Shrestha Dutta, Amity University Kolkata
What is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)?
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common types of liver cancer. The disease mostly occurs in patients with chronic disorders such as cirrhosis of liver, Hepatitis infections, obesity, diabetes, etc. It is a “primary” type of cancer, meaning it is not caused by the spread of cancerous cells from other organs to the liver. HCC positions as the 6th most normal malignancies and fourth driving reason for malignancy-related mortality around the world. Because of the onset of HCC, roughly 80% of HCC patients are analyzed at a high-level stage.
Current treatment options available for hepatocellular carcinoma:
Even though sorafenib and lenvatinib are endorsed as the mainline treatment for advanced HCC, the endurance of these patients stays dismal. As of late, the development of anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1) designated inhibitors has changed the scene of foundational medicines for advanced HCC.
The objective response rates (ORRs) can reach 17–20% in advanced HCC patients who get anti-programmed death 1 (anti-PD-1) treatment as monotherapy. Besides, the blend of atezolizumab and bevacizumab (A + T) accomplished fundamentally longer endurance in HCC patients than sorafenib, which expanded the principal line medicines for advanced HCC. Though current investigations show promising effectiveness of anti-PD-1 treatment, the ORR remains unacceptable. Indeed, even with the A + T convention, the ORR is just 27.3%. The most effective method to distinguish potential patients who might react to anti-PD-1 treatment still needs to be tackled.
The current study on Hepatocellular carcinoma:
In this investigation, the scientists intended to find out the role of early decrease in alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and protein induced by vitamin K or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) for HCC patients receiving anti-PD-1 treatment. The essential endpoints consist of ORR, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). These outcomes can help with recognizing potential HCC patients reacting to a PD-1 treatment, which further develops the viable usage rates of anti- PD-1 immunotherapy. To date, no potential biomarkers have been recognized to anticipate the ability of anti- PD-1 treatment in HCC patients. In this examination, researchers tracked down that after 6 months of anti- PD-1 immunotherapy, an AFP or PIVKA-II decrease > 50% from the standard was essentially connected with a superior reaction and further developed endurance. These outcomes can help with distinguishing HCC patients who may not be benefitted from anti- PD-1 treatment. AFP has been generally utilized for observation and non-invasive determination of HCC for several years. Its role in the diagnosis of HCC patients has additionally been approved. PIVKA-II is abnormal prothrombin, which is stimulated via carboxylation dysfunction of N-terminal glutamic acid residue. Various examinations have affirmed its clinical utility in HCC. High serum levels of PIVKA-II are related to tumour formation.
Conclusion:
The roles of AFP and PIVKA-II have been approved in HCC patients treated with locoregional treatment or designated drugs. Analysts have tracked down that the decrease in AFP and PIVKA-II can assist with evaluating the reaction of patients to hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). For advanced HCC patients treated with Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), patients with AFP and PIVKA-II decreased > 50% after 3 months of TACE had better medication over those without. Researchers tracked down that early reduction in AFP and PIVKA-II are potentially connected with the imaging reaction to lenvatinib. In the light of these investigations, it tends to be shown that the serum reaction to AFP and PIVKA-II can reflect the reaction of HCC patients to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. In patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the decrease in lung markers, including carcinoembryonic antigen and cytokeratin part 19, are both dependable markers for immunotherapy in NSCLC patients. As per NSCLC, the outcomes showed that the decrease in HCC markers, including AFP and PIVKA-II, can anticipate the effects of anti- PD-1 treatment and the medication of HCC patients.
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Reference:
- Sun, X., Mei, J., Lin, W. et al. Reductions in AFP and PIVKA-II can predict the efficiency of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in HCC patients. BMC Cancer 21, 775 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-08428-w
About author:
Shrestha Dutta is a 4th-year Biotechnology Engineering Student with a great interest in Genetics, Recombinant DNA Technology, and Immunology. She is a creative scientific writer in Bioxone with an inclination towards gaining knowledge regarding various sections of Biotechnology and engaging herself in various wet lab skills. She also has a review paper published in the journal IJSER.
Publications:
- https://www.ijser.org/researchpaper/Unfaltering-boon-of-Nanotechnology-on-Plant-Growth.pdf
- https://bioxone.in/news/worldnews/therapy-for-congenital-myasthenia-a-destructive-neuromuscular-disorder/
- https://bioxone.in/news/indianews/first-cadaveric-liver-transplantation-in-india-by-hope-pump/
- https://bioxone.in/news/worldnews/nanodecoys-from-special-lung-cells-can-kill-sars-cov2/
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- Cell Senescence in Type II Diabetes: Therapeutic Potential
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