Latest news with #livercancer
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Espervita's EVT0185 Shows Dramatic Tumor Reduction and Immune Activation in Preclinical MASH-Driven Hepatocellular Carcinoma
ANN ARBOR, Mich., July 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Espervita Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing targeted metabolic reprogramming therapies, announced the publication in Nature featuring groundbreaking preclinical data for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with its lead drug candidate, EVT0185, a first-in-class liver and kidney targeted inhibitor of acetyl-CoA metabolic enzymes (ACLY, ACSS2, ACC). Over 80% of people with advanced HCC do not respond to immunotherapies due to a "cold" immune deficient tumor microenvironment. EVT0185 reverses this effect, making tumors "hot" and harnessing the body's immune system to attack and kill tumors more effectively than current standards of care. Unmet Need Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death globally. HCC, the most common form of liver cancer, is increasingly caused by the global rise in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). With current treatment options, five-year survival for advanced HCC is < 5% and the five-year recurrence rate for earlier-stage HCC following surgical resection or ablation is > 75%, with HCC being the only common cancer in the world with no approved adjuvant therapy. HCC is thus one of the highest priority unmet needs in oncology. Preclinical Efficacy in HCC Espervita Therapeutics evaluated the therapeutic potential of acetyl-CoA metabolic enzyme inhibition in MASH-HCC using EVT0185 across three preclinical models. Key findings from the studies: EVT0185 significantly reduced tumor burden in multiple preclinical models of MASH-HCC prevention and treatment, both as a monotherapy and in enhancing the effects of existing treatments, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immunotherapies. EVT0185 enhanced immune recognition of tumors by reprogramming the tumor microenvironment, increasing CXCL13 expression and B cell infiltration, and triggering strong anti-tumor responses. Through tissue-selective activation, EVT0185 minimized off-target effects and avoided immune cell suppression. "These findings illustrate how targeted metabolic reprogramming can counter the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and significantly reduce tumor burden in MASH-HCC," said Spencer Heaton M.D., CEO at Espervita Therapeutics. "They also highlight the potential of EVT0185 to redefine how we approach oncology immunotherapies." About Espervita Therapeutics Espervita Therapeutics is a privately held biotechnology company focused on the discovery of liver and kidney targeted metabolic reprogramming therapies in areas with significant unmet medical need. The company's lead compound, EVT0185, is a first-in-class triple inhibitor of acetyl-CoA metabolic enzymes (ACLY, ACSS2, ACC) that are responsible for the production and utilization of cytosolic acetyl-CoA. Learn more at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Espervita Therapeutics, Inc. Sign in to access your portfolio
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
The simple changes that could prevent three in five liver cancer cases
Simple lifestyle changes could drastically cut cases of liver cancer, according to academics. The Lancet Commission on liver cancer found that three in five liver cancer cases could be prevented by reducing alcohol consumption and obesity and by increasing uptake of the hepatitis vaccine. The number of new liver cancers around the world will rise from 0.87 million in 2022 to 1.52 million in 2050, according to the experts' projections. The proportion of cases of liver cancer linked to obesity are set to increase from 5 per cent to 11 per cent, the group said. By 2050, some 21 per cent of liver cancers will be caused by alcohol, they said. And 11 per cent will be caused by a severe form of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) – formerly known as fatty liver disease, where fat builds up in a person's liver. The severe form of this condition is called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. The research team said that 60 per cent of liver cancers are preventable. They said that global deaths from liver cancer are expected to rise from 760,000 in 2022 to 1.37 million in 2050. 'These data suggest that preventive measures targeting a comprehensive number of risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma are sorely needed,' the team of experts, led by academics in Hong Kong, wrote. The main treatment for MASLD is eating a balanced diet, being physically active and potentially losing weight. 'Liver cancer is a growing health issue around the world,' said Professor Jian Zhou, chairman of the Commission from Fudan University in China. 'It is one of the most challenging cancers to treat, with five-year survival rates ranging from approximately 5 per cent to 30 per cent. 'We risk seeing close to a doubling of cases and deaths from liver cancer over the next quarter of a century without urgent action to reverse this trend.' First author, Professor Stephen Chan, from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, added: 'As three in five cases of liver cancer are linked to preventable risk factors, mostly viral hepatitis, alcohol and obesity, there is a huge opportunity for countries to target these risk factors, prevent cases of liver cancer and save lives.' Commenting on the study, Pamela Healy, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said: 'Liver cancer is the fastest rising cause of cancer death in the UK, and just 13 per cent of people diagnosed will survive for five years or more. 'We know that the biggest risk factors are having pre-existing liver cirrhosis or viral hepatitis, and this new analysis highlights that MASLD, also known as fatty liver disease, is expected to be linked to an increasing number of cases. 'As well as improving early detection through surveillance of people with cirrhosis, it is essential that we tackle these underlying causes and prioritise public health. 'By supporting people to maintain a healthy weight, cut down on alcohol and get tested and treated for hepatitis, we can prevent many cases of liver cancer and save lives.' In 2022, some 64 per cent of adults in England were estimated to be overweight or obese.
Medscape
2 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Obesity-linked Liver Cancer Preventable, but Rising
At least 60% of liver cancers globally are preventable through risk-factor reduction, including obesity-linked metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and cases caused by viral hepatitis or alcohol consumption. That's a key message from a new Lancet Commission report on addressing the global hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) burden, published online on July 28 to coincide with World Hepatitis Day. The burden of new liver cancer cases is projected to increase to 1.52 million, and liver cancer-related deaths are projected to increase to 1.37 million by 2050, the commission pointed out. In addition, the share of liver cancer cases caused by metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a severe form of MASLD, is expected to increase by 35% (8%-11%) by 2050. The commission called for increased public, medical, and political awareness of the rising risk for MASLD — especially in the US, Europe, and Asia — with a focus on high-risk groups, such as those with diabetes and/or obesity. With the number of new liver cancer cases predicted to double over the next 25 years without urgent action, the Commission set a target for an annual reduction of 2%-5% in the number of new cases. This could prevent up to 17 million liver cancer cases and up to 15 million deaths, if achieved. 10 Recommendations Overall, the commission suggested 10 strategies for reducing the global burden of liver cancer and improving patients' quality of life. These include: 1. Strengthening viral hepatitis prevention, screening, and treatment, including integrating hepatitis B virus vaccination into national immunization schedules and targeted hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening. 2. Reducing alcohol consumption using 'strong government-led measures,' such as warning labels and advertisement restrictions. 3. Controlling environmental risk factors, especially exposure to contaminated water and aflatoxins in food in low- and middle-income countries. 4. Preparing for the increase in MASLD and MASH with tailored national strategies for awareness, screening, and management. 5. Raising awareness of liver health among policy makers and the general population. 6. Improving early HCC detection by optimizing the performance of surveillance tests and technologies. 7. Standardizing noninvasive diagnoses of HCC with standardized criteria for interpreting imaging studies. 8. Addressing East-West differences in clinical management through collaborative efforts of professional organizations and the pharmaceutical industry to achieve consensus and a clear action plan. 9. Improving HCC survivorship through research, clinical documentation of outcomes, complications and treatment response, and integration of palliative care in the early phases for patients in need. 10. Facilitating access to treatment for HCV and HCC, which currently is limited mainly due to high cost and lack of cost-effectiveness. Zeroing in on Obesity The rate of MASLD-linked liver cancer is expected to rise over the next decade, particularly in the US, Europe, and Asia, due to increasing rates of obesity, the report authors warned. In the US, MASLD prevalence continues to climb in parallel with the obesity epidemic; by 2040, over 55% of US adults could have MASLD, the commission predicted. 'Liver cancer was once thought to occur mainly in patients with viral hepatitis or alcohol-related liver disease,' commission author Hashem B El-Serag, MD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, commented in a press release. 'However, today rising rates of obesity are an increasing risk factor for liver cancer, primarily due to the increase in cases of excess fat around the liver.' El-Serag suggested including screening for liver damage into routine healthcare practice for patients at high risk for MASLD, such as individuals living with obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. 'Healthcare professionals should also integrate lifestyle counselling into routine care to support patients to transition to a healthy diet and regular physical activity,' he said. 'Furthermore, policy makers must promote healthy food environments via policies such as sugar taxes and clear labelling on products with high fat, salt, and/or sugar.' In a related editorial, The Lancet editorial board concluded, 'The message of the Commission — that strengthening prevention, fostering collaboration, and removing social and knowledge barriers can help avert the rapid rise of liver cancer — is one of possibility. Taking action to realize that possibility is vital for the health of many millions of people worldwide over the next 25 years.' The Commission was supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of China, Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases-National Science and Technology Major Project, and Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project. A list of authors with competing interests is available in the report.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
What is liver cancer? Expert explains causes, symptoms and how to treat it
The number of liver cancer cases is expected to double by 2050, with rising obesity rates partly responsible, researchers have warned. Experts predict that the share of liver cancer cases linked to obesity will grow from 5 per cent to 11 per cent, urging stronger efforts to prevent avoidable cases. New projections from a Lancet Commission on Liver Cancer report estimate that global liver cancer cases will increase from 0.87 million in 2022 to 1.52 million by 2050. Many adults remain unaware of the risk factors for liver cancer, so we spoke to a medical adviser at the British Liver Trust, Anya Adair, who is also a consultant transplant and hepatobiliary surgeon at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. She shared some key insights into the main causes, symptoms and treatments of this serious disease. What is liver cancer and what causes it? 'Cancer that develops within the liver is primary liver cancer, but when cancers arise from somewhere else in the body and then spread to the liver, that is secondary cancer,' explains Adair. How serious liver cancer is depends on the patient's general health, where the cancer is in the liver, how big it is, if it has spread and if it's primary or secondary cancer. according to the NHS website. 'Liver cancer can develop within the liver tissue, which is called primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),' explains Adair. HCC occurs when cells called hepatocytes start to multiply and grow more than they should, according to the Liver Cancer Trust, part of the British Liver Trust. 'However, cancer can also develop within the bile duct systems in the liver, which is called cholangiocarcinoma,' adds Adair. Around three out of four cancers that start in the liver are HCC, according to the Liver Cancer Trust, which typically develops in livers that are already scarred and damaged, a condition known as cirrhosis. 'You could have a scarred cirrhotic liver due to alcohol consumption, but it can also be because of MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease), previous known as Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease,' highlights Adair. Both autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis (both of which are autoimmune liver diseases) can also lead to a scarred cirrhotic liver if left untreated, she adds. What are some common symptoms? 'The problem with HCC is that it often doesn't present with any symptoms at all,' says Adair. 'So, it is usually found incidentally on a scan that has been done for something else if the person didn't know that they had a scarred liver.' HCC is also sometimes flagged up during a routine ultrasound that people who know they have a cirrhotic liver tend to have. 'Sometimes people with a cirrhotic liver are in surveillance and have ultrasounds every six months because the risk is higher, and during the scan a new swelling or shadow in the liver is picked up,' notes Adair. Although liver cancer is often silent in the beginning stages, Adair highlights that once it becomes more advanced, patients may start to develop symptoms such as jaundice, unexplained weight loss, tiredness and/or nausea. 'Anyone who develops jaundice should seek urgent medical attention, and unexplained weight loss in particular is also an alarm bell,' says Adair. How is it diagnosed? 'Liver cancer is usually spotted on an ultrasound initially, which is then followed by CT and MRI scans,' says Adair. 'So, it's usually a radiological diagnosis, and in some situations you need a biopsy for confirmation.' What are the treatment options? 'There are a lot of treatment options depending on how bad your liver disease is, how many cancers in the liver you have, how big they are and what your general fitness is,' explains Adair. There are several curative options, including surgery. 'If the cancer is picked up relatively early, and you are within transplant criteria, then a liver transplant is a curative option,' says Adair. 'If the liver is working well and there is only one area of cancer, then patients could think about having a liver resection, where you take part of the liver away. 'In addition, patients who have a single lesion that is below three centimetres can opt for ablation.' This minimally invasive procedure uses heat or extreme cold to destroy the targeted tissue, according Liver Cancer UK. There are also other treatment options that help hold the liver cancer tumour at bay or are a bridge to further treatment, such as chemoembolisation (combining chemotherapy with a method to block blood flow to the tumour) or local radiation.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Obesity fuels surge in liver cancer
Obesity is helping to fuel a surge in liver cancer cases around the world, academics have warned. The number of new cases of liver cancer globally is set to double from 0.87 million in 2022 to 1.52 million in 2050, according to projections published as part of a new Lancet Commission on Liver Cancer paper. A team of experts, led by academics in Hong Kong, said the proportion of liver cancers caused by the disease's most common cause – the Hepatitis B virus – is set to reduce over the coming years. Cases caused by the Hepatitis C virus are also expected to decline proportionately. However, liver cancer cases caused by alcohol and obesity are set to increase. Experts predicted that by 2050, some 21 per cent of liver cancers will be caused by alcohol. And 11 per cent will be caused by a severe form of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) – known as fatty liver disease, where excessive fat builds up in a person's liver. The severe form of this condition is called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. The research team points out that 60 per cent of liver cancers are preventable. The researchers also said that global deaths from liver cancer are expected to rise from 760,000 in 2022 to 1.37 million in 2050. 'These data suggest that preventive measures targeting a comprehensive number of risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma are sorely needed,' the team of experts wrote. The main treatment for MASLD is a balanced diet, being physically active and potentially losing weight. Prof Jian Zhou, chairman of the commission from Fudan University in China, said: 'Liver cancer is a growing health issue around the world. 'It is one of the most challenging cancers to treat, with five-year survival rates ranging from approximately five per cent to 30 per cent. 'We risk seeing close to a doubling of cases and deaths from liver cancer over the next quarter of a century without urgent action to reverse this trend.' Professor Stephen Chan, of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who was the first author of the study, added: 'As three in five cases of liver cancer are linked to preventable risk factors, mostly viral hepatitis, alcohol and obesity, there is a huge opportunity for countries to target these risk factors, prevent cases of liver cancer and save lives.' Commenting on the study, Pamela Healy, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said: 'Liver cancer is the fastest-rising cause of cancer death in the UK, and just 13 per cent of people diagnosed will survive for five years or more. 'We know that the biggest risk factors are having pre-existing liver cirrhosis or viral hepatitis, and this new analysis highlights that MASLD, also known as fatty liver disease, is expected to be linked to an increasing number of cases. 'As well as improving early detection through surveillance of people with cirrhosis, it is essential that we tackle these underlying causes and prioritise public health. 'By supporting people to maintain a healthy weight, cut down on alcohol and get tested and treated for hepatitis, we can prevent many cases of liver cancer and save lives.' In 2022, some 64 per cent of adults in England were estimated to be overweight or obese.
