Lactate Dehydrogenase in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Something Old, Something New.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver tumour (80-90%) and represents more than 5.7% of all cancers. Although in recent years the therapeutic options for these patients have increased, clinical results are yet unsatisfactory and the prognosis remains dismal. Clinical or molecular criteria allowing a more accurate selection of patients are in fact largely lacking. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) is a glycolytic key enzyme in the conversion of pyruvate to lactate under anaerobic conditions. In preclinical models, upregulation of LDH has been suggested to ensure both an efficient anaerobic/glycolytic metabolism and a reduced dependence on oxygen under hypoxic conditions in tumour cells. Data from several analyses on different tumour types seem to suggest that LDH levels may be a significant prognostic factor. The role of LDH in HCC has been investigated by different authors in heterogeneous populations of patients. It has been tested as a potential biomarker in retrospective, small, and nonfocused studies in patients undergoing surgery, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), and systemic therapy. In the major part of these studies, high LDH serum levels seem to predict a poorer outcome. We have reviewed literature in this setting trying to resume basis for future studies validating the role of LDH in this disease.
Medical Oncology Unit, Università Politecnica delle Marche, AOU "Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-G.M. Lancisi- G. Salesi", 60121 Ancona, Italy; Medical Oncology Unit, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, AOU di Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy.
Luca
L
Faloppi
Medical Oncology Unit, Università Politecnica delle Marche, AOU "Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-G.M. Lancisi- G. Salesi", 60121 Ancona, Italy.
Maristella
M
Bianconi
Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Faculté de Médecine, IRCAD/EITS, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire de Strasbourg IHU MixSurg, Université de Strasbourg, 67100 Strasbourg, France.
Riccardo
R
Memeo
IRCCS, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, 47014 Meldola, Italy.
Andrea
A
Casadei Gardini
Medical Oncology Unit, Università Politecnica delle Marche, AOU "Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-G.M. Lancisi- G. Salesi", 60121 Ancona, Italy.
Riccardo
R
Giampieri
Medical Oncology Unit, Università Politecnica delle Marche, AOU "Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-G.M. Lancisi- G. Salesi", 60121 Ancona, Italy.
Alessandro
A
Bittoni
Medical Oncology Unit, Università Politecnica delle Marche, AOU "Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-G.M. Lancisi- G. Salesi", 60121 Ancona, Italy.
Kalliopi
K
Andrikou
Medical Oncology Unit, Università Politecnica delle Marche, AOU "Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-G.M. Lancisi- G. Salesi", 60121 Ancona, Italy.
Michela
M
Del Prete
Medical Oncology Unit, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy.
Stefano
S
Cascinu
Medical Oncology Unit, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, AOU di Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy.
Mario
M
Scartozzi
D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000601:surgery
D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase