Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a frequent neoplasia which still misses a therapeutical gold standard. Recently, new acquisitions in cancerogenesis process evidenced the genetic and epigenetic alterations of genes involved in the different metabolic pathways of liver cancer suggesting that antibodies, small molecules, demethylating agents, etc. specifically acting against molecular target can be utilized alone or in combination in clinical practice. The main altered targets are: cell membrane receptors, in particular tyrosine kinase receptors, factors involved in cell signalling, specifically Wnt/β-catenin, Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways, proteins linked to cell cycle regulation pathway (i.e. p53, p16/INK4, cyclin/cdk complex) or in invasiveness (EMT, TGFbeta) and proteins involved in DNA metabolism. Genetic or epigenetic changes in these molecules have been used in preclinical settings and, some of them also in clinical trials of phase II and III. This scenario opens new avenues for the prevention and the treatment of HCC. In the present review the main metabolic pathways and molecular alterations have been described together with recent advances in molecular and gene therapy.
Keywords: Hepatocarcinoma, target therapies, molecular alterations, cellular pathways
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Multidisciplinary Pharmaceutical Drug Design Strategies in the Progress of Drug Discovery"
The process of developing a drug is time and money-consuming, but also fascinating. The development of numerous computational techniques, synthetic methodologies, formulation-based drug discovery, etc., has improved the drug discovery process. The process of developing new drugs is significantly hampered by drug-poor pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic problems. To address these challenges, ...read more
Accelerating Cancer drug discovery using Artificial intelligence and In Silico methods
The Artificial intelligence and in silico methods speed up cancer drug discovery, transforming how new treatments are developed. Artificial intelligence, along with in silico methods, allows for quick investigation of large biological datasets, helping identify potential drug targets with remarkable speed and accuracy. Machine learning models help us understand how ...read more
Advances in the Molecular Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
This thematic issue will emphasize the recent breakthroughs in the mechanisms of Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis and devotes some understanding of both Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. It is expected to include studies about cellular and genetic aspects, which help to precipitate the disease, and the immune system-gut microbiome relations ...read more
Artificial Intelligence and Computational Approaches in Drug Discovery
Computer-aided drug design (CADD) and artificial intelligence (AI) are fundamentally reshaping drug discovery pipelines by significantly enhancing efficiency in molecular screening, rational drug design, and natural product development. In the field of molecular screening, the integration of virtual high-throughput screening with advanced AI models enables rapid analysis of million-compound libraries, ...read more
Related Journals
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Current Bioactive Compounds
Current Cancer Drug Targets
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews
Current Diabetes Reviews
Current Drug Safety
Current Drug Targets
Current Drug Therapy
Related Books
Mucosal Vaccine Delivery Systems: The Future of Immunization (Part 2)
The Impact of Pharma Technology on Cosmetics: Advancements and Innovations
Advances in the Medicinal Chemistry of Neglected Tropical Disease and Related Infectious Diseases
Zebrafish Models for Experimental Pharmacology: A Handbook
Mucosal Vaccine Delivery Systems: The Future of Immunization (Part 1)
Bioactive Compounds Targeting Neurodegenerative Diseases
Anthraquinones: Bioactive Multifaceted Therapeutic Agents
Therapeutic Plants: Recent Advances in the Use of Herbs as Alternative Medications
Quality Assurance of Ethno-Herbals: Cultivating Confidence in Alternative Medicine
Traditional Medicine in North East Africa: Research on Traditional Healer Preparations and Herbs
25