Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42113442›Full record

ArticleDiscover oncology2026

Plasma interleukin-8 as a predictive biomarker for tyrosine kinase inhibitor response in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Sujin Kim, Hye Ri Ahn, Hui Gyeong Kim, Dooyeon Kim, Ji Eun Han, Soon Sun Kim, Jae Youn Cheong, Jung Woo Eun, Hyo Jung Cho

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Discover oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Sujin Kim *Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
Hye Ri Ahn *Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
Hui Gyeong KimDepartment of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
Dooyeon KimDepartment of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
Ji Eun HanDepartment of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
Soon Sun KimDepartment of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
Jae Youn CheongDepartment of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
Jung Woo EunDepartment of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea. jetaimebin@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2461-6702
Hyo Jung ChoDepartment of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea. pilgrim8107@hanmail.net.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4792-8335

Funding

Korea Health Industry Development Institute HR22C1734National Research Foundation of Korea RS-2022-NR070489National Research Foundation of Korea RS-2024-00339997
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant primary liver cancer and third leading cause of cancer-related death. Despite improvements in overall survival (OS), those in HCC-specific survival rates remain modest. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are crucial first-line HCC treatments when immune checkpoint inhibitors are unsuitable. To identify plasma biomarkers predicting the therapeutic response to TKIs in patients with HCC.

methodsPre-treatment plasma samples from 60 patients with advanced HCC treated with sorafenib or lenvatinib were analyzed using targeted proteomics. Differentially expressed proteins were identified based on the treatment response (P < 0.05).

resultsPlasma levels of metalloproteinase 12 and vascular endothelial growth factor A were elevated in patients with progressive disease compared with those with partial response or stable disease, correlating with shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and OS. Among patients with PFS ≥ 12 months, C-C motif chemokine ligand 20, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 5, fibroblast growth factor 2, interleukin (IL)-7, IL-8, IL-18, latency-associated peptide transforming growth factor beta 1, and mucin 16 expressions were significantly upregulated, with IL-8 (CXCL8) levels demonstrating the highest predictive accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic = 0.91) and prognostic power for PFS (hazard ratio; HR = 2.97, P = 0.0015) and OS (HR = 3.64, P = 0.001). CXCL8 expression was predominantly localized in tumor-associated myeloid cells and enriched in epithelial-mesenchymal transition- and immune modulation-related pathways, highlighting its importance in the tumor microenvironment.

conclusionsElevated plasma IL-8 levels are strongly associated with poor outcomes in patients with advanced HCC undergoing TKI treatment, suggesting a potential role for IL-8 in guiding TKI therapeutic decisions and identifying high-risk patients.

Indexed as

BiomarkersHepatocellular carcinomaInterleukin-8Olink proteomicsPlasmaTyrosine kinase inhibitors

Identifiers

PMID42113442
PMCPMC13332102

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