The medical world is well-aware of over 100 types of cancer. But they’ll now have to learn about a new subtype of the dreadful disease that makes the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other areas as well.
According to SciTechDaily, scientists have discovered, thanks to a new study funded by the National Cancer Institute (R21CA223140) among others, a new subtype of pediatric liver cancer that poses a high risk. Pediatric pathologists discovered that the histological characteristics of some liver tumors don’t exactly match the models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or hepatoblastoma (HB).
The scientists wrote in their research:
Our single-institution study suggested that histological features seen in HBCs are associated with combined HB and HCC molecular features, that HBCs have poor outcomes irrespective of patient age, and that transplanted HBCs are more likely to have good outcomes than HBCs that are treated with chemotherapy and surgery alone. These findings highlight the importance of molecular testing and early therapeutic intervention for aggressive childhood hepatocellular neoplasms.
Here’s a graphical abstract of the new work:
Dr. Dolores López-Terrada, who is a corresponding author of the new paper, explained as SciTechDaily quotes:
Our findings highlight the importance of molecular testing to accurately classify these tumors to optimize treatment recommendations at the time of initial diagnosis,
Our analysis suggested that children with HBCs may benefit from treatment strategies that differ from the guidelines for patients with hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.
As for primary liver cancer, there are four main types: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), and angiosarcoma. Primary liver cancer also usually affects more men than women.
The new research was published in Journal of Hepathology.
