Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Molecular Pathways and New Therapeutic Targets

Lewis R. Roberts; Gregory J. Gores

doi:10.1055/s-2005-871200

Seminars in Liver Disease, Table of Contents

Semin Liver Dis 2005; 25(2): 212-225
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-871200

Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Molecular Pathways and New Therapeutic Targets

Lewis R. Roberts¹ ^, ³ , Gregory J. Gores² ^, ³

¹Assistant Professor of Medicine and Consultant, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota
²Reuben R. Eisenberg Professor of Medicine and Consultant, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota
³Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Hepatocellular carcinoma is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, when it is not amenable to curative therapies. There is no effective chemotherapy. Advances in cancer biology suggest that a limited number of pathways are responsible for initiating and maintaining dysregulated cell proliferation, which is the major cellular alteration responsible for the cancer phenotype. New treatments in development target several of these critical pathways, including agents targeting the receptor tyrosine kinase pathways, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, the ubiquitin/proteasome degradation pathway, the epigenetic DNA methylation and histone deacetylation pathways, the PI3 kinase/AKT/mTOR pathway, angiogenic pathways, and telomerase. Several of these approaches hold significant promise for improving the long-term outcome of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Because of the high prevalence of liver cirrhosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients, these approaches must be coupled with new strategies for halting or reversing the progression of chronic liver disease.

KEYWORDS

Hepatocellular carcinoma - liver carcinogenesis - targeted therapy

Full Text

References

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Gregory J GoresM.D.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902

Email: Gores.Gregory@mayo.edu