Serological markers of liver cancer

An Immunohistochemical Study of MAGE Proteins in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one the most common primary malignancies with high mortality and morbidity. The melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE) gene family includes several genes that are highly expressed in numerous human cancers, making many of them part of the cancer-testis antigen (CTA) family. MAGE-C1 is expressed in various malignancies but is absent in normal cells, except for the male germ line. Its presence is associated with a worse prognosis, increased tumor aggressiveness, and lymph node invasion. Similarly, MAGE-C2 is linked to the development of various malignant tumors. Despite these associations, the roles and mechanisms of MAGE-C1/MAGE-C2 in HCC remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of MAGE-C1 and MAGE-C2 in HCC and correlate it with clinicohistological characteristics. Our findings indicated that MAGE-C1 expression is associated with a higher number of nodules, elevated AFP levels, HBV or HCV positivity, older age, male sex, and lymph node invasion. MAGE-C2 expression was correlated with these characteristics and the presence of cirrhosis. These results align with the limited literature, which suggests a correlation between MAGE expression and older age and HBV infection. Consequently, our study suggests that MAGE-C1 and MAGE-C2 are promising novel biomarkers for prognosis and potential therapeutic targets in HCC.

Specific features of epitope-MIPs and whole-protein MIPs as illustrated for AFP and RBD of SARS-CoV-2

Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) nanofilms for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 using either a peptide (epitope-MIP) or the whole protein (protein-MIP) as the template were prepared by electropolymerization of scopoletin. Conducting atomic force microscopy revealed after template removal and electrochemical deposition of gold a larger surface density of imprinted cavities for the epitope-imprinted polymers than when using the whole protein as template. However, comparable affinities towards the respective target protein (AFP and RBD) were obtained for both types of MIPs as expressed by the KD values in the lower nanomolar range. On the other hand, while the cross reactivity of both protein-MIPs towards human serum albumin (HSA) amounts to around 50% in the saturation region, the nonspecific binding to the respective epitope-MIPs is as low as that for the non-imprinted polymer (NIP). This effect might be caused by the different sizes of the imprinted cavities. Thus, in addition to the lower costs the reduced nonspecific binding is an advantage of epitope-imprinted polymers for the recognition of proteins.

Imprinted Polymers on the Route to Plastibodies for Biomacromolecules (MIPs), Viruses (VIPs), and Cells (CIPs)

Around 30% of the scientific papers published on imprinted polymers describe the recognition of proteins, nucleic acids, viruses, and cells. The straightforward synthesis from only one up to six functional monomers and the simple integration into a sensor are significant advantages as compared with enzymes or antibodies. Furthermore, they can be synthesized against toxic substances and structures of low immunogenicity and allow multi-analyte measurements via multi-template synthesis. The affinity is sufficiently high for protein biomarkers, DNA, viruses, and cells. However, the cross-reactivity of highly abundant proteins is still a challenge.

The Current Status of the Liver Liquid Biopsy in MASH Related HCC: Overview and Future Directions

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is one of the major risk factors for chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The incidence of MASH in Western countries continues to rise, driving HCC as the third cause of cancer-related death worldwide. HCC has become a major global health challenge, partly from the obesity epidemic promoting metabolic cellular disturbances but also from the paucity of biomarkers for its early detection. Over 50% of HCC cases are clinically present at a late stage, where curative measures are no longer beneficial. Currently, there is a paucity of both specific and sensitive biological markers for the early-stage detection of HCC. The search for biological markers in the diagnosis of early HCC in high-risk populations is intense. We described the potential role of surrogates for a liver biopsy in the screening and monitoring of patients at risk for nesting HCC.

Clinical value of serum AFP and PIVKA-II for diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The accuracy of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as a diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is insufficient, and the application of abnormal prothrombin (PIVKA-II) in HCC is still controversial.

METHODS

Serum AFP and PIVKA-II levels were analyzed in 145 cases of HCC, 57 of benign liver disease, 55 of cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder carcinoma, 112 of other gastrointestinal tumors with liver metastasis, and 101 healthy controls. Receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of AFP and PIVKA-II for HCC. The changes in serum AFP and PIVKA-II levels before and after treatment in 47 HCC patients who underwent surgery and 77 who received interventional treatment were used to evaluate treatment efficacy and prognosis in HCC.

RESULTS

The concentrations of AFP and PIVKA-II in the HCC group were significantly higher than those in other groups (p < 0.01). The diagnostic value of PIVKA-II in HCC was better than that of AFP, and combined detection improved the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. The levels of AFP and PIVKA-II after liver cancer surgery were significantly lower than those before surgery. Elevated levels of PIVKA-II before surgery predicted disease progression, and patients who remained positive for PIVKA-II after surgery had worse prognosis than those who became negative after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined detection of AFP and PIVKA-II is superior to both tests alone. We found that higher serum level of PIVKA-II indicates more severe HCC, with worse prognosis, while the level of AFP had no correlation with the prognosis.

Systemic therapies in hepatocellular carcinoma: Existing and emerging biomarkers for treatment response

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy and the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Due to asymptomatic patients in the early stage, most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage and lose the opportunity for radical resection. In addition, for patients who underwent procedures with curative intent for early-stage HCC, up to 70% of patients may have disease recurrence within 5 years. With the advent of an increasing number of systemic therapy medications, we now have more options for the treatment of HCC. However, data from clinical studies show that with different combinations of regimens, the objective response rate is approximately 40%, and most patients will not respond to treatment. In this setting, biomarkers for predicting treatment response are of great significance for precise treatment, reducing drug side effects and saving medical resources. In this review, we summarized the existing and emerging biomarkers in the literature, with special emphasis on the pathways and mechanism underlying the prediction value of those biomarkers for systemic treatment response.

Glycidamide and cis-2-butene-1,4-dial (BDA) as potential carcinogens and promoters of liver cancer - An in vitro study

Acrylamide and furan are environmental and food contaminants that are metabolized by cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), giving rise to glycidamide and cis-2-butene-1,4-dial (BDA) metabolites, respectively. Both glycidamide and BDA are electrophilic species that react with nucleophilic groups, being able to introduce mutations in DNA and perform epigenetic remodeling. However, whereas these carcinogens are primarily metabolized in the liver, the carcinogenic potential of acrylamide and furan in this organ is still controversial, based on findings from experimental animal studies. With the ultimate goal of providing further insights into this issue, we explored in vitro, using a hepatocyte cell line and a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, the putative effect of these metabolites as carcinogens and cancer promoters. Molecular alterations were investigated in cells that survive glycidamide and BDA toxicity. We observed that those cells express CD133 stemness marker, present a high proliferative capacity and display an adjusted expression profile of genes encoding enzymes involved in oxidative stress control, such as GCL-C, GSTP1, GSTA3 and CAT. These molecular changes seem to be underlined, at least in part, by epigenetic remodeling involving histone deacetylases (HDACs). Although more studies are needed, here we present more insights towards the carcinogenic capacity of glycidamide and BDA and also point out their effect in favoring hepatocellular carcinoma progression.

Integrative Comparison of Burrows-Wheeler Transform-Based Mapping Algorithm with de Bruijn Graph for Identification of Lung/Liver Cancer-Specific Gene

Cancers of the lung and liver are the top 10 leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Thus, it is essential to identify the genes specifically expressed in these two cancer types to develop new therapeutics. Although many messenger RNA (mRNA) sequencing data related to these cancer cells are available due to the advancement of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, optimized data processing methods need to be developed to identify the novel cancer-specific genes. Here, we conducted an analytical comparison between Bowtie2, a Burrows-Wheeler transform-based alignment tool, and Kallisto, which adopts pseudo alignment based on a transcriptome de Bruijn graph using mRNA sequencing data on normal cells and lung/liver cancer tissues. Before using cancer data, simulated mRNA sequencing reads were generated, and the high Transcripts Per Million (TPM) values were compared. mRNA sequencing reads data on lung/liver cancer cells were also extracted and quantified. While Kallisto could directly give the output in TPM values, Bowtie2 provided the counts. Thus, TPM values were calculated by processing the Sequence Alignment Map (SAM) file in R using package Rsubread and subsequently in python. The analysis of the simulated sequencing data revealed that Kallisto could detect more transcripts and had a higher overlap over Bowtie2. The evaluation of these two data processing methods using the known lung cancer biomarkers concludes that in standard settings without any dedicated quality control, Kallisto is more effective at producing faster and more accurate results than Bowtie2. Such conclusions were also drawn and confirmed with the known biomarkers specific to liver cancer.

RhoA and Rac1 in Liver Cancer Cells: Induction of Overexpression Using Mechanical Stimulation

Liver cancer, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is an aggressive disease with an extremely high mortality rate. Unfortunately, no promising markers are currently available for the early diagnosis of this disease. Thus, a reliable biomarker reflecting the early behaviour of the tumour will be valuable for diagnosis and treatment. The Ras homologous (Rho) GTPases, which belong to the small guanosine triphosphate (GTP) binding proteins, have been reported to play an important role in mediating liver cancer based on their important function in cytoskeletal reorganisation. These proteins can be either oncogenic or tumour suppressors. They are also associated with the acquirement of malignant features by cancer cells. The overexpression of RhoA and Rac1, members of the Rho GTPases, have been linked with carcinogenesis and the progression of different types of cancer. In the quest of elucidating the role of mechanical stimulation in the mechanobiology of liver cancer cells, this paper evaluates the effect of stretching on the expression levels of RhoA and Rac1 in different types of liver cancers. It is shown that that stretching liver cancer cells significantly increases the expression levels of RhoA and Rac1 in HCC and cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. We hypothesise that this relatively simple and sensitive method could be helpful for screening biological features and provide suitable treatment guidance for liver cancer patients.

Serum fibroblast growth factor 19 serves as a potential novel biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Abnormal autocrine fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) production has been observed in several types of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we investigated the potential of serum FGF19 as a novel tumor marker of HCC based on a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Methods

The serum FGF19 levels of 304 patients with HCC was measured by ELISA. The serum levels of existing markers, including alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) were determined by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay. Both diagnostic value of FGF19 and its changes after curative ablation therapy was further examined.

Results

The median FGF19 levels in controls, chronic liver disease patients, and primary HCC patients, were 78.8 pg/mL, 100.1 pg/mL, and 214.5 pg/mL, respectively. The subsequent receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) successfully determined an optimal cut-off value of 200.0 pg/mL. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of FGF19 for HCC detection was comparable to those of AFP and DCP. Of importance, FGF19 showed higher sensitivity for the detection of small HCC (solitary cancer with diameter < 20 mm) than those of existing markers. In addition, 43 out of 79 cases (54.4%) with normal AFP and DCP (so-called “double negative HCC”) exhibited serum FGF19 level ≥ 200 pg/mL. In 45 HCC patients treated with curative ablation therapy, serum FGF19 levels changed from 257.4 pg/mL to 112.0 pg/mL after the treatment.

Conclusion

Our findings reveal that FGF19 can be a potential novel biomarker for HCC. Although FGF19 is not necessarily a substitute for existing markers, it may help improve the prognosis in HCC patients owing to its resourceful use in various aspects of HCC management and treatment.

High miR-139-3p expression predicts a better prognosis for hepatocellular carcinoma: a pooled analysis

Objective

To observe the expression and clinical significance of micro RNA (miR)-139-3p in liver cancer tissues, and to explore its relationship with miR-139-3p target genes related to the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

A total of 362 patients with HCC were included in the study. Liver hepatocellular carcinoma data were obtained directly from The Cancer Genome Atlas data portal .The bioinformatics analysis tool TargetScan was applied to predict miR-139-3p target genes.

Results

Survival time was significantly higher in patients with high miR-139-3p expression, compared with the low miR-139-3p expression group. Bioinformatics analysis showed that miR-139-3p target genes ISG20L2, RAD54B, KIAA0101, and PIGS were significantly negatively correlated with miR-139-3p expression.

Conclusions

High miR-139-3p expression in HCC tissues was indicative of good patient prognosis. miR-139-3p target genes ISG20L2, RAD54B, KIAA0101, and PIGS were related to HCC prognosis.

High numbers of myeloid derived suppressor cells in peripheral blood and ascitic fluid of cirrhotic and HCC patients

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the 3rd most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. It has evolved different immune escape mechanisms, which might include emergence of lymphoid and myeloid regulatory cells. Aim of this work: To determine the numbers of Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in peripheral blood and ascitic fluid in cirrhosis and HCC and their relation to IFN-γ and α-fetoprotein (α-FP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty individuals were enrolled in this study; forty cirrhotic patients with ascites; twenty without HCC (Group I), and twenty with HCC (group II) as well as twenty healthy individuals as a control group (group III). The phenotype and numbers of MDSCs were analyzed in peripheral blood of all the individuals and ascitic fluid of the patients using flow cytometry. Intracellular IFN-γ and serum alfa-fetoprotein were measured.

RESULTS

Significant increases in the relative and the mean number of peripheral blood MDSCs were found in the cirrhosis and HCC groups than in the control group, with the HCC group showing the highest number. MDSC count was negatively correlated with IFN-γ levels, while α-FP was positively correlated with MDSC% in the HCC group. MDSC count was low in ascitic fluid of both HCC and cirrhosis groups with no significant difference between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION

A high frequency of MDSCs was detected in the peripheral blood of cirrhotic and HCC patients, indicating presence of immunosuppressive arms. These cells could be targeted to develop a new effective immunotherapy or an adjuvant to current therapies.

Alpha-Fetoprotein: From a Diagnostic Biomarker to a Key Role in Female Fertility

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a well-known diagnostic biomarker used in medicine to detect fetal developmental anomalies such as neural tube defects or Down's syndrome, or to follow up the development of tumors such as hepatocellular carcinomas. However, and despite the fact that the protein was discovered almost half a century ago, little was known about its physiological function. The study of Afp knock-out mice uncovered a surprising function of AFP: it is essential for female fertility and for expression of normal female behaviors, and this action is mediated through its estrogen binding capacity. AFP sequestrates estrogens and by so doing protects the female developing brain from deleterious (defeminizing/masculinizing) effects of these hormones.

Current Status and Future Prospects of Biomarkers in the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has one of the highest death rates of any cancer in the world, and its incidence is increasing worldwide. Early-stage diagnosis of HCC is thus crucial for medical treatment. Detection of tumor biomarkers is one of the main methods for the early diagnosis of HCC. At present, α-fetoprotein (AFP) is the most practical serum biomarker for HCC diagnosis. However, the diagnostic accuracy of HCC with serum AFP exhibits both sensitivity and specificity far below satisfaction, especially with small sizes of HCC. As a result, the discovery of new biomarkers and/or their combination to enhance both the sensitivity and specificity for laboratory diagnosis of HCC is a crucial goal. With the development of new technology and advances in research, a number of new and specific biomarkers of HCC have been discovered. These biomarkers and their applications for the diagnosis, treatment monitoring and prognosis prediction of HCC, are reviewed in this article.

Myeloma-Derived Light Chain Paired with a Diagnostic Monoclonal Antibody Hinders Immunoassay Performance

Monoclonal antibodies are widely used as the capture and detection reagents in diagnostic immunoassays. In the past, myeloma fusion partners expressing endogenous heavy and/or light chains were often used to generate hybridoma cell lines. As a result, mixed populations of antibodies were produced that can cause inaccurate test results, poor antibody stability, and significant lot-to-lot variability. We describe one such scenario where the P3U1 (P3X63Ag8U.1) myeloma fusion partner was used in the generation of a hybridoma producing protein induced vitamin K absence/antagonist-II (PIVKA II) antibody. The hybridoma produces three subpopulations of immunoglobulin as determined by ion exchange (IEx) chromatography that exhibit varying degrees of immunoreactivity (0%, 50%, or 100%) to the target antigen as determined by Surface Plasmon Resonance. To produce an antibody with the highest possible sensitivity and specificity, the antigen-specific heavy and light chain variable domains (VH and VL) were cloned from the hybridoma and tethered to murine IgG1 and kappa scaffolds. The resulting recombinant antibody was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells and is compatible for use in a diagnostic immunoassay.

Des-γ carboxyprothrombin may not be a good biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma in those chronically infected with hepatitis B virus with basal core promoter double mutations (T^{1762}, A^{1764}), a prospective study

BACKGROUND

The accuracy of des-γ -carboxyprothrombin (DCP) in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in those infected hepatitis B virus (HBV) from cross-sectional or case-control studies is contradictory.

OBJECTIVE

To resolve this contradiction using a prospective study.

METHODS

Three hundred male individuals persistently infected with HBV were recruited from the Chinese cohort and followed up once per year from 2012 to 2015. Each subject was screened for HCC by measurements of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), lectin-bound α -fetoprotein (AFP-L3), DCP concentrations and ultrasonographic examinations.

RESULTS

Nineteen HCC cases were identified. The area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) at first, second and third visit for AFP, AFP-L3 and DCP ranges from 0.710-0.897, 0.566-0.637 and 0.520-0.595, respectively. The rate of elevated DCP is not significantly different between the HCC cases and controls (52.6% vs. 47.4%) (P > 0.05). The incidence of HCC in subjects with elevated DCP is not significantly higher than that of those with normal DCP (9.5% vs. 4.6%) (P > 0.05). The AUROC of combinations of these biomarkers was higher than that of AFP alone at the first visit. However, it was reduced at the second visit. At the third visit, the AUROCs of AFP + DCP and AFP + AFP-L3 + DCP, but not that of AFP + AFP-L3, were higher than that of AFP alone.

CONCLUSIONS

AFP but DCP or AFP-L3 remains a valuable biomarker for HCC in those chronically infected with HBV. The combination with AFP-L3 and DCP may not increase the accuracy of AFP in differentiating HCC cases from controls, among those infected with HBV.

Risk stratification for locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma using pretreatment alpha-foetoprotein and 18 F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We investigated the significance of ¹⁸ F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (¹⁸ F-FDG PET) parameters and alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) levels in patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (LA-HCC).

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed data of 228 patients with LA-HCC who underwent pretreatment ¹⁸ F-FDG PET between January 2003 and December 2013. All patients were treated using liver-directed therapy involving radiotherapy. The maximum standardized uptake values (SUVs) and tumour-to-extratumoural liver SUV ratios were calculated, and pretreatment AFP values were obtained.

RESULTS

Patients were divided into high and low maximum SUV (SUVmax) groups according to a SUV cut-off of 4.825 determined via receiver-operating characteristic analysis. High AFP level (>550 ng/mL) and high SUVmax were significant predictors of overall and progression-free survival. Better treatment responses and longer median progression-free and overall survival were observed in the low SUVmax group, compared to the high SUVmax group. Similar results were obtained for SUV ratio-based (cut-off value: 2.355) and AFP-based analyses (cut-off value: 550 ng/mL). Three risk groups were identified using the double biomarkers of SUVmax and AFP value as strong prognosticators predictive of survival outcomes. This risk stratification was identified as a prognosticator of survival outcomes, even after subgroup analyses. Furthermore, in high risk group, significantly high extrahepatic failure was shown while in low risk group, significantly low intrahepatic failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical significance of double biomarkers, SUV and AFP, could be translated into risk stratification for LA-HCC. It could be a valuable tool for survival outcome prediction.

Multifucosylated Alpha-1-acid Glycoprotein as a Novel Marker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

High-sensitivity and -specificity diagnostic techniques to detect early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are in high demand. Screening with serum HCC markers, such as alpha-fetoprotein, is not practical because they possess poor sensitivity and specificity. As such, we focused on glycan alterations of glycoproteins found in patient sera in an attempt to discover novel HCC markers that are more specific and sensitive than current HCC markers. Sera from 42 HCC patients and 80 controls, composed of 27 chronic hepatitis B patients, 26 chronic hepatitis C patients, and 27 healthy volunteers, were analyzed in this study. Glycopeptides obtained from serum proteins by trypsin digestion were enriched by ultrafiltration and Aleuria aurantia lectin-based affinity chromatography, followed by analysis using liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The data were analyzed by our newly developed software, which calculates peak intensities and positions (m/z and elution time), aligns all sample peaks, and integrates all data into a single table. HCC markers were extracted from more than 30 000 detected glycopeptide peaks by t test, mean-fold change, and ROC analyses. As a result, we revealed that alpha-1-acid glycoprotein with multifucosylated tetraantennary N-glycans was significantly elevated in HCC patients, whereas the single fucosylated derivative was not.

Protrusion-localized STAT3 mRNA promotes metastasis of highly metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro

AIM

Recent evidence shows that localization of mRNAs and their protein products at cellular protrusions plays a decisive function in the metastasis of cancer cells. The aim of this study was to identify the variety of proteins encoded by protrusion-localized mRNAs and their roles in the metastasis and invasion of liver cancer cells.

METHODS

Highly metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HCCLM3 and non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 were examined. Cell protrusions (Ps) were separated from cell bodies (CB) using a Boyden chamber assay; total mRNA population in CB and Ps fractions was analyzed using high-throughput direct RNA sequencing. The localization of STAT3 mRNA and protein at Ps was confirmed using RT-qPCR, RNA FISH, and immunofluorescence assays. Cell migration capacity and invasiveness of HCCLM3 cells were evaluated using MTT, wound healing migration and in vitro invasion assays. The interaction between Stat3 and growth factor receptors was explored with co-immunoprecipitation assays.

RESULTS

In HCCLM3 cells, 793 mRNAs were identified as being localized in the Ps fraction according to a cut-off value (Ps/CB ratio) >1.6. The Ps-localized mRNAs could be divided into 4 functional groups, and were all closely related to the invasive and metastatic properties. STAT3 mRNA accumulated in the Ps of HCCLM3 cells compared with non-metastatic SMMC-7721 cells. Treatment of HCCLM3 cells with siRNAs against STAT3 mRNA drastically decreased the cell migration and invasion. Moreover, Ps-localized Stat3 was found to interact with pseudopod-enriched platelet-derived growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (PDGFRTK) in a growth factor-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals STAT3 mRNA localization at the Ps of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma HCCLM3 cells by combining application of genome-wide and gene specific description and functional analysis.

Association between alpha-fetoprotein and metabolic syndrome in a Chinese asymptomatic population: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Metabolic syndrome is closely associated with an increased risk for fatty liver disease morbidity and mortality. Recently, studies have reported that participants with fatty liver disease have higher serum alpha-fetoprotein levels than those without. We investigated the association between alpha-fetoprotein levels and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in a Chinese asymptomatic population.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed with 7,755 participants who underwent individual health examinations. Clinical and anthropometric parameters were collected and serum alpha-fetoprotein levels and other clinical and laboratory parameters were measured. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations between alpha-fetoprotein and metabolic syndrome.

RESULTS

Participants with metabolic syndrome had significantly higher (p < 0.001) alpha-fetoprotein levels than those without, though all alpha-fetoprotein levels were within the reference interval. The association between the components of metabolic syndrome (central obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and elevated fasting plasma glucose) and alpha-fetoprotein levels was evaluated. Alpha-fetoprotein levels in the elevated triglycerides, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and elevated fasting plasma glucose groups were significantly different (p=0.002, p < 0.001, p=0.020) compared with alpha-fetoprotein in the normal triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and fasting plasma glucose groups. Logistic regression analyses showed an association between alpha-fetoprotein levels and increased risk for metabolic syndrome, the presence of reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and elevated fasting plasma glucose, but not with obesity, elevated blood pressure, or triglycerides.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest a significant association between alpha-fetoprotein and metabolic syndrome.

Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC): An Update

The past decades have witnessed increased use of biomarkers in disease management. A biomarker is any characteristic that can be objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological process, pathogenic process, or pharmacological response to a therapeutic intervention. The clinical measurements of biomarkers can be carried out in vivo using imaging modalities like ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as in vitro utilizing serum or plasma or other body fluids as specimens. In contrast to the imaging modalities, a prominent value of serum biomarkers is that they could be biologically relevant and disease-specific to pathophysiologic or pathologic process of disease development. This article provides an update of serum biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in risk assessment for early detection through surveillance.

Combined use of AFP, PIVKA-II, and AFP-L3 as tumor markers enhances diagnostic accuracy for hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients

OBJECTIVE

As data on the effectiveness of tumor markers in detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic patients are limited, we investigated the diagnostic accuracy of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II), and Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP (AFP-L3).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled 361 cirrhotic patients with HCC, and 276 cirrhotic patients without HCC occurrence.

RESULTS

Most patients were men (n = 431, 67.7%); the median age was 57.0 years. The main etiology of chronic liver disease was chronic hepatitis B (n = 467, 73.3%). The sensitivity and specificity of combined three biomarkers was 87.0 and 60.1% in overall HCC, and 75.7 and 60.1% in early HCC, respectively (cutoff: 20 ng/mL for AFP, 40 mAU/mL for PIVKA-II, and 5% for AFP-L3). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for HCC diagnosis was 0.765 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.728-0.801) for AFP; 0.823 (95% CI, 0.791-0.854) for PIVKA-II; and 0.755 (95% CI, 0.718-0.792) for AFP-L3. The AUROC for early HCC diagnosis was 0.754 (95% CI, 0.691-0.816) for AFP, 0.701 (95% CI, 0.630-0.771) for PIVKA-II, and 0.670 (95% CI, 0.596-0.744) for AFP-L3. Combining the three tumor markers increased the AUROC to 0.877 (95% CI, 0.851-0.903) for HCC diagnosis, and 0.773 (95% CI, 0.704-0.841) for early HCC diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Diagnostic accuracy improved upon combining the AFP, PIVKA-II, and AFP-L3 tumor markers compared to each marker alone in detecting HCC and early HCC in cirrhotic patients.

Diet-Induced Obesity Enhances Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma through Tenascin-C/Toll-Like Receptor 4 Signaling

Obesity is an independent risk factor for the development of liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Tenascin-C (TnC), an extracellular matrix protein, is transiently expressed during tissue injury and plays a role in fibrogenesis and tumorigenesis. However, the mechanistic role of TnC signaling in the development of HCC remains unknown. We developed a diet-induced obesity HCC mouse model and examined TnC expression and liver injury. To determine the cellular mechanism of TnC signaling in promoting inflammation and hepatocyte epithelial-mesenchymal transition and migration, we used primary hepatocytes and hepatoma and macrophage cell lines. Further, to determine whether elevated TnC expression correlated with obesity-associated HCC, we measured plasma TnC in obese patients with various levels of liver injury. Increased tissue inflammation accompanied with elevated hepatic stellate cell-derived TnC and Toll-like receptor 4 expression was observed in the diet-induced obesity HCC animal model. In vitro studies found enhanced Toll-like receptor 4 signaling activated by TnC, promoting an increased inflammatory response, hepatocyte transformation, and migration. Further, obese patients with cirrhosis alone and in combination with HCC showed significant increases in plasma TnC compared with healthy volunteers and patients with less severe liver injury. Overall, these studies suggest TnC/Toll-like receptor 4 signaling as an important regulator in HCC; inhibiting this signaling axis may be a viable therapeutic target for impeding HCC.

SAG-UPS attenuates proapoptotic SARM and Noxa to confer survival advantage to early hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a deadly cancer because of its commonly late diagnosis and limited treatment options. SAG (sensitive to apoptosis gene)-dependent UPS (ubiquitin-proteasome system) is a key switch between immune-mediated apoptosis and overactivation-mediated protumorigenesis, prompting us to hypothesize that SAG-UPS modulates chronic inflammation-induced tumorigenesis. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanism by which SAG-UPS regulates death/survival of liver cancer cells. By retrospective studies, we found reciprocal expressions of anti-/proapoptotic factors: SAG/SARM and SAG/Noxa in human primary HCC tissues - the antiapoptotic SAG was significantly upregulated whereas the proapoptotic SARM and Noxa were markedly downregulated, suggesting their involvement in hepatocarcinogenesis. Upregulated SAG-UPS effectively manipulates the levels of high-molecular-weight ubiquitinated SARM and Noxa in carcinoma tissues compared with corresponding normal tissues. SAG-overexpressing HCC cell lines display reduced SARM and Noxa (but not Bcl-2, Bax and Bcl-xL), suggesting that SARM and Noxa are specific substrates of SAG-dependent ubiquitination. SARM overexpression activated caspase-3 and caspase-9, reducing cell viability. SAG knockdown significantly elevated apoptosis with increased cytosolic cytochrome c, confirming SAG-mediated antiapoptosis in HCC. SAG overexpression stimulated protumorigenic cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF, but not antitumorigenic IL-12p40 and anti-inflammatory IL-10. This is consistent with higher proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF) in hepatoma compared with healthy tissues. Altogether, early stage-upregulated SAG-UPS exacerbates hepatocarcinogenesis progression, through: (1) ubiquitination-mediated degradation of proapoptotic SARM and Noxa; and (2) production of protumorigenic cytokines that induce a protumorigenic microenvironment, conferring survival advantage to HCC cells. Thus, we propose SAG-UPS to be an early diagnostic marker for HCC, and a potential target for therapeutics development.

Utility of serum des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma among Nigerians, a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy occurring globally but with a dismal prognosis. Des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin (DCP) has been reported to be more sensitive and specific than Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the diagnosis of HCC among the White population. Its efficacy among the Black population is yet to be established. The aim of this study therefore, was to determine the relative sensitivity and specificity of des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin and alpha-fetoprotein in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in a cohort of Nigerian patients presenting at a single referral centre.

METHODS

Cross-sectional case-control study was carried out using 62 HCC patients and 57 controls with benign liver diseases including chronic hepatitis and compensated liver cirrhosis. Both DCP and AFP were tested using enzyme immunoassay methods.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine percent of the HCC patients presented with tumour sizes >5 cm while 31% presented with tumour sizes 3-5 cm. No patient presented with tumour sizes <3 cm. The sensitivity and specificity of DCP were 96.8% and 98.3% respectively, based on a Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve - derived optimum cut-off level of >140mAU/ml. Similarly, the sensitivity and specificity of AFP were 62.9% and 93.3% at an ROC - derived optimum cut-off level of 18mAU/ml. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for DCP was 0.99 and was significantly larger than that of AFP which was 0.85 (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the utility of DCP for the diagnosis of HCC among Nigerian patients was higher than that of AFP for large tumours with diameter ≥3 cm.

Epigenetic biomarkers in liver cancer

Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC) is a major cancer worldwide. Research in this field is needed to identify biomarkers that can be used for early detection of the disease as well as new approaches to its treatment. Epigenetic biomarkers provide an opportunity to understand liver cancer etiology and evaluate novel epigenetic inhibitors for treatment. Traditionally, liver cirrhosis, proteomic biomarkers, and the presence of hepatitis viruses have been used for the detection and diagnosis of liver cancer. Promising results from microRNA (miRNA) profiling and hypermethylation of selected genes have raised hopes of identifying new biomarkers. Some of these epigenetic biomarkers may be useful in risk assessment and for screening populations to identify who is likely to develop cancer. Challenges and opportunities in the field are discussed in this chapter.

Hsa-miR-132 inhibits proliferation of hepatic carcinoma cells by targeting YAP

MicroRNAs and Yes-associated protein (YAP) play an important role in the occurrence and development of hepatic carcinomas. However, the interaction between microRNAs and YAP was seldom elucidated. In this study, we showed that miR-132 could target YAP gene by using dual-luciferase reporter system. Further quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis and western blotting showed that miR-132 could significantly reduce the expression of YAP at mRNA and protein levels. Results of annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine staining and transwell assays showed that miR-132 significantly promoted the cell apoptosis and effectively inhibited the proliferation and invasion of hepatoma cells. These results indicated that miR-132 could inhibit the growth of hepatoma cells by targeting YAP gene and reducing its expression level. Taken together, results from this study would help us to understand the mechanisms for occurrence and development of hepatic carcinoma and provide new targets for diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer.

Comparison of LUMIPULSE(®) G1200 With Kryptor and Modular E170 for the Measurement of Seven Tumor Markers

BACKGROUND

Tumor marker measurements are becoming essential for prognosis and follow-up of patients in oncology. In this context, we aimed to compare a new analyzer, Lumipulse(®) G1200 (Fujirebio group, distributed in Europe by the Innogenetics group) with Kryptor(®) (Thermo Fisher Scientific B.R.A.H.M.S, Asnières, France) and Modular(®) Elecsys E170 (Roche Diagnostics, Meylan, France) for the measurement of seven tumor markers: PSA, AFP, CEA, CA 15-3, CA 125, CA 19-9, and Cyfra 21-1.

METHODS

A total of 471 serum samples from patients with elevated tumor markers and 100 serum from healthy patients were analyzed with Lumipulse(®) G1200 and either Kryptor(®) (for AFP) or Modular(®) (for the six other markers).

RESULTS

The good precision of Lumipulse(®) G1200 assays was confirmed with CVs < 2.5% and < 5.0%, obtained, respectively, for within-run imprecision and intermediate imprecision (except for Cyfra 21-1: CV < 13%). For all markers, Lumipulse results were well correlated with Modular or Kryptor results (r ≥ 0.94). Concordance of results interpretation was > 95% and tumor marker kinetics were all similar.

CONCLUSION

We confirmed the analytical performances of Lumipulse(®) tumor marker assays except for the CYFRA 21-1 assay for which performances were poor in this study. We noticed a few discrepancies for the CEA assay. Besides, values obtained for CA 19-9 were higher with Lumipulse leading to a bias (slope = 1.5). But for the four other tumor markers assays (PSA, AFP, CA 125, CA 15-3), the results were directly transferable between Lumipulse and Kryptor or Modular, thus facilitating an eventual substitution of one system by another.

Can TIE-2 expressing monocytes represent a novel marker for hepatocellular carcinoma?

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the predominant form of primary liver cancer, is a global health problem representing the sixth most common cancer and the third cause of cancer related death worldwide. The number of deaths per year in HCC is comparable to the incidence number, underlying the aggressive behavior of HCC and the modest efficacy of available curative treatments. Effective HCC treatment is problematic also due to the lack of early and specific diagnostic markers. In this regard, particular interest has been put on the tyrosine kinase with Ig and endothelial growth factor (EGF) homology domains 2 (TIE2), a receptor of angiopoietins, predominantly present on endothelial cells but also observed on monocytes [TIE-2-expressing monocytes (TEMs)]. Recently, a work by Matsubara et al. showed that the amount of circulating TEMs is higher in hepatitis virus C (HCV)/HCC patients compared to HCV patients or healthy subjects. Additionally the authors showed that TEMs have a diagnostic potential for HCC. Whereas the molecular mechanisms responsible for this observation remain elusive and further studies are necessary to confirm this finding, the work of Matsubara et al. may contribute to the identification of a novel HCC prognostic and diagnostic marker.

Circulating specific biomarkers in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and its metastasis monitoring

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and rapidly fatal malignancies worldwide with a multifactorial, multistep, complex process and poor prognosis. Its early diagnosis and metastasis monitoring are of the utmost importance. Hepatoma tissues synthesize various tumor-related proteins, genes, enzymes, microRNA, etc. and then secrete into the blood. Detections of circulating biomarkers are useful to find tumor at an early stage or monitor metastasis after postoperative treatment. This paper summarizes recent studies of specific biomarkers at early diagnosis or in monitoring metastasis or postoperative recurrence of HCC.

TIE2-expressing monocytes as a diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma correlates with angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is a critical step in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Myeloid lineage cells, such as macrophages and monocytes, have been reported to regulate angiogenesis in mouse tumor models. TIE2, a receptor of angiopoietins, conveys pro-angiogenic signals and identifies a monocyte/macrophage subset with pro-angiogenic activity. Here, we analyzed the occurrence and kinetics of TIE2-expressing monocytes/macrophages (TEMs) in HCC patients. This study enrolled 168 HCV-infected patients including 89 with HCC. We examined the frequency of TEMs, as defined as CD14+CD16+TIE2+ cells, in the peripheral blood and liver. The localization of TEMs in the liver was determined by immunofluorescence staining. Micro-vessel density in the liver was measured by counting CD34+ vascular structures. We found that the frequency of circulating TEMs was significantly higher in HCC than non-HCC patients, while being higher in the liver than in the blood. In patients who underwent local radio-ablation or resection of HCC, the frequency of TEMs dynamically changed in the blood in parallel with HCC recurrence. Most TEMs were identified in the perivascular areas of tumor tissue. A significant positive correlation was observed between micro-vessel density in HCC and frequency of TEMs in the blood or tumors, suggesting that TEMs are involved in HCC angiogenesis. Receiver operating characteristic analyses revealed the superiority of TEM frequency to AFP, PIVKA-II and ANG-2 serum levels as diagnostic marker for HCC.

CONCLUSION

TEMs increase in patients with HCC and their frequency changes with the therapeutic response or recurrence. We thus suggest that TEM frequency can be used as a diagnostic marker for HCC, potentially reflecting angiogenesis in the liver.

Overexpression of GPC3 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and invasion through induction of apoptosis

Glypican‑3 (GPC3) is a membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, migration and the development of the majority of mesodermal tissues and organs. GPC3 has been found to be important for the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, it may be suitable for use as a novel molecular marker for the diagnosis of primary liver cancer. In the present study, the role of GPC3 in the occurrence and development of HCC was determined. GPC3 recombinant vector was transfected into two HCC cell lines, Huh7 and SK‑HEP‑1, to upregulate the expression of GPC3 and examine changes in the biological behavior of the cells. Results indicate that overexpression of GPC3 in Huh7 and SK‑HEP‑1 cells effectively inhibited cell proliferation and cell invasion through induction of apoptosis. However, cotreatment of the cells with insulin‑like growth factor 2 (IGF2) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) was found by Annexin V‑PI flow cytometric analysis to significantly inhibit the apoptotic cell death induced by GPC3 overexpression. These observations indicate that GPC3 may act as a negative regulator of IGF2 and FGF2 pathways. Taken together, these results demonstrate that overexpression of GPC3 inhibits the occurrence and development of HCC.

Hepatocellualar carcinoma serum markers

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in some areas of the world. In most cases, HCC is diagnosed at a late stage. Therefore, the prognosis of patients with HCC is generally poor. The recommended screening strategy for patients with cirrhosis includes the determination of serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and an abdominal ultrasound every 6 months to detect HCC at an earlier stage. AFP, however, is a marker characterized by poor sensitivity and specificity, and abdominal ultrasound is highly dependent on the operator's experience. In addition to AFP, Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive AFP (AFP-L3), des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP), glypican-3 (GPC-3), osteopontin (OPN), and several other biomarkers (such as squamous cell carcinoma antigen-immunoglobulin M complexes [SCCA-IgM], alpha-1-fucosidase [AFU], chromogranin A [CgA], human hepatocyte growth factor, insulin-like growth factor) have been proposed as markers for the early detection of HCC. For these markers, we describe the mechanisms of production, and their diagnostic and prognosis roles. None of them is optimal; however, when used together, their sensitivity in detecting HCC is increased. Recent research has shown that some biomarkers have mitogenic and migratory activities in the angiogenesis of HCC and are a factor of tumor growth.

Evidence That Naturopathic Therapy Including Cordyceps sinensis Prolongs Survival of Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hypothesis. Naturopathic treatment will benefit patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Study design. Retrospective analysis of case series of HCC patients treated with naturopathic agents. Methods. HCC was diagnosed by dynamic computed tomography (CT) imaging and α-fetoprotein (AFP) or PIVKA II, or by histology. Tumor staging was determined by CT. A modified Childs–Pugh scoring was used to assess liver disease. Patients were treated with orally administered combinations of 12 naturopathic agents. Patients were monitored clinically and by CT tumor imaging, serial tumor markers, and liver function tests. Results. Patient characteristics: 101 patients with HCC (67 men and 34 women, age 67.2 ± 8.8 years) were treated for a median of 13.4 months (range 0.8-100.8). Of these 84% had cirrhosis, 63% had hepatitis C virus, 18% had hepatitis B virus, 1% had both, and 9% had metastatic disease. Median modified Childs–Pugh score was 6 (range 3-13). Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer tumor stages of 0, A, B, C, and D were found in 36%, 25%, 20%, 14%, and 6%, respectively. Median AFP was 40 (range 0-311,000). Median PIVKA II was 59 (0–378,000). Previous treatment was included none (27%), resection with relapse (20%), transarterial chemoembolization (50%), radiofrequency ablation (28%), percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (15%), chemotherapy (14%). Outcomes: Initial treatment was with 2.6 ± 0.8 agents (range 2-4). Overall, patients were treated with 3.7 ± 1.2 agents (range 2-7). There was a significant correlation between number of agents administered and survival ( P < .0001). Patients treated with ≥4 agents survived significantly longer than patients treated with ≤3 agents (40.2 vs 6.4 months, P < .0001). This difference could not be attributed to statistically significant differences in severity of liver disease or tumor stage, delay in treatment, previous treatment, concurrent nondrug treatment, or censoring effects. The greatest effect was seen in patients treated with at least 4 agents that included Cordyceps sinensis. This prolonged survival was without toxic side effects and appeared to potentiate the survival benefit of conventional therapy. Conclusion. Treatment of HCC with a regimen of ≥4 agents prepared from natural products was associated with prolonged survival in a substantial portion of patients. The data provide level II evidence for the efficacy of naturopathic therapy in HCC.

Biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks high among the most common and fatal cancers in the world. HCC develops from chronic liver diseases, especially from hepatitis C virus-related and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver diseases. In this sense, useful biomarkers for HCC detection for the patients at risk of HCC are quite important. Recently, new therapies for HCC have been developed, and the prognosis of the patients has improved. However, considering the recurrence rate of HCC after treatment is very high, biomarkers that detect recurrence at an early stage are also required. In addition, since new drugs such as multikinase inhibitors have been introduced to the clinical scene, surrogate biomarkers to predict the effectiveness of treatment will be required in the near future. So far, many biomarkers for HCC have been developed, and their clinical usefulness has been assessed. As a result, several biomarkers for HCC are widely used. However, investigations to discover more useful biomarkers that fit in clinical settings are under way. In this review article, biomarkers for HCC are overviewed to examine their clinical usefulness.

DR-70 immunoassay for the surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Although alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a widely used serological marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), its utility is limited due to its unsatisfactory sensitivity. Meanwhile, a newly developed immunoassay-DR-70-has been reported to have a good sensitivity for HCC in a small-scale study. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical value of DR-70 for the surveillance of HCC.

METHODS

Serum levels of DR-70 and AFP were measured in 103 patients with HCC, 50 healthy volunteers, and 33 patients with chronic liver disease. In addition, we investigated the prognostic value of DR-70 in patients with HCC correlating with the clinical staging-Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) score and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) classification.

RESULTS

Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve with area under the curve of 0.836, the DR-70 cut-off value for detecting HCC was determined to be 0.75 µg/mL. DR-70 provided a sensitivity of 81.6% and a specificity of 77.1%, and correlated well with the CLIP score and BCLC classification. The combination of DR-70 and AFP increased the sensitivity to 91.2%. The prognosis for patients with HCC with DR-70 level > 0.75 µg/mL was worse than that for those with DR-70 ≤ 0.75 µg/mL. Among the patients with early stage HCC (CLIP score 0-2), DR-70 > 0.75 µg/mL independently predicted a poor survival.

CONCLUSIONS

DR-70 immunoassay is complementary to AFP for the detection of HCC and has a good correlation with clinical staging and prognosis.

GPC3 fused to an alpha epitope of HBsAg acts as an immune target against hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B virus

BACKGROUND

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in China is closely related to the population infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). HCC cells with HBV secrete soluble HBsAg into blood but do not express it on the cell membrane. This study aimed to construct and investigate a new glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein (GPC3+alpha+EGFP) as a DNA vaccine against HCC associated with HBV.

METHODS

A recombinant plasmid (pcDNA3.1(+)/GPC3+ alpha+EGFP) was constructed and verified by restriction endonuclease digestion and sequencing. pcDNA3.1(+)/GPC3+alpha+EGFP was transfected into HepG2 cells (experimental group) using lipofectamine 2000. pEGFP-N1-transfected HepG2 cells were used as a negative control, and non-transfected HepG2 cells served as a blank control. HepG2 cells that steadily expressed the fusion protein GPC3+alpha+EGFP were screened by G418, propagated, and co-cultured with lymphocytes from healthy donors. Cell proliferation was measured by the classic sulforhodamine B assay. Apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), and Fas gene transcription was determined by quantitative fluorescent PCR.

RESULTS

The pcDNA3.1(+)/GPC3+alpha+EGFP plasmid was successfully constructed. In the experimental group, green fluorescence was observed at the cell periphery and in the cytoplasm, whereas in the negative control group, fluorescence was evenly distributed throughout the cell. Proliferation of the experimental group significantly decreased after 72 hours compared to the negative and blank control groups. Furthermore, the number of apoptotic cells was statistically different among the three groups as determined by a contingency table Chi-square test; the experimental group had the highest incidence of apoptosis. Fas gene transcription in the experimental group was higher than in the two control groups, and an increasing trend with time in the experimental group was observed.

CONCLUSION

A chimeric, membrane-anchored protein, GPC3+alpha+EGFP, localized to the membrane of HepG2 cells and inhibited proliferation and accelerated apoptosis through a Fas-FasL pathway after co-cultivation with lymphocytes.

Kinase inhibitor Sorafenib modulates immunosuppressive cell populations in a murine liver cancer model

Accumulating evidence suggests that regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are elevated in cancer patients and tumor-bearing hosts, and that depletion of Tregs and MDSC may enhance the anti-tumor immunity of the host. Sorafenib, a novel multi-kinase inhibitor, is approved for the treatment of several human cancers, including advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Sorafenib is believed to inhibit tumor growth via anti-angiogenesis, cell cycle arrest, and inducing apoptosis. However, the impact of Sorafenib on immune cell populations in tumor-bearing hosts is unclear. In this report, we show that Tregs and MDSC are increased in the spleens and bone marrows of the BALB/c mice with liver hepatoma. The increase in Tregs and MDSC was positively correlated with tumor burden. Treatment of Sorafenib not only inhibited HCC cell growth in mice but also significantly decreased the suppressive immune cell populations: Tregs and MDSC. In conclusion, our study strongly suggests that Sorafenib can enhance anti-tumor immunity via modulating immunosuppressive cell populations in the murine liver cancer model.