Mark A Feitelson
Temple University, USA
Title: Symbiotic bacteria provide chemoprevention against hepatitis B virus mediated hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis B x transgenic mice
Biography
Biography: Mark A Feitelson
Abstract
Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is associated with the development of progression of chronic liver disease (CLD) and the appearance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC is a prevalent cancer worldwide with few treatment options. Given that HCC develops most often on the background of chronic inflammation, experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that selected probiotic bacteria that suppress inflammation could be used as a simple and inexpensive means to prevent or delay the appearance of HCC. To test this, hepatitis B x (HBx) transgenic mice, which develop progressive liver lesions that culminate in HCC, were treated with a mixture of probiotic bacteria (Synbiotic 2000). The result showed a significant reduction in the number and size of dysplastic and HCC nodules compared to control transgenic mice. Microarray analysis of selected immune and cancer associated markers showed a strong reduced expression in the liver of mice treated with Synbiotic 2000 compared to controls. Thus, Synbiotic 2000 attenuates the pathogenesis of HCC, and may be useful in cancer chemoprevention, not only for HCC, but perhaps against other cancers that often develop on the background of chronic inflammation.