1.A case report on Hepatocellular Carcinoma with inferior vena cava and right atrium tumor thrombus in a patient with COVID-19 infection.
Mark Paolo M. Chatto ; Angelo B. Lozada
Journal of the Philippine Medical Association 2023;101(2):39-44
BACKGROUND:
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth most
common cancer in the Philippines and is the second
leading cause of cancer-related death due to advanced
stage at diagnosis in many patients. Advanced HCC
commonly has macrovascular invasion such as portal
and hepatic veins however, cases that describe
tumor extension into the inferior vena cava (IVC) and
right atrium (RA) are rare.
CASE SUMMARY:
We present a case of a 50-year old female with liver
cirrhosis from Chronic Hepatitis B infection who
presented with shortness of breath. She was diagnosed
with HCC based on dynamic enhancement pattern on
CT scan with IV contrast and highly elevated alpha-
fetoprotein. CT imaging demonstrated hepatic vein
invasion with large tumor thrombus extending to the
inferior vena cava and right atrium. Patient also had
a mild COVID infection. We treated her with
modulated radiotherapy targeting the tumor thrombus
along with lenvatinib, tenofovir, and apixaban. The
COVID infection did not significantly affect the patient's
over-all clinical status.
CONCLUSION
Vascular invasion of HCC into the IVC and RA portends
poor prognosis. While there is no consensus on the
intervention on these patients, our case may suggest the
use of radiotherapy and oral anticoagulation along with
lenvatinib to prolong survival and preserve quality of life.
2.Interferon-free treatment for hepatitis C virus infection induces normalization of extrahepatic type I interferon signaling.
Pil Soo SUNG ; Eun Byul LEE ; Dong Jun PARK ; Angelo LOZADA ; Jeong Won JANG ; Si Hyun BAE ; Jong Young CHOI ; Seung Kew YOON
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2018;24(3):302-310
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) replicates in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), leading to the production of type I interferons (IFNs). It is well known that the gene expression profile of PBMC is similar to that of the liver. The present study explored the dynamic gene expression profile of PBMCs collected from HCV-infected patients undergoing direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. METHODS: A prospective cohort comprising 27 patients under DAA therapy was formed. Expression level of IFN-β and its downstream interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) was measured in PBMCs before and after DAA treatment. Furthermore, immunoblotting was performed to identify the signaling molecules involved in the expression of ISGs. RESULTS: The pretreatment expression level of interferon-induced protein 44 (IFI44) and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) correlated with the pretreatment expression level of IFN-β. After DAA treatment, a significant decrease in the expression levels of IFN-β, IFI44, and CXCL10 was observed in the PBMCs. Furthermore, the pretreatment expression level of IFN-β and ISGs correlated with the level of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) phosphorylation, and DAA treatment abrogated STAT1 phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment activation of IFN-β response is rapidly normalized after DAA treatment. The present study suggests that the decreased type I IFN response by the clearance of HCV might contribute to DAA-induced alleviation of extrahepatic manifestation of chronic HCV infection.
Antiviral Agents
;
Cohort Studies
;
Hepacivirus*
;
Hepatitis C*
;
Hepatitis*
;
Humans
;
Immunoblotting
;
Interferon Type I*
;
Interferons
;
Liver
;
Phosphorylation
;
Prospective Studies
;
STAT1 Transcription Factor
;
Transcriptome
3.Clinical characteristics of portal hypertension complicated by gastroesophageal varices in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms
Jaejun LEE ; Pil Soo SUNG ; Ki-Seong EOM ; Hyun YANG ; Soon Kyu LEE ; Aung Hlaing BWA ; Angelo LOZADA ; Jeong Won JANG ; Si Hyun BAE ; Jong Young CHOI ; Seung Kew YOON
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2020;26(1):78-82
4.A comparative study of sorafenib and metronomic chemotherapy for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer-stage C hepatocellular carcinoma with poor liver function.
Hyun YANG ; Hyun Young WOO ; Soon Kyu LEE ; Ji Won HAN ; Bohyun JANG ; Hee Chul NAM ; Hae Lim LEE ; Sung Won LEE ; Do Seon SONG ; Myeong Jun SONG ; Jung Suk OH ; Ho Jong CHUN ; Jeong Won JANG ; Angelo LOZADA ; Si Hyun BAE ; Jong Young CHOI ; Seung Kew YOON
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2017;23(2):128-137
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Metronomic chemotherapy (MET) is frequently administered in comparatively low doses as a continuous chemotherapeutic agent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and overall survival (OS) of MET compared to sorafenib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT). METHODS: A total of 54 patients with advanced HCC and PVTT who had undergone MET were analyzed between 2005 and 2013. A total of 53 patients who had undergone sorafenib therapy were analyzed as the control group. The primary endpoint of this study was OS. RESULTS: The median number of MET cycles was two (1-15). The OS values for the MET group and sorafenib group were 158 days (132-184) and 117 days (92-142), respectively (P=0.029). The Cox proportional-hazard model showed that a higher risk of death was correlated with higher serum alpha fetoprotein level (≥400 mg/dL, hazard ratio [HR]=1.680, P=0.014) and Child-Pugh class B (HR=1.856, P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: MET was associated with more favorable outcomes in terms of overall survival than was sorafenib in patients with advanced HCC with PVTT, especially in patients with poor liver function. Therefore, MET can be considered as a treatment option in patients with advanced HCC with PVTT and poor liver function.
Administration, Metronomic
;
alpha-Fetoproteins
;
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*
;
Drug Therapy*
;
Humans
;
Liver*
;
Portal Vein
;
Thrombosis