p28GANK overexpression accelerates hepatocellular carcinoma invasiveness and metastasis via phosphoinositol 3-kinase/AKT/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α pathways

Signal pathways associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition in metastasis of primary hepatocelluar carcinoma

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a phenomenon in which epithelial cells lose their epithelial characters and acquire mesenchymal characters. EMT can be seen in embryogenesis, organ fibrosis and tumor metastasis. EMT can be observed in metastasis of primary hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC). This review focuses on several signal pathways associated with EMT, such as TGF-β, Wnt (wingless-type)/β-catenin, and Hedgehog signal pathways. Other factors involved in EMTs, such as NF-κB, Notch, miRNA, CHD1L, ARHGEF9, HBX, and extracellular matrix are also discussed in this article. A better understanding of the mechanism of EMT can help us find new targets for HCC treatment.

Hypoxia and hypoxia inducible factors: diverse roles in liver diseases

Hypoxia has been shown to have a role in the pathogenesis of several forms of liver disease. The hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) are a family of evolutionarily conserved transcriptional regulators that affect a homeostatic response to low oxygen tension and have been identified as key mediators of angiogenesis, inflammation, and metabolism. In this review we summarize the evidence for a role of HIFs across a range of hepatic pathophysiology. We describe regulation of the HIFs and review investigations that demonstrate a role for HIFs in the development of liver fibrosis, activation of innate immune pathways, hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as other liver diseases in both human disease as well as murine models.

Hypoxia and hypoxia inducible factors: diverse roles in liver diseases

Hypoxia has been shown to have a role in the pathogenesis of several forms of liver disease. The hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) are a family of evolutionarily conserved transcriptional regulators that affect a homeostatic response to low oxygen tension and have been identified as key mediators of angiogenesis, inflammation, and metabolism. In this review we summarize the evidence for a role of HIFs across a range of hepatic pathophysiology. We describe regulation of the HIFs and review investigations that demonstrate a role for HIFs in the development of liver fibrosis, activation of innate immune pathways, hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as other liver diseases in both human disease as well as murine models.

Therapeutic and prognostic importance of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in liver cancers: insights from experimental models

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatic metastases of colon cancers are malignant conditions of the liver that cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Experimental models suggest that both conditions are characterized by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Whilst ongoing research efforts aim to definitively clarify its role in human cancer patients, data from experimental models have unraveled a number of potential therapeutic targets as well as markers of prognostic importance. This area of research is generating intense interest amongst both basic scientists and clinicians. Some questions have been answered, but many important issues remain unresolved. We expect that in the near future, studies of human tissues can definitively clarify the role of EMT in the development and progression of human malignant diseases of the liver and that further studies can be carried out to determine how best to target aspects of the process for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic metastases of colon cancers.

IL-17 induces AKT-dependent IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 activation and tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The Th17 subset and IL-17 have been found in increased frequencies within certain tumors. However, their relevance in cancer biology remains controversial. This study aimed to clarify the biological action of IL-17 on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of IL-17 on human HCC were explored in vitro using exogenous IL-17 stimulation and in nude mice by implanting IL-17 overexpressed HCC cells. The clinical significance of IL-17 was investigated in tissue microarrays containing HCC tissues from 323 patients following hepatectomy using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Although exogenous IL-17 showed no direct effect on the growth rate of HCC cells in vitro, PCR and ELISA showed that IL-17 selectively augmented the secretion of diverse proinvasive factors and transwell showed a direct promotion of invasion of HCC cells by IL-17. Furthermore, transfection of IL-17 into HCC cells significantly promoted neoangiogenesis, neutrophil recruitment and tumor growth in vivo. Using siRNA mediated knockdown of AKT and STAT3, we suggested that the effects of IL-17 were operated through activation of the AKT signaling in HCC, which resulted in IL-6 production. Then, IL-6 in turn activated JAK2/STAT3 signaling and subsequently up-regulated its downstream targets IL-8, MMP2, and VEGF. Supporting these findings, in human HCC tissues, immunostaining indicated that IL-17 expression was significantly and positively associated with STAT3 phosphorylation, neutrophil infiltration and increased tumor vascularity. The clinical significance of IL-17 was authenticated by revealing that the combination of intratumoral IL-17+ cells and phospho-STAT3 served as a better prognosticator for postoperative tumor recurrence than either marker alone.

CONCLUSIONS

IL-17 mediated tumor-promoting role involves a direct effect on HCC cells through IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 induction by activating the AKT pathway.

Identification of transaldolase as a novel serum biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis using xenografted mouse model and clinic samples

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of serious disorders with the highest morbidities and mortalities worldwide. Metastasis is the major concern that causes death in HCC. The goal of this study was to screen and identify potential serum proteins indicating HCC metastasis. Serum samples collected from control and HCCLM3-R metastatic HCC tumor model at specific stages of metastasis (1 wk, 3 wks and 6 wks) were subjected to iTRAQ labeling followed by 2DLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. A total of 554 proteins were identified and 80 proteins were differential expressed at least between one adjacent time points. Among them, expression level of transaldolase (TALDO) was validated in mouse and human serum. The level of TALDO protein was found to be higher in metastatic mice serum compared to that of non-metastatic mice. Human specific TALDO was then identified in mouse serum through human specific peptides. Immunohistochemical and western blot analysis showed that the expression of TALDO in human HCC tissues and HCC cell lines was associated with its metastatic behavior. Subsequent screening of TALDO expression in 72 clinical serum samples (comprising 36 non-metastatic HCC and 36 metastatic HCC samples) revealed higher TALDO level in the serum of metastatic HCC patients. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve estimated a maximal sensitivity of 77.8% and 86.1% specificity for TALDO in detection of HCC metastasis. The present results demonstrated that the nude mouse xenograft model is an efficient system for performing metastasis-related biomarker discovery. TALDO may be useful biomarkers for the detection of HCC metastasis.

Gankyrin-mediated dedifferentiation facilitates the tumorigenicity of rat hepatocytes and hepatoma cells

Gankyrin is a critical oncoprotein overexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanism underlying gankyrin-mediated hepatocarcinogenesis remains elusive. Herein, we provide evidence that gankyrin expression was progressively elevated in liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and HCC. Levels of gankyrin expression were closely associated with the dedifferentiation status of hepatoma in patients. Decrease of hepatocyte characteristic markers and increase of cholangiocyte-specific markers were observed in rat primary hepatocytes with enforced gankyrin expression and diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-triggered rat hepatocarcinogenesis. Overexpression of gankyrin also attenuated the hepatic function of primary hepatocytes, which further suggests that gankyrin promotes the dedifferentiation of hepatocytes. Moreover, elevated expression of gankyrin closely correlated with the expression of HCC stem/progenitor cell markers in DEN-triggered hepatocarcinogenesis and human HCCs. Hepatoma cells derived from suspension-cultured spheroids exhibited a higher gankyrin level, and enforced gankyrin expression in hepatoma cells remarkably enhanced cluster of differentiation (CD)133, CD90, and epithelial cellular adhesion molecule expression, indicating a role of gankyrin in hepatoma cell dedifferentiation and the generation of hepatoma stem/progenitor cells. In contrast, down-regulation of gankyrin in hepatoma cells by lentivirus-mediated microRNA delivery significantly improved their differentiation status and attenuated malignancy. Interference of gankyrin expression in hepatoma cells also diminished the proportion of cancer stem/progenitor cells and their self-renewal capacity. Furthermore, gankyrin was found to bind hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α), which determines hepatocyte differentiation status and enhances proteasome-dependent HNF4α degradation in hepatoma cells. The inverse correlation of gankyrin and HNF4α was further confirmed in primary hepatocytes, DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, and human HCCs.

CONCLUSION

Gankyrin-mediated dedifferentiation of hepatocytes and hepatoma cells via, at least partially, down-regulation of HNF4α facilitates HCC development, and interference of gankyrin expression could be a novel strategy for HCC prevention and differentiation therapy.

New phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors for cancer

INTRODUCTION

Cancer treatment is moving away from conventional cytotoxic drugs and towards agents that target specific proteins important to cancer development or survival. The PI3K signaling axis is an important pathway involved in myriad human malignancies. Inhibition of this axis is a promising therapeutic approach for several cancers.

AREAS COVERED

This article reviews current literature and recent conference proceedings to analyze the rationale for targeting PI3K and its downstream effectors in cancer. Preclinical and clinical results of several PI3K and PI3K--mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors in early clinical trials, as single agents and in combination with other drugs, are discussed. Thus far, clinical results have been mixed.

EXPERT OPINION

The clinical utility of PI3K and PI3K--mTOR inhibitors will depend on appropriate selection of patients. Mutations in the PI3K pathway may predict sensitivity to PI3K inhibition but they are not reliable biomarkers at this point. Efforts to define predictive biomarkers will probably be the key to finding therapeutic uses for this novel class of anticancer agents.

Overexpression of gankyrin induces liver steatosis in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Gankyrin is a small ankyrin-repeat protein that previous research has confirmed to be overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although relevant literature has reported on gankyrin functions in cellular proliferation and tumorigenesis, the exact role of gankyrin is poorly understood in animal model systems. This study analyzed hepatic lipid accumulation in gankyrin transgenic (GK) zebrafish. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive cells were predominantly increased in the liver bud of GK larvae, indicating that gankyrin functionally promoted cell proliferation at the larval stage in GK fish. However, over 90% of the viable GK adults showed an increased lipid content, leading in turn to liver steatosis. Liver histology and oil red O staining also indicated the accumulation of fatty droplets in GK fish, consistent with the specific pathological features of severe steatosis. Molecular analysis revealed that gankyrin overexpression induced hepatic steatosis and modulated the expression profiles of four hepatic microRNAs, miR-16, miR-27b, miR-122, and miR-126, and 22 genes involved in lipid metabolism. Moreover, significantly increased hepatic cell apoptosis resulted in liver damage in GK adults, leading to liver failure and death after approximately 10months. This study is the first to report gankyrin as a potential link between microRNAs and liver steatosis in zebrafish.