Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40405038›Full record

ArticleProbiotics and antimicrobial proteins2026

Probiotics Mixture, Prohep: a Potential Adjuvant for Low-Dose Sorafenib in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma Suppression Through Modulating Gut Microbiota.

Fangfei Zhang, Emily Kwun Kwan Lo, Congjia Chen, Jetty Chung-Yung Lee, Felicianna, Marsena Jasiel Ismaiah, Hoi Kit Matthew Leung, Dorothy Hin Lam Tsang, Hani El-Nezami

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Fangfei ZhangSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong S. A. R., China.
Emily Kwun Kwan LoSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong S. A. R., China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9258-0716
Congjia ChenSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong S. A. R., China.
Jetty Chung-Yung LeeSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong S. A. R., China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8175-7069
FeliciannaSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong S. A. R., China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1252-5667
Marsena Jasiel IsmaiahSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong S. A. R., China.
Hoi Kit Matthew LeungSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong S. A. R., China.
Dorothy Hin Lam TsangSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong S. A. R., China.
Hani El-NezamiSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong S. A. R., China. hani.el-nezami@uef.fi.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Targeting gut microbiota is an innovative approach to mitigate the development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (MASLD-HCC). This study aims to investigate the effects of Prohep, a probiotic mixture, both as a prophylactic measure and as an adjuvant therapy for low-dose sorafenib. A MASLD-HCC mice model was established by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) injection with feeding of a high-fat high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet. Gut microbiome profiles were later identified through shotgun sequencing. Our findings demonstrated that Prohep supplementation effectively suppressed MASLD-HCC development in mice. This protective effect was attributed to the modulation of gut microbiota and the increased production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), propionate, and valerate. Prohep also activated AMPK, which decreased lipogenesis, reduced lipid uptake, and enhanced antioxidant enzyme expressions. Additionally, the cancer proliferation pathway PI3K/mTOR was inhibited in response to Prohep treatment. As an adjuvant therapy, Prohep improved the efficacy of low-dose sorafenib, as indicated by reduced tumor counts, alleviated inflammation, and increased hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression. The combination led to enhanced butyrate production, contributing to the overall therapeutic effects, thanks to the gut microbiota modulatory effects of Prohep. These results underscore Prohep's anti-tumorigenic properties and its potential to enhance the therapeutic outcomes of low-dose sorafenib in MASLD-HCC treatment. The study highlights the importance of gut microbiota modulation for developing effective neoadjuvant therapies and long-term management strategies for MASLD-HCC.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularFatty LiverGastrointestinal MicrobiomeLiver NeoplasmsProbioticsSorafenibAnimalsHumansMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLSorafenibAdjuvant therapyMSALD-HCCProbioticsSorafenib

Identifiers

PMID40405038
PMCPMC12999603

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.