For Patients
Liver Cancer News Archives
Amorfix Corporate Update: AMF Currently Developing Six Products with First Sales for Alyloid Products Already Achieved and First Test of vCJD Patient Samples
29 December 2009
Amorfix Life Sciences, a company focused on treatments and diagnostics for misfolded protein diseases, has completed the development of a prototype test for early detection of HCC and will now start testing clinical samples to determine sensitivity. The joint project includes BioMosaics and an investment from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research to the Sunnybrook Research Institute in Toronto.
For the complete article, click on AMF Currently Developing Six Products
ASTF to Fund AUC’s Nanotechnology Research
18 December 2009
The UAE-based Arab Science '&' Technology Foundation (ASRF) is funding a ground breaking research program conducted by scientists at the American University in Cairo (AUC) aimed at creating a new generation of nano-devices. The paper quoted Dr Hassan Azzazy, Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry at AUC, as saying that the research was aimed at constructing and utilizing a variety of Nan particles including gold Nan particles and Nancrystals to develop unique diagnostic tests for sensitive detection of the hepatitis C virus. "We are also working on designing nano-carriers for controlled simultaneous delivery of therapeutic drugs and genetic materials into liver cells using built-in nano-switches," he explained.
For the complete article, click on ASTF to Fund AUC’s Nanotechnology Research
Protein Examined for Role in Liver Cancer
17 December 2009
A protein switch called TAK1 helps prevent liver damage, including inflammation, fibrosis and cancer, according to a team of scientists from the United States and Japan. It was already known that TAK1 activates two proteins that play a role in immunity, inflammation, programmed cell death and cancer. However, it wasn't clear whether TAK1 promotes or prevents liver cancer.
To investigate this question, Brenner and colleagues created mice with liver cells that lacked TAK1 and found that the mice had a high rate of liver cell death. To compensate, the rodents' livers produced too many cells, resulting in liver damage that led to liver cancer, the researchers found.
For the complete article, click on Protein Examined for Role in Liver Cancer
First Patient in China Treated as Part of Celsion’s Global Phase III ThermoDox Heat Trial
17 December 2009
Celsion Corp., an oncology drug development company, said that the first patient in China has been enrolled and treated as part of Celsion's global Phase III ThermoDox Heat trial for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. The study is now recruiting patients in ten of the eleven planned countries, with the majority of them in the Asia Pacific region. Celsion's ThermoDox Phase III study for primary liver cancer is being conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The 600-patient study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of ThermoDox in combination with RFA when compared to patients who receive RFA alone as the control. Celsion expects the study could be completed by the middle of 2011.
For the complete article, click on First Patient in China Treated
CIC bioGUNE Research Scientists Identify Risk Gene Affecting Liver Regeneration
17 December 2009
Researchers from the CIC bioGUNE, Center for Cooperative Research in BioSciences in Spain, and the Centre for Biomedical Network Research into Hepatic and Digestive Diseases, CIBERehd, have discovered that deficiency of the gene GNMT affects liver regeneration and proliferation. It also produces greater susceptibility when the liver is damages. Researchers found GNMT deficiencies in patients with HCC. Along with other scientists, it has been shown that GNMT is the main gene behind liver metabolism of the SAMe molecule (S-Adenosylmethionine), which is important for ensuring that liver cells multiply correctly. Studies have shown that high levels of SAMe alter the way hepatocytes function, causing uncontrolled proliferation of the liver, which leads to HCC. The total lack of GNMT means uncontrolled SAMe levels, which means the liver is unable to stop hepatic cells from proliferating.
For the complete article, click on CIC bioGUNE Research Scientists Identify Risk Gene
Getting a handle on Posttransplant Recurrence of HCC
17 December 2009
Liver transplantation offers the best overall and recurrence-free survival for the treatment of HCC. Patients with the highest risk of recurrence are those with tumors beyond the Milan criteria, which is a patient with one lesion smaller than 5 cm or up to three lesions smaller than 3 cm. Although there are many reports on the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy to prevent recurrence, most have shown no significant gain. It is best to begin chemotherapy as soon as possible after the transplant, but most patients are not medically fit to receive it in the early post-operative period. There are currently two promising unproven agents on the market, sorafenib (Nexavar) and an immunosuppressant sirolimus (Rapamune).
For the complete article, click on Getting a handle on Posttransplant Recurrence of HCC
Scientists Uncover Protective Mechanism Against Liver Cancer
14 December 2009
A team of scientist from UC San Diego School of Medicine and Osaka University in Japan identified the protein switch TAK1 that helps prevent liver damage. "TAK1 appears to be a master regulator of liver function," said David A. Brenner, MD, professor of medicine and Dean of the UC San Diego School of Medicine. TAK1 is a kinase, a type of signaling protein involved in regulating various cell activities, including cell growth. Researchers have known that TAK1 activates two specific proteins, NF-kappaB and JNK, which are both involved in immunity, inflammation, programmed cell death and cancer. But NF-kappaB helps protect liver cells from dying and protects against cancer development. In contrast, JNK promotes cell death and cancer. According to Seki, the study is the first to demonstrate the role of TAK1 in cancer development, and strongly suggests that the protein also contributes to cancer development in other organs.
For the complete article, click on Scientists Uncover Protective Mechanism Against Liver Cancer
Lentigen Awarded Phase I SBIR Grant for Hepatitis C Vaccine
9 December 2009
Lentigen Corporation, a biotechnology company that specializes in the development and manufacture of lentiviral gene delivery technologies is working on a new program with Epixis SA to generate Hepatitis C Virus-like particles using Lentivirus technology. Epixis SA had previously designed rVLPs pseudotype with HCV proteins, E1 and E2, which, if present lead to immune responses and boost with the pseudotyped rVLPs. The aim of the grant is for the construction of a lentiviral vector using a higher concentration of rVLPs on human cells.
For the complete article, click on Lentigen Awarded Phase I SBIR Grant for Hepatitis C Vaccine
Egypt: Nanotechnology comes to AUC
8 December 2009
Scientists at The American University in Cairo (AUC) are currently working on nanoscience through the Yousef Jameel Science and Technology Research Centerat the university. AUC said the new research includes “the development of novel diagnostic tests for sensitive detection of the hepatitis C virus; [and] detection of cancer biomarkers.” “Nanoparticles are also used in different test configurations to develop experiments for the detection of cancer biomarkers such as alpha-fetoprotein, a marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer),” said Professor Hassan Azzazy, chair of AUC’s chemistry department. “We are also working on designing nano-carriers for controlled simultaneous delivery of therapeutic drugs and genetic materials into liver cells using built-in nano-switches,” he explained.
For the complete article, click on Egypt: Nanotechnology comes to AUC
Doxorubicin Transdrug ®: Significant Increased Survival Rate in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated in a Phase II Clinical Trial
8 December 2009
BioAlliance Pharma SA, a company dedicated to the treatment and supportive care of cancer and AIDS patients announced positive survival data in its phase II clinical trial with doxorubicin Transdrug ® in patients with HCC. Doxorubicin Transdrug ® is a treatment that delivers nanoparticles via hepatic intra-arterial route. The phase II results showed an 88.9% survival rate after 18 months of treatment as compared to the 54.5% rate inpatients with current standard care such as transarterial chemoembolisation.
For the complete article, click on Doxorubicin Transdrug ®: Significant Increased Survival Rate
Green Pigments may Help Prevent Liver Cancer
6 December 2009
According to a study done by researchers at Linus Pauling Institute, eating plenty of green vegetables may help prevent liver cancer. Since green vegetables are high in chlorophyll, the study found that chlorophyll and chlorophyllin may reduce the bioavailability of aflatoxin B, a cancer-causing chemical that can induce liver cancer. For the current study, Dr George Bailey and colleagues examined the effect of co-treatment of chlorophyll and chlorophyllin on bioavailability of aflatoxin B in a few Chinese volunteers. Chlorophyll and chlorophyllin treatment each significantly impeded Aflatoxin B absorption and helped get rid of the toxin quickly in one or more subjects, the researchers found.
For the complete article, click on Green Pigments may Help Prevent Liver Cancer
Experimental Drug is Combating Hepatitis C in Chimps, Researchers Say
4 December 2009
Researchers reported that an experimental drug, SPC3649 that works by a different mechanism than existing drugs has been shown to suppress hepatitis C in chimpanzees and is already being tested in human clinical trials. SPC3649 is an antisense drug that binds to RNA that is required by the virus for replication. Researchers at Santaris Pharma A/S in Hoersholm, Denmark, and San Diego injected SPC3649 intravenously into four chimpanzees chronically infected with hepatitis C for 12 weeks, followed by 17 weeks of observation. In the two animals receiving the highest dose, there was a 350-fold drop in the virus level. The only side effect of the treatment was a 45% drop in what is called “bad cholesterol.”
For the complete article, click on Experimental Drug is Combating Hepatitis C in Chimps
Bayer Appeals NICE’s Ruling on Liver Cancer Drug
3 December 2009
Bayer, a Germany-based drug company appealed Britain’s ruling on its critical liver cancer drug which stated, "The price being asked by Bayer is simply too high to justify using NHS money which could be spent on better value cancer treatments.” The drug costs around 2,900 pounds a month and would cost about 8,300 pounds per patient on average. Bayer has offered to give every fourth pack for free. Bayer said that the decision by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to deny critically ill patients’ access to Nexavar was contradictory and accused them of being unfair.
For the complete article, click on Bayer Appeals NICE’s Ruling on Liver Cancer Drug
Sorafenib in a Patient with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Serious Impairment of Left Ventricular Function: a Case Report
2 December 2009
Sorafenib is a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor and is widely used in the treatment of HCC. Side effects are normally mild and can include an increase of blood pressure. However, side effects may be critical for patients with underlying serious heart disease and may escalate to acute heart failure. A case study was done to either validate or invalidate this theory. The patient had HCC and severe post-ischemic fall of left ventricular function, a type of stroke where the blood supply to the part of the brain is decreases leading to the dysfunction of the brain tissue in that area. He was given a reduced daily dose of 400mg of sorafenib and doctors saw no worsening of his heart function.
For the complete article, click on Sorafenib in a Patient with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
DFG Approves Funding for 17 New Collaborative Research Centers
30 November 2009
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) a German research foundation approved the establishment of 17 new Collaborative Research Centers as of Jan 1, 2010. One such is the new CRC 850 Control of Cell Motility in Morphogenesis, Cancer Invasion and Metastasis to better understand molecular mechanisms of tumor-cell invasion and metastasis formation. Another, the CDC 841 Liver Inflammation-Infection, Immune Regulation and Consequences will study the underlying causes and mechanisms of inflammatory liver diseases. In addition, the CRC/Transregio 77 Liver Cancer- from Molecular Pathogenesis to Targeted Therapies will seek to gain an in-depth understanding of the molecular formation of liver cancer.
For the complete article, click on DFG Approves Funding for 17 New Collaborative Research Centers
Chemoembolization, Survival in Liver Cancer Studied Chemoembolization in Conjunction with Permanent Embolic Agent Provides Longer Survival
25 November 2009
Scientists found that patients with unresectable HCC that had undergone transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in conjunction with a permanent embolic agent to cause a blockage, survived longer than patients who underwent TACE only. Antoinette S. Gomes, M.D., of the University of California at Los Angeles, and colleagues assessed the outcomes for 124 patients with unresectable HCC who underwent TACE, including 56 who received triple-drug TACE and a nonpermanent embolic agent, and 68 patients who had triple-drug TACE with a permanent embolic agent. Twenty-eight of the patients went on to have liver transplants and 96 did not. In addition, the researchers found that survival was significantly longer for those who got a liver transplant with a mean survival of 83.45 months.
For the complete article, click on Chemoembolization, Survival in Liver Cancer Studied Chemoembolization
Association Between the Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Polymorphism and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk: A Meta-analysis
24 November 2009
Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a key enzyme in the metabolism of folate, folic acids. Scientists have found that the non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (nsSNP) C677T impairs enzyme activity. C677T polymorphism was found to increase the risk of HCC. The study also showed that the TT genotype increased the risk of HCC as compared to the CT genotype. Therefore, MTHFR C677T polymorphism increased the risk of HCC in an over-dominant model and might be a risk factor for HCC occurrence, especially in chronic liver disease patients.
For the complete article, click on Association Between the Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Polymorphism and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk
NICE Appraisal of Sorafenib for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
20 November 2009
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is evaluating the use of sorafenib for the treatment of HCC for patients with unresectable tumors. As of yet, NICE does not recommend sorafenib. Andrew Dillon, Chief Executive of NICE stated, "We were disappointed not to have been able to recommend the use of sorafenib, but after carefully considering all evidence, including the proposed 'patient access scheme' in which the manufacturer offered to provide every fourth pack free, sorafenib does not provide enough benefit to patients to justify its high cost."
For the complete article, click on NICE Appraisal of Sorafenib for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Alnylam Reveals Positive Data from Liver Cancer Therapeutic Pre-Clinical Study-Update
18 November 2009
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s ALN-VSP, a treatment for patients with liver cancer including HCC, showed positive data in a pre-clinical study. The trial showed strong anti-tumor activity while disseminating tumors outside of the liver with potent anti-angiogenic effect, the physiological process involving the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones. ALN-VSP is an RNAi therapeutic targeting two genes that are critical in the growth and survival of cancer cells, kinesin spindle protein requires for tumor cell proliferation and vascular endothelial growth factors that builds blood vessel formation to sustain tumor growth. ALN-VSP is currently in a Phase I clinical trial to evaluate safety, tolerability, and its effects on the body.
For the complete article, click on Alnylam Reveals Positive Data from Liver Cancer Therapeutic Pre-Clinical Study-Update
Jennerex and Lee's Pharmaceuticals Announce Partnership for JX-594 in China
18 November 2009
Jennerex, a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company developing targeted oncolytic virus therapeutics, will be joining Lee's Pharmaceutical Holdings, a public biopharmaceutical company with over 14 years of operation in China's pharmaceutical industry, for the collaboration of JX-594, a treatment for HCC. JX-594 is currently in a Phase II trial after tumor destruction and safety in patients was shown in Phase I. JX-594 multiplies within cancer cells leading to their destruction. Then newly created copies of JX-594 are released and able to infect and remove other tumor cells while never affecting healthy, normal cells in the body. The backbone of JX-594 is the poxvirus, which naturally targets cancer cells.
For the complete article, click on Jennerex and Lee's Pharmaceuticals Announce Partnership for JX-594
XPD Codon 312 and 754 Polymorphisms, and AFB1 Exposure, and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk
17 November 2009
Genetic polymorphisms in DNA repair genes may influence individual variation in DNA repair capacity, which may be associated with risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related to the exposure of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Scientists studied 618 cases of HCC and 712 control cases to assess whether or not there was an association between the two polymorphisms, Codon 312 and 754, and the risk of HCC. They concluded that cases with the XPD 751 Gln were at a higher risk of HCC than those with XPD 751 Lys. They also found that the risk was higher for women.
For the complete article, click on XPD Codon 312 and 754 Polymorphisms, and AFB1 Exposure, and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk
Octreotide Treatment of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma - A Retrospective Single Centre Controlled Study
4 November 2009
Ninety-five patients were analyzed at the department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Medical University of Vienna who were either treated with "active" treatment such as TACE, multimodal therapy, and long-acting octreotide or palliative care, which is any form of treatment that concentrates on reducing the severity of the symptoms rather than delaying the progression of the disease. All patients who received "active" treatment had better survival rates than those who were only made to feel better.
For the complete article, click on Octreotide Treatment of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
First Patient Enrolled in Phase I Trial of TG4023 for the Treatment of Liver Tumors
4 November 2009
Transgene, a France-based biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of immunotherapeutic products in oncology, has begun Phase I trial of TG4023, which is a mechanism of action. TG4023 is administered by injecting FCU1 directly to the tumor. Then the liver cells convert the 5-FC into 5-FU, a well-known chemotherapeutic drug. In tests, it was able to kill the tumor completely. The trial will take place in six centers, enrolling 20 patients. The trial will determine safety and efficacy, as well as tolerance of the drug.
For the complete article, click on First Patient Enrolled in Phase I Trial of TG4023 for the Treatment of Liver Tumors
Predicting Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Curative Surgery with Common Clinicopathologic Parameters
3 November 2009
Surgical resection is a curative treatment for HCC, but prognoses thereafter is often difficult to substantiate. Scientists then conducted a retrospective analysis of 572 Chinese HCC patients who had received curative surgery. Findings showed the five common clinicopathologic parameters to be tumor size, number of tumors, tumor stage, venous infiltration status which is the spread of diseased tissue into the veins, and serum-fetoprotein and total albumin levels. There was considerably much variance between the patients. This study could future biomarker inputs and serve as the foundation for future modeling.
For the complete article, click on Predicting Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Curative Surgery
REG-Biocompatibles Intl.: Statement re Positive Data in Combination Therapy Trial
3 November 2009
Professor Jean-Francois Geschwind MD, Professor of Radiology, surgery and oncology at the Johns Hopkins University in Maryland presented data from 11 HCC patients being treated with Biocompatibles' Doxorubicin-Eluting Bead (DEB-DOX) in combination with Nexavar. Geschwind observed a 45 per cent tumor response and 100 percent disease control as compared with the placebo. Biocompatibles expects positive results would establish the combined therapy as the standard care for HCC patients.
For the complete article, click on REG-Biocompatibles Intl.: Statement re Positive Data in Combination Therapy Trial
New Research from Japan: Green Tea Fights Blood and Liver Cancer, as well as Pneumonia
2 November 2009
Japanese scientists at the Ohsaki National Health Insurance Cohor Study have conducted three new studies with more evidence to support data that green tea products heal the human body. 41,761 adults with no history of cancer were followed. Dr. Tory Naganuma of Tohoku University School of Medicine reported that drinking at least 5 cups of greed tea daily reduced the risk of blood cancers by 42 percent. The tea offers protection from liver malignancies as well.
For the complete article, click on New Research from Japan: Green Tea Fights Blood and Liver Cancer
Liver Cancer News 2009 (continued)