Objective To investigate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in detection and diagnosis of small primary liver cancer. Methods SonoVue-enhanced ultrasonography were performed on 353 patients with 378 primary liver cancer, less than 3 cm in diameter. Enhancement patterns and enhancement phases of hepatic lesions on contrast-enhanced ultrasonography were analyzed and compared with the results of histopathology. Results In all hepatic tumors, 96.6% （365/378） lesions enhanced in the arterial phase. Among them, 317 (83.9%) tumors enhanced earlier than liver parenchyma and 48 (12.7%) tumors enhanced synchronously with liver parenchyma, and 342 (90.5%) tumors showed early wash-out in the portal and late phases. With regard to the enhancement pattern, 329 (87.0%) tumors presented whole-lesion enhancement, 35 (9.3%) to be mosaic enhancement and 14 (3.7%) to be rim-like enhancement. If taking the whole-lesion enhancement and mosaic enhancement in arterial phase as diagnotic standard for primary liver cancer on contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, the sensitivity was 92.9%(351/378), and if the earlier or synchronous enhancement of the tumor compared with liver parenchyma in arterial phase and the wash-out in portal phase were regarded as the stardand, the sensitivity was 87.3%(330/378). Conclusion Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography could display real-time enhancement patterns as well as the wash-out processes both in hepatic tumors and the liver parenchyma. It might be of clinical value in diagnosis of primary liver cancer based on the hemodynamics of hepatic tumors on contrast-enhanced ultrasonography.
Objective To state operative details of lip-shaped hepatectomy (LSH) and evaluate its advantage in treatment of primary liver cancer (PLC).Methods LSH is one of the irregular hepatectomies. The key lies in the following five operative kinks: ①adequately mobilizing perihepatic ligaments; ②designing lip-shaped hepatic incision; ③laying sutures on both sides of the hepatic incision for traction; ④wedge-shapedly resecting the tumor and the surrounding liver; ⑤closely sewing up the hepatic cutting surface.Results Two hundreds and thirty three patients with PLC were treated by LSH between Oct. 1991 and Dec. 1997 in Zhongshan hospital, Shanghai medical university. Among them 8 cases underwent initial hepatectomy and resection for recurrence of the tumor. The operative mortality rate was 1.2%, 2 died of hepatic failure and 1 renal failure. In addition to bile leakage in 3 cases and hydropsy at the operative area in one case, no severe postoperative complications were found, such as intraperitoneal bleeding, subphrenic abscess and so on. The 1-,3-,5-year survival rates were 89.8%, 64.3% and 55.9% respectively, in 233 patients with 241 LSHs. 25 patients survived more than 5 years. The result indicated that the most advantage of LSH was to increase operative safety on the basis of guarantee of radical resection of PLC, especially to decrease some complications from hepatic cutting surface.Conclusion LSH is a relatively simple, safe, reasonable and recommendable hepatectomic modality.
Objective To summarize the role of the relationship between liver cancer and cellular immunological function, and the role of immune therapy in clinical application. Methods To analyze the relationship between liver cancer and cellular immunological function, and the present research situation of immune therapy for liver cancer in clinical application retrospectively via review the related domestic and foreign literatures. Results The cellular immune dysfunction existed in all liver cancer patients. The state of body’s cellular immunological function is closely related with the arising and development of liver cancer, and the lowness of cellular immunological function is an important factor of hepatocellular carcinoma hard to cure or recurrence and metastasis. Immune therapy plays an important role in the treatment of liver cancer by adjusting the body’s cellular immunological function. Conclusions Liver cancer is closely related with the body’s cellular immunological function. Immune therapy is expected to offer a new way for the treatment of liver cancer, which can also be used as an important auxiliary treatment way.
Objective To summarize the research progress of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death protein-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors before liver transplantation of liver cancer. Method The literatures on the application of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors before liver transplantation of liver cancer were collected and reviewed. Results PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors preoperatively treated liver transplantation recipients had a low incidence of postoperative rejection, and routine usage of hormone and immune tolerance induction therapy in liver transplantation recipients might reduce the incidence of rejection caused by PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Conclusion Preoperative usage of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have more benefits than risks for patients with advanced liver cancer.
ObjectivesTo analyze the average daily medical expenditures for primary liver cancer in China from 2002 to 2011.MethodsThis study employed retrospective survey on multiple centers from 12 provinces and cities in China from 2002 to 2011, based on the continuous data from the Cancer Screening Program in the Urban China Project. The average daily medical expenditures of primary liver cancer patients and influencing factors were analyzed.ResultsA total of 11 045 liver cancer patients from 12 provinces and cities were included, with an average age of 55 and an average duration of hospitalization of 16.76 days. The average daily medical expenditures of liver cancer patients during the 10 years was 1 251 yuan (95%CI 1 236 to 1 266). The average daily medical expenditures was significantly different in regions (1 356 yuan in the east region, 1 209 yuan in the middle region and 1 068 yuan in the west region), types of hospital (1 341 yuan in general hospitals, 1 213 yuan in specialized hospitals) and hospital levels (1 293 yuan in 3A grade hospital, 805 yuan in non-3A grade hospital) (P<0.05). The average daily medical expenditures were 1 253 yuan for stage Ⅰ, 1 169 yuan for stage Ⅱ, 1 167 yuan for stageⅢ and 1 092 yuan for stage Ⅳ (P<0.05). From 2002 to 2011, the average daily medical expenditures of hospitalization increased from 1 079 yuan (95%CI 1 021 to 1 136) to 1 549 yuan (95%CI 1 486 to 1 613), with an average growth rate of 3.69%. Since 2007, a continuous growth was observed. Subgroup analysis suggested there were obvious differences in growth patterns between different regions and hospitals, as well as differences between various treatments.ConclusionsThe average daily medical expenditures of liver cancer in China had been increasing from 2002 to 2011 and there were significant differences between various regions and hospital levels. Combined with data on the change of duration of hospitalization, it can provide reference for the economic evaluation of the nation’s prevention and treatment policies for liver cancer.
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) on the reverse differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells into liver cancer stem cells, and the maintenance of malignant biological behavior in hypoxic environment.MethodsCD133-negative cells in HepG2 cells were separated by immunomagnetic beads and divided into two groups. The cells of siRNA group were transfected with siRNA-HIF-1α to silence the expression of HIF-1α gene, while cells of the blank control group did not transfect any siRNA fragments. The two groups of cells were cultured under normal and hypoxic conditions respectively. MTT, cloning and Transwell chamber experiments were used to detect the proliferation and invasion ability of cells. Western blot and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) were used to detect the expressions of HIF-1α, CD133, CD90, and CD44 protein and mRNA in cells.ResultsMTT results showed that the cell proliferation rate increased with the prolongation of hypoxia in four groups. Compared with the blank control group at 24, 32, 40, and 48 hours, the cell proliferation rate decreased significantly after siRNA-HIF-1a transfection, on both two kinds of cultured conditions (P<0.05). The results of plate cloning experiment showed that the number of cell-forming clones increased significantly after hypoxic culture (there were significant differences between the transfected normoxic group and transfected hypoxic group, blank control normoxic group and blank control hypoxic group, P<0.05); and the formation of transfected hypoxic condition group at the same time of hypoxia was also significant (P<0.05). The number of clones were significantly less than that of the blank control group at the hypoxic condition (P<0.05). Transwell lab experiment showed that after hypoxic culture, the number of cells migrated to the inferior chamber in the transfection group was significantly reduced compared with that of the blank control group (P<0.05). Western blot and RT-PCR results showed that the expression levels of HIF-1α protein and tumor stem cell markers (CD133, CD90, and CD44 protein) in the blank control hypoxic condition group were significantly higher than those in the other three groups (P<0.05); after siRNA-HIF-1a transfection, HIF-1α mRNA and tumor stem cell markers mRNA (CD133, CD90, and CD44 mRNA) in the transfected hypoxic condition group were significantly lower than those in the transfected normal condition group and the blank control normal condition group (P<0.05).ConclusionsIn hypoxia environment, HIF-1α can promote hepatocellular carcinoma cells to differentiate into liver cancer stem cells and enhance their malignant biological behavior.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical value and experience of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) of “LEER” model with “less pain” “early move” “early eat” and “reassuring” as its ultimate goal in perioperative period of laparoscopic anatomical hepatectomy of patients with primary liver cancer.MethodsThe basic clinical data of 98 patients treated in our department from May 2017 to March 2020 who were diagnosed as primary liver cancer and underwent laparoscopic anatomical hepatectomy were retrospectively analyzed. The incidence of postoperative complications, postoperative recovery and patients’ satisfaction were compared between 40 patients managed with traditional model (traditional group) and 58 patients managed with measures of ERAS of “LEER” model (“LEER”-ERAS group).ResultsCompared with the traditional group, the “LEER”-ERAS group had lower postoperative pain scores (t=2.925, P=0.004), earlier postoperative anal exhaustion, bowel movement and normal diet (t=3.071, t=3.770, t=3.232, all P<0.005) , shorter time to postoperative off-bed activity (t=5.025, P<0.001) and earlier postoperative removal time of drainage tube (t=3.232, P=0.001). Postoperative hospital stay was shorter (t=4.831, P<0.001), the cost of hospitalization was lower (t=3.062, P=0.003), and the patient’s satisfaction with medical treatment was higher (χ2=9.267, P=0.002). There were no statistical difference in the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, rate of conversion to laparotomy, blocking time of porta hepatis, postoperative complications and postoperative adverse events between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionsCompared with the traditional model, the measures of ERAS of “LEER” model that applied to laparoscopic anatomical hepatectomy of patients with primary liver cancer, is safe and effective, and can relieve postoperative pain, accelerate postoperative rehabilitation, improve satisfaction of patients, shorten hospital stay, and reduce medical costs. It has further promotion and research value.
【Abstract】ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) on the immunity of patients with advanced primary liver cancer (PLC). MethodsForty cases of PLC admitted to our institution from Mar. 2003 to Dec. 2003 were included in this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups and received either HIFU or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment randomly. CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, NK, IL-2, TNF were chosen to assess the immune status before and after treatment. The results were compared statistically. ResultsThe survival rate after HIFU was 80.0%, 61.1%, 42.9%, 33.3% at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 1 year respectively, which was similar to that after RFA treatment. The changes of immunity parameters of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, NK, IL-2 and TNF were not significant after HIFU treatment. In addition, the differences of those parameters between HIFU group and RFA group were insignificant. ConclusionThere are no detrimental effects on immunity in the early period after HIFU treatment.
31 case of advanced primary liver cancer were treated by using IL-2 and LAK cells in which 15 cases were combined with surgery (group A) and 16 cases were combined with chemotherpy (Group B). 7～14 months follow-up showed: In group A there was no recurence and metastasis, and the cell-mediated immunity was obviously improved. In group B, the average life time was more than 5.84 months, the tumor average diameter dicreased in 10 cases ,and the cee-mediated immunity was also improved. The role of immunotherapy combined with surgery or chemotherapy was discussed.
Objective To study the effects of pcDNA3/AFP/TK/Angio fusion gene targeting therapy for human primary liver cancer in nude mice implanted with SMMC-7721. Methods Human liver cancer cell line SMMC-7721 was implanted subcutaneously in nude mice to establish experiment model. Animals bearing liver cancer were randomly divided into five groups: control group， vector group， GCV (ganciclovir) group， pcDNA3/TK/Angio group; pcDNA3/AFP/TK/Angio group. Different plasmids were directly injected into tumors and GCV was intraperitoneally administrated simultaneously according to different groups. The growth of tumors was observed and the pathology was examined as well. Serum AFP level was measured by radioimmunology, the ultrastructural change of tumor cells was studied by using electron microscopy, the expressions of MVD and VEGF were respectively detected with immunohistochemistry and the cell apoptosis in situ was detected by TUNEL. Results The success rate to establish subcutaneous implanted liver cancer model in nude mice was 100%. The tumor volume, serum AFP level, VEGF and MVD expressions of pcDNA3/TK/Angio group and pcDNA3/AFP/TK/Angio group were lower than those in control group, vector group and GCV group (P＜0.05) and more apoptosis cells could be observed. While the tumor volume, serum AFP level, VEGF and MVD expressions of pcDNA3/AFP/TK/Angio group was lower than those in pcDNA3/TK/Angio group (P＜0.05); and apoptosis index was higher than that of the latter (P＜0.05).Conclusion pcDNA3/AFP/TK/Angio fusion gene inhibits the growth of tumor remarkably and becomes a promising new biological agent to treat human primary liver cancer.