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Eur J Cancer 2019 Feb 19;110:120-126. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Department of Epidemiological Research and Molecular Medicine, Evaluative Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Italy. Electronic address:

Although all tumours are rare in childhood, there are some particularly rare paediatric cancers which have not benefited from advances made by the international paediatric oncology network. To establish a shared definition and produce a list of these entities, the European Union Joint Action on Rare Cancers (JARC) promoted a consensus effort. The definition was based on the incidence rates estimated using the information network on rare cancers (RARECAREnet) database, pooling data from 94 population-based cancer registries and 27 countries. Read More

Pediatr Surg Int 2019 Feb 16. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.

Background: Technology for detecting liver tumors and identifying the bile ducts using indocyanine green (ICG) has recently been developed. However, the usefulness and limitations of ICG navigation surgery for hepatoblastoma (HB) have not been fully clarified. We herein report our experiences with surgical navigation using ICG for in HB patients. Read More

J Pediatr Surg 2019 Jan 21. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Kapi'olani Medical Center for Children, 1319 Punahou St., Honolulu, HI, USA 96826.

Background/purpose: High surgical volume for both surgeons and hospital systems has been linked to improved outcomes for many surgical problems, yet case volumes per pediatric surgeon are diminishing nationally in complex pediatric surgery. We therefore sought to review our experience in a geographically isolated setting where a surgical team approach has been used to improve per-surgeon exposure to index pediatric surgical cases.

Methods: As a surgical group, we incorporated a surgical team approach to complex pediatric surgical cases in 2010. Read More

Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Hepatoblastoma is the most common primary pediatric liver malignancy. The goal of treatment in hepatoblastoma is complete surgical resection. Recently published multinational collaborative studies are better defining risk factors for disease recurrence and guide optimal treatment strategy. Read More

Pediatr Transplant 2019 Feb 4:e13369. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri.

SRL-based immunosuppressive strategies in pediatric liver transplantation are not clearly defined, especially within the first year after liver transplant. TAC is the more common, traditional immunosuppressant used. However, SRL may modulate TAC-associated kidney injury and may also have antiproliferative properties that are valuable in the management of patients following liver transplantation for HB. Read More

Oncol Lett 2019 Feb 24;17(2):2431-2440. Epub 2018 Dec 24.

Department of Radiology and Radiation Oncology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8562, Japan.

Hepatoblastoma is the most commonly occurring liver tumor in children. Preoperative chemotherapy and surgery have improved treatment outcomes; however, further improvements are required in the treatment of advanced cases. Recently, the efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has garnered attention. Read More

J Indian Assoc Pediatr Surg 2019 Jan-Mar;24(1):68-71

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

Hepatoblastoma (HB), a primary liver tumor of childhood, is often accompanied by raised levels of alpha-fetoprotein (α-FP). Rarely, the beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels may also be elevated, which can cause peripheral precocious puberty (PPP). We report a case of HB with precocious puberty wherein hormonal assays showed an increase in α-FP, β-hCG, and testosterone levels, and suppression of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormone levels. Read More

Oncol Lett 2019 Feb 30;17(2):1939-1945. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China.

The increased worldwide mortality rate due to liver cancer may be attributed to the aggressive nature of the disease. Signal transduction through G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can affect a number of aspects of cancer biology, including invasion, migration and vascular remodelling. JTC-801, a novel GPCR antagonist, has demonstrated promising anticancer effects in adenocarcinoma and osteosarcoma cells. Read More

Mol Med Rep 2019 Mar 10;19(3):2077-2086. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Division of Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University Hospital, S‑221 85 Lund, Sweden.

Tissue factor (TF) expressed at the protein level includes two isoforms: The membrane‑bound full‑length TF (flTF) and the soluble alternatively spliced TF (asTF). flTF is the major thrombogenic form of TF, whereas asTF is more closely associated with tumor growth, angiogenesis, metastasis and cell growth. In order to further investigate the different expression and functions of TF splice variants, the expression of these two splice variants were detected in numerous cell strains and tissues in the present study. Read More

Oncol Lett 2019 Jan 14;17(1):1177-1183. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Organ Transplantation, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200003, P.R. China.

Alsterpaullone (Alp) is a small-molecule inhibitor that targets cyclin-dependent kinases to inhibit tumor cell activity. However, to the best of our knowledge, the effect of Alp on hepatoblastoma has not been investigated. Therefore, the function of Alp in apoptotic induction of hepatoblastoma cells and a potential mechanism of action were investigated. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2019 Jan 14;11(1). Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Pediatrics and Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy.

Background: Hepatoblastoma screening in the Beckwith⁻Wiedemann spectrum (BWSp) is currently based on measuring a specific serum marker alpha-fetoprotein (αFP) every three months until the fourth birthday. Frequent blood draws can be a burden for patients and their families.

Methods: We have developed a less invasive alternative testing method based on measuring αFPs from dried blood spots (DBS). Read More

Am J Med Genet A 2019 Mar 13;179(3):455-466. Epub 2019 Jan 13.

Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine and SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether trisomy 18 patients are at an increased risk of tumor development and require formal tumor screening recommendations. A literature search of trisomy 18 patients with reports of tumors or malignancies, and compilation of all previously reported as well as new unreported cases was performed. 67 patients with trisomy 18 were found to have documented malignancies. Read More

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

McCune Albright Syndrome (MAS) results from a GNAS gene mutation. It is associated with café-au-lait macules, fibrous dysplasia, and several endocrinopathies to include gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty, growth hormone excess, Cushing syndrome, thyroid disease, and renal phosphate wasting. It is recognised to be a rare cause of neonatal cholestasis. Read More

Clin Nucl Med 2019 Mar;44(3):229-231

From the Departments of Nuclear Medicine.

Although Tc red blood cell (RBC) scintigraphy is a very specific method to differentiate a hemangioma from other hepatic masses, several cases of false-positive Tc RBC scintigraphy have been previously reported throughout the literature. We report an additional case that presented in a 15-month-old boy with hepatoblastoma showing increased labeled RBC activity mimicking hemangioma. Read More

Front Genet 2018 19;9:668. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Beijing Key Laboratory for Pediatric Diseases of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China.

Hepatoblastoma (HB), a leading primary hepatic malignancy in children, originates from primitive hepatic stem cells. This study aimed to uncover the genetic variants that are responsible for HB oncogenesis. One family, which includes the healthy parents, and two brothers affected by HB, was recruited. Read More

Pediatr Blood Cancer 2019 Jan 4:e27603. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.

Hepatocellular malignant neoplasm, not otherwise specified (HCN-NOS) is a provisional entity describing a subset of rare malignant pediatric liver tumors with overlapping features of hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. We present a case illustration of metastatic HCN-NOS successfully treated with a backbone of hepatoblastoma chemotherapy, pulmonary metastastectomy, and liver transplantation, along with a literature review of the clinical outcomes of HCN. Read More

PLoS One 2019 4;14(1):e0210366. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Department of Pediatrics, Sainte-Justine University Hospital and Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Introduction: Risk of developing a malignancy when born premature is unknown. We hypothesised that risk of certain cancers might be increased in youth born preterm versus term. We therefore performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the incidence of malignancy in the context of preterm birth, according to various cancer types. Read More

Children (Basel) 2018 Dec 21;6(1). Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.

The most common primary malignant liver tumor of childhood, hepatoblastoma has increased in incidence over the last 30 years, but little is still known about its pathogenesis. Discoveries in molecular biology provide clues but have yet to define targeted therapies. Disease-free survival varies according to stage, but is greater than 90% in favorable risk populations, in part due to improvements in chemotherapeutic regimens, surgical resection, and earlier referral to liver transplant centers. Read More

Oncol Rep 2019 Mar 13;41(3):1476-1486. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Internal Medicine and Hepatology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Medicine of Salerno, Salerno, I-80123 Naples, Italy.

Butyric acid (BA) has been reported to induce anticancer effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells both in vitro and in vivo. However, its delivery and release in cancer tissues must be optimized. On the basis of these requirements, we prepared liposomes coated with chitosan and uncoated liposomes and both types were loaded with BA through a thin-film hydration method. Read More

Mol Med Rep 2019 Feb 11;19(2):1372-1379. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P.R. China.

Costunolide (cos) is one of the major sesquiterpenes isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the roots of Vladimiria souliei. In order to explore the effects and molecular mechanism of cos, the anti‑proliferative and apoptotic effects of cos against the human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cell line was examined in vitro in the current study. Cell viability was measured using an MTT assay, and IC50 values (indicating the concentration required to achieve half‑maximal inhibition) were calculated to detect the inhibitory effect of cos on HepG2 cell growth. Read More

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Pediatrics, Aarhus University Hospital.

Introduction: The long-term risk of somatic disease in hepatoblastoma survivors has not been thoroughly evaluated in previous studies. In this population-based study of 86 five-year HB survivors, we used inpatient registers to evaluate the risk for a range of somatic diseases.

Methods: In total, 86 five-year survivors of hepatoblastoma were identified in the Nordic cancer registries from 1964 to 2008 and 152,231 population comparisons were selected. Read More

Exp Ther Med 2018 Dec 3;16(6):5318-5326. Epub 2018 Oct 3.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China.

GATA4, a member of the GATA family, serves a key function in several types of cancer, including hepatoblastoma, gastric cancer and breast cancer. However, the function of GATA4 in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is largely unknown. The present study revealed that GATA4 was upregulated in NPC tissue samples and the NPC cell line, 5-8F. Read More

J Fish Dis 2019 Feb 10;42(2):319-323. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Pathology, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, Georgia.

Oncol Rep 2019 Feb 30;41(2):829-838. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, P.R. China.

In cancer research, autophagy acts as a double‑edged sword: it increases cell viability or induces cell apoptosis depending upon the cell context and functional status. Recent studies have shown that adenosine (Ado) has cytotoxic effects in many tumors. However, the role of autophagy in Ado‑induced apoptosis is still poorly understood. Read More

Eur J Cancer 2019 Jan 5;106:126-132. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Children and Adolescents Oncology, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, Paris, France.

Background: To evaluate the impact of a microscopically positive resection margin (microPRM) on the outcome of hepatoblastoma patients pretreated with chemotherapy.

Methods: Local recurrence and survival rates of 431 children treated in the SIOPEL 2 and 3 trials were analysed comparing 58 patients with microPRM with 371 who had a complete resection (CR) and who were then stratified by risk category. The tumour was standard-risk in 312 patients and high-risk (PRETEXT IV and/or extrahepatic disease and/or α-fetoprotein [AFP]<100 ng/ml) in 117 patients. Read More

Toxicology 2019 Jan 27;412:37-47. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Institute of Biotechnology, Brandenburg University of Technology, Universitätsplatz 1, 01968, Senftenberg, Germany. Electronic address:

Preclinical drug safety assessment includes in vitro studies with physiologically relevant cell cultures. As an in vitro system for hepatic toxicology testing, we have been generating cell clones of human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2 by lentiviral transduction of phase I cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. Here, we present a stable CYP2C19-overexpressing HepG2 cell clone (HepG2-2C19 C1) showing an enzyme activity of approximately 82 pmol x min x mg total cellular protein. Read More

Mol Med Rep 2019 Jan 22;19(1):133-142. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, P.R. China.

A novel GHH copolymer was synthesized using hyaluronic acid modified with glycyrrhetinic acid and L‑histidine (His), and doxorubicin‑loaded GHH nanoparticles (DOX/GHH) were prepared for liver‑targeted drug delivery and pH‑responsive drug release. In the present study, GHH nanoparticles were characterized, and their pH‑responsive behaviors were evaluated at different pH levels. The antitumor effect of the DOX/GHH nanoparticles was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Read More

Hum Gene Ther 2018 Nov 27. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Beijing, China ;

Hepatoblastoma usually occurs in infant or toddlers. Nowadays, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been widely studied in various human cancers. However, the role of lncRNAs in hepatoblastoma still needs to be elucidated. Read More

J Pathol Transl Med 2018 11 26. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.

Patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) are predisposed to developing embryonal tumors, with hepatoblastoma being the most common type. Our patient showed hemihypertrophy, macroglossia, and paternal uniparental disomy in chromosome 11 and was diagnosed with BWS. When the patient was nine months old, a 2. Read More

Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019 Feb;16(2):121-136

Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Health Research Institute - Donostia University Hospital - University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain.

The canonical Wnt-β-catenin pathway is a complex, evolutionarily conserved signalling mechanism that regulates fundamental physiological and pathological processes. Wnt-β-catenin signalling tightly controls embryogenesis, including hepatobiliary development, maturation and zonation. In the mature healthy liver, the Wnt-β-catenin pathway is mostly inactive but can become re-activated during cell renewal and/or regenerative processes, as well as in certain pathological conditions, diseases, pre-malignant conditions and cancer. Read More

Transl Oncol 2019 Feb 6;12(2):200-208. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Electronic address:

Hepatoblastoma is the most common primary liver tumor in children, but treatment has not changed significantly in the past 20 years. We have previously demonstrated that Proviral Integration site for Moloney murine leukemia (PIM) kinases promote tumorigenesis in hepatoblastoma. Stem cell-like cancer cells (SCLCCs) are a subset of cells thought to be responsible for chemoresistance, metastasis, relapse, and recurrence. Read More

J Pediatr Surg 2018 Oct 23. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Section of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi 74800, Pakistan. Electronic address:

Background: Despite the improvements in patient care, understanding of surgical anatomy of liver and surgical techniques, liver resection is a high-risk procedure specifically in infants and neonates; whose blood volume is limited (80 ml/kg). This report shares the experience of hepatic resection with "Rubber tourniquet technique" in patients less than 6-months of age.

Methods: Hepatic resection in a 4-month-old pair of Conjoined twins with shared liver and a 3-day old baby with large Congenital Hepatoblastoma was performed using Penrose rubber drain as a tourniquet around the liver parenchyma to reduce blood loss. Read More

Toxins (Basel) 2018 Oct 28;10(11). Epub 2018 Oct 28.

Unità di Farmacologia e Tossicologia-Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", 80138 Napoli, Italy.

Hepatoblastoma incidence has been associated with different environmental factors even if no data are reported about a correlation between aflatoxin exposure and hepatoblastoma initiation. Considering that hepatoblastoma develops in infants and children and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) hydroxylated metabolite, can be present in mothers' milk and in marketed milk products, in this study we decided to test the effects of AFM1 on a hepatoblastoma cell line (HepG2). Firstly, we evaluated the effects of AFM1 on the cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle, and metabolomic and cytokinomic profile of HepG2 cells after treatment. Read More

Pediatr Endocrinol Rev 2018 Sep;16(1):171-177

Department of Pediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.

Overgrowth syndromes are rare genetic disorders characterized by excessive pre- and postnatal growth accompanied by dysmorphic features and developmental disorders. In addition to other health hazards, the life expectancy of affected children may be compromised due to an increased risk of developing tumors. To demonstrate the need for early recognition, correct diagnostic evaluation and adequate follow-up, we present a family with recurrent Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS). Read More

Front Immunol 2018 12;9:2270. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain.

Primary hepatobiliary malignancies include a heterogeneous group of cancers with dismal prognosis, among which hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), and hepatoblastoma (HB) stand out. These tumors mainly arise from the malignant transformation of hepatocytes, cholangiocytes (bile duct epithelial cells) or hepatoblasts (embryonic liver progenitor cells), respectively. Early diagnosis, prognosis prediction and effective therapies are still a utopia for these diseases. Read More

Clin Chem Lab Med 2018 Oct 16. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences 'Luigi Sacco', University of Milan, and Clinical Pathology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy.

Background Measurement of α-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations in the serum of infants is useful for the management of testicular germ cell tumors, hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, we provide a critical review of the available information about pediatric reference intervals (RI), focusing on their utility in interpreting AFP as an aid for cancer diagnosis. Content Evidence sources in the available literature were critically appraised. Read More

J Cell Biochem 2019 Apr 26;120(4):5218-5231. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Department of Liver Disease, Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.

Background: The objective of this study was to clarify the molecular pathways involved in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-induced hepatoblastoma.

Method: The expression of factors in different signaling pathways (H19, miR-675, miR-138, protein tyrosine kinase 2 [PTK2], fas-associated death domain [FADD], hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha [HIFIA], focal adhesion kinase [FAK], caspase-8, and caspase-3) was compared between HBV (+) and HBV (-) groups using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) assays were used to verify the expression of above proteins in HBV (+) and HBV (-) groups. Read More

Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 10;3:59. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

Division of Abdominal Transplantation and Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare malignancy in children and at the time of diagnosis up to 80% of pediatric HCC are unresectable due to large and multiple lesions. The majority of pediatric HCC occurs on a background of normal liver, and consequently the absence of concomitant chronic liver disease generally allows tolerating pre- and post-operative chemotherapy. Based on the large experiences of adult HCC and pediatric hepatoblastoma, in the last years a multidisciplinary aggressive treatment composed of surgical resection and chemotherapy (based on cisplatin and doxorubicin) has been proposed, improving patient outcomes and recurrence rate in children with HCC. Read More

J Cell Physiol 2019 May 26;234(5):7279-7291. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Department of Liver Disease, Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.

Background: The objective of the current study was to explore the role of H19 rs217727 polymorphism in the control of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Method: The Student's t test, Cox regression, and Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to clarify whether the H19 rs217727 polymorphism played an important role in the development of HCC. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western-blot analysis were carried out to measure the levels of H19, microRNA (miR)-675, FAS-associated death domain (FADD), caspase-8, and caspase-3 among H19 CC, CT, and TT groups, as well as in cells transfected with H19/si-H19, or miR-675 mimic/inhibitor. Read More

Adv Exp Med Biol 2018 ;1032:93-104

Center for Translational Medicine, Department of Surgery and George Washington Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.

Over 90% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurs against a background of chronic liver disease or cirrhosis induced from viral hepatitis to alcohol injury. One third of patients with cirrhosis will develop HCC during their lifetime, with a 3-5% annual incidence. However, little is known about the key mechanisms by which toxins mediate DNA damage in the liver. Read More

Arch Pathol Lab Med 2019 Feb 24;143(2):264-268. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

From the Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.

Calcifying nested stromal-epithelial tumor is a rare entity that has gone by a variety of names in the literature: ossifying malignant mixed epithelial and stromal tumor, ossifying stromal-epithelial tumor, and desmoplastic nested spindle cell tumor of the liver. To our knowledge, approximately 38 cases have been reported in the literature. The histogenesis is still largely unknown but histopathologically is characterized by nests of spindle and epithelioid cells in an organoid arrangement surrounded by a prominent dense myofibroblastic stroma with occasional psammomatous calcification and focal heterotopic ossification. Read More

Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 2019 Jan 22;42(1):41-47. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Interventional Radiology Department, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, 94805, France.

Background And Purpose: Conventional treatments of systemic chemotherapy and surgical resection for recurrent or metastatic hepatoblastoma (HB) may be inhibitive for the pediatric patient and family who have already been through extensive therapies. This single-institution case series evaluates the safety and efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the management of metastatic HB.

Materials And Methods: Between March 2008 and February 2015, RFA was used as part of multidisciplinary management for HB recurrence or metastasis in 5 children (median 5. Read More

Pediatr Transplant 2018 12 19;22(8):e13305. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.

Purpose: Improvement in outcomes of LT for pediatric HB and HCC has been reported in small series. We analyzed national outcomes and changes in donor, recipient, and perioperative factors over time that may contribute to survival differences.

Methods: The UNOS database was queried for patients age <21 years that underwent LT for a primary diagnosis of HB or HCC (1987-2017). Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Oct;97(42):e12607

Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Anomalies, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China.

The present study is to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment for unresectable hepatoblastoma in infants and children. A total of 17 patients with PRETEXT stage III and IV hepatoblastoma that was unresectable by conventional resection were included in the present study. The patients were treated with TACE, MWA, and chemotherapy. Read More

Oxid Med Cell Longev 2018 19;2018:3845027. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, 1st Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital in Prague, Charles University, Katerinska 32, 12108 Prague, Czech Republic.

Heme oxygenase 1 (Hmox1), a ubiquitous enzyme degrading heme to carbon monoxide, iron, and biliverdin, is one of the cytoprotective enzymes induced in response to a variety of stimuli, including cellular oxidative stress. Gangliosides, sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids expressed in all cells, are involved in cell recognition, signalling, and membrane stabilization. Their expression is often altered under many pathological and physiological conditions including cell death, proliferation, and differentiation. Read More

Oncol Rep 2019 Jan 15;41(1):143-153. Epub 2018 Oct 15.

Divisions of Pediatric Surgery and Surgical Research, Michael E. DeBakey, Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Hepatoblastoma is the most common malignant liver tumor in children. Since it is often unresectable and exhibits drug resistance, the treatment of advanced hepatoblastoma is challenging. The orphan nuclear receptor liver receptor homolog‑1 (LRH‑1) serves prominent roles in malignancy; however, to the best of our knowledge, the role of LRH‑1 in hepatoblastoma remains unknown. Read More