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A recent study conducted by researchers from the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery has developed a liquid biopsy test for pediatric liver cancer. The aim of the study was to create a less invasive method that provides real-time information about tumor response to therapy. The researchers utilized indocyanine green (ICG), a far-red fluorescent dye, to specifically detect and quantify circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood of pediatric patients with liver cancer. The test showed promising results in identifying liver tumor cells and correlating CTC burden with patient responses to therapy. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Frederick, Maryland, has explored the development of iodinated indocyanine green analogs as a targeted therapy for liver cancer. Liver cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, and there is a need for novel therapies to address this issue. The researchers designed and synthesized a series of iodinated indocyanine green analogs, which showed promising results in targeting liver cancer in vitro and in vivo. This study provides valuable insights into the potential of indocyanine green-based targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy for liver cancer. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas, focused on the use of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models to study pediatric hepatocellular tumors. The researchers aimed to compare the histomorphologic and immunophenotypic characteristics of patient tumors and their corresponding PDX models. The study found that the PDX models generally represented the higher-grade component of the original tumor and showed significant concordance for Ki-67, making them suitable for testing new therapies for aggressive and therapy-resistant tumors. The research was supported by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas. [Extracted from the article]

A recent report from Duke University Medical Center discusses the development of a humanized mouse model for adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy. The researchers aimed to overcome the challenge of variable transduction efficiency in preclinical development of AAV-mediated gene therapy. They created a human liver chimeric transgene-free mouse model that combined liver humanization with AAV receptor ablation, resulting in increased transduction of AAV serotypes in primary human hepatocytes. The study also demonstrated AAV transduction in human teratoma-derived primary cells and liver cancer tissue. This mouse model could be useful for predicting AAV gene transfer efficiency and studying AAV vector biology in a preclinical human setting. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine has shown promising results for the treatment of hepatoblastoma (HB), the most common liver cancer in children. The researchers developed a novel combination therapy that included an inhibitor of the enzyme histone deacetylase (HDAC), which was found to be effective in eliminating cancer cells. The therapy was tested in animal models and showed a significant decrease in tumor volume and tumor marker levels. These findings suggest that the combination therapy may be a promising option for patients with high-risk, relapsed, or refractory HB. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted at the Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center focused on hepatoblastoma (HB), the most common primary hepatic malignancy in childhood. The study aimed to identify risk factors for relapsed HB and predictors of survival. The researchers found that patients with relapsed HB had a lower overall survival rate compared to those without relapse. They also discovered that PRETEXT IV staging was an independent predictor of relapsed disease, and surgical resection was an important component of multimodal therapy for relapsed HB. The study provides valuable insights into the management of hepatoblastoma and highlights the need for further research in this area. [Extracted from the article]