2017 Liver Cancer News
3 Biggest Breakthroughs In Cancer Treatment In 2017
On April 27, 2017, the FDA approved the first liver cancer drug in over a decade by expanding the use of Bayer AG's (NASDAQOTH: BAYRY) Stivarga (regorafinib) to include treatment of patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma who have been previously treated with the drug sorafenib. Prior to this approval, advanced liver cancer patients that stopped responding, or never responded, to Bayer's first-line drug, sorafenib, had an exceptionally bleak prognosis, with most living less than a year.
Taiwan Study Confirms PM2.5 Pollution Causes Lung Disease, Liver Cancer
Preliminary findings by a group of Taiwanese government agencies on the effects of excessive PM2.5 (particles suspended in the air less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) humans include lung disease and liver cancer, while in terms of areas, and central and southern Taiwan are in the most urgent need of air pollution control, reported Apple Daily. Starting in 2015, Taiwan's National Health Research Institute (NHRI), Health Promotion Administration (HPA), and the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) and been collaborating a study measuring the long-term health impacts of air pollution on Taiwanese citizens.
BRIEF—Lenvatinib Accepted For Priority Review For Liver Cancer By China’s FDA
Japanese pharma major Eisai announced today that its in-house discovered and developed anticancer agent lenvatinib mesylate (product names: Lenvima and Kisplyx) for use in the treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), which was submitted for approval in China in October 2017, has been designated for priority review and approval by the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) due to lenvatinib's significant clinical benefit compared to existing treatments.
New Treatments For Liver Cancer
Liver cancer has always been a difficult diagnosis. And today, the number of people who develop liver cancer is increasing, making primary liver (and bile duct) cancer the fastest-rising cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Experts attribute this to the high prevalence of fatty liver disease, a condition associated with insulin resistance, obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. The good news is we have newer treatments that are making a significant impact in helping patients with liver and bile duct cancers live longer and with a better quality of life. These new approaches include the latest immunotherapy drugs, a focus on making complicated liver surgery safer for more patients, and using embolization procedures in new ways and new combinations.
Meeting Highlights From 2017: HCV Elimination, Treating Injection Drug Users
The introduction of direct-acting antivirals was a significant step toward hepatitis C. Physicians, researchers and medical associations have continued to focus on developing methods and programs to treat as many patients with HCV as possible, especially injection drug users who have a high prevalence for transmission. In 2017, experts from around the world discussed the path to HCV elimination and aftercare for successfully treated patients at The Liver Meeting, Digestive Disease Week, the World Congress of Gastroenterology and the International Liver Congress.
Even A Moderate Amount Of Alcohol Can Increase Risk Of Cancer
We know there are certain things that can increase a person's risk of cancer, such as smoking. But it turns out even drinking a small amount of alcohol can lead to cancer. A new study from the American Society of Clinical Oncology found that between five and six percent of new cancer and cancer deaths can be attributed to alcohol. “People typically don’t associate drinking beer, wine, and hard liquor with increasing their risk of developing cancer in their lifetimes,” Bruce Johnson, the society’s president, said in a statement. The society found that drinking alcohol led to an increased risk in many types of cancer, including oropharyngeal and larynx cancer, esophageal cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, breast cancer, and colon cancer.
Expert Looks Ahead To Promising Liver Cancer Advancements
Before 2017, there were minimal advancements in the treatment field of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), with Nexavar (sorafenib) treatment remaining the standard for about a decade. Two more agents have since been added to the treatment landscape: Stivarga (regorafenib) in April and Opdivo (nivolumab) in September, both of which can be administered in patients following treatment with Nexavar. But other therapies are moving steadily through the pipeline, as well. Lenvima (lenvatinib) was compared with Nexavar in the phase 3 Study 304 trial, a noninferiority study that showed no difference between the two agents in the frontline setting. Moreover, the phase 3 CELESTIAL trial exploring Cabometyx (cabozantinib) in patients who previously received Nexavar was announced to have met the primary endpoint of overall survival. Data are likely to be presented at the 2018 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.
Blue Faery Helps Patients Spread Their Wings After Liver Cancer Diagnosis
Imagine finding out your loved one is diagnosed with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), and the only source available to learn about this disease is from a medical textbook. Andrea J. Wilson and her sister, Adrienne Wilson, experienced just that. On May 16, 2001, Adrienne — who Andrea raised from the age of 8 years old — came home from high school experiencing intense pain under her right ribs. Following a visit to the emergency room, physicians discovered tumors in Adrienne’s liver and lungs, a diagnosis that she passed away from just 147 days later at the age of 15.
Liver Cancer Patient Irradiated With Delft Microspheres
The Netherlands is at the forefront in the development of a new method for cancer treatment involving microspheres with radioactive holmium-166. Researchers from TU Delft recently ameliorated the fabrication method of these spheres, allowing patients abroad to be treated with holmium. Radioisotope holmium-166 decays so quickly that it is a challenge to get the activated material from the nuclear reactor to the hospitalized patient in time. Delft researchers, in collaboration with colleagues from Radboud Medical Centre and a company called Quirem Medical, conceived of a way to load special little spheres as thick as a hair with more radioactivity than was previously possible. The radioisotope-containing spheres were used for the first time last week in Italy in a liver cancer patient.
Singapore And Korea Partner To Improve Liver Cancer Treatment
A team of scientists and researchers from institutes in Singapore is partnering with the Samsung Medical Center (SMC) Institute of Refractory Cancer Research in Korea with aims to develop the world's first clinically reliable and robust platform, which can significantly improve the treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), or liver cancer. The new platform is intended to provide reliable and robust patient-specific diagnostic and predictive data in a clinically relevant timeframe of three weeks (versus three-four months), so patient-derived HCC tumor samples can contribute to genomic integration in vivo model studies and drug screening data. These will be validated to deliver precision analysis and improve patient outcomes.
Checkpoint Inhibitors, Tkis, And Novel Agents Poised To Enter Liver Cancer Treatment Paradigm
Prior to 2017, the Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) space had little movement in therapeutic advancements beyond standard sorafenib (Nexavar). Two more agents have since been added to the treatment landscape: regorafenib (Stivarga) in April and nivolumab (Opdivo) in September, both of which can be administered in patients following treatment with sorafenib.
Cancer cells are bad-ass marathoners, outpacing the growth of surrounding cells and going the distance to colonize far-flung parts of the body. So, what’s the fuel of choice for these long-distance foes? Much attention has been paid to sugars, but fats are also favorites. It’s not about what we eat — there’s no evidence that cutting carbs, for instance, will starve cancer cells — it’s more about how the cells themselves are producing these fuels. Now a group led by researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland has figured out how liver cancer cells acquire their supply of fat. The findings published in Cancer Cell also suggest that drugs that stop fat synthesis could be useful additions to liver cancer therapy.
Can-Fite Reports On The Progress Of Its Phase II Liver Cancer With Namodenoson
Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd., a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address cancer, liver and inflammatory diseases, today provided an update on its Phase II clinical trial with drug candidate Namodenoson (CF102) in the treatment of advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Ongoing close observation of enrolled subjects indicates a potentially favorable drug safety profile. The Company previously announced in August that it had successfully completed enrollment of 78 patients.
Local Nonprofit Tackles Hepatitis And Liver Cancer In Mongolia
This past September, October and November, volunteers with the Flagstaff International Relief Effort (FIRE) screened more than 5,000 people for hepatitis and liver cancer in Dornod province in eastern Mongolia. According to FIRE, Mongolia has the highest rate of liver cancer and among the highest rates of hepatitis in the world. The province of Dornod has twice the national average of liver cancer, make it 12 times the international average. "Hepatitis Free Mongolia," is a collaboration between FIRE, the Flagstaff Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Ulaanbaatar, funded by Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation.
H3 Biomedicine’s Preclinical Data Highlighting Novel Discovery Research In Hepatocellular Carcinoma
H3 Biomedicine Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of precision medicines for oncology and a member of Eisai’s global Oncology Business Group, today announced that data on one of its clinical programs has been published in the current issue of Cancer Research. The title of the paper, “H3B-6527 is a Potent and Selective Inhibitor of FGFR4 in FGF19-driven Hepatocellular Carcinoma,” was composed by H3 scientists with Anand Selvaraj, PhD, Senior Investigator as lead scientist on the study.
Nearly 40% Of Cancer Deaths Are Preventable With Lifestyle Changes
We know that certain lifestyle choices can increase the risk of cancer, but a new study puts into perspective just how many cancer-related deaths could be stopped by exercising more, drinking less, cutting out smoking, or making other lifestyle changes.
Nuke Med Intervention Safe, Effective Against Advanced Liver Cancer
Patients who have advanced liver cancer with blockage or narrowing of the blood vessel that brings blood to the liver from the intestines (i.e., portal vein thrombosis) are safely and effectively treated by interventional radiologists administering the isotope yttrium-90 (Y90) for radioembolization, according to a study conducted at Northwestern University and published online Dec. 7 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
TPX2 Suppresses Tumorigenicity In Hepatocellular Carcinoma
A new study has indicated that targeting TPX2 can suppress tumorigenicity in liver cancer cells, suggesting that this protein is a potential target for anticancer therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the most difficult cancers to treat with chemotherapies being relatively ineffective. Cell cycle deregulation is a common event in human cancer and provides several therapeutic strategies to inhibit cancer cell growth. Targeting protein for Xklp2 (TPX2) is a protein required for targeting kinesin-like protein-12 (Xklp2) to the spindle pole in Xenopus egg extracts. It has been found to be over-expressed as a consequence of oncogenic alterations and also alters the proper regulation of chromosome segregation in cancer cells.
In The Spotlight: Adaptimmune Therapeutics
Adaptimmune Therapeutics PLC has returned 97% this year, while the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF index, which tracks the investment results of biotechnology and pharmaceutical equities listed on the NASDAQ, is up only 17% year-to-date. Adaptimmune is focused on developing engineered T cell therapies. T cells are a type of white blood cells, which play an important role in the body's immune system and help fight cancer. T cells have 'T cell receptors' on their surface through which they recognize foreign substances (antigens) such as bacteria, a virus or tumor cell, and destroy them.
Genoscience Pharma Receives FDA Approval For Liver Cancer Study
Genoscience Pharma, a clinical-stage biotechnology company working to discover and develop cancer treatment drugs, announced today that its most advanced compound, GNS561, has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate a Phase Ib/IIa study in patients with advanced hepatocarcinoma (HCC).
What You Need To Know About CRISPR And Liver Cancer
Cancer that starts in the liver is called primary liver cancer. Hepatocellular Carcinoma, or HCC, is the most common type of primary liver cancer. Some people are surprised to learn that HCC is often caused by hepatitis B and C viruses. Now that hepatitis C virus infections can be cured, Christoph Seeger, PhD, of Fox Chase Cancer Center wants to help make sure that the estimated 257 million people living with chronic hepatitis B don’t get HCC.
Elevated Levels Of HBV DNA And Hbsag May Increase Liver Cancer Risk
HealthDay News — Elevated levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) are associated with increased risks of liver cancer, according to a study published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Yang Yang, from the Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine in China, and colleagues assessed the potential of HBsAg and viral load to stratify liver cancer risk. They performed a nested case-control study in 211 liver cancer cases and 221 controls who were sero-positive for HBsAg within two population-based cohorts in Shanghai.
Researchers May Have Confirmed Whether HCV Treatment Poses Liver Cancer Risk
Results from a large cohort study alleviate concerns that direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) could increase risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), while confirming that cirrhosis is a prominent factor in HCC — the fastest growing cause of cancer-related deaths in the US. There had been no consensus on the possibility that DAA treatment could increase risk for HCC as recently as the 2017 International Liver Congress, due to the inconsistent findings from relatively small trials, Raoel Maan, MD, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam and Jordan Feld, MD, MPH, Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto noted in commentary accompanying the study.
The MAPK Pathway As A Therapeutic Target In Cancer Research
Normal cell growth and motility are controlled by complex signaling pathways that respond to diverse environmental cues including nutrients, growth factors, hormones and components of the extracellular matrix. Understanding how intracellular signaling networks function in normal cells, and how they are altered in cancer cells, is a major challenge of cancer biology research. Playing a key role in the regulation of gene expression, cellular growth and survival, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is one signaling element that’s of particular interest in cancer research. Aberrant MAPK signaling is known to play a critical role in the development and progression of cancer and determining response to treatment.
Why You Should Learn To Love Viruses
I love viruses. That might sound strange to you if your last encounter with one was unpleasant. But let me explain. Viruses are diverse. Some are annoying (influenza virus), some are scary (Ebola), and some are just weird (a virus shaped like a lemon). My favorite virus is vaccinia virus. Vaccinia is the agent responsible for eradicating smallpox – the disease that claimed kings and pharaohs. But this misshapen lump of genetic material can be used for other purposes. It can be used to develop new vaccines, or antivirals, or even kill cancer.
Emerging Developments In Nets, Liver Cancer
Rapid advancements in understanding the biology of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) have made this a thrilling time to be an oncologist in this field, according to Scott Paulson, MD. “It has really been a pretty exciting field the past couple of years,” said Paulson. “[There has been] a lot of energy and excitement about how things are changing.”
Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL) today announced that the phase 3 CELESTIAL trial results have been accepted as a late-breaking presentation at the 2018 ASCO-GI Symposium, which is being held January 18 – 20, 2018 in San Francisco. Detailed results from CELESTIAL, the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of cabozantinib versus placebo in patients with advanced HCC who have received prior treatment with sorafenib, will be presented during Oral Abstract Session B: Cancers of the Pancreas, Small Bowel, and Hepatobiliary Tract, which begins at 2:15 p.m. PT on Friday, January 19, 2018.
30 Days Of Superfoods: Brazil Nuts To Protect Against Liver Cancer
A 2016 study involving 477,000 adults found that those with the highest selenium levels were 5 to 10 times less likely to get liver cancer than those with the lowest levels. In part, that’s because selenium is required for glutathione peroxidase—an antioxidant and major detoxification enzyme—to work in the liver.
The Global Presence and Causes of Primary Liver Cancer
In 2015, there were 810,000 liver cancer deaths globally making it the fourth leading cause of cancer death after lung, colorectal, and stomach cancer. Various types of primary liver cancer exist with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma (also known as bile duct cancer) being the most common type worldwide. A recent investigation carried out by researchers and published in JAMA Oncology has set out to determine the global burden and major risk factors for primary liver cancer between 1990 and 2015.
Liver Cancer Risk Higher For Men Above 50 Who Recover From Hepatitis B, Hong Kong Study Warns
On Monday at a press conference, researchers discussed the findings of the report, released earlier in the international medical publication the Journal of Hepatology. The study looked at data from more than 150,000 hepatitis B virus carriers collected from Hong Kong’s public hospitals from 2000 to 2016. Of these patients, 4,568 were identified as having recovered from the infection.
ACP And CDC Issue Recommendations For Hepatitis B Screening, Vaccination, And Care
The American College of Physicians (ACP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that hepatitis B is a serious health threat and should be a public health priority. They recommend screening at-risk adults, increasing hepatitis B vaccination rates, and linking infected persons to care. A joint clinical practice guideline is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Switching Liver Cancer Cell Growth From 2-D To 3-D Structures
Paving the way for testing experimental drugs in more realistic environments, scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have discovered how to make tiny colonies of cells grow in useful new ways inside petri dishes.
Lower-Dose Sorafenib Linked to Reduced Discontinuation Rate in HCC
Results from a retrospective, multi-institutional study showed that lowering the dose of sorafenib (Nexavar) for patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) reduced pill burden and treatment costs, while showing a trend toward improved treatment completion.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was tied to an increased risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), colorectal cancer in men, and breast cancer in women, South Korean researchers found. Adjusted results from an observational meta-analysis of a cohort of 25,947 patients showed that after a median follow-up of 7.5 years, the cancer incidence rate was 782.9 per 100,000 person-years in 8,721 patients (33.6%) with NAFLD compared with 592.8 per 100,000 person-years in those without NAFLD (hazard ratio 1.32, P<0.001), according to Gi-Ae Kim of the University of Ulsan College of Medicine in Seoul, and colleagues.
Nivolumab Improves Outcomes In Liver Cancer Study
Nivolumab (Opdivo), a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor that helps the immune system fight cancer, was associated with a decrease in tumor size or disease stabilization in people with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) in the CheckMate 040 study, according to a report at the 2017 AASLD Liver Meeting last month in Washington, DC.
First Functional Liver Tumor Organoids Developed
Scientists have created mini biological models of human primary liver cancers, known as organoids, in the lab for the first time. In a paper published today in Nature Medicine, the tiny laboratory models of tumors were used to identify a new drug that could potentially treat certain types of liver cancer.
Kochi Researchers Find Way To ‘Burn’ Liver Cancer
Researchers at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) in Kochi have turned a substance commonly found in bones into a potent weapon that can seek and kill tumor cells. Tiny particles of calcium phosphate, a biomineral that is a natural constituent of the bone, when doped with similarly small iron particles, can become what medical scientists call a theranostic agent, a substance that serves both diagnostic and therapeutic functions, the AIMS scientists found.
A New Strategy For Prevention Of Liver Cancer Development
Primary liver cancer is now the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and its incidences and mortality are increasing rapidly in the United Stated. In late stages of the malignancy, there are no effective treatments or drugs. However, an unexpected finding made by a team of University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers sheds light on the development of a new strategy for prevention of liver cancer.
New Vaccine For Hepatitis B Gets FDA Approval
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Heplisav-B (hepatitis B vaccine, recombinant [adjuvanted]; Dynavax) for the prevention of infection caused by all known subtypes of hepatitis B virus. Heplisav-B is approved for use in adults 18 years of age and older. Infection with hepatitis B virus can have serious consequences including massive hepatic necrosis and chronic active hepatitis. Chronically infected patients are at risk for cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
Advanced New Tools Used To Treat Liver Cancer At Grand River
Two new advanced procedures are being used at Grand River Hospital for liver cancer patients. "It gives us another weapon to treat cancer," said interventional radiologist Dr. Darren Knibutat. He demonstrated one of the treatments — radiofrequency ablation — on a cow liver Friday. Radiofrequency ablation uses a small probe that's inserted through the skin using medical imaging guidance to position it within the tumor. Once it is in the right spot, thin prongs shaped like umbrella arms come out of the end of the probe and go into the tumor to deliver the radiofrequency energy that burns the tissue. "It will kill all the tissue cells that are there and treat the patient's cancer," Knibutat said.
Singapore's Restalyst Develops New Method To Improve Liver Cancer Diagnosis
Singapore biomedical firm Restalyst has developed a new algorithm to detect liver cancer more accurately, improving the sensitivity to 90%. The new methodology looks at three factors: membrane bound protein ERBB3, AFP (alpha fetoprotein) and age of patient. It will detect and identify liver cancer more effectively, and better distinguish liver cancer from chronic hepatitis condition.
How Chronic Inflammation Tips The Balance Of Immune Cells To Promote Liver Cancer
Chronic inflammation is known to drive many cancers, especially liver cancer. Researchers have long thought that’s because inflammation directly affects cancer cells, stimulating their division and protecting them from cell death. But University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers have now found that chronic liver inflammation also promotes cancer by suppressing immunosurveillance — a natural defense mechanism in which it’s thought the immune system suppresses cancer development.
Regorafenib Not Cost-Effective As Second-Line Therapy For Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Although clinically effective, the use of regorafenib as second-line therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma did not appear cost-effective, according to study results. Regorafenib (Stivarga, Bayer) demonstrated an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $224,362 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) compared with best supportive care.
Netscientific’s Glycotest Subsidiary Allowed Chinese Patent For Liver Cancer Blood Test
Having IP protection for HCC Panel in China is an important milestone for Glycotest, with the country having a notoriously high liver cancer death rate. Glycotest, a portfolio company of Netscientific PLC (LON:NSCI), has been allowed a patent in China for its lead product, HCC Panel – a blood test designed to detect early-stage liver cancer. The patent expands the company's existing patent portfolio, which stands at ten previously granted or allowed patents, protecting multiple aspects of its proprietary liver disease diagnostic platform.
Liver Cancer Becoming Prominent Among Indian Youngsters Due To Poor Lifestyle
Cancer seems to have a way of deeply invading the lives of those stricken by the disease. And very often, the treatment isn't much friendlier to patients. But some recent advances in cancer treatment are helping, including some minimally invasive and non-surgical procedures, especially in case of liver tumors. While surgery to remove a liver tumor offers the best chance for a cure, surgery is not an option for more than two-thirds of patients with primary liver cancer, which is said to be the fifth most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Approximately, seventy percent of patients with liver cancer cannot opt for surgery for many reasons, like, the tumors could be too large to be removed, or they could be too close to major blood vessels or other organs.
The Clear Reason Exelixis, Inc. Rocketed Higher By As Much As 10%
Shares of Exelixis (NASDAQ:EXEL), a mid-cap drug developer with a focus on novel cancer therapies, rocketed higher by as much as 10% during Thursday's trading session after the company reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings results following the closing bell on Wednesday.
International Panel Describes Evolving Challenges In HCC
Although new therapies are being rapidly introduced in the Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) field after years of clinical trial disappointments, clinicians face many challenges when treating patients with this malignancy, including delays in diagnosis and comorbidities.
Worldwide Hepatocellular Carcinoma Drugs Market By 2021
Hepatocellular Carcinoma Drugs Market report delivers information about vendors, geographical regions, annual growth rate, market share, revenue and the actual process of whole Hepatocellular Carcinoma Drugs industry. The Market report also gives present and forthcoming opportunities to explain the future investment in the Hepatocellular Carcinoma Drugs market.
Treating HCV In HIV-Coinfection: Still A Therapeutic Dilemma?
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects an estimated 2.7 million to 3.9 million people in the United States.1 HCV can lead to cirrhosis, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, and end-stage liver disease if left untreated. In patients with HIV, the progression to cirrhosis is more rapid than in mono-infected patients.2 In the United States, about one-quarter of HIV infected patients are also coinfected with HCV.3 Across the world, patients with HIV are 6 times more likely to be infected with HCV than the general population.
Hepatitis B Viral Load, Surface Antigen May ID Liver Cancer Risk
Elevated levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) are associated with increased risks of liver cancer, according to a study published online Oct. 24 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Solutions: Eating For Life; Spermidine, A Food Compound, May Help Prevent Disease And Prolong Life
Which foods help us live longer? Texas Medical Center researchers aim to prove that spermidine-rich foods help prevent disease and increase the lifespan of humans. Spermidine, a type of organic compound called a polyamine, was first isolated from semen, hence its name. The compound is found in aged cheese, mushrooms, soy products, legumes, yogurt with probiotic LKM512, deepsea snails, corn and whole grains. Leyuan Liu, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Center for Translational Cancer Research at Texas A&M Institute of Biosciences and Technology, is part of a group that has found spermidine to prevent liver fibrosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), a common type of liver cancer, in animal models.
Research Team Gains Edge In Fighting Cancer
A research team at the University of Hong Kong has found a new approach to mitigating cancer growth and boosting the effectiveness of immunotherapy on liver cancer. Liver cancer is the third most deadly form of the disease in Hong Kong. It has a high recurrence rate, with 80 percent of cases inoperable. Immunotherapy boosts natural defenses to fight cancer cells and has few side effects, but it has worked on only about 20 percent of liver cancer patients.
Can Daily Aspirin Help Prevent Liver Cancer?
Daily aspirin therapy is often prescribed to prevent heart disease and stroke, and there is strong evidence that it can help prevent colorectal cancer in certain people. Aspirin’s preventive benefits have been tested in other cancers without definitive findings, but now a study suggests that taking the drug once a day can reduce the risk of getting liver cancer from hepatitis B.
SIRT Does Not Improve Overall Survival Vs Sorafenib In Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Selective internal radiotherapy (SIRT) with yttrium-90 (90Y) resin microspheres did not prolong survival among patients with advanced- or intermediate-stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) after unsuccessful chemoembolization, according to a study published in Lancet Oncology. Sorafenib is the standard treatment for patients with advanced HCC and prolongs overall survival, but many patients are unresponsive to therapy after undergoing transarterial chemoembolization.
Is Y-90 Resin Microspheres Better Or Worse Than Sorafenib For Treating Liver Cancer?
This week in Lancet Oncology, Valérie Vilgrain, M.D., of Hôpitaux de Paris in Clichy, France and colleagues published results from a phase 3 study comparing radiation therapy with yttrium(Y)-90 resin microspheres to standard therapy (sorafenib) in patients with liver cancer. The study observed that efficacy was the same for both treatments. Hepatocellular Carcinoma is a cancer of the liver with a poor prognosis. The five-year survival rates range from 3% in advanced stages to approximately 30% in localized forms of the rare cancer. Hepatocellular cancer most frequently develops in people with a history of chronic liver conditions and approximately one-third of patients with liver cirrhosis will develop Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
Gamers Can Now Help Find A Cure For A Toxin That Causes Liver Cancer
Liver cancer is the third leading cause of death globally; around 83% of cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. While exact numbers are hard to pin down, scientists estimate that around 25% of liver cancer cases worldwide each year are attributable to exposure to a carcinogen called aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring poison, commonly found in fungi that grow in staple foods like maize, nuts, and grains. Around 4.5 billion people living in developing-world countries are regularly exposed to the toxin because they don’t have the resources to detect it. This can lead to massive outbreaks of liver cancer, like the epidemic that struck Kenya in 2004 after a drought left the maize harvest particularly susceptible to mold. Between January and June of that year, around 317 people sought treatment for liver failure; one quarter died. Testing of the maize crops revealed that aflatoxin concentrations were 4,400 parts per billion, 220 times the Kenyan legal limit for food.
How To Be An Advocate For People With Liver Cancer
There’s an old adage: “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” In the cancer community, the role of an advocate is to be the squeaky wheel, to raise awareness so that attention and resources will be devoted to their cause. Often, the most effective advocates for cancer are patients and their loved ones, but they are not necessarily advocacy experts. They learn over time. For people diagnosed with liver cancer, time is of the essence. According to the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, only 18 percent of people with liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer in the U.S. survive beyond five years after diagnosis. Because liver cancer is so aggressive and the survival rate so poor, it should be addressed as an important public health issue.
Researchers Link Some Plants Used In Traditional Herbal Medicine To Liver Cancer
A new study conducted by researchers from Singapore and Taiwan has found a link between some plants used in Chinese herbal remedies and liver cancers. In the study, published online last week in the medical journal Science Translational Medicine, a team of scientists examined 98 liver tumors from Taiwan and found that 78 percent showed signs indicating exposure to “aristolochic acids” (AA), a carcinogenic compound found in plants used in some traditional medicines. The compounds have also been linked to urinary tract cancers and kidney failures.
Daily Aspirin Reduces Liver Cancer Risk From Hepatitis B
Many patients take daily aspirin to help reduce their risk of heart disease. New findings from a study presented at The Liver Meeting suggest that daily aspirin may also decrease the risk of liver cancer related to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV). Currently, more than 240 million individuals have HBV around the world. Since the infection can cause serious liver damage, a majority of HBV-related deaths are the result of cirrhosis or Hepatocellular Carcinoma, according to the study. Previous studies have found that aspirin may reduce the risk of HBV-related liver cancer, but clinical evidence was limited. The authors of the current study conducted a nationwide cohort analysis in Taiwan to determine whether liver cancer could be mitigated by daily aspirin. “Liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and HBV is the most prevalent risk factor in our region,” said lead investigator Teng Yu Lee, MD, PhD. “HBV-related liver cancer is therefore a major public health issue with a severe socioeconomic impact.”
Gadoxetic Acid Enhanced MRI Identifies Prognosis Of Liver Cancer Patients
Gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exhibits the ability to predict which patients with liver cancer may have a poor prognosis, according to a study published in Medicine. Such information can aid in treatment planning for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and help identify which patients should be closely monitored for signs of early recurrence after treatment. Poorly differentiated HCC is associated with a poor prognosis. Liver biopsy before treatment can often determine differentiation degrees, but it is an invasive procedure. MRI images acquired with the use of a gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diatylentriamine (Gd-EOB-DTPA) contrast agent can allow liver function to be quantitatively assessed. Because HCC cells cannot uptake gadoxetic acid contrast agent, they display as hypointense nodules on the hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetic acid enhanced MR image.
What You Should Know About Liver Cancer
Primary liver cancer has been relatively rare in the U.S., but the incidence — and death rate — is on the rise, says Dr. Ghassan Abou-Alfa, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, liver cancer incidence increased 2.3 percent per year between 2003 and 2012, and the rate of deaths is increasing faster than for other types of cancer. The liver performs many vital tasks, including cleaning toxic substances from the blood, helping with digestion and releasing sugar for energy. Often, cancer in the liver is actually metastatic disease — cancer that has spread from another location. "This is more common than liver cancer itself," says Dr. Debashish Bose, a surgical oncologist at Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center.
Experts Raise Red Flag Over Fatty Liver Disease
An increasing epidemic of fatty liver disease in the U.S. is likely to ruin the health of millions and cost billions of dollars a year, experts said here. Some 65 million Americans have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and that number will reach 100 million by 2030, according to Scott Friedman, MD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Currently 16.5 million people have the most serious subtype of NAFLD, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a number that will rise to 27 million, he told reporters at the Liver Meeting, the annual conference of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.
The relationship between high risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and death in patients with immune-tolerant-phase chronic hepatitis B (CHB) was examined. Compared to treated immune-active (IA)-phase patients, untreated immune-tolerant (IT)-phase patients with CHB had higher risks of HCC and death/transplantation. Through earlier antiviral intervention in select IT-phase patients, unnecessary deaths could be prevented.
Liver Cancer Transplant Rates Vary By Ethnicity
African-American patients at a major liver transplant center in the Midwest received liver transplantation less often than their white counterparts, even though they had about the same degree of illness, researchers said here. In a 15-year cohort of liver cancer patients treated at two Indiana University clinics, 14% of African-American liver cancer patients underwent transplants compared with 26% of Caucasian patients despite both groups having similar MELD scores, Child-Pugh scores and BCLC staging, Lauren Nephew, MD, a transplant pathologist at Indiana University in Indianapolis.
October Is Liver Cancer Awareness Month
October is recognized worldwide as Breast Cancer Awareness Month; many don't know this month celebrates Liver Cancer Awareness. Studies show rates of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), a form of liver cancer, is highest among south Texas Hispanics. Doctors say HCCA is a potentially preventable disease, as the main causes of liver cancer come from chronic infections like Hepatitis B and C, and Chronic Alcohol Abuse. Dr. Hashem El-Serag, Baylor College of Medicine said, "Those who get Hepatocellular Carcinoma, the prognosis is dismal. Despite all the advancements in screening, diagnosis, and treatment, the overall survival after being diagnosed with Hepatocellular Carcinoma is anywhere between five to ten percent at five years."
Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy Linked To 71% Reduction In Liver Cancer Risk
A new study presented this week at The Liver Meeting, held by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, found that eradication of the hepatitis C virus induced by direct-acting antiviral medications is associated with a 71 percent reduction in the risk of liver cancer. Hepatitis C virus, commonly called HCV, is one of several viruses that can infect the liver. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 2.7 million people in the United States are infected with HCV. In addition, HCV along with chronic hepatitis B virus infections account for approximately 78 percent of all liver cancer cases worldwide. Researchers at the University of Washington, Seattle and the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Healthcare System in Seattle recently conducted a study to determine whether the eradication of HCV with direct-acting antivirals; used to stop the lifecycle of HCV; could reduce liver cancer risk in patients.
Other novel approaches in HCC are difficult now. We had great hopes for the tivantinib trial, which was recently published. The trial was based on a phase II trial that indicated that c-MET in HCC could be a negative prognostic marker, and that patients who have c-MET-high tumors would derive a benefit from treatment with tivantinib. Based on the phase II data, a phase III study has been initiated and has now been reported. Unfortunately, the study was completely negative and, interestingly, in two respects.
Multi-Centre Trial Paves Way For Immunotherapy In Advanced Liver Cancer
Promising results from an international clinical trial has revealed the efficacy of using immunotherapy against advanced liver cancer or Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). The National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), together with institutions from 10 other countries, conducted a multi-centre, non-comparative, open-label phase 1/2 trial to assess the efficacy and safety of nivolumab in 262 patients with advanced HCC. The study included HCC patients with and without hepatitis B or C infection and across all PDL-1 expression levels.
Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers Offers Prevention And Treatment Options For Liver Cancer
Liver cancer or Hepatocellular Carcinoma is a cancer that starts only in the liver. When you have another cancer that has spread into the liver, that is called metastatic disease. Liver cancer is caused by chronic inflammation in the liver usually because of infections like hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Other causes of Liver cancer are cirrhosis from chronic alcoholism or fatty liver disease, which results in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which comes from obesity. In places where hepatitis B is prevalent, like Asia or Africa, the cause is more from the infection but in the United States, the most common cause is from alcoholism along with hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
Cabometyx Improves Survival In Advanced Liver Cancer
Overall survival (OS) was improved when patients with advanced liver cancer took Cabometyx (cabozantinib), compared to those who were given placebo. All participants previously took Nexavar (sorafenib). An independent monitoring committee has recommended stopping the study for efficacy following review of the second planned interim analysis, according to Exelixis and Ipsen, the co-developers of the multikinase inhibitor. The companies have not released data from CELESTIAL, announcing that detailed results will be presented at a future medical conference.
Can DNA 'Liquid Biopsy' Diagnose Hepatocellular Carcinoma?
'Liquid biopsy' technology holds promise for diagnosing, monitoring, and predicting prognosis in patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), according to a study published online October 9 in Nature Materials. Rui-hua Xu, from State Key Laboratory of Oncology in China, and colleagues compared HCC tissue and normal blood leukocytes from circulating tumor (ctDNA) samples from a cohort of 1,098 HCC patients and 835 normal controls in order to identify an HCC-specific methylation marker panel.
Emerging Approaches In Liver Cancer
One novel approach is ramucirumab. It is an antibody of VEGF receptor 2. It’s an interesting drug, because it’s active. We know it from colorectal cancer, we know it from non–small cell lung cancer, and we know it from gastric cancer. It’s active and it doesn’t have that many side effects. We know it from former trials in HCC that only patients with high AFP levels, higher than 400 ng/mL, benefit from the treatment. Now it’s tested in a phase III trial compared with placebo in a 2:1 fashion, and we’re quite curious to see the data. Combination therapies are also a good question in HCC. We had some trials that were negative because, I think in my opinion, it was the problem that we combined two toxic agents. We know that erlotinib, which is active in patients with pancreatic cancer and in patients with lung cancer, is targeting the EGF receptor pathway. It was combined together with sorafenib, and we had no more efficacy but we had much more side effects.
Exelixis Liver Cancer Drug Meets Late-Stage Goal, Shares Jump
Exelixis Inc. said on Monday its drug to treat patients with a type of liver cancer met the main goal in a late stage study, sending its shares up 19 percent in premarket trading. The drug, cabozantinib, showed statistically significant improvement in overall survival in advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma patients who had been previously treated with Bayer AG and Amgen's sorafenib, compared with a placebo. Exelixis plans to file for an expanded label for the drug with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the first quarter of 2018.
USC Team Discovers How Liver Cancer Cells Survive
Keck School of Medicine of USC research team has identified how liver cancer stem cells survive. This finding may one day lead to new therapies for liver cancer, which is especially important because incidence rates for the cancer have been rising steadily. “Liver cancer is difficult to treat, and most patients who are diagnosed with it will die within a five-year period,” said Jing-Hsiung James Ou, senior author of a new study and a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Keck School of Medicine. “My team has identified how liver cancer stem cells are maintained. Without these ‘seeds of cancer,’ liver tumors would shrink and eventually disappear.” New liver cancer cases went up 38 percent from 2003 to 2012, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease’s death rate increased by 56 percent to 23,000 deaths between 2012 and 2003.
Halting Liver Cancer With A Sugar Look-A-Like
Researchers at the RIKEN Global Research Cluster in Japan have discovered a way to prevent the spread of cancer in the liver. Published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology, the study details how treatment with a modified fucose sugar can disrupt a biological pathway, which in turn blocks hepatoma — cancer cells in the liver — from invading healthy liver cells. Many important biological functions depend on a process called glycosylation, which is the attachment of sugars to other molecules such as proteins, lipids, or other sugars. When the sugar fucose (Fuc) is attached to a chain of sugars called glycans, they are said to be a fucosylated.
H3 Biomedicine Granted Orphan Drug Designation Of H3B-6527 For Treatment Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
H3 Biomedicine Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of precision medicines for oncology and a member of Eisai’s global Oncology Business Group, announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the company an orphan drug designation for H3B-6527, its first solid tumor clinical compound, for the treatment of patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). H3B-6527, a selective, orally bioavailable, and potent covalent inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials.
Immunotherapy is great; at least we assume that it’s great. But — and this is unfortunately a “but” that is getting bigger and bigger. Actually, we have seen very promising data with nivolumab. I think patients who respond to immunotherapies have a really, extremely good prognosis. The problem is that not all patients with HCC really respond to immunotherapy. So, similar to other solid tumors, we only see response rate of around 20% to 25%. For these patients, immunotherapy is really a great treatment. It has only a few side effects. It’s very well tolerated by our patients, and these patients have long-term disease control. As we can see so far, we do not really have a decline in liver function and there is no effect of any of the underlying liver diseases. So, this is really great and good news.
Global Burden Of Disease Study Focuses On Liver Cancer
A new article published by JAMA Oncology reports the results of the Global Burden of Disease 2015 study on primary liver cancer incidence, death and years of healthy life lost in 195 countries or territories from 1990 to 2015. Liver cancer is among the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. The article by the Global Burden of Disease Liver Cancer Collaboration and corresponding author Christina Fitzmaurice, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Washington, Seattle, estimates there were 854,000 new cases of liver cancer and 810,000 deaths globally in 2015. Cases of incident (new) liver cancer increased 75 percent between 1990 and 2015, which was mostly explained by population aging and population growth, according to the authors.
Oranitib Plus cTACE Fails To Prolong Overall Survival In Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Orantinib plus conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (cTACE) does not improve overall survival (OS) over cTACE alone among patients with unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma, according to a study published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology. TACE is associated with significant risks such as metastasis, liver dysfunction, and incomplete tumor necrosis. A previous study demonstrated that TACE plus orantinib insignificantly prolonged progression-free survival (PFS), though it did not improve OS.
Caregivers Wish Liver Cancer Received Greater Public Awareness In The U.S., New Survey Reveals
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, in collaboration with Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association, a leading liver cancer patient advocacy organization, today announced the findings from a new survey exploring the experiences of caregivers of people living with early or advanced stage liver cancer in the U.S. According to the caregivers surveyed, 90 percent wish there was more public awareness of the seriousness of a liver cancer diagnosis and 77 percent think liver cancer doesn’t get as much attention as other cancers. This is despite the fact that the incidence of liver cancer in the U.S. has more than tripled since 1980, and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) — the most common type of liver cancer — is the fastest-growing cause of cancer death in the U.S.
FDA Approves Nivolumab For Treating Liver Cancer
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval to nivolumab (Opdivo) for the treatment of patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) who have previously received sorafenib. The recommended dose is 240 mg delivered intravenously over a 60-minute infusion every two weeks, until either disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. “Unfortunately, the majority of HCC patients are diagnosed with advanced-stage disease and are not candidates for potentially curative surgical interventions,” said Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, MD, of the Saint Louis University Liver Center, in a press release. “More options are needed for advanced-stage HCC patients who have failed prior systemic therapy.”
FDA Accepts Lenvatinib Application For Advanced HCC
The FDA has accepted a supplemental new drug application for lenvatinib (Lenvima) as a frontline systemic treatment for patients with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), according to a statement from the company developing the therapy, Eisai. Under a standard review, the FDA will render a decision within 10 months.
Therapeutic Advancements Changing Liver Cancer Paradigm
For nearly a decade after the 2007 approval of sorafenib (Nexavar), there were no new therapies approved for HCC. However, there are now new drugs showing promise, according to Steven R. Alberts, MD. In April 2017, the FDA approved regorafenib (Stivarga), a small-molecule multikinase inhibitor, as a second-line treatment for patients with HCC who had previously received sorafenib.
Reduce Alcohol By A Liter A Year, See A 15 Per Cent Reduction In Liver Cancer
Reducing Australia's per-capita alcohol consumption by just one liter a year would drive a significant reduction in head, neck and liver cancer deaths. That's the conclusion of a new study that offers the first suggestive evidence that a decrease in Australia's population-level drinking — as opposed to individual-level — would reduce the prevalence of cancer deaths particularly among men and over 50s.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Thoughts On Liver Transplantation
LIVER TRANSPLANT offers the highest rates of long-term survival for patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, according to Maria Russell, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery at Emory University, Atlanta. At the 2017 Debates and Didactics in Hematology and Oncology Conference at Sea Island, Georgia, Dr. Russell described the latest trends in liver transplantation. The other potentially curative option is surgical resection, and choosing between the two modalities is not always simple. “Patients don’t always fall into nice slots,” she admitted. If both modalities are available to the patient with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, selection takes into account the degree of cirrhosis, the size and number of lesions, the presence of portal hypertension and comorbidities, and insurance/citizenship status.
Unmet Needs In Systemic Therapy For Liver Cancer
In the past year, there have been many negative trials in HCC, both in first-line and in second-line. The first positive trial was with sorafenib, which was published in 2008. Moreover, many investigators thought that treatment with sorafenib could clearly be improved with other tyrosine kinase inhibitors. And sorafenib was always considered as a low-hanging fruit, as well as treatment in second-line where we only have best supportive care.
Mayor Rogers Announces He Has Stage 4 Liver Cancer, Will Continue Role As Mayor
Surrounded by his City Council colleagues and the media, Burbank Mayor Will Rogers announced on Wednesday that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer and non-alcoholic cirrhosis. “Like every one of us here today, I don’t know if I have another week or another five weeks,” Rogers said during a press conference on the steps of City Hall. For the last two years, Rogers, 60, said his doctors have diagnosed him and have cleared him of any cancer four times, but his recent diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, one of the most common forms of liver cancer, was much more serious than the rest.
Initial Treatment Decisions In Liver Cancer
When we make a diagnosis of metastatic disease at the moment, we do not really have so many treatment options. In general, and if you look at most guidelines, we would recommend systemic therapies. However, this might not always be required. And I think it really depends on the extent of metastatic disease. Sometimes we have patients who just have small lymph nodes, like one or two metastases in the lung, and the main tumor burden in the liver. I think these patients are also candidates for local therapies — with all the caution I have mentioned before, that we should not overuse local therapies. But I think we should also not underuse local therapies. There could be a mixture.
Does Reducing The Starting Dose Of Sorafenib Affect Outcomes In Hepatocellular Carcinoma?
In a retrospective study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Reiss et al found that reducing the starting dose of sorafenib (Nexavar) was associated with noninferior overall survival, reduced cost, and lower risk of discontinuing treatment in patients with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
Study Shows DAAs Are Not Associated With Increased HCC Recurrence Risk
Direct acting antivirals (DAA) are a novel and completely oral hepatitis C therapy that is associated with a high response rate. DAAs are used in most patients being treated for hepatitis C, including those with decompensated cirrhosis. This type of treatment has now completely replaced interferon-based therapy for patients with hepatitis C, a therapy that was also associated with a decrease in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) incidence in 40% to 50% of patients.
Lenvatinib Continues To Show Noninferiority To Sorafenib In Liver Cancer
First-line therapy with lenvatinib (Lenvima) continued to be noninferior in overall survival (OS) and achieve significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS), time to progression, and objective response rate (ORR) compared with sorafenib (Nexavar) for patients with unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), according to updated phase III results presented at the 11th Annual International Liver Cancer Association Conference.
BLU-554 Associated With Improved Response In HCC
BLU-554, a potent and highly selective inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), induced an overall response rate of 16% (95% CI, 6 – 31) in patients with FGF 19 immunohistochemistry (IHC)-positive Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), according to findings presented at the 11th Annual Conference of the International Liver Cancer Association in Seoul, South Korea.
STORM Study Fails To Find Predictive Biomarkers For Sorafenib In HCC
Hepatocyte pERK-positive immunostaining and microvascular invasion were independent prognostic factors of recurrence-free survival (RFS) for patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) treated with adjuvant sorafenib (Nexavar); however, a predictive biomarker for recurrence was not uncovered, according to an analysis of the phase III STORM study presented at the 11th International Liver Cancer Association Annual Conference.
Precision Screening May Improve Surveillance In HCC
During a presentation at the 2017 International Liver Cancer Association Annual Conference, Amit G. Singal, MD, MS, stressed that precision screening for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) could improve on current screening techniques through its risk-stratifying approach. The current standard of care for HCC surveillance is ultrasound with or without serum biomarker including alpha-fetoprotein. Not only is this approach highly operator-dependent, but patient characteristics such as obesity, liver nodularity and echogenicity, and presence of ascites can limit accuracy.
Finn Highlights Practice-Changing Studies In Liver Cancer
The 11th International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) Annual Conference, taking place September 15 to 17 in Seoul, South Korea, is showcasing multidisciplinary findings across the field of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Pivotal research on VEGF inhibitors, immunotherapy regimens, and biomarkers are among the much-discussed abstracts at this year’s ILCA conference.
Hong Kong Study Shows HBV Treatment Reduces Liver Cancer Incidence
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) treatment is confirmed an effective way to reduce liver cancer incidence, according to a study by the University of Hong Kong which made the results public on Thursday.The university's research team obtained 14-year (from 1999 to 2012) HBV treatment data in specialist outpatient clinics in Hong Kong and statistically studied the effect of HBV treatment on liver cancer trends. It is found that HBV treatment is associated with a reduction in overall liver cancer incidence, and the effect is the most obvious among the age group of 55 – 64 years.
Algae Blooms Linked To Liver Cancer
An Ohio State University study recently found that people in areas with blue-green algae blooms are more likely to die from non-alcohol related liver disease. Dr. Edie Widder with the Ocean Research and Conversation Association (ORCA) says there are several ways how you can absorb the dangerous toxins. "It was crazy for people to be out water skiing"," Widder said, referring to a major bloom last year in Martin County, Florida. "That's one of the best ways you can ever take up these toxins.
Oliver Waidmann, MD: Locoregional therapies are the standard of care in intermediate-stage HCC, so-called BCLC-B patients. I think the most important and most familiar used treatment option is so-called transarterial chemoembolization, or TACE. TACE is an appropriate choice in every patient who has local and regional disease, so-called BCLC-B disease. You can do it even in some patients with BCLC-C stage, but with these patients, you should not have an infiltration of the main portal vein and you should not have complete portal vein thrombosis. These patients are, in principle, eligible for TACE, but you have to consider that the patients, if they have decrease of liver function after 1 or 2 cycles of TACE, won’t benefit from further cycles and then you should switch to another treatment option.
Lenvatinib May Delay Functional Deterioration In Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Lenvatinib may delay deterioration and improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes among patients with unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) compared with sorafenib, according to a study presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2017 Congress. In the phase 3, non-inferiority REFLECT study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01761266), researchers compared the safety and efficacy of lenvatinib with sorafenib. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to evaluate the effect the study treatments would have on HRQOL. Nine hundred and fifty-four patients with unresectable HCC were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive lenvatinib or sorafenib.
Researchers Discover Major Mechanism In Development Of Liver Cancer
An international team of researchers headed up by UZH Professor Achim Weber from the Institute of Pathology and Molecular Pathology of the University Hospital Zurich and Mathias Heikenwälder, professor at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg, Germany, has discovered a major mechanism in the development of liver cancer. One of the main players in this process is enzyme caspase-8, which assumes an important dual role.
Onxeo S.A., a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in the development of innovative drugs for the treatment of orphan diseases, in particular in oncology, today announced top line results from the phase III ReLive trial of Livatag® (doxorubicine Transdrug™) in adult patients with unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), intolerant to sorafenib or having progressed after a systemic therapy including sorafenib, when compared to best standard of care. The study did not meet its primary endpoint of improving survival over the comparative group.
A Bangladeshi Researcher At The Forefront Of Fight Against Liver Cancer
Dr. Devanand Sarkar’s groundbreaking research that uncovered the mechanism of development of liver cancer is now in the spotlight once again. His new research is close to bringing about new treatments for liver cancer. Dr. Sarkar and his colleagues had originally discovered and cloned AEG-1 gene, which was overexpressed in liver cancer and made cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy. His team also discovered another gene called SND1, which also promotes liver cancer. After discovering the mechanism, he developed therapeutic approach including nanoparticle-based therapy and other drug that successfully blocked both of these genes in mouse model.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Blueprint Medicines Corporation, a leader in discovering and developing targeted kinase medicines for patients with genomically defined diseases, today announced updated data from its ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of BLU-554, a potent and highly selective inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) for the treatment of patients with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). As of a data cutoff date of August 18, 2017, BLU-554 demonstrated a 16 percent objective response rate (ORR) in patients with FGFR4-driven HCC. In addition, 49 percent of patients with FGFR4-driven HCC had radiographic tumor reduction. BLU-554 was well tolerated and most adverse events (AEs) reported by investigators were Grade 1 or 2. The data will be presented today in an oral presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2017 Congress in Madrid, Spain.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Resection Vs. Transplantation
Liver transplantation is the gold standard for treating early hepatocellular cancers. Because of the lack of donors, this option is, however, available to a limited degree only. Curative liver resection is an alternative in this setting. Markus B. Schoenberg, Julian N. Bucher, and coauthors investigated whether liver resection (LR) can yield results that are comparable to those of liver transplantation.
Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Osaka, Representative Director and President: Gyo Sagara, “Ono”) and Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Haruo Naito, “Eisai”) have announced that they have entered into a collaboration agreement to jointly develop the combination therapy of Ono’s human anti-human PD-1 (programmed cell death-1) monoclonal antibody, Opdivo® (nivolumab) and Eisai’s multi-kinase inhibitor, Lenvima® (lenvatinib mesylate) for the treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Based on this agreement, Ono and Eisai will swiftly implement a Phase Ib clinical trial in Japan to investigate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of the combination of Opdivo and Lenvima in patients with HCC. Details relating to the financial and other conditions of this agreement are confidential.
Words Of Wisdom For Patients With Liver Cancer
Andrea J. Wilson, president and founder of Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association, offers advice for patients with liver cancer. Wilson started the foundation after her younger sister, Adrienne, died of liver cancer. First and foremost, Wilson wants patients to know that liver cancer is not their fault. Liver cancer is a “silent killer” and often not diagnosed until the later stages, but regardless of a person’s diagnosis or lifestyle, Wilson emphasized that she wouldn’t wish this disease on anyone. Next, she encouraged people to visit www.bluefaery.org for resources and information on the disease.
Liver Cancer Screening Strategies
For patients with HCC, early diagnosis is really, really important, because if they have a tumor in an early stage, you can really do a curative treatment for these patients — namely resection, ablation, or liver transplantation. All patients should get screening, and the most important is that patients with liver fibrosis, and even advanced cirrhosis, get regular treatment. So, we have a big problem. We have increasing rates of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. And, of course, we will get more and more patients. In the Western world, 30% of patients have fatty liver disease, and, of course, we cannot do screening in all patients. But we have to do some kind of risk adaption for these patients.
Comorbidities And Management Of HCC
Patients with HCC usually have underlying liver diseases and most of them eventually develop liver cirrhosis. And currently, we can assume that around 70% to 80% of patients with HCC have an underlying liver fibrosis or liver cirrhosis. But this might change in the future because we have learned that in some chronic liver diseases, you really require cirrhosis to develop the HCC or it’s very closely correlated like in HCV, for example. But in other diseases like hepatitis B infection, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or fatty liver disease, the tumor can also develop in a nonfibrotic and noncirrhotic liver. So, at the moment, most of our patients do have liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, but with a shift in the underlying liver diseases, we might see more patients who do not have liver cirrhosis.
Coffee Consumption Associated With Reduced Liver Cancer Risk, No Link To Biliary Tract Cancer
Increased coffee consumption is associated with a decreased risk of liver cancer, but there is no evident association between coffee consumption and risk of biliary tract cancer, according to data published in Nutrients. Justyna Godos, MSc, from the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies at the University of Catania in Catania, Italy, and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis that included 5 studies examining the risk of biliary tract cancer and 13 studies on liver cancer risk. The researchers assessed the dose-response relationship with a restricted cubic spline model and multivariate random-effect meta-regression.
Eisai announced today clinical trial data from their oncology portfolio will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2017 Congress in Madrid, Spain, being held on 8th – 12th September 2017. This will include data for lenvatinib in unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (uHCC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). An analysis of the pivotal Phase III REFLECT trial (Study 304) showing lenvatinib data on health-related quality of life and disease symptoms in patients with uHCC versus treatment with sorafenib will be presented in an oral proffered paper session on Sunday 10th September.[1] This additional information follows the results presented at this year's American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, which demonstrated the treatment effect of lenvatinib on overall survival by statistical confirmation by non-inferiority to sorafenib, after many failed global Phase III trials involving multiple agents studied against sorafenib in advanced HCC.[2] For a decade there has been no new approved medication in the first-line systemic treatment of uHCC in Europe[3],[4]; Eisai submitted marketing authorization to the European Medicines Agency, based on the REFLECT study.
Researchers Developing Rapid, Cheap Liver Cancer Test
University of Utah researchers say they are designing a diagnostic method that will be able to accurately identify signs of liver cancer within minutes, saving critical time for patients of the stealthy disease. The new type of test could forever change how people screen for the disease, said Marc Porter, a U. chemical engineering and chemistry professor who is leading the research along with Dr. Courtney Scaife, a surgeon who both practices and teaches surgery for the university. Porter said the long-term vision is for the tool itself to become as automatic and portable as a pregnancy test, though additional technology — called a spectrometer — is currently needed to precisely measure the results of the test. "It's really compact, it's simple and low cost," he said of the test kit.
HEALTH MATTERS: Innovative Treatments Target Liver Cancer
Did you know that the incidence of primary liver cancer has more than tripled since 1980? More than 40,000 Americans will be diagnosed with primary liver cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society. And thousands of others will be diagnosed with secondary (metastatic) liver cancer, cancer that spreads to the liver after starting somewhere else in the body. While surgery remains the gold standard for treating liver cancer, advances in medicine have made more treatment options available, especially for patients who may not be able to tolerate surgery or in cases where tumors are too large to be removed safely.
Bayer To Highlight New Research At ESMO 2017 Congress
Bayer will present the latest research from across its growing oncology portfolio at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2017 Congress, September 8 – 12 in Madrid, Spain. The studies presented will include new preclinical and clinical data on Bayer's marketed portfolio and late-stage compounds as well as research from two earlier pipeline projects. Exploratory analysis of baseline microsatellite instability (MSI) status in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with regorafenib (REG) or placebo in the phase 3 CORRECT trial. Circulating miRNA biomarkers predicting regorafenib (REG) clinical benefit in patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) in the RESORCE trial.
Discovery Of Drug Combination: Overcoming Resistance To Targeted Drugs For Liver Cancer3
A KAIST research team presented a novel method for improving medication treatment for liver cancer using Systems Biology, combining research from information technology and the life sciences. Professor Kwang-Hyun Cho in the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering at KAIST conducted the research in collaboration with Professor Jung-Hwan Yoon in the Department of Internal Medicine at Seoul National University Hospital. This research was published in Hepatology in September 2017. Liver cancer is the fifth and seventh most common cancer found in men and women throughout the world, which places it second in the cause of cancer deaths. In particular, Korea has 28.4 deaths from liver cancer per 100,000 persons, the highest death rate among OECD countries and twice that of Japan.
Higher FIB-4 Index In Patients With HBV Linked To Increased HCC Risk
In a cohort of patients with chronic hepatitis B without cirrhosis, the risk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma was significantly higher among those with a FIB-4 index over 1.29, according to recently published data. “Implementation of HCC surveillance is important because it is the only way to identify HCC at an early stage, which reduces disease-related morbidity and mortality,” Tai-Chung Tseng, MD, PhD, from the National Taiwan University Hospital Jinshan Branch, and colleagues wrote. “On the basis of our data, the patients with baseline FIB-4 index [lower than] 1.29 and a favorable clinical profile did not develop HCC within 16 years of follow-up. This finding helps practicing physicians identify the patients with the lowest HCC risks, who may not have additional benefit from HCC surveillance.”
Liver Cancer Risks Not Affected By Hepatitis C Eliminating Therapy
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients faced a similar risk of developing liver cancer whether they eradicated the virus with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs or interferon therapy, researchers in Japan found. Yuko Nagaoki and colleagues at Hiroshima University compared the occurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) in HCV patients cured with DAAs and those given pegylated interferon with ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV). Treating chronic HCV is important because the virus is a leading cause of cirrhosis, liver failure and HCC. “The goal of chronic HCV infection treatment is eradication of the virus in order to prevent HCC development,” Nagaoki, an assistant professor at, and her team wrote in a paper regarding the study.
Give First Dose Of Hepb Vaccine Within 24 Hours Of Birth: AAP
Infants who weigh at least 2,000 grams (g) should receive their first dose of hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine within the first 24 hours of life, according to a new AAP policy. The recommendation aligns with that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The number of new cases of HepB infection has decreased by more than 90% since the introduction of hepatitis B immunization in 1982. Unfortunately, about 1,000 U.S. infants acquire HepB perinatally each year. These infants face up to a 90% chance of chronic HepB infection. If untreated, about 25% will die of Hepatocellular Carcinoma or liver cirrhosis.
Six Recent Reports On Hepatitis Risks, Elimination Progress
Recently, the nation of Georgia and the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma have reported excellent progress toward elimination of hepatitis C among their populations. Additionally, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium announced the elimination of acute hepatitis B and early-onset of Hepatocellular Carcinoma as a public health threat among its pediatric population. The elimination of HBV and HCV in the U.S. and around the globe depends on prevention as much as it does treatment. Hepatitis-related health risks are a topic of concern among researchers. Healio.com/Hepatology presents recent news on hepatitis elimination and the behavior risk factors involved in transmission.
Chinese Scientists Give Big Boost To Cancer-Killing Virus
Chinese scientists have found a compound that helped a tumor-targeting virus kill liver cancer more effectively while sparing healthy cells, offering new hope for treating the world's second most common cancer killer, according to a study published Wednesday.
Rapid Hepatocellular Carcinoma Test Can Be Administered Anywhere
Researchers at the University of Utah have developed a rapid and highly portable liver cancer screening test, that can be administered anywhere. One of the biggest challenges in treating liver cancer is that often symptoms don’t appear until the disease is in the later stages, meaning it is important that people are tested rapidly when doctors suspect they might have it.
Telomere Length Prognostic In Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Li-Jie Ma, from Fudan University in Shanghai, and colleagues used telomere-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to assess telomere length in HCC cell lines, tumor tissues, and nontumor cells within the tumor.
Blueprint To Present Early-Stage Data On BLU-554 At Medical Conferences Next Month
Blueprint Medicines (NASDAQ:BPMC) plans to present updated results from a Phase 1 clinical trial assessing BLU-554 in patients with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (liver cancer) at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in Madrid on September 10 and at the 11th Annual International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) Annual Conference in Seoul, South Korea a week later.
Two Potential Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatments Get Orphan Drug Designations
Singapore-based clinical-stage biotechnology company Lion TCR was granted two orphan drug designations today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for T-cell therapies. HBV-specific TCR redirected T-cell therapies against HCC with transient mRNA and the longer lasting DNA transduction technologies are both in development for the treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).
Emerging Approaches In Liver Cancer
Moving the Needle in HCC Video Panel: Panelists: Richard S. Finn, MD, Geffen School of Medicine; Jordi Bruix, MD, Hospital Clinic University of Barcelona; Amit Singal, MD, MSCS, UT Southwestern Medical Center; Richard H. Marshall, MD, University Medical Center New Orleans; Arndt Vogel, MD, PhD, Hanover Medical School.
“Today’s announcement continues the significant progress we have made within our clinical programs this year to demonstrate ilixadencel’s therapeutic potential as an off-the-shelf immune primer in solid tumors. HCC in particular is a very severe type of cancer with limited treatment options and a strong demand for novel, innovative therapies such as ilixadencel,” said Peter Suenaert, MD, PhD, Immunicum’s Chief Medical Officer. “Especially in this rapidly advancing type of cancer, the ability to extend survival by even a few months is a positive benefit. The interim results we presented at the SITC Annual meeting last November were promising and we look forward to the complete results, which we hope to communicate before end of year.”
Chelsea passed away in January 2017 at the age of 26. She was treated for hepatoblastoma at 15 months and then at 24 for Hepatocellular Carcinoma due to a liver transplant. She was a patient with Dana-Farber for 24 years and appeared on last year’s Radio-Telethon. Chelsea had two older brothers, Griffin, 31 and Quinn, 28. Chelsea enjoyed spending time with her two nieces. Chelsea loved the beach – she would go there to relax and forget about her diagnosis. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She also loved movies and shows. Last year Chelsea shared: “It's a very scary time in my life, never knowing what each day will bring. Life is precious to me and I am lucky to be here today. I am also struggling with why this is happening again. After a successful liver transplant, we had a lot of hope for a new beginning and living my life with the least of worries. I am grateful for the liver transplant.”
KMCH Offers Nuclear Medicine Treatment For Liver Cancer
The Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital has introduced nuclear medicine to treat advanced and inoperable liver cancers. The treatment, called Rhenium 188 Lipiodol, has been found to be effective in extending patients' lives by at least a year or two, according to a study published by the National Institutes of Health. The treatment is also touted to be as affordable as other existing forms of treatments.
New Liver Cancer Data Have Been Reported By Researchers At General Hospital Of PLA
New Liver Cancer Data Have Been Reported by Researchers at General Hospital of PLA (Thymidylate synthase gene polymorphisms as important contributors affecting Hepatocellular Carcinoma prognosis.) By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Cancer Weekly Fresh data on Oncology - Liver Cancer are presented in a new report. According to news reporting from Beijing, People's Republic of China, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, "Thymidylate synthase (TYMS), a key rate-limiting enzyme in the folate metabolism, plays essential roles in the development of several malignancies including Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Nonetheless, the association of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TYMS gene with the prognosis of Chinese HCC patients remains unknown."
Individualized Radiotherapy Effective In Liver Cancer
Individualized adaptive stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) based on liver biomarkers may be highly effective and safe without increasing relapse risk in patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma who have had pre-existing liver dysfunction, according to a study published in JAMA Oncology.
Gene Study Based On RNA Interference May Lead To New Liver Cancer Therapies
University of Maryland researchers think they've discovered how a specific gene plays a key role in helping liver cancer cells obtain the nutrition necessary to proliferate. Cancer is often treated by starving it by targeting the pathways cancer cells use to meet their energy needs. The laboratory of Hongbing Wang, Ph.D., focuses on this approach as it applies to liver cancer.
Nexavar Receives Final Appraisal For Primary Liver Cancer
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has released a Final Appraisal Document (FAD) recommending Nexavar® (sorafenib) for use on NHS England for the treatment of patients with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) who have a Child-Pugh grade A liver impairment and who have failed or are unsuitable for surgical or loco-regional therapies.
VN’s First Robotic Surgery On Liver Cancer Patient
Doctors at Bình Dân Hospital in HCM City have performed the country’s first robotic surgery on a liver cancer patient. Doctors removed the left lobe of the liver, which contained a six-centimeter tumor, of a 59-year-old patient from the Mekong Delta province of Long An in late July, according to a hospital press release sent to the media on Wednesday. Robotic surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery that uses smaller incisions than normal surgical methods. The method helps to protect the liver’s main blood vessel.
“Universal newborn vaccination coupled with mass screening and immunization of susceptible people has eliminated early onset HCC and acute symptomatic HBV infection as a public health threat among children. This population based approach can serve as a model for other populations.” They conclude: “The elements of this program that we introduced — which include screening and interventions to reduce perinatal transmission and universal vaccination — are recommended as the standard of care for all US populations, including Indigenous populations. Elimination in other populations, however, depends on the how effectively those interventions are applied, which might not be as comprehensive as took place in the tribal system.”
Frontier Pharma: Liver Cancer — Identifying And Commercializing First-In-Class Innovation
Liver plays various vital roles within the body, including the removal of toxins from the blood, the production of bile to help digest fat and substances to help blood clot, in addition to making, storing and releasing sugar for energy. Primary liver cancer is a cancer that originates in the liver. Several histological subtypes make up liver cancer. The primary subtype is Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), which accounts for approximately 80-90% of all cases (Nordenstedt et al., 2010). Others include cholangiocarcinoma, hepatoblastoma and hemangiosarcoma (McGlynn and London, 2011). As subtypes other than HCC are significantly less common, a substantial portion of clinical and commercial focus revolves around HCC.
CARsgen Launches First-In-Class Anti-Claudin18.2 CAR-T Clinical Trial
CARsgen Therapeutics, a global leader in developing chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T cell) therapies for solid tumors, today announced its first-in-class anti-Claudin18.2-CAR-T cell therapy for gastric and pancreatic cancers has entered into phase-I clinical trial and starts patients recruitment at Changhai Hospital of Shanghai, a renowned hospital of global reputation for expertise on gastroesophageal and related cancer.
Identifying A New Type Of Liver Tumor
Investigators at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have succeeded in better defining a rare pediatric malignant liver disease—a necessary step in achieving an optimum treatment. The research into hepatocellular malignant neoplasm-NOS (HEMNOS) is the largest case study of its kind to date. HEMNOS is a recently described entity that has features of the most common pediatric liver cancer—hepatoblastoma (HB), and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)—a liver cancer more commonly seen in adults.
Exelixis, Inc. Continued Its Winning Ways And Rose 10% In July Thanks To These Three Catalysts
Bristol-Myers Squibb and Exelixis announced that they had commenced a phase 3 trial known as CheckMate 9ER that'll evaluate the combination of Bristol-Myers' cancer immunotherapy Opdivo in combination with Exelixis' Cabometyx as a first-line treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) versus the current standard-of-care treatment, Sutent. The study will also examine the combination of Bristol-Myers' Opdivo and Yervoy with Cabometyx in the same indication. Even though Exelixis wowed in the phase 2 Cabosun study in first-line advanced RCC, any added label indications that could grow its market share are a welcome sight for investors.
The latest finding by an international study borne by a collaboration between the Cleveland Clinic in the United States and the National Cancer Centre in Singapore revealed a loss of a single gene—GATA4—may drive the development of liver cancer. “Losing the GATA4 gene is like losing one of the main guardians of the liver,” said Timothy Wai-ho Shuen, a Hongkonger who is a research fellow at the National Cancer Centre in Singapore, also one of the key authors of the study.
EMA Clears Bayer's Stivarga For Liver Cancer
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved oral multikinase inhibitor Stivarga (regorafenib) for patients with HCC who have been treated first-line with Bayer's older drug Nexavar (sorafenib), matching the drug's approval in the US in April and Japan in June. "Nexavar is the only approved first-line treatment and Stivarga the only approved second-line therapy in Europe and the US for patients with HCC," said Bayer in a statement. HCC is the most common form of liver cancer, which is often more difficult to treat than other cancers with an annual mortality rate of 48,000 in the EU.
Hong Kong Scientist Helps Find Missing Gene Key To Liver Cancer
Liver cancer patients could be given drugs that are more effective in future after an international study involving a Hong Kong scientist discovered how a missing gene plays a key factor in the development of the disease. More than 80 per cent of cases are in Asia and it is the third deadliest cancer in Hong Kong. The research team, comprised of scientists from the National Cancer Centre Singapore and the Cleveland Clinic in the United States, linked the absence of the GATA4 gene to the growth of cancerous cells in patients.
Transgene, a company that designs and develops viral-based immunotherapies, today announces that the first patient has been treated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating the combination of Pexa-Vec with Opdivo® (nivolumab) as a first-line treatment of advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), which accounts for approximately 75% of liver cancers. This open-label trial will assess the safety and tolerability as well as the anti-tumor activity and efficacy of this immunotherapy combination regimen in up to 36 patients (NCT03071094).
Hepatobiliary And Pancreatic Surgeon Dr. Sasan Roayaie Joins White Plains Hospital
White Plains Hospital welcomes Sasan Roayaie, MD, to its Physician Associates Division. Dr. Roayaie brings unique surgical skills to provide individualized care for patients needing complex liver, bile duct and pancreas resections. He has extensive experience in transplant surgery and with the treatment of primary liver cancers such as Hepatocellular Carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma and hemangiomas as well as liver metastases from colorectal, neuroendocrine and other cancers. He has been a leader in the development of minimally invasive hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery. Dr. Roayaie not only performs any needed operations, but also works together with a multidisciplinary team including interventional radiology, radiation oncology, gastroenterology and oncology to devise an entire treatment program for patients who are not eligible for surgery.
MYSTIC Trial Yields Disappointing Results For Astrazeneca's Durvalumab Combination In NSCLC
AstraZeneca announced that its immuno-oncology drug durvalumab, in combination with tremelimumab, failed to meet progression-free survival (PFS) endpoint in the MYSTIC trial of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A press release from the drug manufacturer stated that the combination of durvalumab (Imfinzi) and tremelimumab did not meet the primary endpoint of improved PFS compared with standard-of-care chemotherapy in previously untreated patients with stage IV NSCLC whose tumors express programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) on at least 25% of their cancer cells.
Temporal Liver Cancer Trends In HBV-Endemic Population Mapped
A South Korean population-based study shows an increase in liver cancer burden over a 14-year period, while another analysis in the same population shows an improvement in the survival of patients with hepatocellular cancer (HCC) in the past decade. Using data from the Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR) and Korean Statistical Information Service, Young-Suk Lim (University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul) and colleagues found that the crude death rate for liver cancer increased from 20.5 per 100,000 persons in 1999 to 22.6 per 100,000 persons in 2013, equating to a 10.2% increase.
US, EU Filings For Eisai’s Lenvatinib In Liver Cancer
Eisai has filed its anticancer drug lenvatinib for liver cancer on both sides of the Atlantic as it seeks to expand the drug’s list of approved uses. Lenvatinib is an orally administered multiple receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor with a novel binding mode already on certain global markets as a treatment for thyroid cancer, under the brand name Lenvima, and for renal cell cancer, under the brand name Kisplyx (in the EU). The company has now submitted filings in the US and EU requesting permission to market the therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), the second leading cause of cancer related death.
New UT Health Study Links Liver Cancer In Latinos To Contaminated Food
A new UT Health San Antonio study finds there's a link between liver cancer in Latinos and contaminated food. Experts tell us the problem could lie south of the border where higher levels of Aflatoxins are being found in improperly stored corn. The Office of the Texas State Chemist says the enforced Aflatoxin levels for humans is 20 parts per billion, which the FDA says, is the safe "limit."
Midatech Pharma Plc is on track to have its MTD119 liver cancer candidate enter into human trials in 2018 after it completed the pre-clinical programme. The pre-clinical studies demonstrated “potent anti-tumor activity,” with peak reduction in tumor growth more than six-fold compared to the current standard of care, sorafenib, and with improved overall survival.
How A Microrna Protects Against Liver Cancer
A tiny snippet of RNA called microRNA-122 is produced only within the liver where it regulates the activity of many genes. New research described this week in Molecular Cell shed lights on a mechanism by which this microRNA may protect cells from turning malignant.
More Assurance In Liver Cancer Treatment Option
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), a form of liver cancer, is the sixth most common cancer in the world. For almost a decade, there had been no clear data on newer HCC treatments such as Y-90 resin microspheres, where tiny radioactive beads are delivered to the tumor directly. A team of medical researchers has now verified benefits of Y-90 treatment for patients whose tumors are inoperable. The SIRveNIB study was conducted by The Asia Pacific Hepatocellular Carcinoma Trials Group in collaboration with National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and Singapore Clinical Research Institute. It compared Y-90 treatment to sorafenib, the current standard treatment for advanced HCC.
Novel Method Could Help Predict Patients At Higher Risk Of Chronic Hepatitis C Progression
Genetic variants in interferon signaling pathways may serve as useful prognostic markers of chronic hepatitis C virus (CHC) progression, a recent study published in PLOS One suggests. An estimated 71 million individuals are living with CHC worldwide. Many patients with CHC will go on to develop progressive liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. The emergence of antiviral drugs has made significant progression in eradicating HCV; however, a proportion of patients are still unable to receive these therapies due to comorbidities and socioeconomic reasons.
Tiziana Life Sciences, a clinical stage biotechnology company developing targeted drugs for cancer and inflammatory diseases, today announces the enrolment of the first patient in its phase IIa clinical trial with milciclib, a novel inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), in patients with refractory Hepatocellular Carcinoma (“HCC”). Top line data from this trial, being conducted in Italy, Israel, Greece and Turkey, is expected in Q4 2018. The primary objective of this multi-centre, multi-country and dose-ranging phase IIa clinical study is to evaluate the safety of milciclib in HCC patients who fail to respond to or are intolerant to the existing standard of care treatment. Subsequently, a phase IIb is planned with the combination of milciclib with the standard of care treatment sorafenib in HCC patients.
New Computational Method To Aid Cancer Drug Discovery
Scientists created a new computational method that could make the discovery of new drugs for cancer and other diseases more efficient. By computational analysis alone, the researchers successfully identified four drugs that could be candidates for the treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, a type of liver cancer for which no effective therapy exists. Of the four, pyrvinium pamoate, a drug traditionally used to treat pinworms, was shown in to be the most effective against Hepatocellular Carcinoma in mouse models, warranting further clinical development. Study results were published in Nature Communications on July 12, 2017.
Air Pollution Linked To Shorter Survival Time In Liver Cancer Patients
New research from the University of Southern California shows higher air pollution exposures are associated with shorter survival times for people diagnosed with liver cancer. Air pollution has already been linked to shortened lung cancer survival, and this study adds to the growing body of evidence indicating that air pollution can affect other cancers too. The study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, looked at over 20,000 California patients diagnosed with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer. “We were interested in the liver since it is the primary organ responsible for detoxification in the body and it could be impacted by exposure to environmental toxins,” said Sandrah Eckel, PhD, assistant professor of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine and one of the lead researchers.
DC Tops Liver Cancer Rates As Related Deaths Surge Nationally
Liver cancer deaths are on the rise across the country, and especially in D.C. There will be an estimated 29,000 liver-cancer deaths this year, according to a recent American Cancer Society study. Additionally, only 1 in 5 patients will survive after being diagnosed with liver cancer.
Chinese Dissident Liu Xiaobo Dies In Custody, Struck By Liver Cancer
Chinese Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, a prominent dissident since the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests, died on Thursday after being denied permission to leave the country for treatment for late-stage liver cancer. Liu, 61, was jailed for 11 years in 2009 for “inciting subversion of state power” after he helped write a petition known as “Charter 08” calling for sweeping political reforms. Mourning his death, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Liu was a “courageous fighter for civil rights and freedom of expression,” while the French, British and U.S. governments called on China to allow Liu’s family to move around freely.
The Company's first marketed product is COMETRIQ, approved by the FDA in November 2012 for the treatment of patients with progressive, metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma. Cotellic, indicated for advanced melanoma, is Exelixis' second drug to pass regulatory muster, and it secured FDA approval in November 2015. Cotellic is promoted in association with Roche's Genentech. The lead drug of the Company is CABOMETYX, approved by the FDA in April 2016 as second or later lines of therapy for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.
Low Lymphocyte Infiltration In HCC Linked To Recurrence, Poor OS
Recently published data revealed a significant association between low lymphocyte infiltration in Hepatocellular Carcinoma tumors and higher recurrence rates and poor overall survival compared with high lymphocyte infiltration. “Most cases of HCC are secondary to chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis resulting from hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infection or from non-viral-related causes such as alcohol or non-alcoholic [fatty] liver disease (NAFLD),” the researchers wrote. “We aimed to show the association between prognosis or HCC recurrence in the patients who underwent curative surgery for HBV-positive or [non-hepatitis B or C] patients.”
Direct-Acting Antivirals Prevent Liver Cancer Recurrence
Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) can prevent recurrences for those on the transplant waiting list that have an initial response to locoregional therapy, according to a new study. DAAs have been widely touted to cure HCV, but some controversy was raised recently when small, uncontrolled studies with only historical controls found an increased risk of HCC recurrence after treatment of chronic HCV.
Aussies Taking Part In Worldwide Trial Of Liver Cancer Radiation Therapy
Australians are taking part in a worldwide trial of a radiation therapy for primary liver cancer aimed at helping to reduce collateral tissue damage. Mother-of-two Leanne Gusse was 48 when cancerous tumors in her liver were discovered. "I was just beside myself, at the time I wanted to reach out and say to him this can't be happening to me," Ms. Gusse told 9NEWS. "The five-year survival is very poor, about 10 percent for this patient, and we have been looking at other techniques and other ways of improving this," Dr. Pirooz Poursolton from Macquarie University Hospital said. In the new treatment, round resin beads a third of the width of a human hair are administered internally to attack the lesions.
Direct-Acting Antivirals Prevent Liver Cancer Recurrence
Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) can prevent recurrences for those on the transplant waiting list that have an initial response to locoregional therapy, according to a new study. DAAs have been widely touted to cure HCV, but some controversy was raised recently when small, uncontrolled studies with only historical controls found an increased risk of HCC recurrence after treatment of chronic HCV.
Is Hong Kong Doing Enough To Detect Liver Cancer?
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the second cause of cancer mortalities in Hong Kong and China. As such, the population would stand to benefit from a strong screening programme. A recent study published earlier this year sought to compare the survival rates between a nearly 3000-strong cohort study of patients with liver cancer from both Japan and China. Philip Johnson from the University of Liverpool and several other researchers found that over 75% of cases in Japan are detected by their comprehensive surveillance programme, while less than 20% of Hong Kong patients are detected before the appearance of symptoms.
Eisai To Seek Chinese Approval For Liver Cancer Drug
Eisai will seek approval from China for its new liver cancer drug Lenvima and plans to submit the drug for approval to Western countries this month. China is preparing to accept multiregional clinical data, which would significantly speed the approval process for new drugs.
Ours is a nation of "moderate drinkers,” with the average Brit guzzling 2.1 alcohol beverages a day. That's just higher than the European average of 1.9, a report from the United European Gastroenterology revealed today. And for anyone dubbed a "moderate drinker" — that's enjoying one to four boozy drinks a day — the researchers found a 21 per cent increased risk of colorectal cancer. And, to add to a drinker's cancer woes, "moderate" boozers are also at greater risk of esophageal cancer too. Meanwhile, "heavy drinkers" — those who consume more than four drinks a day — were also found to be at higher risk of pancreatic, stomach and liver cancer.
Here's What's Behind The Higher Rates Of Liver Cancer In Texas And Across The Country
The rate of liver cancer has been increasing in the U.S. — 38 percent between 2003 and 2012. Texas has the highest incidence in the country of the most common form of liver cancer. The reason likely stems from a cluster of risk factors for the disease.
DHHS: New Hanover Cancer Rates Higher For Testicular, Liver Cancer; Other Areas Lower
Questions about cancer rates have come up during the ongoing investigation into GenX in the Cape Fear River. While no conclusion can be drawn about GenX exposure and cancer rates, the NC Department of Health and Humans Services prepared a summary of where our area compares with the rest of the state. According to a news release, DHHS examined data from the NC Central Cancer Registry to look at cancer rates in New Hanover, Pender, Brunswick and Bladen Counties.
BeiGene, Ltd., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative molecularly targeted and immuno-oncology drugs for the treatment of cancer, today presented preliminary results from patients with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), more commonly known as liver cancer, enrolled in the Phase 1 study of the investigational anti-PD-1 antibody BGB-A317 in advanced solid tumors at the ESMO 19th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer (WCGI 2017) in Barcelona, Spain. The preliminary Phase 1 data suggest that BGB-A317 was generally well tolerated and exhibited preliminary evidence of anti-tumor activity in HCC patients.
Bayer’s Stivarga Approved For Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Japan
Says receives approval for Stivarga in Japan for second-line treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma May Benefit From TACE Plus Axitinib
Patients with inoperable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) may benefit from a combination of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and axitinib, according to a study published in Cancer.1While TACE is a standard of care for patients with inoperable HCC, a post-treatment consequence leading to poor clinical outcomes is the upregulation of angiogenic mediators, particularly vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs). The purpose of this study was to determine if adding axitinib, a selective inhibitor of VEGF receptors 1, 2, and 3, to TACE would blunt the VEGF surge and lead to better outcomes.
Port St. Lucie Liver Cancer Patient Says Radiation Procedure Saved His Life
Thomas Garrity shouldn’t be alive. The 75-year-old Port St. Lucie man’s family even held an impromptu family reunion to see him one last time. “It was basically a party for people to say goodbye,” Barbara Chapman, Garrity’s partner for more than three decades, recalled recently. Garrity was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer in August 2014. He thought it was the end of the road until his nephew and his nephew’s wife were able to get an appointment with Dr. Gerald Zemel at Good Samaritan Medical Center.
7Bayer announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency has recommended regorafenib for the treatment of adult patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with Nexavar® (sorafenib). Regorafenib is the first and only treatment that has demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival in second-line HCC patients who previously had no other options. The final decision of the European Commission on the marketing authorization is expected in the coming months.
Bayer Uses Lessons From Past Trials To Beat Liver Cancer
It has been approximately 10 years since Bayer’s medicine Nexavar was approved for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular (liver) cancer. Despite all of the research and money put into this effort since then, there has not been another drug approved for this disease. However, in April 2017, patients did finally see a new treatment (Stivarga) approved by FDA. “Second-line liver cancer is a high, unmet clinical need,” says Mark Rutstein, VP of Oncology Clinical Development for Bayer. Our new drug, Stivarga (regorafenib), will help to address that unmet need.”
Increases In Liver Cancer Incidence Influenced By Higher Rates Of Comorbidities
Researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) are sounding a warning that greater efforts are needed to address racial disparities in liver cancer care. A new report is providing an overview of incidence, mortality, and survival rates and trends for liver cancer. The report, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, suggests that differences in major risk factors and inequalities in access to care are contributing to significant racial disparities in liver cancer mortality.
Dr. Jun On The Results Of A Study Investigating Cyptogenic Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Tomi Jun, MD, Stanford University School of Medicine, discusses results of a multi-center study investigating patients with cyptogenic Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).It was confirmed in a large cohort of 4000 patients with cyptogenic HCC, that one-third did not have cirrhosis, explains Jun. It was also discovered that this population presents with a later stage of disease and often with more advanced tumors.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma Rate With Long-Term Entecavir/Tenofovir
For Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), the incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) decreases beyond year 5 of entecavir/tenofovir therapy, particularly in those with compensated cirrhosis, according to a study published online June 16 in Hepatology. George V. Papatheodoridis, MD, PhD, from Laiko General Hospital in Athens, Greece, and colleagues examined the incidence of HCC beyond year 5 of entecavir/tenofovir therapy in a European 10-center cohort study. Data were included for 1,951 adult Caucasian CHB patients without HCC at baseline. Of these, 1,205 without HCC within the first 5 years of entecavir/tenofovir therapy were followed for 5 to 10 years (median, 6.8 years).
Early Decompensation Predicts Mortality In Successfully Treated HCC
The most significant risk factor for mortality in patients with hepatitis C-related cirrhosis and successfully treated Hepatocellular Carcinoma was hepatic decompensation within the first year of follow-up, according to a recently published study. “This study showed indirect evidence that, in HCV patients with early stage HCC who achieved a complete radiological response after curative treatment, HCV eradication can have an important role in the short- and long-term preservation of liver function, resulting in a lower cirrhosis-related mortality and in an increased chance of receiving curative treatments if HCC recurs,” Giuseppe Cabibbo, MD, from the University of Palermo, Italy, and colleagues wrote. “Moreover, the cure of the infection may curb the risk of late recurrences that are probably driven by the severity of underlying disease.”
How A Single Meal Can Give You Liver Cancer
A doctor in Thailand has started a new campaign to try and prevent people from eating a local dish that can kill them. Spurred on by the deaths of his parents, he is trying to educate people as to the dangers of eating the much-loved delicacy that contains raw fish.
Liver Cancer Awareness Event By Bayer Highlights The Severity Of Its Incidence
Liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and has an incidence of approximately 850,000 new cases. Mortality owing to liver cancer has increased in the past 20 years and latest estimates indicate that global health burden of this disease will continue to grow. With little or no symptoms at onset, HCC is also defect to detect and patients are diagnosed only at an advanced stage, severely affecting overall survival chances. Overall 5-year survival rate for advanced HCC is less than 5%, further proof that the disease is deadly.
License Agreement Signed To Develop Chemotherapeutic Liver Cancer Treatment
Q BioMed Inc. announced their entry into a final license agreement with The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) and the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB). Under the agreement, Q BioMed has the global exclusive rights to develop and market a novel chemotherapeutic drug to treat liver cancer.
Sorafenib Alters Thyroid Hormone Levels In Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma
“A study in thyroid patients treated with sorafenib suggests that there may be an enhanced peripheral degradation of thyroid hormone by deiodinase type 3,” Carolien M. Beukhof, MD, of the department of internal medicine at Rotterdam Thyroid Center, and colleagues wrote. “Inhibition of [thyroid hormone] uptake via the cellular [thyroid hormone transporter] monocarboxylate transporter 8 has been shown for sunitinib, imatinib, dasatinib and bosutinib, but for sorafenib this has not been studied.”
Analyses Of Liver Cancer Reveals Unexpected Genetic Players
Liver cancer has the second-highest worldwide cancer mortality, and yet there are limited therapeutic options to manage the disease. To learn more about the genetic causes of this cancer, and to identify potential new therapeutic targets for HCC, a nation-wide team of genomics researchers co-led by David Wheeler, Director of Cancer Genomics and Professor in the Human Genome Sequencing Center (HGSC) at Baylor College of Medicine, and Lewis Roberts, Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, analyzed 363 liver cancer cases from all over the world gathering genome mutations, epigenetic alteration through DNA methylation, RNA expression and protein expression. The research appears in Cell.
Man With Liver Cancer Seeks Living Donor
Michael and Marilyn Tuberdyck have lived in West Seneca for 38 years. For as many years, Michael has been living with hepatitis C, which he contracted from blood products in the 1970s and ’80’s. Now, Michael is battling liver cancer. He has been added to the transplant list at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Transplant Service. His wife is working to bring attention to the need for all citizens to register as organ donors and consider registering as a living liver donor. “All citizens should ask their doctors to do a blood test for hepatitis C, because liver cancer can be preventable by relatively easy treatment,” Tuberdyck said in a letter to The Bee.
Disparity In Ethnicity, Sex Persists Among Increasing Liver Cancer Rates
Liver cancer mortality rates are expected to increase in the coming decades and disparities in occurrence by race, ethnicity, sex and state location in the U.S. continue to persist, according to a recently published study. “Liver cancer death rates are increasing at a faster pace than any other cancer. A major factor contributing to this increase is the comparatively high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among those born during 1945 through 1965, also called ‘baby boomers.’ The sustained rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes over the past several decades has also likely contributed to the increasing liver cancer trend,” Farhad Islami, MD, PhD, from the American Cancer Society, Georgia, and colleagues wrote. “The incidence of liver cancer varies by race/ethnicity and state, mainly because of differences in the prevalence of major risk factors and, to some degree, because of disparities in access to high-quality care.”
Liver Cancer Crisis Looms, Warns Expert
Australia is facing a potential liver cancer “crisis,” with a report showing the death rate has increased seven-fold The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) on Wednesday released its latest Burden of cancer in Australia report. “Based on the latest trends, Australia faces a potential crisis in liver cancer, where death rates have increased seven-fold over the past 50 years,” said Professor Sanchia Aranda, CEO, Cancer Council Australia. “It is predicted that this burden will increase by another 60 per cent between 2012 and 2020.”
Liver Cancer Market Lacks Targeted Treatment Options, But The Pipeline Holds Potential
Although the liver cancer space currently lacks marketed treatments, with just two targeted therapies – Nexavar (sorafenib) and Stivarga (regorafenib) – which provide a limited overall survival benefit, the disease pipeline is large, diverse, and highly innovative, according to business intelligence provider GBI Research. The company’s latest report states that the liver cancer pipeline has 423 products in active development, with a diversity of both molecule type and mechanism of action. Additionally, of the 318 products with a disclosed molecular target, 39% are potential first-in-class therapies.
Death Rate From Liver Cancer In US Now Double That In 1980s
Mortality rates from liver cancer in the United States have doubled since the mid-1980s, and they are increasing faster than for any other cancer, according to a new analysis by the American Cancer Society. The study was published online June 7 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. From 2009 to 2013, the average incidence of liver cancer per year was 7.7 per 100,000. The average annual death rate from liver cancer for those years was 6.3 per 100,000.
Particulate Air Pollution Linked To Poor Survival In Liver Cancer Patients
In a recent study, exposure to particulate air pollution after being diagnosed with liver cancer was significantly associated with an increased risk of premature death. Patients exposed to elevated levels of particulate air pollution were at increased risk of dying from liver cancer or from any cause, and their risk rose with higher exposure levels. The International Journal of Cancer study, which included 20,221 patients with newly diagnosed liver cancer during 2000 – 2009 in California, is the first registry-based study to link individual-level estimates of air pollution exposures after liver cancer diagnosis to survival.
Liver Cancer Treatment Approved
Regorafinib is now approved to treat patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma in addition to previously approved indications for advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors and metastatic colorectal cancer that no longer respond to treatment. Marketed as Stivarga, the drug is the first approved for liver cancer in nearly a decade. It is intended for patients who have stopped responding to initial treatment with sorafenib. Regorafinib is a kinase inhibitor that blocks several cancer-promoting enzymes, including some in the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway. The drug’s safety and efficacy for use in treating liver cancer were tested in a trial involving 573 patients whose tumors had progressed after treatment with sorafenib.
Carsgen Presents Phase I Results Of CAR-GPC3 T HCC Trial At ASCO 2017 Annual Meeting
ARsgen Therapeutics (CARsgen), a global biotech start-up focused on developing chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T cell) therapies for solid tumors, disclosed the preliminary safety and efficacy results from a global first-in-man clinical trial of CAR-GPC3 T cell therapy in the treatment for adult patients with relapsed or refractory Hepatocellular Carcinoma at the 2017 Annual Meeting of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Eisai Co., Ltd. announced today that the results of a Phase III trial (Study 304) of its in-house discovered and developed anticancer agent lenvatinib mesylate (product names: Lenvima/ Kisplyx, “lenvatinib”) against the comparator sorafenib as first-line treatment for unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma, will be orally presented during the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), taking place in Chicago, the United States. In this study, lenvatinib was the first agent to demonstrate statistical non-inferiority against sorafenib in the primary endpoint of Overall Survival (OS) and showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in the secondary endpoints of Progression Free Survival (PFS), Time To Progression (TTP), and Objective Response Rate (ORR), doubling sorafenib’s median values and ratios.
Eisai’s Lenvima Nabs Survival Edge In Liver Cancer Showdown With Bayer’s Nexava
Bayer and its stalwart Nexavar have had the first-line liver cancer field to themselves for years. But Eisai is doing its best to change that. The Japanese company, maker of Lenvima, on Sunday announced details from a head-to-head non-inferiority study against Bayer’s Nexavar in patients with inoperable Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Among them: Lenvima posted a 13.6-month overall survival benefit, compared with 12.3 months for Nexavar, and it doubled median progression-free survival time with 7.4 months, compared with Nexavar’s 3.7.
Key Capital Reports On Liver Cancer Project Progress
Key Capital Corporation advises the Company is progressing partnerships with established and recognized medical professionals and facilities within its Guatemala and Costa Rica licensed territories with an initial focus on liver cancer treatment options. Further, that Dr. Steve Kramer from Fort Collins, Colorado, one of 75 patients in a study reported in open access Journal of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, has independently released a YouTube testimonial of appreciation and support more than two and a half years after commencement of his successful Hepko-V5 treatment resulting in Complete Remission.
FDA To Review Opdivo For Hepatocellular Carcinoma Indication
Bristol-Myers Squibb announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for the expanded use of Opdivo (nivolumab) in the treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) after prior sorafenib therapy. The FDA granted an Orphan Drug designation for Opdivo in the treatment of HCC.
Diagnostic Workup In HCV-Positive HCC
Today we are discussing a case, which is not that uncommon, of a 64-year-old man who has a long-standing history of hepatitis C and presents to his primary care doctor with an episode of nausea, vomiting, ill feeling, and lightheadedness. On evaluation, his serum chemistries are notable for some liver dysfunction. He has mildly elevated AST and ALT; his bilirubin count is 2.1 mg/dL; his albumin is a little decreased at 3.3 g/dL; his INR is 1.1; he has no stigmata of end-stage liver disease, such as ascites or history of encephalopathy; and he has never had any GI bleeding in the past. Given the condition of his liver disease, the patient undergoes imaging, and this reveals a 4-cm mass in the liver, at which time the patient is referred to a hepatologist or oncologist for further evaluation and workup.
Considerations In Advanced HCC
Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa, MD: Another important factor in regard to the TACE, which even I would like to stress because this is a critical one, is patients with metastatic disease should not receive local therapy. There are exceptions to the rules for certain reasons, but, in general, they should not receive systemic therapy in the setting of metastatic disease. Because the argument that the disease is probably more responsible for outcome of patients, based on what’s in the liver and not outside the liver, is not necessarily true. We have seen situations, unfortunately, where the disease can worsen outside the liver and can cause certain impact in regard to patient outcome, simply because there was no systemic therapy applied and it was all focused on local therapy. The fact that worrying about the disease in the liver is more important than anything else is not really the case. It’s something to keep in mind.
Oncologists Opt For Different Methods To Treat Liver Cancer
Since liver and skin cancer patients do not respond well to only chemotherapy, this new method of treatment is proving effective. Oncologists state that while chemotherapy is the first line of treatment for any cancer, it does not produce the desired result in cases where there are very large tumors. Dr Shanker Mahadevan, senior oncologist with MNJ Cancer Hospital, said chemotherapy works when the tumors are small. “In the case of large tumors, surgery is the best option and we follow it up with radiation or targeted therapy. It depends on which organ the tumor is close to and the medication procedure is decided accordingly.”
In Singapore, liver cancer is the third most fatal cancer, affecting 24 in every 100,000 people each year. Worldwide, it is the second leading cancer-related death with approximately 850,000 new cases per year. Mortality due to liver cancer has increased in the past 20 years and the latest estimates indicate that the global health burden of this disease will continue to grow.
Drinking Two Coffees A Day Could Cut Risk Of Liver Cancer By A Third
Good news for those of you who enjoy, excuse us, a “damn fine cup of coffee”: Drinking coffee every day could cut your risk of developing liver cancer, a new study suggests. Even decaffeinated coffee has a protective effect. Scientists from the Universities of Southampton and Edinburgh in the UK performed a meta-analysis of 26 previous studies involving over 2 million participants to explore the links between coffee consumption and Hepatocellular Cancer (HCC), the most common form of primary liver cancer.
Bristol-Myers’ Opdivo Gets Priority Review for Liver Cancer
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced that the FDA has accepted and granted a priority review designation to the supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for the label expansion of Opdivo (nivolumab) to patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), after prior Nexavar therapy. HCC is the most common type of liver cancer.
Diagnosing HCC In The Recurrent HCV Setting
In this case-based interview series, Anthony El-Khoueiry, MD, outlines the most important factors to consider in advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma and discusses treatment options in patients who have progressed following therapy with sorafenib.
Liver Cancer On Rise, Aflatoxin Contributes, Says Groopman
There are few other chemical carcinogens as closely tied to causing cancer as aflatoxin, a product of mold, usually in corn, that is ubiquitous on planet Earth. First discovered in the United Kingdom in 1960, aflatoxin was soon thereafter linked to disease when it was implicated in the deaths of turkeys who had consumed moldy peanut meal. Identified as a cause of liver cancer from both experimental studies and epidemiology, aflatoxin remains a significant contributor to liver cancer in humans, which is now the second leading cause of global cancer deaths.
Shedding Light On Genetic Associations With Liver Cancer
Many of the genes we study at the NRI are involved in nutrient metabolism. One of the ways we can learn about what a gene does is to delete it in an animal model and then see how the gene-deleted animals differ from normal animals. By observing how disruption of a gene affects an animal’s growth, development, and health, we can develop insights into what that gene normally does in people as well as animals.
Adaptimmune Therapeutics, a leader in T-cell therapy to treat cancer, today announced that it has initiated the first site for its AFP SPEAR T-cell study in patients with locally advanced or metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma, the sixth most common cancer worldwide. This study is now open for enrollment. This is Adaptimmune’s second wholly owned therapeutic candidate to enter clinical trials. The Company already has ongoing studies to evaluate its T-cell therapy targeting the MAGE-A10 cancer antigen in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, urothelial cancer, melanoma, or head and neck cancers. “We are excited to initiate this study to evaluate our AFP T-cell therapeutic candidate in patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma,” said Rafael Amado, Adaptimmune’s Chief Medical Officer. “HCC is one of the more common and deadly types of cancer worldwide and there is an urgent need for effective therapies for advanced disease.”
Onxeo Announces Allowance Of U.S. Patent For Livatag® In Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Onxeo S.A., a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in the development of innovative drugs for the treatment of orphan diseases, in particular in oncology, today announced that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a patent application covering the specific route of administration for Livatag®, which is currently in a phase III clinical trial (ReLive) for the second-line treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (primary liver cancer).
Viral Hepatitis Can Be Serious, Overlooked And Prevented
A leading cause of liver cancer and liver transplants, viral hepatitis is a potentially serious infection that can be serious, overlooked and largely prevented, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). Debi Anderson, Communicable Disease Unit manager with WDH, said people with hepatitis B and C have a greater risk of liver cancer and liver transplants. “In fact, more than 60 percent of liver cancer cases are caused by hepatitis B or C.”
Scrib Protein Identified As A Natural Suppressor Of Liver Cancer
The protein Scrib, which is emerging as both a tumor suppressor and oncogene depending on the cancer type, appears in liver cancer to migrate out of the protective outer layer of the cell and into its inner workings. Once inside, its expression increases and it suppresses expression of three oncogenes known to support liver cancer.
New CRISPR Technique Can Potentially Stop Cancer In Its Tracks
In a study recently published online on Nature Biotechnology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers report that a new technique using the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology effectively targets cancer-causing “fusion genes” and improves survival in mouse models of aggressive liver and prostate cancers. Professor of pathology at Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine, Jian-Hua Luo, M.D., Ph.D., explains that this is the first time that gene editing has been used to specifically target cancer fusion genes. The professor also adds that this is “really exciting” because it paves the way for what could become an entirely new approach to cancer treatment.
FDA Approves New Drug To Treat Type Of Liver Cancer
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration Thursday approved a new drug to treat the most common form of liver cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma. The drug, regorafenib, is the first and only treatment approved by the FDA in more than a decade to show significant improvement in patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, or HCC.
New GMO To Reduce Cases Of Liver Cancer
Amid the GMO debate, one researcher is striving to use genetic modification to not just improve crop health, but potentially save consumer lives. Aspergillus, which creates carcinogenic aflatoxin, can now be controlled through genetic modification. Aflatoxins are found in corn, peanuts, cottonseed, milk, walnuts, pistachios and Brazil nuts. In the U.S. farmers can be turned away for having as few as 20 parts per billion (ppb) of the toxin, or about 40 highly contaminated kernels in a bushel of corn, according to the University of Kentucky. One part per billion is the equivalent of one second in 32 years—it doesn’t take much to be turned away. “This [new GMO corn] will make a difference in the U.S., but will make the biggest difference in the undeveloped world,” says Monica Schmidt, University of Arizona researcher. “There they don’t test corn and about 4.5 billion people consume the toxin.”
Stivarga Receives Expanded Approval To Include Hepatocellular Carcinoma
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday expanded the approved use of Stivarga (regorafenib) to include treatment of patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC or liver cancer) who have been previously treated with the drug sorafenib. The drug, manufactured by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, is the first FDA-approved treatment for a liver cancer in almost a decade. “Limited treatment options are available for patients with liver cancer,” said Richard Pazdur, M.D., acting director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and director of the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence. “This is the first time patients with HCC have had an FDA-approved treatment that can be used if their cancer has stopped responding to initial treatment with sorafenib.”
Belvoir Hospital Offers Cutting-Edge Liver Cancer Treatment
For patients battling cancer, quality of life is most often achieved through treatment options. At Belvoir Hospital, a new localized option — the first of its kind for any military hospital on the East Coast — is giving patients with liver tumors another choice to enhance their quality of life. The targeted treatment delivers millions of the tiny beads to fight the tumor’s growth and is injected directly into the liver artery. The process to insert the beads takes about 30 minutes and is minimally invasive. Following the insertion, patients are typically discharged within 4 to 6 hours. Side effects from the treatment can include flu-like symptoms in some patients, said Army Lt. Col. Llewellyn Lee, chief of Radiology at Belvoir Hospital. Called SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres, the microscopic resin beads contain the radioactive isotope Yttrium-90 (Y-90) and emit radiation to kill cancer cells.
Study Confirms Uneven Access To Liver Cancer Treatment At VA Hospitals
Only 25% of Veterans Affairs (VA) patients with potentially curable (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage 0/A) Hepatocellular Carcinoma received resection, transplantation, or ablative therapy, according to the results of a national retrospective cohort study published in the June issue of Gastroenterology.
Tiziana Life Sciences, a clinical stage biotechnology company developing targeted drugs for cancer and autoimmune diseases, today announces the approval in Israel of a phase II clinical trial protocol for testing milciclib, a novel inhibitor of cell cycle dependent kinases (CDKs), in patients with refractory Hepatocellular Carcinoma (“HCC”). A similar clinical trial protocol has been submitted for approval in Italy, Turkey and Greece. The primary objective of these multi-centered, multi-country and dose-ranging phase IIa clinical studies is to evaluate the safety of milciclib in HCC patients who fail to respond or are intolerant to the existing standard of care treatment. First patient enrollment is expected next month and top line data from the trial is expected by Q3 2018.
Potential Biomarker For Survival Emerges In Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Log10 alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level in the blood directly corresponded to the months of posttreatment survival in patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) — independent of the type of treatment, regional differences, and disease etiology — according to an assessment of a large global dataset demonstrated reported at the 2017 International Liver Congress. The investigators suggested that AFP levels provide a straightforward and direct guidepost since an almost linear relationship between log10 AFP and survival was shown in patients with HCC that was consistent across all regions, and was irrespective of disease etiology, including Hepatitis viral infection; the presence of Hepatitis B infection did not significantly associate with AFP levels (P = .343)
Dr. Bruix Discusses The Success Of Regorafenib In HCC
Jordi Bruix, MD, head of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) at University of Barcelona, discusses the recent success of regorafenib (Stivarga) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and its impact on the field. Since sorafenib (Nexavar) was approved for treatment of patients with advanced HCC in 2007, there has been little to no success in trials of second-line treatments.
Dr. Jun On Results Of Study In Cryptogenic Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Tomi Jun, MD, Stanford University School of Medicine, discusses the results of a study of cirrhosis and long-term survival in patients with cryptogenic Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). This was a multi-center, international cohort of about 4000 patients out of the United States and Taiwan that aimed to evaluate the significantly lower rates of cirrhosis and worse long-term survival in patients with cryptogenic HCC compared with viral etiologies. Although patients with cryptogenic HCC showed less cirrhosis, survival was significantly lower than what was shown in patients with hepatitis B- and hepatitis C-related HCC.
Nivolumab Provides Durable Responses In Sorafenib-Experienced HCC Patients
Sorafenib-experienced patients with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) had long-term responses to nivolumab (Opdivo) of more than 1 year, according to findings from the CheckMate-040 trial presented at the 2017 International Liver Congress. At a median follow-up of 12.9 months, the objective response rate (ORR) by blinded independent central review was 14.5%, and ORR 19.3% by investigator assessment. At present, response is ongoing in 71.4% of patients, and the median duration of response (DOR) was not reached. The 12-month overall survival (OS) rate was 59.9% and median OS was 16.7 months. “HCC is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. There are no standard treatment options for patients with advanced HCC who progress on sorafenib, and the prognosis is poor for these patients,” said Jörg Trojan MD, Goethe University Hospital and Cancer Center in Frankfurt, Germany. “The durable responses and survival rates that were achieved with nivolumab are very encouraging, particularly as the side effects were manageable.”
Is DAA Therapy For Hepatitis C Associated With An Increased Risk Of Liver Cancer?
According to data from eight studies being presented at The International Liver Congress 2017 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, there remains continued debate on whether patients are at risk of developing liver cancer after achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) with a direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimen for Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Investigators will present the results of their studies that show both sides of the argument – DAA therapy is associated with a higher risk of liver cancer compared with interferon-based therapy, versus there is no difference in liver cancer risk following cure with either therapy.
HCC Risk Comparable In Hepatitis C Patients Treated With DAA Or Interferon
A meta-analysis found that patients were at no elevated risk of developing Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) after achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) following treatment with direct-acting antiviral therapy (DAA) for hepatitis C compared to interferon therapy, researchers reported here at the 2017 International Liver Congress (ILC). The data reflected that there was no difference in liver cancer risk following cure with either therapy. However, achieving SVR does lower the risk of HCC.
Independent Prognostic Markers Of HCC Recurrence Identified
Higher levels of hepatocytes positive for pERK immunostaining and greater microvascular invasion have emerged as independent prognostic factors of recurrence in patients following sorafenib (Nexavar) treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), researchers reported at the 2017 International Liver Congress in Amsterdam. “The is an unmet need for adjuvant treatment for HCC since HCC recurrence after resection or ablation occurs in 70% of patients within 5 years,” said Roser Pinyol, PhD, a senior post-doctoral fellow, Liver Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, BCLC-IDIBAPS, Liver Unit, Universitat de Barcelona.MicroRNA-34a In Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Amira Abdelhamid, assistant lecturer, German University in Cairo, discusses microRNA-34a and natural killer (NK) cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). A recent study suggests that microRNA-34a could have a role in regulating cytotoxicity and development of the effector NK cells. MicroRNA-34a has been previously found to be downregulated in HCC—which is also associated with tumor progression—but it has never been explored in the NK cells of patients with HCC, says Abdelhamid.
What Are The Silent Signs Of Liver Cancer?
Liver cancer is one of the fastest rising cancers. If you’ve had a history with the virus Hepatitis C, liver cancer could develop 10 years after a diagnosis of the virus. It’s recommended that anyone born between 1945 and 1965 be tested for Hepatitis C. Hepatitis B can also cause cancer. If you engage in regular, heavy alcohol use, you may also be susceptible to liver cancer.
Faron Pharmaceuticals Teams Up With University On Liver Cancer Study
Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd on Tuesday announced it will collaborate with the University of Birmingham on a clinical programme on liver cancer. The clinical stage biopharmaceutical company said that the focus of the study would be to test the safety and initial effectiveness of its Clevegen product, which the company describes as “a ground breaking pre-clinical anti-Clever-1 antibody.”
Liver Progenitor Cells Are Involved In The Development Of Hepatic Tumors
The malignant transformation of hepatocytes is the origin of most Hepatocellular Carcinomas, an aggressive type of liver cancer with high mortality rates. But these cells do not act alone. Research conducted by scientists at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) reveals how hepatocytes “recruit” and “instruct” liver progenitor cells to contribute to the hepatic lesions.
BRIEF-DBP Completes Pre-Clinical Development Of Liver Cancer Drug Candidate
DBP has now completed the final part of the toxicological studies required to apply for clinical trials of SA-033 – drug candidate against cancers in liver. SA-033 is a novel self-navigating formulation based on the known cancer drug doxorubicin.
Debulking Called Reasonable For Unresectable Liver Cancer
Cytoreductive debulking surgery for neuroendocrine liver metastases provides a lower but “reasonable” long-term survival, compared with curative intent surgery, according to results of a study presented at the annual meeting of the Americas Hepatico-Pancreato-Biliary Association.
Key Capital Announces Positive Liver Cancer Immunotherapy Results: 7 Insights
Key Capital announced positive results for its liver cancer immunotherapy product hepcortespenlisimut-L. Here’s what you should know.
Novel DNA Sequencing Technique Could Diagnose Liver Cancer Before Tumors Develop
A novel technique that involves the DNA sequencing of liver cells can determine whether the cells have been exposed to aflatoxin, and may help predict whether an individual has a higher risk of developing liver cancer before the tumors appear. Investigators previously reported that exposure to aflatoxin usually results in a genetic mutation that converts guanine to thymine. This process can often lead to liver cancer, but in areas with high regulations, such as the United States and Europe, the risk of aflatoxin exposure is low.
Research Shows iPS-ML/IFN-β Migrates To, Penetrate Liver Cancer Tumors
A type of cell called induced pluripotent stem (iPS)-myeloid lineage (iPS-ML) can produce interferon-β (IFN-β), which can fight primary and metastatic liver cancer, according to results from research on a mouse xenograft model of liver cancer. First, researchers generated a murine xenograft model of liver metastasis by injecting the spleen of mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) with MKN-45 human gastric cancer cells. They also generated a primary liver cancer model by injecting SK-HEP-1 human Hepatocellular Carcinoma (the most common type of liver cancer) cells directly into the liver.
Study Identifies A Role For The Metabolism Regulator PPARγ In Liver Cancer
Liver cancers are a major cause of cancer-related deaths. Large-scale genetic analyses have associated liver cancer with dysregulation of numerous molecular pathways, but disruptions in insulin signaling pathways appear to have a particularly important contribution to liver tumor formation. Obesity is a major risk factor for developing liver cancer, and the nuclear receptor PPARγ critically controls fat uptake and storage in the liver by regulating the transcription of metabolism-associated genes. However, whether PPARγ also plays a role in promoting the growth of liver tumors is not clear.
Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association Awards Dr. Amit Singal The Blue Faery Award
The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association selected Amit Singal, MD, as its 2017 Blue Faery Award winner, the Digital Journal reports. Here’s what you should know.
New Liver Cancer Program Launches At Smilow
The Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven has created a new program that provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to treating patients. The new Liver Cancer Program, launched in mid-December, marks the first time that experts from a wide range of specialties have formally been brought together to see patients in one location, said Renee Gaudette, the Yale Cancer Center’s director of public affairs and marketing. With a renewed emphasis on providing personalized patient care, this freestanding program integrates expertise from physicians in the departments of medical oncology, interventional radiology, surgical oncology, hepatology and transplantation surgery, said Rogerio Lilenbaum, the chief medical officer at Smilow.
Immunotherapy, OSE-172, Seen To Be Safe And Effective In Mouse Models Of Liver Cancer
OSE-172, an immune checkpoint inhibitor that blocks immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment, was shown to be safe in tumor mouse models and to induce strong remission rates when used in combination with other immunotherapies. The findings were recently presented by Vanessa Gauttier, with OSE Immunotherapeutics, at the American Association for Cancer Research 2017 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. The poster was titled “Selective targeting of SIRP alpha induces potent memory anti-tumor immune responses without presenting hematological toxicity.” “These new data demonstrate OSE-172 as having a differentiated safety and selective pharmacological profile which provides us with the opportunity to open various potential indications in immuno-oncology field for our new myeloid checkpoint inhibitor. We are currently actively preparing the next steps of its development towards clinical stage,” Bernard Vanhove, chief operating officer of OSE Immunotherapeutics in charge of R&D and International Scientific Collaborations, said in a press release.Keystone Nano Announces Start Of Clinical Testing Of Ceramide NanoLiposome For The Improved Treatment Of Cancer6 April 2017Keystone Nano, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on improving cancer treatments through the application of nanotechnology, announced today that clinical testing has been started for Ceramide NanoLiposome. The therapy is being tested at three leading cancer Institutes: the Greenebaum Cancer Center of the University of Maryland, the Medical University of South Carolina, and the University of Virginia Cancer Center. These Centers will conduct the Phase I clinical trial to assess Ceramide NanoLiposome in the treatment of solid tumors. Dr. Mark Kester, Keystone Nano’s Chief Medical Officer and the Director of the University of Virginia’s NanoSTAR program and the original developer of Ceramide NanoLiposome remarked: “I am very pleased this has reached the clinic. Primary liver cancer is a devastating disease with incredibly poor outcomes and very few treatment options. Ceramide NanoLiposome offers the potential to increase treatment options for these patients.”
Delaware County Memorial Hospital now has the capability to perform radioembolization, a minimally invasive procedure that combines embolization and radiation therapy to treat liver cancer. The outpatient procedure is most commonly referred to as Y90, after the radioactive isotope yttrium-90. The procedure involves an approach to patient care that includes medical oncology, radiation oncology, oncologic surgery, radiology and interventional radiology. It is also available at Crozer-Chester Medical Center as one of several full-service interventional oncology and multidisciplinary hepatobiliary programs.
Loss Of Friend To Liver Cancer Sharpens Focus On Experimental Therapy
While Novartis scientist Diana Graus Porta was researching an experimental therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, a close friend of hers was dying of the disease. He was in his early 70s, but was active and engaged in life. “The disease changed all that,” says Graus Porta, a translational researcher at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR) in Basel, Switzerland.
Nanobiotix Expands Its Clinical Development In Head And Neck Cancer And Immuno-Oncology
Paris, France and Cambridge, Massachusetts, NANOBIOTIX, a late clinical-stage nanomedicine company pioneering new approaches to the treatment of cancer, today announced the expansion and acceleration of its clinical development activities. These include acceleration of the head and neck cancer program. Phase I/II data will be presented at ASCO in June. Expansion of Nanobiotix’s Immuno-Oncology program into patients focused on the objective of turning cold tumors into hot tumors. Nanobiotix will present the first clinical data from this program mid-year.
Death Rates Decreasing For Colorectal Cancer Overall; Liver Cancer On The Rise
A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute claims cancer death rates from 2010 to 2014 are decreasing, but some cancer subtypes remain deadly. The American Cancer Society, CDC, National Cancer Institute and North American Association of Central Cancer Registries collaborated to provide an update on cancer occurrence and trends throughout the United States. Researchers used CDC and NCI funded population-based cancer registry programs. The NAACCR compiled the data.
H3 Biomedicine Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of precision medicines for oncology and a member of Eisai’s global Oncology Business Group, announced today that it would present data on two programs at the 2017 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. An oral presentation at the New Drugs on the Horizon session will include a first-in-class, oral, selective estrogen receptor covalent antagonist (SERCA, H3B-6545) as a potential treatment option for patients with breast cancer. An additional presentation will provide an overview of the pre-clinical data for H3B-6527, an orally available, selective and potent FGFR4 inhibitor that may play an important role in FGF19-driven Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
Circadian Clock Contributes To Poor Prognosis Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients
New research has suggested that disruption of the circadian clock contributes to poor prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) patients. Suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus is the seat of the central circadian clock and synchronizes peripheral clocks through the body. At the molecular level, this entails a negative feedback loop between the CLOCK-BMAL1 heterodimer and its transcriptional targets period and cryptochrome. The 24-hour cycle driven by these factors coordinates metabolic gene expression with the feeding and fasting/day and night cycle. Some studies have recently suggested that disruption of the circadian rhythm is associated with tumor initiation and progression.
MicroRNAs Regulate Energy Metabolism In Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
The role of microRNAs (miRNA) in the regulation of the Warburg effect in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) has been established. Cancer cells rewire their metabolism to promote growth, survival, proliferation, and long-term maintenance. The common feature of this altered metabolism is the increased glucose uptake and fermentation of glucose to lactate. This phenomenon is observed even in the presence of completely functioning mitochondria and, together, is known as the Warburg Effect. However, the underlying mechanisms of the Warburg effect remain largely unknown.
Prof. Xu Kecheng, a renowned specialist in gastroenterology, hepatology, and cancer treatment, and founder of the Fuda Cancer Hospital, was diagnosed with a rare and often fatal liver cancer 11 years ago. From being the brave doctor, helping others fight their bruising battles against cancer, he is now the patient, facing the Big C himself. After undergoing surgery, he was surfing the Internet when he came across an article by a doctor from Taiwan who reviewed 81 patients who got hepatectomy, of whom only 11 survived more than five years. He read that these patients who had cholangiocarcinoma (like him) could receive “adjutant chemotherapy with medium survival time one to three months longer than the control group without chemo.”
Surveillance In High-Risk Patients With NAFLD Key To Preventing, Delaying HCC
Increasing rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes in patients has been associated with a high risk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma following the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, according to a presenter at Emerging Trends in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.ArQule (ARQL) Says Phase 3 Clinical Study of Tivantinib In Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Japan Didn’t Meet Primary Endpoint
ArQule, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARQL) today reported that its partner, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, announced top-line results of the JET-HCC Phase 3 trial of tivantinib in Japan, and that the trial did not meet its primary endpoint of progression free survival (PFS).
Detecting Mutations Could Lead To Earlier Liver Cancer Diagnosis
In many parts of the world, including Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, exposure to a fungal product called aflatoxin is believed to cause up to 80 percent of liver cancer cases. This fungus is often found in corn, peanuts, and other crops that are dietary staples in those regions.MIT researchers have now developed a way to determine, by sequencing DNA of liver cells, whether those cells have been exposed to aflatoxin. This profile of mutations could be used to predict whether someone has a high risk of developing liver cancer, potentially many years before tumors actually appear.
World’s First AI That Can Diagnose Cancer From A Blood Sample ‘Could Be Ready In One Year’
A machine that can detect cancer from a blood sample could be ready in a year. Scientists in California have developed a computer program that can detect tumor DNA as well as specify where in the body it is coming from. The program, dubbed CancerLocator, works by looking for specific molecular patterns in cancer DNA. Created by a team from the University of California at Los Angeles, it then compares these patterns against a database of genetic modifications known to be caused by different cancer types.
Report Shows Increase In Liver Cancer Among Iowans
A new report from the State Health Registry of Iowa shows the rate of new liver cancer cases has tripled in the state since the 1970s. According to the “Cancer in Iowa” report released Wednesday, new cases of liver cancer were detected in six of 100,000 Iowans in the period from 2010 to 2014.Dr. Michael Voigt is a clinical professor of internal medicine at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He said hepatitis B and hepatitis C are the primary risk factors for liver cancer.
Overweight Teenagers at Heightened Risk of Liver Disease
Being overweight as a teenager may increase the risk for liver illness later in life, a new study has found. Swedish researchers used data on more than 1.2 million young men ages 17 to 19 who were drafted into the military from 1969 to 1996, then linked the data to government health records. At conscription, 104,137 were overweight; with a body mass index between 25 and 29, and 19,671 were obese (B.M.I. over 30). The study, published in Gut, found 5,281 cases of severe liver disease and 251 cases of liver cancer over a median follow-up of 29 years.
Microbial Signature for Liver Cancer: Gastro Endo News Report
People with Hepatocellular Carcinoma may have a microbial signature that ups their cancer risk, a new study found. Colorectal cancer rates are on the rise in young adults between 20 and 39 years old, but on decline in the over-50 crowd, according to recent data. Fecal calprotectin appears to be indicative of gastrointestinal bleeding, which researchers discovered by having patients drink their own blood.
Obesity in Youth Tied to Liver Cancer Risk in Men
Overweight and obese young men are at increased risk for serious liver disease or liver cancer later in life, and those with diabetes have an even higher risk, a new study warns. Efforts to reduce obesity, “should be implemented from an early age to reduce the future burden of severe liver disease on individuals and society,” say Swedish researchers led by Hannes Hagstrom, of the Center for Digestive Diseases at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm.
Man With Liver Cancer Alleges Negligence For Failure To Follow Up On Lab Work
A patient is suing Family and Sports Medicine Shiloh and a doctor for allegedly failing to perform follow-up lab work, leaving his liver cancer undiagnosed. Mickey Orr filed a complaint on Feb. 3 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Richard Derby, M.D., and HSHS Medical Group, doing business as Family and Sports Medicine Shiloh, alleging they failed to properly diagnose the plaintiff with liver cancer. According to the complaint, Orr alleges that in May 2015, he began treatment with Derby, an employee of HSHS Medical Group. Orr’s lab work necessitated further tests, including tests for liver cancer. However, he claims the defendant did not obtain those results, leaving his liver cancer undiagnosed at the time.
Risks Following RFA For Liver Cancer In ESRD Patients On Hemodialysis Investigated
For patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), receipt of hemodialysis (HD) is associated with increased mortality after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for Hepatocellular Carcinoma, according to a study published online March 7 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Masaya Sato, from the University of Tokyo, and colleagues used a nationwide database to examine in-hospital mortality and hemorrhagic complications following RFA among patients on HD for ESRD. For each patient enrolled, up to four non-dialyzed patients were randomly selected. The authors compared in-hospital mortality and hemorrhagic complications between dialyzed and non-dialyzed patients (437 and 1,345 patients, respectively) following RFA.
Doctors A Step Closer To Give Liver Cancer Patients More Healing Opportunities
Researchers from the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and the A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) supported by the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Translational and Clinical Research (TCR) flagship program Precision Medicine in Liver Cancer across Asia-Pacific Network (PLANET) have made a discovery that could transform the treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), the most common but deadly type of liver cancer. The discovery revealed that the genetic characteristics of liver cancer tumors can vary widely, not only across different patients but also within a single tumor. This hinted that healing the patient needs a precision medicine, which is a treatment customized to the needs of each patient.
S’pore Team’s Work Set To Change How Liver Cancer Is Treated
The leader of a team of Singapore researchers doing groundbreaking work into liver cancer turned to the tale of the blind men who touched an elephant to point out that previous studies had wrongly assumed the nature of the cancer from just one point of view, that is, one biopsy. The team, from the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), found that the genetic characteristics of liver cancer tumors can vary widely, not only across different patients but also across different parts of a single tumor from one patient.
‘Backwards Step’ Reveals Cancer Cells Are ‘Smart Little Bastards’
Targeting the ‘Achilles’ heel’ of liver cancer could have unintended consequences, encouraging rather than preventing tumor growth, UNSW researchers warn. Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and is the fastest growing cancer in Australia. “Many people suspect an Achilles’ heel of liver cancer is a metabolic process in cells called lipogenesis, which converts sugars into fats,” says Associate Professor Kyle Hoehn from UNSW. “This fat production is thought to play an important role in helping cancer cells proliferate.”
Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the USA
The incidence and mortality of Hepatocellular Carcinoma have been reported to be plateauing in the United States. The United States has large racial, ethnic, and regional variation. Dr. Hashem El-Serag and colleagues from Texas, USA collected data from all 50 states to better analyze changes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma incidence in the entire United States. The researchers collected data from the US Cancer Statistics registry, which covers 97% of the population, and calculated adjusted incidence rates.
New Smilow Liver Cancer Program Aims To Maximize Value Of Care For Patients
In the last 10 years, there has been a constant growth in the number of patient with primary liver cancer treated at Yale New Haven Hospital and at Smilow Cancer Hospital. Smilow is one of the few medical centers able to offer to patients with primary liver cancer a comprehensive array of therapeutic approaches and personalized care, according to the needs of each patient. These considerations have justified the formation of a freestanding Liver Cancer Program.
MRI-Guided Ultrasound Blasts Liver Cancer
The EU-funded TRANS-FUSIMO project, being led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Medical Image Computing MEVIS in Bremen, is developing a technique in which high intensity focused ultrasound is used to target specific areas of the liver. High intensity focused ultrasound uses sound waves to target a precise location in the body, generating a hot spot that can destroy diseased tissue. Until now, however, the method has only been approved for use in treating a limited number of conditions, such as prostate cancer, bone metastases, and uterine fibroids.
TwoXAR Announces Preclinical Proof-of-Concept Data On Novel Liver Cancer Candidate
An artificial intelligence (AI)-driven biopharmaceutical company, today announced that its candidate targeting Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC or Liver Cancer), TXR-311, has shown positive results in cell-based assays. TXR-311 is a molecule that twoXAR identified as having a high probability of being effective in treating HCC. Proof-of-concept studies were performed by The Asian Liver Center at Stanford University. The objective of these studies was to establish preliminary cytotoxicity data in cell-based assays for 10 separate candidates.
Occlusion Of The Portal Liver Vein To Permit Liver Surgeries For Liver Cancer
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer. This type of cancer starts in the liver (primary liver cancer). When other cancers spread to the liver, it is known as secondary liver cancer. When possible, surgery is the main treatment because it still is the best options for treating primary and secondary liver cancer. As the liver is able to re-grow itself, surgeons are able to remove affected sections of the liver completely (liver resection). However, a certain amount of the liver must remain in order for the liver to re-grow. Patients who require a large section of their liver to be removed can undergo a portal vein embolization (PVE) which tries to get the liver to grow prior to a liver resection. A needle is placed through the skin into the liver and the blood vessel that has the largest amount of the tumor is embolized (cut off) by injecting an embolizing material (that is similar to glue). This tricks the liver into regrowing on the side without the tumor.
Treatment Of Intermediate-Stage Primary Liver Cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma)
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (primary liver cancer) arises from the liver cells and is distinct from secondary liver cancer, arising from other parts of the body and spreading to the liver. Hepatocellular Carcinoma can be classified in many ways. One classification is by Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) group stage, which classifies the cancer based on how long the person is expected to live (life expectancy). This classification is broadly based on the size of the cancer, number of cancers in the liver, how well the liver works, and whether one’s activities are affected by the cancer. People with intermediate-stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma have large, multiple cancers, but they do not have full-blown liver failure. Cancer is confined to the liver, and there is no restriction of daily activities. There is significant uncertainty in the treatment of people with intermediate-stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
Can Antiviral Therapy Prevent Liver Cancer in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis?
Chronic viral hepatitis is a major causative factor for Hepatocellular Carcinoma, but antiviral therapy might reduce the incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by preventing or eliminating chronic hepatitis infections, according to Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine at Saint Louis University Liver Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
Liver Cancer Rates With Interferon-Free Regimens in HIV/HCV
The risk of developing liver cancer continues to be high in patients co-infected with HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, a new study presented at CROI 2017 is suggesting that the incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after sustained virological response (SVR) has not increased with the widespread use of all oral direct antivirals regimens as suggested in previous studies.
Low-Cost FDM 3D Printing Can Help In Fight Against Liver Cancer
The impact of 3D technology developments on healthcare in recent years has been undeniable, and a recent breakthrough by researchers in Poland suggests that the medical profession is poised to benefit even further from what 3D printing has to offer. A 3D printed model of a liver was produced, at a much lower cost than previously thought possible, and the model was used successfully as a surgical guide for a crucial operation to remove a potentially fatal tumor.
Surefire Medical, Inc. today announced that clinical data presented at the Society for Interventional Radiology (SIR) Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington, DC showed in a retrospective case-controlled comparison that the use of Surefire infusion technology achieved a 79 percent objective response rate in the treatment of primary liver cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma or HCC) in transarterial chemoembolization procedures (TACE) versus 37 percent with a standard microcatheter.
Radiotherapy Administered Externally For Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (primary liver cancer) is the most common cancerous tumor of the liver and the sixth most common cancerous tumor worldwide. In the majority of people with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, the disease is diagnosed at the advanced stage. Treatment options for these people include ablation (which destroys the tumor), embolization (the use of substances to block or decrease the flow of blood through the hepatic artery to the tumor), radiotherapy, or sorafenib, which is a targeted drug therapy (a treatment that uses a substance to identify and attack cancer cells while avoiding normal cells).
Exelixis (EXEL) Reports Orphan Drug Designation For Cabozantinib To Treat Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Exelixis, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXEL) today announced that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to cabozantinib for the treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). This information was posted to FDA’s website on March 4, 2017 and can be accessed here. A pivotal phase 3 trial (CELESTIAL) of cabozantinib is ongoing in patients with advanced HCC, and Exelixis has guided that data from the trial are expected in 2017.
How New Hepatitis C Drugs Could Tackle Liver Cancer, Too
Wider availability of newer hepatitis C drugs may not only lead to fewer cases of this blood-borne disease, but may also slow the rise in related liver cancer. But these so-called direct acting antiviral drugs have not been widely available in Australia or overseas for long enough for us to confirm this long-term trend.
Cabozantinib Active In Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Treatment with cabozantinib was clinically active and associated with manageable toxicities in patients with advanced, recurrent, or metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), according to a study published in Annals of Oncology. For the multicohort, phase 2 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00940225), investigators enrolled adult patients with 9 different types of advanced malignancies, including 41 patients with HCC. All patients with HCC had Child-Pugh A liver function and had received no more than 1 prior systemic regimen.
Researchers Have “New Attitude” About Liver Cancer
While the liver cancer landscape is not as explosive with novel agents as some other solid tumor types, systemic and surgical advancements are still having an impact on the lives of patients. In January 2017, a supplemental biologics license application for the multikinase inhibitor regorafenib (Stivarga) was granted priority review by the FDA as a second-line treatment for patients with unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).
Test Identifies And Isolates Circulating Tumor Cells; Aids Early Detection of Liver Cancer
Identifying a single cancer cell in a sample of whole blood is akin to finding a needle in the proverbial haystack. However, a team from the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center has developed a method that improves the detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) ¾ the “needle” ¾ in the blood of patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer. Their report was published in the journal PNAS. The team employed droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), an advanced variation of the commonly used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, to find CTCs to try to improve the early diagnosis of liver cancer. PCR measures the quantity of RNA (a nucleic acid that naturally occurs in the cells); ddPCR is like having tens of thousands of tiny test tubes (the droplets) each running an individual PCR. This technique allows for more accurate quantification of these RNAs, which are then used as surrogate markers for the presence of liver cancer.
Dumaguing: The Journey To Liver Cancer
There are many causes of liver cancer and we would like our readers to be informed with our hope and fervent prayer that awareness of this would raise our antennae of suspicion when it shows its presence. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. Or as many of us elders know, forewarned is forearmed.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer, has low long-term survival rates, and the current drugs approved to treat it only extend lifespan by about three months. While researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine emphasize that any preservation of life is worthwhile, they are on the heels of something even greater, and claim their newly developed liver tumor treatment could extend patient survival rates much farther. According to a recently published study, this new treatment involves the use of both chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and in animal studies has significantly slowed the acceleration of liver tumor growth in mice. This slow-down of tumor growth was more significant than that produced by either the standard chemotherapy or immunotherapy when used on their own.
Dr. Roberts On The Prevalence Of Liver Cancer
Lewis R. Roberts, MB, ChB, PhD, professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, discusses the prevalence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). It is important to remember that of all of the major cancer types worldwide, liver cancer remains to be one of the most fatal, Roberts explains. Most patients are more likely to die within 1 year of being diagnosed compared with patients who have other types of cancers.
New Findings On Liver Cancer From First Affiliated Hospital Summarized
New Findings on Liver Cancer from First Affiliated Hospital Summarized (Metavir and FIB-4 scores are associated with patient prognosis after curative hepatectomy in hepatitis B virus-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma: a retrospective cohort …) By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at China Weekly News Research findings on Oncology – Liver Cancer are discussed in a new report. According to news reporting originating in Chongqing, People’s Republic of China, by VerticalNews journalists, research stated, “Although Metavir and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) scores are typically used to assess the severity of liver fibrosis, the relationship between these scores and patient outcome in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the severity of hepatic fibrosis in HBV-related HCC patients after curative resection.”
Exelixis Links With BMS To Test Potential Cancer Combo
Exelixis and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company have formed a clinical development collaboration to evaluate a potential new combination therapy for the treatment of various cancers. The groups will assess a combination of Exelixis’ Cabometyx (cabozantinib), a small molecule inhibitor of receptor tyrosine kinases, and BMS’ PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor Opdivo (nivolumab), either alone or in combination with Yervoy (ipilimumab), as a first line treatment for renal cell carcinoma.
Pediatric Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Challenges and Solutions
Unlike in adults, Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a very rare malignancy in children, representing only approximately 0.5% to 1% of all pediatric tumors. Because fewer than 20% of pediatric patients with HCC are considered eligible for surgical resection, which is considered fundamental for cure, the management of HCC remains difficult in this population.
Personalized Treatment For Very Early Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma
A proposed algorithm to facilitate the decision-making process of clinical care for patients with very early stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) provides optimal personalized treatment strategies for these patients, according to a review published in the Journal of Hepatology.
NeuroVive Enters Research Agreements In NASH And Hepatocellular Carcinoma
NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB, the mitochondrial medicine company, announced two new research agreements and the appointment of Professor Philippe Gallay, PhD, and Professor Massimo Pinzani, MD, PhD, FRCP, as scientific advisors. The aim of the agreements is to further explore NeuroVive’s new drug compounds in development for the treatment of NASH and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).
Genetic Variant Linked To Risk of Liver Cancer After Hep C Eradication
A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the tolloid-like 1 (TLL1) gene is associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, researchers from Japan report. “When we constructed different models for predicting HCC in patients with mild as opposed to advanced hepatic fibrosis by combining this TLL1 variant with other distinct risk factors, these proposed models including TLL1 variant could be useful for predicting the occurrence of HCC after achieving sustained virological response (SVR) in the clinical practice,” Dr. Yasuhito Tanaka from Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences told Reuters Health by email.
New Tech Will Improve Liver Cancer Recovery
New technology to provide detailed scans of patients could improve the recovery of people suffering with liver cancer, scientists have said. According to researchers, the new LiverMultiScan will provide advanced imagery and can help doctors have a clearer picture of the organ, tumors or inflammation before carrying out surgery. HepaT1ca — an NHS Foundation project by the University of Edinburgh and Hampshire Hospitals — created the technology, which act as detailed MRI scans and cost £1.1 million to develop.
Welling To Lead New Liver Cancer Program At NYU Langone
NYU Langone has announced Theodore H. Welling III, MD, will lead a new state-of-the-art liver cancer program at the medical center to advance clinical care and accelerate the translation of lab breakthroughs into superior treatments. Previously co-director of the Multidisciplinary Liver Tumor Program at the University of Michigan Health System, Welling joins NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center to lead a team that has already made important strides in refining clinical practices to treat primary liver cancer and hepatic metastases, according to a release from NYU Langone. He will help to recruit additional investigators and clinicians to the program.
Ivan “The Russian Bear” Koloff, Professional Wrestler, Dies At 74 From Liver Cancer
The bearded grappler became a notorious villain, and fan favorite, in the wrestling world during the 1970s and 1980s. Ivan Koloff, who rose to fame as the villainous “Russian Bear” in the WWWF during the 1970s and 1980s, has died of liver cancer, according to a statement from World Wrestling Entertainment. He was 74. Though Koloff’s wrestling persona reigned from the Ukraine, the wrestler was actually born and raised in Canada.
Phase 3 Hepatocellular Carcinoma Trial Fails
A Phase 3 study of Daiichi Sankyo and ArQule’s tivantinib (ARQ 197), a designed treatment for MET-overexpressing Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) did not meet its primary endpoint of improving overall survival in patients.
Study Provides Insight Into How MicroRNA May Amplify Effects Of Drug Treatment In Liver Cancer
Treatment options for liver cancer are often limited and almost exclusively involve transplantation if possible, or local chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation. Medical treatments for more advanced stages have been explored during recent decades, but only the drug sorafenib, a small molecule multi-kinase inhibitor, has shown promising results and been approved for use by international medical agencies. Unfortunately, only 25% of patients respond to sorafenib treatment, so researchers have endeavored to understand its mechanism of action and discover a way to boost its effectiveness.
Virus Passed Through Sex Could Cause Cirrhosis Or ‘Silent Killer’ Cancer
Liver cancer and cirrhosis are just two of the risks with can arise from contracting hepatitis B – a virus which can be spread through unprotected sex. Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver, caused by a virus spread through blood and bodily fluids. Public Health England has published new flyers and posters warning people of the dangers of hepatitis B. The poster reads, “Hepatitis B virus infects the liver; it is often symptomless but can lead to diseases like cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Daiichi, ArQule’s Struggling Tivantinib Fails In Phase 3 Liver Cancer Test
After fluffing its lines in two mid-to-late stage trials in lung and colorectal cancer over the past few years, Daiichi and ArQule had hoped that tivantinib could produce the goods in a phase 3 liver cancer test, but it was not to be. In data released this morning, the partners said their MET-inhibitor med did not meet its primary endpoint of improving overall survival in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (the most common form of liver cancer) in 340 patients. The trial, dubbed METIV-HCC, was set up as a biomarker-selected, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study that looked at tivantinib against best supportive care in patients with MET-overexpressing, inoperable HCC who cannot take, or were previously treated, with systemic therapy.
University Health System Awarded $1.2M To Help Combat Hepatitis C
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas awarded the University Health System with $1.2 million Wednesday to increase screening for hepatitis C and prevent the development of liver cancer. According to UHS, South Texas has the highest incidence of liver cancer in the nation, largely due to hepatitis C. Researchers said they have found that the baby boomer population — born from 1945 to 1965 — had more than twice the rate of hepatitis C in the nation, with Hispanics also at higher risk.
Social Jet Lag Linked To Liver Cancer In Mice
“Hepatocellular Carcinoma is one of the most lethal liver cancers and the only one for which the number of new cases is increasing in the United States,” says co-senior author Dr. David Moore, professor of molecular and cellular biology and of molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine. “In many countries outside the U.S. hepatitis B and C virus are driving the increase of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, but in the U.S. this is not the case. Many researchers think Hepatocellular Carcinoma is likely the result of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and obesity. However, how non-alcoholic fatty liver disease leads to Hepatocellular Carcinoma is still unclear.” Unraveling how disruptions in the internal clock can lead to cancer is quite challenging. In addition to a central timekeeper in the brain, it seems that each type of tissue has its own clock. The connections between the central clock and the rest of the clocks form a complex network of factors that regulate the expression of number of genes. “It’s possible that it is not just the fat accumulated in the liver, but that there is something else. We think that, at least to some degree, bile acids are involved,” Moore said.
World Cancer Day 2017: Liver Cancer, A Global Challenge Thanks To Viruses And Alcohol
Liver cancer is not that common in the UK. It accounts for around 2 in every 100 newly diagnosed cancers each year and is the 17th most common type of cancer. But since the late 1970s, liver cancer rates have more than tripled in the UK — a sharp rise compared to other types of cancer. Globally, however, liver cancer poses an even bigger challenge. It is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, approaching 800,000 new cases diagnosed each year, mostly in low-to-middle-income countries. The regions hardest hit by liver cancer are parts of Asia and Africa.
Pro Wrestling Pioneer Chavo Guerrero Sr. Dies After Fight With Liver Cancer
Chavo Guerrero Sr., one of the pro wrestling world’s most respected performers, has died after a short battle with liver cancer. He was 68. Guerrero’s son and namesake, Chavo Guerrero Jr., who also wrestled with WWE, made the announcement on Saturday.
UN: Aflatoxins, The Major Cause Of Liver Cancer In Africa
A number of liver cancer cases in Africa are linked to aflatoxins, a family of toxins produced by fungi. Heiner Lehr, UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) national expert on value chain, made this known on Wednesday while delivering a keynote address at the first Nigeria food safety and investment forum in Lagos. He said the presence of aflatoxins, which affects crops on the field, during harvest and storage, pose serious danger to consumers. Aflatoxins are produced by fungi like Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, which are abundant in warm and humid regions of the world.
Outreach strategies increase the percentage of patients with cirrhosis who undergo Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) screening, according to a study published in the February issue of Gastroenterology. Amit G. Singal, MD, from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and colleagues conducted a prospective study of patients with documented or suspected cirrhosis at a safety-net health system.
High Rates of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Hepatitis C Treatment
Patients treated with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis appear to have high rates of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). “If these findings are confirmed from other centers, studies are suggested to examine mechanisms of these findings,” Dr. Ashwani Singal from University of Alabama at Birmingham told Reuters Health by email. Some studies have shown unexpectedly high HCC recurrence rates after DAA therapy, whereas others have shown no such association.
Partners To Develop Chemotherapeutic Technology As Liver Cancer Treatment
Q BioMed said today that it will partner with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) and the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) to develop a chemotherapeutic technology to treat liver cancer. Q BioMed said the technology will use uttroside B and its derivatives as a chemotherapeutic agent against Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Uttroside B is a saponin derived from Solanum nigrum Linn, a plant widely used in traditional medicine that showed efficacy against liver cancer in a preclinical study published November 3 in Scientific Reports, a Nature journal.
Prominent Surgeon And Researcher To Lead Multidisciplinary Liver Cancer Initiative
Theodore H. Welling, III, MD, will lead a new state-of-the-art liver cancer program at NYU Langone to advance clinical care and accelerate the translation of lab breakthroughs into superior treatments. Welling joins the medical center’s Perlmutter Cancer Center as director of a new Liver Tumor Program following a distinguished career at the University of Michigan Health System, where he serves as co-director of its Multidisciplinary Liver Tumor Program. His work includes nationally recognized advances in liver transplantation, laparoscopic liver surgery, and surgery requiring expertise in bile duct and hepatic vascular resection and reconstruction. His clinical expertise has been deepened by investigative work into new treatments for cholangiocarcinoma and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Welling also is studying the role of the immune system and cancer stem cells on liver cancer development and progression. His investigative work has been consistently supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Doctors’ Notes: Why Toronto Is A Liver Cancer Hot Spot
Liver cancer is to blame for more than a thousand deaths every year in Ontario — and most of these occur in the Greater Toronto Area. In fact, the epidemic level of liver cancer in this city often goes unrecognized, as it is diluted by provincial and national statistics. So what is it about Toronto that makes it such a hot spot for this type of cancer? Most of the cases occur in patients with chronic liver disease, typically due to chronic blood-borne infections with the hepatitis B or C viruses.
Hope In Horizon: Vaccines Can Prevent Liver Cancer
On World Cancer Day, on Saturday, while many chose to highlight latest innovations and diagnostic techniques to treat the disease, some experts from the city decided to put focus on vaccines that can prevent cancers — Hepatitis B and human papillomavirus (HPV). While Hepatitis B viral infection can cause liver cancer and cirrhosis (abnormal liver condition), HPV is known to cause cervical cancer among women. Both these cancers are, however, preventable through vaccines. Yet, the cancer burden of the two diseases is huge with Hepatitis B infection showing a prevalence rate of more than 3 per cent among people.
Blood Transfusions May Increase Risk For HCC
7Risks for Hepatocellular Carcinoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma appeared greater among women who had undergone a blood transfusion more than 5 years earlier, according to results of a prospective study conducted in the United Kingdom. A total of 11,274 women underwent transfusion in 2000 or later, of whom 14.6% (n = 1,648) were diagnosed with cancer a mean 6.8 years after the blood transfusion. Women who underwent transfusion were older at baseline and more likely to smoke, drink less alcohol, have increased BMI and have come from the deprived tertile of the population.
Liver Cancer Patients Wanted For New Clinical Trial
A new way of treating liver cancer, which combines two existing treatments, is now on trial, with researchers from four medical institutions seeking patients to join the study. The treatment strategy being tested, dubbed a world first by the researchers, sees a patient being treated with both radioembolization and immunotherapy. The current treatment for liver cancer patients is Yttrium-90 (Y90) radioembolization, which involves putting radioactive isotopes into blood vessels that feed a tumor, delivering radiation to the tumor. Immunotherapy involves activating the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. By combining the two, researchers hope to boost outcomes.
Risk Of Liver Cancer Low In Patients With Cirrhosis
Liver cancer — or Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) — is one of the most serious complications of cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, caused by long-term liver damage. However, an analysis of health records, published in the academic journal Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, found that the 10-year incidence of HCC in UK patients with cirrhosis is actually only four per cent, or lower. The study found that only 1.2 per cent of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and 1.1 per cent of patients with cirrhosis of unknown cause will develop HCC within a decade. The highest 10-year incidence of HCC was among those with cirrhosis due to chronic viral hepatitis (four per cent).
Childhood Liver Cancer Treatment
Fortunately, cancer in children and adolescents is rare, although the overall incidence of childhood cancer has been slowly increasing since 1975. Children and adolescents with cancer should be referred to medical centers that have a multidisciplinary team of cancer specialists with experience treating the cancers that occur during childhood and adolescence. This multidisciplinary team approach incorporates the skills of the primary care physician, pediatric surgical subspecialists, radiation therapists, pediatric oncologists/hematologists, rehabilitation specialists, pediatric nurse specialists, social workers, and others to ensure that children receive treatment, supportive care, and rehabilitation that will achieve optimal survival and quality of life.
Early Detection Of Liver Cancer Saves Lives
Liver Cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death globally, accounting for approximately 746,000 deaths worldwide a year2. In Europe, less than 10 percent of patients live for more than five years after diagnosis. In this framework, Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals division calls for early detection of liver cancer to help saves lives, highlighting that the disease afflicts around 4 percent of cancer patients in Lebanon, and is projected to rise to over 6 percent of cases among women and around 8 percent of cases among men by 2018. “Liver cancer causes death more often than many other tumors, and patients are usually diagnosed with late-stage disease,” said Dr. Fady Nasr, Head of the Oncology Department at Beirut’s Mount Lebanon Hospital.
Oregon Liver Cancer Deaths Soaring
Liver cancer deaths in Oregon are growing at twice the national rate, likely due to a high prevalence of hepatitis C infections. Oregon once boasted a liver cancer death rate 33 percent lower than the U.S. average. But over the past 35 years, liver cancer deaths in Oregon have risen so fast, the state has almost entirely closed the gap. According to data released Tuesday by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, 6.81 out of every 100,000 Americans died of liver cancer in 2014, an increase of 88 percent since 1980. In Oregon, the death rate was 6.74 percent, representing a 174 percent increase.
Sirtex Medical to Present Liver Cancer Study Results in the Netherlands
Sirtex’s SARAH study is a Phase III multi-center prospective randomized open-label study for patients in France with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). HCC is the most common form of primary liver cancer, a cancer that starts in the liver. The SARAH study will be presented at the International Liver Congress on Saturday, 22 April 2017. The SARAH study directly compares Sirtex’s SIR-Spheres® Y-90 resin microspheres versus the current standard-of-care systemic therapy, sorafenib.
Frontline Lenvima Is Noninferior to Standard Therapy in Liver Cancer Trial
Frontline Lenvima (lenvatinib) was not inferior to the current standard therapy, Nexavar (sorafenib), in patients with unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), according to Eisai, the developer of the multikinase inhibitor.
Seymour High School Student Looking for Liver Transplant After Cancer Diagnosis
Jarrid Rynish, an 18-year-old senior at Seymour High School, was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2016. Now, the community is supporting this young man with a big heart, as he is in search of a liver donation.
Eisai Co., Ltd. announced today that a Phase III clinical trial (Study 304) of its in-house discovered and developed anticancer agent Lenvima (lenvatinib mesylate, “lenvatinib”) against the comparator sorafenib as a first-line treatment for patients with unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma has achieved its primary endpoint.
4SC AG: Overall Survival Benefit for Resminostat in First-Line Liver Cancer Study Subgroup
4SC AG (4SC, FSE Prime Standard: VSC) today announced that the study investigators presented the detailed scientific study analysis from the multi-center, randomized, 170 patient Phase II study conducted by 4SC’s cooperation partner Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. (Yakult Honsha) in Japan and South Korea at the 2017 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in San Francisco, USA. The study evaluated 4SC’s epigenetic cancer drug resminostat in combination with sorafenib compared to sorafenib monotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with advanced liver cancer.
Eisai’s Lenvima Moves Toward Nexavar Showdown With Phase 3 Liver Cancer Win
Right now, Bayer has the only FDA-approved first-line treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), by far the most common type of liver cancer. But thanks to some new trial results for Eisai, it may not be alone for long. On Wednesday, the Japanese pharma announced that its Lenvima had hit the primary endpoint in a phase 3 study, establishing noninferiority against Bayer’s Nexavar on the overall survival front. The med also charted statistically significant improvements in progression-free survival, among other secondary endpoints. The move brings Eisai one step closer to challenging Bayer in a hefty market: An estimated 27,000-plus U.S. patients died of liver cancer in 2016, Eisai said, and an estimated 39,000 new cases will be diagnosed stateside this year.
Bristol Looks To Exploit Opdivo’s Liver Cancer Advantage
Bristol-Myers Squibb might have seen its PD-1 inhibitor Opdivo comprehensively outmaneuvered by Merck & Co.’s Keytruda in lung cancer, but the opposite could be the case in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Updated data from the dose-expansion stage of Bristol’s large Checkmate-040 Phase I/II study reported at ASCO-GI suggest that the drug confers a durable response in around 20% of hepatocellular patients – irrespective of whether it is given first or second line (see tables below). With a near-term Phase III study readout Bristol looks to have first-mover advantage over its arch-rival.
SBRT Equivalent to TACE as Bridge to Transplant for Patients With HCC
Use of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) was equally effective as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as a method of bridge to transplant among patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, according to preliminary results of a phase II study presented recently at the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, held January 19 – 21 in San Francisco. “SBRT appears equivalent to TACE at controlling the treated lesion when utilized as a bridge to transplant in patients with Childs-Pugh class A/B disease,” said study presenter Francis W. Nugent, MD, of Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington, Mass.
Progression Type in HCC Influences Survival Duration
Patients with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) had a worse survival following progression if they developed new extrahepatic lesions as opposed to other types of progression, supporting the concept of post-progression survival (PPS) and the influence of different patterns of progression, according to an analysis of the phase III RESORCE trial.
Regorafenib Improves Overall Survival in Liver Cancer
Second-line systemic therapy with regorafenib improves overall survival among patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) regardless of prior sorafenib dose, according to a study being presented at the 2017 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.
NeuroVive Presents Positive Preclinical Data in Hepatocellular Cancer at HCC Summit
NeuroVive has utilized its expertise in mitochondrial medicine to explore a unique aspect of the company’s sanglifehrin-based compounds. In preclinical studies, the NeuroVive research team and its international collaborators have shown that a sub-set of these compounds exert unexpectedly potent anticancer effects. An abstract with the title Preclinical analysis of sanglifehrin-based cyclophilin inhibitors showing potential for treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma will be presented at the conference.
Mount Sinai Researchers Involved in Successful Phase 3 Trial of Drug for Liver Cancer
An international phase 3 trial has found that the drug regorafenib improved survival in patients with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), a form of liver cancer, giving people who previously had no other options a better chance at survival. Results from the study, which included researchers at The Tisch Cancer Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, were recently published online in The Lancet. The trial, funded by Bayer, included 152 sites in 21 countries.
Stop Eating Contaminated Maize And Groundnuts To Avoid Liver Cancer
Scientists are warning against high-level consumption of contaminated maize and groundnuts, saying, that could lead to liver cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma). People who ate such foods they indicated tended to have more aflatoxins in their blood and stood a higher risk of developing the cancer.
10 Things You Might Not Know About Your Liver From Mount Alvernia Doctor
Dr. Ala said liver cancer is currently the ninth most common cause of cancer death in the UK and since the late 1970s, liver cancer incidence rates have more than tripled (236% increase) in Great Britain. Dr. Ala, consultant gastroenterologist endoscopist and hepatologist has shed light on 10 lesser known, essential facts about the liver and its functions.
Link Between Sweetener and Liver Cancer Probed
A James Cook University researcher will use a grant from the Cancer Council to investigate the relationship between fructose – a common sweetener in soft drinks – and liver cancer, an increasingly prevalent and deadly cancer.
How to Prevent the Killer That is Liver Cancer
This is not a rare, esoteric health problem. Liver cancer ranks number two among all killer cancers. It is the fourth most common type of cancer, right up there together with breast and lung cancer,” says Dr. Eternity Labio, immediate past president of the Hepatology Society of the Philippines. A leading cause of liver cancer as well as liver cirrhosis is hepatitis B, an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Eighty percent of infections are found in Asia. As of the latest estimates, about one in seven adult Filipinos carries the virus. “It’s more common than you think,” Dr. Labio says. “However, you can have it and not know it. It often does not manifest any signs or symptoms until the liver damage is already extensive. Patients come in when they already have cirrhosis or liver cancer.”
National Obesity Awareness Week 2017: Sleep Problems, Cirrhosis, Liver Cancer
National Obesity Awareness Week runs from January 9 through January 15, 2017 and to wrap it up we present some of our articles that discuss obesity and related health issues, such as sleep problems, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Additional evidence has become known linking obesity to liver cancer. The study found that a larger waistline, high body mass index, and type 2 diabetes increase a person’s risk for liver cancer.
‘Little Brother’ in Pursuit of His Dreams Dies of Liver Cancer
A Cincinnati teenager who cleared many hurdles while fighting an aggressive cancer has died.
Figures Reveal Major Rise in Liver Cancer Cases
New figures show a dramatic rise in the number of cases of liver cancer diagnosed in Ireland. The national Cancer Registry of Ireland says the annual rate stood at around 60 in the mid-1990s. In 2014, that rose to more than 270. The incidence rate of the disease has increased significantly since 1994 for males and females with annual average increases of 5% for women and of 6.5% for men.
CoQ10 Supplementation Shows Benefits for Liver Cancer Patients Post-Surgery
A 300mg daily coenzyme Q10 supplement significantly increased antioxidant capacity and reduced oxidative stress and inflammation levels post-surgery for patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) – the most common type of liver cancer.
Researchers Testing New Cancer Treatment
Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world, and now researchers are developing new forms of treatment. If tests show you have liver cancer, there are several ways to treat the disease. One is removing the cancerous part of the liver. The other is having doctors replace the organ through a transplant operation. Now scientists are working on an experimental, minimally invasive treatment. They say it reduces the chances of harming the patient. Kattesh Katti is a professor of radiology and physics at the University of Missouri’s School of Medicine. For more than 10 years, he has studied the use of nanotechnology to fight cancer. “It sounds like a fairy tale, but we are really in advanced stages in terms of tumor treatment, in terms of disease diagnostics.”
Amzie Smith, the Ballard High School junior who inspired thousands with her message of faith during her battle with terminal cancer, died on Friday afternoon. The 17-year-old was diagnosed with stage 4 adult liver cancer in November 2015 – a kind of cancer rarely found in adults and nearly unheard of in children. According to an online post from Tad Douglas, Amzie’s stepfather, Amzie “passed away peacefully” Friday afternoon holding hands with her family members, “as she went to be with the Lord.”
Sorafenib Effect on HCC Survival Depends on Hepatitis Status
For patients with advanced unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma, the effect of sorafenib on overall survival is dependent on patients’ hepatitis status, according to a meta-analysis published online Jan. 3 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Effect of Sorafenib on OS Dependent on Viral Status
The effect of sorafenib on overall survival may depend on the hepatitis status of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Findings from the Sorafenib Hepatocellular Carcinoma Assessment Randomized Protocol (SHARP) trial led to sorafenib becoming the standard of care for patients with advanced unresectable HCC.
Dramatic Drop in Cancer Deaths, but One Cancer Still Up
The death rate from all cancers combined in the United States has dropped by 25% over the past 2.5 decades, although cancer incidence and mortality rates are typically higher in men and racial disparities still exist, a Cancer Statistics 2017 report indicates. However, liver cancer continues to increase in the United States, as has been reported previously by Medscape Medical News.
Non-Liver-Related Critical Events Down With SVR in HCV+Cirrhosis
For patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and biopsy-proven cirrhosis, sustained viral response (SVR) is associated with a reduction in critical events, both liver and non-liver related, according to research published in the January issue of Gastroenterology.
Bayer today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted priority review status for the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Stivarga® (regorafenib) tablets for the second-line systemic treatment of patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) in the U.S. HCC is the most common form of liver cancer, a disease that affects nearly 40,000 patients in the United States and is the second deadliest form of cancer worldwide.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease on the rise
Last month, news of Deputy Speaker of Parliament Charles Chong undergoing a liver transplant took many people by surprise. Three years ago, the MP for Punggol East, 63, was diagnosed with a severe form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) steatohepatitis but did not make it public. While NAFLD is an unfamiliar term to most people, a recently released study by SingHealth doctors found that its incidence is rising in Singapore, and could well be affecting half of the adults here.
Inspyr Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a novel prodrug therapeutic for the treatment of cancer, announced the initiation of development programs focused on Mipsagargin combination therapies. To evaluate the potential of Mipsagargin in combination with Nexavar®, Inspyr plans to conduct a preclinical study in liver PDX tumor models that express PSMA, the target of Mipsagargin. The tumor models selected express different levels of PSMA, including one that is resistant to Nexavar®. Concurrently, the Company is finalizing the design of a clinical study to examine the potential benefits of Mipsagargin in combination with Nexavar® in patients with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), or liver cancer.