Sorafenib prevents escape from host immunity in liver cirrhosis patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
It has been reported that Th2 cytokines downregulate antitumor immunity, while activation of type T cells promotes antitumor immunity. The aim of this paper was to evaluate host immunity in liver cirrhosis (LC) patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC) receiving sorafenib therapy.


METHODS
Forty-five adult Japanese LC patients received sorafenib for aHCC between 2009 and 2011 at our hospital. Sorafenib was administered at a dose of 200-800 mg/day for 4 weeks. Blood samples were collected before and after treatment.


RESULTS
Eleven patients were treated with sorafenib at 200 mg/day (200 group), 27 patients received sorafenib at 400 mg/day (400 group), and 7 patients were given sorafenib at 800 mg/day (800 group). There was no significant change in the percentage of Th1 cells after treatment in any group. However, the percentages of Th2 cells and regulatory T cells were significantly decreased after treatment in the 400 group and 800 group compared with before treatment, although there was no significant change after treatment in the 200 group.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that treatment with sorafenib might induce Th1 dominance and prevent the escape of tumor cells from the host immune system in LC patients with aHCC.
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Toho University Medical Center, Omori Hospital, 6-11-1, Omorinishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8541, Japan. hidenari@aol.com
Hidenari
H
Nagai
Takanori
T
Mukozu
Daigo
D
Matsui
Takenori
T
Kanekawa
Masahiro
M
Kanayama
Noritaka
N
Wakui
Kouichi
K
Momiyama
Mie
M
Shinohara
Kazunari
K
Iida
Koji
K
Ishii
Yoshinori
Y
Igarashi
Yasukiyo
Y
Sumino
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D007564:Japan; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077157:Sorafenib; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D011725:Pyridines; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib