Understanding gut dysbiosis for hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis and treatment

This review article proposes the theory that liver fibrosis, the abnormal accumulation of excessive extracellular matrix, is not just an indicator of liver disease but also a negative reflection of overall systemic health. Liver fibrosis poses a heavy financial burden on healthcare systems worldwide and can develop due to chronic liver disease from various causes, often due to sustained inflammation. Liver fibrosis may not generate symptoms and become apparent only when it reaches the stage of cirrhosis and is associated with clinically significant portal hypertension and leads to decompensation events or promotes the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. While chronic viral hepatitis and excessive alcohol consumption were once the primary causes of chronic liver disease featuring fibrosis, this role is now increasingly taken over by metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In MASLD, endothelial dysfunction is an essential component in pathogenesis, promoting the development of liver fibrosis, but it is also present in endothelial cells of other organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys. Accordingly, liver fibrosis is a significant predictor of liver-related outcomes, as well as all-cause mortality, cardiovascular risk, and extrahepatic cancer. Physicians should be aware that individuals seeking medical attention for reasons unrelated to liver health may also have advanced fibrosis. Early identification of these at-risk individuals can lead to a more comprehensive assessment and the use of various treatment options, both approved and investigational, to slow or reverse the progression of liver fibrosis.

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Nanotherapeutics

Kumar,

Dhiman,

Narayan

et al. 2025

Advances in Medical Diagnosis, Treatment, and Care

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The human gut microbiome played a major key role towards contributing essential functions to its host of an ecosystem. It refers to the entire community of microorganisms that colonize in specific locations including other microbes such as fungi, archaea, viruses, protozoans, and bacteria. The scientific community well understood that healthy gut flora is majorly responsible for the overall human health of the host. This chapter aims to explore the innovative application of nanotherapeutics in addressing two critical health challenges- gut microbiome dysbiosis and cancer apoptosis. By leveraging nanotechnology, we delve into targeted drug delivery systems that can selectively restore microbial balance in the gut and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Through a comprehensive review of current research and advancements, this chapter will highlight the potential of nanotherapeutics in revolutionizing treatment strategies for complex diseases at the intersection of microbiology and oncology.

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Understanding gut dysbiosis for hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis and treatment

Cited by 3 publications

References 92 publications

Intratumoral microbiota: an emerging force in diagnosing and treating hepatocellular carcinoma

Intratumoral microbiota: an emerging force in diagnosing and treating hepatocellular carcinoma

Liver fibrosis as a barometer of systemic health by gauging the risk of extrahepatic disease

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