Mission and
　Objective

Research
　Themes

Members

Cultivating
　Independent
　Researchers and
　Future Perspective

Selected Recent
　Publictions

Research Themes

There are two major research themes:

1. New treatment strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma
2. Therapeutic-driven biomedical research

Recent Progress

1. We have identified novel viral mutations on chronic hepatitis B patients treated with Lamivudine of interferon. The mutations are responsible for an altered form of surface antigen (HBsAg), which cannot be identified by current technology. This new finding reveals the fact that, when suppressed by medication such as Lamivudine or interferon, HBV will initiate mutations which lead toward either the drug resistance capability or vaccine-escape like mutants, generating new strains of viruses. (published in Gastroenterology 2007; another manuscript in preparation)
2. By use of post operated HCC tissues, we have studied the correlation between tissue viral factors and postoperative prognosis. The amount of HBV-DNA in liver tissue and the presence of the basal core promoter mutation were two independent predictors for postoperative survival in HCC. A short stretch pre-S deletion located between codons 107 and 141 was strongly associated with a poorer postoperative prognosis. (published in Hepatology 2010)
3. Following the logic of validating molecular markers using postoperative clinical platforms, Dr Hsieh SY and Dr Lin KH have identified important prognostic molecules in hepatocellular carcinomas. (Published in Oncogene 2010 and Hepatology 2011)