[Medicine] NTU Research Team Makes Breakthrough in Hepatoma Treatment; Published in 《PNAS》

[Medicine] NTU Research Team Makes Breakthrough in Hepatoma Treatment; Published in 《PNAS》(Chinese Version)

NTU Newsletter (Issue 1016) The hepatitis research team of National Taiwan University Hospital succeeded in curing the large tumors in a woodchuck hepatoma model with its innovating mixture therapy strategy, viz., introducing the key genes of anti-angiogenesis and cytokines which induce anti-cancer immune response, together in the model. The report was published in PNAS on the Issue August 2, 2010.

Owing to the lack of proper animal model, for the traditional model, mice, does not have idiopathic chronic hepatitis and hence cannot mimic the human condition, the development of hepatoma research has been restricted. The hepatoma model the current study uses is woodchuck, for this kind of large rodent, resembling human, can be hepatitis B virus carrier (HBV carrier). The mother to infant transmissions would develop into carriers and later the the large tumors would grow. The development resembles human's and hence woodchuck could be a proper simulation model. Besides, woodchuck would rapidly die soon after the diagnosis of hepatoma.


In recent years, NTU hepatitis research team had concentrated on finding novel hepatoma therapies and had developed several possible gene strategies. In the present study, the antiangiogenic gene factors or cytokines were delivered via the hepatic artery separately or in combination into woodchuck livers bearing HCCs. The team then found the mixture type of strategy, which contained two cytokines (interleukin-12 and GM-CSF) and two antiangiogenic factors (PEDF and endostatin), had better antitumor effects on large tumors as compared with monotherapy either with antiangiogenic or cytokine genes. In short, the strategy kills the cancer cells in two steps: first, with the angiogenesis inhibitors, the blood supply to the tumor area is cut to starve the cancer cells; then, with the cytokine genes, the model is induced to produce immune response wiping out the cancer cells.

According to the study, the cocktail therapy has better antitumor effects on large tumors as compared with monotherapy. The large tumors in the model woodchucks were shrunken. Even some woodchucks were completely cured. The study also found the hepatitis virus in the woodchucks was not activated during the treatment, while the liver function was not obviously effected.

To read the PNAS article: abstract link


Reference:
NTU Newsletter Issue 1016 (Chinese)



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