Mission and Objectives:

Due to the high incidence rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Asia, HBV-related HCC has become an important issue for HCC development. Notably, the annual incidence of liver cancer is 37.9 per 100,000 males and 14.2 females in China. Therefore, how to prevent and treat liver diseases and cancer is one of the major issues for people health care. Our goals try to integrate findings from basic research and clinical observations, leading to develop novel strategy for HCC treatment.

Research Highlight:

1.    New biomarker for HCC: GALNT14 and WWOX genotype
We found that GALNT14 genotype could be effectively used as diagnostic marker for HCC treatment. The GALNT14 genotype can be detected in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Notably, these findings won the 2019 Future Science and Technology Breakthrough Award of the Ministry of Science and Technology. On the other hand, we will explore WWOX genotype for TACE treatment in HCC patients.  

2.    Identification of novel HBV-cccDNA detection methods
A kind of real time PCR, called Peptide nucleic acid chain locking method, was developed to detect HBV-related cccDNA. This method was applied for screening cccDNA levels in drug resistant HBV patient.

3.    Association between virus mutation and drug resistance
Results: The overall seroprevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBc was significantly lower among individuals born after the initiation of the nationwide vaccination program (P < .001). However, we observed increasing seroprevalence of anti-HBc and isolated anti-HBs when subjects were grouped by age: at 10–14, 14–18, to 18–21 years of age, values were 0.4%, 1.9%, and 8.1% (P = .0135) and 43.7%, 55.4%, and 59.6% (P = .0093), respectively (χ2 test for trend). A large increase was observed in the percentage of patients who tested positive for HBV DNA at 18–21 years of age (3.0% vs 0.2% [P = .002] for all eligible subjects and 5.7% vs 0.3% [P < .001] for subjects vaccinated with ≥3 doses). Five of 8 completely vaccinated individuals who were seropositive for HBV DNA carried variants with mutations in the S gene.
Conclusions: Universal vaccination effectively controls HBV infection in children and adolescents. However, after adolescence, there is a significant increase in the seroprevalence of anti-HBs, anti-HBc, and HBV DNA, indicating that new preventative strategies are needed for adults.

4.    GALNT14 and HCC progression
The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of GALNT14-rs9679162 have been shown to predict therapeutic outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma as well as several other different types of gastrointestinal cancer. The functional role of GALNT14 in hepatoma will be uncovered.

5. The effects of imipramine and minaserin on HCC progression 

6. ncRNAs and HCC progression