In the last decades, the use of in vitro systems in liver research has grown exponentially. Important reasons promoting this work are the high throughput and ease of genetic manipulations afforded by these experiments relative to in vivo experiments. Thousands of investigations of hepatocellular carcinoma have been performed employing the human hepatoma Huh-7 cell line. The extensive body of knowledge produced attests to the importance and value of this in vitro cell system to study the characteristics of hepatomas and the potential of natural and synthetic compounds to prevent and eliminate this liver cancer. The necessarily brief summary provided here attempts to summarise some of the most recent achievements and limitations of investigations with Huh-7 cells and derivatives.

Background: Combination molecular targeted therapy with dabrafenib plus trametinib has been shown to improve progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with BRAF V600 mutated unresectable or metastatic melanoma. In general, these agents are well tolerated. Kidney related adverse events are uncommon with only three case reports of acute interstitial nephritis and one case of a serious acute kidney injury. We report another case of interstitial nephritis related to these drugs.