PhD defence Hester Kinga van Mourik

Keywords: Liver cancer, Biomarker, Therapy, Cathepsin

"Unlocking the Lysosome: The Role of Cathepsins in Hepatocellular Carcinoma"

Liver cancer is a serious disease, with only ±20% of patients still alive five years after diagnosis. This poor survival is partly because liver cancer is often discovered at a late stage, when curative treatment is no longer possible. Treatments for advanced liver cancer can slow the disease, but their effect remains limited. 

This thesis investigated cathepsins as potential new markers for liver cancer and targets for treatment. Cathepsins normally work inside cells, where they help break down cellular material. In liver cancer, however, increased amounts of cathepsins can be released outside the cells and can enter the bloodstream, where they can contribute to cancer growth.

This research showed that higher levels of several blood cathepsins were linked to an increased risk of developing liver cancer and were also higher in liver cancer patients. Furthermore, specifically blocking cathepsins outside the cell reduced tumour growth in experimental models, while causing fewer harmful effects. 

Together, these findings highlight cathepsins outside the cell as promising candidates for the future detection of liver cancer and as potential treatment targets.

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