Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) seems to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, the mechanism is still little known. This study aimed to investigate the the roles and mechanisms of TDF, tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF), and entecavir (ETV) on the malignant characteristics of liver cancer cells. Using the wound-healing assays, transwell assays, matrigel transwell assays, and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, it was possible to identify that TDF/TAF, inhibited migration, invasion, and proliferation of HepG2 cells and Huh7 cells. To investigate the mechanisms, we performed TOP/FOP-Flash system, Western blot, and RT-qPCR assays of liver cancer cells cultured with TDF/TAF and found a lower activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway compared with control cells. Finally, Hepatitis C virus p7 trans-regulated protein 3 (p7TP3), a tumor suppressor in liver cancers, was significantly increased in HepG2 cells and Huh7 cells that treated with TDF/TAF. However, entecavir (ETV)-treated liver cancer cells showed no significant difference in the malignant characteristics of liver cancer cells, activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and expression of p7TP3, compared with the control groups. To conclude, TDF/TAF maybe novel promising therapeutic strategy for liver cancers, including HCC and hepatoblastoma, via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, by up-regulating expression of the tumor suppressor, p7TP3.

UNASSIGNED: To investigate the efficacy and safety of microwave ablation (MWA) assisted by ultrasound fusion imaging (FI) for primary and secondary liver cancers with a diameter of 3-7 cm.
UNASSIGNED: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with primary and secondary liver cancers (3-7 cm) who underwent MWA with ultrasound FI assistance in our hospital from April 2020 to May 2022. Technical success, technique efficacy, local tumor progression (LTP), major complication, intrahepatic distant recurrence (IDR), and overall survival (OS) were assessed during the follow-up period. In addition, the ablation results of tumors between the medium-sized group (3.1-5.0 cm) and large-sized group (5.1-7.0 cm) were compared.
UNASSIGNED: 31 patients with 35 primary and secondary liver cancers were treated with MWA assisted by ultrasound FI. Complete ablation was achieved in 34 lesions with a technical success rate of 97.1%. Major complications occurred in 6.5% of patients (2/31), while no ablation-related deaths were reported. The median follow-up time of this study was 24 months (range:10 to 35 months). The technique efficacy rate was 97.1% (34/35), with LTP occurring in three lesions at a rate of 8.8% (3/34). The incidence of IDR was 38.7% (12/31) and the 2-year cumulative OS rate reached 96.7%. Moreover, there were no statistical differences in technique efficacy rate (p=0.286), LTP rate (p=0.328), major complication rate (p=0.503), IDR (p=0.857), and OS (p=0.118) between medium-sized group and large-sized group.
UNASSIGNED: Ultrasound FI-assisted MWA has the potential to be an effective and safe therapeutic strategy for primary and secondary liver cancers ranging from 3-7 cm in size.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and MRI (18F-FDG PET/MRI) can detect early residual tumor following radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of liver cancer using a VX2 tumor model.
METHODS: Twenty-four rabbits with VX2 liver tumors were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8/group): group 1 without RFA treatment, group 2 with complete ablation, and group 3 with partial ablation. 18F-FDG PET/MRI scan was obtained in three animal groups within 2 hours post-RFA. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of non-treated liver tumor, benign peri-ablational enhancement (BPE), residual tumor, ablated tumor, adjacent liver parenchyma, and mean SUV of normal liver were measured, respectively. The ratios of SUVmax for these targets to mean SUV of normal liver (TNR) were calculated and statistically compared.
RESULTS: The mean TNR of non-treated liver tumors in group 1 was significantly greater than that of adjacent liver parenchyma (8.68 ± 0.71 vs 1.89 ± 0.26, p < 0.001). In group 2, the mean TNR of BPE was significantly greater than that of adjacent liver parenchyma (2.85 ± 0.20 vs 1.86 ± 0.25, p < 0.001). In group 3, the mean TNR of residual tumor was significantly greater than that of BPE (8.64 ± 0.59 vs 2.78 ± 0.23, p < 0.001), which was significantly greater than that of completely ablated tumor (2.78 ± 0.23 vs 0.50 ± 0.06, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: 18F-FDG PET/MRI may serve as a promising imaging tool for early detection of viable residual tumors due to incomplete tumor ablation.

To compare the applicability of fusion imaging between contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (CT/MRI-CEUS fusion imaging) and fusion imaging between CEUS and ultrasound (US-CEUS fusion imaging) in the assessment of treatment response during liver cancer ablation.
From August to December 2015, patients who underwent US-guided thermal ablation of liver tumors at our hospital with available CT/MRI images were enrolled consecutively. Both CT/MRI-CEUS and US-CEUS fusion imaging were performed in all patients to evaluate treatment responses. The applicable rate, success rate of registration and duration time were recorded. Complications were monitored in the follow-up period, and CECT/MRI within three months were taken as the standard reference of technical efficacy.
A total of 157 liver tumors (19 ± 8 mm, range 8-55 mm) in 115 patients (54 ± 11 years old, range 2 7∼ 84 years old) were enrolled. The applicable rate of US-CEUS fusion imaging was 61.1% (96/157) because of inconspicuous lesions in US, lower than that of CT/MRI-CEUS fusion imaging (99.7% (155/157)) (p < .05). However, the success rate of registration in US-CEUS fusion imaging (93.8% (90/96)) was superior to that of CT/MRI-US fusion imaging (81.3% (126/155)) (p < .05), especially for cases combined with alternative preablation surgeries or procedures (p < .05). The technical efficacy rate was 99.3% (150/151) according to the CECT/CEMRI.
Both CT/MRI-CEUS and US-CEUS fusion imaging are feasible means for intraprocedural immediate evaluation of treatment response for liver thermal ablation. US-CEUS fusion imaging is preferred because of its convenience and higher success rate of registration.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) enables cauterization of liver cancer in a limited number of sessions without major complications. In contrast to the efficacy of this technique, the size of coagulation necrosis is limited due to increased impedance. D-sorbitol has been used as an irrigating fluid during transurethral resection of the prostate, since it is considered to be a dielectric fluid. In order to determine whether D-sorbitol enhances the effect of RFA, RFA was performed by slowly injecting 3% D-sorbitol near the tip of the RFA needle. The maximum of the total injected volume of D-sorbitol was 20 ml and RFA was terminated if the threshold of impedance was exceeded. RFA and D-sorbitol RFA were performed in 5 different parts of pig livers and dog livers in vivo. The total volumes of coagulation necrosis in the D-sorbitol RFA group were significantly higher compared with those in the RFA group. The total delivered energy in the D-sorbitol RFA group was also higher compared with that in the RFA group, due to the suppression of impedance elevation. No significant complications, such as bleeding or damage, were observed during the D-sorbitol RFA procedure in the in vivo model. In conclusion, RFA combined with D-sorbitol increases the total volume of coagulation necrosis through controlling impedance in the ablated liver and, therefore, D-sorbitol may be useful for the treatment of liver cancers.