2018 Liver Cancer News
NICE Recommends Lenvima For Advanced Liver Cancer
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended Lenvima (lenvatinib) for advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). The treatment will be available for people with advanced liver cancer, whose disease cannot be treated surgically. It works by slowing down the growth and spread of cancer cells by cutting off the blood supply that keeps cancer cells growing. Patients experienced a median overall survival of 13.6 months compared to 12.3 months with the alternative treatment Nexavar.
Oncimmune Holdings has entered into an agreement with America’s Choice Provider Network (ACPN) to expand access to simple and affordable blood tests, EarlyCDT®—Lung and EarlyCDT®—Liver. EarlyCDT—Liver aids in the detection and confirmation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC, liver cancer), in association with imaging, in high-risk patients with liver lesions of all sizes. Oncimmune technology detects evidence of the body’s natural response to cancer, enabling detection up to four years before standard clinical diagnosis. Oncimmune tests assist with clinical decision-making and are complementary to diagnostic technologies.
Association Between Aspirin Use And Risk Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Researchers explored the associations between aspirin dose, duration of use, and the risk of developing Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) nationwide. Their study included 87,507 men and 45,864 women who reported regular use aspirin tablets two or more times per week. Researchers found that these people had a 49% reduced risk of developing HCC. They then reviewed documentation of 108 incident HCC cases over 26 years, including 4,232,188 person-years. They observed reduced HCC risk in association with regular aspirin use vs nonregular use.
Liver Cancer Is The Most Common Cancer In Vietnam
Liver cancer in Vietnam is rapidly increasing. In 2018, more than 25,000 Vietnamese people were diagnosed with liver cancer, and the mortality rate is high due to shortage of hepatitis B vaccination. For every 100,000 people, 23.2 have liver cancer, in both men and women. Professor Nguyen Chan Hung, head of the Vietnam Cancer Association, said in Vietnam, men are at risk for liver cancer three times higher than that of women. Hung also states that since is difficult to detect early the successful cure rate is unfortunately low.
Exelixis Initiates Pivotal Liver Cancer Study On Cabometyx
Exelixis, Inc. is partnering with Ipsen to announce a pivotal phase III study called COSMIC-312. This study will evaluate Cabometyx (cabozantinib) in combination with Tecentriq to treat Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). This combination treatment will be compared to Nexavar in previously untreated patients. The study will focus on progression-free survival, and overall survival results. In September, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human had recommended the drug’s approval in Europe for a similar treatment.
Potential Markers Identified For Early Detection And Prevention Of Liver Cancer
A recent study offers possible good news of early detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). The results of the study show a drastic increase in the expression of a sugar-burning enzyme called glycolytic enzymes. These enzymes are typically seen in pre-cancerous liver cells. This increase is associated with a higher risk of developing HCC. This increase could be used as a biomarker to identify people at risk of malignancy. Dr Salvatore Papa of the University of Leeds and his team analyzed normal, cirrhotic and cancerous (HCC) liver samples from patients over 10 years following a liver biopsy.
Bayer’s Stivarga Wins NICE Backing For Advanced Liver Cancer
8For patients who have taken sorafenib, there is a secondary treatment option called Stivarga (regorafenib). The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is recommending the usage of the new medication which is giving hope to patients. “Regorafenib for HCC offers the first licensed treatment option following failure on sorafenib which could significantly improve patient’s overall survival," said Manjinder Bains, medical director Oncology, Bayer UK.
Sepsis Involved In 22% Of In-Hospital Deaths In Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients
A study was done on in-hospital patient deaths. Focusing on patients with HCC, researchers looked at 3,180 deaths between 2013 and 2017. they found that 713 of these deaths involved in severe sepsis. The percentage of HCC deaths that involve severe sepsis appears to exceed the percentage of overall cancer deaths that involve severe sepsis. HCC patients' livers are extremely vulnerable to sepsis. Future sepsis treatments may include immunoadjuvant therapy.
Addressing Population Factors Contributing To Liver, Colon Cancers
The Fourth Annual Liver Research Day was put in at The University of California at Davis; where the increased incidence of Hepatitis C in people between 50 and 70 as well as between 20 and 30. Risk factors in the development of HCC from Hep. C was discussed by Bradley Pollock as socioeconomic factors and social and medical histories. "Preventative healthcare calls for a specialized approach to research and to understanding cancer".
Dr. Overman On The Combination Of Atezolizumab And Bevacizumab In HCC
In July 2018, Tecentriq and Avastin were combined and allowed by the FDA to be considered a breakthrough therapy as a first line treatment for patients with resectable or advanced HCC. This therapy was used in a phase II clinical trial and presented at 2018 ESMO Congress to have high response rates. This is exciting news as a potential new combination therapy in the future for HCC patients.
New NCI-Funded Program Targets Early Detection Of Liver Cancer
"The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 42,000 new cases of primary liver cancer and 30,000 subsequent deaths in 2018 alone". Clinical Research at The University of Michigan states that the reason why survival rates are so low for HCC is due to late detection of the disease. Molecular imaging is what is being introduced to potentially improve earlier HCC detection before the cancer progresses.
Osteopotin: A New Emerging Role In HCV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Osteopotin is an immune cell that is involved in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and works with cancel stem cells. Therefore, continuing in research for the underlying mechanism of Hepatitis C pathogenesis and is relationship to cancer stem cells. There is a potential for new treatment options by targeting the role that Osteopotin plays with the stem cells that contribute to HCC.
Can-Fite Biopharma And Namodenoson In NAFLD/NASH: A Targeted Therapeutic Approach
The clinical stage biopharma Can-Fite is focusing on a medication called Namodenoson that is targeted on chronic autoimmune, oncological and liver diseases with unmet needs. "Can-Fite proposes anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic responses for namodenoson in NAFLD/NASH and advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma".
DAAs Reduce HCC, Decompensation Risk Compared With No Treatment
"Treatment outcomes showed that DAA therapy yielded a significant reduction in risk for developing HCC compared with no treatment (HR= 0.28; 95% Cl, 0.15-0.52) among patients with compensated cirrhosis". Researchers at the University of Florida studied individuals with Hepatitis C who underwent DAA therapy and those who did not receive treatment. Significant reductions in HCC and decompensation risk were found in Cirrhotic patients who received DAA.
FDA OK's Another PD-1 Inhibitor For HCC
"Single-arm trial reported 17% response rate in sorafenib-treated patients". Based on the results for the KEYNOTE-224 trial, the FDA has extended Keytruda to be used in patients with HCC. The medication Keytruda is to be used after patients use Nexavar as a first line treatment. This is exciting news for HCC patients, as the promising results indicate the treatment may bring relief. Keytruda is now the second PD-1 inhibitor approved for HCC following last year's approval of Opdivo.
UCLA Awarded $3.5 Million To Develop Blood Test For Liver Cancer
The National Institute of Health (NIH) granted UCLA to develop an affordable blood-based cancer screening test. Currently, at-risk patients are given ultrasounds to test for liver cancer detection. This blood test is going to be based on circulating tumor DNA in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. The research is being done at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Liver Cancer Diagnosis Often Late Among African-American Patients
Researchers at Stanford University Medical Center have found a difference in 5-year survival rates between African-American patients and Caucasian patients with HCC. “Long-term survival improved over time for Caucasians with HCC, but not for their African-American counterparts resulting in a survival difference between the two ethnic groups, though ethnicity was not a predictor of HCC mortality,” says Jacqueline Estevez, MD. A possible reason for this result is that African-American patients presented with more advanced stages of HCC than Caucasian patients.
Biomarkers To Detect And Prevent Liver Cancer
In patients with precancerous cirrhotic livers, there may be a new identifier for researchers to help stop the development of liver cancer. By being able to pinpoint when the cirrhosis progresses to cancer, there would be an improvement in early detection and treatment for patients. The researchers are hopeful that this new marker may improve HCC survival.
Property Developer Accused Of Firing Employee Over Cancer
A liver cancer patient who was fired from his job due to health discrimination. The patient wrote a complaint to the Human Rights Commission based on how he was let go from the company and not given his owed compensation because of his diagnosis of liver cancer. The company is a multi-billion dollar real estate developing company in Australia.
Utoledo Research Finds Link Between Refined Dietary Fiber, Gut Bacteria And Liver Cancer
Through research at the University of Toledo, interesting results have been found regarding how processed dietary fibers may be inducing liver cancer. The way our gut bacteria breaks down this specific type of fiber is thus connected to the liver cancer risk. Dr. Vijay-Kumar says, “Our study is going against the conventional wisdom of what people think, that fiber is good, no matter how they get it. We do not want to promote that fiber is bas. Rather, we highlight that fortifying processed foods with refined soluble fiber may not be safe or advisable to certain individuals with gut bacterial overgrowth or dysbiosis, whose abnormal fermentation of this fiber could increase the susceptibility to liver cancer.”
Brewing Up A Healthy Lifestyle: Coffee And Body Fat Reduce Liver Cancer Risk
“There is strong evidence that greater body fat, consumption of alcoholic drinks and eating foods contaminated with aflatoxins increase the risk of liver cancer,” according to AICR’s recently released Diet and Cancer Report. There is strong evidence that lifestyle factors play important roles in the possible increase risk of liver cancer. These factors are particular to what a person eats and drinks.
Researchers at Zhengzhou University in China created a meta-analysis of Asian studies on the ability for the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) to predict outcomes in HCC. Wang and his associates said ‘these pooled results suggested that high PNI is beneficial to the survival of HCC patients and associated with more favorable outcomes such as lower AFP, lower reoccurrence, minor tumor size, and better TNM’. It is important to note there were limitations with the study; however, the conclusion stands.
Liver Cancer Treatment Paradigm Undergoing Major Overhaul
In the past few months, there has been a significant resurgence in the development of new HCC medications. For example, Lenvima was approved in August 2018 as a first-line treatment for patients with unresectable HCC as well as the accepted supplemental new drug application for Cabometryx in May of 2018. The expectation for patient survival is increasing with the positive results of clinical trials for these new medications, thus bringing new hope to patients.
Variable RBE Impacts Proton Therapy Of Liver Cancer
Proton therapy offers the advantage of affecting less of the healthy liver tissues in HCC patients. “Radiation therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma is currently being investigated in several clinical trials, including proton therapy.” There is still too much uncertainty to readily use this therapy in patients, based on the variability that it has provided thus far.
Ongoing Trial Exploring Oncolytic Virus Pexa-Vec In HCC
There is a phase 3 clinical trial that is comparing the use of Pexa-Vec and then Nexavar versus treatment with only Nexavar with the primary endpoint of the study being overall survival (OS). The researchers are currently recruiting for the PHOCUS trial and are looking for ‘600 patients with advanced HCC who have not received prior systemic therapy’.
Lower Liver Cancer Risk Seen With Tenotovir Treatment Of Chronic Hepatitis B
“The risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treated with tenofovir is lower than in those treated with entecavir, according to a nationwide study from South Korea.” The researchers mention that this information is only one observational study and more studies are needed.
Regular Aspirin Use Can Lower Risk For Ovarian, Liver Cancers
Two studies from the Nurses’ Health Studies have shown a significant reduction of risk for HCC. The data was collected from nearly 90,000 women and nearly 46,000 men since the 1980s. “A regular dose of aspirin at least two or more times per week was associated with a 49 percent reduced risk of developing the disease. The observed benefit of aspirin was dose and duration dependent, appearing with aspirin use for five years or more, at a dose of 1.5 or more standard tablets per week.”
For HCV Patients, New Online Calculator Predicts HCC Risk After Treatment
After using direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), patients with Hepatitis C may gain a response or no response. If there is a response, that information can be used in this new online calculator to assess the risk for HCC development in the future.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment: Hurdles, Advance And Prospects
A review article that focuses on the different types of treatments that are available for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) patients. The future options are also under discussion here.
Dr. Llovet On Combination Therapy In HCC
The founder and director of the Liver Cancer program in Mount Sinai, NYC believes that the future for HCC treatment may come from combination therapy. This would be focusing on the use and combination of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and checkpoint inhibitors, which are three different types of medications now being used for HCC patients.
Liquid Biopsy Shows Promise For Monitoring, Detecting Liver Disease
There is a different gene expression for patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma than chronic liver disease. This new information is crucial in diagnosing HCC in patients. A new type cancer detection may soon be done through liquid biopsy to determine the gene expression.
Sequencing Strategies Necessary After Expansion Of Therapy Options In HCC
As the first-line medication Lenvima has been proven to have more benefit than Nexvar, doctors are now looking to see which medications should be planned for second-line treatment for liver cancer patients. There is current research being conducted on patients taking different medications that will inform the doctors of how to manage the cancer in a step-wise fashion. These studies are the first-line CheckMate-459 and the second-line KEYNOTE-240.
EC Approval For Lenvima For Liver Cancer Treatment
The European Commission has approved the marketing of Lenvima for a first line treatment for patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. This approval from the FDA was based on the positive results from phase III REFLECT study. There has been ‘statistically significant superiority’ for patients taking Lenvima in comparison to Nexavar, which is promising for patients.
Japan’s Eisai Sets Price Tag Of About US $17,000 On Liver Cancer
The Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai has set the price of US $16,970 for a 30-day supply of Lenvima for wholesalers. Lenvima is a medication for “previously untreated patients with an advanced or intermediate stage of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.” According to Thomson Reuters data, Lenvima is predicted to bring in US $3.46 billion by 2022.
Liver Cancer Screening Did Not Reduce Mortality In Cirrhosis Cases
The type of screenings used for Hepatocellular Carcinoma do not change the prognosis of individual patients. There are multiple types of screening processes for HCC, and Dr. Andrew M. Moon of the University of North Carolina found no correlation between the type of screening that a patient receives and HCC-related mortality.
FDA Oks First-Line Tx For Unresectable Liver Cancer
The FDA approved a new medication called Lenvima, a kinase inhibitor lenvatinib, as a first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with unresectable disease. REFLECT is the phase three clinical trial that showed such positive results in regards to progression-free survival, that Lenvima was the first “first-line” systemic therapy option in the past ten years.
Hep C ‘Cure’ Doesn’t Eliminate Liver Cancer Recurrence
For Hepatitis C patients who have responded well to direct-acting antivirals (DAA), there is still a need to follow-up with doctors. This is because there is not enough long-term information on how curing Hepatitis C patients may affect other clinical outcomes like the potential for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. The need to monitor patients came from Dr. Sonal Singh from The University of Massachusetts School of Medicine in Worcester.
Preoperative Antivirals Lower Recurrence Risk In HBV-Related Liver Cancer
For patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma that is Hepatitis-B related, there is good news. In a study done in Shanghai, patients who were treated with antiviral therapy (AVT) before surgery had a reduced risk of tumor recurrence. The AVT was given for more than 90 days prior to surgery, which made the significant difference. Patients who were given a shorter-term treatment of AVT did not find the same results. Feng Shen conducted the study at the Second Military Medical University.
Scientists Develop Novel Drug That Could Potentially Treat Liver Cancer More Effectively
A novel peptide drug called FFW is a small chain of amino acids that would act as a cancer-cell-specific target and this may develop into a clinical grade drug used for patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). The researchers Daniel Tenen and Dr. Liu Bee Hui are working at the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore and are part of the team working to bring FFW to patients in hopes of stopping the development of HCC.
Direct Antiviral Therapy Of Hepatitis C
The risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) did not increase after patients took direct antiviral therapy (DAA). The cirrhotic patients who achieved sustained viral response (SVR) through DAA were not more likely to develop HCC after DAA treatment.
Clinical Significance Of The Isolated Anti-Hbc Serologic Pattern
“The clinical significance of isolated anti-HBc (IAHBc) includes Hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission and HBV reactivation in the context of immunosuppressant therapy. The development of liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma [additional concerns].”
Okyeama Kwame Offers Hepatitis B Free Screening
Free Hepatitis B screenings and vaccinations were performed for thousands of Ghanaians to honor this year’s World Hepatitis B Day. The Okyeama Kwame Foundation (OKF) worked with the MDS Lancet Laboratory and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to put on the event and raise awareness in hopes of preventing chronic infections.
AMC Treats Egyptian Surgeon With Multiple Hepatocellular Carcinomas
Shananm Mohamed is an Egyptian surgeon who underwent laparoscopic surgery for a six-centimeter tumor caused by HCC. He traveled to Seoul, South Korea to get the surgery because there was no laparoscopic equipment or surgeons in Egypt. Professor Kim-Ki-Hun performed the surgery successfully at Asan Medical Center (AMC).
Wuxi STA And Antengene To Collaborate On Cancer Drug Development
The collaboration between companies WuXi STA and Antengene is starting with hepatitis B virus- positive advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma patients. The biopharmaceutical companies are working on a molecule called ATG-008 in this clinical trial.
Tackling Liver Cancer Using CRISPR To Develop A New Animal Model
The Southwest National Primate Research Center at Texas Biomed is using Old World Monkeys as a new animal model, as the mouse models were failing when adapted to human trials. There is more hope with a larger animal, and Dr. Christopher Chen says that CRISPR is “really making a huge impact in labs around the country.”
Liver Cancer Death Rate In US Surged 43% In 16 Years
In American adults, the death rates for liver cancer increased an incredible 43% from 2000 to 2016. Both men and women over age 25 and older saw this increase, while only Asians and Pacific Islanders saw a decrease in the mortality caused by liver cancer. This increase is shocking, as overall mortality for all cancers has declined.
Liver Cancer Risks, Detection: 8 Recent Reports
‘Healio presents the following recent reports that include studies on ethnic differences in liver cancer detection, improved diagnosis and bi-annual screening, and innovative noninvasive testing solutions’. This new data is beneficial for patients who are looking for more information about HCC.
Tenofovir For Chronic HBV Reduces Risk For Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Tenofovir Disoproxil (TDF) is a treatment that may significantly reduce the risk of HCC for patients who have chronic hepatitis B infection. TDF was ‘significantly associated with an 8-year Hepatocellular Carcinoma cumulative (HCC) incidence rate reduction among cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients”.
Life-Saving Liver Cancer Screening For Hepatitis C Patients
‘Doctors say lives can be saved if people with Hepatitis C are identified and encouraged to be screened for liver cancer. It requires a blood test and an abdominal ultrasound.” A patient named Neil Strassman contracted Hepatitis C and had no symptoms, so he was unaware until getting a diagnosis in 2006. He developed liver cancer, but after a successful liver transplant in 2012, he is now cancer-free.
Keytruda sBLA Granted Priority Review For Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
The promising results from the Phase 2 KEYNOTE- 224 Trial have led to a new supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for Pembrolizumab. The medication has been granted priority review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
OBI-3424 is the first medication in its class that is being used to target solid tumors in patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The Phase ½ study has begun enrollment at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
DAA HCV Therapy Possible In Successfully Treated Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Using direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and ribavirin (RBV) in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has promising results. For patients who found radiologic response from HCC, this treatment method for HCV is being done in current studies.
Cabozantinib Improves Survival In Advanced Hepatocellular Cancer
Cabozantinib is shown to be effective in progression-free survival in HCC patients in a study done by Dr. Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The 707 patients were given either a placebo or Cabozantinib and the medication was proven more successful than placebo.
FDA Expedites Tecentriq-Avastin Combo For Most Common Liver Cancer
Genentech launched the IMbrave150 Phase 3 clinical trial for the combination of Tecentriq and Avastin for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma. In a press conference, Dr. Sandra Horning said, “Preliminary data from the combination of Tecentriq and Avastin in this disease are promising and we look forward to working with health authorities to make this potential treatment regimen available to people with Hepatocellular Carcinoma as soon as possible.”
Experts Anticipate A Growing Menu Of Frontline Options In Liver Cancer
According to Dr. Aiwu Ruth He: ‘The landscape for Hepatocellular Carcinoma is shifting. I suspect we will have more frontline therapy options to choose from.’ This promising statement was issued during the Peer Exchange panel discussion, where new therapies like regorafenib (Stivarga) and nivolumab (Opdivo) were discussed.
Medical Minute: Engineering T-Cells To Target Liver Cancer
Dr. Joseph Hobbs of the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University speaks about the progress that is being made for liver cancer in engineering human T-cells. “The Medical Minute is written and produced by The Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.”
20,000 Vietnamese Die Of Liver Cancer Each Year
Vietnam has a population of 95 million people. The cited reasons for the liver cancer death rate is due to “late diagnosis and treatment.”
Better Buy: Exelixis, Inc. Vs Immunogen, Inc.
The cancer drug Cabozantinib, created by Exelixis, Inc. is going under an FDA review in the hopes of getting the drug extended to treat liver cancer. Cabozantinib is a pill that was originally created for treatment of kidney cancer.
Jack Bruce was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2003 and was not expected to survive long-term. He reunited with two members of his band Cream in Albert Hall in 1968 and had a 50th Anniversary World Tour. Jack’s son is now celebrating his father’s legacy.
Allan Cooper passed away from his battle with liver cancer on June 17th, 2018 in Truckee, CA. He was a member of the US Army for 3 years and worked for the Continental Federal Credit Union for 33 years. He has surgery to remove a portion of his liver but was unable to pull through with the remaining portion of his liver.
Perioperative Antivirals Reduce HBV Reactivation After Transarterial Chemoembolization
For HCC patients, taking antiviral therapy before getting transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) may improve liver function. This new research is an exciting step forward in the treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
These Symptoms, Pointing to Liver Cancer The Chronicle of World Events
According to the British organization Cancer Research UK, potential signs of liver cancer are: a loss of appetite and weight that can’t be identified, swelling of belly, and nausea.
The antioxidants in coffee have been linked to a lowered risk of liver cancer. Specifically, caffeinated coffee has a benefit in reducing cancer risk.
The research in this report shows that the total number of incident cases for HCC in G8 countries in 2016 was 458,170.
Levantinib-Pembrolizumab Shows Promise In Several Cancer Types
There is current research in the use of Levantinib (Lenvima, Eisai) and Pembrolizumab (Keytruda, Merck) for patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, endometrial cancer, and head and neck cancers. The advance of these research trials is bringing hope to patients.
Dr. Finn Recaps Second-Line Advancements In HCC
In the last year and a half, ‘there have been many advancements in the management of patients with advanced HCC’. The two medications that have shown positive results are Stivarga and Lenvima.
It is difficult for humans to absorb but Resveratrol is a polyphenol (antioxidant) that has been shown to have anti-cancer effects. The compound can be found in grapes, red wine, berries and peanuts.
NCCN Offers New Resource For Patients With Hepatobiliary Cancers
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is releasing a new edition of their guidelines for patients with liver, gallbladder, and bile duct cancers. This is to assist patients with more information to understand their treatment decisions.
Because of the drugs that are able to cure hepatitis C, doctors such as Dr. David Landsberg are beginning trials that transplant organs from Hep C patients to patients who are in need of a transplant to survive.
Adding SIRT Does Not Provide Survival Benefit In Advanced HCC, Except In Select Patients20 June 2018In patients with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) in combination with Nexavar does not significantly improve survival in comparison to solely taking Nexavar. But there is a subgroup of patients who may find a benefit in this combination therapy.Hardiwar-Based Scientist Claimed Herbal Breakthrough for Hepatocellular Carcinoma13 June 2018Dr. Hemanth is studying a new pathway to treat Hepatocellular Carcinoma and is planning to patent the pathway and natural drugs that lower AFP (alpha-fetoprotein). Because Hepatocellular Carcinoma is considered ‘highly chemo-resistant’, finding this new pathway may be a beneficial new approach to treating the cancer.
Merck KGaA Give A Good Hint Of Efficacy In A Special Form Of Liver Cancer
For patients with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma, there are positive results from two phase-2 clinical trials done by Merck. The drug Tepotnib, is being used as first-line and second-line treatment for tumors that have the gene MET mutation.
Celsion Corporation: A Summer Of Catalysts
The Optima Trial is a phase 3 trial for lung cancer patients. The company Celsion expects to have complete enrollment of 550 patients by the end of the summer. This is good news for the Celsion, as their previous study ThermoDox did not have success as standardized heat treatment for patients.
Researchers at Exact Sciences Corp. and Mayo Clinic announced significant progress toward developing a panel of novel, blood-based, DNA biomarkers that could accurately detect Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), the most common cancer that originates in the liver. The researchers detailed their findings during a presentation today at Digestive Disease Week, the world's largest gathering of gastroenterologists and scientists in the field.
Using Cell-Free DNA As A Marker For Liver Cancer Diagnosis
Dr. Kang Zhang is interviewed about his diagnostic work at the Laboratory for Advanced Medicine (LAM). He is a geneticist and a physician who is looking at a very specific area of DNA to identify liver cancer.
Inspyr, Lewis And Clark Merge With Prodrug And Adenosine Receptor Modulator Pipeline
8Inspyr Therapeutics and Lewis and Clark Pharmaceuticals have entered into a merger. Now combined, development of Inspyr’s mid-clinical-stage anticancer prodrug therapeutic mipsagargin will continue. Mipsagargin has undergone a Phase II study in patients with Nexavar® (sorafenib) as a treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and has been granted FDA orphan drug designation for the HCC indication.
Polaris Group has treated their first patient in a phase 2 trial of ADI-PEG 20 in combination with gemcitabine and docetaxel for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma, sponsored by Washington University. Polaris is also conducting a global phase 2/3 study in malignant plural mesothelioma featuring ADI-PEG 20 in combination with pemetrexed and cisplatin and a global phase 2 study in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) featuring ADI-PEG 20 in combination with FOLFOX. ADI-PEG 20 is a biologic being developed to treat cancers carrying a major metabolic defect that renders them unable to internally synthesize arginine.
Resection May Be Underused For Stage I Liver Cancer, Researchers Say
According to a matched-cohort study presented at the 2018 Society of Surgical Oncology Annual Cancer Symposium, patients with stage I Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) of 5 cm or less experienced greater overall survival, when compared with radiofrequency ablation. The study was conducted by Dr. Newton and his colleagues, using the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) Liver 2004 – 2014 Participant User File. The study cohort included 34,971 patients with clinical stage I HCC. “Hepatic resection for small solitary HCC may be underutilized in the United States, considering so many patients with small and intermediate-size tumors are receiving RFA and not resection,” Dr. Newton said.
FDA Accepts Cabometyx Drug Application For Advanced HCC
The FDA has accepted a supplemental new drug application for Cabometyx tablets as a treatment for patients with previously treated advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma created by Exelixis. “Patients with this aggressive form of advanced liver cancer urgently need new treatment options after they progress on first-line therapy,” Gisela Schwab, MD, president of product development and medical affairs and chief medical officer at Exelixis. Cabometyx (cabozantinib) previously received approval to treat patients with renal cell carcinoma. Exelixis submitted the supplemental new drug application for HCC in March 2018 based on top line results from a phase 3 study.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the filing of Exelixis's supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) tablets, as a treatment for patients with previously treated advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). An sNDA is an application to the FDA that, if approved, will allow a drug sponsor to make changes to a previously approved product label. Exelixis submitted the sNDA for the treatment of previously treated advanced HCC to the FDA in March 2018 based on results from the CELESTIAL phase 3 pivotal trial of CABOMETYX in patients with advanced HCC who received prior sorafenib.
Dawson Outlines Evolving Role Of Radiotherapy In Liver Cancers
Radiation therapies such as stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) currently have a role in the treatment of patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Laura Dawson, MD explains, “Radiotherapy is an excellent treatment for most cancers and has a very strong role in most cancers.” HCC is very challenging in that most patients have cirrhosis and poor liver function, and most are not suitable for transplant or surgery. Radiotherapy is an excellent treatment in that situation.
Singapore: Clinical Stage Biotech Lion TCR Bags $20m From Yashang Capital
Lion TCR, a biotech firm in Singapore, has raised $20 million. Lion TCR is focused on the development of T cell receptor (TCR)-T cell therapy against life-threatening viral infections and viral-related cancers. Lion TCR will also use this funding to advance its ongoing clinical trials of LioCyx, a personalized HBV specific TCR T cell therapy against Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) in major hospitals in China and Singapore. LioCyx was developed by Lion TCR’s scientific founder Prof. Antonio Bertoletti and his team, along with the collaboration of Singapore General Hospital, LioCyx won the 2018 SingHealth Duke-NUS Research Award 1st Prize and the Best Abstract in EASL International Liver Congress 2018.
Homer1 Linked To Tumor Size In Hepatitis B Induced Liver Cancer
Homer1 has been identified to play a role in the tumor generation of hepatitis B-induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). A study led by Jiancheng Tu at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University investigated the expression profile, clinical, diagnostic and prognostic significance of Homer1 in hepatitis B virus-induced HCC. They found that the levels of Homer1 were both downregulated in HCC cell line and tissue and were associated with tumor size. Large-scale studies are still needed to confirm these findings.
FDA Delays Decision On Lenvatinib For HCC
The FDA has extended the review period for lenvatinib (Lenvima) as a first-line treatment for patients with unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), to allow ample time to review the application. The sNDA submitted for lenvatinib was based on data from the phase III REFLECT trial. According to the trial, the median overall survival (OS) with lenvatinib was 13.6 months compared with 12.3 months for sorafenib. “Based on our results, lenvatinib might be a potential new treatment option for advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma,” said first author Masatoshi Kudo, MD, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
Adding A New Dimension To Cancer
Daniel Gioeli, associate professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology at the University of Virginia, with the collaboration of HemoShear Therapeutics was able to successfully recreate a cancer tumor environment outside of a patient’s body. Brian Wamhoff, the head of innovation at HemoShear Therapeutics, said the company is focused on developing therapies for rare diseases, primarily in the liver. A patient’s tumor can be introduced into this 3D model and customized to test the effectiveness of different drugs. This model would enable users to find medications specific to the patient, so that patients may have a better chance of responding treatment.
Some Philadelphia Researchers Are Using Microbubbles To Improve Cancer Treatments
Microbubbles are now FDA approved for use in ultrasound technology and researchers are hoping they will improve cancer treatments. A treatment called radioembolization, involves depositing radioactive beads directly to the tumor. This results in cutting off the blood to the tumor. “In this trial what we’re looking at is can we use these bubbles to improve radioembolization techniques,” said Dr. John Eisenbrey. “Our early data is suggesting it’s having a pretty dramatic improvement on tumor outcomes.” The Jefferson researchers are looking to enroll more patients, and hope to use this technology to treat other cancers by filling the microbubbles with oxygen or chemotherapy.
Genoscience Pharma, biotechnology company, has extended its first-in-human Phase 1b/2a clinical study using the oral small molecule GNS561 in advanced liver cancers, in France. GNS561 is a novel Solute Carrier Transporter (SLCT) inhibitor demonstrating potent antitumor activity against a range of human cancer cell lines, including HCC. This international Phase 1/2a study, which began in April 2018 at the Jules Bordet Institute in Brussels, Belgium, will be performed in several European countries and the United States. Professor Ghassan Abu Alfa of Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York is co-principal investigator in the United States.
Large Study Confirms Daas Protect Against HCC When Sustained Viral Response Achieved
A new study which included data from 22,579 patients treated in the national Veterans Affairs health care system over a 15-month period, looked at the risk for recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) in patients who achieve sustained viral response (SVR) on DAA therapy. Analysis found that the hazard ratio (HR) for HCC was nearly five times higher for patients who had cirrhosis at the time of treatment. Researchers also reported that advanced fibrosis at the time of DAA therapy was associated with an increased risk for HCC, even among patients achieving SVR. The team concluded that longer follow-up is needed to develop definitive and individualized surveillance strategies for HCC following effective DAA therapy.
Identifying Nivolumab-Related Adverse Effects Early In Advanced HCC
Nivolumab (Opdivo) has demonstrated durable tumor responses and promising survival benefits for patients with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Clinicians mush not identify and manage adverse effects (AEs) of the treatment. A study of 262 patients treated were assessed. Median duration of nivolumab treatment was 4.9 months. “Overall, select treatment-related AEs were effectively managed with the use of specific treatment algorithms, and approximately two-thirds of these resolved,” said Aralee Galway, MSN, ANP-BC, AOCNP, from Massachusetts General Hospital.
Chester Professor Leading £4m Trial To Tackle Liver Cancer At The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre
A team of researchers at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre are conducting a trial aimed at improving the survival chances of one of the deadliest types of cancer. The study called TACE-3 will involve patients with intermediate (stage B) Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). The Merseyside-led research will see more than 500 liver cancer patients from around the UK and France given a unique combination of drugs to see if it extends life. The study will be funded by Bristol Myers Squibb, a pharmaceutical company. TACE, which stands for TransArterial ChemoEmbolisation, is a type of chemotherapy which is delivered directly into the blood supply.
Proton Therapy Killed Tumor In 70% Of Liver Cancer Patients
Researchers from Samsung Medical Center competed a study which showed proton therapy to be an effective and safe treatment for liver cancer. Proton therapy is a radiation treatment that uses positively charged particles called protons to destroy cancer cells. A team led by Professors Park Hee-chul and Yu Jeong-il from Samsung Medical Center’s department of radiation oncology, studied 101 patients with liver cancer and received proton therapy for one year starting in January of 2016. Of the 78 patients who underwent a three-month follow up after proton therapy, around 70% of patients had their tumors completely disappear, and about 18% saw a decrease in tumor size.
Sarcopenia Predicts Tumor Recurrence Post Liver Transplantation?
A group of researchers, led by Young Ri Kim, from Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, found that sarcopenia appears to be one of the important host factors modulating tumor recurrence risk after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). The team studied 92 patients using the Milan criteria for patients with cirrhosis and HCC who received transplants with intent to cure. The researchers found that several factors, in addition to sarcopenia, were significantly associated with HCC recurrence. The mechanism underlying the association between sarcopenia and HCC recurrence is unclear.
Radiation Segmentectomy Shows Promise For Early-State Hepatocellular Carcinoma
According to a recent study radiation segmentectomy showed to be a curative-intent treatment, with comparable response rates, tumor control and survival outcomes among certain patients with early-stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). “Cone beam CT has revolutionized our ability to perform segmental injections isolated to very small tumors, sparing the majority of normal tissue,” said Riad Salem, MD, chief of vascular interventional radiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Salem and colleagues performed a retrospective study of 70 patients, of which 90% showed a response, and 59% achieved a compete response.
Oncimmune Launches Liver Cancer Biopsy Product In US
Oncimmune Holdings has launched a liver cancer biopsy in the US using its EarlyCDT platform. The biopsy is the second product to be launched using the EarlyCDT platform. The biopsy is a test for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) with a specificity of 97%. Oncimmune Holdings plans to distribute a 'kit' version of the liver biopsy product worldwide by the end of the first quarter of 2019. Geoffrey Hamilton-Fairley, chief executive of Oncimmune, states, “Currently most HCC cases are only detected once symptoms appear ... Our test, which measures autoantibodies, with exceptional specificity, can detect liver cancer in its early stages of development, giving the patient the chance of more treatment options and better prognosis”
Bioprognos Announces Oncocup Dx, A Blood Test That Can Identify Up To 30 Different Cancer Types
BIOPROGNOS, with the collaboration with Quick Diagnosis Units (QDUs), announced their new version of OncoCUP Dx. OncoCUP Dx is a non-invasive, accurate, and cost-effective test specially designed for Cancer Unknown Primary diagnosis. Its technology can identify up to 30 different cancer types from a simple, quick blood test. The main diagnostic tests and final diagnosis in QDUs are normally performed within 7 days after the first visit. QDU's objectives include early diagnosis, unnecessary hospitalization and to improve patient satisfaction.
Viagra And Many Other Drugs Were Discovered By Chance. Now Science Is Hoping To Change That
Drugmakers develop new drugs to target a particular condition, but almost all drugs have “off-target activity,” with some drugs affecting several hundred genes and other biological processes, said Joel Dudley, director of the Institute for Next Generation Healthcare in New York. Viagra is just one of many repurposing successes. Last year, researchers in Butte’s lab used the computer algorithm to identify four drugs with potential for treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).
SMYD2 Associated With Poor Prognosis In Hepatocellular Carcinoma
SET and MYND domain-containing protein2 (SMYD2) are a candidate human oncogene in multiple tumors. A new study, led by Dr. Shi-Kun Liu at the Central South University in China, discovered that the SMYD2 expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) tissues was significantly up-regulated at both mRNA and protein levels as compared with the matched adjacent non-tumorous tissues. This study suggests that SMYD2 can serve as a promising biomarker for the early diagnosis and prognostic prediction of HCC patients, and can potentially act as an effective therapeutic target of HCC.
Free Hepatitis Screening Available
Mon Valley Community Health Services, with Central Outreach Wellness Center, is offering a free hepatitis C screening. Hepatitis C testing requires just a finger prick to draw a drop of blood, and results are available in 15 minutes. Dr. Scott Cook, medical director at Mon Valley Community Health Services (MVCHS), said one in three people will test positive for hepatitis C. Statistic from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services show baby boomers are five times more likely to have hepatitis C.
SMC Approves License For Liver Cancer Treatment
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted Stivarga (regorafenib) as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with Nexavar (sorafenib). Stivarga is the first medicine to be specifically licensed for second-line use in patients with HCC who had formerly been treated with sorafenib. Based on the RESORCE placebo controlled Phase III trial, patients with HCC whose disease had progressed during treatment with sorafenib showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival.
Lenvima Is Expected To Boost Merck’s Oncology Portfolio In 2018
Merck, a global healthcare company, has begun a collaboration with Eisai, a Japanese based pharmaceutical company for the development and commercialization of an oral protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, Lenvima, as a monotherapy and in combination regimens with Keytruda. Eisai submitted applications to regulatory authorities in the US, Europe, and China, seeking approval for Lenvima monotherapy in the first-line Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Lenvima secured the first worldwide approval in the unresectable HCC indication in Japan, and has become the first systemic therapy to be approved in this market for HCC in the last ten years.
Fiona Stanley Hospital Partners With ECU To Improve Outlook For Liver Disease Sufferers
A new partnership between Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) and Edith Cowan University (ECU) hopes to improve the outlook for people with liver troubles. The iCOILD initiative will also establish national trials and strategies to prevent, rather than simply treat, liver disease. “The goal (of iCOILD – Improving Cancer Outcomes in Liver Disease) is not just mapping the prevalence of liver cancer but improving identification of those at risk and ultimately clinical trials for prevention treatment,” stated Professor John Olynyk, the lead of FSH’s Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
What’s New In Research And Treatment For Pediatric Liver Tumors?
There have recently been new developments in pediatric liver tumor treatment, include more targeted therapies, while reducing the toxic effects of treatment on the body. There are two main types of liver tumors in pediatric patients, which are both very rare: hepatoblastoma and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. At Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s HCC patients have been treated with immunotherapy, a type of treatment that uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer.
Bayer’s Liver Cancer Drug Gets More Reimbursement As 2nd Line Therapy
Bayer's targeted liver cancer therapy Stivarga (regorafenib) won approval for expanded coverage as a second-line treatment. Stivarga is a once-daily, oral prescription multi-kinase inhibitor that works by blocking certain proteins on certain normal and cancer cells. Stivarga is approved to treat several diseases, including HCC, in Korea. The recent expansion covers patients who have Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).
May is Hepatitis Awareness Month. According data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hepatitis, including A, B, and C, have been on the rise in recent years. There are five main forms of the disease. Although each is a little different, hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. “Hepatitis A, B, and C are the biggest hepatitis viruses in the U.S.,” William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
New Lab Could Lead To Faster Treatment For Liver Cancer Patients
Many Singapore research institutions, along with South Korea's Samsung Medical Center, have created a new program, which has the potential to shorten waiting time from three to four months, to just three, or four weeks, to determine which drugs are most effective against a liver cancer patient's condition. The program uses cells of the tumor samples taken from a patient. The cells are tested against different drugs to see which works best for a patient. This program is a collaboration between the Agency for Science, Technology and Research's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology and Genome Institute of Singapore, the National Cancer Center Singapore (NCCS), the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Samsung Medical Center.
Recreating Liver Tumors As Organoids For Faster, More Accurate Drug Screening
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. HCC claims so many lives because diagnosis often occurs only when the cancer has already advanced. Researchers have developed models of liver tumors called patient-derived xenografts (PDX), to more closely mimic the features of human tumors. This involves taking a small tissue sample from patients. Through this technology, one PDX can be used to produce tens to hundreds of such organoid-containing scaffolds. The samples are able to retain the genetic features and heterogeneity of the original liver tumors. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the screening and development of liver cancer drugs.
Metastatic Cancer Gorges On Fructose In The Liver
Xiling Shen, associate professor and his team of biomedical engineers at Duke University have demonstrated that metastatic cancer cells can reprogram their metabolism to thrive in new organs. Their research shows that cells originating from colorectal cancer change their dietary habits to capitalize on the high levels of fructose often found in the liver. During their research, they found one group of metabolic genes stood out in particular, those involved in the metabolism of fructose. This information can provide insight into how cancers thrive after metastasizing; this discovery can lead to new therapies specifically targeting metastatic cells.
HCC: Third-Line Treatments And Beyond
Dr. Finn states: “The fact that we’re talking about third-line options in advanced liver cancer is really remarkable. If you think about where we were not that long ago, we had sorafenib and only sorafenib for 10 or more years. So, for example, if they had sorafenib frontline and then received regorafenib at progression, upon progression on regorafenib, then it would be very appropriate to give them nivolumab. Or, if the sequence was sorafenib then nivolumab, then on progression on nivolumab, I would offer them regorafenib. The fact that we have drugs that have proven efficacy in liver cancer means that we need to follow our patients with imaging. The recent approvals and positive studies in liver cancer are very exciting”
Therapeutic Approach For HCC Progression
Dr. Finn States: “We are now a year later and the patient has been managed on sorafenib with what appears to be a good response initially but now has evidence of progression. As far as therapeutically, we are now in the era of second-line treatment, and there are several treatments available. One would be regorafenib, which has been shown to improve survival versus placebo. The RESORCE study was the first phase III study to show a survival benefit of a systemic treatment after progression on sorafenib. And in the United States, we now have the availability to use nivolumab. Patients who progressed on sorafenib were randomized to cabozantinib ... and this also showed a survival advantage, though at this time, that’s not FDA approved.”
New Nivolumab Dosing Schedules Approved In Europe
The European Commission has approved a 4-week dosing schedule for nivolumab (Opdivo). “This approval marks a significant achievement in our longstanding commitment to providing patients and healthcare providers with more flexible and convenient treatment options,” Fouad Namouni, MD, head of development, Oncology, BMS. Physicians can now prescribe the new dosing schedule of 480 mg of nivolumab infused every 30 minutes every 4 weeks for HCC patients who have already undergone sorafenib therapy.
Radiation Segmentectomy Shows Promise In Treatment Of Early-Stage Liver Cancer
According to a new study, radiation segmentectomy (RS) could give physicians a new tool in the fight against early-stage liver cancer. Researchers performed a retrospective study using data from 70 patients with solitary Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) 5 cm or less, not amenable to percutaneous ablation. Ninety percent of patients showed response based on European Association for the Study of the Liver guidelines and 59 percent of that group showed complete response. The researchers will keep following the study group to help improve patient care.
Vitamin A Derivative Selectively Kills Liver Cancer Stem Cells
Researchers have found that an artificial compound derived from Vitamin A, called acyclic retinoid, to prevent the recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). A research group led by Soichi Kojima of the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Science looked at the transcriptome of cells that had been exposed to acyclic retinoid, and found that compared to control untreated cells, they had low expression of MYCN, a gene that is often expressed in tumors and is correlated with poor prognosis. The team also discovered that the compound targets one class of cancer stem cells, preventing them from giving rise to new tumors. A phase 3 clinical trial of acyclic retinoid (also called Peretinoin), is currently underway in Korea, Taiwan and Singapore to test the drug's ability to prevent HCC recurrence.
New Study Sheds Light On Treating Liver Cancer
A recent study by the School of Life Sciences at UNIST, scientists finally found genetic evidence to combat liver cancer. The point of this investigation is to give a top to bottom knowledge on the capacity of TonEBP in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Scientists are now investigating the role played by TonEBP in the recurrence of liver cancer, as well as chemotherapy resistance. In collaboration with Ulsan University Hospital, the team found that TonEBP is involved at multiple steps of the common pathway of HCC development and tumor progression.
A recent study presented at The International Liver Congress 2018, showed an effective public health initiative developed in India to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A total of 29,371 patients were enrolled in one year. A decentralized, algorithm-based public health model helped cure over 90 percent of patients with hepatitis C virus infections in Punjab, India. The treatment was developed using sofosbuvir-based regimens to treat all patients. “This study is an impressive example of how to upscale the treatment of hepatitis C, which is important to reduce hepatitis C-related complications, particularly the development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma,” said Professor Markus Cornberg from the Hannover Medical School, Germany.
Therapeutic Options Continue To Grow For HCC
The number of treatments for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) continues to increase. During the past year, new treatments included the multikinase inhibitor regorafenib (Stivarga) and the PD-1 antibody nivolumab (Opdivo). In advanced HCC, liver embolotherapy techniques include TAE. Another treatment is radioembolization, which is radiation necrosis from beta-emitting Yttrium-90 microspheres. 2009 brought the approval of sorafenib (Nexavar). In 2017 was the phase III RESORCE study, which investigated second-line regorafenib versus placebo in patients with HCC who had progressed on sorafenib.
The FDA has cleared an investigational new drug known as IND for a phase I/II study of OBI-3424, a first-in-class DNA alkylating agent that targets cancers that overexpress the aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3) enzyme. Conducting the trial is OBI Pharma, Inc., a Taiwan biopharma company. OBI plans to enroll patients with local solid tumors, including Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). AKR1C3 overexpression has been documented in a number of treatment-resistant and difficult-to-treat cancers including HCC. Individualized patient selection by staining for AKR1C3 overexpression by immunohistochemistry can be performed to identify patients that are most likely to respond to treatment with OBI-3424, and thus offering the possibility for a streamlined clinical development strategy.
Growing Liver Cancer In The Lab May Speed Up Drug Testing
Researchers have now developed a method for growing liver cancer cells in the lab. Using patient-derived xenografts (PDX), researchers developed models of these kinds of cancerous growths to more accurately mimic the tumor environment to grow liver cancer cells. Using special technology, researchers can use one PDX to produce tens to hundreds of such scaffolds containing organoids. With their ability to recapitulate the genetic features and heterogeneity of the original liver tumors, these tumor avatars have the potential to revolutionize the screening and development of liver cancer drugs for patients.
Chinese Scientists Find New Trick Of Old Medicine To Cure Liver Cancer
Chinese researchers have uncovered a new mechanism that drives the development of liver cancer brought on by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is a risk factor for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), but the molecular processes underlying how NAFLD leads to HCC remain unclear. The team found that mice with an overactive SQLE gene developed HCC tumors more frequently compared to wild type mice and Terbinafine, a compound commonly used to treat athlete's foot, markedly reduced the size of tumors in mouse models of NAFLD.
Cabometyx Could Be Exelixis's Long-Term Growth Driver
The FDA accepted Exelixis’s (EXEL) supplemental New Drug Application (or sNDA) for Cabometyx as a therapy for the treatment of individuals with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Exelixis’s sNDA was based on the results of its Phase 3 CELESTIAL trial. An independent data-monitoring committee recommended that Exelixis stop its CELESTIAL efficacy trial after a review of the second planned interim analysis. Cabometyx demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful progress in overall survival compared to the placebo in individuals who had already been treated for advanced HCC. Cabometyx was granted an orphan drug designation by the FDA for the treatment of individuals with advanced HCC.
Delay Phase In Enhanced MRI Increases Diagnosis Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
According to a recent study, adding a 15-minute delayed phase in extracellular contrast agent (ECA)-enhanced MR imaging may improve the diagnostic performance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Researchers assessed the findings of 103 patients with chronic liver disease who underwent ECA-enhanced MRI. The researchers concluded the inclusion of the 15-minute delayed phase in ECA-enhanced MRI may improve the diagnostic performance for HCC.
Novel Proteomics Strategies Aid Cancer Research
Scientists are using novel proteomics methods to address unanswered questions in cancer research. The proteomics methods are applied to the study of protein variation within tumors; the failure of some candidate cancer drugs; and how chemotherapeutic combinations act synergistically. The researchers used laser-capture microdissection to profile protein expression in different parts of sample biopsies from patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).
Laboratory for Advanced Medicine (LAM) is a clinical-stage medical technology company focused on developing cutting-edge technologies for the early diagnosis and intervention of cancer. At the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, LAM presented data demonstrating the utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) methylation markers in the diagnosis, surveillance and prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Scientists at LAM identified HCC-specific methylation markers by comparing HCC tissue and normal blood leukocytes, and showed that the methylation profiles of HCC tumor DNA and matched plasma ctDNA are highly correlated.
Second-Line Liver Cancer Treatments Shows Positive Results In Phase 3 Study
Eli Lilly reported positive results from its phase 3 REACH-2 study with ramucirumab (Cyramza). Ramucirumab is being studied as a single-agent second-line treatment for patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Investigators evaluated the benefit of treatment with ramucirumab in patients with HCC who were intolerant to, or had disease progression while on or following treatment with sorafenib and were AFP-High. Scientists observed a greater survival benefit.
Final Results: the SORAMIC study shows no clinical advantage to adding selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) to standard sorafenib treatment compared with using sorafenib alone. “There remains a significant unmet need for new treatment approaches in patients with unresectable HCC, and SIRT had shown promising results in previous, non-randomized studies,” said Prof. Dr Ricke, from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany. The SORAMIC study was initiated in February 2010, which included a sub-study presented today of randomized 424 patients with inoperable HCC who were not candidates for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).
Study Reports Decreasing Rates Of Liver Transplantation Among HCC Patients In The U.S.
A nationwide study presented at The International Liver Congress 2018 in Paris, France, has confirmed that patients with HCC on the liver transplant list in the USA were more than 50% less likely to receive a transplant in 2014 – 2016 than they were in 2005 – 2007. Presenting these findings was Dr Jennifer Wang from the California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco. Dr. Wang stated, “This is a very worrying trend and reflects the continued imbalance between the number of patients with HCC in need of liver transplantation and the limited number of donor livers available.”
Eggplant Peels Provide Novel Treatment For Skin, Liver Cancers
Phytochemical analysis was done to show that eggplant peels are rich in steroidal glycosides, in the form of glycoalkaloids. A recent study has shown that the peels of the eggplant are also effective in treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). The study published in Journal of Carcinogenesis & Mutagenesis is titled “In Vitro and In Vivo Anticancer Activity of the Fruit Peels of Solanum melongena L. against Hepatocellular Carcinoma.”
Personalized T Cell Therapy Shows Signs Of Clinical Effectiveness Against HBV-Related HCC
In a presentation at The International Liver Congress 2018 in Paris, France, doctors showed a positive response in a patient with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative HCC metastases in the lungs following liver transplant. Scientists used engineered T cells. Cytotoxic T cells play a key role in killing cancerous and infected cells. "This study further explores the potentially beneficial role of immunotherapy in the management of advanced HCC," said Prof. Alejandro Forner from the Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Spain, and EASL Governing Board Member
Screening For Hepatocellular Carcinoma Likely To Be Cost Effective
According to the results of a Canadian study, surveillance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) by ultrasound is likely to be cost effective. This was conducted in patients with hepatitis C-related liver cirrhosis after they have achieved a sustained virological response (SVR) to direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs). “The results of our study challenge current clinical practice guidelines by suggesting that ultrasound surveillance is very unlikely to be cost effective in patients without cirrhosis,” said Dr. Hooman Farhang Zangneh from the University of Toronto, Canada.
Highly Sensitive Detection Of Hepatitis B Using ddPCR
A new study from investigators at the Center for Gene Diagnosis in the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, China, describes a new hepatitis B virus (HBV) assay that offers advantages over currently used methods. The new assay utilizes droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), which is highly sensitive and accurate for detecting trace molecules, such as viruses. Providing an accurate and sensitive approach for closed circular DNA (cccDNA) detection is of great clinical significance for earlier diagnosis and HCC prediction.
HCC Trials Spur Treatment Landscape Forward
The phase III CheckMate-459 trial in which nivolumab (Opdivo) is being compared with sorafenib (Nexavar) will continue to investigate the use of immunotherapy agents in advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). The study includes patients without hepatitis B or C, and those with either hepatitis B or C. CheckMate-040 started as a simple phase I trial investigating dose escalation of nivolumab, which then led to a series of dose expansions. “CheckMate-459 has completed accrual and will likely be the next big story in HCC because it has the potential to change not only the standard of care, but the entire treatment landscape,” says R. Kate Kelley, MD.
BeiGene, Ltd announced that the first patient was dosed in a global Phase 2 clinical trial of tislelizumab, an investigational anti-PD-1 antibody. BeiGene is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative molecularly targeted and immuno-oncology drugs for the treatment of liver cancer. The Phase 2 trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tislelizumab in patients who were previously treated for unresectable HCC. Approximately 225 patients will be enrolled at approximately 75 cancer centers internationally.
Blue Faery Grants Liver Cancer Research Award To Dr. Ghassan Abou-Alfa
Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association created the Blue Faery Award to recognize medical professionals who develop innovative research in the fight against Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). This year's recipient of the award is Dr. Ghassan Abou-Alfa. Dr. Abou-Alfa works at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and specializes in the treatment of liver cancer. Dr. Abou-Alfa serves on many boards including the chair of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Task Force for Hepatobiliary Cancers and chair of the medical board for Blue Faery.
The independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) has unanimously recommended to continue the Phase III clinical study conducted by Celsion Corporation known as the OPTIMA Study. Celsion is currently conducting a 550-patient, multinational, double-blind, placebo-controlled, study of ThermoDox® in combination with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for primary liver cancer. The DMC consists of an independent group of medical and scientific experts responsible for reviewing and evaluating patient safety and efficacy data for the company's Phase III OPTIMA Study.
Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd announced its poster presentation of the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrogenic effects of Namodenosen in NAFLD/NASH animal model data at the 53rd Annual International Liver Congress of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) to be held on April 11 – 15, 2018. Can-Fite is a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small-molecule drugs that fight cancer. Can-Fite’s liver cancer drug, Namodenoson, is in Phase II trials for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).
Cyramza Improves OS, PFS For Hepatocellular Carcinoma
According to a recent study, the phase 3 REACH-2 trial of ramucirumab met its primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) and its secondary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) for the second-line treatment of patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma with high alpha-fetoprotein. Levi Garraway, MD, PhD, senior vice president of global development and medical affairs at Lilly Oncology, stated, “The expected survival of these patients is only a few months following first-line treatment if they don’t go onto second-line therapy. For this reason, Lilly is encouraged by the results of REACH-2 and the potential for Cyramza to benefit patients in this setting.”
New Receptor Genes Turn T-Cells Into Powerful Liver Cancer Foes
Scientists at the Georgia Cancer Center exposed mice genetically manipulated to respond to human antigens to a common antigen found in human liver cancer. The mice used in this study were engineered to express human leukocyte antigen, which helps regulate the human immune system, and in this case, helped the mice produce T cells again human cancer. The antigen creates a response in the immune system, and as a result some of the mouse T cells developed the ability to target cancer. Scientists then took the genes for the most effective liver cancer antigen receptors, and put those receptors on human T cells, resulting in engineered human T cells which eradicated the cancer without harming normal liver cells.
Salk Scientists Discover Protein That 'Turns Off' Uncontrolled Liver Cancer Growth
Researchers from the Salk Institute and the University of Basel in Switzerland have discovered a protein called LHPP that acts as a molecular switch to turn off the uncontrolled growth of cells in liver cancer. The tumor suppressor could also be useful as a biomarker to help diagnose and monitor treatment for liver cancer. The team was led by Professor Michael Hall of the Biozentrum, University of Basel. They examined switches in a mouse model of the most common form of primary liver cancer called Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Reintroducing LHPP into the liver of the model mice bound to develop tumors, prevented the formation of tumors.
Influence Of Alcohol Consumption On Survival Outcomes Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
According to a recent study, survival outcomes are worsened among patients with alcohol-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) compared with patients with non-alcohol-related HCC. Alcohol consumption is among the leading causes of HCC, increasing HCC risk by nearly 5 times, and is projected to become the leading cause of HCC as hepatitis B and C care improves. 894 patients were assessed. Median overall survival (OS) for patients with alcohol-related HCC was 5.7 months vs 9.7 months in patients with non-alcohol-related disease.
Can DNA Methylation Help Us Understand And Diagnose Cancer Better?
Paul Ehrlich, of the late 19th century, proposed that the immune system plays a vital role in preventing cancer development. Researchers recently conducted a study to determine if DNA methylation can be used to diagnose cancer. They investigated if immune cells within peripheral blood change their epigenetics as cancer progresses in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Researchers examined the DNA methylation pattern in patient blood samples; they found that methylation was correlated with the progression of HCC.
Ipsen received validation of the application for variation to the CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) for the addition of a new indication for patients with previously treated advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). This came based on results of the phase 3 CELESTIAL trial, which met its primary endpoint of overall survival, with cabozantinib providing a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival, compared with placebo in patients with advanced HCC who had been previously treated with sorafenib.
Obesity Increases Risk For Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Hepatitis B Infection
8Researchers have shown that men and women with high BMI and hepatitis B virus infection are at increased risk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. A group of patients were followed from January 2007 to December 2015 and excised at first incidence of HCC. Patients were grouped based on BMI. The association between BMI and HCC appeared greater among overweight women than overweight men.
New Anti-Cancer Protein Discovered
Researchers have discovered a new anti-cancer protein called histidine phosphatase (LHPP). This protein prevents the uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells in the liver. The number of cases has almost doubled in Switzerland in the last 20 years. Leading the researcher is Prof. Michael N. Hall from the Biozentrum, University of Basel who reports that LHPP can also serve as a biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of liver cancer. LHPP is present in healthy tissue and completely absent in tumor tissue.
Cuba To Study Vaccine Candidate Against Hepatocelluar Carcinoma
Cuba hopes to introduce a prevention strategy for HCC that involves the diagnosis of Hepatitis C in blood donors in order to decrease the transmission. A new clinical trial has been approved by the Regulatory Authority for Medicines, Equipment and Medical Devices of the Republic of Cuba. Scientists will test the efficacy of the vaccine Hebersavax, to be used for the treatment of patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. This trial will take place at Cimeq, a certified good health institution. Dr. Francisco Hernández Bernal, professor and principal investigator of the CIGB and clinical manager of the project, explained that it is the first study in humans with this vaccine.
TACE-RT Ups Survival In Advanced HCC: Combination Tops Sorafenib Alone
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) patients with vascular invasion lived longer when treated with a combination of transarterial chemoembolization plus external-beam radiotherapy (TACE-RT) than with sorafenib (Nexavar). In a study of 90 HCC patients with macroscopic portal vein invasion, the median overall survival among those treated with TACE-RT was 55 weeks versus 43 weeks in those treated with sorafenib alone. The results of this trial were presented at the 2018 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium along with positive data for TACE plus sorafenib versus TACE alone.
The Role Of Dermcidin In The Diagnosis And Staging Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
In this study, scientists measured serum DCD and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels in 87 HCC patients and evaluated the relationship between DCD levels and clinicopathological parameters. In this prospective study, blood samples were collected from HCC, liver cirrhosis (LC) without HCC, and noncirrhotic non-HCC patients treated at Guangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2014 to May 2015. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a plasma protein produced by the yolk sac and fetal liver cells. AFP is the most widely used biomarker for HCC. It is important to identify novel serum biomarkers with high diagnostic accuracy to detect HCC and its metastasis.
Eisai And Merck & Co. Enter Global Strategic Oncology Collaboration For LENVIMA
An announcement was made that the companies have agreed upon a strategic collaboration for the worldwide co-development and co-commercialization of LENVIMA (lenvatinib mesylate), an orally available tyrosine kinase inhibitor discovered by Eisai. Per the agreement, the companies will also jointly initiate new clinical studies evaluating the LENVIMA/KEYTRUDA combination to support 11 potential indications in six types of cancer (endometrial cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, head and neck cancer, bladder cancer and melanoma), as well as a basket trial targeting multiple cancer types. Phase 1b clinical study (Study 116/KEYNOTE-524) of LENVIMA in combination with KEYTRUDA in Hepatocellular Carcinoma being conducted in Japan and the United States.
BMS’ Opdivo Cleared For Monthly Use
US regulators have approved a label update to Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo, waving through a new dosing option for the immunotherapy of every four weeks. The company says the approval will allow physicians to customize patient care with the option of using the newly approved dose of 480mg every four weeks. “With this approval, we now offer the most robust range of dosing options for an Immuno-Oncology medicine, providing enhanced flexibility to help address each patient's specific needs," said Johanna Mercier, head, US Commercial, BMS.
Radioembolization Shows Similar OS, Improved Toxicity Vs Sorafenib In Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Selective internal radiation therapy/radioembolization (RE) and sorafenib yield similar overall survival (OS) outcomes among patients with unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Radioembolization may, however, have a superior toxicity profile. Researchers randomly assigned 360 patients with locally advanced HCC to receive RE with yttrium-90 (90Y) resin microspheres or sorafenib 800 mg daily. Patients were enrolled regardless of portal vein thrombosis status and were unable to tolerate other curative therapies.
Cancer Stem Cells, Allies Of The Tumor And Enemies Of The Patient
The scientists of the UEx Molecular Biology of Cancer Research Group want to uncover the physiological mechanisms of the cancer stem cell, the archenemy of the patient because it is responsible for the progression of the tumor. One specific protein might contribute to keeping the tumor in a more highly undifferentiated state that could affect its metastatic capacity and its response to therapy. Researchers have already observed how a certain cell protein, the dioxin receptor (Ahr), participates in this process of cellular differentiation. This investigation is part of the project "Role of dioxin receptor in pluripotency and reprogramming: novel mechanisms regulating tumor cell differentiation.”
Globally, between 64 and 103 million people are chronically infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV), with more than 4.6 million people in the United States and is associated with more than 15.000 deaths annually. Chronic infection can result in cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. In the developing world, viral hepatitis (primarily hepatitis B) continues to represent a major risk for the development of HCC. Worldwide, chronic HBV infection accounts for approximately 50% of all cases of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and virtually all childhood cases.
Liver Cancer: A New Method For Identifying Splicing Biomarkers Developed
Researchers have developed a method for identifying splicing-based biomarkers for the most common form of liver cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). The team tested their splicing-variant detection method in HCC, by analyzing RNA messages in HCC cells sampled from hundreds of patients. Fixing AFMID splicing could lead to an increase in DNA repair.
New Method Identifies Splicing Biomarkers For Liver Cancer
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), led by CSHL Professor Adrian Krainer, now report in Genome Research that they have developed a method for identifying splicing-based biomarkers for the most common form of liver cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Splicing refers to a process in which an RNA message copied from information encoded in a gene is edited before it is able to serve as a blueprint for the manufacture of a specific protein. "If we can do this, AFMID splicing can become a therapeutic target and the source of a new drug for liver cancer," said researcher Kuan-Ting Lin.
Large-scale molecular profiling of patient samples has tremendously improved our understanding of human cancers. Given that AAVs can efficiently infect the liver after intravenous injection, the team reasoned that liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma would be a suitable and relevant model. The data indicates that AAV-CRISPR mTSG directly promotes aggressive liver tumorigenesis.
Lab-Grown Liver Tumors Help Singapore Scientists To Develop Anti-Cancer Drugs
A team of scientists has managed to grow tiny liver cancer tumors in a laboratory, which they believe could hold the key to treating one of Singapore's deadliest diseases. Anti-cancer drugs can be tested on them, allowing scientists to see how effective they are within a week or so.
AEOI Experts Produce New Radio-Drug
Researchers at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) have produced a new radiopharmaceutical for treatment of liver cancer. The new radiopharmaceutical is named Y-90 Resin Microspheres, which is used in treatment of metastatic liver cancer, as well as Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer.
Mini Tumor Models Offer New Insights Into Liver Cancer
Scientists have used laboratory models of tumors to identify a new drug that could be a potential liver cancer treatment. Experts from the Wellcome/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute in Cambridge created mini biological models of human primary liver cancers, known as organoids.
New AASLD Guidelines For Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Big Questions Tackled
Hello. I'm Dr. David Johnson, professor of medicine and chief of gastroenterology at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. When we see patients with cirrhosis in the clinic, we are concerned about screening for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). I'm not a transplant hepatologist, but I deal with these patients all the time, as you do. HCC is an incredibly common disease.
Cabometyx™ May Be ‘New Treatment Option’ For Liver Cancer
Treatment with Cabometyx (cabozantinib) significantly improved outcomes in patients with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC); leading researchers to suggest that it could offer a new treatment option for this patient population. The new findings come from the phase 3 CELESTIAL trial and were presented at the 2018 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.
Perthera Inc. And Blue Faery Announce Their Partnership Against Liver Cancer
Perthera, Inc., the leading Therapeutics Intelligence Company™, has announced its partnership with Blue Faery, the leading Hepatocellular Carcinoma advocacy group in the US, with the goal to provide liver cancer patients with therapeutic treatment options precisely matched to their individual cancers.
Lenvatinib HCC Data Published As FDA Considers Approval
Lenvatinib (Lenvima) was noninferior for overall survival (OS) while improving progression-free survival (PFS) compared with sorafenib (Nexavar) for the frontline treatment of patients with unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), according to findings from the phase III REFLECT trial now published online in the Lancet.
Keytruda Immunotherapy Appears Active For Treatment Of Liver Cancer
According to the results of a study presented at the recent gastrointestinal cancer symposia, Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is an active treatment for advanced liver cancer in patients who have already been treated with Nexavar (sorafenib). Liver cancer, or Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The prognosis for patients with advanced liver cancer is poor, and the multikinase inhibitor, Nexavar, has been the only approved treatment, until the recent approval of Stirvaga.3
Multiple Factors To Consider Before Choosing Treatment For Liver Cancer
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Is removing part of the liver always the best treatment for liver cancer? What if the cancer has spread?ANSWER: Surgery to remove part of the liver sometimes can be a successful treatment for liver cancer, but that’s not always the case. A variety of other options also are available to treat liver cancer. How much the cancer has spread, along with a person’s age and overall health, helps determine the best treatment choice.
New Direction In Treatment Of Cancer
An expert expects that in 10 years there will be a cure for cancer. Speaking to The Independent newspaper ahead of the World Cancer Day on 4 February 2017, Prof. Karol Sikora, who is a former head of the World Health Organisation’s cancer programme, said that advancement in genetics meant that doctors would be able to prescribe drugs targeted explicitly at cancer.
Biotech With Tenbagger Potential Signs Deal With Chinese Firm
In a Feb. 12 research report, Pantginis noted that Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Inc. entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Zhejiang Haichang Biotechnology Co. to develop its Akt-1 inhibitor, Archexin (RX-0201), as a Hepatocellular Carcinoma therapy (HCC). "We view this transaction positively," said Pantginis. "Overall, we are impressed with the terms that Rexahn achieved for a new formulation and indication that has not even gotten off the ground yet.
"Vaccines That Can Prevent Cancers
The viruses that are associated with cancers include hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV), human papilloma viruses (HPV), human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-1), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) which is also known as Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV), and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV). The hepatitis B and C viruses can give rise to chronic hepatitis B and C, respectively, conditions that lead to cirrhosis or severe scarring of the liver, which in turn predisposes one to liver cancer.
Type Of Health Insurance And Marital Status Affect Outcomes In Liver Cancer
People treated for liver cancer at an inner-city hospital experienced better survival odds if they had private health insurance, and if they were married, according to the results of a recent study that considered how socioeconomic factors affect health outcomes for those with the disease.
Celsion Corporation today announced that an abstract discussing the Company’s Phase III HEAT study evaluating ThermoDox® in combination with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was one of six selected for presentation as part of the lecture of the Presidential Selection at the Korean Liver Cancer Association’s 12th Annual Scientific Meeting in Seoul, South Korea.
Ethnic Disparities Evaporate With DAA Treatment Of Hepatitis C Infections
Early diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections can prevent liver cancer and end-stage liver disease even in high-risk ethnic minorities, according to a new study. There is a well-known ethnic disparity in the U.S. among HCV patients, with a higher risk of cancer, cirrhosis and long-term outcomes among Hispanic and Asian patients as compared to Caucasians. In the interferon era, studies showed Asians had the lowest rate of treatment, and African Americans and Hispanics were less likely to receive care than Caucasians.
Simple Tips To Keep Your Liver Healthy
Everything we do and take in somehow affects our liver. Our liver performs over 500 functions that work to keep us healthy overall. But what do we do when the liver gets sick? Your best defense against a sick liver is to adhere to a healthy lifestyle as much as possible. It’s really that simple. Here are some easy to do tips that can promote a healthy liver.
Driving my boyfriend home from chemotherapy, we couldn’t believe the ad on the bus in the next lane. We had to read it again at a red light. The ad warned that one in 10 Asian Americans are infected with hepatitis B and don’t know it — with a quarter of hepatitis B carriers at risk of dying from liver cancer or failure. Nothing about my boyfriend’s illness made sense until we saw that ad … At 30, Mark Lim was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer caused by hepatitis B.
Liver cancer is one of the commonest causes of cancer related deaths in the world. The cancer may originate from the liver itself called Hepatocellular cancer (HCC) or may be a result of spread from other organs (Metastatic cancer). The HCC usually develops in an already diseased liver (shrunken liver called cirrhosis). The cirrhosis in turn may be a result of longstanding infection (hepatitis B, hepatitis C etc.), Alcohol consumption, fatty liver disease, congenital liver diseases and so on.
In an unassuming laboratory in Sydney, a scientist is shining a light on cirrhosis and liver cancer — the cancer killing Australians at the fastest growing rate. Dr. Angelina Lay is a well-published scientist who is proud that she's helping advance treatments for liver disease, but that she even got through school is something of a miracle.
Recreating Liver Tumors As Organoids For Faster, More Accurate Drug Screening
Liver cancer is one of the top causes of cancer deaths globally, with a lack of approved treatments. A major challenge in developing effective drugs for liver cancer is that current preclinical tumor models do not accurately replicate features of the tumor and the tumor environment in humans, causing many potential drugs to fail in clinical testing.
Study Shows Liver Cells With Whole Genome Duplications Protect Against Cancer
Researchers at the Children's Medical Center Research Institute (CRI) at UT Southwestern have discovered that cells in the liver with whole genome duplications, known as polyploid cells, can protect the liver against cancer. The study, published online today in Developmental Cell, addresses a long-standing mystery in liver biology and could stimulate new ideas to prevent cancer.
Liver Cancer Patients Barred From NHS Access To Bayer’s Stivarga
It is now looking very unlikely that patients with liver cancer will get access to Bayer’s Stivarga on the NHS, after cost regulators issued final draft guidelines rejecting funding for the drug in this setting. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is sticking with its decision not to recommend the drug’s use to treat liver cancer that has spread around the body, is inoperable and has previously been treated with the drug, sorafenib.
Superior Court Judge Ola Lewis Says Cancer Treatments Are Working
Senior Superior Court Judge Ola Lewis said Friday morning that treatments for her liver cancer are working. “The cancer is shrinking,” Lewis said. “Round 4 of chemo next week! Cancer numbers went from 202 to 37! Praise God!"
Blood Test Plus Ultrasound Boosts Liver Cancer Detection By 40 Percent
Combining ultrasound imaging with a blood test for high alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels improves detection of early-stage liver cancer by as much as 40 percent, researchers at UT Southwestern’s Simmons Cancer Center found. Earlier detection is important to improving survival of patients with liver cancer, a disease that is on the rise and the fastest increasing solid-tumor cancer in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Announces Collaboration With Zhejiang Haichang Biotechnology Co., Ltd. For The Development Of RX-0201 (Archexin®) For The Treatment Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative, targeted therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, today announced that it has entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Zhejiang Haichang Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Haichang), to develop RX-0201 (Archexin®) for the treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer.
IILDS And Medgenome Inaugurate R&D Centre At Sonarpur
8Indian Institute of Liver and Digestive Sciences, a brainchild of The Liver Foundation, West Bengal, in association with MedGenome, announced the launch of the R&D centre at IILDS, Sonarpur. The centre would provide a deeper understanding of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in the Indian subcontinent. NAFLD is the most common liver ailments that can lead to cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
Burbank’s Mayor Going Strong Despite Cancer Diagnosis
Last month, the Burbank City Council held its first public session of the new year. Normally, this wouldn’t really be a big deal. Lots of city councils are getting back to work after the winter break.
Liver Cancer Symptoms — Seven Signs Of The DEADLY Condition
Liver cancer is a rare condition that’s linked to damage and scarring of the liver, known as cirrhosis. Several types of cancer can form in the liver, but Hepatocellular Carcinoma is the most common type. Signs and symptoms of the disease are difficult to spot to begin with, said the NHS. “Symptoms of liver cancer are often vague and don't appear until the cancer is at an advanced stage,” it said.
Liver Cancer Deaths Up 80% Since 1990, Hepatitis B And C Mostly To Blame: 5 Insights
Deaths from liver cancer increased by 80 percent in the last two decades, making liver cancer the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide after lung cancer. Here are five things to know: In 2016, 830,000 people died as a result of the disease compared to 464,000 people in 1990, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study, the most comprehensive worldwide epidemiological observational study to date.
Detection Kit Shows Promise In Liver Cancer Patients
Liver cancer is one of the world’s deadliest cancers. And, it’s particularly common in China. Now, new technology could bring hope to patients.
Dr. Abou-Alfa On Sequencing Agents In The Treatment Of Patients With HCC
Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa, MD, medical oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses how the potential approval of cabozantinib (Cabometyx) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) could affect the treatment landscape in liver cancer.
Researchers Discover Two-Step Process To Thwart Cancer Cells
Scientists at the University of Delaware and the University of Illinois at Chicago have found a new way to kill liver cancer cells and inhibit tumor growth. First, they silence a key cellular enzyme, and then they add a powerful drug. They describe their methods in a new paper published in Nature Communications.
Healthcast: A Study On Deaths From Liver Cancer
A new study found deaths from liver cancer have increased by 80% since the 1990's, making it one of the fastest-growing causes of cancer deaths worldwide, second to lung cancer. Primary liver cancer can be attributed to heavy drinking as well as long-term infections with the hepatitis B or C virus.
5 Things You Can Do To Improve Your Liver
As many people are attempting new diets in the new year, some are turning to detox diets to “cleanse their liver.” Maybe it’s the idea we’re poisoning ourselves with toxic foods that drive some to seek out a liver detox diet. But there are far easier steps you can take to prevent liver disease. A liver detox diet is not one of them.
UT Southwestern Oncologist Highlights Need To Improve Liver Cancer Screening Rates
Patients with cirrhosis should be screened regularly for liver cancer, though few are – in part, because busy physicians often don't order the screening tests, said UT Southwestern oncologists. "The frequency of liver cancer is increasing rapidly in the U.S. and liver cancer-related mortality has nearly doubled over the past decade. The poor prognosis of the disease is largely driven by the failure to diagnose the disease at an early stage," said Dr. Amit G. Singal, Medical Director of the Liver Tumor Program at UT Southwestern's Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Marijuana Could Help Protect Alcoholics From Liver Damage
“Our study revealed that among alcohol users, individuals who additionally use cannabis (dependent and non-dependent cannabis use) showed significantly lower odds of developing alcoholic steatosis (AS), steatohepatitis (AH), cirrhosis (AC) and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC),” the study reads, according to BGR.
Exelixis: Cabozantinib Shows Better Efficacy Profile Than Competition
It is approved for advanced renal cell carcinoma, metastatic thyroid cancer and is undergoing trials for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Recently, Exelixis and partner Ipsen reported strong results for cabozantinib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), a new indication, bringing the fight even closer to the likes of sorafenib (Nexavar).
Dr. Zhu Discusses Findings Of The KEYNOTE-224 In HCC
Andrew Zhu, MD, PhD, directory, Liver Cancer Research, Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses the findings of KEYNOTE-224 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). KEYNOTE-224 evaluated pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in patients with advanced HCC who had been previously treated with sorafenib (Nexavar).
2018 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium Highlights
In Hepatocellular Carcinoma, phase III findings of the CELESTIAL trial presented during the meeting showed that treatment with cabozantinib improved median overall survival by 2.2 months versus placebo for patients with previously treated advanced disease.
Small-For-Size Graft In Liver Transplantation Outside Milan Criteria Presents Worse Outcomes29 January 2018Patients who received small-for-size grafts during liver transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma outside Milan criteria had worse rates of recurrence and survival compared with patients within Milan criteria, according to a recently published study.New AASLD Guideline Focuses On Improving Diagnosis, Treatment Of Liver Cancer And NAFLD
A new Practice Guideline and Practice Guidance in Hepatology will help improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with liver cancer as well as patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which can lead to liver cancer and is characterized by the build-up of extra fat in liver cells often due to obesity and diabetes.
Losing Your Parents When You Know Nothing Of Death: Solace And Sorrow In The Dead Parent’s Society
A doctor would run a pen along each line of Mum's oncologist report, in a few months' time, pausing to translate the jargon. Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma (liver cancer) and invasive ductal carcinoma (breast cancer) had resulted in metastatic intraspinal extradural tumors (spinal cancer).
Pembrolizumab Elicits Promising Activity In HCC Patients Previously Treated With Sorafenib
In phase II data reported at the 2018 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, treatment with the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab (Keytruda) elicited promising progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) results in patients with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) who received previous treatment with sorafenib.
Liver Cancer - Identifying And Commercializing First-In-Class Innovation Market Report
Globally, liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer, but its poor prognosis makes it the second leading cause of cancer-related death (Globocan, 2012). Currently, the range of therapies is limited; the market consisted entirely of chemotherapies for many years, and only recently have targeted therapies begun to emerge.
Radiofrequency Ablation Improves Survival Over SBRT In Localized HCC
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was associated with superior five-year overall survival (OS) compared with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for patients with localized Hepatocellular Carcinoma, according to an observational study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Merck Reports Positive Phase III Liver Cancer Data On Keytruda
Merck & Co., Inc. announced data from the phase II KEYNOTE-224 study evaluating the use of its anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda in patients with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), a form of liver cancer, who were previously treated with systemic therapy (sorafenib). The data showed that treatment with Keytruda monotherapy led to an overall response rate (ORR) of 16.3%.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma HCC Treatment Market To Receive Overwhelming Hike In Revenues
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is also known as malignant hepatoma. HCC is the major malignancy of the liver and is found to occur mainly in patients with chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis. The cells of origin of HCC are the hepatic stem cells, although this remains the subject of investigation. The hepatic tumors proliferates with local expansion, spreading in intrahepatic region and finally distant metastases. The uncommon Hepatocellular Carcinoma is anticipated to witness rise in incidence rate during the forecast period. HCC is currently expected to be the third leading cause of death worldwide.
Adolescent Drinking Can Cause Liver Problems Later In Life
Data indicated that alcohol consumption early in life was associated with an increased risk of developing severe liver disease. After 39 years of follow-up, 383 men had developed severe liver disease, which was defined as a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis, decompensated liver disease (Hepatocellular Carcinoma, ascites, esophageal varices, hepatorenal syndrome, or hepatic encephalopathy), liver failure, or death from liver disease.
Study: Marijuana Use Associated With Reduced Prevalence Of Liver Disease In Alcoholics
“Abusive alcohol use has well-established health risks including causing liver disease (ALD) characterized by alcoholic steatosis (AS), steatohepatitis (AH), fibrosis, cirrhosis (AC) and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)”, states the study’s abstract. “Strikingly, a significant number of individuals who abuse alcohol also use Cannabis, which has seen increased legalization globally. While cannabis has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties, its combined use with alcohol and the development of liver disease remains unclear.”
AVEO Oncology's Tivozanib Shows Positive Effect In Early-Stage Liver Cancer Study
AVEO Oncology (AVEO +5.4%) is up on 30% higher volume in response to positive results from the Phase 1b portion of a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial assessing lead drug FOTIVDA (tivozanib) in patients with advanced unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).
Invitrocue's Onco-PDO Technology Grows Liver Cancer Outside Of Body
Invitrocue has again validated its Onco-PDO technology by successfully growing liver cancer outside the human body, opening the door for liver cancer sufferers to receive more personalized drug treatment plans. Using Onco-PDO technology, Invitrocue researchers have been able to culture a variety of patient-derived cancer cells in the laboratory. The cultures or organoids can then be tested against a panel of drugs to facilitate personalized drug treatments in patients and improve outcomes.
Exelixis, Ipsen Report Positive Results On Lead Cancer Drug
Exelixis, Inc. and Ipsen announced positive detailed results from the pivotal phase III CELESTIAL study of Cabometyx (cabozantinib) demonstrating significant overall survival benefit in patients with previously treated advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).
Bayer To Highlight New Research At ASCO GI 2018 Cancer Symposium
Bayer announced today that new data from the continued research on Stivarga® (regorafenib) and Nexavar® (sorafenib) in advanced liver cancer will be presented at the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal (ASCO GI) Cancer Symposium. The Bayer data include analyses from the RESORCE trial in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) in addition to the LiverT study in HCC.
Minimally Invasive Liver Resection Reduces Blood Loss, Complications
Minimally invasive liver resection may be effective for patients with impaired liver function, as results from a recently published study showed that the procedure reduced blood loss and had lower complication rates that led to shorter hospital stays compared with open liver resection. Noda and colleagues retrospectively reviewed the data of 99 patients who underwent hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (n = 96) or combined HCC and cholangiocarcinoma (n = 3).
Married Status May Improve Survival Outcomes In Hepatocellular Carcinoma
According to a study published in Cancer Management and Research, being married — which may be influenced by race/ethnicity and gender — improved survival outcomes among patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).First Patient Dosed In Phase 3 Trial Of Beigene's Therapy Candidate For Advanced Liver Cancer
Investigators have dosed the first patient in a global Phase 3 trial evaluating the PD-1 inhibitor tislelizumab (BGB-A317) as a first-line therapy for advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) — the most common form of liver cancer — announced BeiGene, the company developing the investigational drug. The trial’s primary goal is to determine if tislelizumab is superior to the current standard of care at improving patient survival. It is part of a collaboration between BeiGene and Celgene, which aims to develop this anti-PD-1 antibody for the treatment of solid tumors.
Netscientific Investee Gets Good Results From Liver Cancer Diagnostic
In a blind evaluation of 149 Hepatocellular Carcinoma positive patients and control samples, Glycotest's panel achieved an area under the curve of 0.97 and exhibited 93% sensitivity at 92% specificity, which NetScientific said indicates a high predictability on a statistical basis as to whether liver cancer is present in patients or not.
BeiGene, Ltd., a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative molecularly targeted and immuno-oncology drugs for the treatment of cancer, today announced that in December 2017 the first patient was dosed in a global Phase 3 clinical trial of tislelizumab, an investigational anti-PD-1 antibody, in patients with previously untreated advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC or liver cancer). Along with two pivotal Phase 2 trials in China in relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma and urothelial cancer, and a global Phase 3 trial in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, tislelizumab is now being evaluated in pivotal trials in four distinct indications.
Dr. Abou-Alfa On Checkpoint Inhibitors In Liver Cancer
Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa, MD, medical oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses checkpoint inhibitors in liver cancer. There is a place for checkpoint inhibitors in liver cancer, says Ghassan, but currently he chooses tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. Upcoming data with checkpoint inhibitors will read out soon and will affect sequencing, he adds.