MEP1A contributes to tumor progression and predicts poor clinical outcome in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of pyrazole-based inhibitors of meprin α and β

Targeting metalloproteinases has been in the focus of drug design for a long time. However, meprin α and β emerged as potential drug targets just recently and are linked to several diseases with different pathological background. Nevertheless, the validation of meprins as suitable drug targets still requires highly potent and selective inhibitors as chemical probes to elucidate their role in pathophysiology. Albeit highly selective inhibitors of meprin β have already been reported, only inhibitors of meprin α with modest activity or selectivity are known. Starting from recently reported heteroaromatic scaffolds, the aim of this study was the optimisation of meprin α and/or meprin β inhibition while keeping the favourable off-target inhibition profile over other metalloproteases. We report potent pan-meprin inhibitors as well as highly active inhibitors of meprin α with superior selectivity over meprin β. The latter are suitable to serve as chemical probes and enable further target validation.

System analysis based on the lysosome-related genes identifies HPS4 as a novel therapy target for liver hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Liver cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Lysosomal dysfunction is implicated in cancer progression; however, prognostic prediction models based on lysosome-related genes (LRGs) are lacking in liver cancer. This study aimed to establish an LRG-based model to improve prognosis prediction and explore potential therapeutic targets in liver cancer.

Methods

Expression profiles of 61 LRGs were analyzed in The Cancer Genome Atlas liver cancer cohorts. There were 14 LRGs identified, and their association with clinical outcomes was evaluated. Unsupervised clustering, Cox regression, and functional assays were performed.

Results

Patients were classified into high-risk and low-risk subgroups based on the 14 LRGs. The high-risk group had significantly worse overall survival. Aberrant immune infiltration and checkpoint expression were observed in the high-risk group. Furthermore, HPS4 was identified as an independent prognostic indicator. Knockdown of HPS4 suppressed liver cancer cell proliferation and induced apoptosis.

Conclusion

This study developed an LRG-based prognostic model to improve risk stratification in liver cancer. The potential value of HPS4 as a therapeutic target and biomarker was demonstrated. Regulation of HPS4 may offer novel strategies for precision treatment in liver cancer patients.

Small extrachromosomal circular DNAs as biomarkers for multi-cancer diagnosis and monitoring

BACKGROUND

Small extrachromosomal circular DNAs (eccDNAs) have the potential to be cancer biomarkers. However, the formation mechanisms and functions of small eccDNAs selected in carcinogenesis are not clear, and whether the small eccDNA profile in the plasma of cancer patients represents that in cancer tissues remains to be elucidated.

METHODS

A novel sequencing workflow based on the nanopore sequencing platform was used to sequence naturally existing full-length small eccDNAs in tissues and plasma collected from 25 cancer patients (including prostate cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal cancer), and from an independent validation cohort (including 7 cancer plasma and 14 healthy plasma).

RESULTS

Compared with those in non-cancer tissues, small eccDNAs detected in cancer tissues had a significantly larger number and size (P = 0.040 and 2.2e-16, respectively), along with more even distribution and different formation mechanisms. Although small eccDNAs had different general characteristics and genomic annotation between cancer tissues and the paired plasma, they had similar formation mechanisms and cancer-related functions. Small eccDNAs originated from some specific genes had great multi-cancer diagnostic value in tissues (AUC ≥ 0.8) and plasma (AUC > 0.9), especially increasing the accuracy of multi-cancer prediction of CEA/CA19-9 levels. The high multi-cancer diagnostic value of small eccDNAs originated from ALK&ETV6 could be extrapolated from tissues (AUC = 0.804) to plasma and showed high positive predictive value (100%) and negative predictive value (82.35%) in a validation cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

As independent and stable circular DNA molecules, small eccDNAs in both tissues and plasma can be used as ideal biomarkers for cost-effective multi-cancer diagnosis and monitoring.

An eleven-gene risk model associated with lymph node metastasis predicts overall survival in lung adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) occupies major causes of tumor death. Identifying potential prognostic risk genes is crucial to predict the overall survival of patients with LUAD. In this study, we constructed and proved an 11-gene risk signature. This prognostic signature divided LUAD patients into low- and high-risk groups. The model outperformed in prognostic accuracy at varying follow-up times (AUC for 3 years: 0.699, 5 years: 0.713, and 7 years: 0.716). Two GEO datasets also indicate the great accuracy of the risk signature (AUC = 782 and 771, respectively). Multivariate analysis identified 4 independent risk factors including stage N (HR 1.320, 95% CI 1.102-1.581, P = 0.003), stage T (HR 3.159, 95% CI 1.920-3.959, P < 0.001), tumor status (HR 5.688, 95% CI 3.883-8.334, P < 0.001), and the 11-gene risk model (HR 2.823, 95% CI 1.928-4.133, P < 0.001). The performance of the nomogram was good in the TCGA database (AUC = 0.806, 0.798, and 0.818 for 3-, 5- and 7-year survival). The subgroup analysis in different age, gender, tumor status, clinical stage, and recurrence stratifications indicated that the accuracy was high in different subgroups (all P < 0.05). Briefly, our work established an 11-gene risk model and a nomogram merging the model with clinicopathological characteristics to facilitate individual prediction of LUAD patients for clinicians.

An inflammation-related gene landscape predicts prognosis and response to immunotherapy in virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Due to the viral infection, chronic inflammation significantly increases the likelihood of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Nevertheless, an inflammation-based signature aimed to predict the prognosis and therapeutic effect in virus-related HCC has rarely been established.

Method

Based on the integrated analysis, inflammation-associated genes (IRGs) were systematically assessed. We comprehensively investigated the correlation between inflammation and transcriptional profiles, prognosis, and immune cell infiltration. Then, an inflammation-related risk model (IRM) to predict the overall survival (OS) and response to treatment for virus-related HCC patients was constructed and verified. Also, the potential association between IRGs and tumor microenvironment (TME) was investigated. Ultimately, hub genes were validated in plasma samples and cell lines via qRT-PCR. After transfection with shCCL20 combined with overSLC7A2, morphological change of SMMC7721 and huh7 cells was observed. Tumorigenicity model in nude mouse was established.

Results

An inflammatory response-related gene signature model, containing MEP1A, CCL20, ADORA2B, TNFSF9, ICAM4, and SLC7A2, was constructed by conjoint analysis of least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression and gaussian finite mixture model (GMM). Besides, survival analysis attested that higher IRG scores were positively relevant to worse survival outcomes in virus-related HCC patients, which was testified by external validation cohorts (the ICGC cohort and GSE84337 dataset). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses commonly proved that the IRG was an independent prognostic factor for virus-related HCC patients. Thus, a nomogram with clinical factors and IRG was also constructed to superiorly predict the prognosis of patients. Featured with microsatellite instability-high, mutation burden, and immune activation, lower IRG score verified a superior OS for sufferers. Additionally, IRG score was remarkedly correlated with the cancer stem cell index and drug susceptibility. The measurement of plasma samples further validated that CCL20 upexpression and SLC7A2 downexpression were positively related with virus-related HCC patients, which was in accord with the results in cell lines. Furthermore, CCL20 knockdown combined with SLC7A2 overexpression availably weakened the tumor growth in vivo.

Conclusions

Collectively, IRG score, serving as a potential candidate, accurately and stably predicted the prognosis and response to immunotherapy in virus-related HCC patients, which could guide individualized treatment decision-making for the sufferers.

Long non-coding RNA CCL14-AS suppresses invasiveness and lymph node metastasis of colorectal cancer cells by regulating MEP1A

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in the biology of colorectal cancer (CRC). There are several lncRNAs associated with invasion and metastasis have been characterized in CRC. However, studies focusing on the precise molecular mechanisms by which lncRNAs function in lymph node (LN) metastasis in CRC are still limited.

METHODS

In this study, by analyzing TCGA dataset, we identified that AC244100.2 (termed CCL14-AS), a novel lncRNA enriched in the cytoplasm, was negatively correlated with LN metastasis and unfavorable prognosis of CRC. In situ hybridization was used to examine CCL14-AS expression in clinical CRC tissues. Various functional experiments including migration assay and wound-healing assay were used to investigate the effects of CCL14-AS on CRC cells migration. The nude mice popliteal lymph node metastasis model assay further confirmed the effects of CCL14-AS in vivo.

RESULTS

CCL14-AS expression was significantly downregulated in CRC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. In addition, low CCL14-AS expression was correlated with advanced T classification, LN metastasis, distant metastasis, and shorter disease-free survival of CRC patients. Functionally, CCL14-AS overexpression inhibited the invasiveness of CRC cells in vitro and LN metastasis in nude mice. On the contrary, knockdown of CCL14-AS promoted the invasiveness and LN metastasis abilities of CRC cells. Mechanistically, CCL14-AS downregulated the expression of MEP1A via interacting with MEP1A mRNA and reduced its stability. Overexpression of MEP1A rescued the invasiveness and LN metastasis abilities in CCL14-AS-overexpressing CRC cells. Moreover, the expression levels of CCL14-AS was negatively correlated with that of MEP1A in CRC tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified a novel lncRNA, CCL14-AS, as a potential tumor suppressor in CRC. Our findings supported a model in which the CCL14-AS/MEP1A axis serves as critical regulator in CRC progression, suggesting a novel biomarker and therapeutic target in advanced CRC.

A Novel Gene Signature Associated with Inflammatory Responses and Immune Status Assists in Prognosis and Intervention for Patients with HCC

BACKGROUND

Tumor growth depends on tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment, which are regulated by inflammation and immune responses. However, the roles of inflammation and immune status in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of an inflammatory response- related gene signature associated with immune status, which may provide insight into new treatment options for HCC patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Differentially expressed genes associated with inflammation were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Gene Expression Omnibus, and the Molecular Signatures Database. An inflammation-associated prognostic gene signature was constructed and validated using TCGA and the International Cancer Genome Consortium datasets, respectively, using LASSO Cox regression analysis. Log-rank was performed to compare the overall survival of low- and high-risk score cohorts. Immune cell infiltration and immune-related functions were analyzed using single-sample gene enrichment analysis. The structures of the drugs identified by the prognostic model were predicted using PubChem. The drugs sensitivity of bleomycin, simvastatin and zoledronate detected by CCK8 colorimetric assay. The mRNA levels of 7 genes in HCC after drug treatment analyzed via qRT-PCR.

RESULTS

Inflammation-associated genes, including ITGA5, MEP1A, P2RX4, RIPK2, SLC7A1 and SRI, were identified and found to be associated with the prognosis of HCC. We further found that the high-risk patients experienced poor prognosis, which was observed to be an independent and significant risk factor for prognosis. Moreover, we observed elevated expression levels in multiple immune cell types and immune function. Lastly, we validated that bleomycin, simvastatin and zoledronate could regulate these genes in HCC.

CONCLUSION

The inflammatory-response-associated gene signature could predict the prognosis and the immunological status of HCC patients. Additionally, bleomycin, simvastatin and zoledronate may represent potential drug candidates that could inhibit these genes. This may constitute a new approach for the treatment of HCC.

Exploring the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of the Radix Bupleuri-Rhizoma Cyperi herb pair on hepatocellular carcinoma using multilevel data integration and molecular docking

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a promising and effective treatment for cancer with minimal side effects through a multi-active ingredient multitarget network. Radix Bupleuri and Rhizoma Cyperi are listed as herbs dispersing stagnated liver Qi in China. They have been used clinically to treat liver diseases for many years and recent pharmacological studies have shown that they inhibit the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the pharmacological mechanisms, potential targets, and clinical value of the Radix Bupleuri-Rhizoma Cyperi herb pair (CXP) for suppressing HCC growth have not been fully elucidated. We identified 44 CXP targets involved in the treatment of HCC using the GEO dataset and HERB database. An analysis of the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database (TCMSP) showed that CXP exerts synergistic effects through 4 active ingredients, including quercetin, stigmasterol, isorhamnetin, and kaempferol. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that CXP mainly regulates HCC progression through metabolic pathways, the p53 signaling pathway, and the cell cycle. Additionally, we applied The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) database to perform the expression patterns, clinical features, and prognosis of 6 genes (CCNB1, CDK1, CDK4, MYC, CDKN2A, and CHEK1) in cell cycle pathways to reveal that CXP suppresses HCC clinical therapeutic value. Moreover, based on molecular docking, we further verified that CXP exerts its anti-HCC activity through the interaction of multiple active components with cell cycle-related genes. We systematically revealed the potential pharmacological mechanisms and targets of CXP in HCC using multilevel data integration and molecular docking strategies.

Potential methylation-regulated genes and pathways in hepatocellular neoplasm, not otherwise specified

Background and Aims

The molecular basis of hepatocellular neoplasm, not otherwise specified (HCN-NOS) is unknown. We aimed to identify gene expression patterns, potential methylation-regulated genes and pathways that characterize the tumor, and its possible relationship to hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Approach & Results

Parallel genome-wide profiling of gene expression (RNAseq) and DNA methylation (EPIC850) was performed on 4 pairs of pre-treatment HCN-NOS tumors and adjacent non-tumor controls. 2530 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between tumors and controls. Many of these DEGs were associated with hepatoblastoma and/or HCC. Analysis Match in Ingenuity Pathway Analysis determined that the gene expression profile of HCN-NOS was unique but significantly similar to that of both hepatoblastoma and HCC. A total of 27,195 CpG sites (CpGs) were significantly differentially methylated (DM) between tumors and controls, with a global hypomethylation pattern and predominant CpG island hypermethylation in promotor regions. Aberrant DNA methylation predominated in Developmental Process and Molecular Function Regulator pathways. Embryonic stem cell pathways were significantly enriched. In total, 1055 aberrantly methylated (at CpGs) and differentially expressed genes were identified, including 25 upstream regulators and sixty-one potential CpG island methylation-regulated genes. Eight methylation-regulated genes (TCF3, MYBL2, SRC, HMGA2, PPARGC1A, SLC22A1, COL2A1 and MYCN) had highly consistent gene expression patterns and prognostic value in patients with HCC, based on comparison to publicly available datasets.

Conclusions

HCN-NOS has a unique, stem-cell like gene expression and DNA methylation profile related to both hepatoblastoma and HCC but distinct therefrom. Further, 8 methylation-regulated genes associated with prognosis in HCC were identified.

Pathophysiological Implications of Urinary Peptides in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Simple Summary

In this study, the application of capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry enabled identification of 31 urinary peptides significantly associated with hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis and prognosis. Further assessment of these peptides lead to prediction of cellular proteases involved in their development namely Meprin A subunit α and Kallikrein-6. Subsequent identification of the proteases was verified by immunohistochemistry in normal liver, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Histopathological assessment of the proteases revealed numerical gradient staining signifying their involvement in liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma formation. The discovered urinary peptides offered a potential noninvasive tool for diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is known to be associated with protein alterations and extracellular fibrous deposition. We investigated the urinary proteomic profiles of HCC patients in this prospective cross sectional multicentre study. 195 patients were recruited from the UK (Coventry) and Germany (Hannover) between 1 January 2013 and 30 June 2019. Out of these, 57 were HCC patients with a background of liver cirrhosis (LC) and 138 were non-HCC controls; 72 patients with LC, 57 with non-cirrhotic liver disease and 9 with normal liver function. Analysis of the urine samples was performed by capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS). Peptide sequences were obtained and 31 specific peptide markers for HCC were identified and further integrated into a multivariate classification model. The peptide model demonstrated 79.5% sensitivity and 85.1% specificity (95% CI: 0.81–0.93, p < 0.0001) for HCC and 4.1-fold increased risk of death (95% CI: 1.7–9.8, p = 0.0005). Proteases potentially involved in HCC progression were mapped to the N- and C-terminal sequence motifs of the CE-MS peptide markers. In silico protease prediction revealed that kallikrein-6 (KLK6) elicits increased activity, whilst Meprin A subunit α (MEP1A) has reduced activity in HCC compared to the controls. Tissue expression of KLK6 and MEP1A was subsequently verified by immunohistochemistry.

An Inflammatory Response-Related Gene Signature Can Impact the Immune Status and Predict the Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly heterogeneous disease, which makes the prognostic prediction challenging. As part of the active cross-talk between the tumor and the host, inflammatory response in the tumor or its microenvironment could affect prognosis. However, the prognostic value of inflammatory response-related genes in HCC remains to be further elucidated.

Methods

In this study, the mRNA expression profiles and corresponding clinical data of HCC patients were downloaded from the public database. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox analysis was utilized to construct a multigene prognostic signature in the TCGA cohort. HCC patients from the ICGC cohort were used for validation. Kaplan Meier analysis was used to compare the overall survival (OS) between high- and low-risk groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were applied to determine the independent predictors for OS. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis was utilized to calculate the immune cell infiltration score and immune related pathway activity. Gene set enrichment analysis was implemented to conduct GO terms and KEGG pathways. The qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were utilized to perform the mRNA and protein expression of prognostic genes between HCC tissues and normal liver tissues respectively.

Results

An inflammatory response-related gene signature model was constructed by LASSO Cox regression analysis. Compared with the low-risk group, patients in the high-risk group showed significantly reduced OS. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis confirmed the predictive capacity of the prognostic gene signature. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that the risk score was an independent predictor for OS. Functional analysis indicated that immune status was definitely different between two risk groups, and cancer-related pathways were enriched in high-risk group. The risk score was significantly correlated with tumor grade, tumor stage and immune infiltrate types. The expression levels of prognostic genes were significantly correlated with sensitivity of cancer cells to anti-tumor drugs. Furthermore, the expression of prognostic genes showed significant difference between HCC tissues and adjacent non-tumorous tissues in the separate sample cohort.

Conclusion

A novel signature constructed with eight inflammatory response-related genes can be used for prognostic prediction and impact the immune status in HCC. Moreover, inhibition of these genes may be a therapeutic alternative.

Predictive value of MEP1A in cancer prognosis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Meprin is a member of the astaxanthin family; it performs many functions through a wide range of proteolytic enzyme activities during health and disease, including tumors and inflammatory conditions. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the predictive value of MEP1A in tumor prognosis.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane library, and Web of Science Database using a developed search strategy. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) or the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias will be used to access the methodological quality of included studies, and GRADE will be applied to evaluate evidence quality of outcomes. All analyses were performed by Stata 15.0.

RESULTS

The results will systematically summarize and display the currently collected evidence on the predictive value of MEP1A in different tumor prognosis.

CONCLUSION

This study may play a certain role in predicting the prognosis of cancer patients in the future, and may prompt clinicians to make necessary treatment or prevention plans as soon as possible.

ETHICS AND COMMUNICATION

It is not necessary because the present systematic review is based on published studies.

INPLASY REGISTRATION NUMBER

INPLASY2020100005.

Role of meprin metalloproteases in metastasis and tumor microenvironment

A crucial step for tumor cell extravasation and metastasis is the migration through the extracellular matrix, which requires proteolytic activity. Hence, proteases, particularly matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), have been discussed as therapeutic targets and their inhibition should diminish tumor growth and metastasis. The metalloproteases meprin α and meprin β are highly abundant on intestinal enterocytes and their expression was associated with different stages of colorectal cancer. Due to their ability to cleave extracellular matrix (ECM) components, they were suggested as pro-tumorigenic enzymes. Additionally, both meprins were shown to have pro-inflammatory activity by cleaving cytokines and their receptors, which correlates with chronic intestinal inflammation and associated conditions. On the other hand, meprin β was identified as an essential enzyme for the detachment and renewal of the intestinal mucus, important to prevent bacterial overgrowth and infection. Considering this, it is hard to estimate whether high activity of meprins is generally detrimental or if these enzymes have also protective functions in certain cancer types. For instance, for colorectal cancer, patients with high meprin β expression in tumor tissue exhibit a better survival prognosis, which is completely different to prostate cancer. This demonstrates that the very same enzyme may have contrary effects on tumor initiation and growth, depending on its tissue and subcellular localization. Hence, precise knowledge about proteolytic enzymes is required to design the most efficient therapeutic options for cancer treatment. In this review, we summarize the current findings on meprins' functions, expression, and cancer-associated variants with possible implications for tumor progression and metastasis.

CBX3/HP1γ promotes tumor proliferation and predicts poor survival in hepatocellular carcinoma

HP1γ, encoded by CBX3, is associated with cancer progression and patient prognosis. However, the prognostic value and functions of CBX3/HP1γ in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. Here, we performed a bioinformatics analysis using the Oncomine, TCGA and Human Protein Atlas databases, the Kaplan-Meier plotter, and the UALCAN web-portal to explore the expression and prognostic significance of CBX3/HP1γ in patients with different cancers, including liver cancer. HCC tissues and microarrays containing 354 samples were examined using immunohistochemical staining, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting. CBX3-overexpression HCC cell lines were tested in proliferation assays to determine the function of CBX3/HP1γ. We found that CBX3/HP1γ was upregulated in many cancers and was associated with poor prognosis. Our results also revealed that CBX3/HP1γ is elevated in HCC tissues and is associated with malignant clinicopathological characteristics. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses verified that high CBX3/HP1γ expression is an independent and significant prognostic factor for reduced overall survival in HCC patients. Moreover, invitro functional assays showed that CBX3/HP1γ overexpression promotes HCC cell proliferation. These findings suggest that CBX3/HP1γ is an important oncogene in HCC that might act as a useful biomarker for prognosis and targeted therapy.

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals the landscape of intra-tumoral heterogeneity and stemness-related subpopulations in liver cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is heterogeneous, rendering its current curative treatments ineffective. The emergence of single-cell genomics represents a powerful strategy in delineating the complex molecular landscapes of cancers. In this study, we demonstrated the feasibility and merit of using single-cell RNA sequencing to dissect the intra-tumoral heterogeneity and analyze the single-cell transcriptomic landscape to detect rare cell subpopulations of significance. Exploration of the inter-relationship among liver cancer stem cell markers showed two distinct major cell populations according to EPCAM expression, and the EPCAM⁺ cells had upregulated expression of multiple oncogenes. We also identified a CD24⁺/CD44⁺-enriched cell subpopulation within the EPCAM⁺ cells which had specific signature genes and might indicate a novel stemness-related cell subclone in HCC. Notably, knockdown of signature gene CTSE for CD24⁺/CD44⁺ cells significantly reduced self-renewal ability on HCC cells in vitro and the stemness-related role of CTSE was further confirmed by in vivo tumorigenicity assays in nude mice. In summary, single-cell genomics is a useful tool to delineate HCC intratumoral heterogeneity at better resolution. It can identify rare but important cell subpopulations, and may guide better precision medicine in the long run.

Human Leukocyte Antigen F Locus Adjacent Transcript 10 Overexpression Disturbs WISP1 Protein and mRNA Expression to Promote Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression

Recently, studies on transcriptome-proteome relationships have revealed mRNA/protein expression discordance for certain genes and speculated that protein posttranslational modification (PTM) may be involved. However, there is currently no evidence to support this hypothesis. Wnt-induced secreted protein-1 (WISP1) is the downstream target gene of β-catenin and plays an important role in tumorigenesis and progression, but the expression and role of WISP1 in different tumor types are controversial. Here, we first confirmed that WISP1 protein expression was significantly down-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue and could be an independent predictor of poor prognosis for patients with HCC. In vivo and in vitro evidence was provided that WISP1 can suppress HCC cell proliferation. Further studies have found that low WISP1 protein expression was related to expression of human leukocyte antigen F locus adjacent transcript 10 (FAT10), a specific ubiquitin-like protein with both degradation and stabilization functions, which plays an important role in PTM. FAT10 overexpression facilitated WISP1 degradation by FAT10ylation to decrease WISP1 protein expression, thus promoting HCC proliferation. Interestingly, we found and demonstrated that FAT10 overexpression could result in WISP1 protein/mRNA expression discordance, with protein expression decreasing while mRNA expression increased. The underlying mechanism is that FAT10 exerts substrate stabilization and degradation functions simultaneously, while FAT10 overexpression promotes WISP1 mRNA expression by stabilizing β-catenin and directly degrades WISP1 protein. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that overexpression of FAT10 results in expression discordance between WISP1 protein and mRNA, thereby promoting HCC progression by down-regulating WISP1 protein expression.

Aberrant MCT4 and GLUT1 expression is correlated with early recurrence and poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy

The tumor microenvironment is a key determinant of cancer cell biology. The microenvironment is a complex mixture of tumor cells, stromal cells, and proteins, extracellular matrix, oxygen tension, and pH levels surrounding the cells that regulate the tumor progress. This study identified the prognostic factors associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and MCT4 and GLUT1 expression levels in HCC specimens. In this study, we analyzed MCT4 and GLUT1 expression levels in tissue samples from 213 patients with HCC by immunohistochemical analyses and in HCC tumor tissues and matched adjacent nonneoplastic tissues by quantitative real‐time PCR. We conducted a prognostic analysis of the overall survival (OS) and time to recurrence (TTR) using immunoreactivity and other common clinical and pathological parameters. All variables with prognostic impact were further analyzed by multivariate analysis. We found that MCT4 and GLUT1 expression levels were significantly higher in tumor tissues than in adjacent nontumor tissues, and they were positively correlated with tumor size. Survival analysis showed that patients with high expression levels of MCT4 or GLUT1 had a poor OS and TTR. In patients with HCC, MCT4 expression was an independent negative prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.617; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.102–2.374; P = 0.014), and metabolic indicators were independent prognostic factors for OS (HR = 1.617, 95% CI = 1.102−2.374, P = 0.006) and TTR (HR = 1.348, 95% CI = 1.079−1.685, P = 0.009). Interestingly, patients with positive metabolic indicator expression in tumor cells had a significantly shorter OS and earlier TTR than those with negative metabolic indicator expression in tumor cells in the ≤5 cm and >5 cm subgroups. In summary, using the expression of MCT4 and GLUT1 and their metabolic parameters to determine the metabolic status of tumors is promising for predicting the prognosis of patients with HCC.

Tertiary-Amine-Based Inhibitors of the Astacin Protease Meprin α

Metalloproteinases of the astacin family are drawing ever increasing attention as potential drug targets. However, knowledge regarding inhibitors thereof is limited in most cases. Crucial for the development of metalloprotease inhibitors is high selectivity, to avoid side effects brought about by inhibition of off-target proteases and interference with physiological pathways. In this study we aimed at the design of novel selective inhibitors for the astacin proteinase meprin α. Based on a recently identified tertiary amine scaffold, a series of compounds was synthesized and evaluated. The compounds exhibit reasonable inhibitory activity with high selectivity over other metalloproteases. The isoenzyme meprin β is only slightly inhibited. Hence, the present study revealed a novel class of selective meprin α inhibitors with improved selectivity over known compounds.

Tracking cellular and molecular changes in a species-specific manner during experimental tumor progression in vivo

Hepatoblastoma (HBL) is a pediatric liver cancer with defined molecular alterations driving its progression. Here, we describe an animal model for HBL on the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), which recapitulates relevant features of HBL in patients. Expression of classic tumor-associated proteins such as β-catenin, EpCAM and CK19 was maintained in acini-like organized tumors on CAM, as was synthesis of AFP, a tumor marker used for monitoring patient response. RNA sequencing revealed an unexpected molecular evolution of HBL cells on the CAM, with significant deregulation of more than 6,000 genes including more than half of all HOX genes. Bioinformatic analysis distinguish between tumor cell-expressed genes and chick genes, thereby shedding new light on the complex interactions taking place during HBL progression. Importantly, human tumor suppressive ribosomal genes were downregulated after implantation, whereas mitochondrial genes encoding for anti-apoptotic peptides were strongly induced in vivo. Meprin-1α expression was increased during evolution of CAM tumors and confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Cisplatin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent for HBL, showed significant anti-tumoral effects. Our results broaden the understanding of the molecular adaptation process of human cancer cells to the microenvironment and might help to elaborate novel therapeutic concepts for the treatment of this pediatric liver tumor.

Metalloproteinase meprin α regulates migration and invasion of human hepatocarcinoma cells and is a mediator of the oncoprotein Reptin

Hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with a high rate of intra-hepatic invasion that carries a poor prognosis. Meprin alpha (Mep1A) is a secreted metalloproteinase with many substrates relevant to cancer invasion. We found that Mep1A was a target of Reptin, a protein that is oncogenic in HCC. We studied Mep1A regulation by Reptin, its role in HCC, and whether it mediates Reptin oncogenic effects.

MepA and Reptin expression was measured in human HCC by qRT-PCR and in cultured cells by PCR, western blot and enzymatic activity measurements. Cell growth was assessed by counting and MTS assay. Cell migration was measured in Boyden chambers and wound healing assays, and cell invasion in Boyden chambers.

Silencing Reptin decreased Mep1A expression and activity, without affecting meprin β. Mep1A, but not meprin β, was overexpressed in a series of 242 human HCC (2.04 fold, p < 0.0001), and a high expression correlated with a poor prognosis. Mep1A and Reptin expressions were positively correlated (r = 0.39, p < 0.0001). Silencing Mep1A had little effect on cell proliferation, but decreased cell migration and invasion of HuH7 and Hep3B cells. Conversely, overexpression of Mep1A or addition of recombinant Mep1A increased migration and invasion. Finally, overexpression of Mep1A restored a normal cell migration in cells where Reptin was depleted.

Mep1A is overexpressed in most HCC and induces HCC cell migration and invasion. Mep1A expression is regulated by Reptin, and Mep1A mediates Reptin-induced migration. Overall, we suggest that Mep1A may be a useful target in HCC.

Prognostic significance of sodium-potassium ATPase regulator, FXYD3, in human hepatocellular carcinoma

The clinical significance of the sodium-potassium ATPase regulator FXYD domain-containing ion transport regulator 3 (FXYD3) has been demonstrated in a number of types of cancer. However, the role of this protein in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be elucidated. In the present study, 217 HCC tissue samples were analyzed to evaluate the expression and prognostic significance of FXYD3 in HCC. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the mRNA expression of FXYD3 in 80 primary HCC specimens and paired non-cancerous liver tissue samples, while western blotting was used to analyze the protein expression level of FXYD3 in another 24 pairs. These analyses demonstrated that the expression level of FXYD3 was significantly increasedb at the mRNA and protein levels in HCC tumor tissues compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis of 137 paraffin-embedded HCC tissue samples indicated that the expression of FXYD3 was associated with HCC clinicopathological characteristics. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that patients with high FXYD3 protein expression (n=60) experienced significantly poorer overall survival time compared with patients with low FXYD3 protein expression (n=77) (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that FYXD3 protein expression level (hazard ratio, 2.137; 95% confidence interval, 1.224–3.732; P=0.008) was an independent prognostic factor in patients with HCC. Overall, the results indicated that FXYD3 expression levels were higher in HCC tumor tissues than in adjacent non-cancerous tissues, and that the FXYD3 protein may serve as a prognostic marker for HCC.

Sorcin Predicts Poor Prognosis and Promotes Metastasis by Facilitating Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Metastasis-associated recurrence is the main cause for the poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying HCC metastasis remain elusive. Though some data indicated the oncogenic role of Sorcin in tumors, the prognostic value and biological role of Sorcin in HCC is still unknown. In this study, it demonstrated that Sorcin expression levels were significantly upregulated in HCC tumor tissues compared with matched adjacent nontumorous liver tissues and normal liver tissues, and such expression level correlated with HCC metastasis. High Sorcin expression was significantly correlated with aggressive clinicopathological characteristics such as multiple tumor nodules, high Edmondson-Steiner grade, microvascular invasion, advanced TNM stage and advanced BCLC stage (all P < 0.05). HCC patients with high Sorcin expression had both shorter survival and higher recurrence than those with low Sorcin expression (all P < 0.05). Sorcin expression was an independent and significant risk factor for survival and recurrence of HCC patients. Results of functional experiments showed that Sorcin could promote HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, and facilitate HCC growth and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, Sorcin exerted its role by activating extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway and promoted metastasis by facilitating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HCC.

Clinical significance of expression of CMTM7 in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM

To detect the expression of CMTM7 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to analyze its clinical significance.

METHODS

Tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry method were used to detect 75 pairs of HCC tissues and tumor-adjacent normal tissues. The relationship of CMTM7 expression with clinical pathological features and overall survival of postoperative patients was analyzed statistically.

RESULTS

The expression rate of CMTM7 in HCC tissues (20.00%, 15/75) was significantly lower than that in paired para-carcinoma normal tissues (81.33%, 61/75; P < 0.05). The expression of CMTM7 in HCC had no obvious correlation with gender, age, smoking history, drinking history, family history of hepatitis B virus infection or tumor, tumor number, pathological classification, or clinical stage. However, CMTM7 expression had a significant correlation with liver cirrhosis, distant metastasis, tumor size, TNM stage, and α-fetoprotein levels (P < 0.05). The survival time of postoperative HCC patients in the CMTM7 negative group was obviously lower than that of patients in the CMTM7 positive group, suggesting that CMTM7 expression may be related to the prognosis of HCC patients.

CONCLUSION

The down-regulated expression of CMTM7 may be closely related with the occurrence and development of HCC.