【Abstract】ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) on the immunity of patients with advanced primary liver cancer (PLC). MethodsForty cases of PLC admitted to our institution from Mar. 2003 to Dec. 2003 were included in this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups and received either HIFU or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment randomly. CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, NK, IL-2, TNF were chosen to assess the immune status before and after treatment. The results were compared statistically. ResultsThe survival rate after HIFU was 80.0%, 61.1%, 42.9%, 33.3% at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 1 year respectively, which was similar to that after RFA treatment. The changes of immunity parameters of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, NK, IL-2 and TNF were not significant after HIFU treatment. In addition, the differences of those parameters between HIFU group and RFA group were insignificant. ConclusionThere are no detrimental effects on immunity in the early period after HIFU treatment.
ObjectiveTo study the epidemiologic characteristics of primary liver cancer (PLC). MethodsThe literatures about regional distribution and etiologic epidemiology of PLC were reviewed. Results PLC was mainly distributed on caostland in the south-east of China. The main cause of PLC was hepatitis B virus, aflatoxin and contamination of drinking water. Otherwise, PLS was also related with lack of some trace element, sex horemones, genealogy cause and so on.Conclusion The genesis of PLC was by multiple factors.
Objective To explore the curative effect of surgical treatment for primary liver cancer with portal vein tumor thrombus（PVTT）. Methods The clinical data of 227 patients who were performed surgical treatment because of primary liver cancer with PVTT were analyzed retrospectively. Results Two hundreds and seventeen cases were performed surgical resection, 14 cases died from postoperative complications. The median survival time was 17.7 months, and the l-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 61.9%, 37.2%, 21.7%, and 4.0% respectively. There were 40 cases with PVTT ofⅠtype, the l-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 82.3% , 61.7%, 38.6%, and 6.6% respectively，which was obviously higher than those with PVTT of Ⅱ type （n=129, 61.1%, 34.3%, 20.8%, and 5.3%） and PVTT of Ⅲ type （n=48, 46.8%, 24.0%, 9.6%, and 0）, P＜0.05. There were 84 cases whose PVTT and tumor were resected together, the l-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 67.3%, 43.2%, 28.1%, and 7.9% respectively，which were obviously higher than those patients whose PVTT were removed from cross-section of liver （n= 85, 65.1%, 38.8%, 22.3%, and 3.4%） and patients whose PVTT were removed by cutting the portal vein （n=48, 46.8%, 24.0%, 9.6%, and 0）, P＜0.05. The l-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of 76 cases who received postoperative therapy of TACE/TAI were 75.3%, 53.2%, 33.1%, and 5.7% respectively, which were obviously higher than those patients who were not received any postoperative therapy （n=141, 54.8%, 29.1%, 15.9%, and 3.2%）, P＜0.05. Conclusions Surgical treatment is an effective treatment for primary liver cancer with PVTT. Surgery should strive for resecting the tumor and PVTT together, and postoperative therapy of TACE/TAI may have a favorable effect on the long term survival rate.
Objective To summarize the role of the relationship between liver cancer and cellular immunological function, and the role of immune therapy in clinical application. Methods To analyze the relationship between liver cancer and cellular immunological function, and the present research situation of immune therapy for liver cancer in clinical application retrospectively via review the related domestic and foreign literatures. Results The cellular immune dysfunction existed in all liver cancer patients. The state of body’s cellular immunological function is closely related with the arising and development of liver cancer, and the lowness of cellular immunological function is an important factor of hepatocellular carcinoma hard to cure or recurrence and metastasis. Immune therapy plays an important role in the treatment of liver cancer by adjusting the body’s cellular immunological function. Conclusions Liver cancer is closely related with the body’s cellular immunological function. Immune therapy is expected to offer a new way for the treatment of liver cancer, which can also be used as an important auxiliary treatment way.
Objective To study the effects of pcDNA3/AFP/TK/Angio fusion gene targeting therapy for human primary liver cancer in nude mice implanted with SMMC-7721. Methods Human liver cancer cell line SMMC-7721 was implanted subcutaneously in nude mice to establish experiment model. Animals bearing liver cancer were randomly divided into five groups: control group， vector group， GCV (ganciclovir) group， pcDNA3/TK/Angio group; pcDNA3/AFP/TK/Angio group. Different plasmids were directly injected into tumors and GCV was intraperitoneally administrated simultaneously according to different groups. The growth of tumors was observed and the pathology was examined as well. Serum AFP level was measured by radioimmunology, the ultrastructural change of tumor cells was studied by using electron microscopy, the expressions of MVD and VEGF were respectively detected with immunohistochemistry and the cell apoptosis in situ was detected by TUNEL. Results The success rate to establish subcutaneous implanted liver cancer model in nude mice was 100%. The tumor volume, serum AFP level, VEGF and MVD expressions of pcDNA3/TK/Angio group and pcDNA3/AFP/TK/Angio group were lower than those in control group, vector group and GCV group (P＜0.05) and more apoptosis cells could be observed. While the tumor volume, serum AFP level, VEGF and MVD expressions of pcDNA3/AFP/TK/Angio group was lower than those in pcDNA3/TK/Angio group (P＜0.05); and apoptosis index was higher than that of the latter (P＜0.05).Conclusion pcDNA3/AFP/TK/Angio fusion gene inhibits the growth of tumor remarkably and becomes a promising new biological agent to treat human primary liver cancer.
ObjectiveTo study the clinical role of spleen/remnant liver volume ratio in evaluating liver reserve function after surgical treatment for liver cancer. MethodsTo calculate the ratio of spleen volume/remnant liver volume after tumor excision with imaging method and immersion method; to analyze the relationships between spleen/remnant liver volume ratio and liver function score after operation as well as hospital stay. ResultsLiver function ChildPugh score was related mainly with spleen/remnant liver volume ratio (t=7.831, P=0.000), which was proved by multiple regression analysis. The median hospital stay of the group with spleen/remnant liver ratio ≤0.9 was 14 d （12-16 d）, which was less than that (22 d, 15-29 d) of the other group with the ratio gt;0.9 (P=0.000). ConclusionsSpleen/remnant liver volume ratio can predict effectively recovery ability of patients after operation for liver cancer， and assess correctly the reserve function of liver. When the ratio is less than or equal 0.9, the operation is safe.
31 case of advanced primary liver cancer were treated by using IL-2 and LAK cells in which 15 cases were combined with surgery (group A) and 16 cases were combined with chemotherpy (Group B). 7～14 months follow-up showed: In group A there was no recurence and metastasis, and the cell-mediated immunity was obviously improved. In group B, the average life time was more than 5.84 months, the tumor average diameter dicreased in 10 cases ,and the cee-mediated immunity was also improved. The role of immunotherapy combined with surgery or chemotherapy was discussed.
Objective To systematically review the effectiveness and safety of implanting sustained-release 5-fluorouracil during hepatectomy in patients with primary liver cancer (PLC). Methods We electronically searched the following databases including CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMbase, WanFang Data, CBM, CNKI and VIP to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness and safety of implanting sustained-release 5-fluorouracil during hepatectomy vs. hepatectomy alone for PLC from inception to October, 2012. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data and assessed the quality of the included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 6 RCTs involving 951 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, implanting sustained-release 5-fluorouracil during hepatectomy significantly decreased the total recurrence rates of 1-year and 3-year (1 year: RR=0.48, 95%CI 0.36 to 0.65, Plt;0.000 01; 3 years: RR=0.69, 95%CI 0.50 to 0.96, P=0.03). However, the two groups were alike in decreasing the surem levels of AFP. Besides, the commonly-seen adverse reaction of implanting sustained-release 5-fluorouracil during hepatectomy included abdominal pain and bile leakage. Conclusion Implanting sustained-release 5-fluorouracil during hepatectomy can decrease the 1-year and 3-year recurrence rates of PLC patients, especially for HCC at the early stage. But this conclusion should be interpreted with caution and needs more strictly-designed RCTs with large sample size and enough long follow-up to verify.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of gasdermin (GSDM) gene family in primary liver cancer and its clinical significance. MethodsThe Gene Expression Profile Data Dynamic Analysis (GEPIA2) database was used to analyze the expression levels of GSDM gene family in primary liver cancer and normal tissues, and survival analysis was performed to explore its relationship with prognosis; GEPIA2 database was used to explore the relationship between GSDM gene family and TNM staging of patients with primary liver cancer. We used GeneMANIA database to predict genes that may interact with GSDM gene family, and used Metascape website for functional enrichment analysis. Finally, we used TIMER database to explore the relationship of expression of GSDM gene family and immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment of primary liver cancer. ResultsCompared with normal liver tissues, GSDMA, GSDMC, GSDMD, and GSDME were highly expressed in primary liver cancer (P<0.050), and GSDMB and DFNB59 were low expressed (P<0.050); results of univariate Cox proportional hazard regression model showed that the differential expressions of GSDMD, GSDME, and DFNB59 were related to the overall survival of patients (P<0.050), and the results of the multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model showed that GSDME could be used as an independent predictor of the prognosis of liver cancer patients (P<0.050). With the increase of TNM staging in patients with liver cancer, the expressions of GSDMA and GSDMC also gradually increased (P<0.050). Further enrichment analysis showed that the GSDM gene family was involved in pyrolysis and various immune-related biological processes. ConclusionThe GSDM gene is differentially expressed in primary liver cancer, participates in immune-related biological processes, and its expression is related to clinicopathological staging and patients’ prognosis.
The serum level of testosterone (T), estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) in 86 cases with primary liver cancer (PLC) (male：76 cases; female：10 cases) was determined by RIA method. The result showed that for male cases, serum level of T and ratio of T/E２ in operation group and nonoperation group was significantly higher than that in benign hepatic diseases group (BHD group) and normal control group (NC group), but the value of E２ obviously lower than the later two groups. After tumor resection, the level of E2 increased, while serum level of T and value of T/E２ decreased, which had no significant difference as contrasted with BHD group and NC group. The serum level of T,E2 in female PLC group made no difference to BHD group and NC group, but the value of T/E2 much higher than NC group. No obvious changes of the serum level of progesterone can be observed in both male and female cases. Our research showed that high serum testosterone level and low estradiol level may be concerned with PLC. The possibility and importance of sex hormone imbalance on initializing and developing of PLC is suggested.