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BEIJING, March 1 (Xinhua) – Chinese scientists have identified a therapeutic target for early-stage liver cancer (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer in adults.
CHC is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. Infection with hepatitis B is one of the major risk factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, particularly in East Asia, said Hu Fuzhu, chief scientist of the Chinese Human Protein Project, academic at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Although surgical treatment may be effective in the early stages, the survival rate for five years after the development of this cancer was only 50 to 70%, according to the scientists.
The researchers classified cancer into three subtypes S-I, S-II and S-III. The clinical results for each of the three subtypes are different, while S-III is associated with the lowest overall survival rate.
By analyzing the protein data of subtype S-III, scientists have discovered the therapeutic target called SOAT1, the reduction of which effectively stops the spread and migration of HCC.
After experiments on mice, scientists also discovered that treatment with (Avasimib), a SOAT1 inhibitor, significantly reduced the size of tumors with high levels of SOAT1 expression.
Hu said the study provided insight into the tumor biology of this cancer and offered the possibility of personal treatments targeting it.
The research was published in the latest issue of the journal Nature.
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