Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0019204 (hepatocellular carcinoma)
 71,386 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Cirrhosis is considered to be the precursor of most hepatocellular carcinomas. To gain insight into the early molecular mechanisms of liver carcinogenesis, this study compared, using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the expression levels of 31 selected genes in normal livers, cirrhotic nodules, and hepatocellular carcinomas. Since cirrhosis is composed of a mixture of polyclonal and monoclonal nodules, gene expression levels were also compared according to the clonal status of the cirrhotic nodules. The expression of eight of the 31 genes studied was significantly increased (NEGF2, ANGPT1, ARF, KRT19, SFN, CLDN4, MMP7, and ETV4) in cirrhotic nodules compared with normal liver, while only one was decreased (LYVE1). The same trend of variation was observed in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinomas for all of these genes except KRT19. When gene expression variation was compared according to the clonal status of cirrhotic nodules, only the LYVE1 expression level was significantly different. The LYVE1 gene expression level decreased progressively from polyclonal cirrhotic nodules to monoclonal cirrhotic nodules (polyclonal nodules 0.39 +/- 0.25; monoclonal nodules 0.20 +/- 0.14; p < 0.05) and to hepatocellular carcinoma (0.07 +/- 0.1). In conclusion, this study highlights the fact that among genes strongly dysregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma, some are already abnormally expressed in cirrhosis. The decrease in the expression level of one of these genes, LYVE1, was associated with monoclonality in cirrhotic nodules.
 ...
PMID:Quantitative RT-PCR in cirrhotic nodules reveals gene expression changes associated with liver carcinogenesis. 1451 43

The survival of a recent series of 823 cirrhosis patients who were followed up for a mean of 48 months was analyzed. Cirrhosis was ascribed to alcohol (26%), hepatitis virus B (58%), hepatitis virus C (11%) or both (2%), or was cryptogenic (3%). Features of decompensation were observed in 51% of the patients at entry, and newly developed in 44% of compensated patients within 5 yr. The 5-yr survival after decompensation was 25%. The leading causes of death were liver failure (53%), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, 23%), and variceal bleeding (10%). Early detection of HCC significantly improved the survival of cirrhosis patients. Biannual ultrasonography increased the detection rate of small HCC. Mortality of variceal hemorrhage was much lower in patients with Child-Pugh scores from 5 to 8 than in those with scores above 8 (5% vs. 52%). Endoscopic prophylaxis significantly decreased the incidence of first variceal hemorrhage, but the effect was insufficient to improve the rate of survival. Mortality of first spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was 18%. These data suggest that the mortality of major complications of liver cirrhosis has considerably decreased during the last two decades, while there was no remarkable improvement in long-term survival. More efficient management of etiologic factors would be required.
 ...
PMID:The prognosis of liver cirrhosis in recent years in Korea. 1467 40

This study aims at establishing the pattern of liver cirrhosis. Histology slides and duplicate copies of reports were retrieved and re-examined while fresh sections were processed from original paraffin blocks when necessary. Cirrhosis was the second commonest cause of chronic liver disease after hepatocellular carcinoma. The commonest morphological type was macronodular cirrhosis. Micronodular cirrhosis is not as common in black Africans as among the Caucasians. This is not unexpected since alcoholic liver disease that is of aetiopathogenetic importance is also not as common as what is often found in Causasians. Biliary cirrhosis was reported in an 8 months old girl consequent upon congenital absence of gallbladder and biliary tree. There was male preponderance in the occurrence of cirrhosis with a male, female ratio of 2.5:1. The incidence gradually increased from early adult life but was highest in the middle age especially between the age group of 51-60 years and subsequently dropped sharply. Adequate diagnostic facilities should be provided to determine the incidence of hepatotropic viruses and their contribution to the incidence of chronic liver diseases. Case-controlled studies should be carried out to determine the role of local cultural practices on hepatocellular injury and the development of chronic liver disease.
 ...
PMID:Histopathological assessment of the pattern of liver cirrhosis in a tropical population. 1502 82

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects over 170 million people worldwide. Chronic infection occurs in 50-80% of cases and eventually leads to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The HCV lifecycle is only partly understood owing to the lack of a productive cell culture system. Several molecules have been implicated in the receptor complex at the surface of target cells, but the mode of HCV entry remains unknown. Persistent infection appears to be due to weak CD4+and CD8+ T-cell responses during acute infection, which fail to control viral replication. When chronic infection is established, HCV does not appear to be cytopathic. Liver lesions appear to result from locally driven immune responses, which are mainly non-specific. Local inflammation triggers fibrogenesis, in which hepatic stellate cells play a major role. Cirrhosis is facilitated by external factors, such as chronic alcohol consumption and viral co-infections. Patients with cirrhosis are at high risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. The role of HCV proteins in hepatocarcinogenesis is unknown. Further progress in our understanding of HCV infection and pathogenesis awaits the advent of new model systems and technologies.
 ...
PMID:Pathophysiology of hepatitis C virus infection and related liver disease. 1503 26

Cirrhosis was once thought of as an absolute contraindication to cardiac surgery with the risk of liver decompensation following the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. With the advent of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, the possibility of reducing the risk of decompensation may make this type of surgery suitable for patients who will eventually undergo orthotopic liver transplantation. We present the strategy used in a patient with multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis who underwent coronary artery bypass grafts for unstable angina, in order to allow him to undergo liver transplantation at a future date.
 ...
PMID:OPCAB surgery in a cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma patient awaiting liver transplant. 1546 20

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing worldwide; the overall survival of patients with HCC is grim because most patients are diagnosed late, when curative treatment is not possible. Cirrhosis is the strongest risk factor for the development of HCC. HCC surveillance with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and ultrasonography has been recommended for persons with cirrhosis. However, AFP level is insensitive for the early detection of HCC, and ultrasonography is expensive and operator dependent. Clearly, there is a need for novel strategies for the early detection of HCC. The ideal biomarker assay for HCC would be sensitive, specific, noninvasive, reproducible, inexpensive, and acceptable to patients. The Early Detection Research Network of the National Cancer Institute has proposed 5 phases for biomarker validation: preclinical exploratory studies, clinical assay development for disease, retrospective longitudinal study to detect preclinical disease, prospective screening study, and cancer control studies. Several biomarkers, such as des-gamma carboxyprothrombin, lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive AFP, human hepatocyte growth factor, and insulin-like growth factor-1, are promising, but none of these markers has been validated for clinical use. Limitations of the current literature include inadequate sample size, heterogeneity in biomarker assay methods and result reporting, limited analysis of demographics and cause of liver disease as covariates in the expression of these markers, and a scarcity of longitudinal studies evaluating the ability of biomarkers to detect preclinical disease. There is an urgent need for novel biomarkers for the detection of early HCC; the National Cancer Institute proposal provides a framework for future validation studies.
 ...
PMID:Newer markers for hepatocellular carcinoma. 1550 74

Liver homeostasis is achieved by the removal of diseased and damaged hepatocytes and their coordinated replacement to maintain a constant liver cell mass. Cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, and toxic drug effects can all trigger apoptosis in the liver as a means of removing the unwanted cells, and the Fas "death receptor" pathway comprises a major physiological mechanism by which this occurs. The susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis is, in part, a function of the hepatocyte's proteome. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor known to influence apoptosis, conceivably by regulating the expression of genes involved in apoptotic signaling. In this article, we present evidence demonstrating that AhR expression and function promote apoptosis in liver cells in response to Fas stimulation. Reintroduction of the AhR into the AhR-negative BP8 hepatoma cells as well as into primary hepatocytes from AhR knockout mice increases the magnitude of cell death in response to Fas ligand. Enhanced apoptosis correlates with increased caspase activity and mitochondrial cytochrome c release but not with the expression of several Bcl-2 family proteins. In vivo studies showed that in contrast to wild-type mice, AhR knockout mice are protected from the lethal effects of the anti-Fas Jo2 antibody. Moreover, down-regulation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator protein in vivo by adenovirus-mediated RNA interference to suppress AhR activity provided wild-type mice partial protection from Jo2-induced lethality.
 ...
PMID:The aryl hydrocarbon receptor predisposes hepatocytes to Fas-mediated apoptosis. 1555 Jun 80

Hepatitis C is a common cause of viral hepatitis that progresses to chronic infection in the majority of patients. Clinically, the infection is generally asymptomatic, but it may present with a wide variety of symptoms. Cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, cryoglobulinemia, auto-antibodies, and glomerulonephritis have been strongly associated with HCV. There is a probable association with autoimmune disease and NHL. More information is needed to determine whether lichen planus, PCT, and other disorders are part of the growing clinical spectrum or just coincidental associations with chronic liver disease.
 ...
PMID:Clinical manifestations of hepatitis C. 1556 59

Cirrhosis from any cause is present in the majority (93.1%) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases in Italy, it seems to be the common pathway by which several risk factors extent their carcinogenic effect. The mortality rate of HCC in Italy has progressively increased during the period 1969-1994, reflecting the rising number of persons living with cirrhosis as consequence of the remarkable advances in medical management of such patients. Most HCC develops in cirrhosis caused by known and preventable risk factors (hepatitis B virus, HBV, hepatitis C virus, HCV, alcohol and possibly non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, NASH). Unlike alcohol and NASH, HBV and HCV chronic infections act as a risk factors for HCC both because they induce cirrhosis and because they increase the risk in patients with cirrhosis. Moreover, case-control and prospective studies have shown a synergistic effect on HCC risk, when both viral infections occur. Currently, HCV infection is detected in the majority (76.4%) of HCC cases in Italy, reflecting the large cohort of subjects infected with this virus via the iatrogenic route during the 1950s and 1960s. The low rate of HCV infection in the younger Italian generations may generate a downward trend in the HCC mortality rate in the years to come.
 ...
PMID:Etiological factor of hepatocellular carcinoma in Italy. 1575 42

Computed tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) have no significant impact in the evaluation of diffuse liver disease. Cirrhosis and hepatitis are not of specific imaging findings, the image of cirrhosis is depending on degree of disease. Nodular lesions are frequent findings in cirrhotic livers. For differentiation of regenerative nodules, dysplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinoma CT and MRI are playing their role in localization and characterization of these lesions. Sensitivity and specificity are varying, depending on the technical applications of CT and MRI, and the application of contrast materials. MRI is superior in characterizing the lesions due to the different appearance of the lesions in different sequences. CT is superior as the staging modality. Complications of cirrhosis like ascites, varices of the oesophageal veins are diagnosed. CT and MRI are necessary when interventional or surgical procedures are planned or for therapy surveillance.
 ...
PMID:[Role of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of hepatitis and liver cirrhosis]. 1590 Aug 26


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>