Can hepatocellular carcinoma be treated by Yondelis through targeting both tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages?
OBJECTIVE
The initiation, progression, invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma are closely associated with chronic inflammation caused by hepatitis virus infection, while tumor-associated macrophages are a major component of inflammatory infiltrates in intratumoral or peritumoral tissue of hepatocellular carcinoma.


METHODS
Search MEDLINE, PUBMED databases, identify related articles and analyze related data.


RESULTS
Evidence indicated that tumor-associated macrophages play an important role in disease progression, recurrence and survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. However, recent study showed that Yondelis (ecteinascidin-743) can suppress tumor growth through attacking tumor cells, macrophages and tumor-associated macrophages.


CONCLUSIONS
Owing to the importance of tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages in inflammatory microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma, treating hepatocellular carcinoma by Yondelis seems to be a promising therapeutic strategy but requires further study.
Zhang
Chuan-Hai
CH
Centre for the Study of Liver Cancer and Department of Hepatic Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University, No. 17, Lu-Jiang Road, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China. doctorzch2008@163.com
Xu
Ge-Liang
GL
Jia
Wei-Dong
WD
Ge
Yong-Sheng
YS
Wang
Wei
W
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004149:Dioxoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077606:Trabectedin
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D004149:Dioxoles; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D000077606:Trabectedin