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Cancer research

Breakthrough in Liver Cancer Treatment: Identifying New Targets to Enhance Lenvatinib Efficacy

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Scientists at the University of Hong Kong have made a significant discovery in the fight against liver cancer, identifying new targets that can enhance the effectiveness of lenvatinib, a commonly used treatment for the disease. According to a recent study published in the journal Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, researchers used a genome-wide CRISPR screening approach to identify key drivers of lenvatinib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The study found that two genes, NFKB1 and MET, play a critical role in the development of lenvatinib resistance, and that targeting these genes with specific inhibitors can synergistically induce apoptosis and suppress HCC growth in vitro and in vivo.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study identified NFKB1 and MET as critical drivers of lenvatinib resistance in HCC cells, providing new targets for combination therapy.
  • Genome-wide CRISPR screening is a powerful tool for designing rational combinational cancer therapy.
  • Targeting NFKB1 and MET with specific inhibitors can enhance the effectiveness of lenvatinib in treating HCC.
  • The study suggests that combining lenvatinib with other inhibitors, such as QNZ and cabozantinib, may be an effective approach to improve therapy efficacy.
  • The research provides new insights into the mechanisms of lenvatinib resistance and the potential for developing more effective treatments for HCC.

Statistics:

  • 19(7):101502 - The journal issue and page number where the study was published.
  • 2025 - The year the study was published.
  • 7 - The issue number of the journal where the study was published.
  • 101502 - The page number of the study in the journal.
  • 2 - The number of genes identified as critical for lenvatinib resistance.
  • 2 - The number of small molecules used to target NFKB1 and MET.

Sources:

  • Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2025,19(7):101502.
  • Elsevier, the publisher of Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2025.101502 - The digital object identifier for the study.
  • Ting-Chi Rebecca Wan et al., "Genome-wide CRISPR Screening Identifies NFkB and c-MET as Druggable Targets to Sensitize Lenvatinib Treatment in Hepatocellular CarcinomaSummary." Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, vol. 19, no. 7, 2025, pp. 101502.

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