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  • Year in Review
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LIVER CANCER IN 2019

Joining the dots for better liver cancer treatment

Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology volume 17, pages 74–75 (2020)Cite this article

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In 2019, powerful single-cell analyses were applied to liver cancer biology at an unprecedented level. In parallel with this achievement was the identification of serum α-fetoprotein as a biomarker for patient selection in the use of ramucirumab for liver cancer and that β-catenin activation can distinguish between liver cancer immunotherapy responders and non-responders.

Key advances

  • Powerful single-cell analyses discover rare cellular sub-populations and complex cell–cell interactions at an unprecedented level, which could help to solve key questions in liver biology and liver cancer2.

  • The identification of serum α-fetoprotein levels as a biomarker for patient selection in the use of ramucirumab highlights the importance of patient stratification for better treatment outcomes6.

  • Specific molecular mutations of hepatocellular carcinoma tumours such as β-catenin help to distinguish between immunotherapy responders and non-responders, as well as opening up new avenues for treatments9.

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Fig. 1: Genetic analyses guide the stratification of patients with HCC for the most effective therapy.

References

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Acknowledgements

I.O.-L.N. is Loke Yew Professor in Pathology at The University of Hong Kong.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

    Lo-Kong Chan & Irene Oi-Lin Ng

  2. State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

    Lo-Kong Chan & Irene Oi-Lin Ng

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  1. Lo-Kong Chan
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  2. Irene Oi-Lin Ng
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Correspondence to Irene Oi-Lin Ng.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Chan, LK., Ng, I.OL. Joining the dots for better liver cancer treatment. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 17, 74–75 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-019-0238-3

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