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Chen W, Yang X, Sun J, Chen Y, Zhao W, He C, An H, Pang J, Xu W, Wen B, Sun H, He S. Biejiajian pill inhibits progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by downregulating PDGFRβ signaling in cancer-associated fibroblasts. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 301:115825. [PMID: 36240978 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Biejiajian pill (BJJP) is a canonical formula that is clinically used to treat chronic liver disease, especially to decrease the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanisms underlying the prevention of HCC progression by BJJP remain unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed to determine whether BJJP inhibits HCC progression by downregulating platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRβ) signaling in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in a mouse model of diethylnitrosamine (DEN)/carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced HCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS C57BL/6 male mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEN 2 weeks after birth, followed by repeated injections of CCl4 weekly from 6 weeks of age onwards, to recapitulate features of HCC. At week 14, BJJP was orally administered to mice. The effects of BJJP on HCC progression were evaluated using histology, immunohistochemistry, and serum biochemical marker levels. Transcriptome analysis, molecular docking, quantitative real-time PCR, and Western blot were used to study the genes targeted by BJJP and the associated signaling pathway. The effects of BJJP on PDGFRβ signaling in CAFs and the underlying mechanism were demonstrated. RESULTS BJJP treatment significantly suppressed carcinogenesis and cancer progression, and it ameliorated liver inflammation in mice with HCC. A total of 176 genes, including PDGFRβ, were significantly downregulated after BJJP treatment and five components of BJJP with high binding affinity to PDGFRβ were identified. BJJP inhibited the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) by suppressing PDGFRβ expression in CAFs, and it also downregulated the expression of the downstream proteins hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). Furthermore, BJJP-containing serum consistently reduced PDGFRβ, HGF, and VEGF-A expression levels in HSC-derived CAFs in vitro. Importantly, PDGF-BB induced PDGFRβ activation in CAFs and both BJJP and sunitinib (a kinase inhibitor) inhibited PDGF-BB/PDGFRβ signaling. CONCLUSION BJJP inhibits the progression of HCC through suppressing VEGF-A and HGF expression in CAFs by downregulating PDGFRβ signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weicong Chen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Xuemei Yang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Jialing Sun
- Department of Hepatology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518033, China.
| | - Yuyao Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Wenting Zhao
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Chunyu He
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Haiyan An
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Jie Pang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Wei Xu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Bin Wen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Air Force Hospital of Southern Theatre Command of People's Liberation Army, Guangzhou, 510602, China.
| | - Haitao Sun
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Songqi He
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
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Li X, Zhao K, Lu Y, Wang J, Yao W. Genetic Analysis of Platelet-Related Genes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Reveals a Novel Prognostic Signature and Determines PRKCD as the Potential Molecular Bridge. Biol Proced Online 2022; 24:22. [PMID: 36463115 PMCID: PMC9719151 DOI: 10.1186/s12575-022-00185-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) belongs to a representative lethality gastrointestinal malignancy, and comprehensive management of HCC remains intractable at present on account of its invasive biological feature that is easy to relapse and early metastasis. The intimate connection between platelets and tumor progression has been widely reported, and platelet-related indicators are also used in the clinical practice of carcinoma. This work is designed to investigate the significance of platelet-related genes in the prognostic prediction of patients with HCC and their potential role in the cross-talk between HCC cells and platelets in the tumor microenvironment. METHODS By integrating the RNA-seq data and clinicopathological information of HCC patients, we extracted prognosis-associated platelet-related genes based on the univariate cox analysis and further established a relevant prognostic signature via the lasso cox regression analysis, and two independent HCC cohorts were used as external validation. Multiple bioinformatics methods were utilized to explore the underlying functional discrepancy between different risk groups classified by the risk model. And in vitro proliferation, invasion, and migration assays were conducted to investigate the effect of platelet stimulation on HCC cells' viability and motility, and flow cytometric analysis was exerted to demonstrate the influence of HCC cells on platelet activation. RESULTS A novel platelet-related risk model was developed and patients both in the training and testing cohorts were divided into distinct risk subgroups according to the median risk score. It was observed that the high-risk status was closely associated with poor prognosis and worse clinicopathological parameters. Meanwhile, an obvious discrepancy in the constitution of the immune microenvironment also indicated that distinct immune status might be a potential determinant affecting prognosis as well as immunotherapy reactiveness. Moreover, in vitro experiments demonstrated that PRKCD could act as a molecular bridge between tumor cells and platelets, which could either participate in regulating tumor malignant phenotype or mediating platelet activation. CONCLUSIONS In brief, this work reveals a novel platelet-related risk signature for prognostic evaluation of HCC patients and confirms that PRKCD is a key messenger in HCC cell-platelet interaction and plays a crucial role in mediating platelet-induced tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Li
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery/Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 Hubei China
| | - Kai Zhao
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery/Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 Hubei China
| | - Yun Lu
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery/Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 Hubei China
| | - Jianming Wang
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery/Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 Hubei China ,grid.412787.f0000 0000 9868 173XAffiliated Tianyou Hospital, Wuhan University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, 430064 China
| | - Wei Yao
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Department of Oncology Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 Hubei China
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El-Far YM, Khodir AE, Emarah ZA, Ebrahim MA, Al-Gayyar MMH. Chemopreventive and hepatoprotective effects of genistein via inhibition of oxidative stress and the versican/PDGF/PKC signaling pathway in experimentally induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats by thioacetamide. Redox Rep 2022; 27:9-20. [PMID: 35080474 PMCID: PMC8794077 DOI: 10.1080/13510002.2022.2031515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Genistein is a recognized isoflavone present in soybeans with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiangiogenic and antitumor activities. This study aimed to test ability of genistein in modulating versican/platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) axis in HCC. Methods HCC was experimentally induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats then treated with 25 or 75 mg/kg genistein. Antioxidant activities of genistein was assessed by measuring the gene expression of Nrf2 and the hepatic levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione. Expression of versican, PDGF, protein kinase C (PKC) and ERK-1 protein was assessed by Western blotting and immunostaining. Results HCC induced an elevation in oxidative stress, PDGF, versican, PKC and ERK protein expression levels. Genistein significantly reduced an HCC-induced increase in oxidative stress. Moreover, genistein dose-dependently reduced HCC-induced elevation of PDGF, versican, PKC and ERK protein expression levels. Moreover, genistein helped retain a normal hepatocyte structure and reduced fibrous tissue deposition, especially in high dose. Conclusions Genistein exerted antitumor and antioxidant effects and therefore suppress HCC development via inhibition of the PDGF/versican bidirectional axis, suppressing both ERK1 and PKC as downstream regulators. Therefore, genistein is a potential novel therapeutic candidate for improving the outcome of patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousra M. El-Far
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Biochemistry, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Ahmed E. Khodir
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Horus University in Egypt, New Damietta, Egypt
| | - Ziad A. Emarah
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A. Ebrahim
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Mohammed M. H. Al-Gayyar
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Biochemistry, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
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The systemic immune-inflammation index predicts prognosis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: an international multi-institutional analysis. HPB (Oxford) 2020; 22:1667-1674. [PMID: 32265108 DOI: 10.1016/j.hpb.2020.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to examine whether the systemic immune inflammation index (SII) was associated with prognosis among patients following resection of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). METHODS The impact of SII on overall (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) following resection of ICC was assessed. The performance of the final multivariable models that incorporated inflammatory markers (i.e. neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR], platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio [PLR] and SII [platelets∗NLR]) was assessed using the Harrell's concordance index. RESULTS Patients with high SII had worse 5-year OS (37.7% vs 46.6%, p < 0.001) and CSS (46.1% vs 50.1%, p < 0.001) compared with patients with low SII. An elevated SII (HR = 1.70, 95% CI 1.23-2.34) and NLR (HR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.10-2.27) independently predicted worse OS, whereas high PLR (HR = 1.17, 95% CI 0.85-1.60) was no longer associated with prognosis. Only SII remained an independent predictor of CSS (HR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.09-2.21). The SII multivariable model outperformed models that incorporated PLR and NLR relative to OS (c-index; 0.696 vs 0.689 vs 0.692) and CSS (c-index; 0.697 vs 0.689 vs 0.690). CONCLUSION SII independently predicted OS and CSS among patients with resectable ICC. SII may be a better predictor of outcomes compared with other markers of inflammatory response among patients with resectable ICC.
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Kim MS, Choi HS, Wu M, Myung J, Kim EJ, Kim YS, Ro S, Ha SE, Bartlett A, Wei L, Ryu HS, Choi SC, Park WC, Kim KY, Lee MY. Potential Role of PDGFRβ-Associated THBS4 in Colorectal Cancer Development. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12092533. [PMID: 32899998 PMCID: PMC7564555 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12092533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary We found increased levels of THBS4 and PDGFRb in tumor tissues compared to normal tissues of colon cancer patients. The relationship and the cause of the increase in these proteins had to be determined. Therefore, we performed several experiments and confirmed that excessive PDGFRb stimulation induces the THBS4 secretion through the intracellular Ca2+ signaling proteins. Our data show the possibility of post-translational modification of THBS4 by PDGFRb stimulation as there was no significant change in the THBS4 mRNA. Abstract Colorectal cancer is a significant cause of death since it frequently metastasizes to several organs such as the lung or liver. Tumor development is affected by various factors, including a tumor microenvironment, which may be an essential factor that leads to tumor growth, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. In the tumor microenvironment, abnormal changes in various growth factors, enzymes, and cytokines can wield a strong influence on cancer. Thrombospondin-4 (THBS4), which is an extracellular matrix protein, also plays essential roles in the tumor microenvironment and mediates angiogenesis by transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signaling. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ), which is a receptor tyrosine kinase and is also a downstream signal of TGFβ, is associated with invasion and metastasis in colorectal cancer. We identified that PDGFRβ and THBS4 are overexpressed in tumor tissues of colorectal cancer patients, and that PDGF-D expression increased after TGFβ treatment in the colon cancer cell line DLD-1. TGFβ and PDGF-D increased cellular THBS4 protein levels and secretion but did not increase THBS4 mRNA levels. This response was further confirmed by the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R) and stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) blockade as well as the PDGFRβ blockade. We propose that the PDGFRβ signal leads to a modification of the incomplete form of THBS4 to its complete form through IP3R, STIM1, and Ca2+-signal proteins, which further induces THBS4 secretion. Additionally, we identified that DLD-1 cell-conditioned medium stimulated with PDGF-D promotes adhesion, migration, and proliferation of colon myofibroblast CCD-18co cells, and this effect was intensified in the presence of thrombin. These findings suggest that excessive PDGFRβ signaling due to increased TGFβ and PDGF-D in colorectal tumors leads to over-secretion of THBS4 and proliferative tumor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Seob Kim
- Department of Physiology, Digestive Disease Research Institute, and Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea; (M.S.K.); (H.S.C.); (M.W.); (J.M.)
| | - Hyun Seok Choi
- Department of Physiology, Digestive Disease Research Institute, and Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea; (M.S.K.); (H.S.C.); (M.W.); (J.M.)
| | - Moxin Wu
- Department of Physiology, Digestive Disease Research Institute, and Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea; (M.S.K.); (H.S.C.); (M.W.); (J.M.)
| | - JiYeon Myung
- Department of Physiology, Digestive Disease Research Institute, and Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea; (M.S.K.); (H.S.C.); (M.W.); (J.M.)
| | - Eui Joong Kim
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea; (E.J.K.); (Y.S.K.); (H.-S.R.); (S.C.C.)
| | - Yong Sung Kim
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea; (E.J.K.); (Y.S.K.); (H.-S.R.); (S.C.C.)
| | - Seungil Ro
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557, USA; (S.R.); (S.E.H.); (A.B.); (L.W.)
| | - Se Eun Ha
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557, USA; (S.R.); (S.E.H.); (A.B.); (L.W.)
| | - Allison Bartlett
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557, USA; (S.R.); (S.E.H.); (A.B.); (L.W.)
| | - Lai Wei
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557, USA; (S.R.); (S.E.H.); (A.B.); (L.W.)
| | - Han-Seung Ryu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea; (E.J.K.); (Y.S.K.); (H.-S.R.); (S.C.C.)
| | - Suck Chei Choi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea; (E.J.K.); (Y.S.K.); (H.-S.R.); (S.C.C.)
| | - Won Cheol Park
- Department of Surgery, Digestive Disease Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea; (W.C.P.); (K.Y.K.)
| | - Keun Young Kim
- Department of Surgery, Digestive Disease Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea; (W.C.P.); (K.Y.K.)
| | - Moon Young Lee
- Department of Physiology, Digestive Disease Research Institute, and Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea; (M.S.K.); (H.S.C.); (M.W.); (J.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-10-9437-6774
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Azzam M, El Safy S, Abdelgelil SA, Weiskirchen R, Asimakopoulou A, de Lorenzi F, Lammers T, Mansour S, Tammam S. Targeting Activated Hepatic Stellate Cells Using Collagen-Binding Chitosan Nanoparticles for siRNA Delivery to Fibrotic Livers. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:E590. [PMID: 32630415 PMCID: PMC7356502 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12060590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) are the main orchestrators of the fibrotic cascade in inflamed livers, with transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) being the most potent pro-fibrotic cytokine. Hence, aHSCs serve as interesting therapeutic targets. However, drug delivery to aHSCs is hindered by excessive collagen deposition in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and capillarization of liver sinusoids. Chitosan-nanoparticles (CS-NPs) show intrinsic affinity for collagen, holding potential for drug delivery to fibrotic livers. Here, we employed CS-NPs for anti-TGF-β siRNA delivery, promoting delivery into aHSCs via modification with platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta binding peptides. In-vitro experiments using aHSCs demonstrated the association of unmodified CS-NPs to the collagen-rich ECM, with reduced intracellular accumulation. Peptide-modified CS-NPs showed a higher propensity to localize intracellularly; however, this was only the case upon ECM-collagen reduction via collagenase treatment. Peptide-modified CS-NPs were more potent than unmodified CS-NPs in reducing TGF-β expression, implying that while collagen binding promotes liver accumulation, it hinders cell-specific siRNA delivery. In-vivo, CS-NPs successfully accumulated in fibrotic livers via collagen binding. Similar to in-vitro findings, when mice were pretreated with collagenase-loaded CS-NPs, the accumulation of peptide-modified NPs increased. Our findings demonstrate the usefulness of NPs modification with targeting ligands and collagenase treatment for aHSCs targeting and highlight the importance of chitosan-collagen binding in drug delivery to fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menna Azzam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology, The German University in Cairo (GUC), 11835 Cairo, Egypt; (M.A.); (S.E.S.); (S.A.A.); (S.M.)
| | - Sara El Safy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology, The German University in Cairo (GUC), 11835 Cairo, Egypt; (M.A.); (S.E.S.); (S.A.A.); (S.M.)
| | - Sarah A. Abdelgelil
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology, The German University in Cairo (GUC), 11835 Cairo, Egypt; (M.A.); (S.E.S.); (S.A.A.); (S.M.)
| | - Ralf Weiskirchen
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), RWTH University Hospital, D-52074 Aachen, Germany; (R.W.); (A.A.)
| | - Anastasia Asimakopoulou
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), RWTH University Hospital, D-52074 Aachen, Germany; (R.W.); (A.A.)
| | - Federica de Lorenzi
- Department of Nanomedicine and Theranostics, Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University Clinic, D-52074 Aachen, Germany; (F.d.L.); (T.L.)
| | - Twan Lammers
- Department of Nanomedicine and Theranostics, Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University Clinic, D-52074 Aachen, Germany; (F.d.L.); (T.L.)
| | - Samar Mansour
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology, The German University in Cairo (GUC), 11835 Cairo, Egypt; (M.A.); (S.E.S.); (S.A.A.); (S.M.)
| | - Salma Tammam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology, The German University in Cairo (GUC), 11835 Cairo, Egypt; (M.A.); (S.E.S.); (S.A.A.); (S.M.)
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Kori M, Arga KY. Pathways involved in viral oncogenesis: New perspectives from virus-host protein interactomics. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165885. [PMID: 32574835 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Oncogenic viruses are among the apparent causes of cancer-associated mortality. It was estimated that 12% to 15% of human malignancies are linked to oncoviruses. Although modernist strategies and traditional genetic studies have defined host-pathogen interactions of the oncoviruses, their host functions which are critical for the establishment of infection still remain mysterious. However, over the last few years, it has become clear that infections hijack and modify cellular pathways for their benefit. In this context, we constructed the virus-host protein interaction networks of seven oncoviruses (EBV, HBV, HCV, HTLV-1, HHV8, HPV16, and HPV18), and revealed cellular pathways hijacking as a result of oncogenic virus infection. Several signaling pathways/processes such as TGF-β signaling, cell cycle, retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein, and androgen receptor signaling were mutually targeted by viruses to induce oncogenesis. Besides, cellular pathways specific to a certain virus were detected. By this study, we believe that we improve the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of viral oncogenesis and provide information in setting new targets for treatment, prognosis, and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Medi Kori
- Department of Bioengineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Serum CXCL13 and PECAM-1 can be used as diagnostic and prognostic markers in elderly patients with gastric cancer. Clin Transl Oncol 2020; 23:130-138. [PMID: 32500259 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-020-02403-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the application value of serum CXC Chemokine-13 (CXCL-13) and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) in elderly patients with gastric cancer (GC). METHODS Ninety-eight elderly GC patients admitted to the Affiliated Hexian Memorial Hospital of Southern Medical University were selected as a research group, and 60 healthy subjects of the same age and in relatively good health who underwent physical examination at the same period were selected as a control group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of CXCL13 and PECAM-1 in serum. The clinical diagnosis and prognostic value of serum CXCL13 and PECAM-1 in elderly GC patients were analyzed. RESULTS The levels of CXCL13 and PECAM-1 in serum of the research group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.001). The AUC value of combined diagnosis of elderly GC patients by serum CXCL13 and PECAM-1 was 0.950, and that of combined evaluation of prognosis of patients was 0.849. Serum CXCL13 and PECAM-1 were significantly related to TNM staging, differentiation degree and tumor diameter in elderly GC patients (P < 0.05). High levels of CXCL13 and PECAM-1 were significantly associated with lower 5-year OS (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Elderly GC patients with higher TNM staging, longer tumor diameters, high levels of CXCL13 and PECAM-1 had an increased risk of poor prognosis. Serum CXCL13 and PECAM-1 can be used as effective indicators for diagnosis and prognosis of elderly patients with GC, and can predict the 5-year OS in patients.
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Moawad AW, Szklaruk J, Lall C, Blair KJ, Kaseb AO, Kamath A, Rohren SA, Elsayes KM. Angiogenesis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Pathophysiology, Targeted Therapy, and Role of Imaging. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2020; 7:77-89. [PMID: 32426302 PMCID: PMC7188073 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s224471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common tumors worldwide, usually occurring on a background of liver cirrhosis. HCC is a highly vascular tumor in which angiogenesis plays a major role in tumor growth and spread. Tumor-induced angiogenesis is usually related to a complex interplay between multiple factors and pathways, with vascular endothelial growth factor being a major player in angiogenesis. In the past decade, understanding of tumor-induced angiogenesis has led to the emergence of novel anti-angiogenic therapies, which act by reducing neo-angiogenesis, and improving patient survival. Currently, Sorafenib and Lenvatinib are being used as the first-line treatment for advanced unresectable HCC. However, a disadvantage of these agents is the presence of numerous side effects. A major challenge in the management of HCC patients being treated with anti-angiogenic therapy is effective monitoring of treatment response, which decides whether to continue treatment or to seek second-line treatment. Several criteria can be used to assess response to treatment, such as quantitative perfusion on cross-sectional imaging and novel/emerging MRI techniques, including a host of known and emerging biomarkers and radiogenomics. This review addresses the pathophysiology of angiogenesis in HCC, accurate imaging assessment of angiogenesis, monitoring effects of anti-angiogenic therapy to guide future treatment and assessing prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed W Moawad
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Janio Szklaruk
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chandana Lall
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Katherine J Blair
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ahmed O Kaseb
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Amita Kamath
- Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai West, New York, NY, USA
| | - Scott A Rohren
- School of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Khaled M Elsayes
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Tsilimigras DI, Mehta R, Aldrighetti L, Poultsides GA, Maithel SK, Martel G, Shen F, Koerkamp BG, Endo I, Pawlik TM, Paredes AZ, Moris D, Sahara K, Bagante F, Guglielmi A, Weiss M, Bauer TW, Alexandrescu S, Marques HP, Pulitano C, Soubrane O, Cloyd JM, Ejaz A. Development and Validation of a Laboratory Risk Score (LabScore) to Predict Outcomes after Resection for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma. J Am Coll Surg 2020; 230:381-391.e2. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2019.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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11
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Agioutantis PC, Kotsikoris V, Kolisis FN, Loutrari H. RNA-seq data analysis of stimulated hepatocellular carcinoma cells treated with epigallocatechin gallate and fisetin reveals target genes and action mechanisms. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:686-695. [PMID: 32257052 PMCID: PMC7113608 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an essentially incurable inflammation-related cancer. We have previously shown by network analysis of proteomic data that the flavonoids epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and fisetin (FIS) efficiently downregulated pro-tumor cytokines released by HCC through inhibition of Akt/mTOR/RPS6 phospho-signaling. However, their mode of action at the global transcriptome level remains unclear. Herein, we endeavor to compare gene expression alterations mediated by these compounds through a comprehensive transcriptome analysis based on RNA-seq in HEP3B, a responsive HCC cell line, upon perturbation with a mixture of prototypical stimuli mimicking conditions of tumor microenvironment or under constitutive state. Analysis of RNA-seq data revealed extended changes on HEP3B transcriptome imposed by test nutraceuticals. Under stimulated conditions, EGCG and FIS significantly modified, compared to the corresponding control, the expression of 922 and 973 genes, respectively, the large majority of which (695 genes), was affected by both compounds. Hierarchical clustering based on the expression data of shared genes demonstrated an almost identical profile in nutraceutical-treated stimulated cells which was virtually opposite in cells exposed to stimuli alone. Downstream enrichment analyses of the co-modified genes uncovered significant associations with cancer-related transcription factors as well as terms of Gene Ontology/Reactome Pathways and highlighted ECM dynamics as a nodal modulation point by nutraceuticals along with angiogenesis, inflammation, cell motility and growth. RNA-seq data for selected genes were independently confirmed by RT-qPCR. Overall, the present systems approach provides novel evidence stepping up the mechanistic understanding of test nutraceuticals, thus rationalizing their clinical exploitation in new preventive/therapeutic modalities against HCC.
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Key Words
- ADAM, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs
- ADAMTS9, ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 9
- CLIC3, Chloride Intracellular Channel 3
- CTGF, Connective Tissue Growth Factor
- DEGs, differentially expressed genes
- DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide
- ECM, extracellular matrix
- EGCG, epigallocatechin gallate
- EMT, epithelial to mesenchymal transition
- Epigallocatechin gallate
- FIS, fisetin
- Fisetin
- GO, Gene Ontology
- Gene Ontology
- HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma
- HSPA2, Heat Shock Protein Family A (Hsp70) Member 2
- HSPB1, Heat Shock Protein Family B (Small) Member 1
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
- MEM, minimum essential medium
- MMP11, Matrix Metallopeptidase 11
- MMP9, Matrix Metallopeptidase 9
- MMPs, matrix metalloproteinases
- PDGFRB, Platelet Derived Growth Factor Receptor Beta
- RNA-sequencing
- RT-qPCR, reverse transcription-quantitative real time PCR
- Reactome Pathways
- SD, standard deviation
- SEM, standard error of mean
- SERPINE1, Serpin Family E Member 1
- STIM, stimulated
- TF, transcription factor
- Transcription factors
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis C Agioutantis
- G.P. Livanos and M. Simou Laboratories, 1st Department of Critical Care Medicine & Pulmonary Services, Evangelismos Hospital, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, 3 Ploutarchou Str., Athens 10675, Greece.,Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 5 Iroon Polytechniou Str., Zografou Campus, Athens 15780, Greece
| | - Vasilios Kotsikoris
- G.P. Livanos and M. Simou Laboratories, 1st Department of Critical Care Medicine & Pulmonary Services, Evangelismos Hospital, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, 3 Ploutarchou Str., Athens 10675, Greece
| | - Fragiskos N Kolisis
- Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 5 Iroon Polytechniou Str., Zografou Campus, Athens 15780, Greece
| | - Heleni Loutrari
- G.P. Livanos and M. Simou Laboratories, 1st Department of Critical Care Medicine & Pulmonary Services, Evangelismos Hospital, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, 3 Ploutarchou Str., Athens 10675, Greece
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12
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Takikawa A, Usui I, Fujisaka S, Tsuneyama K, Okabe K, Nakagawa T, Nawaz A, Kado T, Jojima T, Aso Y, Hayakawa Y, Yagi K, Tobe K. Macrophage-specific hypoxia-inducible factor-1α deletion suppresses the development of liver tumors in high-fat diet-fed obese and diabetic mice. J Diabetes Investig 2019; 10:1411-1418. [PMID: 30897274 PMCID: PMC6825928 DOI: 10.1111/jdi.13047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS/INTRODUCTION Chronic inflammation of the liver is often observed with obesity or type 2 diabetes. In these pathological conditions, the immunological cells, such as macrophages, play important roles in the development or growth of liver cancer. Recently, it was reported that hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a key molecule for the acquisition of inflammatory M1 polarity of macrophages. In the present study, we examined the effects of altered macrophage polarity on obesity- and diabetes-associated liver cancer using macrophage-specific HIF-1α knockout (KO) mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS To induce liver cancer in the mice, diethylnitrosamine, a chemical carcinogen, was used. Both KO mice and wild-type littermates were fed either a high-fat diet (HFD) or normal chow. They were mainly analyzed 6 months after HFD feeding. RESULTS Development of liver cancer after HFD feeding was 45% less in KO mice than in wild-type littermates mice. Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 was also lower in the liver of KO mice. Those effects of HIF-1α deletion in macrophages were not observed in normal chow-fed mice. Furthermore, the size of liver tumors did not differ between KO and wild-type littermates mice, even those on a HFD. These results suggest that the activation of macrophage HIF-1α by HFD is involved not in the growth, but in the development of liver cancer with the enhanced oncogenic extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 signaling in hepatocytes. CONCLUSIONS The activation of macrophage HIF-1α might play important roles in the development of liver cancer associated with diet-induced obesity and diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Takikawa
- First Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of ToyamaToyamaJapan
| | - Isao Usui
- First Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of ToyamaToyamaJapan
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismDokkyo Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
| | - Shiho Fujisaka
- First Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of ToyamaToyamaJapan
| | - Koichi Tsuneyama
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineInstitute of Biomedical SciencesTokushima University Graduate SchoolTokushimaJapan
| | - Keisuke Okabe
- First Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of ToyamaToyamaJapan
- Department of Metabolism and NutritionGraduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science for ResearchUniversity of ToyamaToyamaJapan
| | - Takashi Nakagawa
- Department of Metabolism and NutritionGraduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science for ResearchUniversity of ToyamaToyamaJapan
| | - Allah Nawaz
- First Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of ToyamaToyamaJapan
| | - Tomonobu Kado
- First Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of ToyamaToyamaJapan
| | - Teruo Jojima
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismDokkyo Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
| | - Yoshimasa Aso
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismDokkyo Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
| | - Yoshihiro Hayakawa
- Division of Pathogenic BiochemistryDepartment of BioscienceInstitute of Natural MedicineUniversity of ToyamaToyamaJapan
| | - Kunikimi Yagi
- First Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of ToyamaToyamaJapan
| | - Kazuyuki Tobe
- First Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of ToyamaToyamaJapan
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Platelets and Hepatocellular Cancer: Bridging the Bench to the Clinics. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11101568. [PMID: 31618961 PMCID: PMC6826649 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11101568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Growing interest is recently being focused on the role played by the platelets in favoring hepatocellular cancer (HCC) growth and dissemination. The present review reports in detail both the experimental and clinical evidence published on this topic. Several growth factors and angiogenic molecules specifically secreted by platelets are directly connected with tumor progression and neo-angiogenesis. Among them, we can list the platelet-derived growth factor, the vascular endothelial growth factor, the endothelial growth factor, and serotonin. Platelets are also involved in tumor spread, favoring endothelium permeabilization and tumor cells’ extravasation and survival in the bloodstream. From the bench to the clinics, all of these aspects were also investigated in clinical series, showing an evident correlation between platelet count and size of HCC, tumor biological behavior, metastatic spread, and overall survival rates. Moreover, a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the platelet–tumor axis represents a paramount aspect for optimizing both current tumor treatment and development of new therapeutic strategies against HCC.
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14
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Contextual Regulation of TGF-β Signaling in Liver Cancer. Cells 2019; 8:cells8101235. [PMID: 31614569 PMCID: PMC6829617 DOI: 10.3390/cells8101235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancer is one of the leading causes for cancer-related death worldwide. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is a pleiotropic cytokine that signals through membrane receptors and intracellular Smad proteins, which enter the nucleus upon receptor activation and act as transcription factors. TGF-β inhibits liver tumorigenesis in the early stage by inducing cytostasis and apoptosis, but promotes malignant progression in more advanced stages by enhancing cancer cell survival, EMT, migration, invasion and finally metastasis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning the multi-faceted roles of TGF-β in liver cancer has become a persistent pursuit during the last two decades. Contextual regulation fine-tunes the robustness, duration and plasticity of TGF-β signaling, yielding versatile albeit specific responses. This involves multiple feedback and feed-forward regulatory loops and also the interplay between Smad signaling and non-Smad pathways. This review summarizes the known regulatory mechanisms of TGF-β signaling in liver cancer, and how they channel, skew and even switch the actions of TGF-β during cancer progression.
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15
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Pavlovic N, Rani B, Gerwins P, Heindryckx F. Platelets as Key Factors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11071022. [PMID: 31330817 PMCID: PMC6678690 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11071022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer that usually develops in the setting of chronic inflammation and liver damage. The hepatic microenvironment plays a crucial role in the disease development, as players such as hepatic stellate cells, resident liver macrophages (Kupffer cells), endothelial cells, extracellular matrix, and a variety of immune cells interact in highly complex and intertwined signaling pathways. A key factor in these cross-talks are platelets, whose role in cancer has gained growing evidence in recent years. Platelets have been reported to promote HCC cell proliferation and invasion, but their involvement goes beyond the direct effect on tumor cells, as they are known to play a role in pro-fibrinogenic signaling and the hepatic immune response, as well as in mediating interactions between these factors in the stroma. Anti-platelet therapy has been shown to ameliorate liver injury and improve the disease outcome. However, platelets have also been shown to play a crucial role in liver regeneration after organ damage. Therefore, the timing and microenvironmental setting need to be kept in mind when assessing the potential effect and therapeutic value of platelets in the disease progression, while further studies are needed for understanding the role of platelets in patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasa Pavlovic
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Box 571, Husargatan 3, 75-431 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bhavna Rani
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Box 571, Husargatan 3, 75-431 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pär Gerwins
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Box 571, Husargatan 3, 75-431 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Radiology, Uppsala University Hospital, Sjukhusvägen 85, 751-85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Femke Heindryckx
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Box 571, Husargatan 3, 75-431 Uppsala, Sweden.
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High Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development in Fibrotic Liver: Role of the Hippo-YAP/TAZ Signaling Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20030581. [PMID: 30700007 PMCID: PMC6387126 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death globally, accounting for approximately 800,000 deaths annually. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer, making up about 80% of cases. Liver fibrosis and its end-stage disease, cirrhosis, are major risk factors for HCC. A fibrotic liver typically shows persistent hepatocyte death and compensatory regeneration, chronic inflammation, and an increase in reactive oxygen species, which collaboratively create a tumor-promoting microenvironment via inducing genetic alterations and chromosomal instability, and activating various oncogenic molecular signaling pathways. In this article, we review recent advances in fields of liver fibrosis and carcinogenesis, and consider several molecular signaling pathways that promote hepato-carcinogenesis under the microenvironment of liver fibrosis. In particular, we pay attention to emerging roles of the Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling pathway in stromal activation, hepatic fibrosis, and liver cancer.
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17
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Zhai Y, Bai J, Wang S, Gao H, Li M, Li C, Gui S, Zhang Y. Analysis of clinical factors and PDGFR-β in predicting prognosis of patients with clival chordoma. J Neurosurg 2018; 129:1429-1437. [DOI: 10.3171/2017.6.jns17562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVEIn this study, the authors’ aim was to research clinical features and prognostic factors in patients harboring clival chordomas and explore the relationship between platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFR-β) expression and tumor invasion and prognosis of clival chordoma.METHODSA total of 242 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical information, including extent of resection, Al-Mefty classification, postoperative complications, and postoperative radiotherapy, was reviewed. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate survival time. Immunohistochemical analysis, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting were used to measure the expression level of proteins or mRNA. Transwell assaying was performed to measure the invasive ability of the tumor cells.RESULTSAccording to the Al-Mefty classification, there were 37, 112, and 93 type I, II, and III tumors, respectively. Gross-total resection (GTR) was achieved in 86 cases (35.5%), subtotal resection (STR) in 63 cases (26.0%), and partial resection (PR) in 93 cases (38.4%). The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates in the GTR group were significantly higher than those in the non–total resection (NTR; i.e., STR and PR) group (p < 0.001). The 5-year PFS and OS rates for patients with type I tumors were significantly higher than those for patients harboring types II and III tumors (p < 0.001). In the NTR group, the median PFS and OS of patients with lower PDGFR-β expression were significantly longer than those of patients with higher PDGFR-β expression. Reduction of PDGFR-β suppressed the invasion ability of cells in vitro. In addition, reduction of PDGFR-β can obviously downregulate the expression levels of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) or phospho-mTOR.CONCLUSIONSExtent of resection, Al-Mefty classification, primary tumor, postoperative radiotherapy, and PDGFR-β expression level are valuable prognostic factors in patients with clival chordomas. PDGFR-β could regulate invasion through the mTOR pathway in clival chordoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Zhai
- 1Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University; and
| | - Jiwei Bai
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Wang
- 1Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University; and
| | - Hua Gao
- 1Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University; and
| | - Mingxuan Li
- 1Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University; and
| | - Chuzhong Li
- 1Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University; and
| | - Songbai Gui
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yazhuo Zhang
- 1Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University; and
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18
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Ding H, Wen Z, Sun G. Silencing of Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group D Gene Promotes Hepatoma Cell Growth by Reducing P53 Expression. Med Sci Monit 2018; 24:8015-8021. [PMID: 30409962 PMCID: PMC6238547 DOI: 10.12659/msm.910944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study investigated the effect of xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) silencing on the growth of hepatoma cells and assessed the mechanisms. MATERIAL AND METHODS XPD gene was silenced by siRNA in hepatoma cells. The experiments were randomly divided into a control group, a liposome control group, a negative control (NC) group, an XPD siRNA group, and an XPD siRNA + P53 inhibitor group. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) was used to detect cell viability 24 h after gene silencing and treatments. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferases (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and flow cytometry were used to detect apoptosis. Invasive ability was detected by Transwell assay. Additionally, the expression of mouse double-minute 2 homolog (Mdm2), mouse double-minute 4 homolog (Mdm4), CyclinD1, P21, Bax, P53, C-sis, and Bcl-2 was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. RESULTS Compared with the NC group, XPD siRNA significantly reduced XPD expression at both mRNA and protein levels. XPD siRNA significantly promoted cell proliferation, reduced apoptosis, and promoted cell invasive ability. Expression of CyclinD1, Bcl-2, and C-sis increased significantly after XPD silencing, while the expression of P21, Mdm2, Mdm4, Bax, and P53 significantly decreased (vs. NC, P<0.05). Importantly, P53 inhibitor (1 μM bpV) further enhanced the effect of XPD silencing (vs. XPD silencing, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our data revealed that XPD silencing promoted growth of hepatoma cells by reducing P53 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China (mainland)
| | - Zhili Wen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China (mainland)
| | - Guofang Sun
- Department of Electrocardiogram Diagnosis, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China (mainland)
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Soluble factors from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells promote canine hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and invasion. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191539. [PMID: 29346427 PMCID: PMC5773216 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The potential effects of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) on the growth and invasion of canine tumours including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not yet understood. Moreover in humans, the functional contribution of AT-MSCs to malignancies remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of AT-MSCs on the proliferation and invasion of canine HCC cells in vitro. The effect of AT-MSCs on mRNA levels of factors related to HCC progression were also evaluated. Conditioned medium from AT-MSCs (AT-MSC-CM) significantly enhanced canine HCC cell proliferation and invasion. Moreover, mRNA expression levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1, epidermal growth factor A, hepatocyte growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor-beta, vascular endothelial growth factor, and insulin-like growth factor 2 were 2.3 ± 0.4, 2.0 ± 0.5, 5.7 ± 1.9, 1.7 ± 0.2, 2.1 ± 0.4, and 1.4 ± 0.3 times higher, respectively (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression level of MMP-2 also increased (to 4.0 ± 1.2 times control levels) in canine HCC cells co-cultured with AT-MSCs, but MMP-9 mRNA significantly decreased (to 0.5 ± 0.1 times control levels). These findings suggest that soluble factors from AT-MSCs promote the proliferation and invasion of canine HCC cells.
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20
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Increased liver carcinogenesis and enrichment of stem cell properties in livers of Dickkopf 2 (Dkk2) deleted mice. Oncotarget 2018; 7:28903-13. [PMID: 25826080 PMCID: PMC5045365 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Dkk2 a antagonist of the Wnt/β-catenin-signaling pathway was shown to be silenced in diverse cancers. More recent data indicate that Dkk family members may also possess functions independent of Wnt-signaling during carcinogenesis. The detailed biological function of Dkks and its relevance for liver cancer is unknown. We analyzed the effects of a genetic deletion of Dkk2 (Dkk2−/−) in a hepatocarcinogenesis model using DEN/Phenobarbital. Untreated Dkk2−/− animals, showed considerable atypia with variation of hepatocyte size and chromatin density. In livers of Dkk2−/− mice nodule formation was seen at 9 months of age with focal loss of trabecular architecture and atypical hepatocytes and after DEN induction Dkk2−/− mice developed significantly more liver tumors compared to controls. Whole transcriptome analysis of untreated Dkk2−/− liver tissue revealed a Dkk2-dependent genetic network involving Wnt/β-Catenin but also multiple additional oncogenic factors, such as e.g. Pdgf-b, Gdf-15 and Hnf4a. Dkk2−/− tumor cells showed a significant deregulation of stemness genes associated with enhanced colony forming properties. Integration of the Dkk2−/− signature into human data was strongly associated with patients survival. Dkk2 deletion results in alterations of liver morphology leading to an increased frequency of liver cancer. The associated genetic changes included factors not primarily related to Wnt/β-Catenin-signaling and correlated with the clinical outcome of HCC-patients.
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21
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Liu C, Ren YF, Dong J, Ke MY, Ma F, Monga SPS, Wu R, Lv Y, Zhang XF. Activation of SRY accounts for male-specific hepatocarcinogenesis: Implication in gender disparity of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2017; 410:20-31. [PMID: 28942012 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Sex affects the risk, treatment responses and outcome of many types of cancers. The mechanism of gender disparity in development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains obscure. Sex-determining region on Y chromosome (SRY) was overexpressed in approximate 84% male patient HCC. Moreover, we are the first to generate a liver-specific transgenic (TG) murine model with overexpression of the male specific gene SRY. Subject to a single intraperitoneal injection N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) at day 14, TG and wildtype (WT) mice of both genders were sacrificed at different time points (6-13.5 months). Overexpression of SRY in male TG and ectopic expression of SRY in female TG livers promoted DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis compared to age- and sex-matched WT. This accelerated tumorigenesis in TG of both genders was a consequence of increased injury and inflammation, fibrosis, and compensatory enhancement in hepatocytes proliferation secondary to activation of downstream targets Sox9 and platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα)/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and c-myc/CyclinD1. In conclusion, activation of SRY and its downstream Sox9 and PDGFRα pathways are commonly involved in male hepatocarcinogenesis, which provides novel insights into gender disparity and sex-specific therapeutic strategies of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China; Institute of Advanced Surgical Technology and Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China; Shaanxi Provincial Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering Research Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Yi-Fan Ren
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China; Institute of Advanced Surgical Technology and Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China; Shaanxi Provincial Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering Research Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Jian Dong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China; Institute of Advanced Surgical Technology and Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China; Shaanxi Provincial Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering Research Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Meng-Yun Ke
- Institute of Advanced Surgical Technology and Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China; Shaanxi Provincial Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering Research Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Feng Ma
- Institute of Advanced Surgical Technology and Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China; Shaanxi Provincial Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering Research Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Satdarshan P S Monga
- Department of Pathology and Medicine, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Rongqian Wu
- Institute of Advanced Surgical Technology and Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China; Shaanxi Provincial Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering Research Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China
| | - Yi Lv
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China; Institute of Advanced Surgical Technology and Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China; Shaanxi Provincial Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering Research Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China.
| | - Xu-Feng Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China; Institute of Advanced Surgical Technology and Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China; Shaanxi Provincial Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering Research Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710061, China.
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22
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Impact of histone demethylase KDM3A-dependent AP-1 transactivity on hepatotumorigenesis induced by PI3K activation. Oncogene 2017; 36:6262-6271. [DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Revised: 04/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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23
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Melaiu O, Catalano C, De Santi C, Cipollini M, Figlioli G, Pellè L, Barone E, Evangelista M, Guazzelli A, Boldrini L, Sensi E, Bonotti A, Foddis R, Cristaudo A, Mutti L, Fontanini G, Gemignani F, Landi S. Inhibition of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRB) using gene silencing, crenolanib besylate, or imatinib mesylate hampers the malignant phenotype of mesothelioma cell lines. Genes Cancer 2017; 8:438-452. [PMID: 28435517 PMCID: PMC5396622 DOI: 10.18632/genesandcancer.129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a cancer of the pleural cavity resistant to chemotherapy. The identification of novel therapeutic targets is needed to improve its poor prognosis. Following a review of literature and a screening of specimens we found that platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRB) is over-expressed, but not somatically mutated, in MPM tissues. We aimed to ascertain whether PDGFRB is a MPM-cancer driver gene. The approaches employed included the use of gene silencing and the administration of small molecules, such as crenolanib and imatinib (PDGFR inhibitors) on MPM cell lines (IstMes2, Mero-14, Mero-25). Met5A cells were used as non-malignant mesothelial cell line. PDGFRB-silencing caused a decrease in the proliferation rate, and a reduced colony formation capacity, as well as an increase of the share of cells in sub-G1 and in G2 phase, and increased apoptotic rate of MPM cell lines. Loss of migration ability was also observed. Similar, or even further enhanced, results were obtained with crenolanib. Imatinib showed the least effective activity on the phenotype. In conclusion, our study highlights PDGFRB as target with a clear role in MPM tumorigenesis and provided a rationale to explore further the efficacy of crenolanib in MPM patients, with promising results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ombretta Melaiu
- Paediatric Haematology/Oncology Department, IRCCS, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Calogerina Catalano
- Division of molecular genetic epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Chiara De Santi
- Department of Medicine, Education and Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | | | - Lucia Pellè
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elisa Barone
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Alice Guazzelli
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Boldrini
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Care, Division of Pathological Anatomy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elisa Sensi
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Care, Division of Pathological Anatomy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandra Bonotti
- Preventive and Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Rudy Foddis
- Department of Translational Research and of new Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alfonso Cristaudo
- Department of Translational Research and of new Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Luciano Mutti
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriella Fontanini
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Care, Division of Pathological Anatomy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Landi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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24
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Cho Y, Cho EJ, Lee JH, Yu SJ, Kim YJ, Kim CY, Yoon JH. Hypoxia Enhances Tumor-Stroma Crosstalk that Drives the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Dig Dis Sci 2016; 61:2568-77. [PMID: 27074919 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-016-4158-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Crosstalk between tumor cells and their microenvironment plays a crucial role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hypoxia, a common feature of advanced HCC, has been shown to modulate the evolution of the tumor microenvironment. In this study, we investigated the effect of hypoxia on tumor-stroma crosstalk in HCC. METHODS Human HCC cell lines (Huh-BAT, SNU-475) were cocultured with an activated human hepatic stellate cell line (HSCs; LX-2) under either normoxic or hypoxic conditions. Cell growth was evaluated with the MTS assay. Apoptotic signaling cascades were assessed by immunoblot analysis. Expression of CD31 and phosphorylated (p-) Akt in HCC tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Coculturing HCC cells with HSCs under hypoxic conditions enhanced their proliferation, migration, and resistance to bile acid (BA)-induced apoptosis compared to coculturing under normoxic conditions. Under hypoxia, of various HSC-derived growth factors, PDGF-BB was the most up-regulated, leading to the activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway in HCC cells. Immunohistochemical study also revealed that p-Akt was highly expressed in hypoxic, hypovascular HCC as compared to hypervascular HCC. Neutralizing antisera to PDGF-BB or a PI3K inhibitor attenuated the proliferation of HCC cells cocultured with HSCs, and sensitized HCC cells to BA-induced apoptosis, especially under hypoxic conditions. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, hypoxic HSC-derived PDGF-BB stimulates the proliferation of HCC cells through activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, while the inhibition of PDGF-BB or PI3K/Akt pathways enhances apoptotic cell death. Targeting tumor-stroma crosstalk might be a novel therapy in the management of human HCCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.,Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, CHA University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Ju Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Hoon Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Jong Yu
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Jun Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Chung Yong Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Hwan Yoon
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
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25
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Bihari C, Rastogi A, Shasthry SM, Bajpai M, Bhadoria AS, Rajesh S, Mukund A, Kumar A, Sarin SK. Platelets contribute to growth and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma. APMIS 2016; 124:776-86. [PMID: 27457354 DOI: 10.1111/apm.12574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
To determine the association of platelets with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth and its metastasis. We examined platelets, laboratory, and radiological data of consecutive 420 HCC and 1008 cirrhosis cases. Follow-up information of platelet count in cirrhosis to HCC, pre- to post-therapy, and post-therapy to HCC outcome was analyzed. Cytokine profiling was performed in HCC and cirrhosis (n = 10 each). On the basis of imaging, HCC was divided into six subgroups. Cytosmears of HCC were assessed for platelet clustering around tumor cells. An in vitro Matrigel invasion assay was performed on human HCC cell lines using graded concentration of platelets. Baseline platelet numbers and platelet/lymphocyte ratios (PLRs) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in HCC than cirrhosis. IL-1, IL-6, FGF, G-CSF, thrombopoietin, and VEGF were higher in HCC than cirrhosis. Platelet counts were increased after HCC conversion of cirrhosis (p < 0.001) and decreased (p < 0.001) after therapy. Platelets and PLR in recurrence cases were higher than in responders at baseline. AFP, PIVKAII, platelets, and PLR increase (p < 0.001 each) with advancement in HCC growth. Multivariate analysis showed platelets (p = 0.002), PLR (p = 0.004), and AFP (p < 0.001) associated with distant metastasis. Platelet clustering seen in 75.7% of HCC group 3, 45% in group 2, and 12.5% in group 1 cases (p < 0.001). Invaded cells in Matrigel assay positively correlated with platelet concentration. Platelets can contribute to the development, growth, invasion, and metastasis of HCC. Rising platelet count after HCC therapy is indicative of incomplete response or recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chhagan Bihari
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Archana Rastogi
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Meenu Bajpai
- Department of Tranfusion Medicine, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Ajeet Singh Bhadoria
- Department of Research, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - S Rajesh
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Amar Mukund
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Anupam Kumar
- Department of Research, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Shiv K Sarin
- Department of Hepatology, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
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26
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Kocabayoglu P, Zhang DY, Kojima K, Hoshida Y, Friedman SL. Induction and contribution of beta platelet-derived growth factor signalling by hepatic stellate cells to liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in mice. Liver Int 2016; 36:874-82. [PMID: 26256287 PMCID: PMC4749477 DOI: 10.1111/liv.12933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activate during injury to orchestrate the liver's inflammatory and fibrogenic responses. A critical feature of HSC activation is the rapid induction of beta platelet-derived growth factor (β-PDGFR), which drives cellular fibrogenesis and proliferation; in contrast, normal liver has minimal β-PDGFR expression. While the role of β-PDGFR is well established in liver injury, its expression and contribution during liver regeneration are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether β-PDGFR is induced during liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy (pHx), and to define its contribution to the regenerative response. METHODS Control mice or animals with HSC-specific β-PDGFR-depletion underwent two-thirds pHx followed by assessment of hepatocyte proliferation and expression of β-PDGFR. RNA-sequencing from whole liver tissue of both groups after pHx was used to uncover pathways regulated by β-PDGFR signalling in HSCs. RESULTS Beta platelet-derived growth factor expression on HSCs was up-regulated within 24 h following pHx in control mice, whereas absence of β-PDGFR blunted the expansion of HSCs. Mice lacking β-PDGFR displayed prolonged increases of transaminase levels within 72 h following pHx. Hepatocyte proliferation was impaired within the first 24 h based on Ki-67 and PCNA expression in β-PDGFR-deficient mice. This was associated with dysregulated growth in the β-PDGFR-deficient mice based on RNAseq with pathway analysis, and real-time quantitative PCR, which demonstrated reduced expression of Hgf, Igfbp1, Mapk and Il-6. CONCLUSIONS Beta platelet-derived growth factor is induced in HSCs following surgical pHx and its deletion in HSCs leads to prolonged liver injury. However, there is no significant difference in liver regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peri Kocabayoglu
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Germany
| | - David Y. Zhang
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kensuke Kojima
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yujin Hoshida
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,Liver Cancer Program, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Scott L. Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,Liver Cancer Program, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
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27
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Kocabayoglu P, Lade A, Lee YA, Dragomir AC, Sun X, Fiel MI, Thung S, Aloman C, Soriano P, Hoshida Y, Friedman SL. β-PDGF receptor expressed by hepatic stellate cells regulates fibrosis in murine liver injury, but not carcinogenesis. J Hepatol 2015; 63:141-7. [PMID: 25678385 PMCID: PMC4475471 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2015.01.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Revised: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Rapid induction of β-PDGF receptor (β-PDGFR) is a core feature of hepatic stellate cell activation, but its cellular impact in vivo is not well characterized. We explored the contribution of β-PDGFR-mediated pathway activation to hepatic stellate cell responses in liver injury, fibrogenesis, and carcinogenesis in vivo using genetic models with divergent β-PDGFR activity, and assessed its prognostic implications in human cirrhosis. METHODS The impact of either loss or constitutive activation of β-PDGFR in stellate cells on fibrosis was assessed following carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or bile duct ligation. Hepatocarcinogenesis in fibrotic liver was tracked after a single dose of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) followed by repeated injections of CCl4. Genome-wide expression profiling was performed from isolated stellate cells that expressed or lacked β-PDGFR to determine deregulated pathways and evaluate their association with prognostic gene signatures in human cirrhosis. RESULTS Depletion of β-PDGFR in hepatic stellate cells decreased injury and fibrosis in vivo, while its auto-activation accelerated fibrosis. However, there was no difference in development of DEN-induced pre-neoplastic foci. Genomic profiling revealed ERK, AKT, and NF-κB pathways and a subset of a previously identified 186-gene prognostic signature in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis as downstream of β-PDGFR in stellate cells. In the human cohort, the β-PDGFR signature was not associated with HCC development, but was significantly associated with a poorer outcome in HCV cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS β-PDGFR is a key mediator of hepatic injury and fibrogenesis in vivo and contributes to the poor prognosis of human cirrhosis, but not by increasing HCC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peri Kocabayoglu
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Germany
| | - Abigale Lade
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Youngmin A. Lee
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ana-Cristina Dragomir
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiaochen Sun
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - M. Isabel Fiel
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Swan Thung
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Costica Aloman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Philippe Soriano
- Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Yujin Hoshida
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Liver Cancer Program, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Scott L. Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Liver Cancer Program, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
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28
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Heindryckx F, Gerwins P. Targeting the tumor stroma in hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Hepatol 2015; 7:165-176. [PMID: 25729472 PMCID: PMC4342599 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v7.i2.165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Revised: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 11/19/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and deadly cancers worldwide. In ninety percent of the cases it develops as a result of chronic liver damage and it is thus a typical inflammation-related cancer characterized by the close relation between the tumor microenvironment and tumor cells. The stromal environment consists out of several cell types, including hepatic stellate cells, macrophages and endothelial cells. They are not just active bystanders in the pathogenesis of HCC, but play an important and active role in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis. Furthermore, the tumor itself influences these cells to create a background that is beneficial for sustaining tumor growth. One of the key players is the hepatic stellate cell, which is activated during liver damage and differentiates towards a myofibroblast-like cell. Activated stellate cells are responsible for the deposition of extracellular matrix, increase the production of angiogenic factors and stimulate the recruitment of macrophages. The increase of angiogenic factors (which are secreted by macrophages, tumor cells and activated stellate cells) will induce the formation of new blood vessels, thereby supplying the tumor with more oxygen and nutrients, thus supporting tumor growth and offering a passageway in the circulatory system. In addition, the secretion of chemokines by the tumor cells leads to the recruitment of tumor associated macrophages. These tumor associated macrophages are key actors of cancer-related inflammation, being the main type of inflammatory cells infiltrating the tumor environment and exerting a tumor promoting effect by secreting growth factors, stimulating angiogenesis and influencing the activation of stellate cells. This complex interplay between the several cell types involved in liver cancer emphasizes the need for targeting the tumor stroma in HCC patients.
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29
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Abdel-Rahman O. Targeting platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling in gastrointestinal cancers: preclinical and clinical considerations. Tumour Biol 2014; 36:21-31. [DOI: 10.1007/s13277-014-2797-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 10/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
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30
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Autophagy inhibition sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma to the multikinase inhibitor linifanib. Sci Rep 2014; 4:6683. [PMID: 25327881 PMCID: PMC4202209 DOI: 10.1038/srep06683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a critical survival pathway for cancer cells under conditions of stress. Thus, induction of autophagy has emerged as a drug resistance mechanism. This study is to determine whether autophagy is activated by a novel multikinase inhibitor linifanib, thereby impairing the sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells to this targeted therapy. Here, we found that linifanib induced a high level of autophagy in HCC cells, which was accompanied by suppression of phosphorylation of PDGFR-β and its downstream Akt/mTOR and Mek/Erk signaling pathways. Cell death induced by linifanib was greatly enhanced after autophagy inhibition by the pharmacological inhibitors or siRNAs against autophagy related genes, ATG5 and ATG7, in vitro. Moreover, HCQ, an FDA-approved drug used to inhibit autophagy, could significantly augment the anti-HCC effect of linifanib in a mouse xenograft model. In conclusion, linifanib can induce cytoprotective autophagy by suppression of PDGFR-β activities in HCC cells. Thus, autophagy inhibition represents a promising approach to improve the efficacy of linifanib in the treatment of HCC patients.
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31
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A disturbance rejection framework for the study of traditional chinese medicine. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2014; 2014:787529. [PMID: 24995034 PMCID: PMC4065676 DOI: 10.1155/2014/787529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Accepted: 05/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is explained in the language of engineering cybernetics (EC), an engineering science with the tradition of rigor and long history of practice. The inherent connection is articulated between EC, as a science of interrelations, and the Chinese conception of Wuxing. The combined cybernetic model of Wuxing seems to have significant explaining power for the TCM and could potentially facilitate better communications of the insights of the TCM to the West. In disturbance rejection, an engineering concept, a great metaphor, is found to show how the TCM is practiced, using the liver cancer pathogenesis and treatment as a case study. The results from a series of experimental studies seem to lend support to the cybernetic model of Wuxing and the principles of disturbance rejection.
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32
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Anoopraj R, Hemalatha S, Balachandran C. A preliminary study on serum liver function indices of Diethylnitrosamine induced hepatocarcinogenesis and chemoprotective potential of Eclipta alba in male Wistar rats. Vet World 2014. [DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2014.439-442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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33
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Sitia G. Platelets Promote Liver Immunopathology Contributing to Hepatitis B Virus–Mediated Hepatocarcinogenesis. Semin Oncol 2014; 41:402-5. [DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2014.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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34
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Talaat RM, Salem TA, El-Masry S, Imbarek A, Mokhles M, Abdel-Aziz A. Circulating pro- and anti-angiogenic mediators in patients infected with hepatitis C at different stages of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Med Virol 2014; 86:1120-9. [DOI: 10.1002/jmv.23932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roba M. Talaat
- Molecular Biology Department; Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), Sadat City University; Sadat City Egypt
| | - Tarek A. Salem
- Molecular Biology Department; Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), Sadat City University; Sadat City Egypt
| | - Samir El-Masry
- Molecular Biology Department; Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), Sadat City University; Sadat City Egypt
| | - Arafat Imbarek
- Molecular Biology Department; Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), Sadat City University; Sadat City Egypt
| | - Mohamed Mokhles
- Medical Biochemistry Department; Medical Division, National Research Center (NRC); Sadat City Egypt
| | - Amal Abdel-Aziz
- Molecular Biology Department; Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), Sadat City University; Sadat City Egypt
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35
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Nasr M, Selima E, Hamed O, Kazem A. Targeting different angiogenic pathways with combination of curcumin, leflunomide and perindopril inhibits diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2013; 723:267-75. [PMID: 24291100 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2013.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2013] [Revised: 11/04/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
No effective chemopreventive agent has been approved against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to date. Since HCC is one of the hypervascular solid tumors, blocking angiogenesis represents an intriguing approach to HCC chemoprevention. The aim of the current study was to examine the combined effect of the anti-angiogenic agents: leflunomide; a disease modifying antirheumatic drug, perindopril; an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and curcumin; the active principle of turmeric, on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCC in mice. Eight weeks following DEN administration, there was a significant rise in immunohistochemical staining of CD31-positive endothelial cells and consequently hepatic microvessel density (MVD) as compared to normal liver. DEN treatment was associated with elevation in hepatic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level as compared to normal controls (P<0.05, 3842±72pg/ml and 2520.8±97pg/ml, respectively). Similarly, increased hepatic expression of hypoxia inducible growth factor-1α (HIF-1α) was observed in 100% of the DEN-treated animals compared to 0% in their normal counterparts. Treatment with leflunomide, perindopril or curcumin alone abrogated the DEN-induced increased MVD as well as the elevated expression of VEGF, while only curcumin inhibited HIF-1α hepatic expression. Combination of these agents showed further inhibitory action on neovascularization and synergistic attenuation of hepatic VEGF (1954.27±115pg/ml) when compared to each single agent. Histopathological examination revealed a more beneficial chemopreventive activity in the combination group compared to each monotherapy. In conclusion, the combination treatment of leflunomide, perindopril and curcumin targeting different angiogenic pathways, resulted in synergistic inhibition of angiogenesis and consequently more effective chemoprevention of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magda Nasr
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, 165 Horreya Avenue, Alexandria, Egypt.
| | - Eman Selima
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, 165 Horreya Avenue, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Omar Hamed
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharos University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Amany Kazem
- Department of Pathology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
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Sitia G, Iannacone M, Guidotti LG. Anti-platelet therapy in the prevention of hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol 2013; 59:1135-8. [PMID: 23742914 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2013.05.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2013] [Revised: 05/19/2013] [Accepted: 05/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies in mouse models of self-limited viral hepatitis showed that platelets contribute to acute liver damage by promoting the intrahepatic accumulation of virus-specific CD8 T cells and, secondarily, virus-non-specific inflammatory cells. Built on these observations, a recent preclinical study took advantage of a previously established hepatitis B virus (HBV) transgenic mouse model of immune-mediated chronic hepatitis that progresses to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), to demonstrate that clinically achievable doses of the anti-platelet drugs aspirin and clopidogrel - administered continuously after the onset of liver disease - can prevent hepatocarcinogenesis and greatly improve overall survival. These outcomes were preceded by and associated with reduced hepatic accumulation of virus-specific CD8 T cells and virus-non-specific inflammatory cells, reduced hepatocellular injury and hepatocellular proliferation, and reduced severity of liver fibrosis. The observation that anti-platelet therapy inhibits HCC development identifies platelets as key players in the pathogenesis of HBV-associated liver cancer and supports the notion that a sustained immune-mediated necroinflammatory liver disease is sufficient to trigger HCC. The results abovementioned and their clinical implications are discussed in this report.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Sitia
- Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
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A novel plasmid and SonoVue formulation plus ultrasound sonication for effective gene delivery in nude mice. Life Sci 2013; 93:536-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2013.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2013] [Revised: 07/13/2013] [Accepted: 08/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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PDGFRB promotes liver metastasis formation of mesenchymal-like colorectal tumor cells. Neoplasia 2013; 15:204-17. [PMID: 23441134 DOI: 10.1593/neo.121726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2012] [Revised: 12/13/2012] [Accepted: 12/14/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In epithelial tumors, the platelet-derived growth factor receptor B (PDGFRB) is mainly expressed by stromal cells of mesenchymal origin. Tumor cells may also acquire PDGFRB expression following epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which occurs during metastasis formation. Little is known about PDGFRB signaling in colorectal tumor cells. We studied the relationship between PDGFRB expression, EMT, and metastasis in human colorectal cancer (CRC) cohorts by analysis of gene expression profiles. PDGFRB expression in primary CRC was correlated with short disease-free and overall survival. PDGFRB was co-expressed with genes involved in platelet activation, transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) signaling, and EMT in three CRC cohorts. PDGFRB was expressed in mesenchymal-like tumor cell lines in vitro and stimulated invasion and liver metastasis formation in mice. Platelets, a major source of PDGF, preferentially bound to tumor cells in a non-activated state. Platelet activation caused robust PDGFRB tyrosine phosphorylation on tumor cells in vitro and in liver sinusoids in vivo. Platelets also release TGFB, which is a potent inducer of EMT. Inhibition of TGFB signaling in tumor cells caused partial reversion of the mesenchymal phenotype and strongly reduced PDGFRB expression and PDGF-stimulated tumor cell invasion. These results suggest that PDGFRB may contribute to the aggressive phenotype of colorectal tumors with mesenchymal properties, most likely downstream of platelet activation and TGFB signaling.
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Carr BI, Guerra V. Hepatocellular carcinoma size: platelets, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase. Oncology 2013; 85:153-9. [PMID: 23988857 DOI: 10.1159/000354416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thrombocytopenia is a cirrhosis surrogate which is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. AIMS To compare the clinical characteristics of HCC in the presence and absence of thrombocytopenia. METHODS The baseline clinical data of a large cohort of randomly presenting, biopsy-proven HCC patients was examined for phenotypic patterns, after organizing the data by tumor size and subdivision into tumor size terciles. RESULTS Small tumor size tercile I patients had the lowest platelet counts. Patients with higher platelets within each size tercile had the lowest bilirubin and prothrombin time and higher γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) levels. When patients with similar platelet and bilirubin levels were compared, α-fetoprotein, GGTP, and ALKP were significantly increased in patients with larger tumors and in the presence of portal vein thrombus. Large tumor size tercile III patients without thrombocytopenia had larger tumors, higher GGTP and ALKP, and lower bilirubin levels than did patients with thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSIONS Thrombocytopenia occurred in 40.7% of patients with smaller tumors but only in 11.3% of patients with larger tumors. Patients without thrombocytopenia had elevated GGTP and ALKP and lower bilirubin levels, regardless of tumor size, but they also had larger tumors within the large tumor tercile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian I Carr
- Department of Nutritional Carcinogenesis, IRCCS S. de Bellis National Institute for Digestive Diseases, Castellana Grotte, Italy
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Thrombocytopenia has been reported to be both a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development as well as a prognostic factor. Many HCCs also occur in presence of normal platelets. AIM To examine a cohort of HCC patients with associated thrombocytosis. METHODS Records were examined of a cohort of 634 biopsy-proven and randomly presenting HCC patients without thrombocytopenia. RESULTS In the total cohort, 52 patients were identified with thrombocytosis (platelet levels >400 × 10(9)/L) and compared with 582 patients with normal platelet values. The average tumor sizes were 13.1 versus 8.8 cm (p < 0.0001), and their total average bilirubin levels were 0.9 versus 1.5 (p = 0.02), comparing thrombocytosis patients versus normal platelet count HCC patients. These differences were even more pronounced in patients with HCC sizes >5 cm. Thrombocytosis patients were younger and had less cirrhosis, but similar percent with hepatitis B or C or alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION Thrombocytosis in association with HCC occurs in patients with larger tumor sizes and better liver function.
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Kondo R, Yano H, Nakashima O, Tanikawa K, Nomura Y, Kage M. Accumulation of platelets in the liver may be an important contributory factor to thrombocytopenia and liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. J Gastroenterol 2013; 48:526-34. [PMID: 22911171 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-012-0656-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2012] [Accepted: 07/25/2012] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thrombocytopenia is a marked feature of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. We tried to clarify whether an accumulation of platelets in the liver contributes to thrombocytopenia and liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease. METHODS Thirty-eight patients who underwent hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with hepatitis C virus infection were included. The locations of platelets and Kupffer cells and the expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor-β and smooth muscle actin (SMA) were identified by immunohistochemistry. Perisinusoidal mesenchymal cells that express PDGF receptor-β and SMA were interpreted as transformed hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). RESULTS Patients with cirrhosis had a more extensive platelet area in the liver compared to controls (5601 ± 5611 vs. 564 ± 361 μm(2), p = 0.02), although the blood platelet count significantly decreased along with the progression of liver fibrosis. In cirrhotic liver, most platelets were present in the sinusoidal space of the periportal area with inflammation, where HSCs expressing PDGF receptor-β were frequently observed. In addition, the platelet and Kupffer cell areas were significantly smaller in cancerous tissue than those in noncancerous tissues (platelet area: 492 ± 823 vs. 3643 ± 4055 μm(2), p = 0.001; Kupffer cell area: 450 ± 841 vs. 3012 ± 3051 μm(2), p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The accumulation of platelets in the liver with chronic hepatitis may be involved in thrombocytopenia and liver fibrosis through the activation of HSCs. In addition, our findings also indicate that both platelets and Kupffer cells decrease in HCC tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reiichiro Kondo
- Department of Pathology, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan.
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Chen ZY, Shi M, Peng LX, Wei W, Li XJ, Guo ZX, Li SH, Zhong C, Qian CN, Guo RP. Dovitinib preferentially targets endothelial cells rather than cancer cells for the inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma growth and metastasis. J Transl Med 2012; 10:245. [PMID: 23228017 PMCID: PMC3552726 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-10-245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2012] [Accepted: 11/19/2012] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Dovitinib is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, fibroblast growth factor receptors and platelet-derived growth factor receptor β. Dovitinib is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Method In this study, we used five HCC cell lines and five endothelial cell lines to validate molecular and cellular targets of dovitinib. Results Tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis were significantly suppressed in an orthotopic HCC model. Immunoblotting revealed that among known dovitinib targets, only PDGFR-β was expressed in two HCC cell lines, while four of five endothelial lines expressed PDGFR-β, FGFR-1, and VEGFR-2. Dovitinib inhibited endothelial cell proliferation and motility at 0.04 μmol/L, a pharmacologically relevant concentration; it was unable to inhibit the proliferation or motility of HCC cells at the same concentration. Immunohistochemical analyses showed that dovitinib significantly decreased the microvessel density of xenograft tumors, inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis in HCC cells. Conclusion Our findings indicate that dovitinib inhibits HCC growth and metastasis preferentially through an antiangiogenic mechanism, not through direct targeting of HCC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Yuan Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou, China
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Antiplatelet therapy prevents hepatocellular carcinoma and improves survival in a mouse model of chronic hepatitis B. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:E2165-72. [PMID: 22753481 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1209182109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 248] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The pathogenesis of HBV-associated HCC involves both viral and host factors. The latter include a functionally inefficient CD8(+) T-cell response that fails to clear the infection from the liver but sustains a chronic necroinflammatory process that contributes to the development of HCC. According to this scenario, amelioration of immune-mediated chronic liver injury may prevent HCC. Because platelets facilitate immune-mediated liver injury by promoting the hepatic accumulation of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells, we evaluated the long-term consequences of antiplatelet therapy in an HBV transgenic mouse model of chronic immune-mediated necroinflammatory liver disease that progresses to HCC. Treatment with aspirin and clopidogrel during the chronic phase of the disease diminished the number of intrahepatic HBV-specific CD8(+) T cells and HBV-nonspecific inflammatory cells, the severity of liver fibrosis, and the development of HCC. Antiplatelet therapy improved overall survival without causing significant side effects. In contrast, the same antiplatelet regimen had no antitumor effect when HCC was induced nonimmunologically by chronic exposure to a hepatotoxic chemical. The unprecedented observation that antiplatelet therapy inhibits or delays immune-mediated hepatocarcinogenesis suggests that platelets may be key players in the pathogenesis of HBV-associated liver cancer and supports the notion that immune-mediated necroinflammatory reactions are an important cause of hepatocellular transformation during chronic hepatitis.
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Giacomin A, Sergio A, Vanin V, Gazzola A, Cazzagon N, Farinati F. Molecular targeted therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma: present achievements and future challenges. Dig Dis 2012; 30:284-8. [PMID: 22722553 DOI: 10.1159/000336993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic options in advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma have been very poor until the discovery of new therapeutic agents that target the molecular pathways involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. In this paper we try to review the most important molecular agents in development, with a specific focus on sorafenib's role and safety profile, especially in the treatment of patients with suboptimal liver function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Giacomin
- Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences, Padua University, Italy
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Hao ZM, Fan XB, Li S, Lv YF, Su HQ, Jiang HP, Li HH. Vaccination with platelet-derived growth factor B kinoids inhibits CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2012; 342:835-42. [PMID: 22711911 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.112.194357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF-B) plays an essential role in hepatic fibrosis. Inhibition of the PDGF-B signaling in chronically injured livers might represent a potential therapeutic measure for hepatic fibrosis. In this study, we assessed the effects of vaccination against PDGF-B on CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis in BALB/c mice. The PDGF-B kinoid immunogens were prepared by cross-linking two PDGF-B-derived B-cell epitope peptides [PDGF-B¹⁶-(23-38) and PDGF-B¹⁶-(72-83)] to ovalbumin and keyhole limpet hemocyanin, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, and NIH3T3 cell proliferation assay verified that immunization with the PDGF-B kinoids elicited the production of high levels of neutralizing anti-PDGF-B autoantibodies. The vaccination markedly alleviated CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis, as indicated by the lessened morphological alternations and reduced hydroxyproline contents in the mouse livers. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen, α-smooth muscle actin, and desmin demonstrated that neutralization of PDGF-B inhibited both the proliferation and the activation of hepatic stellate cells in the fibrotic mouse livers. Taken together, this study demonstrated that vaccination with PDGF-B kinoids significantly suppressed CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice. Our results suggest that vaccination against PDGF-B might be developed into an effective, convenient, and safe therapeutic measure for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Ming Hao
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 Yantaxilu, Xi'an 710061, China.
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Bandapalli OR, Macher-Goeppinger S, Schirmacher P, Brand K. Paracrine signalling in colorectal liver metastases involving tumor cell-derived PDGF-C and hepatic stellate cell-derived PAK-2. Clin Exp Metastasis 2012; 29:409-17. [PMID: 22362252 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-012-9459-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2011] [Accepted: 02/07/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In a nude mouse model of colorectal liver metastases, we have identified a paracrine tumor cell/host cell signalling pathway that is apparently required for successful tumor growth. Whereas recombinant platelet derived growth factor-C (PDGF-C) and supernatants from PDGF-C secreting wild type LS174T colon carcinoma cells could rescue tumor promoting hepatic stellate cells (HSC) from growth inhibition by serum starvation, supernatants from LS174T colon carcinoma cells with reduced secretion of PDGF-C had much less effect on serum starved HSC. Autocrine growth inhibition of LS174T cells by PDGF-C knock-down was only marginal. In vivo, a prominent inhibition of liver metastasis was observed if PDGF-C was knocked-down in LS174T cells. By whole genome array analysis of host cells of the invasion front and subsequent immunohistochemical staining we identified p21 activated kinase-2 (PAK-2) as being strongly and specifically expressed by HSC. The above described effect of PDGF-C on HSC was found to be dependent on PAK-2 because in contrast to wild type HSC, silencing of PAK-2 in HSC only allowed for a partial PDGF-C-mediated rescue from serum starvation leading to only a slight increase of proliferation. These data indicate that PDGF-C promotes tumor growth via a growth promoting effect on HSC that is at least in part dependent on the presence of functional PAK-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obul R Bandapalli
- Department of General Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 220/221, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Current World Literature. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 2012; 21:106-18. [DOI: 10.1097/mnh.0b013e32834ee42b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Miyahara K, Nouso K, Tomoda T, Kobayashi S, Hagihara H, Kuwaki K, Toshimori J, Onishi H, Ikeda F, Miyake Y, Nakamura S, Shiraha H, Takaki A, Yamamoto K. Predicting the treatment effect of sorafenib using serum angiogenesis markers in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2011; 26:1604-11. [PMID: 22011296 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2011.06887.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Sorafenib, the first agent demonstrated to have efficacy to improve the survival of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is an active multikinase inhibitor affecting angiogenesis and tumor proliferation. We analyzed cytokines related to angiogenesis or cell proliferation, and tried to determine their utility as biomarkers of sorafenib treatment effect for HCC. METHODS Nine serum cytokines (angiopoietin-2 [Ang-2], follistatin, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [G-CSF], hepatocyte growth factor [HGF], interleukin-8 [IL-8], leptin, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor) were measured in 30 HCC patients treated with sorafenib, and the effects of treatment were compared using modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. RESULTS All but IL-8 were significantly higher at baseline in patients with progressive disease. Progression-free survival was significantly shorter in patients with high levels of Ang-2, G-CSF, HGF, and leptin, and the hazard ratios were 2.51, 6.89, 2.55, and 4.14, respectively. As the number of cytokines at a high level increased, the treatment response deteriorated. Disease progression was seen in three of 12 (25.0%) patients with zero to two high biomarkers, two of six (33.3%) patients with 3-5 high biomarkers, and 10 of 12 (83.3%) patients with six to eight high biomarkers (P=0.008). The prognosis of all patients with eight high biomarkers was progressive disease. CONCLUSION High levels of serum cytokines at baseline were correlated with poor effects of sorafenib treatment in patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Miyahara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
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Coexpression of PDGFR-alpha, PDGFR-beta and VEGF as a prognostic factor in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Biol Markers 2011; 26:108-16. [PMID: 21574155 DOI: 10.5301/jbm.2011.8322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/30/2011] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To evaluate the prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFR-a) and beta (PDGFR-ß) expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).? METHODS The expression of PDGFR-a, PDGFR-ß and VEGF in 63 HCC patients who underwent curative resection was examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The correlations between the expression of these biomarkers and the clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. Patient survival was analyzed by univariate analysis and Cox proportional hazards model.? RESULTS Univariate survival analysis showed that PDGFR-a or PDGFR-ß overexpression was of no prognostic significance in predicting disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) (p>0.05), while VEGF overexpression and PDGFR-a/PDGFR-ß/VEGF coexpression were significantly correlated with worse DFS and poorer OS in HCC patients (p<0.05). More importantly, PDGFR-a/PDGFR-ß/VEGF coexpression was an independent prognostic marker for poor survival as indicated by multivariate Cox regression analysis (DFS, hazard ratio 3.122, p=0.001; OS, hazard ratio 4.260, p=0.000).? CONCLUSIONS Coexpression of PDGFR-a, PDGFR-ß and VEGF could be considered an independent prognostic biomarker for predicting DFS and OS in HCC patients. This result could be used to identify patients at a higher risk of tumor recurrence and poor prognosis, and help to select therapeutic schemes for the treatment of HCC.
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Williams TD, Turan N, Diab AM, Wu H, Mackenzie C, Bartie KL, Hrydziuszko O, Lyons BP, Stentiford GD, Herbert JM, Abraham JK, Katsiadaki I, Leaver MJ, Taggart JB, George SG, Viant MR, Chipman KJ, Falciani F. Towards a system level understanding of non-model organisms sampled from the environment: a network biology approach. PLoS Comput Biol 2011; 7:e1002126. [PMID: 21901081 PMCID: PMC3161900 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2011] [Accepted: 05/26/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The acquisition and analysis of datasets including multi-level omics and physiology from non-model species, sampled from field populations, is a formidable challenge, which so far has prevented the application of systems biology approaches. If successful, these could contribute enormously to improving our understanding of how populations of living organisms adapt to environmental stressors relating to, for example, pollution and climate. Here we describe the first application of a network inference approach integrating transcriptional, metabolic and phenotypic information representative of wild populations of the European flounder fish, sampled at seven estuarine locations in northern Europe with different degrees and profiles of chemical contaminants. We identified network modules, whose activity was predictive of environmental exposure and represented a link between molecular and morphometric indices. These sub-networks represented both known and candidate novel adverse outcome pathways representative of several aspects of human liver pathophysiology such as liver hyperplasia, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. At the molecular level these pathways were linked to TNF alpha, TGF beta, PDGF, AGT and VEGF signalling. More generally, this pioneering study has important implications as it can be applied to model molecular mechanisms of compensatory adaptation to a wide range of scenarios in wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim D. Williams
- School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Nil Turan
- School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Amer M. Diab
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Huifeng Wu
- School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Academy of Sciences, Yantai, PR. China
| | - Carolynn Mackenzie
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Katie L. Bartie
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Olga Hrydziuszko
- School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Brett P. Lyons
- Cefas, Weymouth Laboratory, Weymouth, Dorset, United Kingdom
| | | | - John M. Herbert
- School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph K. Abraham
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | | | - Michael J. Leaver
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - John B. Taggart
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen G. George
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Mark R. Viant
- School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin J. Chipman
- School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Falciani
- School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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