Hypoxia as a Target for Combination with Transarterial Chemoembolization in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

doi:10.3390/ph17081057

Review

. 2024 Aug 11;17(8):1057.

doi: 10.3390/ph17081057.

Hypoxia as a Target for Combination with Transarterial Chemoembolization in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Zizhuo Wang¹, Qing Li², Bin Liang¹

Affiliations

¹ Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan 430022, China.
² Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.

PMID: 39204162
PMCID: PMC11357673
DOI: 10.3390/ph17081057

Review

Hypoxia as a Target for Combination with Transarterial Chemoembolization in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Zizhuo Wang et al. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2024.

. 2024 Aug 11;17(8):1057.

doi: 10.3390/ph17081057.

Authors

Zizhuo Wang¹, Qing Li², Bin Liang¹

Affiliations

¹ Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan 430022, China.
² Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.

PMID: 39204162
PMCID: PMC11357673
DOI: 10.3390/ph17081057

Abstract

Hypoxia is a hallmark of solid tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hypoxia has proven to be involved in multiple tumor biological processes and associated with malignant progression and resistance to therapy. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a well-established locoregional therapy for patients with unresectable HCC. However, TACE-induced hypoxia regulates tumor angiogenesis, energy metabolism, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and immune processes through hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), which may have adverse effects on the therapeutic efficacy of TACE. Hypoxia has emerged as a promising target for combination with TACE in the treatment of HCC. This review summarizes the impact of hypoxia on HCC tumor biology and the adverse effects of TACE-induced hypoxia on its therapeutic efficacy, highlighting the therapeutic potential of hypoxia-targeted therapy in combination with TACE for HCC.

Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma; hypoxia; hypoxia-inducible factor; transarterial chemoembolization; tumor microenvironment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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[1] Vogel A., Meyer T., Sapisochin G., Salem R., Saborowski A. Hepatocellular carcinoma. Lancet. 2022;400:1345–1362. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01200-4. - DOI - PubMed

[2] Vogel A., Meyer T., Sapisochin G., Salem R., Saborowski A. Hepatocellular carcinoma. Lancet. 2022;400:1345–1362. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01200-4. - DOI - PubMed

[3] Reig M., Forner A., Rimola J., Ferrer-Fabrega J., Burrel M., Garcia-Criado A., Kelley R.K., Galle P.R., Mazzaferro V., Salem R., et al. BCLC strategy for prognosis prediction and treatment recommendation: The 2022 update. J. Hepatol. 2022;76:681–693. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.11.018. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Reig M., Forner A., Rimola J., Ferrer-Fabrega J., Burrel M., Garcia-Criado A., Kelley R.K., Galle P.R., Mazzaferro V., Salem R., et al. BCLC strategy for prognosis prediction and treatment recommendation: The 2022 update. J. Hepatol. 2022;76:681–693. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.11.018. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Zeng H., Chen W., Zheng R., Zhang S., Ji J.S., Zou X., Xia C., Sun K., Yang Z., Li H., et al. Changing cancer survival in China during 2003-15: A pooled analysis of 17 population-based cancer registries. Lancet Glob. Health. 2018;6:e555–e567. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30127-X. - DOI - PubMed

[6] Zeng H., Chen W., Zheng R., Zhang S., Ji J.S., Zou X., Xia C., Sun K., Yang Z., Li H., et al. Changing cancer survival in China during 2003-15: A pooled analysis of 17 population-based cancer registries. Lancet Glob. Health. 2018;6:e555–e567. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30127-X. - DOI - PubMed

[7] Park J.-W., Chen M., Colombo M., Roberts L.R., Schwartz M., Chen P.-J., Kudo M., Johnson P., Wagner S., Orsini L.S., et al. Global patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma management from diagnosis to death: The BRIDGE Study. Liver Int. 2015;35:2155–2166. doi: 10.1111/liv.12818. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[8] Park J.-W., Chen M., Colombo M., Roberts L.R., Schwartz M., Chen P.-J., Kudo M., Johnson P., Wagner S., Orsini L.S., et al. Global patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma management from diagnosis to death: The BRIDGE Study. Liver Int. 2015;35:2155–2166. doi: 10.1111/liv.12818. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[9] Galle P.R., Forner A., Llovet J.M., Mazzaferro V., Piscaglia F., Raoul J.-L., Schirmacher P., Vilgrain V. EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines: Management of hepatocellular carcinoma. J. Hepatol. 2018;69:182–236. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2018.03.019. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Galle P.R., Forner A., Llovet J.M., Mazzaferro V., Piscaglia F., Raoul J.-L., Schirmacher P., Vilgrain V. EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines: Management of hepatocellular carcinoma. J. Hepatol. 2018;69:182–236. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2018.03.019. - DOI - PubMed

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Hypoxia as a Target for Combination with Transarterial Chemoembolization in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Affiliations

Hypoxia as a Target for Combination with Transarterial Chemoembolization in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Authors

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Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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