Basic Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jul 15, 2024; 16(7): 3118-3157
Published online Jul 15, 2024. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i7.3118
Kombo knife combined with sorafenib in liver cancer treatment: Efficacy and safety under immune function influence
Yang Cao, Pei-Pei Li, Bing-Li Qiao, Quan-Wang Li
Yang Cao, Pei-Pei Li, Bing-Li Qiao, Department of Oncology, The Third People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China
Quan-Wang Li, Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Oriental Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100078, China
Author contributions: Cao Y conceived and designed research; Li PP performed experiments; Qiao BL interpreted results of experiments; Li QW analyzed data; Cao Y prepared figures; Li PP drafted paper; Qiao BL and Li QW edited and revised manuscript; All authors read and approved final version of manuscript.
Supported by Henan Province Medical Science and Technology Tackling Program Joint Co-Construction Project, No. LHGJ20191024.
Institutional review board statement: This study obtained approval from the Ethics Committee of The Third People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, and every patient signed an informed consent form following the Helsinki Declaration.
Institutional animal care and use committee statement: Animal research was performed following the Regulations on the Administration of Experimental Animals in Medical Research and the ARRIVE Guidelines for animal management and studies, and approval was obtained from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee of The Third People's Hospital of Zhengzhou.
Informed consent statement: Every patient signed an informed consent form following the Helsinki Declaration.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Data sharing statement: The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request at lpp20210224@hhu.edu.cn.
ARRIVE guidelines statement: The authors have read the ARRIVE Guidelines, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the ARRIVE Guidelines.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Pei-Pei Li, MM, Attending Doctor, Department of Oncology, The Third People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, No. 136 Nanshuncheng Street, Guancheng District, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China. lpp20210224@126.com
Received: September 27, 2023
Peer-review started: September 27, 2023
First decision: December 7, 2023
Revised: January 2, 2024
Accepted: March 20, 2024
Article in press: March 20, 2024
Published online: July 15, 2024
Processing time: 289 Days and 4.6 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND

In the quest to manage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the focus has shifted to a more holistic approach encompassing both data analytics and innovative treatments. Analyzing rich data resources, such as the cancer genome atlas (TCGA), and examining progressive therapies can potentially reshape the trajectory of HCC treatment.

AIM

To elucidate the immunological genes and the underlying mechanism of the combined Kombo knife and sorafenib regimen for HCC by analyzing data from TCGA and machine learning data.

METHODS

Immune attributes were evaluated via TCGA's postablation HCC RNA sequencing data. Using weighted gene coexpression network analysis and machine learning, we identified genes with high prognostic value. The therapeutic landscape and safety metrics of the integrated treatment were critically evaluated across cellular and animal models.

RESULTS

Immune genes–specifically, peptidylprolyl isomerase A and solute carrier family 29 member 3–emerged as significant prognostic markers. Enhanced therapeutic outcomes, such as prolonged progression-free survival and an elevated overall response rate, characterize the combined approach, with peripheral blood mononuclear cells displaying potent effects on HCC dynamics.

CONCLUSION

The combination of Kombo knife with sorafenib is an innovative HCC treatment modality anchored in immune-centric strategies.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; The cancer genome atlas analysis; Kombo knife; Sorafenib; Prognostic genes; Immune infiltration

Core Tip: In this groundbreaking study, we explore the synergistic effects of Kombo Knife and sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment, utilizing insights from the cancer genome atlas. Employing advanced data analytics, including weighted gene coexpression network analysis and machine learning, we identify key immune genes-particularly peptidylprolyl isomerase A and solute carrier family 29 member 3-as significant prognostic markers. Our findings highlight the enhanced therapeutic efficacy of the combined regimen, marked by improved progression-free survival and response rates. This research represents a significant stride in HCC therapy, pivoting towards innovative, immune-centric treatment strategies that promise to transform patient outcomes.