101
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Kadi D, Yamamoto MF, Lerner EC, Jiang H, Fowler KJ, Bashir MR. Imaging prognostication and tumor biology in hepatocellular carcinoma. JOURNAL OF LIVER CANCER 2023; 23:284-299. [PMID: 37710379 PMCID: PMC10565542 DOI: 10.17998/jlc.2023.08.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy, and represents a significant global health burden with rising incidence rates, despite a more thorough understanding of the etiology and biology of HCC, as well as advancements in diagnosis and treatment modalities. According to emerging evidence, imaging features related to tumor aggressiveness can offer relevant prognostic information, hence validation of imaging prognostic features may allow for better noninvasive outcomes prediction and inform the selection of tailored therapies, ultimately improving survival outcomes for patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Kadi
- Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Marilyn F. Yamamoto
- Department of Radiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Emily C. Lerner
- Department of Radiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Hanyu Jiang
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kathryn J. Fowler
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mustafa R. Bashir
- Department of Radiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Advanced Magnetic Resonance Development, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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102
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Lominadze Z, Shaik MR, Choi D, Zaffar D, Mishra L, Shetty K. Hepatocellular Carcinoma Genetic Classification. Cancer J 2023; 29:249-258. [PMID: 37796642 PMCID: PMC10686192 DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a significant global burden, with management complicated by its heterogeneity, varying presentation, and relative resistance to therapy. Recent advances in the understanding of the genetic, molecular, and immunological underpinnings of HCC have allowed a detailed classification of these tumors, with resultant implications for diagnosis, prognostication, and selection of appropriate treatments. Through the correlation of genomic features with histopathology and clinical outcomes, we are moving toward a comprehensive and unifying framework to guide our diagnostic and therapeutic approach to HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zurabi Lominadze
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine
| | | | - Dabin Choi
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center
| | - Duha Zaffar
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland Midtown Medical Center
| | - Lopa Mishra
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory; Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwell Health
| | - Kirti Shetty
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine
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103
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Coffin P, He A. Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Past and Present Challenges and Progress in Molecular Classification and Precision Oncology. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13274. [PMID: 37686079 PMCID: PMC10487618 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common solid tumor malignancies in the world and represents roughly 90% of all primary malignancies of the liver. The most common risk factors for HCC include hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, alcohol, and increasingly, fatty liver. Most HCC is diagnosed at advanced stages, excluding the possibility of curative resection, which leaves systemic therapy as the only treatment option. However, given the extreme mutational diversity and heterogenous nature of HCC, efforts to develop new targeted systemic therapies were largely unsuccessful until recently. HCC pathogenesis is thought to be a multistage process driven by a wide array of nonmutually exclusive driver mutations accompanied by many passenger mutations, with the average tumor possessing approximately 40 genomic aberrations. Over the past two decades, several efforts to categorize HCC prognostically and therapeutically according to different molecular subclassifications with the intent to guide treatment and identify drug targets have emerged, though, no single consensus has been reached. Recent breakthroughs in drug development have greatly expanded treatment options, but the ideal of uniting each patient's unique HCC with a targeted systemic therapy remains elusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Coffin
- MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Lombardi Cancer Center, 3800 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA;
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104
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Zhang X, Pan C, Wei X, Yu M, Liu S, An J, Yang J, Wei B, Hao W, Yao Y, Zhu Y, Zhang W. Cancer-keeper genes as therapeutic targets. iScience 2023; 26:107296. [PMID: 37520717 PMCID: PMC10382876 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Finding cancer-driver genes has been a central theme of cancer research. We took a different perspective; instead of considering normal cells, we focused on cancerous cells and genes that maintained abnormal cell growth, which we named cancer-keeper genes (CKGs). Intervening CKGs may rectify aberrant cell growth, making them potential cancer therapeutic targets. We introduced control-hub genes and developed an efficient algorithm by extending network controllability theory. Control hub are essential for maintaining cancerous states and thus can be taken as CKGs. We applied our CKG-based approach to bladder cancer (BLCA). All genes on the cell-cycle and p53 pathways in BLCA were identified as CKGs, showing their importance in cancer. We discovered that sensitive CKGs - genes easily altered by structural perturbation - were particularly suitable therapeutic targets. Experiments on cell lines and a mouse model confirmed that six sensitive CKGs effectively suppressed cancer cell growth, demonstrating the immense therapeutic potential of CKGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xizhe Zhang
- Early Intervention Unit, Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunyu Pan
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xinru Wei
- Early Intervention Unit, Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Meng Yu
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- Key Laboratory of Transgenetic Animal Research, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Shuangjie Liu
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jun An
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jieping Yang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Baojun Wei
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Wenjun Hao
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yang Yao
- Department of Physiology, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuyan Zhu
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Weixiong Zhang
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Department of Computing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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105
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Liu Y, Zhang H, Xu Y, Liu YZ, Al-Adra DP, Yeh MM, Zhang Z. Five Critical Gene-Based Biomarkers With Optimal Performance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancer Inform 2023; 22:11769351231190477. [PMID: 37577174 PMCID: PMC10413891 DOI: 10.1177/11769351231190477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most fatal cancers in the world. There is an urgent need to understand the molecular background of HCC to facilitate the identification of biomarkers and discover effective therapeutic targets. Published transcriptomic studies have reported a large number of genes that are individually significant for HCC. However, reliable biomarkers remain to be determined. In this study, built on max-linear competing risk factor models, we developed a machine learning analytical framework to analyze transcriptomic data to identify the most miniature set of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). By analyzing 9 public whole-transcriptome datasets (containing 1184 HCC samples and 672 nontumor controls), we identified 5 critical differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (ie, CCDC107, CXCL12, GIGYF1, GMNN, and IFFO1) between HCC and control samples. The classifiers built on these 5 DEGs reached nearly perfect performance in identification of HCC. The performance of the 5 DEGs was further validated in a US Caucasian cohort that we collected (containing 17 HCC with paired nontumor tissue). The conceptual advance of our work lies in modeling gene-gene interactions and correcting batch effect in the analytic framework. The classifiers built on the 5 DEGs demonstrated clear signature patterns for HCC. The results are interpretable, robust, and reproducible across diverse cohorts/populations with various disease etiologies, indicating the 5 DEGs are intrinsic variables that can describe the overall features of HCC at the genomic level. The analytical framework applied in this study may pave a new way for improving transcriptome profiling analysis of human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjun Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Heping Zhang
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yuqing Xu
- Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Yao-Zhong Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - David P Al-Adra
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Matthew M Yeh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Zhengjun Zhang
- Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
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106
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Kumar S, Nadda N, Quadri A, Kumar R, Paul S, Tanwar P, Gamanagatti S, Dash NR, Saraya A, Shalimar, Nayak B. Assessments of TP53 and CTNNB1 gene hotspot mutations in circulating tumour DNA of hepatitis B virus-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Genet 2023; 14:1235260. [PMID: 37593116 PMCID: PMC10429180 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1235260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major causes of chronic liver disease, which progresses from chronic hepatitis B (CHB) to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Early detection and laboratory-based screening of hepatocellular carcinoma are still major challenges. This study was undertaken to determine whether the cancer hallmark gene signatures that are released into circulation as circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) can be used as a liquid biopsy marker for screening, early detection, and prognosis of HCC. Methods: A total of 130 subjects, including HBV-HCC (n = 80), HBV-cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic (n = 35), and healthy (n = 15) controls, were evaluated for TP53 and beta-catenin (CTNNB1) gene hotspot mutations in ctDNA by Sanger-based cycle sequencing and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assays. Mutation detection frequency, percentage mutant fractions, and their association with tumour stage, mortality, and smoking habits were determined. Results: Sanger-based cycle sequencing was carried out for 32 HCC patients. Predict SNP Tools analysis indicated several pathogenic driver mutations in the ctDNA sequence, which include p.D228N, p.C229R, p.H233R, p.Y234D, p.S240T, p.G245S, and p.R249M for TP53 gene exon 7 and p.S33T for CTNNB1 gene exon 3. The TP53 c.746G>T (p.R249M) mutation was detected predominately (25% cases) by sequencing, but there was no dominant mutation at position c.747G>T (p.R249S) that was reported for HBV-HCC patients. A dual-probe ddPCR assay was developed to determine mutant and wild-type copy numbers of TP53 (p.R249M and p.R249S) and CTNNB1 (p.S45P) and their percentage mutant fraction in all 130 subjects. The TP53 R249M and CTNNB1 S45P mutations were detected in 31.25% and 26.25% of HCC patients, respectively, with a high mutant-to-wild-type fraction percentage (1.81% and 1.73%), which is significant as compared to cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients. Poor survival was observed in HCC patients with combined TP53 and CTNNB1 gene driver mutations. The TP53 R249M mutation was also significantly (p < 0.0001) associated with smoking habits (OR, 11.77; 95% CI, 3.219-36.20), but not the same for the TP53 R249S mutation. Conclusion: Screening of ctDNA TP53 and CTNNB1 gene mutations by ddPCR may be helpful for early detection and identifying the risk of HCC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonu Kumar
- Department of Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Neeti Nadda
- Department of Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Afnan Quadri
- Department of Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Rahul Kumar
- Laboratory Oncology Unit (BRA-IRCH), All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Shashi Paul
- Radiodiagnosis, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Pranay Tanwar
- Laboratory Oncology Unit (BRA-IRCH), All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Nihar Ranjan Dash
- Gastrointestinal Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Anoop Saraya
- Department of Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Shalimar
- Department of Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Baibaswata Nayak
- Department of Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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107
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Zheng C, Zhang B, Li Y, Liu K, Wei W, Liang S, Guo H, Ma K, Liu Y, Wang J, Liu L. Donafenib and GSK-J4 Synergistically Induce Ferroptosis in Liver Cancer by Upregulating HMOX1 Expression. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2206798. [PMID: 37330650 PMCID: PMC10401117 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202206798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide. Donafenib is a multi-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of patients with advanced HCC, but its clinical effect is very limited. Here, through integrated screening of a small-molecule inhibitor library and a druggable CRISPR library, that GSK-J4 is synthetically lethal with donafenib in liver cancer is shown. This synergistic lethality is validated in multiple HCC models, including xenograft, orthotopically induced HCC, patient-derived xenograft, and organoid models. Furthermore, co-treatment with donafenib and GSK-J4 resulted in cell death mainly via ferroptosis. Mechanistically, through integrated RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) analyses, that donafenib and GSK-J4 synergistically promoted the expression of HMOX1 and increased the intracellular Fe2+ level is found, eventually leading to ferroptosis. Additionally, through cleavage under targets & tagmentation followed by sequencing (CUT&Tag-seq), it is found that the enhancer regions upstream of HMOX1 promoter significantly increased under donafenib and GSK-J4 co-treatment. A chromosome conformation capture assay confirmed that the increased expression of HMOX1 is caused by the significantly enhanced interaction between the promoter and upstream enhancer under dual-drug combination. Taken together, this study elucidates a new synergistic lethal interaction in liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyang Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230001China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary SurgeryHefeiAnhui230001China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary DiseasesHefeiAnhui230001China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary SurgeryHefeiAnhui230001China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary DiseasesHefeiAnhui230001China
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230001China
| | - Yunyun Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230001China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary SurgeryHefeiAnhui230001China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary DiseasesHefeiAnhui230001China
| | - Kejia Liu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the MicroscaleDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineCAS Centre for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230001China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230001China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary SurgeryHefeiAnhui230001China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary DiseasesHefeiAnhui230001China
| | - Shuhang Liang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary SurgeryHefeiAnhui230001China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary DiseasesHefeiAnhui230001China
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230001China
| | - Hongrui Guo
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230001China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary SurgeryHefeiAnhui230001China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary DiseasesHefeiAnhui230001China
| | - Kun Ma
- Department of Hepatic SurgeryKey Laboratory of Hepatosplenic SurgeryMinistry of EducationThe First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinHeilongjiang150007China
| | - Yao Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230001China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary SurgeryHefeiAnhui230001China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary DiseasesHefeiAnhui230001China
| | - Jiabei Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230001China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary SurgeryHefeiAnhui230001China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary DiseasesHefeiAnhui230001China
| | - Lianxin Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230001China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary SurgeryHefeiAnhui230001China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary DiseasesHefeiAnhui230001China
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108
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An J, Oh JH, Oh B, Oh YJ, Ju JS, Kim W, Kang HJ, Sung CO, Shim JH. Clinicogenomic characteristics and synthetic lethal implications of germline homologous recombination-deficient hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2023; 78:452-467. [PMID: 36177702 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS We performed an in-depth examination of pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) and somatic variants in DNA damage response (DDR) genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to explore their clinical and genomic impacts. APPROACH AND RESULTS We used a merged whole-exome or RNA sequencing data set derived from in-house ( n = 230) and The Cancer Genome Atlas ( n = 362) databases of multiethnic HCC samples. We also evaluated synthetic lethal approaches targeting mutations in homologous recombination (HR) genes using HCC cells selected from five genomic databases of cancer cell lines. A total of 110 PGVs in DDR pathways in 96 patients were selected. Of the PGV carriers, 44 were HR-altered and found to be independently associated with poorer disease-free survival after hepatectomy. The most frequently altered HR gene in both germline and somatic tissues was POLQ , and this variant was detected in 22.7% (10/44) and 23.8% (5/21) of all the corresponding carriers, respectively. PGVs in HR were significantly associated with upregulation of proliferation and replication-related genes and familial risk of HCC. Samples harboring PGVs in HR with loss of heterozygosity were most strongly correlated with the genomic footprints of deficient HR, such as mutation burden and denovoSig2 (analogous to Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer [COSMIC] 3), and poor outcome. Pharmacologic experiments with HCC cells defective in BRCA2 or POLQ suggested that tumors with this phenotype are synthetic lethal with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that germline HR defects in HCC tend to confer a poor prognosis and result in distinctive genomic scarring. Tests of the clinical benefits of HR-directed treatments in the affected patients are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihyun An
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology , Hanyang University College of Medicine , Guri , Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hye Oh
- Medical Science, Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Bora Oh
- Asan Institute for Life Science, Asan Medical Center , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Yoo-Jin Oh
- Asan Institute for Life Science, Asan Medical Center , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Sung Ju
- Asan Institute for Life Science, Asan Medical Center , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Wonkyung Kim
- Medical Science, Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo Jung Kang
- Pathology, Asan Medical Center , University of Ulsan College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea
- Asan Liver Center, Asan Medical Center , University of Ulsan College of Medicine , Seoul , South Korea
| | - Chang Ohk Sung
- Medical Science, Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea
- Pathology, Asan Medical Center , University of Ulsan College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea
- Center for Cancer Genome Discovery , Asan Institute for Life Science, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Hyun Shim
- Asan Liver Center, Asan Medical Center , University of Ulsan College of Medicine , Seoul , South Korea
- Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center , University of Ulsan College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea
- Digestive Diseases Research Center , University of Ulsan College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea
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109
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Lin D, Luo R, Ye Z, Wei Q, Bae H, Juon HS, Hann HW, Posey J, Wang C. Genomic characterization of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma patients with Hepatitis B using circulating tumor DNA. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2023; 47:102161. [PMID: 37307947 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2023.102161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of mortality, with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection as a dominant etiology worldwide. Effective early detection strategies may facilitate curative therapies and improve survival. We investigated genomic aberrations in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as potential diagnostic markers of HCC in HBV-infected patients. METHODS We identified early stage (BCLC 0-A) HCC cases (n = 21) and patients without HCC (n = 14) from a cohort of Asian patients with HBV, undergoing surveillance between 2013 and 2017. Circulating cell-free DNA was isolated from blood samples, and assayed by next-generation sequencing of 23 genes implicated in HCC pathogenesis. Somatic mutations were identified using a computational pipeline. Using area under the curve (AUC) in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, we evaluated gene alterations and clinical factors in an exploratory early HCC detection model. RESULTS Mutant ARID1A, CTNNB1, TP53 genes were increased in HCC cases vs. non-HCC patients (85.7% vs 42.9%, P = 0.011; 42.9% vs 0%, P = 0.005; 100% vs 71.4%, P = 0.019, respectively). Using these three genes, AUC for discriminating HCC from non-HCC patients was 0.844 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7317-0.9553). When combining these genes with clinical factors in an exploratory early HCC detection model, AUC increased from 0.7415 (using clinical factors alone) to 0.9354 (P = 0.041). CONCLUSION Genomic aberrations in ctDNA were more prevalent in HBV-infected HCC patients compared with patients without HCC. Combining these alterations with clinical factors may identify HCC in HBV-infected patients at an early stage. These findings warrant validation in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Rui Luo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zhong Ye
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Qiang Wei
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ho Bae
- Asia-Pacific Liver Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hee-Soon Juon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hie Won Hann
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Liver Disease Prevention Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - James Posey
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Chun Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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110
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Jin X, Zhao J, Li H, Zheng M, Shao J, Chen Z. Research trends and hot spots in global nanotechnology applications in liver cancer: a bibliometric and visual analysis (2000-2022). Front Oncol 2023; 13:1192597. [PMID: 37664074 PMCID: PMC10472833 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1192597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Liver cancer (LC) is one of the most common malignancies. Currently, nanotechnology has made great progress in LC research, and many studies on LC nanotechnology have been published. This study aims to discuss the current status, hot spots, and research trends in this field through bibliometric analysis. Methods The Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database was searched for papers related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) included from January 2000 to November 2022, and its research hotspots and trends were visualized and analyzed with the help of VOSviewer. In addition, a search was conducted to find LC papers related to nanotechnology. Then we used the visual analysis software VOSviewer and CiteSpace to evaluate the contributions of countries/regions, authors, and journals related to the topic and analyze keywords to understand the research priorities and hot spots in the field as well as the development direction. Results There are 1908 papers in the highly cited literature on LC, and its research hotspots are pathogenesis, risk factors, and survival rate. The literature on the application of nanotechnology in LC had 921 papers. Among them, China (n=560, 60.8%) and the United States (n=170, 18.5%) were the countries with the highest number of published papers. Wang Yan (n=11) and Llovet JM (n=131) were the first authors and co-cited authors, respectively. The International Journal of Nanomedicine was the most prolific academic journal (n=41). In addition to "hepatocellular carcinoma" and "nanoparticles", the most frequent keyword was "drug delivery". In recent years, "metastasis" and "diagnosis" appeared in the keyword bursts. This indicates that the application of nanoparticles in the early diagnosis and drug delivery of LC (including liver metastasis) has a good prospect. Conclusion Nanotechnology has received more and more attention in the medical field in recent years. As nanoparticles are easily localized in organelles and cells, they can increase drug permeability in tumor tissues, improve drug delivery efficiency and reduce drug toxicity. Our research results were the first scientific evaluation of the application of nanotechnology in LC, providing scholars with research hotspots and development trends.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Zhanguo Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
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111
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Xing H, Jiang X, Yang C, Tan B, Hu J, Zhang M. High expression of RPL27A predicts poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Surg Oncol 2023; 21:209. [PMID: 37474947 PMCID: PMC10360225 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-023-03102-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers in the digestive system with rapid progression and poor prognosis. Recent studies have shown that RPL27A could be used as a biomarker for a variety of cancers, but its role in HCC is not clear. METHOD We analyzed the expression of RPL27A in the pan-cancer analysis and analyzed the relationship between the expression of RPL27A and the clinical features and prognosis of patients with HCC. We evaluated the expression difference of RPL27A in HCC tissues and paired normal adjacent tissues using immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, we analyzed the co-expression genes of RPL27A and used them to explore the possible mechanism of RPL27A and screen hub genes effecting HCC. In addition, we studied the role of RPL27A in immune infiltration and mutation. RESULTS We found that the expression level of RPL27A increased in a variety of cancers, including HCC. In HCC patients, the high expression of RPL27A was related to progression and poor prognosis as an independent predictor. We also constructed a protein interaction network through co-expression gene analysis of RPL27A and screened 9 hub genes. Enrichment analysis showed that co-expression genes were associated with ribosome pathway, viral replication, nuclear-transcribed mRNA catabolic process, and nonsense-mediated decay. We found that the expression level of RPL27A was closely related to TP53 mutation and immune infiltration in HCC. CONCLUSION RPL27A might become a biomarker in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiwu Xing
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Xiangqi Jiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Chenyu Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Bingqian Tan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Jiqiang Hu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Mingman Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, 400010, China.
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Yang M, Zhang M, Wang Q, Guo X, Geng P, Gu J, Ji W, Zhang L. Six polymorphisms in the lncRNA H19 gene and the risk of cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:688. [PMID: 37480014 PMCID: PMC10362596 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11164-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous studies have demonstrated long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) play an important role in the occurrence and progression of cancer, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in lncRNA are considered to affect cancer suspensibility. Herein, a meta-analysis was carried out to better assess the relationship of H19 polymorphisms and cancer susceptibility. METHODS A literature search was conducted through using PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases to obtain relevant publications before Aug 23, 2022. The reference lists of the retrieved studies were also investigated to identify additional relevant articles. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to appraise the risk of various cancers. RESULTS There appeared to be a remarkable correlation between the rs2107425 variation and decreased cancer risk among Caucasians. Nevertheless, the rs217727 polymorphism was significantly associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Also, we found a significant correlation between the rs2839698 polymorphism and increased cancer risk among Asians, gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, hospital-based control and larger simple size subgroups, respectively. Similarly, the rs3741219 mutation was notably related to cancer risk in higher quality score. As for rs3024270 polymorphism, the homozygous model was markedly linked to cancer risk in overall analysis and population-based controls. There was no significant association between the rs3741216 polymorphism and cancer risk. CONCLUSION H19 rs2839698 and rs3024270 were closely associated with overall cancer risk. H19 rs2107425 was related to lower cancer risk among Caucasians, while the rs2839698 was related to increased cancer risk among Asians. Our results supported that H19 SNPs were significantly correlated with cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maoquan Yang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, No. 2428, Yuhe Road, Weifang, 261031, Shandong, China
| | - Mingwei Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Shandong University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Weifang NO.2 People s Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaojing Guo
- School of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Peizhen Geng
- School of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Jinhua Gu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Wansheng Ji
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, No. 2428, Yuhe Road, Weifang, 261031, Shandong, China.
- Experimental Center for Medical Research, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, No. 2428, Yuhe Road, Weifang, 261031, Shandong, China.
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Kotsari M, Dimopoulou V, Koskinas J, Armakolas A. Immune System and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC): New Insights into HCC Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11471. [PMID: 37511228 PMCID: PMC10380581 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
According to the WHO's recently released worldwide cancer data for 2020, liver cancer ranks sixth in morbidity and third in mortality among all malignancies. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common kind of liver cancer, accounts approximately for 80% of all primary liver malignancies and is one of the leading causes of death globally. The intractable tumor microenvironment plays an important role in the development and progression of HCC and is one of three major unresolved issues in clinical practice (cancer recurrence, fatal metastasis, and the refractory tumor microenvironment). Despite significant advances, improved molecular and cellular characterization of the tumor microenvironment is still required since it plays an important role in the genesis and progression of HCC. The purpose of this review is to present an overview of the HCC immune microenvironment, distinct cellular constituents, current therapies, and potential immunotherapy methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Kotsari
- Physiology Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Vassiliki Dimopoulou
- Physiology Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - John Koskinas
- B' Department of Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios Armakolas
- Physiology Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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Xu Y, Zhang X, Zhang R, Sun Y, Liu J, Luo C, Yang J, Fang W, Guo Q, Wei L. AFP deletion leads to anti-tumorigenic but pro-metastatic roles in liver cancers with concomitant CTNNB1 mutations. Cancer Lett 2023; 566:216240. [PMID: 37217071 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
HCC remains one of the most prevalent and deadliest cancers. Serum AFP level is a biomarker for clinical diagnosis of HCC, instead the contribution of AFP to HCC development is clearly highly complex. Here, we discussed the effect of AFP deletion in the tumorigenesis and progression of HCC. AFP deletion in HepG2 cells inhibited the cell proliferation by inactivating PI3K/AKT signaling. Surprisingly, AFP KO HepG2 cells appeared the increasing metastatic capacity and EMT phenotype, which was attributed to the activation of WNT5A/β-catenin signal. Further studies revealed that the activating mutations of CTNNB1 was closely related with the unconventional pro-metastatic roles of AFP deletion. Consistently, the results of DEN/CCl4-induced HCC mouse model also suggested that AFP knockout suppressed the growth of HCC primary tumors, but promoted lung metastasis. Despite the discordant effect of AFP deletion in HCC progression, a drug candidate named OA showed the potent suppression of HCC tumor growth by interrupting AFP-PTEN interaction and, importantly, reduced the lung metastasis of HCC via angiogenesis suppression. Thus, this study demonstrates an unconventional effect of AFP in HCC progression, and suggests a potent candidate strategy for HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuefeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Tripod Preclinincal Research Laboratories Co., Ltd., No. 9 Xinglong Road, Nanjing, 211800, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruitian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuening Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengju Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Junyi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiming Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinglong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China.
| | - Libin Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China.
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Akbar SMF, Al Mahtab M, Yoshida O, Aguilar J, Gerardo GN, Hiasa Y. Development of Therapy Based on the Exploration of Biological Events Underlying the Pathogenetic Mechanisms of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1944. [PMID: 37509583 PMCID: PMC10376977 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 296 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Approximately 15-25% of these people develop complications such as advanced chronic liver diseases (ACLDs). Mortality due to HBV-related complications accounted for an estimated 882,000 deaths in 2019. Potent preventive vaccines have already restricted new HBV infections, and several drugs are available to treat chronic HBV infections. However, the positive impacts of these drugs have been recorded in only a few patients with chronic HBV infection. These drugs do not show long-term efficacy and cannot halt the progression to complications. Thus, more effective and evidence-based therapeutic strategies need to be urgently developed for patients with chronic HBV infection. CHB is a pathological entity induced by HBV that progresses due to impaired host immunity. This indicates the inherent limitations of antiviral-drug-based monotherapy for treating patients with chronic HBV infection. Additionally, commercially available antiviral drugs are not available to patients in developing and resource-constrained countries, posing a challenge to achieving the following WHO goal: "Elimination of Hepatitis by 2030". As such, this review aimed to provide insights regarding evidence-based and effective management strategies for chronic HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheikh Mohammad Fazle Akbar
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon 791-0295, Japan
- Miyakawa Memorial Research Foundation, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan
| | - Mamun Al Mahtab
- Interventional Hepatology Division, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Osamu Yoshida
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon 791-0295, Japan
| | - Julio Aguilar
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana 10400, Cuba
| | | | - Yoichi Hiasa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon 791-0295, Japan
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Tiyuri A, Baghermanesh SS, Davatgaran-Taghipour Y, Eslami SS, Shaygan N, Parsaie H, Barati M, Jafari D. Diagnostic accuracy of serum derived exosomes for hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2023; 23:971-983. [PMID: 37715364 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2023.2260306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Early and non-invasive detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is usually asymptomatic, can improve overall survival outcomes. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of serum-derived exosomes for diagnosing HCC. METHODS PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched for relevant studies up to April 2023. The quality of included studies was assessed using the QUADAS-2 checklist, and data were extracted. Statistical analysis was performed on 18 studies from 3,993 records, and a diagnostic meta-analysis was conducted. Biomarkers were categorized into four groups based on their type (exosomal miRNAs, exosomal RNAs, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and exosomal RNAs+AFP panel), and a meta-analysis was conducted for each category separately. RESULTS The highest pooled sensitivity was 0.86 for exosomal miRNAs, and exosomal RNAs+AFP had the highest pooled specificity; (0.89). Furthermore, exosomal RNAs+AFP had the highest pooled positive likelihood ratio; (7.55), the highest pooled diagnostic odds ratio (35.96) and the highest pooled area under the curve (0.93). Exosomal miRNAs had the lowest pooled negative likelihood ratio; (0.17). CONCLUSIONS The diagnostic accuracy of exosomal biomarkers is superior to that of AFP, and combining the two in a panel yields the better results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Tiyuri
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shayeste Sadat Baghermanesh
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yasamin Davatgaran-Taghipour
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Seyed Sadegh Eslami
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, Canada
| | - Nasibeh Shaygan
- Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Houman Parsaie
- Nervous System Stem Cells Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Mahmood Barati
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davod Jafari
- Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Yagi K, Shimada S, Akiyama Y, Hatano M, Asano D, Ishikawa Y, Ueda H, Watanabe S, Akahoshi K, Ono H, Tanabe M, Tanaka S. Loss of SFXN1 mitigates lipotoxicity and predicts poor outcome in non-viral hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9449. [PMID: 37296228 PMCID: PMC10256799 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36660-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) imposes a huge global burden, arising from various etiological factors such as hepatitis virus infection and metabolic syndrome. While prophylactic vaccination and antiviral treatment have decreased the incidence of viral HCC, the growing prevalence of metabolic syndrome has led to an increase in non-viral HCC. To identify genes downregulated and specifically associated with unfavorable outcome in non-viral HCC cases, screening analysis was conducted using publically available transcriptome data. Among top 500 genes meeting the criteria, which were involved in lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function, a serine transporter located on inner mitochondrial membrane SFXN1 was highlighted. SFXN1 protein expression was significantly reduced in 33 of 105 HCC tissue samples, and correlated to recurrence-free and overall survival only in non-viral HCC. Human HCC cells with SFXN1 knockout (KO) displayed higher cell viability, lower fat intake and diminished reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in response to palmitate administration. In a subcutaneous transplantation mouse model, high-fat diet feeding attenuated tumorigenic potential in the control cells, but not in the SFXN1-KO cells. In summary, loss of SFXN1 expression suppresses lipid accumulation and ROS generation, preventing toxic effects from fat overload in non-viral HCC, and predicts clinical outcome of non-viral HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Yagi
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shu Shimada
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan.
| | - Yoshimitsu Akiyama
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
| | - Megumi Hatano
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
| | - Daisuke Asano
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshiya Ishikawa
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroki Ueda
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuichi Watanabe
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiichi Akahoshi
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Ono
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minoru Tanabe
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinji Tanaka
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan.
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
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Michalski M, Bauer M, Walz F, Tümen D, Heumann P, Stöckert P, Gunckel M, Kunst C, Kandulski A, Schmid S, Müller M, Gülow K. Simultaneous Inhibition of Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 Induces Synergistic Cell Death in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1666. [PMID: 37371761 PMCID: PMC10295989 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the recent approval of new therapies, the prognosis for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains poor. There is a clinical need for new highly effective therapeutic options. Here, we present a combined application of BH3-mimetics as a potential new treatment option for HCC. BH3-mimetics inhibit anti-apoptotic proteins of the BCL-2 family and, thus, trigger the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins such as Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 are frequently overexpressed in HCC. Therefore, we analyzed the efficacy of the two BH3-mimetics ABT-199 (Bcl-2 inhibitor) and MIK665 (Mcl-1 inhibitor) in HCC cell lines with differential expression levels of endogenous Bcl-2 and Mcl-1. While administration of one BH3-mimetic alone did not substantially trigger cell death, the combination of two inhibitors enhanced induction of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Both drugs acted synergistically, highlighting the effectivity of this specific BH3-mimetic combination, particularly in HCC cell lines. These results indicate the potential of combining inhibitors of the BCL-2 family as new therapeutic options in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Karsten Gülow
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (M.M.); (M.B.); (F.W.); (D.T.); (P.H.); (P.S.); (M.G.); (C.K.); (A.K.); (S.S.); (M.M.)
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Cheng S, Li J, Xu M, Bao Q, Wu J, Sun P, Han B. TMEM147 Correlates with Immune Infiltration and Serve as a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Anal Cell Pathol (Amst) 2023; 2023:4413049. [PMID: 37305689 PMCID: PMC10257544 DOI: 10.1155/2023/4413049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies and is associated with high mortality. Transmembrane protein 147 (TMEM147) is a seven-transmembrane protein that may mediate immune regulation. However, the relevance of TMEM147 to immune regulation in HCC and the prognosis of HCC patients are unclear. Methods We analyzed TMEM147 expression in HCC by using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot analysis of tumor tissues and cell lines were used to verify TMEM147 expression in HCC. The influence of TMEM147 on HCC prognosis was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox regression analysis, and a prognostic nomogram. The functions of the TMEM147-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by Gene Ontology (GO)/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). In addition, we examined the associations between TMEM147 expression and immune infiltration using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) and immunofluorescence staining of HCC tissues. Results Our results showed that the expression of TMEM147 was significantly higher in human HCC tissues than in adjacent normal liver tissues, with similar findings in human HCC cell lines. High TMEM147 expression was correlated with T stage, pathological stage, histological grade, race, alpha-fetoprotein level, and vascular invasion in HCC. Moreover, we revealed that high TMEM147 expression was associated with shorter survival times and that TMEM147 could be a risk factor for overall survival, along with T stage, M stage, pathological stage, and tumor status. Mechanistic studies revealed that high TMEM147 expression was linked to the B lymphocyte, antigen response, IL6 signaling pathway, cell cycle, Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) signaling pathway, and myelocytomatosis oncogene (MYC) targets. Correspondingly, TMEM147 expression was positively associated with the infiltration of immune cells, including Th2 cells, follicular helper T cells, macrophages, and NK CD56 bright cells in HCC. Conclusions TMEM147 might be a biomarker for poor prognosis and is related to immune cell infiltration in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Cheng
- Department of General Surgery, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
- Key Laboratory for Translational Research and Innovative Therapeutics of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Jutang Li
- Key Laboratory for Translational Research and Innovative Therapeutics of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Ming Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Qun Bao
- Department of General Surgery, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Jiaoxiang Wu
- Key Laboratory for Translational Research and Innovative Therapeutics of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Peng Sun
- Department of General Surgery, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Bo Han
- Department of General Surgery, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
- Key Laboratory for Translational Research and Innovative Therapeutics of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
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Liu G, Ma D, Wang H, Zhou J, Shen Z, Yang Y, Chen Y, Sack I, Guo J, Li R, Yan F. Three-dimensional multifrequency magnetic resonance elastography improves preoperative assessment of proliferative hepatocellular carcinoma. Insights Imaging 2023; 14:89. [PMID: 37198348 PMCID: PMC10192481 DOI: 10.1186/s13244-023-01427-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To investigate the viscoelastic signatures of proliferative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). METHODS This prospective study included 121 patients with 124 HCCs as training cohort, and validation cohort included 33 HCCs. They all underwent preoperative conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and tomoelastography based on 3D multifrequency MRE. Viscoelastic parameters of the tumor and liver were quantified as shear wave speed (c, m/s) and loss angle (φ, rad), representing stiffness and fluidity, respectively. Five MRI features were evaluated. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine predictors of proliferative HCC to construct corresponding nomograms. RESULTS In training cohort, model 1 (Combining cirrhosis, hepatitis virus, rim APHE, peritumoral enhancement, and tumor margin) yielded an area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, accuracy of 0.72, 58.73%,78.69%, 67.74%, respectively. When adding MRE properties (tumor c and tumor φ), established model 2, the AUC increased to 0.81 (95% CI 0.72-0.87), with sensitivity, specificity, accuracy of 71.43%, 81.97%, 75%, respectively. The C-index of nomogram of model 2 was 0.81, showing good performance for proliferative HCC. Therefore, integrating tumor c and tumor φ can significantly improve the performance of preoperative diagnosis of proliferative HCC (AUC increased from 0.72 to 0.81, p = 0.012). The same finding was observed in the validation cohort, with AUC increasing from 0.62 to 0.77 (p = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS Proliferative HCC exhibits low stiffness and high fluidity. Adding MRE properties (tumor c and tumor φ) can improve performance of conventional MRI for preoperative diagnosis of proliferative HCC. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT We investigated the viscoelastic signatures of proliferative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), and find that adding MRE properties (tumor c and tumor φ) can improve performance of conventional MRI for preoperative diagnosis of proliferative HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guixue Liu
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Di Ma
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huafeng Wang
- Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiahao Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Zhehan Shen
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yuchen Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongjun Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ingolf Sack
- Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jing Guo
- Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ruokun Li
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Fuhua Yan
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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Yang Y, Zhao W, Wang Y, Du J. Prognostic impact of MICALL1 and associates with immune infiltration in liver hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Cancer Biomark 2023:CBM220370. [PMID: 37248888 DOI: 10.3233/cbm-220370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is one of the most malignancy over the world. Previous studies have proven that Molecules Interacting with CasL-Like 1 (MICALL1) participated in cellular trafficking cascades, while there has no study to explore the function and carcinogenic mechanism MICALL1 in LIHC. METHODS We aimed to investigate the relationship between MICALL1 mRNA expression and LIHC using TCGA database. The expression of MICALL1 protein in clinic samples were examined by UALCAN database. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Logistic regression and Cox regression were performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of MICALL1. The MICALL1-binding protein were built by the STRING tool. Enrichment analysis by GO, KEGG and GSEA was used to explore possible function of MICALL1. The ssGSEA method was used to investigate the association between MICALL1 expression and the immune infiltration level in LIHC. RESULTS The expression and prognostic value of different MICAL family members in LIHC were evaluated. The expression of MICALL1 was significantly increased at both the transcript and protein levels in LIHC tissues. Further, the LIHC patients with high MICALL1 levels showed a worse OS, DSS and PFI. Some clinicopathologic features were identified to be related to MICALL1 expression in LIHC included clinical T stage, pathologic stage, histologic grade and AFP concentration. Univariate and multivariate survival analysis showed that MICALL1 was an independent prognostic marker for OS and DSS. Further enrichment analysis revealed that the K-RAS, TNFα/NF-κB and inflammatory response were significantly enriched in the high MICALL1 expression group. Immune infiltration analysis showed that high MICALL1 expression was correlated with infiltration level of macrophage cells, Th2 cells and some other immune cell types, including TFH. CONCLUSIONS MICALL1 expression was significantly associated with immune cell infiltration and may regarded as a promising prognostic biomarker for LIHC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixing Yang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weizhen Zhao
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yueyuan Wang
- The Laboratory Center for Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Du
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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Brandi N, Renzulli M. The Synergistic Effect of Interventional Locoregional Treatments and Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108598. [PMID: 37239941 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has remarkably revolutionized the management of advanced HCC and prompted clinical trials, with therapeutic agents being used to selectively target immune cells rather than cancer cells. Currently, there is great interest in the possibility of combining locoregional treatments with immunotherapy for HCC, as this combination is emerging as an effective and synergistic tool for enhancing immunity. On the one hand, immunotherapy could amplify and prolong the antitumoral immune response of locoregional treatments, improving patients' outcomes and reducing recurrence rates. On the other hand, locoregional therapies have been shown to positively alter the tumor immune microenvironment and could therefore enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. Despite the encouraging results, many unanswered questions still remain, including which immunotherapy and locoregional treatment can guarantee the best survival and clinical outcomes; the most effective timing and sequence to obtain the most effective therapeutic response; and which biological and/or genetic biomarkers can be used to identify patients likely to benefit from this combined approach. Based on the current reported evidence and ongoing trials, the present review summarizes the current application of immunotherapy in combination with locoregional therapies for the treatment of HCC, and provides a critical evaluation of the current status and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Brandi
- Department of Radiology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Matteo Renzulli
- Department of Radiology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
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Sun H, Yang H, Mao Y. Personalized treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma in the era of targeted medicine and bioengineering. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1150151. [PMID: 37214451 PMCID: PMC10198383 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1150151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health burden, causing approximately 8.3 million deaths each year, and it is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with a relative 5-year survival rate of around 18%. Due to the advanced stage of diagnosis in most patients, systemic treatment based on targeted therapy has become the only feasible option. Genomic studies have established a profile of molecular alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma with potentially actionable mutations, but these mutations have yet to be translated into clinical practice. The first targeted drug approved for systemic treatment of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma was Sorafenib, which was a milestone. Subsequent clinical trials have identified multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as Lenvatinib, Cabozantinib, and Regorafenib, for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, with survival benefits for the patient. Ongoing systemic therapy studies and trials include various immune-based combination therapies, with some early results showing promise and potential for new therapy plans. Systemic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma is complicated by the significant heterogeneity of the disease and its propensity for developing drug resistance. Therefore, it is essential to choose a better, individualized treatment plan to benefit patients. Preclinical models capable of preserving in vivo tumor characteristics are urgently needed to circumvent heterogeneity and overcome drug resistance. In this review, we summarize current approaches to targeted therapy for HCC patients and the establishment of several patient-derived preclinical models of hepatocellular carcinoma. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities of targeted therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma and how to achieve personalized treatment with the continuous development of targeted therapies and bioengineering technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Huayu Yang
- *Correspondence: Huayu Yang, ; Yilei Mao,
| | - Yilei Mao
- *Correspondence: Huayu Yang, ; Yilei Mao,
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Liu H, Yang CC, Ma YL, Yang YF, Yan LJ, Ding ZN, Xue JS, Yang LS, Yan YC, Dong ZR, Wang DX, Chen ZQ, Hong JG, Li T. Identification of the most effective subgroup of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma from immune checkpoint blocker treatment: a meta-analysis. Immunotherapy 2023; 15:669-678. [PMID: 37140011 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2022-0114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims: This work was designed to identify the subgroup of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients for whom treatments containing immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) were most effective. Materials & methods: A meta-analysis was performed to explore the subgroup population with the greatest benefit of treatments containing ICBs. Results: A total of 2228 patients from four randomized control trials were included. Treatments containing ICBs had better overall survival, progression-free survival and higher objective response rate over treatment without ICBs. Subgroup analysis revealed that treatments containing ICBs were highly effective in improving the overall survival of males, patients with macrovascular invasion and/or extrahepatic spread and viral-related HCC patients. Conclusion: Treatments containing ICBs are more effective for males, patients with macrovascular invasion and/or extrahepatic spread and viral-related HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Chun-Cheng Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Yun-Long Ma
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Ya-Fei Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Lun-Jie Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Zi-Niu Ding
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Jun-Shuai Xue
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Long-Shan Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Yu-Chuan Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Zhao-Ru Dong
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Dong-Xu Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Jian-Guo Hong
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Tao Li
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
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Yang C, Yang X, Liu C, Hou J, Chen X, Wang L, Wu X. EPRS1 correlates with malignant progression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Infect Agent Cancer 2023; 18:27. [PMID: 37138286 PMCID: PMC10155449 DOI: 10.1186/s13027-023-00503-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase 1 (EPRS1) is an aminoacyl-tRNA synthase involved in the pathology of cancer and other diseases. In this study, we investigated the carcinogenic function, potential mechanism, and clinical significance of EPRS1 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS The expression, clinical significance, and prognostic value of EPRS1 in HCC were assessed using the TCGA and GEO databases. The function of EPRS1 in HCC cells was detected by CCK-8, Transwell, and hepatosphere formation assays. Immunohistochemistry was used to explore the difference in EPRS1 levels in HCC tissues and peri-cancerous tissues. The mechanism of EPRS1 was studied using a proteomics method. Finally, cBioportal and MEXEPRSS were used to analyze the variations involved in the differential expression of EPRS1. RESULTS EPRS1 was frequently upregulated at the mRNA and protein levels in liver cancer. Increased EPRS1 correlated with shortened patient survival. EPRS1 could promote cancer cell proliferation, characteristics of cell stemness, and mobility. Mechanistically, EPRS1 played a carcinogenic role by upregulating several downstream proline-rich proteins, primarily LAMC1 and CCNB1. In addition, copy number variation could contribute to the high expression of EPRS1 in liver cancer. CONCLUSION Together, our data imply that enhanced EPRS1 contributes to the development of HCC by increasing the expression of oncogenes in the tumor microenvironment. EPRS1 may be a successful treatment target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Yang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Department of Oncology, Lianyungang Oriental Hospital, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaofeng Yang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Chenghao Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Jun Hou
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Xueling Chen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Lianghai Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
| | - Xiangwei Wu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
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Liu M, Zhang Z, Zhang W, Liu SM. Advances in biomarker discovery using circulating cell-free DNA for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma. WIREs Mech Dis 2023; 15:e1598. [PMID: 36697374 PMCID: PMC10176863 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The past several decades have witnessed unprecedented progress in basic and clinical cancer research, and our understanding of the molecular mechanisms and pathogenesis of cancers have been greatly improved. More recently, with the availability of high-throughput sequencing and profiling platforms as well as sophisticated analytical tools and high-performance computing capacity, there have been tremendous advances in the development of diagnostic approaches in clinical oncology, especially the discovery of novel biomarkers for cancer early detection. Although tissue biopsy-based pathology has been the "gold standard" for cancer diagnosis, notable limitations such as the risk due to invasiveness and the bias due to intra-tumoral heterogeneity have limited its broader applications in oncology (e.g., screening, regular disease monitoring). Liquid biopsy analysis that exploits the genetic and epigenetic information contained in DNA/RNA materials from body fluids, particularly circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in the blood, has been an intriguing alternative approach because of advantageous features such as sampling convenience and minimal invasiveness. Taking advantage of innovative enabling technologies, cfDNA has been demonstrated for its clinical potential in cancer early detection, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common liver cancer that causes serious healthcare burden globally. Hereby, we reviewed the current advances in cfDNA-based approaches for cancer biomarker discovery, with a focus on recent findings of cfDNA-based early detection of HCC. Future clinical investigations and trials are warranted to further validate these approaches for early detection of HCC, which will contribute to more effective prevention, control, and intervention strategies with the ultimate goal of reducing HCC-associated mortality. This article is categorized under: Cancer > Genetics/Genomics/Epigenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjun Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Center for Gene Diagnosis & Program of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Wuhan Third Hospital and Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zhou Zhang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China
| | - Song-Mei Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Center for Gene Diagnosis & Program of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
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Donne R, Lujambio A. The liver cancer immune microenvironment: Therapeutic implications for hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2023; 77:1773-1796. [PMID: 35989535 PMCID: PMC9941399 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 150.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The liver is the sixth most common site of primary cancer in humans and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 90% of liver cancers. HCC is a prevalent disease with a progression that is modulated by the immune system. Half of the patients with HCC receive systemic therapies, traditionally sorafenib or lenvatinib, as a first-line therapy. In the last few years, immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer therapy and have gained an increased interest in the treatment of HCC. In 2020, the combination of atezolizumab (anti-programmed death-ligand 1) and bevacizumab (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor) improved overall survival over sorafenib, resulting in Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced HCC. Despite these major advances, a better molecular and cellular characterization of the tumor microenvironment is still needed because it has a crucial role in the development and progression of HCC. Inflamed (hot) and noninflamed (cold) HCC tumors and genomic signatures have been associated with response to ICIs. However, there are no additional biomarkers to guide clinical decision-making. Other immune-targeting strategies, such as adoptive T-cell transfer, vaccination, and virotherapy, are currently under development. This review provides an overview on the HCC immune microenvironment, different cellular players, current available immunotherapies, and potential immunotherapy modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Donne
- Department of Oncological Sciences , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York , New York , USA
- Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , Tisch Cancer Institute , New York , New York , USA
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , The Precision Immunology Institute , New York , New York , USA
| | - Amaia Lujambio
- Department of Oncological Sciences , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York , New York , USA
- Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , Tisch Cancer Institute , New York , New York , USA
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , The Precision Immunology Institute , New York , New York , USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York , New York , USA
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He X, Chen F, Lu C, Wang S, Mao G, Jin W, Zhong W. Comparison of anti-tumor activities and underlying mechanisms of glucuronomannan oligosaccharides and its sulfated derivatives on the hepatocarcinoma Huh7.5 cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 652:103-111. [PMID: 36841097 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.02.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive tumor triggered by various factors such as virus infection and alcohol abuse. Glucuronomannan polysaccharide (Gx) is a subtype of fucoidans that possesses many bioactivities, but its anti-tumor activities in HCC have not been reported. In this paper, the anti-tumor effects of glucuronomannan oligosaccharides (Gx) and its sulfated derivatives (GxSy) on hepatocarcinoma Huh7.5 cells were investigated. The anti-proliferation, anti-metastasis activities, and underlying mechanism of Gx and GxSy on Huh7.5 cells were analyzed and compared by MTT, wound healing, transwell, and western blotting assays, respectively. Results showed that the best anti-proliferation effects were G4S1 and G4S2 among 13 drugs, which were 38.67% and 30.14%, respectively. The cell migration rates were significantly inhibited by G2S1, G4S2, G6S2, and unsulfated Gn. In addition, cell invasion effects treated with G4S1, G4S2, and G6S1 decreased to 48.62%, 36.26%, and 42.86%, respectively. Furthermore, sulfated G4 regulated the expression of (p-) FAK and MAPK pathway, and sulfated G6 down-regulated the MAPK signaling pathway while activating the PI3K/AKT pathway. On the contrary, sulfated G2 and unsulfated Gx had no inhibited effects on the FAK-mTOR pathway. These results indicated that sulfated Gx derivatives have better anti-tumor activities than unsulfated Gx in cell proliferation and metastasis process in vitro, and those properties depend on the sulfation group levels. Moreover, degrees of polymerization of Gx also played a vital role in mechanisms and bioactivities. This finding shows the structure-activity relationship for developing and applying the marine oligosaccharide candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue He
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Fen Chen
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Chenghui Lu
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Sanying Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Geriatrics, Department of Geriatrics, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, 310013, China
| | - Genxiang Mao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Geriatrics, Department of Geriatrics, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, 310013, China.
| | - Weihua Jin
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China.
| | - Weihong Zhong
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
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129
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Tang YL, Tao Y, Zhu L, Shen JL, Cheng H. Role of NLRP3 inflammasome in hepatocellular carcinoma: A double-edged sword. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 118:110107. [PMID: 37028274 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the study of NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has become a hot topic, especially its role in various tumors. The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma is ranked in the top five in China. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant and typical form of primary liver cancer. Due to the close relationship between NLRP3 inflammasome and cancers, many studies have investigated its role in HCC. The results suggest that NLRP3 inflammasome participates in both tumor growth inhibition and tumor growth promotion in HCC. Therefore, this review elaborates on the relationship between NLRP3 and HCC and explains its role in HCC. In addition, the potential of NLRP3 as a therapeutic target for cancer therapy is explored, summarizing and classifying impacts of and processes underlying different NLRP3 inflammasome-targeting drugs on HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Le Tang
- Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China; Yangzhou University Medical College, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Experimental & Translational Non-coding RNA Research, Institute of Translational Medicine, Yangzhou University, Jiangsu, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yan Tao
- Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China; Yangzhou University Medical College, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Experimental & Translational Non-coding RNA Research, Institute of Translational Medicine, Yangzhou University, Jiangsu, Yangzhou, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China; Yangzhou University Medical College, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Experimental & Translational Non-coding RNA Research, Institute of Translational Medicine, Yangzhou University, Jiangsu, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jia-Lin Shen
- Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China; Yangzhou University Medical College, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Experimental & Translational Non-coding RNA Research, Institute of Translational Medicine, Yangzhou University, Jiangsu, Yangzhou, China
| | - Hong Cheng
- Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China; Yangzhou University Medical College, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Experimental & Translational Non-coding RNA Research, Institute of Translational Medicine, Yangzhou University, Jiangsu, Yangzhou, China.
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130
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Cunningham RP, Kang SWS, Porat-Shliom N. Location matters: cellular heterogeneity in the hepatic lobule and hepatocellular carcinoma. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2023; 324:G245-G249. [PMID: 36749570 PMCID: PMC10010932 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00278.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Tumor heterogeneity is a hallmark of cancer but a challenging problem to dissect mechanistically. Less recognized is that cells within normal tissues are also remarkably diverse. Hepatocytes are a great example because their spatial positioning and the local microenvironment govern their genetic heterogeneity. Recent studies show that primary liver tumors display heterogeneity similar to that observed in the normal tissue providing clues to the cellular precursor of the tumor and how variations in the lobule microenvironment support tumor formation and aggressiveness. Identifying the principles that control cellular diversity in a healthy liver may highlight potential mechanisms driving hepatic tumor heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory P Cunningham
- Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Sun Woo Sophie Kang
- Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Natalie Porat-Shliom
- Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
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131
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Cheng Z, Li L, Zhang Y, Ren Y, Gu J, Wang X, Zhao H, Lu H. HBV-infected hepatocellular carcinoma can be robustly classified into three clinically relevant subgroups by a novel analytical protocol. Brief Bioinform 2023; 24:7025463. [PMID: 36736372 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbac601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for a relatively large proportion of all primary liver malignancies. Among the several known risk factors, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the important causes of HCC. In this study, we demonstrated that the HBV-infected HCC patients could be robustly classified into three clinically relevant subgroups, i.e. Cluster1, Cluster2 and Cluster3, based on consistent differentially expressed mRNAs and proteins, which showed better generalization. The proposed three subgroups showed different molecular characteristics, immune microenvironment and prognostic survival characteristics. The Cluster1 subgroup had near-normal levels of metabolism-related proteins, low proliferation activity and good immune infiltration, which were associated with its good liver function, smaller tumor size, good prognosis, low alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and lower clinical stage. In contrast, the Cluster3 subgroup had the lowest levels of metabolism-related proteins, which corresponded with its severe liver dysfunction. Also, high proliferation activity and poor immune microenvironment in Cluster3 subgroup were associated with its poor prognosis, larger tumor size, high AFP levels, high incidence of tumor thrombus and higher clinical stage. The characteristics of the Cluster2 subgroup were between the Cluster1 and Cluster3 groups. In addition, MCM2-7, RFC2-5, MSH2, MSH6, SMC2, SMC4, NCPAG and TOP2A proteins were significantly upregulated in the Cluster3 subgroup. Meanwhile, abnormally high phosphorylation levels of these proteins were associated with high levels of DNA repair, telomere maintenance and proliferative features. Therefore, these proteins could be identified as potential diagnostic and prognostic markers. In general, our research provided a novel analytical protocol and insights for the robust classification, treatment and prevention of HBV-infected HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Cheng
- State Key Lab of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic Developmental Sciences, Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- SJTU-Yale Joint Center of Biostatistics and Data Science, National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
| | - Leijie Li
- State Key Lab of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic Developmental Sciences, Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- SJTU-Yale Joint Center of Biostatistics and Data Science, National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
| | - Yuening Zhang
- State Key Lab of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic Developmental Sciences, Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- SJTU-Yale Joint Center of Biostatistics and Data Science, National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
| | - Yongyong Ren
- SJTU-Yale Joint Center of Biostatistics and Data Science, National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
| | - Jianlei Gu
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Xinbo Wang
- State Key Lab of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic Developmental Sciences, Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- SJTU-Yale Joint Center of Biostatistics and Data Science, National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
| | - Hongyu Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Hui Lu
- State Key Lab of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic Developmental Sciences, Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- SJTU-Yale Joint Center of Biostatistics and Data Science, National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Department of General Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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132
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Zhang X, Zhuge J, Liu J, Xia Z, Wang H, Gao Q, Jiang H, Qu Y, Fan L, Ma J, Tan C, Luo W, Luo Y. Prognostic signatures of sphingolipids: Understanding the immune landscape and predictive role in immunotherapy response and outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1153423. [PMID: 37006285 PMCID: PMC10063861 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1153423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex disease with a poor outlook for patients in advanced stages. Immune cells play an important role in the progression of HCC. The metabolism of sphingolipids functions in both tumor growth and immune infiltration. However, little research has focused on using sphingolipid factors to predict HCC prognosis. This study aimed to identify the key sphingolipids genes (SPGs) in HCC and develop a reliable prognostic model based on these genes. Methods The TCGA, GEO, and ICGC datasets were grouped using SPGs obtained from the InnateDB portal. A prognostic gene signature was created by applying LASSO-Cox analysis and evaluating it with Cox regression. The validity of the signature was verified using ICGC and GEO datasets. The tumor microenvironment (TME) was examined using ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT, and potential therapeutic targets were identified through machine learning. Single-cell sequencing was used to examine the distribution of signature genes in cells within the TME. Cell viability and migration were tested to confirm the role of the key SPGs. Results We identified 28 SPGs that have an impact on survival. Using clinicopathological features and 6 genes, we developed a nomogram for HCC. The high- and low-risk groups were found to have distinct immune characteristics and response to drugs. Unlike CD8 T cells, M0 and M2 macrophages were found to be highly infiltrated in the TME of the high-risk subgroup. High levels of SPGs were found to be a good indicator of response to immunotherapy. In cell function experiments, SMPD2 and CSTA were found to enhance survival and migration of Huh7 cells, while silencing these genes increased the sensitivity of Huh7 cells to lapatinib. Conclusion The study presents a six-gene signature and a nomogram that can aid clinicians in choosing personalized treatments for HCC patients. Furthermore, it uncovers the connection between sphingolipid-related genes and the immune microenvironment, offering a novel approach for immunotherapy. By focusing on crucial sphingolipid genes like SMPD2 and CSTA, the efficacy of anti-tumor therapy can be increased in HCC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhang
- Department of Pathology, the Second People’s Hospital of Foshan, Affiliated Foshan Hospital of Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Jinke Zhuge
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hainan Cancer Hospital, Hainan, China
| | - Jinhui Liu
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhijia Xia
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Huixiong Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hospital of Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Qiang Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Hao Jiang
- Department of Pathology, the Second People’s Hospital of Foshan, Affiliated Foshan Hospital of Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Yanyu Qu
- Department of Pathology, the Second People’s Hospital of Foshan, Affiliated Foshan Hospital of Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Linlin Fan
- Department of Pathology, the Second People’s Hospital of Foshan, Affiliated Foshan Hospital of Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Jiali Ma
- Department of Pathology, the Second People’s Hospital of Foshan, Affiliated Foshan Hospital of Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Chunhua Tan
- Department of Pathology, the Second People’s Hospital of Foshan, Affiliated Foshan Hospital of Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Wei Luo
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Yong Luo
- Department of Urology, The Second People’s Hospital of Foshan, Affiliated Foshan Hospital of Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
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Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-related hepatocellular carcinoma: pathogenesis and treatment. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023:10.1038/s41575-023-00754-7. [PMID: 36932227 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-023-00754-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 89.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), including its more severe manifestation, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), has a global prevalence of 20-25% and is a major public health problem. Its incidence is increasing in parallel to the rise in obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Progression from NASH to NASH-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (~2% of cases per year) is influenced by many factors, including the tissue and immune microenvironment, germline mutations in PNPLA3, and the microbiome. NASH-HCC has unique molecular and immune traits compared with other aetiologies of HCC and is equally prevalent in men and women. Comorbidities associated with NASH, such as obesity and diabetes mellitus, can prevent the implementation of potentially curative therapies in certain patients; nonetheless, outcomes are similar in patients who receive treatment. NASH-HCC at the early to intermediate stages is managed with surgery and locoregional therapies, whereas advanced HCC is treated with systemic therapies, including anti-angiogenic therapies and immune-checkpoint inhibitors. In this Review, we present the latest knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms and clinical management of NASH-HCC. We discuss data highlighting the controversy over varying responses to immune-checkpoint inhibitors according to underlying aetiology and suggest that the future of NASH-HCC management lies in improved surveillance, targeted combination therapies to overcome immune evasion, and identifying biomarkers to recognize treatment responders.
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134
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Li Z, Liao X, Hu Y, Li M, Tang M, Zhang S, Mo S, Li X, Chen S, Qian W, Feng R, Yu R, Xu Y, Yuan S, Xie C, Li J. SLC27A4-mediated selective uptake of mono-unsaturated fatty acids promotes ferroptosis defense in hepatocellular carcinoma. Free Radic Biol Med 2023; 201:41-54. [PMID: 36924851 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant lipid metabolism mediated by the selective transport of fatty acids plays vital roles in cancer initiation, progression, and therapeutic failure. However, the biological function and clinical significance of abnormal fatty acid transporters in human cancer remain unclear. In the present study, we reported that solute carrier family 27 member 4 (SLC27A4) is significantly overexpressed in 21 types of human cancer, especially in the fatty acids-enriched microenvironment surrounding hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), breast cancer, and ovarian cancer. Upregulated SLC27A4 expression correlated with shorter overall and relapse-free survival of patients with HCC, breast cancer, or ovarian cancer. Lipidomic analysis revealed that overexpression of SLC27A4 significantly promoted the selective uptake of mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), which induced a high level of MUFA-containing phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in HCC cells, consequently resulting in resistance to lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis. Importantly, silencing SLC27A4 significantly promoted the sensitivity of HCC to sorafenib treatment, both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings revealed a plausible role for SLC27A4 in ferroptosis defense via lipid remodeling, which might represent an attractive therapeutic target to increase the effectiveness of sorafenib treatment in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwen Li
- Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China; Department of Biochemistry Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xinyi Liao
- Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China; Department of Biochemistry Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yameng Hu
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Man Li
- Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China; Department of Biochemistry Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Miaoling Tang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuxia Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuang Mo
- Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China; Department of Biochemistry Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xincheng Li
- Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China; Department of Biochemistry Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Suwen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China; Department of Biochemistry Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Wanying Qian
- Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China; Department of Biochemistry Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Rongni Feng
- Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China; Department of Biochemistry Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Ruyuan Yu
- Molecular Diagnosis and Gene Testing Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingru Xu
- Molecular Diagnosis and Gene Testing Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuanghu Yuan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China
| | - Chan Xie
- Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
| | - Jun Li
- Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China; Department of Biochemistry Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
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Chi H, Zhao S, Yang J, Gao X, Peng G, Zhang J, Xie X, Song G, Xu K, Xia Z, Chen S, Zhao J. T-cell exhaustion signatures characterize the immune landscape and predict HCC prognosis via integrating single-cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-sequencing. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1137025. [PMID: 37006257 PMCID: PMC10050519 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1137025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the third most prevalent cause of cancer-related death, is a frequent primary liver cancer with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. T-cell depletion (TEX) is a progressive decline in T-cell function due to continuous stimulation of the TCR in the presence of sustained antigen exposure. Numerous studies have shown that TEX plays an essential role in the antitumor immune process and is significantly associated with patient prognosis. Hence, it is important to gain insight into the potential role of T cell depletion in the tumor microenvironment. The purpose of this study was to develop a trustworthy TEX-based signature using single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) and high-throughput RNA sequencing, opening up new avenues for evaluating the prognosis and immunotherapeutic response of HCC patients.MethodsThe International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases were used to download RNA-seq information for HCC patients. The 10x scRNA-seq. data of HCC were downloaded from GSE166635, and UMAP was used for clustering descending, and subgroup identification. TEX-related genes were identified by gene set variance analysis (GSVA) and weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA). Afterward, we established a prognostic TEX signature using LASSO-Cox analysis. External validation was performed in the ICGC cohort. Immunotherapy response was assessed by the IMvigor210, GSE78220, GSE79671, and GSE91061cohorts. In addition, differences in mutational landscape and chemotherapy sensitivity between different risk groups were investigated. Finally, the differential expression of TEX genes was verified by qRT-PCR.Result11 TEX genes were thought to be highly predictive of the prognosis of HCC and substantially related to HCC prognosis. Patients in the low-risk group had a greater overall survival rate than those in the high-risk group, according to multivariate analysis, which also revealed that the model was an independent predictor of HCC. The predictive efficacy of columnar maps created from clinical features and risk scores was strong.ConclusionTEX signature and column line plots showed good predictive performance, providing a new perspective for assessing pre-immune efficacy, which will be useful for future precision immuno-oncology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chi
- Clinical Medical College, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Songyun Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jinyan Yang
- School of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xinrui Gao
- Clinical Medical College, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Gaoge Peng
- Clinical Medical College, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jinhao Zhang
- School of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xixi Xie
- School of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Guobin Song
- School of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Ke Xu
- Department of Oncology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhijia Xia
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
- *Correspondence: Shi Chen, ; Jinqiu Zhao, ; Zhijia Xia,
| | - Shi Chen
- Clinical Molecular Medicine Testing Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Shi Chen, ; Jinqiu Zhao, ; Zhijia Xia,
| | - Jinqiu Zhao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Shi Chen, ; Jinqiu Zhao, ; Zhijia Xia,
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USP22 upregulates ZEB1-mediated VEGFA transcription in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:194. [PMID: 36906615 PMCID: PMC10008583 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05699-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common solid tumor with high rate of recurrence and mortality. Anti-angiogenesis drugs have been used for the therapy of HCC. However, anti-angiogenic drug resistance commonly occurs during HCC treatment. Thus, identification of a novel VEGFA regulator would be better understanding for HCC progression and anti-angiogenic therapy resistance. Ubiquitin specific protease 22 (USP22) as a deubiquitinating enzyme, participates in a variety of biological processes in numerous tumors. While the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of USP22 on angiogenesis is still needed to be clarified. Here, our results demonstrated that USP22 acts as a co-activator of VEGFA transcription. Importantly, USP22 is involved in maintenance of ZEB1 stability via its deubiquitinase activity. USP22 was recruited to ZEB1-binding elements on the promoter of VEGFA, thereby altering histone H2Bub levels, to enhance ZEB1-mediated VEGFA transcription. USP22 depletion decreased cell proliferation, migration, Vascular Mimicry (VM) formation, and angiogenesis. Furthermore, we provided the evidence to show that knockdown of USP22 inhibited HCC growth in tumor-bearing nude mice. In addition, the expression of USP22 is positively correlated with that of ZEB1 in clinical HCC samples. Our findings suggest that USP22 participates in the promotion of HCC progression, if not all, at least partially via up-regulation of VEGFA transcription, providing a novel therapeutic target for anti-angiogenic drug resistance in HCC.
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Girardi DM, Sousa LP, Miranda TA, Haum FNC, Pereira GCB, Pereira AAL. Systemic Therapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Stand and Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:1680. [PMID: 36980566 PMCID: PMC10046570 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma often develops in the context of chronic liver disease. It is the sixth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Although the mainstay of therapy is surgical resection, most patients are not eligible because of liver dysfunction or tumor extent. Sorafenib was the first tyrosine kinase inhibitor that improved the overall survival of patients who failed to respond to local therapies or had advanced disease, and for many years, it was the only treatment approved for the first-line setting. However, in recent years, trials have demonstrated an improvement in survival with treatments based on immunotherapy and new targeting agents, thereby extending the treatment options. A phase III trial showed that a combination of immunotherapy and targeted therapy, including atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, improved survival in the first-line setting, and is now considered the new standard of care. Other agents and combinations are being tested, including the combination of nivolumab plus ipilimumab and tremelimumab plus durvalumab, and they reportedly have clinical benefits. The aim of this manuscript is to review the latest approved therapeutic options in first- and second-line settings for advanced HCC and discuss future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M. Girardi
- Hospital Sírio-Libanes, SGAS 613/614 Conjunto E Lote 95-Asa Sul, Brasília 70200-730, Brazil
- Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, SMHS-Área Especial, Q. 101-Asa Sul, Brasília 70330-150, Brazil
| | - Lara P. Sousa
- Escola Superior de Ciências em Saúde, SMHN Conjunto A Bloco 01 Edifício Fepecs-Asa Norte, Brasília 70710-907, Brazil
| | - Thiago A. Miranda
- Escola Superior de Ciências em Saúde, SMHN Conjunto A Bloco 01 Edifício Fepecs-Asa Norte, Brasília 70710-907, Brazil
| | - Fernanda N. C. Haum
- Escola Superior de Ciências em Saúde, SMHN Conjunto A Bloco 01 Edifício Fepecs-Asa Norte, Brasília 70710-907, Brazil
| | - Gabriel C. B. Pereira
- Hospital Sírio-Libanes, SGAS 613/614 Conjunto E Lote 95-Asa Sul, Brasília 70200-730, Brazil
- Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, SMHS-Área Especial, Q. 101-Asa Sul, Brasília 70330-150, Brazil
| | - Allan A. L. Pereira
- Hospital Sírio-Libanes, SGAS 613/614 Conjunto E Lote 95-Asa Sul, Brasília 70200-730, Brazil
- Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, SMHS-Área Especial, Q. 101-Asa Sul, Brasília 70330-150, Brazil
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Li JX, Zhang RJ, Qiu MQ, Yan LY, He ML, Long MY, Zhong JH, Lu HY, Zhou HM, Xiang BD, Liang SX. Non-classic radiation-induced liver disease after intensity-modulated radiotherapy for Child-Pugh grade B patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Radiat Oncol 2023; 18:48. [PMID: 36890592 PMCID: PMC9993633 DOI: 10.1186/s13014-023-02232-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of classic radiation-induced liver disease (cRILD) has been significantly reduced. However, non-classic radiation-induced liver disease (ncRILD) remains a major concern following radiotherapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study evaluated the incidence of ncRILD following intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for Child-Pugh grade B (CP-B) patients with locally advanced HCC and established a nomogram for predicting ncRILD probability. METHODS Seventy-five CP-B patients with locally advanced HCC treated with IMRT between September 2014 and July 2021 were included. The max tumor size was 8.39 cm ± 5.06, and the median prescribed dose was 53.24 Gy ± 7.26. Treatment-related hepatotoxicity was evaluated within three months of completing IMRT. A nomogram model was formulated to predict the probability of ncRILD, using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS Among CP-B patients with locally advanced HCC, ncRILD occurred in 17 (22.7%) patients. Two patients (2.7%) exhibited a transaminase elevation of ≥ G3, fourteen (18.7%) exhibited a Child-Pugh score increase of ≥ 2, and one (1.3%) demonstrated both a transaminase elevation of ≥ G3 and a Child-Pugh score increase of ≥ 2. No cRILD cases were observed. A mean dose to the normal liver of ≥ 15.1 Gy was used as the cutoff for ncRILD. Multivariate analysis revealed that the prothrombin time before IMRT, tumour number, and mean dose to the normal liver were independent risk factors for ncRILD. The nomogram established on the basis of these risk factors displayed exceptional predictive performance (AUC = 0.800, 95% CI 0.674-0.926). CONCLUSIONS The incidence of ncRILD following IMRT for CP-B patients with locally advanced HCC was acceptable. A nomogram based on prothrombin time before IMRT, tumour number, and mean dose to the normal liver accurately predicted the probability of ncRILD in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Xu Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Rui-Jun Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Mo-Qin Qiu
- Department of Respiratory Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Liu-Ying Yan
- Department of General Affairs, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Mei-Ling He
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Mei-Ying Long
- School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Jian-Hong Zhong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Hai-Yan Lu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Hong-Mei Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Bang-De Xiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530021, China.
| | - Shi-Xiong Liang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530021, China.
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Meng GX, Yang CC, Yan LJ, Yang YF, Yan YC, Hong JG, Chen ZQ, Dong ZR, Li T. The somatic mutational landscape and role of the ARID1A gene in hepatocellular carcinoma. Heliyon 2023; 9:e14307. [PMID: 36950649 PMCID: PMC10025035 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumours worldwide. Clarification of the somatic mutational landscape of important genes could reveal new therapeutic targets and facilitate individualized therapeutic approaches for HCC patients. The mutation and expression changes in the ARID1A gene in HCC remain controversial. Methods First, cBioPortal was used to visualize genetic alterations and DNA copy number alterations (CNAs) in ARID1A. The relationships between ARID1A mutation status and HCC patient clinicopathological features and overall survival (OS) were also determined. Then, a meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of ARID1A mutation or expression on the prognosis of HCC patients. Finally, the role of ARID1A in HCC progression was verified by in vitro experiments. Results ARID1A mutation was detected in 9.35% (33/353) of sequenced HCC cases, and ARID1A mutation decreased ARID1A mRNA expression. Patients with ARID1A alterations presented worse OS than those without ARID1A alterations. Meta-analysis and human HCC tissue microarray (TMA) analysis revealed that HCC patients with low ARID1A expression had worse OS and relapse-free survival (RFS), and low ARID1A expression was negatively correlated with tumour size. Then, ARID1A gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments demonstrated the tumour suppressor role of ARID1A in HCC in vitro. In terms of the mechanism, we found that ARID1A could inhibit HCC progression by regulating retinoblastoma-like 1 (RBL1) expression via the JNK/FOXO3 pathway. Conclusions ARID1A can be considered a potential prognostic biomarker and candidate therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang-Xiao Meng
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- Laboratory of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Chun-Cheng Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- Laboratory of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Lun-Jie Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- Laboratory of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Ya-Fei Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- Laboratory of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Yu-Chuan Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- Laboratory of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Jian-Guo Hong
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Zhao-Ru Dong
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Tao Li
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250000, China
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Liang B, Jiang Y, Song S, Jing W, Yang H, Zhao L, Chen Y, Tang Q, Li X, Zhang L, Bao H, Huang G, Zhao J. ASPP2 suppresses tumour growth and stemness characteristics in HCC by inhibiting Warburg effect via WNT/β-catenin/HK2 axis. J Cell Mol Med 2023; 27:659-671. [PMID: 36752127 PMCID: PMC9983321 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormal energy metabolism is one of the characteristics of tumours. In the last few years, more and more attention is being paid to the role and regulation of tumour aerobic glycolysis. Cancer cells display enhanced aerobic glycolysis, also known as the Warburg effect, whereby tumour cells absorb glucose to produce a large amount of lactic acid and energy under aerobic conditions to favour tumour proliferation and metastasis. In this study, we report that the haploinsufficient tumour suppressor ASPP2, can inhibit HCC growth and stemness characteristics by regulating the Warburg effect through the WNT/β-catenin pathway. we performed glucose uptake, lactate production, pyruvate production, ECAR and OCR assays to verify ASPP2 can inhibit glycolysis in HCC cells. The expression of ASPP2 and HK2 was significantly inversely correlated in 80 HCC tissues. Our study reveals downregulation of ASPP2 can promote the aerobic glycolysis metabolism pathway, increasing HCC proliferation, glycolysis metabolism, stemness and drug resistance. This ASPP2-induced inhibition of glycolysis metabolism depends on the WNT/β-catenin pathway. ASPP2-regulated Warburg effect is associated with tumour progression and provides prognostic value. and suggest that may be promising as a new therapeutic strategy in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beibei Liang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Jiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Jiang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Jiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China.,Medical Engineering Department, The Affiliated Hospital of QingDao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Shaohua Song
- Liver Transplantation Center, Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Jing
- Department of Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Navy Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Yang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Jiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Jiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiqi Tang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Jiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuhui Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Jiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lisha Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Jiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Haili Bao
- Department of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Navy Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Gang Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Jiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Zhao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Jiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
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141
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Daher D, Dahan KSE, Singal AG. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-related hepatocellular carcinoma. JOURNAL OF LIVER CANCER 2023; 23:127-142. [PMID: 37384032 PMCID: PMC10202236 DOI: 10.17998/jlc.2022.12.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), one of the most common causes of liver disease, is an increasingly common cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Several demographic, clinical, and genetic factors contribute to HCC risk in NAFLD patients, which may inform risk stratification scores. Proven efficacious approaches to primary prevention approach in patients with non-viral liver disease remain an area of need. Semi-annual surveillance is associated with improved early tumor detection and reduced HCC-related mortality; however, patients with NAFLD have several challenges to effective surveillance, including under-recognition of at-risk patients, low surveillance utilization in clinical practice, and lower sensitivity of current tools for early-stage HCC detection. Treatment decisions are best made in a multidisciplinary fashion and are informed by several factors including tumor burden, liver dysfunction, performance status, and patient preferences. Although patients with NAFLD often have larger tumor burden and increased comorbidities compared to counterparts, they can achieve similar post-treatment survival with careful patient selection. Therefore, surgical therapies continue to provide a curative treatment option for patients diagnosed at an early stage. Although there has been debate about the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with NAFLD, current data are insufficient to change treatment selection based on liver disease etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darine Daher
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Karim Seif El Dahan
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Amit G. Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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Imamura T, Okamura Y, Ohshima K, Uesaka K, Sugiura T, Yamamoto Y, Ashida R, Ohgi K, Nagashima T, Yamaguchi K. Molecular characterization-based multi-omics analyses in primary liver cancer using the Japanese version of the genome atlas. JOURNAL OF HEPATO-BILIARY-PANCREATIC SCIENCES 2023; 30:269-282. [PMID: 35918906 DOI: 10.1002/jhbp.1223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primary liver cancer (PLC) is classified into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), and combined hepatocellular and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CHC). We investigated the genomic landscape of PLC according to the histological classification and established a cross-histological molecular subtyping for PLC by a multi-omics analysis. METHODS We analyzed 265 PLC cases with whole-exome sequencing and DNA copy number analyses and 251 cases with gene expression profiling. RESULTS The cohort included HCC (n = 223, 84%), ICC (n = 34, 13%), and CHC (n = 8, 3%). Mutation analyses identified histological type-specific driver genes, such as CTNNB1 in HCC and KRAS, IDH1, and PIK3CA in ICC, and ARID1A and KMT2C in CHC. The tumor suppressor gene TP53 mutation was detected in 21.1% of HCC, 16.1% of ICC, and 25.0% of CHC cases. Other well-characterized tumor suppressor genes included RB1, which was mutated in 2.8% of HCC and 3.2% of ICC; and PTEN, which was mutated in 1.4% of HCC, 3.2% of ICC, and 12.5% of CHC cases. DNA copy number analyses identified focal amplifications, with NUF2 (1q23.3) the most frequently detected as an amplified gene in all 3 types (HCC, 3.8%; CHC, 12.5%, ICC, 3.2%). Molecular subtyping for PLC based on the multi-omics analysis identified three subtypes, one of which was associated with recurrence after resection and amplified genes located at chromosome 8q. CONCLUSIONS Our dataset serves as a fundamental resource for genomic medicine for PLC in Japan and identified amplified genes located at chromosome 8q as promising therapeutic targets for the subgroup with a poor prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taisuke Imamura
- Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yukiyasu Okamura
- Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan.,Division of Digestive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiichi Ohshima
- Medical Genetics Division, Shizuoka Cancer Center Research Institute, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Uesaka
- Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Teiichi Sugiura
- Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yusuke Yamamoto
- Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Ryo Ashida
- Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Katsuhisa Ohgi
- Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Takeshi Nagashima
- Cancer Diagnostics Research Division, Shizuoka Cancer Center Research Institute, Shizuoka, Japan.,SRL, Inc., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ken Yamaguchi
- Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital and Research Institute, Shizuoka, Japan
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143
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Shahini E, Pasculli G, Solimando AG, Tiribelli C, Cozzolongo R, Giannelli G. Updating the Clinical Application of Blood Biomarkers and Their Algorithms in the Diagnosis and Surveillance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Critical Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054286. [PMID: 36901717 PMCID: PMC10001986 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The most common primary liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and its mortality rate is increasing globally. The overall 5-year survival of patients with liver cancer is currently 10-20%. Moreover, because early diagnosis can significantly improve prognosis, which is highly correlated with tumor stage, early detection of HCC is critical. International guidelines advise using α-FP biomarker with/without ultrasonography for HCC surveillance in patients with advanced liver disease. However, traditional biomarkers are sub-optimal for risk stratification of HCC development in high-risk populations, early diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment response prediction. Since about 20% of HCCs do not produce α-FP due to its biological diversity, combining α-FP with novel biomarkers can enhance HCC detection sensitivity. There is a chance to offer promising cancer management methods in high-risk populations by utilizing HCC screening strategies derived from new tumor biomarkers and prognostic scores created by combining biomarkers with distinct clinical parameters. Despite numerous efforts to identify molecules as potential biomarkers, there is no single ideal marker in HCC. When combined with other clinical parameters, the detection of some biomarkers has higher sensitivity and specificity in comparison with a single biomarker. Therefore, newer biomarkers and models, such as the Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of Alpha-fetoprotein (α-FP), α-FP-L3, Des-γ-carboxy-prothrombin (DCP or PIVKA-II), and the GALAD score, are being used more frequently in the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC. Notably, the GALAD algorithm was effective in HCC prevention, particularly for cirrhotic patients, regardless of the cause of their liver disease. Although the role of these biomarkers in surveillance is still being researched, they may provide a more practical alternative to traditional imaging-based surveillance. Finally, looking for new diagnostic/surveillance tools may help improve patients' survival. This review discusses the current roles of the most used biomarkers and prognostic scores that may aid in the clinical management of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Endrit Shahini
- Gastroenterology Unit, National Institute of Gastroenterology-IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0804994249
| | - Giuseppe Pasculli
- National Institute of Gastroenterology-IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Giovanni Solimando
- Guido Baccelli Unit of Internal Medicine, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area-(DiMePRe-J), University of Bari “A. Moro”, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | | | - Raffaele Cozzolongo
- Gastroenterology Unit, National Institute of Gastroenterology-IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Giannelli
- Scientific Director, National Institute of Gastroenterology-IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
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Development of Prognostic Features of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on Metabolic Gene Classification and Immune and Oxidative Stress Characteristic Analysis. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2023; 2023:1847700. [PMID: 36860731 PMCID: PMC9969974 DOI: 10.1155/2023/1847700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
Background The molecular classification of HCC premised on metabolic genes might give assistance for diagnosis, therapy, prognosis prediction, immune infiltration, and oxidative stress in addition to supplementing the limitations of the clinical staging system. This would help to better represent the deeper features of HCC. Methods TCGA datasets combined with GSE14520 and HCCDB18 datasets were used to determine the metabolic subtype (MC) using ConsensusClusterPlus. ssGSEA method was used to calculate the IFNγ score, the oxidative stress pathway scores, and the score distribution of 22 distinct immune cells, and their differential expressions were assessed with the use of CIBERSORT. To generate a subtype classification feature index, LDA was utilized. Screening of the metabolic gene coexpression modules was done with the help of WGCNA. Results Three MCs (MC1, MC2, and MC3) were identified and showed different prognoses (MC2-poor and MC1-better). Although MC2 had a high immune microenvironment infiltration, T cell exhaustion markers were expressed at a high level in MC2 in contrast with MC1. Most oxidative stress-related pathways are inhibited in the MC2 subtype and activated in the MC1 subtype. The immunophenotyping of pan-cancer showed that the C1 and C2 subtypes with poor prognosis accounted for significantly higher proportions of MC2 and MC3 subtypes than MC1, while the better prognostic C3 subtype accounted for significantly lower proportions of MC2 than MC1. As per the findings of the TIDE analysis, MC1 had a greater likelihood of benefiting from immunotherapeutic regimens. MC2 was found to have a greater sensitivity to traditional chemotherapy drugs. Finally, 7 potential gene markers indicate HCC prognosis. Conclusion The difference (variation) in tumor microenvironment and oxidative stress among metabolic subtypes of HCC was compared from multiple angles and levels. A complete and thorough clarification of the molecular pathological properties of HCC, the exploration of reliable markers for diagnosis, the improvement of the cancer staging system, and the guiding of individualized treatment of HCC all gain benefit greatly from molecular classification associated with metabolism.
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Minamiguchi K, Nishiofuku H, Saito N, Sato T, Taiji R, Matsumoto T, Maeda S, Chanoki Y, Tachiiri T, Kunichika H, Inoue T, Marugami N, Tanaka T. Quantitative Analysis of Signal Heterogeneity in the Hepatobiliary Phase of Pretreatment Gadoxetic Acid-Enhanced MRI as a Prognostic Imaging Biomarker in Transarterial Chemoembolization for Intermediate-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15041238. [PMID: 36831582 PMCID: PMC9954181 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the era of local and systemic therapies for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), personalized therapy has become available. The aim of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of quantitative analysis of pretreatment gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (EOB-MRI) to predict prognosis following transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). METHODS This retrospective study included patients with treatment-naïve intermediate-stage HCC who underwent EOB-MRI before the initial TACE and were treated by initial TACE between February 2007 and January 2016. Signal heterogeneity in the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) of EOB-MRI was quantitatively evaluated by the coefficient of variation (CV). The cutoff CV value was determined using the Classification and Regression Tree algorithm. RESULTS A total of 64 patients were enrolled. In multivariate analysis, High CV (≥0.16) was significantly associated with poor prognosis (p = 0.038). In a subgroup analysis of patients within up-to-7 criteria, MST was significantly shorter in the High CV group than in the Low CV group (37.7 vs. 82.9 months, p = 0.024). In patients beyond up-to-7 criteria, MST was 18.0 and 38.3 months in the High CV and Low CV groups, respectively (p = 0.182). In both groups scanned at 1.5 T or 3.0 T, High CV was significantly associated with poor prognosis (p = 0.001 and 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSION CV of the tumor in the HBP of EOB-MRI is a valuable prognostic factor of TACE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyoyuki Minamiguchi
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Nara Medical University, Shijyocho 840, Kashihara City 634-8522, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.:+81-744-22-3051
| | - Hideyuki Nishiofuku
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Nara Medical University, Shijyocho 840, Kashihara City 634-8522, Japan
| | - Natsuhiko Saito
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Nara Medical University, Shijyocho 840, Kashihara City 634-8522, Japan
| | - Takeshi Sato
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Nara Medical University, Shijyocho 840, Kashihara City 634-8522, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Taiji
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Nara Medical University, Shijyocho 840, Kashihara City 634-8522, Japan
| | - Takeshi Matsumoto
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Nara Medical University, Shijyocho 840, Kashihara City 634-8522, Japan
| | - Shinsaku Maeda
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Nara Medical University, Shijyocho 840, Kashihara City 634-8522, Japan
| | - Yuto Chanoki
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Nara Medical University, Shijyocho 840, Kashihara City 634-8522, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Tachiiri
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Nara Medical University, Shijyocho 840, Kashihara City 634-8522, Japan
| | - Hideki Kunichika
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Nara Medical University, Shijyocho 840, Kashihara City 634-8522, Japan
| | - Takashi Inoue
- Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, Nara Medical University, Shijyocho 840, Kashihara City 634-8522, Japan
| | - Nagaaki Marugami
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Nara Medical University, Shijyocho 840, Kashihara City 634-8522, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Tanaka
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Nara Medical University, Shijyocho 840, Kashihara City 634-8522, Japan
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Yang Z, Gao S, Wong CC, Liu W, Chen H, Shang H, Wu ZY, Xu L, Zhang X, Wong N, Kuang M, Yu J. TUBB4B is a novel therapeutic target in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. J Pathol 2023; 260:71-83. [PMID: 36787097 DOI: 10.1002/path.6065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (NAFLD-HCC) is an emerging malignancy due to the rising prevalence of NAFLD. However, no drug is available to target NAFLD-HCC. In this study, we aim to unravel novel therapeutic targets of NAFLD-HCC utilizing a high-throughput CRISPR/Cas9 screening strategy. We utilized the Epi-drug CRISPR/Cas9 library consisting of single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) targeting over 1,000 genes representing the FDA-approved drug targets and epigenetic regulators to perform loss-of-function screening in two NAFLD-HCC cell lines (HKCI2 and HKCI10). CRISPR/Cas9 library screening unraveled TUBB4B as an essential gene for NAFLD-HCC cell growth. TUBB4B was overexpressed in NAFLD-HCC tumors compared with adjacent normal tissues (N = 17) and was associated with poor survival (p < 0.01). RNA-sequencing and functional assays revealed that TUBB4B knockout in NAFLD-HCC promoted cell apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and cellular senescence, leading to suppressed NAFLD-HCC growth in vitro and in vivo. We identified that TUBB4B inhibitor mebendazole (MBZ), an FDA-approved drug, inhibited NAFLD-HCC growth by inducing apoptosis and cellular senescence. Since protein expression of pro-survival Bcl-xL was induced in TUBB4B knockout NAFLD-HCC cells, we examined combination of TUBB4B inhibition with navitoclax, a Bcl-xL inhibitor that selectively targets senescent cells. Consistent with our hypothesis, either TUBB4B knockout or MBZ synergized with navitoclax to inhibit NAFLD-HCC cell growth via the induction of intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways. In summary, TUBB4B is a novel therapeutic target in NAFLD-HCC. Inhibition of TUBB4B with MBZ in combination with navitoclax synergistically inhibited NAFLD-HCC cell growth, representing a promising strategy for the treatment of NAFLD-HCC. © 2023 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjie Yang
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Shanshan Gao
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Chi Chun Wong
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Weixin Liu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Huarong Chen
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Haiyun Shang
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Zoe Yuet Wu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Lixia Xu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Xiang Zhang
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Nathalie Wong
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Ming Kuang
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
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147
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Huppert SS, Schwartz RE. Multiple Facets of Cellular Homeostasis and Regeneration of the Mammalian Liver. Annu Rev Physiol 2023; 85:469-493. [PMID: 36270290 PMCID: PMC9918695 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-032822-094134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Liver regeneration occurs in response to diverse injuries and is capable of functionally reestablishing the lost parenchyma. This phenomenon has been known since antiquity, encapsulated in the Greek myth where Prometheus was to be punished by Zeus for sharing the gift of fire with humanity by having an eagle eat his liver daily, only to have the liver regrow back, thus ensuring eternal suffering and punishment. Today, this process is actively leveraged clinically during living donor liver transplantation whereby up to a two-thirds hepatectomy (resection or removal of part of the liver) on a donor is used for transplant to a recipient. The donor liver rapidly regenerates to recover the lost parenchymal mass to form a functional tissue. This astonishing regenerative process and unique capacity of the liver are examined in further detail in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey S Huppert
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA;
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Robert E Schwartz
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA;
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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148
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Hydroxymethylation and Epigenetic Drugs: New Insights into the Diagnosis and Treatment in Epigenetics of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2023; 2023:5449443. [PMID: 36816356 PMCID: PMC9934982 DOI: 10.1155/2023/5449443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly lethal and heterogeneous malignancy with multiple genetic alternations and complex signaling pathways. The complexity and multifactorial nature of HCC pose a tremendous challenge regarding its diagnosis and treatment. Emerging evidence has indicated an important regulatory role of epigenetic modifications in HCC initiation and progression. Epigenetic modifications are stably heritable gene expression traits caused by changing the accessibility of chromatin structure and genetic activity without alteration in the DNA sequence and have been gradually recognized as a hallmark of cancer. In addition, accumulating data suggest a potential value of altered hydroxymethylation in epigenetic modifications and therapeutics targeting the epigenetically mediated regulation. As such, probing the epigenetic field in the era of precision oncology is a valid avenue for promoting the accuracy of early diagnosis and improving the oncological prognosis of HCC patients. This review focuses on the diagnostic performance and clinical utility of 5-hydroxymethylated cytosine, the primary intermediate product of the demethylation process, for early HCC diagnosis and discusses the promising applications of epigenetic-based therapeutic regimens for HCC.
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149
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Gao Q, Sun Z, Fang D. Integrins in human hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenesis and therapy. Chin Med J (Engl) 2023; 136:253-268. [PMID: 36848180 PMCID: PMC10106235 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Integrins are a family of transmembrane receptors that connect the extracellular matrix and actin skeleton, which mediate cell adhesion, migration, signal transduction, and gene transcription. As a bi-directional signaling molecule, integrins can modulate many aspects of tumorigenesis, including tumor growth, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Therefore, integrins have a great potential as antitumor therapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize the recent reports of integrins in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), focusing on the abnormal expression, activation, and signaling of integrins in cancer cells as well as their roles in other cells in the tumor microenvironment. We also discuss the regulation and functions of integrins in hepatitis B virus-related HCC. Finally, we update the clinical and preclinical studies of integrin-related drugs in the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Gao
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116044, China
| | - Zhaolin Sun
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116044, China
| | - Deyu Fang
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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150
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Kuok C, Wang Q, Fong P, Qin Y, Meng L. Inhibitory Effect of Hernandezine on the Proliferation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Biol Pharm Bull 2023; 46:245-256. [PMID: 36724952 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b22-00612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) causes 830000 deaths every year and is becoming the third malignant tumor worldwide. One of the primary reasons is the lack of effective drugs. Hernandezine (HER), a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid of Thalictrum simplex, has been confirmed to have antitumor activity. But there are few reports about its effect on HCC and the underlying mechanisms still remain unclear. Therefore, the antitumor effects and mechanisms of HER on HCC were evaluated in HepG2 and Hep3B cells. The in vitro experiments demonstrated that HER significantly induced G0/G1 phase arrest, inhibited the proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis in liver cancer cell lines. In the mechanisms, the antitumor effects of HER on liver cancer cells were mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT) pathway and reactive oxygen species (ROS), simultaneously. In one way, HER inhibited the activities of PI3K-AKT pathway, which interrupt the dimer formation of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and cyclin D1 (CCND1) and result to G0/G1 phase arrest. In another way, after HER treatment, ROS accumulated in liver cancer cells and caused mitochondria injury which further influenced the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and eventually resulted to HepG2 and Hep3B cell apoptosis. In addition, HER showed a tumor restrain function in HepG2 and Hep3B bearing nude mice. Overall, these findings indicated that HER is a promising antitumor drug, which may provide a new direction for clinical HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiufai Kuok
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Sports, Macao Polytechnic University
| | - Qi Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Pharmaceutical University
| | - Pedro Fong
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Sports, Macao Polytechnic University
| | - Yong Qin
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Pharmaceutical University
| | - Lirong Meng
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Sports, Macao Polytechnic University
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