HEALTHNET

Developing Targeted Therapy for Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is one of the most common cancers in Hong Kong. Strategies for battling liver cancer include research on its causes and early diagnosis as well as development of more effective treatment.

(Posted on 23 August 2007)

HKU Research Findings Help Developing Targeted Therapy for Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is the third killer cancer in Hong Kong, with some 1,500 new cases every year. It is closely related to Hepatitis B. It is because Hepatitis B may lead to chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, even liver cancer. In Hong Kong, about 10% of the population (i.e. some 600,000 people) are Hepatitis B virus carriers.

Mother with Hepatitis B may transmit the virus to infant at or around the time of delivery. Therefore, the Hospital Authority has adopted policy to control Hepatitis B since 1988. All babies born in Hong Kong have to be vaccinated. This policy greatly reduces the chance of Hepatitis B infection in the next generations. However, for those people who are not vaccinated, they are still under the risk of hepatitis B infection.

Liver cancer is one of the most common cancers in Hong Kong. Strategies for battling liver cancer include research on its causes and early diagnosis as well as development of more effective treatment. About 25% of the patients with liver cancer can be cured after surgery.

Breakthrough in Curing Cancers

Other than surgery, other traditional ways of cancer treatment include chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which bear higher risks and more side effects. In recent years, medical professions developed a new treatment direction called "Targeted Cancer Therapy", which only kills the targeted cancer cells that show particular molecular characteristics without affecting the healthy normal cells and reduces side effects.

New Findings in Targeted Cancer Therapy for Liver Cancer

Since 1960s, the Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine has been conducting a series of research to investigate the genetic characteristics of liver cancer cells. The results have important contribution to the development of targeted cancer therapy for liver cancer patients.

HKU researchers discovered that the loss of the DLC-1 (Deleted in Liver Cancer 1) and DLC-2 (Deleted in Liver Cancer 1) genes are commonly found in liver cancer cells. These genes are able to fight against liver cancer. If therapy can be developed to supplement these genes, it will boost patients' self defense mechanism towards liver cancer.

Another study reveals that genetic instability is commonly found in liver cancer cells. Normal body cells have 23 pairs (or 46 pieces) of chromosomes, however, nearly half (47%) of the liver cancer patients have greater numbers of chromosomes than normal people. These abnormal chromosomes may reduce the amount of the against-cancer genes, or increase the number of cancer-inducing genes, resulting in production, proliferation and spread of cancer cells.

Abnormal change of chromosomes happens during the first stage of cell division, called mitotic checkpoint. Researcher of the Department of Pathology has discovered that there is a frequent abnormality in the mitotic checkpoint during cell division. Research is more focused on the effects of genes and proteins with regulatory functions at the mitotic checkpoint. If medicine can be developed to target these genes and proteins, the cancer cells will not be able to duplicate but will die massively, enhancing patient's chance of recovery.

Nevertheless, prevention is always better than cure. The public should receive Hepatitis B vaccination to prevent themselves from becoming carriers. Hepatitis B virus carriers should have enough rest and a balanced diet and stand away from alcohol. In addition, they should have safe sex and avoid sharing of syringes, razors, toothbrushes and other objects that may be contaminated with blood, in order to prevent the transmission of the virus.

Source: The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine