Hepatology

Vitamin D supplementation improves insulin resistance in NAFLD

6 days ago

In patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), additional treatment with vitamin D leads to better insulin resistance profiles, reports a recent meta-analysis. Vitamin D may serve as an adjunct intervention in this population.

Polygenic risk scores for hepatic fat, NAFLD pinpoint Asians at risk of HCC

Jairia Dela Cruz, 17 May 2022

Both the polygenic risk score (PRS) for hepatic fat (HFC-PRS) derived from non-Asians and the novel PRS for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) derived from East Asians can predict the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Singaporeans, as shown in a study.

Retreatment with checkpoint inhibitors feasible after immune-related hepatitis resolution

07 May 2022

In patients who discontinued a checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) due to severe immune-related hepatitis, retreatment with the same or a different CPI is feasible after resolution of the liver injury and does not lead to recurrence in up to 65 percent of patients, according to a study.

Oral silymarin reduces chemo-induced hepatotoxicity in breast cancer patients

06 May 2022

Administration of oral silymarin leads to a substantial decrease in hepatotoxicity severity after 1 month of treatment in nonmetastatic breast cancer patients on doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide-paclitaxel (AC-T) regimen, reports a study.

Reducing risks and improving long-term outcomes in patients with CHB

Prof. Vincent Wong, Prof. Ray Kim, Dr. Tan Poh Seng, 10 Sep 2019

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a major public health concern because of its worldwide distribution and potential adverse sequelae, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). At a recent symposium held during the GIHep Singapore 2019, Professor Vincent Wong from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Professor Ray Kim from the Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, US, discussed antiviral treatments for CHB, with a focus on the novel agent tenofovir alafenamide (Vemlidy®). Dr Tan Poh Seng from the National University Hospital, Singapore, chaired the symposium.

Relationship between tumour response to systemic therapy and overall survival in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Dr Raghav Sundar, 09 Sep 2019

Overall survival (OS) is currently the primary criteria in assessing the efficacy of a cancer treatment. Dr Raghav Sundar, a consultant medical oncologist at the National University Hospital, Singapore, details the crucial role played by tumour response in evaluating treatment efficacy, with a focus on the multiple kinase inhibitor lenvatinib in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

STRIDE regimen boosts OS in unresectable HCC

Roshini Claire Anthony, 25 Feb 2022

The addition of tremelimumab to durvalumab (STRIDE regimen) in the first-line setting improved overall survival (OS) compared with sorafenib in patients with advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to results of the phase III HIMALAYA trial.

Lenvatinib-TACE combo a new first-line treatment alternative for advanced liver cancer?

Audrey Abella, 23 Feb 2022

In individuals with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the combination of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and lenvatinib as first-line treatment led to improved survival outcomes as opposed to lenvatinib monotherapy, according to findings of the phase III LAUNCH* trial.

Study offers clues on which patients may safely stop HBV therapy

Elvira Manzano, 15 Dec 2021

Think twice before withdrawing HBV treatment. Not all patients can safely discontinue nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) therapy as shown in the retrospective RETRACT-B study of patients from Europe, North America, and Asia.

Increased serum iron may hint at HCC risk in NAFLD patients

Roshini Claire Anthony, 07 Dec 2021

Increased serum iron or transferrin saturation levels in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may point to an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to a study presented at The Liver Meeting Digital Experience™.

Switching to TAF helps improve virologic response in HBV patients in real world

Pearl Toh, 06 Dec 2021

Switching to tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) from nucleos(t)ide analogue therapies was associated with improved virologic response and liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, even in those with decompensated HBV cirrhosis, according to real-world studies presented at AASLD 2021.

Interim findings boost therapeutic potential of lanifibranor for NASH

Audrey Abella, 06 Dec 2021

The pan-PPAR* agonist lanifibranor further advances into the NASH** treatment field, as more data from the phase IIb NATIVE*** study presented at AASLD 2021 unveil further histologic and therapeutic benefits for patients with NASH.