Hepatoblastoma

Abstract

Hepatoblastoma is the most common liver cancer in children aged 3 years and younger. The differential diagnosis of this neoplasm is crucial for the proper management. Recent additions to protocols of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology and Children' s Oncology Group have been key in tackling this oncological disease. This chapter provides an overview of the etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, incidence, symptoms, and therapeutic considerations of hepatoblastoma. The diagnostic measures necessary from a surgical point of view and the essential operational and technical considerations for the various stages of hepatoblastoma are discussed.

miR-126 in Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Hepatoblastoma Cells Promotes the Tumorigenesis of Hepatoblastoma through Inducing the Differentiation of BMSCs into Cancer Stem Cells

“…Moreover, patients suffering the treatments (chemotherapy and surgery) can suffer constant side effects which results from immunosuppression and chemotherapy [35]. The relatively poor prognosis for patients with hepatoblastoma is due to the limited effective means of early diagnosis [36]. Presently, this disease was diagnosed majorly based on imaging, clinical symptoms, and alpha-fetoprotein expressions [37].…”

Surgical Pathology Diagnostic Pitfalls of Hepatoblastoma

“…The gold standard of diagnosis remains histological examination of the tumor mass, supported by clinical, biochemical and radiological assessment. 1,[19][20][21] As preoperative chemotherapy is increasingly becoming the standard of care, core needle biopsy and fine-needle aspiration are often utilized in the first instance, to provide tissue for paraffin preparation and immunohistochemistry. 5,13 Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is rarely utilized in the diagnostic approach to liver lesions.…”

“…In addition, germline and somatic mutations compound developmental factors, such as low birth weight and prematurity, to influence HB induction and growth. 1,6,8,26,27 Mutations implicated in the development of HB often involve the Wnt signaling pathway, more specifically, relating to the beta-catenin protein, a transcriptional cofactor. 10,11,28 Wnt signaling is intrinsic to embryonic development, promoting organized cellular proliferation and differentiation.…”

“…2 Various explanations have been proposed: cases may be revealed by screening young children with the genetic propensity to develop HB, using abdominal ultrasound and alpha feto-protein (AFP) serology; 3,4 another likely contributor is the tremendous advance in neonatal medicine, improving the survival of infants who bear dual risk factors for HB development, prematurity and very low birth weight of <1500g. 1 A tumor of embryonal origin, HB, recapitulates the hepatic development of fetal life. 5 Its striking heterogeneity can be explained by its origin, arising from the aberrant division of both primary hepatoblasts and human fetal liver multipotent progenitor cells.…”

Emerging Role and Mechanism of circRNAs in Pediatric Malignant Solid Tumors

“…Hepatoblastoma (HB) is an embryonal malignancy originating in the liver and is the most common malignant solid tumor of the liver in childhood ( Kalish et al, 2017 ; Munoz et al, 2019 ; Hager and Sergi, 2021 ). The incidence of HB has been on the rise in recent years, with a yearly increase of about 4%, and its growth rate far exceeds that of other childhood malignancies, making it one of the major malignancies endangering pediatric health ( Calvisi and Solinas, 2020 ; Prochownik, 2021 ).…”