Project description:Microvascular invasion (MVI) is a critical risk factor for postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to firstly develop and validate nomograms based on MVI grade for predicting recurrence, especially early recurrence, and overall survival in patients with early-stage HCC after curative resection. We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients with early-stage HCC who underwent curative hepatectomy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University (FHFU) and Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University (MHH). Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyse disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Nomogram models were constructed on the datasets from the 70% samples of and FHFU, which were validated using bootstrap resampling with 30% samples as internal validation and data of patients from MHH as external validation. A total of 703 patients with early-stage HCC were included to create a nomogram for predicting recurrence or metastasis (DFS nomogram) and a nomogram for predicting survival (OS nomogram). The concordance indexes and calibration curves in the training and validation cohorts showed optimal agreement between the predicted and observed DFS and OS rates. The predictive accuracy was significantly better than that of the classic HCC staging systems.
Project description:BackgroundMicrovascular invasion (MVI) can only be assessed on a full surgical specimen. We aimed at evaluating, whether the histology of the primary tumor is predictive of MVI in a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence.MethodsPatients, who underwent liver resection or orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for recurrent HCC from January 2001 until June 2018 were eligible for this retrospective analysis. Resected specimens were evaluated for HCC subtype/morphology, vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC)-pattern and MVI. Dichotomous parameters were analyzed using χ2-test and ϕ-values, with P values <0.05 being considered significant.ResultsOf 230 HCC recurrences, 37 (16.1%) underwent repeated liver resection (n=22) or OLT (n=15). Of these, 67.6% initially exceeded the Milan criteria. MVI correlated Milan criteria (P=0.005), tumor size (P=0.015) and VETC-pattern (P=0.034) in the primary specimen. The recurrences shared many features of the primary HCC such as tumor grade (P=0.002), VETC-pattern (P=0.035), and MVI (P=0.046). In recurrences, however, only the concordance with the Milan criteria correlated with MVI (P=0.018). No patient without MVI in the primary HCC revealed MVI on early recurrence (<2 years) (P=0.035).ConclusionsHCC recurrences share many biological features of the primary tumor. Moreover, early recurrences of MVI-negative HCC never revealed MVI. This finding offers novel concepts, e.g., patient selection for salvage OLT.
Project description:Microvascular invasion (MVI) is one of the main prognostic factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation (LT), but its occurrence is unpredictable before surgery. The alpha fetoprotein (AFP) model (composite score including size, number, AFP), currently used in France, defines the selection criteria for LT. This study's aim was to evaluate the preoperative predictive value of AFP SCORE progression on MVI and overall survival during the waiting period for LT. Data regarding LT recipients for HCC from 2007 to 2015 were retrospectively collected from a single institutional database. Among 159 collected cases, 34 patients progressed according to AFP SCORE from diagnosis until LT. MVI was shown to be an independent histopathological prognostic factor according to Cox regression and competing risk analysis in our cohort. AFP SCORE progression was the only preoperative predictive factor of MVI (OR = 10.79 [2.35-49.4]; p 0.002). The 5-year overall survival in the progression and no progression groups was 63.9% vs. 86.3%, respectively (p = 0.001). Cumulative incidence of HCC recurrence was significantly different between the progression and no progression groups (Sub-HR = 4.89 [CI 2-11.98]). In selected patients, the progression of AFP SCORE during the waiting period can be a useful preoperative tool to predict MVI.
Project description:Microvascular invasion (MVI) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major risk factor for early recurrence and poor survival after curative surgical therapies. However, MVI can only be diagnosed by pathological examination following resection. The aim of this study is to identify serologic biomarkers for predicting MVI preoperatively to help facilitate treatment decisions. We used the sero-proteomic approach to identify antigens that induce corresponding antibody responses either specifically in the serum from MVI (+) patients or from MVI (-) patients. Six antigens were subsequently identified as HSP 70, HSP 90, alpha-enolase (Eno-1), Annexin A2, glutathione synthetase and beta-actin by mass spectrometry. The antibodies titers in sera corresponding to four of these six antigens were measured by ELISA and compared between 35 MVI (+) patients and 26 MVI (-) patients. The titers of anti-HSP 70 antibodies were significantly higher in MVI (-) patients than those in MVI (+) patients; and the titers of anti-Eno-1 antibodies were significantly lower in MVI (-) patients than those in MVI (+) patients. The results were subjected to multivariate analysis together with other clinicopathologic factors, suggesting that antibodies against HSP 70 and Eno-1 in sera are potential biomarkers for predicting MVI in HCC prior to surgical resection. These biomarkers should be further investigated as potential therapeutic targets.
Project description:BackgroundDue to the high recurrence rate in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after resection, preoperative prognostic prediction of HCC is important for appropriate patient management. Exploring and developing preoperative diagnostic methods has great clinical value in treating patients with HCC. This study sought to develop and evaluate a novel combined clinical predictive model based on standard triphasic computed tomography (CT) to discriminate microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsThe preoperative findings of 82 patients with HCC, including conventional clinical factors, CT imaging findings, and CT texture analysis (TA), were analyzed retrospectively. All included cases were divided into MVI-negative (n = 33; no MVI) and MVI-positive (n = 49; low or high risk of MVI) groups. TA parameters were extracted from non-enhanced, arterial, portal venous, and equilibrium phase images and subsequently calculated using the Artificial Intelligence Kit. After statistical analyses, a clinical model comprising conventional clinical and CT image risk factors, radiomics signature models, and a novel combined model (fused radiomic signature) was constructed. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to assess the performance of the various models in discriminating MVI.ResultsWe found that tumor diameter and pathological grade were effective clinical predictors in clinical model and 12 radiomics features were effective for MVI prediction of each CT phase. The AUCs of the clinical, plain, artery, venous, and delay models were 0.77 (95% CI: 0.67-0.88), 0.75 (95% CI: 0.64-0.87), 0.79 (95% CI: 0.69-0.89), 0.73 (95% CI: 0.61-0.85), and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.70-0.91), respectively. The novel combined model exhibited the best performance, with an AUC of 0.83 (95% CI: 0.74-0.93).ConclusionsModels derived from triphasic CT can preoperatively predict MVI in patients with HCC. Of the models tested here, the novel combined model was most predictive and could become a useful tool to guide subsequent personalized treatment of HCC.
Project description:Background and aimsThe recurrence and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are mainly caused by microvascular invasion (MVI). Our study aimed to uncover the cellular atlas of MVI+ HCC and investigate the underlying immune infiltration patterns with radiomics features.MethodsThree MVI positive HCC and three MVI negative HCC samples were collected for single-cell RNA-seq analysis. 26 MVI positive HCC and 30 MVI negative HCC tissues were underwent bulk RNA-seq analysis. For radiomics analysis, radiomics features score (Radscore) were built using preoperative contrast MRI for MVI prediction and overall survival prediction. We deciphered the metabolism profiles of MVI+ HCC using scMetabolism and scFEA. The correlation of Radscore with the level of APOE+ macrophages and iCAFs was identified. Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) was applied to distinguish intrahepatic metastasis (IM) and multicentric occurrence (MO). Transcriptome profiles were compared between IM and MO.ResultsElevated levels of APOE+ macrophages and iCAFs were detected in MVI+ HCC. There was a strong correlation between the infiltration of APOE+ macrophages and iCAFs, as confirmed by immunofluorescent staining. MVI positive tumors exhibited increased lipid metabolism, which was attributed to the increased presence of APOE+ macrophages. APOE+ macrophages and iCAFs were also found in high levels in IM, as opposed to MO. The difference of infiltration level and Radscore between two nodules in IM was relatively small. Furthermore, we developed Radscore for predicting MVI and HCC prognostication that were also able to predict the level of infiltration of APOE+ macrophages and iCAFs.ConclusionThis study demonstrated the interactions of cell subpopulations and distinct metabolism profiles in MVI+ HCC. Besides, MVI prediction Radscore and MVI prognostic Radscore were highly correlated with the infiltration of APOE+ macrophages and iCAFs, which helped to understand the biological significance of radiomics and optimize treatment strategy for MVI+ HCC.
Project description:BackgroundMicrovascular invasion (MVI) is an independent detrimental risk factor for tumor recurrence and poor survival in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks play a pivotal role in the modulation of carcinogenesis and progression among diverse tumor types. However, whether the ceRNA mechanisms are engaged in promoting the MVI process in patients with HCC remains unknown.MethodsA ceRNA regulatory network was constructed based on RNA-seq data of patients with HCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. In total, 10 hub genes of the ceRNA network were identified using four algorithms: "MCC," "Degree," "Betweenness," and "Stress." Transcriptional expressions were verified by in situ hybridization using clinical samples. Interactions between ceRNA modules were validated by luciferase reporting assay. Logistic regression analysis, correlation analysis, enrichment analysis, promoter region analysis, methylation analysis, and immune infiltration analysis were performed to further investigate the molecular mechanisms and clinical transformation value.ResultsThe ceRNA regulatory network featuring a tumor invasion phenotype consisting of 3 long noncoding RNAs, 3 microRNAs, and 93 mRNAs was constructed using transcriptional data from the TCGA database. Systemic analysis and experimentally validation identified a ceRNA network (PVT1/miR-1258/DUSP13 axis) characterized by lipid regulatory potential, immune properties, and abnormal methylation states in patients with HCC and MVI. Meanwhile, 28 transcriptional factors were identified as potential promotors of PVT1 with 3 transcriptional factors MXD3, ZNF580, and KDM1A promising as therapeutic targets in patients with HCC and MVI. Furthermore, miR-1258 was an independent predictor for MVI in patients with HCC.ConclusionThe PVT1/DUSP13 axis is significantly associated with MVI progression in HCC patients. This study provides new insight into mechanisms related to lipids, immune phenotypes, and abnormal epigenetics in oncology research.
Project description:BackgroundRadiomics has emerged as a new approach that can help identify imaging information associated with tumor pathophysiology. We developed and validated a radiomics nomogram for preoperative prediction of microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsTwo hundred and eight patients with pathologically confirmed HCC (training cohort: n = 146; validation cohort: n = 62) who underwent preoperative gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were included. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression was applied to select features and construct signatures derived from MR images. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the significant clinicoradiological variables and radiomics signatures associated with MVI, which were then incorporated into the predictive nomogram. The performance of the radiomics nomogram was evaluated by its calibration, discrimination, and clinical utility.ResultsHigher α-fetoprotein level (p = 0.046), nonsmooth tumor margin (p = 0.003), arterial peritumoral enhancement (p < 0.001), and the radiomics signatures of hepatobiliary phase (HBP) T1-weighted images (p < 0.001) and HBP T1 maps (p < 0.001) were independent risk factors of MVI. The predictive model that incorporated the clinicoradiological factors and the radiomic features derived from HBP images outperformed the combination of clinicoradiological factors in the training cohort (area under the curves [AUCs] 0.943 vs. 0.850; p = 0.002), though the validation did not have a statistical significance (AUCs 0.861 vs. 0.759; p = 0.111). The nomogram based on the model exhibited C-index of 0.936 (95% CI 0.895-0.976) and 0.864 (95% CI 0.761-0.967) in the training and validation cohort, fitting well in calibration curves (p > 0.05). Decision curve analysis further confirmed the clinical usefulness of the nomogram.ConclusionsThe nomogram incorporating clinicoradiological risk factors and radiomic features derived from HBP images achieved satisfactory preoperative prediction of the individualized risk of MVI in patients with HCC.
Project description:BackgroundMicrovascular invasion (MVI) is a significant risk factor for early recurrence after resection or transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Knowledge of MVI status would help guide treatment recommendations, but is generally identified after operation. This study aims to predict MVI preoperatively using quantitative image analysis.Study designOne hundred and twenty patients from 2 institutions underwent resection of HCC from 2003 to 2015 were included. The largest tumor from preoperative CT was subjected to quantitative image analysis, which uses an automated computer algorithm to capture regional variation in CT enhancement patterns. Quantitative imaging features by automatic analysis, qualitative radiographic descriptors by 2 radiologists, and preoperative clinical variables were included in multivariate analysis to predict histologic MVI.ResultsHistologic MVI was identified in 19 (37%) patients with tumors ≤5 cm and 34 (49%) patients with tumors >5 cm. Among patients with tumors ≤5 cm, none of the clinical findings or radiographic descriptors were associated with MVI; however, quantitative features based on angle co-occurrence matrix predicted MVI with an area under curve of 0.80, positive predictive value of 63%, and negative predictive value of 85%. In patients with tumors >5 cm, higher α-fetoprotein level, larger tumor size, and viral hepatitis history were associated with MVI, and radiographic descriptors were not. However, a multivariate model combining α-fetoprotein, tumor size, hepatitis status, and quantitative feature based on local binary pattern predicted MVI with area under curve of 0.88, positive predictive value of 72%, and negative predictive value of 96%.ConclusionsThis study reveals the potential importance of quantitative image analysis as a predictor of MVI.