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Devan AR, Nair B, Pradeep GK, Alexander R, Vinod BS, Nath LR, Calina D, Sharifi-Rad J. The role of glypican-3 in hepatocellular carcinoma: Insights into diagnosis and therapeutic potential. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:490. [PMID: 39369212 PMCID: PMC11453014 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-02073-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 09/22/2024] [Indexed: 10/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Glypican-3 (GPC-3) is predominantly found in the placenta and fetal liver, with limited expression in adult tissues. Its re-expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and secretion into the serum highlights its potential as a diagnostic marker. GPC-3 is involved in important cellular processes such as proliferation, metastasis, apoptosis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition through various signaling pathways including Wnt, IGF, YAP, and Hedgehog. To review the structure, biosynthesis, and post-translational modifications of GPC-3, and to elucidate its signaling mechanisms and role as a pro-proliferative protein in HCC, emphasizing its diagnostic and therapeutic potential. A comprehensive literature review was conducted, focusing on the expression of GPC-3 in various tumors, with a special emphasis on HCC. The review synthesized findings from experimental studies and clinical trials, analyzing the overexpression of GPC-3 in HCC, its differentiation from other liver diseases, and its potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic target. GPC-3 overexpression in HCC is linked to aggressive tumor behavior and poor prognosis, including shorter overall and disease-free survival. Additionally, GPC-3 has emerged as a promising therapeutic target. Ongoing investigations, including immunotherapies such as monoclonal antibodies and CAR-T cell therapies, demonstrate potential in inhibiting tumor growth and improving clinical outcomes. The review details the multifaceted roles of GPC-3 in tumorigenesis, including its impact on tumor-associated macrophages, glucose metabolism, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, all contributing to HCC progression. GPC-3's re-expression in HCC and its involvement in key tumorigenic processes underscore its value as a biomarker for early diagnosis and a target for therapeutic intervention. Further research is warranted to fully exploit GPC-3's diagnostic and therapeutic potential in HCC management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aswathy R Devan
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Science Campus, Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, 682041, India
| | - Bhagyalakshmi Nair
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Science Campus, Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, 682041, India
| | - Govind K Pradeep
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Science Campus, Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, 682041, India
| | - Roshini Alexander
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Science Campus, Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, 682041, India
| | - Balachandran S Vinod
- Department of Biochemistry, Sree Narayana College, Kollam, Kerala, 691001, India
| | - Lekshmi R Nath
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Science Campus, Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, 682041, India.
| | - Daniela Calina
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349, Craiova, Romania.
| | - Javad Sharifi-Rad
- Universidad Espíritu Santo, Samborondón, 092301, Ecuador.
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
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2
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Wang Y, Wang T, Cao Y, Qiao X, Han X, Liu ZP. TopMarker: Computational screening biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma from transcriptome and interactome based on differential network topological parameters. Comput Biol Chem 2024; 112:108166. [PMID: 39111022 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2024.108166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
Identifying diagnostic biomarkers for cancer is crucial in the field of personalized medicine. The available transcriptome and interactome provide unprecedented opportunities and challenges for biomarker screening. From a systematic perspective, network-based medicine methods provide alternative approaches to organizing the available high-throughput omics data for deciphering molecular interactions and their associations with phenotypic states. In this work, we propose a bioinformatics strategy named TopMarker for discovering diagnostic biomarkers by comparing the network topology differences in control and disease samples. Specifically, we build up gene-gene interaction networks in the two states of control and disease respectively. The network rewiring status across the two networks results in differential network topologies reflecting dynamics and changes in normal samples when compared with those in disease. Thus, we identify the potential biomarker genes with differential network topological parameters between the control and disease gene networks. For a proof-of-concept study, we introduce the computational pipeline of biomarker discovery in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We prove the effectiveness of the proposed TopMarker method using these candidate biomarkers in classifying HCC samples and validate its signature capability across numerous independent datasets. We also compare the discriminant power of biomarker genes identified by TopMarker with those identified by other baseline methods. The higher classification performances and functional implications indicate the advantages of our proposed method for discovering biomarkers from differential network topology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqiu Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Control Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250061, China
| | - Tong Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Control Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250061, China
| | - Yi Cao
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Xu Qiao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Control Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250061, China
| | - Xianhua Han
- Faculty of Science, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8511, Japan
| | - Zhi-Ping Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Control Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250061, China.
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3
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Yao G, Yang Z. Glypican-3 knockdown inhibits the cell growth, stemness, and glycolysis development of hepatocellular carcinoma cells under hypoxic microenvironment through lactylation. Arch Physiol Biochem 2024; 130:546-554. [PMID: 37131292 DOI: 10.1080/13813455.2023.2206982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumour in China. Glypican-3 (GPC3) is reported to be closely related to the occurrence and development of various tumours. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the role of GPC3 in HCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS The cell behaviours were investigated using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), Traswell, and sphere formation assays. The protein and mRNA expression levels were detected using western blot and Real-Time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) assays. RESULTS The results showed that GPC3 knockdown decreased the cell viability and stemness, glucose uptake, lactate production, and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), while increased the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in hypoxia-treated HCC cells. Additionally, GPC3 knockdown decreased the global lactylation and c-myc lactylation, which further decreased the protein stability and expressions of c-myc. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION GPC3-mediated lactylation modification may be a new direction in HCC treatment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gebing Yao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zihua Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, China
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4
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Ren T, Huang Y. Recent advancements in improving the efficacy and safety of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024:10.1007/s00210-024-03443-7. [PMID: 39316087 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03443-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 09/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
The liver is one of the most frequent sites of primary malignancies in humans. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent solid tumors with poor prognosis. Current treatments showed limited efficacy in some patients, and, therefore, alternative strategies, such as immunotherapy, cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy (ACT), and recently chimeric antigen receptors (CAR)-T cells, are developed to offer better efficacy and safety profile in patients with HCC. Unlike other ACTs like tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), CAR-T cells are equipped with engineered CAR receptors that effectively identify tumor antigens and eliminate cancer cells without major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restriction. This process induces intracellular signaling, leading to T lymphocyte recruitment and subsequent activation of other effector cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Until today, novel approaches have been used to develop more potent CAR-T cells with robust persistence, specificity, trafficking, and safety. However, the clinical application of CAR-T cells in solid tumors is still challenging. Therefore, this study aims to review the advancement, prospects, and possible avenues of CAR-T cell application in HCC following an outline of the CAR structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuo Ren
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No.58 Zhongsahn 2nd Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Yonghui Huang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No.58 Zhongsahn 2nd Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China.
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5
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Liu Y, Wu Y, Li Z, Wan D, Pan J. Targeted Drug Delivery Strategies for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Molecules 2024; 29:4405. [PMID: 39339402 PMCID: PMC11434448 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29184405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2024] [Revised: 09/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks among the most prevalent malignant tumors, exhibiting a high incidence rate that presents a substantial threat to human health. The use of sorafenib and lenvatinib, commonly employed as single-agent targeted inhibitors, complicates the treatment process due to the absence of definitive targeting. Nevertheless, the advent of nanotechnology has injected new optimism into the domain of liver cancer therapy. Nanocarriers equipped with active targeting or passive targeting mechanisms have demonstrated the capability to deliver drugs to tumor cells with high efficiency. This approach not only facilitates precise delivery to the affected site but also enables targeted drug release, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy. As medical technology progresses, there is an increasing call for innovative treatment modalities, including novel chemotherapeutic agents, gene therapy, phototherapy, immunotherapy, and combinatorial treatments for HCC. These emerging therapies are anticipated to yield improved clinical outcomes for patients, while minimizing systemic toxicity and adverse effects. Consequently, the application of nanotechnology is poised to significantly improve HCC treatment. This review focused on targeted strategies for HCC and the application of nanotechnology in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghui Liu
- School of Chemistry, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China; (Y.L.)
| | - Yanan Wu
- School of Chemistry, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China; (Y.L.)
| | - Zijian Li
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Dong Wan
- School of Chemistry, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China; (Y.L.)
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Jie Pan
- School of Chemistry, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China; (Y.L.)
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Zhu M, Wu Y, Zhu T, Chen J, Chen Z, Ding H, Tan S, He J, Zeng Q, Huang X. Multifunctional Bispecific Nanovesicles Targeting SLAMF7 Trigger Potent Antitumor Immunity. Cancer Immunol Res 2024; 12:1007-1021. [PMID: 38819238 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-23-1102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is hindered by the ineffective infiltration and functioning of cytotoxic T cells and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Signaling lymphocytic activation molecule family member 7 (SLAMF7) is a pivotal co-stimulatory receptor thought to simultaneously trigger NK-cell, T-cell, and macrophage antitumor cytotoxicity. However, the potential of this collaborative immune stimulation in antitumor immunity for solid tumors is underexplored due to the exclusive expression of SLAMF7 by hematopoietic cells. Here, we report the development and characterization of multifunctional bispecific nanovesicles (NVs) targeting SLAMF7 and glypican-3-a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-specific tumor antigen. We found that by effectively "decorating" the surfaces of solid tumors with SLAMF7, these NVs directly induced potent and specific antitumor immunity and remodeled the immunosuppressive TME, sensitizing the tumors to programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) blockade. Our findings highlight the potential of SLAMF7-targeted multifunctional bispecific NVs as an anticancer strategy with implications for designing next-generation targeted cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manman Zhu
- Center for Infection and Immunity and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Yongjian Wu
- Center for Infection and Immunity and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Tianchuan Zhu
- Center for Infection and Immunity and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Center for Infection and Immunity and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Zhenxing Chen
- Center for Infection and Immunity and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
- Kingcell Regenerative Medicine (Guangdong) Co., Zhuhai, China
| | - Hanxi Ding
- Center for Infection and Immunity and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
- Cancer Center, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Siyi Tan
- Center for Infection and Immunity and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Jianzhong He
- Department of Pathology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Qi Zeng
- Cancer Center, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Xi Huang
- Center for Infection and Immunity and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
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7
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Zou F, Wei J, Zhuang J, Liu Y, Tan J, Huang X, Liu T. Moderate expression of CD39 in GPC3-CAR-T cells shows high efficacy against hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Med 2024; 18:708-720. [PMID: 38833102 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-024-1071-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
CD39 serves as a crucial biomarker for neoantigen-specific CD8+ T cells and is associated with antitumor activity and exhaustion. However, the relationship between CD39 expression levels and the function of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the role of CD39 in the functional performance of CAR-T cells against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and explore the therapeutic potential of CD39 modulators, such as mitochondrial division inhibitor-1 (mdivi-1), or knockdown CD39 through short hairpin RNA. Our findings demonstrated that glypican-3-CAR-T cells with moderate CD39 expression exhibited a strong antitumor activity, while high and low levels of CD39 led to an impaired cellular function. Methods modulating the proportion of CD39 intermediate (CD39int)-phenotype CAR-T cells such as mdivi-1 and CD39 knockdown enhanced and impaired T cell function, respectively. The combination of mdivi-1 and CD39 knockdown in CAR-T cells yielded the highest proportion of infiltrated CD39int CAR-T cells and demonstrated a robust antitumor activity in vivo. In conclusion, this study revealed the crucial role of CD39 in CAR-T cell function, demonstrated the potential therapeutic efficacy of combining mdivi-1 with CD39 knockdown in HCC, and provided a novel treatment strategy for HCC patients in the field of cellular immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Zou
- Guangdong Cardiovsacular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Science, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Science), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jialiang Wei
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Jialang Zhuang
- School of Food and Drug, Shenzhen Polytechnic University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yafang Liu
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine/State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Jizhou Tan
- Department of Stomatology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Xianzhang Huang
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine/State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
| | - Ting Liu
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine/State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
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8
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Li G, Feng H, Li X, Li S, Liang J, Zhou Z. A dual-signal output electrochemical aptasensor for glypican-3 ultrasensitive detection based on reduced graphene oxide-cuprous oxide nanozyme catalytic amplification strategy. Bioelectrochemistry 2024; 158:108709. [PMID: 38621313 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2024.108709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Glypican-3 (GPC3) is an essential reference target for hepatocellular carcinoma detection, follow-up and prediction. Herein, a dual-signal electrochemical aptasensor based on reduced graphene oxide-cuprous oxide (RGO-Cu2O) nanozyme was developed for GPC3 detection. The RGO-Cu2O nanoenzyme displayed excellent electron transport effect, large specific surface area and outstanding peroxidase-like ability. The differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) signal of Cu2O oxidation fraction and the chronoamperometry (i-t) signal of H2O2 decomposition catalyzed by RGO-Cu2O nanozyme were used as dual-signal detection. Under optimal conditions, the log-linear response ranges were 0.1 to 500.0 ng/mL with the limit of detection 0.064 ng/mL for DPV technique, and 0.1-50.0 ng/mL for i-t technique (detection limit of 0.0177 ng/mL). The electrochemical aptasensor has remarkably analytical performance with wide response range, low detection limit, excellent repeatability and specificity, good recovery in human serum samples. The two output signals of one sample achieve self-calibration of the results, effectively avoiding the occurrence of possible leakage and misdiagnosis of a single detection signal, suggesting that it will be a promising method in the early biomarker detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiyin Li
- College of Chemistry, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Guandu Road, Maoming, Guangdong 525000, People's Republic of China
| | - Huafu Feng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinhao Li
- College of Chemistry, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Guandu Road, Maoming, Guangdong 525000, People's Republic of China; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengnan Li
- College of Chemistry, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Guandu Road, Maoming, Guangdong 525000, People's Republic of China; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, People's Republic of China
| | - Jintao Liang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhide Zhou
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, People's Republic of China.
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9
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Chen S, Liao J, Li J, Wang S. GPC2 promotes prostate cancer progression via MDK-mediated activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Funct Integr Genomics 2024; 24:127. [PMID: 39014225 PMCID: PMC11252201 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-024-01406-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is a major medical problem for men worldwide. Advanced prostate cancer is currently incurable. Recently, much attention was paid to the role of GPC2 in the field of oncology. Nevertheless, there have been no investigations of GPC2 and its regulatory mechanism in prostate cancer. Here, we revealed a novel action of GPC2 and a tumor promoting mechanism in prostate cancer. GPC2 was upregulated in prostate cancer tissues and cell lines. Higher expression of GPC2 was correlated with higher Gleason score, lymphatic metastasis, and worse overall survival in prostate cancer patients. Decreased expression of GPC2 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in prostate cancer, whereas GPC2 overexpression promoted these properties. Mechanistically, GPC2 promoted the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through MDK. The rescue assay results in prostate cancer cells demonstrated that overexpression of MDK could attenuate GPC2 knockdown induced inactivation of PI3K/AKT signaling and partly reverse GPC2 knockdown induced inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In all, our study identified GPC2 as an oncogene in prostate cancer. GPC2 promoted prostate cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via MDK-mediated activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. GPC2 might be a promising prognosis predictor and potential therapeutic target in prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijin Chen
- Department of Urology, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410005, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jiaxing Liao
- Department of Urology, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410005, Hunan Province, China
| | - Juhua Li
- Department of Urology, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410005, Hunan Province, China
| | - Saihui Wang
- Department of Urology, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410005, Hunan Province, China.
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10
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Chinnappan R, Makhzoum T, Arai M, Hajja A, Abul Rub F, Alodhaibi I, Alfuwais M, Elahi MA, Alshehri EA, Ramachandran L, Mani NK, Abrahim S, Mir MS, Al-Kattan K, Mir TA, Yaqinuddin A. Recent Advances in Biosensor Technology for Early-Stage Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma-Specific Biomarkers: An Overview. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:1519. [PMID: 39061656 PMCID: PMC11276200 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14141519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is currently the most common malignancy of the liver. It typically occurs due to a series of oncogenic mutations that lead to aberrant cell replication. Most commonly, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurs as a result of pre-occurring liver diseases, such as hepatitis and cirrhosis. Given its aggressive nature and poor prognosis, the early screening and diagnosis of HCC are crucial. However, due to its plethora of underlying risk factors and pathophysiologies, patient presentation often varies in the early stages, with many patients presenting with few, if any, specific symptoms in the early stages. Conventionally, screening and diagnosis are performed through radiological examination, with diagnosis confirmed by biopsy. Imaging modalities tend to be limited by their requirement of large, expensive equipment; time-consuming operation; and a lack of accurate diagnosis, whereas a biopsy's invasive nature makes it unappealing for repetitive use. Recently, biosensors have gained attention for their potential to detect numerous conditions rapidly, cheaply, accurately, and without complex equipment and training. Through their sensing platforms, they aim to detect various biomarkers, such as nucleic acids, proteins, and even whole cells extracted by a liquid biopsy. Numerous biosensors have been developed that may detect HCC in its early stages. We discuss the recent updates in biosensing technology, highlighting its competitive potential compared to conventional methodology and its prospects as a tool for screening and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raja Chinnappan
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia; (T.M.); (M.A.); (A.H.); (F.A.R.); (I.A.); (M.A.); (M.A.E.); (K.A.-K.); (T.A.M.)
- Tissue/Organ Bioengineering & BioMEMS Laboratory, Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence (TR&I-Dpt), King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Tariq Makhzoum
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia; (T.M.); (M.A.); (A.H.); (F.A.R.); (I.A.); (M.A.); (M.A.E.); (K.A.-K.); (T.A.M.)
| | - Momo Arai
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia; (T.M.); (M.A.); (A.H.); (F.A.R.); (I.A.); (M.A.); (M.A.E.); (K.A.-K.); (T.A.M.)
| | - Amro Hajja
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia; (T.M.); (M.A.); (A.H.); (F.A.R.); (I.A.); (M.A.); (M.A.E.); (K.A.-K.); (T.A.M.)
| | - Farah Abul Rub
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia; (T.M.); (M.A.); (A.H.); (F.A.R.); (I.A.); (M.A.); (M.A.E.); (K.A.-K.); (T.A.M.)
| | - Ibrahim Alodhaibi
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia; (T.M.); (M.A.); (A.H.); (F.A.R.); (I.A.); (M.A.); (M.A.E.); (K.A.-K.); (T.A.M.)
| | - Mohammed Alfuwais
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia; (T.M.); (M.A.); (A.H.); (F.A.R.); (I.A.); (M.A.); (M.A.E.); (K.A.-K.); (T.A.M.)
| | - Muhammad Affan Elahi
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia; (T.M.); (M.A.); (A.H.); (F.A.R.); (I.A.); (M.A.); (M.A.E.); (K.A.-K.); (T.A.M.)
| | - Eman Abdullah Alshehri
- Tissue/Organ Bioengineering & BioMEMS Laboratory, Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence (TR&I-Dpt), King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Lohit Ramachandran
- Microfluidics, Sensors & Diagnostics (μSenD) Laboratory, Centre for Microfluidics, Biomarkers, Photoceutics and Sensors (μBioPS), Department of Biotechnology, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India; (L.R.); (N.K.M.)
| | - Naresh Kumar Mani
- Microfluidics, Sensors & Diagnostics (μSenD) Laboratory, Centre for Microfluidics, Biomarkers, Photoceutics and Sensors (μBioPS), Department of Biotechnology, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India; (L.R.); (N.K.M.)
| | - Shugufta Abrahim
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering for Education, University of Toyama, 3190 Gofuku, Toyama 930-8555, Japan;
| | - Mohammad Shabab Mir
- School of Pharmacy, Desh Bhagat University, Mandi Gobindgarh 147301, Punjab, India;
| | - Khaled Al-Kattan
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia; (T.M.); (M.A.); (A.H.); (F.A.R.); (I.A.); (M.A.); (M.A.E.); (K.A.-K.); (T.A.M.)
- Lung Health Centre Department, Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tanveer Ahmad Mir
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia; (T.M.); (M.A.); (A.H.); (F.A.R.); (I.A.); (M.A.); (M.A.E.); (K.A.-K.); (T.A.M.)
- Tissue/Organ Bioengineering & BioMEMS Laboratory, Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence (TR&I-Dpt), King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Ahmed Yaqinuddin
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia; (T.M.); (M.A.); (A.H.); (F.A.R.); (I.A.); (M.A.); (M.A.E.); (K.A.-K.); (T.A.M.)
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11
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Yao S, Chai H, Tao T, Zhang L, Yang X, Li X, Yi Z, Wang Y, An J, Wen G, Jin H, Tuo B. Role of lactate and lactate metabolism in liver diseases (Review). Int J Mol Med 2024; 54:59. [PMID: 38785162 PMCID: PMC11188982 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2024.5383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Lactate is a byproduct of glycolysis, and before the Warburg effect was revealed (in which glucose can be fermented in the presence of oxygen to produce lactate) it was considered a metabolic waste product. At present, lactate is not only recognized as a metabolic substrate that provides energy, but also as a signaling molecule that regulates cellular functions under pathophysiological conditions. Lactylation, a post‑translational modification, is involved in the development of various diseases, including inflammation and tumors. Liver disease is a major health challenge worldwide. In normal liver, there is a net lactate uptake caused by gluconeogenesis, exhibiting a higher net lactate clearance rate compared with any other organ. Therefore, abnormalities of lactate and lactate metabolism lead to the development of liver disease, and lactate and lactate metabolism‑related genes can be used for predicting the prognosis of liver disease. Targeting lactate production, regulating lactate transport and modulating lactylation may be potential treatment approaches for liver disease. However, currently there is not a systematic review that summarizes the role of lactate and lactate metabolism in liver diseases. In the present review, the role of lactate and lactate metabolism in liver diseases including liver fibrosis, non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease, acute liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma was summarized with the aim to provide insights for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Yao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563003, P.R. China
| | - Hongyu Chai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563003, P.R. China
| | - Ting Tao
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Fuling Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing 408099, P.R. China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563003, P.R. China
| | - Xingyue Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563003, P.R. China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563003, P.R. China
| | - Zhiqiang Yi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563003, P.R. China
| | - Yongfeng Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563003, P.R. China
| | - Jiaxin An
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563003, P.R. China
| | - Guorong Wen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563003, P.R. China
| | - Hai Jin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563003, P.R. China
| | - Biguang Tuo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563003, P.R. China
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12
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Al-Ibraheem A, Zimmermann R, Abdlkadir AS, Herrmann K. Radiotheranostics Global Market and Future Developments. Semin Nucl Med 2024; 54:622-633. [PMID: 38485583 DOI: 10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2024.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
Radiotheranostics, a combination of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, was first utilized in cancer management using radiopharmaceuticals to both image and selectively treat specific cancer subtypes nearly a century ago. Radiotheranostic strategies rooted in nuclear medicine have revolutionized the treatment landscape for individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumors in the past 10 years. In specific contexts, these approaches have emerged as the prevailing standard, yielding numerous positive results. The field of radiotheranostics shows great potential for future clinical applications. This article aims to examine the key factors that will contribute to the success of radiotheranostics in the future, as well as the current challenges and potential strategies to overcome them, with insight into the global radiotheranostic market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akram Al-Ibraheem
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC), Amman, 11942, Jordan; Division of Nuclear Medicine/Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan.
| | - Richard Zimmermann
- Chrysalium Consulting, Lalaye, France; MEDraysintell, Louvain-la-Neuve, Oncidium Foundation, Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium; Department of Nuclear Medicine, King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC), Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | - Ahmed S Abdlkadir
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC), Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | - Ken Herrmann
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West German Cancer Center (WTZ), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT West, Germany
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13
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Wei L, He P, Tan Z, Lin C, Wei Z. Comprehensively analysis of IL33 in hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis, immune microenvironment and biological role. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18468. [PMID: 38923705 PMCID: PMC11196832 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
IL33 plays an important role in cancer. However, the role of liver cancer remains unclear. Open-accessed data was obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas, Xena, and TISCH databases. Different algorithms and R packages are used to perform various analyses. Here, in our comprehensive study on IL33 in HCC, we observed its differential expression across cancers, implicating its role in cancer development. The single-cell analysis highlighted its primary expression in endothelial cells, unveiling correlations within the HCC microenvironment. Also, the expression level of IL33 was correlated with patients survival, emphasizing its potential prognostic value. Biological enrichment analyses revealed associations with stem cell division, angiogenesis, and inflammatory response. IL33's impact on the immune microenvironment showcased correlations with diverse immune cells. Genomic features and drug sensitivity analyses provided insights into IL33's broader implications. In a pan-cancer context, IL33 emerged as a potential tumour-inhibitor, influencing immune-related molecules. This study significantly advances our understanding of IL33 in cancer biology. IL33 exhibited differential expression across cancers, particularly in endothelial cells within the HCC microenvironment. IL33 is correlated with the survival of HCC patients, indicating potential prognostic value and highlighting its broader implications in cancer biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifang Wei
- Health Management CenterThe Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesGuangxiChina
| | - Ping He
- School of Laboratory MedicineYoujiang Medical University for NationalitiesGuangxiChina
| | - Zhongqiu Tan
- Department of OncologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseGuangxiChina
| | - Cheng Lin
- Department of OncologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseGuangxiChina
| | - Zhongheng Wei
- Department of OncologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseGuangxiChina
- Guangxi Clinical Medical Research Center for Hepatobiliary DiseasesThe Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseChina
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14
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Xu L, Li J, Hou N, Han F, Sun X, Li Q. 20(S)-Ginsenoside Rh2 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma by suppressing angiogenesis and the GPC3-mediated Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2024; 56:688-696. [PMID: 38584523 PMCID: PMC11177114 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
20(S)-Ginsenoside Rh2 has significant anti-tumor effects in various types of cancers, including human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its molecular targets and mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. Here, we aim to elucidate the potential mechanisms by which Rh2 suppresses HCC growth. We first demonstrate the role of Rh2 in inhibiting angiogenesis. We observe that Rh2 effectively suppresses cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in HUVECs. Furthermore, Rh2 significantly inhibits HepG2-stimulated HUVEC proliferation, migration and tube formation, accompanied by the downregulation of VEGF and MMP-2 expressions. We also reveal that Rh2 inhibits HCC growth through the downregulation of glypican-3-mediated activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. We observe a dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis in HepG2 cells upon Rh2 treatment, which is mediated by the inhibition of glypican-3/Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Moreover, downregulation of glypican-3 expression enhances the effects of Rh2 on the glypican-3/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, resulting in greater suppression of tumor growth in HepG2 cells. Collectively, our findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms through which Rh2 modulates HCC growth, which involve the regulation of angiogenesis and the glypican-3/Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These insights may pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linfei Xu
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismAffiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical UniversityWeifang261031China
- Research CenterAffiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical UniversityWeifang261031China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismAffiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical UniversityWeifang261031China
- Research CenterAffiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical UniversityWeifang261031China
| | - Ningning Hou
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismAffiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical UniversityWeifang261031China
- Research CenterAffiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical UniversityWeifang261031China
| | - Fang Han
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismAffiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical UniversityWeifang261031China
- Research CenterAffiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical UniversityWeifang261031China
| | - Xiaodong Sun
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismAffiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical UniversityWeifang261031China
- Research CenterAffiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical UniversityWeifang261031China
| | - Qinying Li
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismAffiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical UniversityWeifang261031China
- Research CenterAffiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical UniversityWeifang261031China
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15
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Heumann P, Albert A, Gülow K, Tümen D, Müller M, Kandulski A. Insights in Molecular Therapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1831. [PMID: 38791911 PMCID: PMC11120383 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
We conducted a comprehensive review of the current literature of published data and clinical trials (MEDLINE), as well as published congress contributions and active recruiting clinical trials on targeted therapies in hepatocellular carcinoma. Combinations of different agents and medical therapy along with radiological interventions were analyzed for the setting of advanced HCC. Those settings were also analyzed in combination with adjuvant situations after resection or radiological treatments. We summarized the current knowledge for each therapeutic setting and combination that currently is or has been under clinical evaluation. We further discuss the results in the background of current treatment guidelines. In addition, we review the pathophysiological mechanisms and pathways for each of these investigated targets and drugs to further elucidate the molecular background and underlying mechanisms of action. Established and recommended targeted treatment options that already exist for patients are considered for systemic treatment: atezolizumab/bevacizumab, durvalumab/tremelimumab, sorafenib, lenvatinib, cabozantinib, regorafenib, and ramucirumab. Combination treatment for systemic treatment and local ablative treatment or transarterial chemoembolization and adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment strategies are under clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Heumann
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany (K.G.); (D.T.)
| | | | | | | | | | - Arne Kandulski
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany (K.G.); (D.T.)
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16
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Basthi Mohan P, Lochan R, Shetty S. Biomarker in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Indian J Surg Oncol 2024; 15:261-268. [PMID: 38817995 PMCID: PMC11133295 DOI: 10.1007/s13193-023-01858-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer and a major contributor to the socioeconomic burden worldwide. The pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is contributed by various etiological factors like virus infection, excessive alcohol consumption, exposure to toxins, or metabolic disorders. Majority of patients are diagnosed with late-stage HCC, which restricts its management to only palliative care. HCC, if diagnosed early, increases the survival and quality of life. Currently available biomarker (alpha-fetoproteins) have several limitations, that impede the early diagnosis and staging of cancer. This warrants the continous search in pursuit of a novel biomarker. Several research works in diverse areas have contributed to the identification of various novel biomarkers that have shown multifaceted application in early disease diagnosis, which further aid in targeted and effective therapy that can prevent cancer progression. This improves the overall health status of the patient along with significant reduction in caretaker's burden. With the aid of novel technologies, several biomarkers have been investigated and validated in mutliple preliminary research works. Therefore in this review, we have outlined various novel biomarkers that showed promising outcomes in their trials and we have highlighted the developing areas that act as game changers in cancer diagnosis and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Basthi Mohan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104 Karnataka India
| | - Rajiv Lochan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104 Karnataka India
- Lead Consultant Surgeon - HPB and Liver transplantation Surgery, Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru, 560017 Karnataka India
| | - Shiran Shetty
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104 Karnataka India
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17
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Wei H, Dong C, Li X. Treatment Options for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Immunotherapy: Present and Future. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2024; 12:389-405. [PMID: 38638377 PMCID: PMC11022065 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2023.00462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer, and the body's immune responses greatly affect its progression and the prognosis of patients. Immunological suppression and the maintenance of self-tolerance in the tumor microenvironment are essential responses, and these form part of the theoretical foundations of immunotherapy. In this review, we first discuss the tumor microenvironment of HCC, describe immunosuppression in HCC, and review the major biomarkers used to track HCC progression and response to treatment. We then examine antibody-based therapies, with a focus on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), monoclonal antibodies that target key proteins in the immune response (programmed cell death protein 1, anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4, and programmed death-ligand 1) which have transformed the treatment of HCC and other cancers. ICIs may be used alone or in conjunction with various targeted therapies for patients with advanced HCC who are receiving first-line treatments or subsequent treatments. We also discuss the use of different cellular immunotherapies, including T cell receptor (TCR) T cell therapy and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. We then review the use of HCC vaccines, adjuvant immunotherapy, and oncolytic virotherapy, and describe the goals of future research in the development of treatments for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbin Wei
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Chunlu Dong
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Xun Li
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Key Laboratory Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Cancer Prevention and Treatment Center of Lanzhou University School of Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Clinical Research Center for General Surgery of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
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18
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Patel KR, Espinoza AF, Urbicain M, Patel RH, Major A, Sarabia SF, Lopez-Terrada D, Vasudevan SA, Woodfield SE. Histopathologic and immunophenotypic characterization of patient-derived pediatric malignant hepatocellular tumor xenografts (PDXs). Pathol Res Pract 2024; 255:155163. [PMID: 38394806 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Advances in targeted therapies for pediatric hepatocellular tumors have been limited due to a paucity of clinically relevant models. Establishment and validation of intrahepatic patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models would help bridging this gap. The aim of this study is to compare the histomorphologic and immunophenotypic fidelity of patient tumors and their corresponding intrahepatic PDX models. Murine PDX models were established by intrahepatic implantation of patient tumors. Pathology slides from both patients and their corresponding PDX models were reviewed and quantitatively assessed for various histologic components and immunophenotypic markers. Ten PDX models were successfully established from nine patients with pre- (n=3) and post- (n=6) chemotherapy samples; diagnosed of hepatoblastoma (n=8) and hepatocellular neoplasm, not otherwise specified (n=1). Two of nine (22.2%) patients showed ≥75% fetal component; however, the corresponding PDX models did not maintain this fetal differentiation. High grade histology was seen in three patients (33.3%) and overrepresented in six PDX models (60%). Within the subset of three PDXs that were further characterized, significant IHC concordance was seen in all 3 models for CK7, CK19, Ki-67, and p53; and 2 of 3 models for Sox9 and Beta-catenin. GPC-3 and GS showed variable to moderate concordance, while Hepar was the least concordant. Our study shows that in general, the PDX models appear to represent the higher-grade component of the original tumor and show significant concordance for Ki-67, making them appropriate tools for testing new therapies for the most aggressive, therapy-resistant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalyani R Patel
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Anatomic Pathology Division, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Andres F Espinoza
- Department of General Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Martin Urbicain
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Genomic Medicine Division, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Roma H Patel
- Department of General Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Angela Major
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Anatomic Pathology Division, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Stephen F Sarabia
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Genomic Medicine Division, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dolores Lopez-Terrada
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Genomic Medicine Division, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sanjeev A Vasudevan
- Department of General Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sarah E Woodfield
- Department of General Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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19
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Hakami ZH. Biomarker discovery and validation for gastrointestinal tumors: A comprehensive review of colorectal, gastric, and liver cancers. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 255:155216. [PMID: 38401376 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies, encompassing gastric, hepatic, colonic, and rectal cancers, are prevalent forms of cancer globally and contribute substantially to cancer-related mortality. Although there have been improvements in methods for diagnosing and treating GI cancers, the chances of survival for these types of cancers are still extremely low. According to the World Cancer Research International Fund's most recent figures, stomach cancer was responsible for roughly one million deaths worldwide in 2020. This emphasizes the importance of developing more effective tools for detecting, diagnosing, and predicting the outcome of these cancers at an early stage. Biomarkers, quantitative indications of biological processes or disease states, have emerged as promising techniques for enhancing the diagnosis and prognosis of GI malignancies. Recently, there has been a considerable endeavor to discover and authenticate biomarkers for various GI cancers by the utilization of diverse methodologies, including genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. This review provides a thorough examination of the current state of biomarker research in the field of gastrointestinal malignancies, with a specific emphasis on colorectal, stomach, and liver cancers. A thorough literature search was performed on prominent databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to find pertinent papers published until November, 2023 for the purpose of compiling this review. The diverse categories of biomarkers, encompassing genetic, epigenetic, and protein-based biomarkers, and their potential utility in the fields of diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment selection, are explored. Recent progress in identifying and confirming biomarkers, as well as the obstacles that persist in employing biomarkers in clinical settings are emphasized. The utilization of biomarkers in GI cancers has significant potential in enhancing patient outcomes. Ongoing research is expected to uncover more efficient biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of these cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaki H Hakami
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia.
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20
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Aggeletopoulou I, Kalafateli M, Triantos C. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Where Do We Stand? Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2631. [PMID: 38473878 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a global health challenge that urgently calls for innovative therapeutic strategies. Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy has emerged as a promising avenue for HCC treatment. However, the therapeutic efficacy of CAR T immunotherapy in HCC patients is significantly compromised by some major issues including the immunosuppressive environment within the tumor, antigen heterogeneity, CAR T cell exhaustion, and the advanced risk for on-target/off-tumor toxicity. To overcome these challenges, many ongoing preclinical and clinical trials are underway focusing on the identification of optimal target antigens and the decryption of the immunosuppressive milieu of HCC. Moreover, limited tumor infiltration constitutes a significant obstacle of CAR T cell therapy that should be addressed. The continuous effort to design molecular targets for CAR cells highlights the importance for a more practical approach for CAR-modified cell manufacturing. This review critically examines the current landscape of CAR T cell therapy for HCC, shedding light on the changes in innate and adaptive immune responses in the context of HCC, identifying potential CAR T cell targets, and exploring approaches to overcome inherent challenges. Ongoing advancements in scientific research and convergence of diverse treatment modalities offer the potential to greatly enhance HCC patients' care in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Aggeletopoulou
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Maria Kalafateli
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Patras, 26332 Patras, Greece
| | - Christos Triantos
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
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21
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Chiu CSC, Yeh LY, Pan SH, Li SH. Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Intrinsic Abnormalities in Endometrial Polyps. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2557. [PMID: 38473810 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Endometrial polyps (EPs) are benign overgrowths of the endometrial tissue lining the uterus, often causing abnormal bleeding or infertility. This study analyzed gene expression differences between EPs and adjacent endometrial tissue to elucidate intrinsic abnormalities promoting pathological overgrowth. RNA sequencing of 12 pairs of EPs and the surrounding endometrial tissue from infertile women revealed 322 differentially expressed genes. Protein-protein interaction network analysis revealed significant alterations in specific signaling pathways, notably Wnt signaling and vascular smooth muscle regulation, suggesting these pathways play critical roles in the pathophysiology of EPs. Wnt-related genes DKK1 and DKKL1 were upregulated, while GPC3, GREM1, RSPO3, SFRP5, and WNT10B were downregulated. Relevant genes for vascular smooth muscle contraction were nearly all downregulated in EPs, including ACTA2, ACTG2, KCNMB1, KCNMB2, MYL9, PPP1R12B, and TAGLN. Overall, the results indicate fundamental gene expression changes promote EP formation through unrestrained growth signaling and vascular defects. The intrinsic signaling abnormalities likely contribute to clinical symptoms of abnormal uterine bleeding and infertility common in EP patients. This analysis provides molecular insights into abnormal endometrial overgrowth to guide improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for this troublesome women's health condition. Confirmation of expanded cohorts and further investigations into implicated regulatory relationships are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Shan-Chi Chiu
- Graduate Institute of Medical Genomics and Proteomics, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei 104, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Tamsui District, New Taipei 251, Taiwan
| | - Ling-Yu Yeh
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Tamsui District, New Taipei 251, Taiwan
- MacKay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Beitou District, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Szu-Hua Pan
- Graduate Institute of Medical Genomics and Proteomics, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Hsiang Li
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Tamsui District, New Taipei 251, Taiwan
- MacKay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Beitou District, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan
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Zhang L, Li S, Zhang D, Yin C, Wang Z, Chen R, Cheng N, Bai Y. Value of GPR, APPRI and FIB-4 in the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective cohort study. Jpn J Clin Oncol 2024; 54:129-136. [PMID: 37869774 DOI: 10.1093/jjco/hyad147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There is an urgent need for novel biomarkers that are inexpensive, effective and easily accessible to complement the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between serum gamma-glutamate-transpeptidase to platelet ratio, alkaline phosphatase-to-platelet ratio index, fibrosis index based on four factors and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, and to determine the optimal cut-offs for predicting hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS Based on a prospective cohort study, 44 215 participants who were cancer-free at baseline (2011-13) were included in the study. Cox proportional hazard models and receiver operating characteristics curves were used to analyze the diagnostic value and optimal cut-off value of gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase to platelet ratio, alkaline phosphatase-to-platelet ratio index and fibrosis index based on four factors in predicting hepatocellular carcinoma patients. RESULTS Gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase to platelet ratio, alkaline phosphatase-to-platelet ratio index and fibrosis index based on four factors can be used as early independent predictors of hepatocellular carcinoma risk. The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in the fourth quantile of gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase to platelet ratio and alkaline phosphatase-to-platelet ratio index was 4.04 times (hazard ratio = 4.04, 95% confidence interval: 2.09, 7.80) and 2.59 times (hazard ratio = 2.59, 95% confidence interval: 1.45, 4.61), respectively, compared with the first quantile. With fibrosis index based on four factors first quantile as a reference, fibrosis index based on four factors fourth quantile had the highest risk (hazard ratio = 18.58, 95% confidence interval: 7.55, 45.72). Receiver operating characteristic results showed that fibrosis index based on four factors had a stronger ability to predict the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (area under curve = 0.81, 95% confidence interval: 0.80, 0.81), and similar results were shown for gender stratification. In the total population, the optimal cut-off values of gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase to platelet ratio, alkaline phosphatase-to-platelet ratio index and fibrosis index based on four factors were 0.208, 0.629 and 1.942, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase to platelet ratio, alkaline phosphatase-to-platelet ratio index and fibrosis index based on four factors were independent predictors of hepatocellular carcinoma risk. Amongst them, fibrosis index based on four factors shows a stronger predictive ability for hepatocellular carcinoma risk, and gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase to platelet ratio and alkaline phosphatase-to-platelet ratio index can be used as complementary indicators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizhen Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Siyu Li
- Department of Epidemiology, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, China
| | - Desheng Zhang
- Jinchuan Group Co., LTD, Jinchuan Company Staff Hospital, Jinchang, China
| | - Chun Yin
- Jinchuan Group Co., LTD, Jinchuan Company Staff Hospital, Jinchang, China
| | - Zhongge Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ruirui Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ning Cheng
- College of Basic Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yana Bai
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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23
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Zhai J, Nie C, Wang W, Liu C, Liu T, Sun L, Li W, Wang W, Ren X, Han X, Zhou H, Li X, Tian W. Comprehensive Analysis on Prognostic Signature Based on T Cell-Mediated Tumor Killing Related Genes in Gastric Cancer. Biochem Genet 2024; 62:504-529. [PMID: 37386336 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10436-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Although immunotherapy is a valuable treatment for gastric cancer (GC), identifying the patients who would benefit most from this approach presents a challenge. In this study, GC patients were divided into two subtypes by consensus clustering according to T cell-mediated tumor killing related genes (TTKRGs), and there were significant differences in tumor-infiltrating immune cells, signaling pathways, and gene expression of immunomodulators and inhibitory immune checkpoints between the two subtypes. Then, we developed an individualized signature based on TTKRGs, and its clinical and predictive value in GC patients for chemotherapeutic and immunotherapeutic responses was assessed. We confirmed the expression levels of signature genes in GC tumor tissue using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Additionally, to improve the accuracy of GC prognosis predictions, we established a nomogram. We further identified some compounds as sensitive drugs targeting GC risk groups. The signature showed significant predictive ability across RNA-seq, microarray, and qRT-PCR cohorts, which could assist in predicting survival, immunotherapeutic and chemotherapeutic outcomes in GC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiabao Zhai
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, 150081, Harbin, China
| | - Chuang Nie
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, 150081, Harbin, China
| | - Wanyu Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, 150081, Harbin, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, 150081, Harbin, China
| | - Tianyu Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, 150081, Harbin, China
| | - Lishuang Sun
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, 150081, Harbin, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, 150081, Harbin, China
| | - Wentong Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, 150081, Harbin, China
| | - Xiyun Ren
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, 150081, Harbin, China
| | - Xu Han
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, 150081, Harbin, China
| | - Haibo Zhou
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, 150081, Harbin, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, 150081, Harbin, China
| | - Wenjing Tian
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, 150081, Harbin, China.
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24
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Xie C, Hao X, Yuan H, Wang C, Sharif R, Yu H. Crosstalk Between circRNA and Tumor Microenvironment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Mechanism, Function and Applications. Onco Targets Ther 2024; 17:7-26. [PMID: 38283733 PMCID: PMC10812140 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s437536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common aggressive tumors in the world. Despite the availability of various treatments, its prognosis remains poor due to the lack of specific diagnostic indicators and the high heterogeneity of HCC cases. CircRNAs are noncoding RNAs with stable and highly specific expression. Extensive research evidence suggests that circRNAs mediate the pathogenesis and progression of HCC through acting as miRNA sponges, protein modulators, and translation templates. Tumor microenvironment (TME) has become a hotspot of immune-related research in recent years due to its effects on metabolism, secretion and immunity of HCC. Accordingly, understanding the role played by circRNAs in TME is important for the study of HCC. This review will discuss the crosstalk between circRNAs and TME in HCC. In addition, we will discuss the current deficiencies and controversies in research on circRNAs and predict future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Xie
- Hepatobiliary Center, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaopei Hao
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450008, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hao Yuan
- Hepatobiliary Center, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chongyu Wang
- The First Clinical Medical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Razinah Sharif
- Center for Healthy Ageing & Wellness, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 50300, Malaysia
- Biocompatibility Laboratory, Centre for Research and Instrumentation, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM, Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, 43600, Malaysia
| | - Haibo Yu
- Hepatobiliary Center, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China
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25
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Fang Y, Ma H, Zhang X, Zhang P, Li Y, He S, Sheng C, Dong G. Smart glypican-3-targeting peptide-chlorin e6 conjugates for targeted photodynamic therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 264:116047. [PMID: 38118394 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive and lethal malignancy with poor prognosis, necessitating the urgent development of effective treatments. Targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers a promising way to selectively eradicate tumor cells without affecting normal cells. Inspired by promising features of peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs) in targeted cancer therapy, herein a novel glypican-3 (GPC3)-targeting PDC-PDT strategy was developed for the precise PDT treatment of HCC. The GPC3-targeting photosensitizer conjugates were developed by attaching GPC3-targeting peptides to chlorin e6. Conjugate 8b demonstrated the ability to penetrate HCC cells via GPC3-mediated entry process, exhibiting remarkable tumor-targeting capacity, superior antitumor efficacy, and minimal toxicity towards normal cells. Notably, conjugate 8b achieved complete tumor elimination upon light illumination in a HepG2 xenograft model without harm to normal tissues. Overall, this innovative GPC3-targeting conjugation strategy demonstrates considerable promise for clinical applications for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Fang
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Haoqian Ma
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xianghua Zhang
- The Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Peifeng Zhang
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai, 200433, China; National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for High-efficiency Refining and High-quality Utilization of Biomass, School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou, 213164, China
| | - Yu Li
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Shipeng He
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China.
| | - Chunquan Sheng
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Guoqiang Dong
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
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26
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Sun LY, Wang NY, Diao YK, Yan CL, Fan ZP, Wei LH, Li HJ, Guan MC, Wang MD, Pawlik TM, Lau WY, Shen F, Lv GY, Yang T. Comparison between models for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic liver diseases of various etiologies: ASAP score versus GALAD score. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2023:S1499-3872(23)00242-4. [PMID: 38199909 DOI: 10.1016/j.hbpd.2023.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diagnostic panels based on multiple biomarkers and clinical characteristics are considered more favorable than individual biomarker to diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Based on age, sex, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and protein induced by vitamin K absence II (PIVKA-II) with/without AFP-L3, ASAP and GALAD models are potential diagnostic panels. The diagnostic performances of these two panels were compared relative to HCC detection among patients with various etiologies of chronic liver diseases (CLDs). METHODS A multicenter case-control study recruited CLDs patients with and without HCC from 14 Chinese hospitals. The etiologies of CLDs included hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), alcoholic liver disease (ALD), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values, the diagnostic performances of ASAP and GALAD models were compared to detect HCC among patients with various etiologies of CLDs. RESULTS Among 248 HCC patients and 722 CLD controls, the ASAP model demonstrated the highest AUC (0.886) to detect HCC at any stage, outperforming the GALAD model (0.853, P = 0.001), as well as any individual biomarker (0.687-0.799, all P < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis of various CLDs etiologies, the ASAP model outperformed the GALAD model to HCC independent of CLDs etiology. In addition, the ASAP model performed better in detecting early-stage (BCLC stage 0/A) HCC versus the GALAD model. CONCLUSIONS Despite using one less laboratory variable (AFP-L3), the ASAP model demonstrated better diagnostic performance than the GALAD model to detect all-stage HCC among patients with various etiologies of CLDs-related HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Yang Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; Department of Graduate, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233000, China
| | - Nan-Ya Wang
- Cancer Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Yong-Kang Diao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University (Navy Medical University), Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Cun-Lin Yan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Zhu-Ping Fan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Lian-Hua Wei
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Hui-Jun Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Ming-Cheng Guan
- Department of Medical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Ming-Da Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University (Navy Medical University), Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Timothy M Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
| | - Wan Yee Lau
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University (Navy Medical University), Shanghai 200438, China; Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Feng Shen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University (Navy Medical University), Shanghai 200438, China; Eastern Hepatobiliary Clinical Research Institute, Third Affiliated Hospital of Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China.
| | - Guo-Yue Lv
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
| | - Tian Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; Department of Graduate, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233000, China; Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University (Navy Medical University), Shanghai 200438, China; Eastern Hepatobiliary Clinical Research Institute, Third Affiliated Hospital of Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China.
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Hu J, Ren W, Liu H, Xie C, Li D, Yang L, Liao F, Jiang L, Pu Q, Chen W. Immunomultiple PCR-based electrochemical and lateral flow strategy for the simultaneous detection of liver cancer tumor markers. Mikrochim Acta 2023; 191:27. [PMID: 38091092 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-023-06098-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The current use of the single serum biomarker α-fetoprotein (AFP) in clinical practice has limitations in terms of specificity and sensitivity. We propose a strategy that combines antigen capture polymerase chain reaction (AC-PCR), lateral flow assay (LFA), and electrochemical biosensors to detect both AFP and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in liver cancer serum. First, we used the AC-PCR technique to achieve target separation, purification, signal conversion, and amplification, eliminating target heterogeneity. Then, we achieved rapid results through the LFA and electrochemical biosensor platforms. As a result, the proposed assay has limits of 5 cells/mL for CTCs and 5 µg/L for AFP. The proposed method was applied effectively to simulated blood samples. This method has the potential to play a role in early liver cancer and provide a potential application for the diagnosis and precision treatment of liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Hu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong, Chongqing, 400010, People's Republic of China
- The Experimental Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing, 400060, People's Republic of China
| | - Wubo Ren
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong, Chongqing, 400010, People's Republic of China
| | - Han Liu
- Department of Neurology, Jiulongpo District People's Hospital, Chongqing, 400050, People's Republic of China
| | - Cong Xie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The People's Hospital of Chongqing Liang Jiang New Area, Chongqing, 401122, People's Republic of China
| | - Dandan Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong, Chongqing, 400010, People's Republic of China
| | - Liping Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong, Chongqing, 400010, People's Republic of China
| | - Fangli Liao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong, Chongqing, 400010, People's Republic of China
| | - Linshan Jiang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong, Chongqing, 400010, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinli Pu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong, Chongqing, 400010, People's Republic of China.
| | - Weixian Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong, Chongqing, 400010, People's Republic of China.
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Wang XK, Guo YX, Wang M, Zhang XD, Liu ZY, Wang MS, Luo K, Huang S, Li RF. Identification and validation of candidate clinical signatures of apolipoprotein L isoforms in hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20969. [PMID: 38017264 PMCID: PMC10684526 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48366-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal malignancy worldwide with an increasing number of new cases each year. Apolipoprotein (APOL) isoforms have been explored for their associations with HCC.The GSE14520 cohort was used for training data; The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used for validated data. Diagnostic, prognostic significance and mechanisms were explored using these cohorts. Risk score models and nomograms were constructed using prognosis-related isoforms and clinical factors for survival prediction. Oncomine and HCCDB databases were further used for validation of diagnostic, prognostic significance. APOL1, 3, and 6 were differentially expressed in two cohorts (all P ≤ 0.05). APOL1 and APOL6 had diagnostic capacity whereas APOL3 and APOL6 had prognostic capacity in two cohorts (areas under curves [AUCs] > 0.7, P ≤ 0.05). Mechanism studies demonstrated that APOL3 and APOL6 might be involved in humoral chemokine signaling pathways (all P ≤ 0.05). Risk score models and nomograms were constructed and validated for survival prediction of HCC. Moreover, diagnostic values of APOL1 and weak APOL6 were validated in Oncomine database (AUC > 0.700, 0.694); prognostic values of APOL3 and APOL6 were validated in HCCDB database (all P < 0.05). Differentially expressed APOL1 and APOL6 might be diagnostic biomarkers; APOL3 and APOL6 might be prognostic biomarkers of RFS and OS for HCC via chemokine signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Kun Wang
- Departments of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Xiang Guo
- Departments of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Miao Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Nanyang Second General Hospital, Nanyang, 473009, Henan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu-Dong Zhang
- Departments of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhong-Yuan Liu
- Departments of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Mao-Sen Wang
- Departments of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Luo
- Departments of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuai Huang
- Departments of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ren-Feng Li
- Departments of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan Province, People's Republic of China.
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Liu P, Li W, Qiu G, Chen J, Liu Y, Wen Z, Liang M, Zhao Y. Multiparametric MRI combined with clinical factors to predict glypican-3 expression of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1142916. [PMID: 38023195 PMCID: PMC10666788 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1142916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives The present study aims at establishing a noninvasive and reliable model for the preoperative prediction of glypican 3 (GPC3)-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical indicators. Methods As a retrospective study, the subjects included 158 patients from two institutions with surgically-confirmed single HCC who underwent preoperative MRI between 2020 and 2022. The patients, 102 from institution I and 56 from institution II, were assigned to the training and the validation sets, respectively. The association of the clinic-radiological variables with the GPC3 expression was investigated through performing univariable and multivariable logistic regression (LR) analyses. The synthetic minority over-sampling technique (SMOTE) was used to balance the minority group (GPC3-negative HCCs) in the training set, and diagnostic performance was assessed by the area under the curve (AUC) and accuracy. Next, a prediction nomogram was developed and validated for patients with GPC3-positive HCC. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated through examining its calibration and clinical utility. Results Based on the results obtained from multivariable analyses, alpha-fetoprotein levels > 20 ng/mL, 75th percentile ADC value < 1.48 ×103 mm2/s and R2* value ≥ 38.6 sec-1 were found to be the significant independent predictors of GPC3-positive HCC. The SMOTE-LR model based on three features achieved the best predictive performance in the training (AUC, 0.909; accuracy, 83.7%) and validation sets (AUC, 0.829; accuracy, 82.1%) with a good calibration performance and clinical usefulness. Conclusions The nomogram combining multiparametric MRI and clinical indicators is found to have satisfactory predictive efficacy for preoperative prediction of GPC3-positive HCC. Accordingly, the proposed method can promote individualized risk stratification and further treatment decisions of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peijun Liu
- Department of Radiology, Central People’s Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Weiqiu Li
- Department of Radiology, The First People’s Hospital of Zhaoqing, Zhaoqing, China
| | - Ganbin Qiu
- Department of Radiology, The First People’s Hospital of Zhaoqing, Zhaoqing, China
| | - Jincan Chen
- Department of Radiology, The First People’s Hospital of Zhaoqing, Zhaoqing, China
| | - Yonghui Liu
- Department of Radiology, The First People’s Hospital of Zhaoqing, Zhaoqing, China
| | - Zhongyan Wen
- Department of Radiology, The First People’s Hospital of Zhaoqing, Zhaoqing, China
| | - Mei Liang
- Department of Radiology, The First People’s Hospital of Zhaoqing, Zhaoqing, China
| | - Yue Zhao
- Department of Radiology, Central People’s Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang, China
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Wang X, Luo L, Zhang Y, Liu G, Fang Z, Xu Z, Hu X. CENPB promotes the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma and is directly regulated by miR-29a. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:12171-12191. [PMID: 37925172 PMCID: PMC10683605 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant global health concern as it ranks as the sixth most common malignant tumor and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. In this study, we analyzed the expression of centromere protein B (CENPB) mRNA in HCC using TCGA and GEO datasets. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to determine CENPB protein levels in 490 HCC patients. Our findings revealed higher expression of CENPB mRNA in HCC tissues across the three datasets. Additionally, as the pathological stage and histological grade advanced, CENPB expression increased. Patients with elevated levels of CENPB mRNA and protein demonstrated shorter overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (OS). Notably, CENPB protein showed prognostic value in patients with stage I/II, AFP levels below 400 ng/ml, and tumor size less than 5 cm. Using multivariate regression analysis in 490 HCC patients, we developed nomograms to predict 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS and RFS. Knockdown of CENPB in Hep3B and MHCC97 cell lines resulted in significant inhibition of cell proliferation and invasion. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis identified miR-29a as a potential negative regulator of CENPB expression, which was validated through a dual-luciferase reporter assay. In conclusion, our findings suggest that CENPB may serve as an oncogenic factor in HCC and is directly regulated by miR-29a, highlighting its potential as a promising therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuyang Wang
- Department of Organ Transplantation, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Laibang Luo
- Department of Organ Transplantation, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Youfu Zhang
- Department of Organ Transplantation, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Department of Organ Transplantation, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Zehong Fang
- Department of Organ Transplantation, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Zhidan Xu
- Department of Organ Transplantation, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Xuguang Hu
- Department of Organ Transplantation, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
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Dong L, Qiu X, Gao F, Wang K, Xu X. Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II: Experience to date and future directions. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:189016. [PMID: 37944832 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.189016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer with high mortality. The realization of precision medicine in HCC relies upon efficient biomarkers. Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) is an immature prothrombin with insufficient coagulation activity, overexpressing in HCC cells. Previous evidence confirmed the role of PIVKA-II in screening and diagnosing HCC. However, the increased PIVKA-II was observed not only in HCC, but also in non-HCC individuals such as vitamin K deficiency. The joint detection of PIVKA-II and other biomarkers could significantly improve diagnostic accuracy in HCC. Furthermore, PIVKA-II serves as a valuable prognostic predictor, transplantation eligibility, resectability, tumor recurrence, therapeutic efficacy, and malignant tumor behaviors. Additionally, PIVKA-II represents a potential target for agent development to establish new therapeutic strategies. Besides HCC, PIVKA-II also serves as a biomarker of vitamin K status. In this review, we assess the role of PIVKA-II in diagnosis, prediction, and treatment. Over the past decades, substantial progress has been achieved in the application of PIVKA-II. Exploration and innovation are required for further advances in the field of PIVKA-II investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libin Dong
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Xun Qiu
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Fengqiang Gao
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China.
| | - Xiao Xu
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China; Institute of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
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Zhang J, Liu X, Xia Y, Xu S, Liu X, Xiao H, Wang X, Liu C, Liu G. Genetically engineered nano-melittin vesicles for multimodal synergetic cancer therapy. Bioeng Transl Med 2023; 8:e10482. [PMID: 38023709 PMCID: PMC10658496 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Melittin, the principal constituent in bee venom, is an attractive candidate for cancer therapy. However, its clinical applications are limited by hemolysis, nonspecific cytotoxicity, and rapid metabolism. Herein, a novel genetically engineered vesicular antibody-melittin (VAM) drug delivery platform was proposed and validated for targeted cancer combination therapy. VAM generated from the cellular plasma membrane was bio-synthetically fabricated, with the recombinant protein (hGC33 scFv-melittin) being harbored and displayed on the cell membrane. The bioactive and targetable nanomelittin conjugated by hGC33 scFv could be released in an MMP14-responsive manner at tumor sites, which reduced off-target toxicity, especially the hemolytic activity of melittin. Importantly, VAM could be loaded with small-molecule drugs or nanoparticles for combination therapy. Nanomelittin formed pores in membranes and disturbed phospholipid bilayers, which allowed the anticancer agents (i.e., chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin and sonosensitizer purpurin 18 nanoparticles) co-delivered by VAM to penetrate deeper tumor sites, leading to synergistic therapeutic effects. In particular, the punching effect generated by sonodynamic therapy further improved the immunomodulatory effect of nanomelittin to activate the immune response. Taken together, our findings indicate that clinically translatable VAM-based strategies represent a universal, promising approach to multimodal synergetic cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Xue Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Yutian Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Shuyu Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Xuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Haiqing Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Xiaoyong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Gang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public HealthXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Biology, School of Life SciencesXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
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Wang J, Wang F, Wang N, Zhang MY, Wang HY, Huang GL. Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Protein Post-translational Modifications in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2023; 11:1192-1200. [PMID: 37577238 PMCID: PMC10412711 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2022.00006s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor with high incidence and cancer mortality worldwide. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins have a great impact on protein function. Almost all proteins can undergo PTMs, including phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation, glycosylation, ubiquitination, and so on. Many studies have shown that PTMs are related to the occurrence and development of cancers. The findings provide novel therapeutic targets for cancers, such as glypican-3 and mucin-1. Other clinical implications are also found in the studies of PTMs. Diagnostic or prognostic value, and response to therapy have been identified. In HCC, it has been shown that glycosylated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has a higher detection rate for early liver cancer than conventional AFP. In this review, we mainly focused on the diagnostic and prognostic value of PTM, in order to provide new insights into the clinical implication of PTM in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
- China-America Cancer Research Institute, Key Laboratory for Epigenetics of Dongguan City, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
| | - Fangfang Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
- China-America Cancer Research Institute, Key Laboratory for Epigenetics of Dongguan City, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
- China-America Cancer Research Institute, Key Laboratory for Epigenetics of Dongguan City, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
| | - Mei-Yin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hui-Yun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Guo-Liang Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
- China-America Cancer Research Institute, Key Laboratory for Epigenetics of Dongguan City, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
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Zhu Y, Xiao B, Liu M, Chen M, Xia N, Guo H, Huang J, Liu Z, Wang F. N6-methyladenosine-modified oncofetal lncRNA MIR4435-2HG contributed to stemness features of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by regulating rRNA 2'-O methylation. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2023; 28:89. [PMID: 37891494 PMCID: PMC10612268 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-023-00493-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The unique expression pattern endows oncofetal genes with great value in cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, only a few oncofetal genes are available for clinical use and the underlying mechanisms that drives the fetal-like reprogramming of cancer cells remain largely unknown. METHODS Microarray assays and bioinformatic analyses were employed to screen for potential oncofetal long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expression levels of MIR4435-2HG, NOP58 ribonucleoprotein (NOP58), insulin like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) and stem markers were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The 2'-O-methylation (2'-O-Me) status of rRNA were detected through reverse transcription at low dNTP concentrations followed by PCR. The regulation of MIR4435-2HG by IGF2BP1 was explored by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), methylated RIP (MeRIP) and dual-luciferase assays. The interaction between MIR4435-2HG and NOP58 was investigated by RNA Pulldown, RIP and protein stability assays. In vitro and in vivo function assays were performed to detect the roles of MIR4435-2HG/NOP58 in HCC. RESULTS MIR4435-2HG was an oncofetal lncRNA associated with poor prognosis in HCC. Functional experiments showed that overexpression of MIR4435-2HG remarkably enhanced the stem-cell properties of HCC cells, promoting tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, MIR4435-2HG directly bound NOP58 and IGF2BP1. IGF2BP1 upregulated MIR4435-2HG expression in HCC through N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification. Moreover, MIR4435-2HG protected NOP58 from degradation, which raised rRNA 2'-O-Me levels and promoted internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-dependent translation of oncogenes. CONCLUSIONS This study identified an oncofetal lncRNA MIR4435-2HG, characterized the role of MIR4435-2HG/NOP58 in stemness maintenance and proliferation of HCC cells, and confirmed m6A as a 'driver' that reactivated MR4435-2HG expression in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqing Zhu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Bang Xiao
- Department of Medical Genetics, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Meng Liu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Meiting Chen
- Department of Medical Genetics, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Ningqi Xia
- Department of Medical Genetics, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Haiyan Guo
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Center for Specialty Strategy Research of Shanghai Jiao Tong University China Hospital Development Institute, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Jinfeng Huang
- Department of Medical Genetics, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Medical Genetics, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
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Wang X, Li L, Wang L, Chen M. The expression of Ki-67 and Glypican -3 in hepatocellular carcinoma was evaluated by comparing DWI and 18F-FDG PET/CT. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1026245. [PMID: 37920165 PMCID: PMC10619679 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1026245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The value of DWI and 18F-FDG PET/CT in evaluating the expression of Ki-67 and GPC-3 in HCC was compared. Materials and methods Ninety-four patients with primary HCC confirmed by pathology were retrospectively divided into high- and low-Ki-67-expression groups and positive- and negative- GPC-3 groups. The ADC and SUVmax values of the lesions in both groups were measured. ROC curves were used to evaluate the identification efficiency of parameters with significant differences for each group of lesions, and AUCwas calculated. The combined ADC and SUVmax values were analyzed by binary logistic regression. The Delong test was used to compare the AUC values of the combined and single parameters. Pearson (in line with normal distribution) or Spearman (in line with abnormal distribution) correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation. Results The ADC value of the high-Ki-67-expression group was lower than that of the low-Ki-67-expression group (P<0.05), and the SUVmax value of the high-expression group was higher than that of the low-expression group (P<0.05). The ADC value of the positive-GPC-3 group was lower than that of the negative group (P<0.0.tive group (P<0.05). The combined ADC and SUVmax values in the GPC-3 group were better than those of a single parameter (P<0.05). There was a strong negative correlation between the SUVmax value and ADC value in the Ki-67 group (R=-0.578, P<0.001) and a weak negative correlation between the SUVmax value and ADC value in the GPC-3 group (R=-0.279, P=0.006). The SUVmax value was strongly positively correlated with the Ki-67 expression index (R=0.733, P<0.001), while the ADC value was strongly negatively correlated with the Ki-67 expression index (R=-0.687, P<0.001). Conclusion DWI and 18F-FDG PET/CT can be used to evaluate the expression of Ki-67 and GPC-3 in HCC, and there is a certain correlation between the ADC value and SUVmax. Combined DWI and 18F-FDG PET/CT is superior to a single technique in evaluating the expression of GPC-3 in HCC patients. However, the combined model did not benefit the Ki-67 group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuedong Wang
- Department of Radiology, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated Jinan University), Zhuhai, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated Jinan University), Zhuhai, China
| | - Linjie Wang
- Department of Pathology, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated Jinan University), Zhuhai, China
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Radiology, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated Jinan University), Zhuhai, China
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Dong SY, Sun W, Xu B, Wang WT, Yang YT, Chen XS, Zeng MS, Rao SX. Quantitative image features of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI for predicting glypican-3 expression of small hepatocellular carcinoma ≤3 cm. Clin Radiol 2023; 78:e764-e772. [PMID: 37500336 DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2023.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
AIM To explore the value of quantitative image features of gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for predicting Gglypican-3 (GPC3) expression of single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ≤3 cm. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and forty-nine patients with histopathologically confirmed HCC were included retrospectively. Quantitative image features and clinicopathological parameters were analysed. The significant predictors for GPC3 expression were identified using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Nomograms were constructed from the prediction model and the progression-free survival (PFS) rate was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS The tumour-to-liver signal intensity (SI) ratio on the hepatobiliary phase (HBP; odds ratio [OR] = 0.004; p=0.001), serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) > 20 ng/ml (OR=6.175; p<0.001), and non-smooth tumour margin (OR=4.866; p=0.002) were independent significant factors for GPC3 expression. When the three factors were combined, the diagnostic specificity was 97.7% (42/43). The nomogram based on the predictive model performed satisfactorily (C-index: 0.852). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that patients with GPC3-positive HCCs have lower PFS rates than patients with GPC3-negative HCCs (Log-rank test, p=0.006). CONCLUSION The tumour-to-liver SI ratio on the HBP combined with serum AFP >20 ng/ml and non-smooth tumour margin are potential predictive factors for GPC3 expression of small HCC ≤3cm. GPC3 expression is correlated with a poor prognosis in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- S-Y Dong
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - W Sun
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - B Xu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - W-T Wang
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Y-T Yang
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - X-S Chen
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - M-S Zeng
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - S-X Rao
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai 200032, China.
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Zhang N, Wu M, Zhou Y, Yu C, Shi D, Wang C, Gao M, Lv Y, Zhu S. Radiomics nomogram for prediction of glypican-3 positive hepatocellular carcinoma based on hepatobiliary phase imaging. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1209814. [PMID: 37841420 PMCID: PMC10570799 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1209814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The hepatobiliary-specific phase can help in early detection of changes in lesion tissue density, internal structure, and microcirculatory perfusion at the microscopic level and has important clinical value in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, this study aimed to construct a preoperative nomogram for predicting the positive expression of glypican-3 (GPC3) based on gadoxetic acid-enhanced (Gd-EOB-DTPA) MRI hepatobiliary phase (HBP) radiomics, imaging and clinical feature. Methods We retrospectively included 137 patients with HCC who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and subsequent liver resection or puncture biopsy at our hospital from January 2017 to December 2021 as training cohort. Subsequently collected from January 2022 to June 2023 as a validation cohort of 49 patients, Radiomic features were extracted from the entire tumor region during the HBP using 3D Slicer software and screened using a t-test and least absolute shrinkage selection operator algorithm (LASSO). Then, these features were used to construct a radiomics score (Radscore) for each patient, which was combined with clinical factors and imaging features of the HBP to construct a logistic regression model and subsequent nomogram model. The clinicoradiologic, radiomics and nomogram models performance was assessed by the area under the curve (AUC), calibration, and decision curve analysis (DCA). In the validation cohort,the nomogram performance was assessed by the area under the curve (AUC). Results In the training cohort, a total of 1688 radiomics features were extracted from each patient. Next, radiomics with ICCs<0.75 were excluded, 1587 features were judged as stable using intra- and inter-class correlation coefficients (ICCs), 26 features were subsequently screened using the t-test, and 11 radiomics features were finally screened using LASSO. The nomogram combining Radscore, age, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) >400ng/mL, and non-smooth tumor margin (AUC=0.888, sensitivity 77.7%, specificity 91.2%) was superior to the radiomics (AUC=0.822, sensitivity 81.6%, specificity 70.6%) and clinicoradiologic (AUC=0.746, sensitivity 76.7%, specificity 64.7%) models, with good consistency in calibration curves. DCA also showed that the nomogram had the highest net clinical benefit for predicting GPC3 expression.In the validation cohort, the ROC curve results showed predicted GPC3-positive expression nomogram model AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.800, 58.5%, and 100.0%, respectively. Conclusion HBP radiomics features are closely associated with GPC3-positive expression, and combined clinicoradiologic factors and radiomics features nomogram may provide an effective way to non-invasively and individually screen patients with GPC3-positive HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Zhang
- Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Minghui Wu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yiran Zhou
- Department of Medical Imaging, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Changjiang Yu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Dandan Shi
- Department of Medical Imaging, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Cong Wang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Miaohui Gao
- Department of Medical Imaging, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Lv
- Department of Medical Imaging, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shaocheng Zhu
- Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Department of Medical Imaging, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
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Chen Y, Yang C, Sheng L, Jiang H, Song B. The Era of Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The New Mission and Challenges of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4677. [PMID: 37835371 PMCID: PMC10572030 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, significant advancements in immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have shown the potential to further improve the prognosis of patients with advanced HCC. However, in clinical practice, there is still a lack of effective biomarkers for identifying the patient who would benefit from immunotherapy and predicting the tumor response to immunotherapy. The immune microenvironment of HCC plays a crucial role in tumor development and drug responses. However, due to the complexity of immune microenvironment, currently, no single pathological or molecular biomarker can effectively predict tumor responses to immunotherapy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images provide rich biological information; existing studies suggest the feasibility of using MRI to assess the immune microenvironment of HCC and predict tumor responses to immunotherapy. Nevertheless, there are limitations, such as the suboptimal performance of conventional MRI sequences, incomplete feature extraction in previous deep learning methods, and limited interpretability. Further study needs to combine qualitative features, quantitative parameters, multi-omics characteristics related to the HCC immune microenvironment, and various deep learning techniques in multi-center research cohorts. Subsequently, efforts should also be undertaken to construct and validate a visual predictive tool of tumor response, and assess its predictive value for patient survival benefits. Additionally, future research endeavors must aim to provide an accurate, efficient, non-invasive, and highly interpretable method for predicting the effectiveness of immune therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yidi Chen
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China; (Y.C.); (C.Y.); (L.S.)
| | - Chongtu Yang
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China; (Y.C.); (C.Y.); (L.S.)
| | - Liuji Sheng
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China; (Y.C.); (C.Y.); (L.S.)
| | - Hanyu Jiang
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China; (Y.C.); (C.Y.); (L.S.)
| | - Bin Song
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China; (Y.C.); (C.Y.); (L.S.)
- Department of Radiology, Sanya People’s Hospital, Sanya 572000, China
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Aborehab NM, Kandeil MA, Sabry D, Rabie R, Ibrahim IT. Circular SERPINA3 and its target microRNA-944 as potential biomarkers in hepatitis C virus-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptian population. Noncoding RNA Res 2023; 8:401-412. [PMID: 37305177 PMCID: PMC10247953 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2023.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The most prevalent cancer in Egypt is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mainly due to the infection with the hepatitis C virus. So it is critical to find sensitive biomarkers for early diagnosis of HCC and avoid post-operation tumor recurrence. Therefore, this research was designed to demonstrate the circSERPINA3 role in the regulation of microRNA-944 gene expression in HCV-related HCC cases and compare these results with circSERPINA3 and microRNA-944 gene expression levels in HCV-infected patients. Methodology Study participants were divided into three groups: healthy controls, HCV- infected, and HCV-induced HCC patients. The gene expression levels of circSERPINA3 and microRNA-944 were evaluated using Real-Time qPCR. Then the immunoblotting procedure was applied to measure the serum levels of MDM2 and E-cadherin besides, the serum concentration levels of glypican-3 and alpha-fetoprotein were measured by sandwich ELISA. Results The gene expression level of circSERPINA3 was significantly upregulated in both HCV-infected and HCC patients causing suppression of the antitumor effect of miR-944 and showing a lower 1-year survival rate than the participants who had low circSERPINA3 gene expression levels. Subsequently, the miR-944 downstream protein, MDM2 was remarkably upregulated, exaggerating the metastasis and oxidative stress in HCC cases. Additionally, the results confirmed the downregulation of microRNA-944 improved the progression of viral hepatitis C cases to hepatocarcinogenesis through the significantly increased serum level of the metastatic marker, E-cadherin. Although alpha-fetoprotein is a common diagnostic marker used in the diagnosis of HCC, our results showed that glypican-3 had greater sensitivity and specificity and positively correlated to the IGF-1 signaling pathway of HCC cases. Moreover, the gene expression levels of circSERPINA3 and E-cadherin in both the HCV and HCV-induced HCC were significantly positively correlated. Conclusion circSERPINA3 and miR-944 were sensitive molecular markers for early diagnosis of HCC and could be prospective treatment targets for HCV-infected patients to avoid tumor recurrence in HCC cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora M. Aborehab
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), Giza, 12451, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A. Kandeil
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62521, Egypt
| | - Dina Sabry
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Badr University in Cairo, Cairo, 11829, Egypt
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, Egypt
| | - Radwa Rabie
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), Giza, 12451, Egypt
| | - Ibrahim T. Ibrahim
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62521, Egypt
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Ramadan A, Ghanem HM, Mohamed AA, Elshobaky M, El Agawy W, Gawad EAHA, Eldeeb HH, Ezz Al Arab MR, Kamal MM. GPC3 gene expression and allelic discrimination of FZD7 gene in Egyptian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Rep Pract Oncol Radiother 2023; 28:485-495. [PMID: 37795234 PMCID: PMC10547423 DOI: 10.5603/rpor.a2023.0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and especially in Egypt. Early diagnosis of HCC greatly improves the survival and prognosis of patients. Low sensitivity and specificity of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has led to the demand for novel biomarkers of HCC. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the validity of frizzled-7 (FZD7) and glypican-3 (GPC3) gene expression as potential biomarkers for HCC early diagnosis, and to investigate the association between FZD7 rs2280509 polymorphism and HCC risk. Materials and methods Quantification of FZD7 and GPC3 gene expression by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay, and genotyping FZD 7 (rs2280509 SNP) gene polymorphism using RT-PCR. Results The current results revealed that FZD7 gene expression had a greater area under the curve (AUC) for identifying HCC than GPC3 gene expression and AFP levels. The combination of the three markers as a panel showed a better diagnostic performance with a greater AUC than any of the single markers alone (p < 0.05). The FZD7 rs2280509 polymorphism (CT) was found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of HCC. The CT genotype and T allele were significantly more prevalent in the HCC group compared to either the cirrhosis (p = 0.03) or control groups (p = 0.0009 and 0.002; respectively). Conclusion FZD7 and GPC3 gene expressions have a complementary role in early HCC detection, with a greater diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy than AFP. In addition, FZD7 rs2280509 polymorphism is significantly associated with an increased risk of HCC in the Egyptian population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amany Ramadan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hala M Ghanem
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Amal A Mohamed
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Elshobaky
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Waleed El Agawy
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Port Said University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Eman Al Hussain A Gawad
- Department of Chemical Pathology, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hala H Eldeeb
- Clinical and Chemical Pathology Department, El Sahel Teaching Hospital, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Maha M Kamal
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
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41
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Dou WT, Qiu P, Shi Y, Zhu L, Guo C, Li N, Zang Y, Liu T, Zhao S, Pan Y, Dong L, Sessler JL, Tan Y, Li J, Wang H, Tian H, He XP. Orthogonally Engineered Albumin with Attenuated Macrophage Phagocytosis for the Targeted Visualization and Phototherapy of Liver Cancer. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:17377-17388. [PMID: 37497917 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c05052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
The five-year survival rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unsatisfactory. This reflects, in part, the paucity of effective methods that allow the target-specific diagnosis and therapy of HCC. Here, we report a strategy based on engineered human serum albumin (HSA) that permits the HCC-targeted delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic agents. Covalent cysteine conjugation combined with the exploitation of host-guest chemistry was used to effect the orthogonal functionalization of HSA with two functionally independent peptides. One of these peptides targets glypican-3 (GPC-3), an HCC-specific biomarker, while the second reduces macrophage phagocytosis through immune-checkpoint stimulation. This orthogonally engineered HSA proved effective for the GPC-3-targeted delivery of near-infrared fluorescent and phototherapeutic agents, thus permitting target-specific optical visualization and photodynamic ablation of HCC in vivo. This study thus offers new insights into specificity-enhanced fluorescence-guided surgery and phototherapy of HCC through the orthogonal engineering of biocompatible proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Tao Dou
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Frontiers Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Rd, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Peng Qiu
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Frontiers Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Rd, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Yuanyuan Shi
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P. R. China
| | - Ling Zhu
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Frontiers Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Rd, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Chen Guo
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Frontiers Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Rd, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Na Li
- National Facility for Protein Science in Shanghai, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 333 Haike Rd, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201210, P. R. China
| | - Yi Zang
- National Centre for Drug Screening, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 189 Guo Shoujing Rd, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China
- Lingang laboratory, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China
| | - Tingting Liu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Rd, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201210, P. R. China
| | - Suwen Zhao
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Rd, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201210, P. R. China
| | - Yufei Pan
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P. R. China
| | - Liwei Dong
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P. R. China
| | - Jonathan L Sessler
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, 105 East 24th Street-A5300, Austin, Texas 78712-1224, United States of America
| | - Yexiong Tan
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P. R. China
| | - Jia Li
- National Centre for Drug Screening, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 189 Guo Shoujing Rd, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China
| | - Hongyang Wang
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P. R. China
| | - He Tian
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Frontiers Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Rd, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Peng He
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Frontiers Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Rd, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P. R. China
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Han Z, Dai H, Chen X, Gao L, Chen X, Yan C, Ye R, Li Y. Delta-radiomics models based on multi-phase contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging can preoperatively predict glypican-3-positive hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1138239. [PMID: 37601639 PMCID: PMC10435992 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1138239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the value of multi-phase contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) based on the delta radiomics model for identifying glypican-3 (GPC3)-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: One hundred and twenty-six patients with pathologically confirmed HCC (training cohort: n = 88 and validation cohort: n = 38) were retrospectively recruited. Basic information was obtained from medical records. Preoperative multi-phase CE-MRI images were reviewed, and the 3D volumes of interest (VOIs) of the whole tumor were delineated on non-contrast T1-weighted imaging (T1), arterial phase (AP), portal venous phase (PVP), delayed phase (DP), and hepatobiliary phase (HBP). One hundred and seven original radiomics features were extracted from each phase, and delta-radiomics features were calculated. After a two-step feature selection strategy, radiomics models were built using two classification algorithms. A nomogram was constructed by combining the best radiomics model and clinical risk factors. Results: Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (p = 0.013) was significantly related to GPC3-positive HCC. The optimal radiomics model is composed of eight delta-radiomics features with the AUC of 0.805 and 0.857 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The nomogram integrated the radiomics score, and AFP performed excellently (training cohort: AUC = 0.844 and validation cohort: AUC = 0.862). The calibration curve showed good agreement between the nomogram-predicted probabilities and GPC3 actual expression in both training and validation cohorts. Decision curve analysis further demonstrates the clinical practicality of the nomogram. Conclusion: Multi-phase CE-MRI based on the delta-radiomics model can non-invasively predict GPC3-positive HCC and can be a useful method for individualized diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zewen Han
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- School of Medical Imaging, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hanting Dai
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- School of Medical Imaging, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiaolin Chen
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Lanmei Gao
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaojie Chen
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Chuan Yan
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Rongping Ye
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Yueming Li
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Key Laboratory of Radiation Biology (Fujian Medical University), Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
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Qi YM, Xiao EH. Advances in application of novel magnetic resonance imaging technologies in liver disease diagnosis. World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:4384-4396. [PMID: 37576700 PMCID: PMC10415971 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i28.4384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver disease is a major health concern globally, with high morbidity and mor-tality rates. Precise diagnosis and assessment are vital for guiding treatment approaches, predicting outcomes, and improving patient prognosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that has been widely used for detecting liver disease. Recent advancements in MRI technology, such as diffusion weighted imaging, intravoxel incoherent motion, magnetic resonance elastography, chemical exchange saturation transfer, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, hyperpolarized MR, contrast-enhanced MRI, and ra-diomics, have significantly improved the accuracy and effectiveness of liver disease diagnosis. This review aims to discuss the progress in new MRI technologies for liver diagnosis. By summarizing current research findings, we aim to provide a comprehensive reference for researchers and clinicians to optimize the use of MRI in liver disease diagnosis and improve patient prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ming Qi
- Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410000, Hunan Province, China
| | - En-Hua Xiao
- Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410000, Hunan Province, China
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Rao G, Peng X, Tian Y, Fu X, Zhang Y. Circular RNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma: biogenesis, function, and pathology. Front Genet 2023; 14:1106665. [PMID: 37485335 PMCID: PMC10361733 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1106665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Both genetic and environmental factors through a multitude of underlying molecular mechanisms participate in the pathogenesis of HCC. Recently, numerous studies have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs), an emerging class of non-coding RNAs characterized by the presence of covalent bonds linking 3' and 5' ends, play an important role in the initiation and progression of cancers, including HCC. In this review, we outline the current status of the field of circRNAs, with an emphasis on the functions and mechanisms of circRNAs in HCC and its microenvironment. We also summarize and discuss recent advances of circRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. These efforts are anticipated to throw new insights into future perspectives about circRNAs in basic, translational and clinical research, eventually advancing the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guocheng Rao
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Cancer Center West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xi Peng
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Cancer Center West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yan Tian
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Cancer Center West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xianghui Fu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Cancer Center West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuwei Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Mauro M, Ugo P, Walton Z, Ali S, Rastellini C, Cicalese L. Glypican-3 (GPC-3) Structural Analysis and Cargo in Serum Small Extracellular Vesicles of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10922. [PMID: 37446098 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Glypican-3 (GPC-3) is a heparin sulfate proteoglycan located extracellularly and anchored to the cell membrane of transformed hepatocytes. GPC-3 is not expressed in normal or cirrhotic liver tissue but is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Because of this, GPC-3 is one of the most important emerging immunotargets for treatment and as an early detection marker of HCC. To determine if GPC-3 domains associated with serum small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) could be used as an HCC diagnostic marker, we predicted in silico GPC-3 structural properties and tested for the presence of its full-length form and/or cleaved domains in serum sEVs isolated from patients with HCC. Structural analysis revealed that the Furin cleavage site of GPC-3 is exposed and readily accessible, suggesting the facilitation of GPC-3 cleavage events. Upon isolation of sEVs from both hepatocytes, culture media and serum of patients with HCC were studied for GPC-3 content. This data suggests that Furin-dependent GPC-3 cleaved domains could be a powerful tool for detection of initial stages of HCC and serve as a predictor for disease prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Montalbano Mauro
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-5302, USA
| | - Perricone Ugo
- Molecular Informatics Group, Fondazione Ri.MED., 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Zachary Walton
- John Sealy School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-5302, USA
| | - Shirafkan Ali
- Rutgers Health, Department of Cardiac Surgery, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Cristiana Rastellini
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-5302, USA
| | - Luca Cicalese
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-5302, USA
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Omar MA, Omran MM, Farid K, Tabll AA, Shahein YE, Emran TM, Petrovic A, Lucic NR, Smolic R, Kovac T, Smolic M. Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Origin to Clinical Diagnosis. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1852. [PMID: 37509493 PMCID: PMC10377276 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and HCC-related deaths has increased over the last few decades. There are several risk factors of HCC such as viral hepatitis (B, C), cirrhosis, tobacco and alcohol use, aflatoxin-contaminated food, pesticides, diabetes, obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and metabolic and genetic diseases. Diagnosis of HCC is based on different methods such as imaging ultrasonography (US), multiphasic enhanced computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and several diagnostic biomarkers. In this review, we examine the epidemiology of HCC worldwide and in Egypt as well as risk factors associated with the development of HCC and, finally, provide the updated diagnostic biomarkers for the diagnosis of HCC, particularly in the early stages of HCC. Several biomarkers are considered to diagnose HCC, including downregulated or upregulated protein markers secreted during HCC development, circulating nucleic acids or cells, metabolites, and the promising, recently identified biomarkers based on quantitative proteomics through the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ). In addition, a diagnostic model used to improve the sensitivity of combined biomarkers for the diagnosis of early HCC is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona A. Omar
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta 34517, Egypt;
| | - Mohamed M. Omran
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt;
| | - Khaled Farid
- Tropical Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35524, Egypt;
| | - Ashraf A. Tabll
- Microbial Biotechnology Department, National Research Centre, Cairo 12622, Egypt
- Immunology Department, Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine (ECRRM), Cairo 11517, Egypt
| | - Yasser E. Shahein
- Molecular Biology Department, National Research Centre, Cairo 12622, Egypt
| | - Tarek M. Emran
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, New Damietta 34517, Egypt;
| | - Ana Petrovic
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia; (A.P.); (N.R.L.); (R.S.); (T.K.)
| | - Nikola R. Lucic
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia; (A.P.); (N.R.L.); (R.S.); (T.K.)
| | - Robert Smolic
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia; (A.P.); (N.R.L.); (R.S.); (T.K.)
| | - Tanja Kovac
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia; (A.P.); (N.R.L.); (R.S.); (T.K.)
| | - Martina Smolic
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia; (A.P.); (N.R.L.); (R.S.); (T.K.)
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47
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Dev Tripathi A, Katiyar S, Mishra A. Glypican1: a potential cancer biomarker for nanotargeted therapy. Drug Discov Today 2023:103660. [PMID: 37301249 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Glypicans (GPCs) are generally involved in cellular signaling, growth and proliferation. Previous studies reported their roles in cancer proliferation. GPC1 is a co-receptor for a variety of growth-related ligands, thereby stimulating the tumor microenvironment by promoting angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This work reviews GPC1-biomarker-assisted drug discovery by the application of nanostructured materials, creating nanotheragnostics for targeted delivery and application in liquid biopsies. The review includes details of GPC1 as a potential biomarker in cancer progression as well as a potential candidate for nano-mediated drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhay Dev Tripathi
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi-221005, India
| | - Soumya Katiyar
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi-221005, India
| | - Abha Mishra
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi-221005, India.
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48
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Xu FQ, Zhang Z, Hu A, Huang DS. Circulating biomarkers for diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2023; 31:404-411. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v31.i10.404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer, but the prognosis of HCC patients is poor due to the difficulty of early diagnosis and high recurrence rate. Therefore, it is particularly important to seek effective methods for early diagnosis and early recurrence monitoring after treatment. Circulating biomarkers play an important role in the diagnosis, progression monitoring, and prognosis evaluation of HCC. In recent years, with the discovery of a variety of new biomarkers, the development of biomarkers-related models, and the emergence of liquid biopsy technology, the diagnosis and treatment of HCC have been greatly improved. This article reviews the latest research advances of biomarkers in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC, aiming to provide new ideas for improving the prognosis of HCC patients.
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49
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Wang Z, Qin H, Liu S, Sheng J, Zhang X. Precision diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Chin Med J (Engl) 2023; 136:1155-1165. [PMID: 36939276 PMCID: PMC10278703 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC). Early diagnosis of HCC remains the key to improve the prognosis. In recent years, with the promotion of the concept of precision medicine and more in-depth analysis of the biological mechanism underlying HCC, new diagnostic methods, including emerging serum markers, liquid biopsies, molecular diagnosis, and advances in imaging (novel contrast agents and radiomics), have emerged one after another. Herein, we reviewed and analyzed scientific advances in the early diagnosis of HCC and discussed their application and shortcomings. This review aimed to provide a reference for scientific research and clinical practice of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenxiao Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, China
| | - Hanjiao Qin
- Department of Radiotherapy, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, China
| | - Shui Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, China
| | - Jiyao Sheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, China
| | - Xuewen Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, China
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50
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Mei Y, Li M, Wen J, Kong X, Li J. Single-cell characteristics and malignancy regulation of alpha-fetoprotein-producing gastric cancer. Cancer Med 2023; 12:12018-12033. [PMID: 37017469 PMCID: PMC10242870 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing gastric cancer (AFPGC) at the single-cell level and to identify regulatory factors for AFP expression and malignancy. METHODS ScRNA-seq was performed on two tumors collected from patients with AFPGC. InferCNV and sub-clustering were applied to identify typical AFPGC cells, followed by AddModuleScore, pathway enrichment, Pseudo-time, and Scenic analyses. Data from a gastric cancer (GC) cohort were collected for conjoint analysis. The analytical results were verified by cell experiments and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS AFPGC cells are similar to hepatocytes in transcriptome and transcriptional regulation, with kinetic malignancy-related pathways, compared to the common malignant epithelium. In addition, compared to common GC cells, malignancy-related pathways, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis, were upregulated in AFPGC. Mechanistically, Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) was found to be associated with AFP expression and malignant phenotype upon combining our scRNA-seq data with a public database, which was further verified by a series of in vitro experiments and immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSION We demonstrated the single-cell characteristics of AFPGC and that DKK1 facilitates AFP expression and malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxia Mei
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Zhejiang University Cancer CenterHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Zhejiang University Cancer CenterHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Jihang Wen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Zhejiang University Cancer CenterHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Xiangxing Kong
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Zhejiang University Cancer CenterHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Zhejiang University Cancer CenterHangzhouZhejiangChina
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