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Multifocal Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Genomic and Transcriptional Heterogeneity

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The IASGO Textbook of Multi-Disciplinary Management of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often presents with multiple nodules within the liver, with limited effective intervention. The high tumor heterogeneity of multifocal HCC might be the major cause of treatment failure. Studies using next-generation sequencing identify genomic and transcriptional heterogeneity among tumor nodules in multifocal HCC patients including mutational profiles, copy number alterations (CNAs), structure variations (SVs), tumor evolutionary trajectory, RNA expression patterns, and tumor immune microenvironment profiles. In addition, recent data indicate that the heterogeneity of druggable targets and immune landscape might help interpret the clinical responsiveness to targeted drugs and immunotherapy for multifocal HCC patients. Thus, a comprehensive and precise understanding of genomic and transcriptional heterogeneity is crucial to improve the treatment of patients with multifocal HCC and is particularly helpful to the development of personalized therapies. This Chapter reviews previous studies of genomic and transcriptional heterogeneity of multifocal HCC and discusses how we can leverage this information to improve the clinical management of patients with multifocal HCC.

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Correspondence to Ming Kuang .

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Kuang, M., Xu, L., Peng, S., Huang, M., Liu, X., Liao, G. (2022). Multifocal Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Genomic and Transcriptional Heterogeneity. In: Makuuchi, M., et al. The IASGO Textbook of Multi-Disciplinary Management of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0063-1_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0063-1_9

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