ArticleBritish journal of cancer2025
New mechanistic understanding of FXR agonist Vonafexor: inducing sublethal damage of HBV-positive liver cancer cells via promoting anti-tumor immunity.
Article in British journal of cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Mechanism of FXR signaling: from liver inflammation to hepatocellular carcinoma.Biochemistry and biophysics reports · 2026Review
- Short-chain Fatty Acids and Bile Acids Signaling in Chronic Hepatitis B.Journal of clinical and translational hepatology · 2026Review
- Research Progress on the Mechanism and Targeted Intervention of G Protein-Coupled Bile Acid Receptor 1 (GPBAR1)-Mediated "Inflammation-Apoptosis-Metabolism-Microcirculation" Regulatory Network in Hepatitis B-Associated Liver Failure.Drug design, development and therapy · 2026Review
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients, there's an increase in exhausted T and NK cells, as well as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in liver, suggesting that boosting immune responses is beneficial. While Vonafexor inhibits HBV transcriptional activity, its effects on the immune microenvironment of HBV-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the mechanisms of immune clearance of these infected cells are not well understood.
methodsIn this study, tumor tissues from HBV-positive HCC patients were orthotopically transplanted into the livers of Hu-SRC mice to replicate the tumor microenvironment of the patients. Immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, immunoblotting, and RT-qPCR were used to investigate the mechanism by which Vonafexor promoted sublethal damage of virus-positive HCC cells.
resultsWe found that the therapeutic efficacy of Vonafexor in inducing sublethal damage of HBV-positive HCC cells was attributed to its ability to inhibit CD36-mediated free fatty acid intake and enhance GZMB expression in T and NK cells. This effect was mediated through the downregulation of hepatitis B e antigen, which inhibited mitochondrial ROS, thereby augmenting their cytotoxicity via cGAS-STING-NF-κB signaling. Additionally, Vonafexor blocked c-Rel nuclear entry in MDSCs, reducing their infiltration.
conclusionsOur study indicated that Vonafexor showed potential as an immunotherapy for HBV-positive HCC.
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