Distinct Gene Expression Profiles in Viable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated With Liver-Directed Therapy Article

Full Text via DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.809860 Web of Science: 000886337900001

Cited authors

  • Nunez KG, Sandow T, Lakey MA, Fort D, Cohen AJ, Thevenot PT

Abstract

  • Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a heterogeneous tumor that accumulates a mutational burden and dysregulated signaling pathways that differ from early to advanced stages. Liver transplant candidates with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergo liver-directed therapy (LDT) to delay disease progression and serve as a bridge to liver transplantation (LT). Unfortunately, >80% of LDT-treated patients have viable HCC in the explant liver, dramatically increasing recurrence risk. Understanding the effect of LDT on early-stage HCC could help identify therapeutic targets to promote complete pathologic necrosis and improve recurrence-free survival. In this study, transcriptomic data from viable HCC in LDT-treated bridged to transplant patients were investigated to understand how treatment may affect tumor signaling pathways.Methods: Multiplex transcriptomic gene analysis was performed with mRNA extracted from viable tumors of HCC patients bridged to transplant using LDT. The NanoString nCounter((R)) Tumor Signaling 360 panel was used that contained 780 genes from 48 pathways involved in tumor biology within the microenvironment as well as antitumoral immune responses.Results: Hierarchical clustering separated tumors into three subtypes (HCC-1, HCC-2, and HCC-3) each with distinct differences in anti-tumoral signaling and immune infiltration within the tumor microenvironment. Immune infiltration (neutrophils, T cells, and macrophages) were all lowest in subtype HCC-3. The tumor inflammatory signature consisting of 18 genes associated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition, antigen presentation, chemokine secretion, and adaptive immune responses was highest in subtype HCC-1 and lowest in HCC-3. History of decompensation and etiology were associated with HCC subtype favoring downregulations in inflammation and immune infiltration with upregulation of lipid metabolism. Gene expression among intrahepatic lesions was remarkably similar with >85% of genes expressed in both lesions. Genes differentially expressed (<8 genes per patient) in multifocal disease were all upregulated in LDT-treated tumors from pathways involving epithelial mesenchymal transition, extracellular matrix remodeling, and/or inflammation potentially implicating intrahepatic metastases.Conclusion: Incomplete response to LDT may drive expression patterns that inhibit an effective anti-tumoral response through immune exclusion and induce intrahepatic spread.

Authors

Publication date

  • 2022

Published in

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 2234-943X

Number of pages

  • 13

Volume

  • 12