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Y-90 Radioembolization and PD-1 Inhibitor as Neoadjuvant Treatment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Published on: May 24, 2024
Biomarker studies on radiotherapy to hepatocellular carcinoma
Chiao-Ling Tsai1, Albert C Koong, Feng-Ming Hsu
1Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Abstract:
Radiotherapy (RT) has been gradually integrated into the multimodality treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The various patterns of failure in HCC patients undergoing RT drive the need of effective biomarkers to guide treatment decisions. Limited numbers of biomarkers have been investigated in HCC, with even fewer of them for patients treated by RT. Serum or plasma biomarkers measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were the most common practice. Of particular interest are those biomarkers that are detectable early in the course of radiotherapy which correlated with ultimate clinical outcome. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly used to evaluate the imaging pattern indicative of disease control following RT. Positron emission tomography shows that pre-RT standard uptake values associate with various types of recurrence after treatment. Proximity ligation assay (PLA) is evolving with the unique features of dual-probe identification, ligation and amplification to allow the small volume of serum/plasma samples for evaluating multiple biomarkers. We demonstrate the screening work of biomarkers by PLA with pre- and post-RT serum samples from HCC patients undergoing RT. Efforts are being made to search for the potential biomarkers for HCC patients treated by RT.
Insights
Researchers are screening for new biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT). Proximity ligation assay (PLA) shows promise for early detection of treatment response and recurrence in HCC patients receiving RT.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Radiotherapy (RT) is a key component in the multimodality treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
- Identifying effective biomarkers is crucial for guiding treatment decisions due to diverse failure patterns in HCC patients undergoing RT.
- Current biomarker research in HCC, especially for RT-treated patients, is limited, with serum/plasma assays being the most common method.
Purpose of the Study:
- To screen for novel biomarkers in serum/plasma samples from HCC patients before and after RT.
- To investigate biomarkers detectable early during RT that correlate with clinical outcomes.
- To explore the utility of Proximity Ligation Assay (PLA) for evaluating multiple biomarkers in small sample volumes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Proximity Ligation Assay (PLA) for biomarker screening.
- Analyzed pre- and post-radiotherapy serum samples from HCC patients.
- Considered functional MRI and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) findings in relation to RT outcomes.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the feasibility of screening biomarkers using PLA in HCC patients undergoing RT.
- Highlighted the potential of early-detectable biomarkers to predict treatment response and recurrence.
- Acknowledged ongoing efforts to identify specific predictive biomarkers.
Conclusions:
- Proximity Ligation Assay (PLA) offers a sensitive method for evaluating multiple biomarkers in limited serum/plasma volumes for HCC patients.
- The search for reliable biomarkers is essential for optimizing radiotherapy strategies in hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Further research is needed to validate identified biomarkers for clinical application in HCC management.
