Taiwanese Researchers Pioneering a New, Precise Approach to Liver Cancer Treatment

Hope for a Safer Future: Targeted Therapy Shows Promise in Combating Liver Cancer

Taipei, Taiwan – In a significant breakthrough, medical researchers from National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) and Taipei Medical University (TMU) have unveiled promising findings that could revolutionize the treatment of liver cancer. Their research, presented at a recent symposium, highlights a potential strategy to combat the disease while minimizing harm to healthy cells.

The team, led by Tsai Feng-chiao (蔡丰喬), an attending physician at NTUH, has been developing this innovative treatment over the past four years. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, which often damages healthy cells, this approach targets specific genes within liver cancer cells, offering a more precise and potentially safer alternative.

Through a comprehensive analysis of biological data, Tsai's team identified three key genes – YAP, STK40, and SLK – that are strongly associated with the progression of liver cancer, particularly in late-stage patients.

Tsai explained that YAP, a gene involved in regulating organ size, can contribute to "uncontrolled cancer growth and expansion" when disrupted in cancer cells. However, because YAP also plays a crucial role in healthy cells, directly targeting it presents challenges.

The research team found that STK40 and SLK, unlike YAP, are not widely expressed in healthy cells, making them ideal targets. Suppressing these genes has shown the ability to reduce YAP activity within tumor cells, effectively halting the spread of liver cancer without damaging normal tissue.

"With the right combination of treatment strategies, we can prevent tumors from spreading uncontrollably and instead reach a state of long-term coexistence," Tsai stated.

The team's findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Advanced Science in mid-2021, have paved the way for animal testing. This is a crucial step towards potential applications in human patients.

Tsai highlighted the significance of this research, noting that liver disease is a major health concern in Taiwan. Hepatitis B, once prevalent in the population, has contributed to a high incidence of liver disease and cancer. In 2023, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis claimed 3,813 lives, while liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer claimed 7,724 lives, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

While hepatitis B vaccination and treatments have helped reduce the incidence of related diseases, Tsai emphasized the need for new approaches to address liver disease and cancer caused by other factors, thus driving the development of this innovative treatment.