overexpression of miR-889 significantly increased HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in HCC cell lines, and overall survival was lower in the high expression of miR-889 (P = 0.013).

Study details: The data come from analysis of 113 fresh specimens of HCC and para-cancerous benign tissue from 113 patients with HCC who underwent partial or total hepatectomy between January 2010 and June 2015 at a single center.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.  

Source: Wang H et al. Diagn Pathol. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1186/s13000-021-01111-5.

Key clinical point: HCC patients with a higher expression of microRNA-889 had lower overall survival rates compared to those with low expression of miR-889.

Major finding: Overexpression of miR-889 significantly increased HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in HCC cell lines, and overall survival was lower in the high expression of miR-889 (P = 0.013).

Study details: The data come from analysis of 113 fresh specimens of HCC and para-cancerous benign tissue from 113 patients with HCC who underwent partial or total hepatectomy between January 2010 and June 2015 at a single center.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.  

Source: Wang H et al. Diagn Pathol. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1186/s13000-021-01111-5.

Key clinical point: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT).

Major finding: Overall survival rates were 29.2 months, 4.55 months, and 11.52 months for HCC patients with PVTT who were treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, best supportive care, and sorafenib, respectively.

Study details: The data come from a case-control study of 91 adults with advanced HCC and portal vein tumor thrombosis; 20 were treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), while 42 received best supportive care, and 29 received sorafenib.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Source: Abdelmaksoud AHK et al. Clin Radiol. 2021 Jun 8. doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2021.03.022.

Key clinical point: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT).

Major finding: Overall survival rates were 29.2 months, 4.55 months, and 11.52 months for HCC patients with PVTT who were treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, best supportive care, and sorafenib, respectively.

Study details: The data come from a case-control study of 91 adults with advanced HCC and portal vein tumor thrombosis; 20 were treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), while 42 received best supportive care, and 29 received sorafenib.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Source: Abdelmaksoud AHK et al. Clin Radiol. 2021 Jun 8. doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2021.03.022.

Key clinical point: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT).

Major finding: Overall survival rates were 29.2 months, 4.55 months, and 11.52 months for HCC patients with PVTT who were treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, best supportive care, and sorafenib, respectively.

Study details: The data come from a case-control study of 91 adults with advanced HCC and portal vein tumor thrombosis; 20 were treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), while 42 received best supportive care, and 29 received sorafenib.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Source: Abdelmaksoud AHK et al. Clin Radiol. 2021 Jun 8. doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2021.03.022.

Key clinical point: The objective response rate and disease control rate for MPVTT was significantly higher and mortality significantly lower in HCC patients who received a combination of helical I-125 seed implantation plus TACE compared to those who received TACE only.

Major finding: The optimal objective response rate was 52.4% in the seed implantation plus TACE group vs. 4.0% in the TACE-only group; disease control rates were 85.7% vs. 32.0%, respectively.

Study details: The data come from 46 HCC patients with main portal vein tumor thrombus (MPVTT) who were randomized to helical I-125 seed implantation and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or TACE alone.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Suzhou Science and Technology Bureau Project, Jiangsu Provincial Medical Talent funding, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Suzhou People's Livelihood Science and Technology Project. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Source: Wang W et al. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1007/s00270-021-02887-1.

Key clinical point: The objective response rate and disease control rate for MPVTT was significantly higher and mortality significantly lower in HCC patients who received a combination of helical I-125 seed implantation plus TACE compared to those who received TACE only.

Major finding: The optimal objective response rate was 52.4% in the seed implantation plus TACE group vs. 4.0% in the TACE-only group; disease control rates were 85.7% vs. 32.0%, respectively.

Study details: The data come from 46 HCC patients with main portal vein tumor thrombus (MPVTT) who were randomized to helical I-125 seed implantation and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or TACE alone.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Suzhou Science and Technology Bureau Project, Jiangsu Provincial Medical Talent funding, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Suzhou People's Livelihood Science and Technology Project. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Source: Wang W et al. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1007/s00270-021-02887-1.

Key clinical point: The objective response rate and disease control rate for MPVTT was significantly higher and mortality significantly lower in HCC patients who received a combination of helical I-125 seed implantation plus TACE compared to those who received TACE only.

Major finding: The optimal objective response rate was 52.4% in the seed implantation plus TACE group vs. 4.0% in the TACE-only group; disease control rates were 85.7% vs. 32.0%, respectively.

Study details: The data come from 46 HCC patients with main portal vein tumor thrombus (MPVTT) who were randomized to helical I-125 seed implantation and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or TACE alone.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Suzhou Science and Technology Bureau Project, Jiangsu Provincial Medical Talent funding, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Suzhou People's Livelihood Science and Technology Project. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Source: Wang W et al. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2021 Jun 11. doi: 10.1007/s00270-021-02887-1.

Key clinical point: Overall survival and recurrence were not significantly different for patients with HCC when selection protocols expanded the criteria for tumor size and number and included alpha-fetoprotein levels.

Major finding: The 5-year overall survival in the UCSF and UCSF+ groups was 72% and 69%, respectively, (P = 0.7); the recurrence risk was 13% and 36%, respectively (P = 0.1). In addition, the 5-year overall survival rate was 85% among low-risk MVI patients.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective review of 244 adults with preoperative HCC who underwent living donor liver transplantation for HCC, including 159 who met the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) transplant criteria (single tumor ≤ 6.5 cm, up to 3 tumors ≤ 4.5 cm, total tumor diameter ≤ 8 cm), 58 patients whose largest tumor was 10 cm or less (described as UCSF+), and 27 who had macrovascular invasion.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.  

Source: Bhatti ABH et al. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2021 June 12. doi: 10.1007/s00432-021-03665-9.

Key clinical point: Overall survival and recurrence were not significantly different for patients with HCC when selection protocols expanded the criteria for tumor size and number and included alpha-fetoprotein levels.

Major finding: The 5-year overall survival in the UCSF and UCSF+ groups was 72% and 69%, respectively, (P = 0.7); the recurrence risk was 13% and 36%, respectively (P = 0.1). In addition, the 5-year overall survival rate was 85% among low-risk MVI patients.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective review of 244 adults with preoperative HCC who underwent living donor liver transplantation for HCC, including 159 who met the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) transplant criteria (single tumor ≤ 6.5 cm, up to 3 tumors ≤ 4.5 cm, total tumor diameter ≤ 8 cm), 58 patients whose largest tumor was 10 cm or less (described as UCSF+), and 27 who had macrovascular invasion.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.  

Source: Bhatti ABH et al. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2021 June 12. doi: 10.1007/s00432-021-03665-9.

Key clinical point: Overall survival and recurrence were not significantly different for patients with HCC when selection protocols expanded the criteria for tumor size and number and included alpha-fetoprotein levels.

Major finding: The 5-year overall survival in the UCSF and UCSF+ groups was 72% and 69%, respectively, (P = 0.7); the recurrence risk was 13% and 36%, respectively (P = 0.1). In addition, the 5-year overall survival rate was 85% among low-risk MVI patients.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective review of 244 adults with preoperative HCC who underwent living donor liver transplantation for HCC, including 159 who met the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) transplant criteria (single tumor ≤ 6.5 cm, up to 3 tumors ≤ 4.5 cm, total tumor diameter ≤ 8 cm), 58 patients whose largest tumor was 10 cm or less (described as UCSF+), and 27 who had macrovascular invasion.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.  

Source: Bhatti ABH et al. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2021 June 12. doi: 10.1007/s00432-021-03665-9.

Key clinical point: A prognostic model based on immune-related genes showed promise as a predictor of overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients; 7 genes were better prognosticators than the tumor/node/metastasis (TNM) staging system.

Major finding: Clinical outcomes in HCC patients were associated with 100 immune-related differentially-expressed genes (DEGs). The researchers identified 7 prognostic immune-related genes (IRGs) after combining data types from multiple databases: Fatty Acid Binding Protein 6 (FABP6), Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau (MAPT), Baculoviral IAP Repeat Containing 5 (BIRC5), Plexin-A1 (PLXNA1), Secreted Phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), Stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) and Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 5 (CSPG5).

Study details: The data come from 424 adults with hepatocellular carcinoma; the researchers integrated RNA sequencing profiles from the patients with immune-related genes to calculate immune-related differentially-expressed genes.

Disclosures: The study was supported in part by Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine National University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Project, and the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine Innovation and Student Training Team Incubation Project. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Source: Yan Q et al. BioData Min. 2021 May 7. doi: 0.1186/s13040-021-00261-y.

Key clinical point: A prognostic model based on immune-related genes showed promise as a predictor of overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients; 7 genes were better prognosticators than the tumor/node/metastasis (TNM) staging system.

Major finding: Clinical outcomes in HCC patients were associated with 100 immune-related differentially-expressed genes (DEGs). The researchers identified 7 prognostic immune-related genes (IRGs) after combining data types from multiple databases: Fatty Acid Binding Protein 6 (FABP6), Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau (MAPT), Baculoviral IAP Repeat Containing 5 (BIRC5), Plexin-A1 (PLXNA1), Secreted Phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), Stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) and Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 5 (CSPG5).

Study details: The data come from 424 adults with hepatocellular carcinoma; the researchers integrated RNA sequencing profiles from the patients with immune-related genes to calculate immune-related differentially-expressed genes.

Disclosures: The study was supported in part by Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine National University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Project, and the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine Innovation and Student Training Team Incubation Project. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Source: Yan Q et al. BioData Min. 2021 May 7. doi: 0.1186/s13040-021-00261-y.

Key clinical point: A prognostic model based on immune-related genes showed promise as a predictor of overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients; 7 genes were better prognosticators than the tumor/node/metastasis (TNM) staging system.

Major finding: Clinical outcomes in HCC patients were associated with 100 immune-related differentially-expressed genes (DEGs). The researchers identified 7 prognostic immune-related genes (IRGs) after combining data types from multiple databases: Fatty Acid Binding Protein 6 (FABP6), Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau (MAPT), Baculoviral IAP Repeat Containing 5 (BIRC5), Plexin-A1 (PLXNA1), Secreted Phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), Stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) and Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 5 (CSPG5).

Study details: The data come from 424 adults with hepatocellular carcinoma; the researchers integrated RNA sequencing profiles from the patients with immune-related genes to calculate immune-related differentially-expressed genes.

Disclosures: The study was supported in part by Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine National University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Project, and the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine Innovation and Student Training Team Incubation Project. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Source: Yan Q et al. BioData Min. 2021 May 7. doi: 0.1186/s13040-021-00261-y.