1
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Lu KP, Zhou XZ. Pin1-catalyzed conformational regulation after phosphorylation: A distinct checkpoint in cell signaling and drug discovery. Sci Signal 2024; 17:eadi8743. [PMID: 38889227 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.adi8743] [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: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Protein phosphorylation is one of the most common mechanisms regulating cellular signaling pathways, and many kinases and phosphatases are proven drug targets. Upon phosphorylation, protein functions can be further regulated by the distinct isomerase Pin1 through cis-trans isomerization. Numerous protein targets and many important roles have now been elucidated for Pin1. However, no tools are available to detect or target cis and trans conformation events in cells. The development of Pin1 inhibitors and stereo- and phospho-specific antibodies has revealed that cis and trans conformations have distinct and often opposing cellular functions. Aberrant conformational changes due to the dysregulation of Pin1 can drive pathogenesis but can be effectively targeted in age-related diseases, including cancers and neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we review advances in understanding the roles of Pin1 signaling in health and disease and highlight conformational regulation as a distinct signal transduction checkpoint in disease development and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Ping Lu
- Departments of Biochemistry and Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6G 2V4, Canada
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6G 2V4, Canada
| | - Xiao Zhen Zhou
- Departments of Biochemistry and Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6G 2V4, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6G 2V4, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6G 2V4, Canada
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2
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Dong L, Wang P, Pan Y, Sun N, Yin G. Efficacy and safety analysis of PD-1 combined with regorafenib in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Am J Transl Res 2024; 16:2554-2562. [PMID: 39006269 PMCID: PMC11236643 DOI: 10.62347/iihg2242] [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: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors combined with regorafenib in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on 82 patients diagnosed with advanced HCC at Lanzhou Petrochemical General Hospital and the Second People's Hospital of Lanzhou City from October 2021 to October 2022. Patients were divided into two groups: the observation group (42 patients) received combined therapy with regorafenib and a PD-1 inhibitor, while the control group (40 patients) received only regorafenib monotherapy. Treatment efficacy, changes in serum tumor markers pre- and post-treatment, incidence of adverse reactions, progression-free survival (PFS), 1-year survival rate, and independent prognostic factors were evaluated for both groups. RESULTS The treatment efficacy in the observation group was significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.05). Post-treatment levels of VEGF, sIL-2R, and CEA were significantly lower in the observation group compared to the control group (all P<0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions was similar between the two groups (P>0.05). However, the observation group demonstrated a significantly higher median PFS and 1-year survival rate than the control group (both P<0.05). Vascular invasion, degree of differentiation, and treatment regimen were identified as independent prognostic factors affecting outcomes (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION For patients with advanced HCC, integrating PD-1 inhibitors with regorafenib treatment not only enhances clinical efficacy but also maintains safety. This combination therapy significantly improves progression-free survival and 1-year survival rates, supporting its further clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Dong
- Gastroenterology Department, Lanzhou Petrochemical General Hospital (The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine)No. 733 Fuli West Road, Xigu District, Lanzhou 730060, Gansu, China
| | - Pengbin Wang
- Gastroenterology Department, The Second People’s Hospital of Lanzhou CityNo. 388 Jingyuan Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou 730060, Gansu, China
| | - Yan Pan
- Radiology Department, Lanzhou Petrochemical General Hospital (The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine)No. 733 Fuli West Road, Xigu District, Lanzhou 730060, Gansu, China
| | - Naiying Sun
- Gastroenterology Department, Lanzhou Petrochemical General Hospital (The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine)No. 733 Fuli West Road, Xigu District, Lanzhou 730060, Gansu, China
| | - Gang Yin
- Gastroenterology Department, Lanzhou Petrochemical General Hospital (The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine)No. 733 Fuli West Road, Xigu District, Lanzhou 730060, Gansu, China
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3
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Fan W, Xing Y, Yan S, Liu W, Ning J, Tian F, Wang X, Zhan Y, Luo L, Cao M, Huang J, Cai L. DUSP5 regulated by YTHDF1-mediated m6A modification promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and EGFR-TKI resistance via the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in lung adenocarcinoma. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:208. [PMID: 38872157 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03382-6] [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: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients have a dismal survival rate because of cancer metastasis and drug resistance. The study aims to identify the genes that concurrently modulate EMT, metastasis and EGFR-TKI resistance, and to investigate the underlying regulatory mechanisms. METHODS Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses were applied to identify prognostic oncogenes in LUAD. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to indicate the biological functions of the gene. Wound-healing and Transwell assays were used to detect migratory and invasive ability. EGFR-TKI sensitivity was evaluated by assessing the proliferation, clonogenic survival and metastatic capability of cancer cells with treatment with gefitinib. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) analyses established the level of m6A modification present on the target gene and the protein's capability to interact with RNA, respectively. Single-sample gene set enrichment (ssGSEA) algorithm used to investigate levels of immune cell infiltration. RESULTS Our study identified dual-specificity phosphatase 5 (DUSP5) as a novel and powerful predictor of adverse outcomes for LUAD by using public datasets. Functional enrichment analysis found that DUSP5 was positively enriched in EMT and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway, a prevailing pathway involved in the induction of EMT. As expected, DUSP5 knockdown suppressed EMT via inhibiting the canonical TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in in vitro experiments. Consistently, knockdown of DUSP5 was first found to inhibit migratory ability and invasiveness of LUAD cells in in vitro and prevent lung metastasis in in vivo. DUSP5 knockdown re-sensitized gefitinib-resistant LUAD cells to gefitinib, accompanying reversion of EMT progress. In LUAD tissue samples, we found 14 cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites of DUSP5 that were negatively associated with DUSP5 gene expression. Importantly, 5'Azacytidine (AZA), an FDA-approved DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, restored DUSP5 expression. Moreover, RIP experiments confirmed that YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein 1 (YTHDF1), a m6A reader protein, could bind DUSP5 mRNA. YTHDF1 promoted DUSP5 expression and the malignant phenotype of LUAD cells. In addition, the DUSP5-derived genomic model revealed the two clusters with distinguishable immune features and tumor mutational burden (TMB). CONCLUSIONS Briefly, our study discovered DUSP5 which was regulated by epigenetic modification, might be a potential therapeutic target, especially in LUAD patients with acquired EGFR-TKI resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weina Fan
- The Fourth Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Haping Road 150, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Ying Xing
- The Fourth Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Haping Road 150, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Shi Yan
- The Fourth Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Haping Road 150, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Wei Liu
- The Fourth Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Haping Road 150, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Jinfeng Ning
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Fanglin Tian
- The Fourth Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Haping Road 150, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Xin Wang
- The Fourth Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Haping Road 150, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yuning Zhan
- The Fourth Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Haping Road 150, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Lixin Luo
- The Fourth Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Haping Road 150, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Mengru Cao
- The Fourth Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Haping Road 150, Harbin, 150081, China.
| | - Jian Huang
- The Fourth Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Haping Road 150, Harbin, 150081, China.
| | - Li Cai
- The Fourth Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Haping Road 150, Harbin, 150081, China.
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Zhang S, Xue X, Chen F, Yang Y, Zhang N, Chen Y, Wu W, Wang J, Zheng N. COL5A2 drives regorafenib resistance-induced metastatic phenotype via reducing LIFR expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2024; 56:997-1010. [PMID: 38818582 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024058] [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] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Systemic therapies, the ultimate strategies for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), are suffering from serious clinical challenges, such as the occurrence and development of drug resistance. Treatment resistance aggravates tumor progression partly by inducing tumor metastasis. Regorafenib-resistant HCC cells exhibit a highly striking metastatic phenotype, but the detailed mechanisms underlying these aggressive behaviors remain elusive. Here, we conduct transcriptome sequencing analysis to identify COL5A2 as a crucial driver of the metastatic characteristics of regorafenib-resistant HCC cells. COL5A2 is aberrantly highly expressed in resistant cells, and its genetic depletion significantly suppresses proliferation, migration, invasion, vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation and lung metastasis in vitro and in vivo, concomitant with the downregulation of VE-cadherin, EphA2, Twist1, p-p38 and p-STAT3 expressions. LIFR is confirmed to be an essential downstream molecule of COL5A2, and its expression is observably elevated by COL5A2 depletion. Ectopic overexpression of LIFR drastically attenuates the proliferation, migration, invasion and VM of regorafenib-resistant cells and represses the expressions of VM-related molecules and the activation of p38/STAT3 signaling pathway. Interestingly, rescue experiments show that the inhibition of the above aggressive features of resistant cells by COL5A2 loss is clearly alleviated by silencing of LIFR. Collectively, our results reveal that COL5A2 promotes the ability of regorafenib-resistant HCC cells to acquire a metastatic phenotype by attenuating LIFR expression and suggest that therapeutic regimens targeting the COL5A2/LIFR axis may be beneficial for HCC patients with therapeutic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoqin Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Xuezhen Xue
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Fengdan Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Yahan Yang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Pharmacology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Wenda Wu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Jichuang Wang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Ning Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Pharmacology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
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Baek M, Kim M, Choi HI, Binas B, Cha J, Jung KH, Choi S, Chai YG. Identification of differentially expressed mRNA/lncRNA modules in acutely regorafenib-treated sorafenib-resistant Huh7 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301663. [PMID: 38603701 PMCID: PMC11008899 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301663] [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: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The multikinase inhibitor sorafenib is the standard first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but many patients become sorafenib-resistant (SR). This study investigated the efficacy of another kinase inhibitor, regorafenib (Rego), as a second-line treatment. We produced SR HCC cells, wherein the PI3K-Akt, TNF, cAMP, and TGF-beta signaling pathways were affected. Acute Rego treatment of these cells reversed the expression of genes involved in TGF-beta signaling but further increased the expression of genes involved in PI3K-Akt signaling. Additionally, Rego reversed the expression of genes involved in nucleosome assembly and epigenetic gene expression. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed four differentially expressed long non-coding RNA (DElncRNA) modules that were associated with the effectiveness of Rego on SR cells. Eleven putative DElncRNAs with distinct expression patterns were identified. We associated each module with DEmRNAs of the same pattern, thus obtaining DElncRNA/DEmRNA co-expression modules. We discuss the potential significance of each module. These findings provide insights and resources for further investigation into the potential mechanisms underlying the response of SR HCC cells to Rego.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Baek
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjae Kim
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae In Choi
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Bert Binas
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Junho Cha
- Department of Applied Artificial Intelligence, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung Hwa Jung
- Department of Biopharmaceutical System, Gwangmyeong Convergence Technology Campus of Korea Polytechnic II, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungkyoung Choi
- Department of Applied Artificial Intelligence, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
- Department of Mathematical Data Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Gyu Chai
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
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Yang H, Chen D, Wu Y, Zhou H, Diao W, Liu G, Li Q. A feedback loop of PPP and PI3K/AKT signal pathway drives regorafenib-resistance in HCC. Cancer Metab 2023; 11:27. [PMID: 38111012 PMCID: PMC10726576 DOI: 10.1186/s40170-023-00311-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a principal type of liver cancer with high incidence and mortality rates. Regorafenib is a novel oral multikinase inhibitor for second-line therapy for advanced HCC. However, resistance to regorafenib is gradually becoming a dilemma for HCC and the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to reveal the metabolic profiles of regorafenib-resistant cells and the key role and mechanism of the most relevant metabolic pathway in regorafenib resistance. METHODS Metabolomics was performed to detect the metabolic alteration between drug-sensitive and regorafenib-resistant cells. Colony formation assay, CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry were applied to observe cell colony formation, cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. The protein and mRNA levels were detected by western blot and RT-qPCR. Cell lines of Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase(G6PD) knockdown in regorafenib-resistant cells or G6PD overexpression in HCC cell lines were stably established by lentivirus infection technique. G6PD activity, NADPH level, NADPH/NADP+ ratio, the ratio of ROS positive cells, GSH level, and GSH/GSSG ratio were detected to evaluate the anti-oxidative stress ability of cells. Phosphorylation levels of NADK were evaluated by immunoprecipitation. RESULTS Metabonomics analysis revealed that pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) was the most relevant metabolic pathway in regorafenib resistance in HCC. Compared with drug-sensitive cells, G6PD enzyme activity, NADPH level and NADPH/NADP+ ratio were increased in regorafenib-resistant cells, but the ratio of ROS positive cells and the apoptosis rate under the conditions of oxidative stress were decreased. Furthermore, G6PD suppression using shRNA or an inhibitor, sensitized regorafenib-resistant cells to regorafenib. In contrast, G6PD overexpression blunted the effects of regorafenib to drug-sensitive cells. Mechanistically, G6PD, the rate-limiting enzyme of PPP, regulated the PI3K/AKT activation. Furthermore, PI3K/AKT inhibition decreased G6PD protein expression, G6PD enzymatic activity and the capacity of PPP to anti-oxidative stress possibly by inhibited the expression and phosphorylation of NADK. CONCLUSION Taken together, a feedback loop of PPP and PI3K/AKT signal pathway drives regorafenib-resistance in HCC and targeting the feedback loop could be a promising approach to overcome drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihua Yang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dahong Chen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yafei Wu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Heming Zhou
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjing Diao
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Gaolin Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qin Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Breitenecker K, Hedrich V, Pupp F, Chen D, Řezníčková E, Ortmayr G, Huber H, Weber G, Balcar L, Pinter M, Mikulits W. Synergism of the receptor tyrosine kinase Axl with ErbB receptors mediates resistance to regorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1238883. [PMID: 37746265 PMCID: PMC10514905 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1238883] [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: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients at advanced stages receive immunotherapy or treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as Sorafenib (Sora) or Lenvatinib in frontline as well as Regorafenib (Rego) or Cabozantinib in second-line. A major hindrance of TKI therapies is the development of resistance, which renders drug treatment futile and results in HCC progression. Methods In this study, we addressed the impact of the receptor tyrosine kinase Axl binding to its ligand Gas6 in acquiring refractoriness to TKIs. The initial responses of Axl-positive and Axl-negative cell lines to different TKIs were assessed. Upon inducing resistance, RNA-Seq, gain- and loss-of-function studies were applied to understand and intervene with the molecular basis of refractoriness. Secretome analysis was performed to identify potential biomarkers of resistance. Results We show that HCC cells exhibiting a mesenchymal-like phenotype were less sensitive to drug treatment, linking TKI resistance to changes in epithelial plasticity. Gas6/Axl expression and activation were upregulated in Rego-resistant HCC cells together with the induction of ErbB receptors, whereas HCC cells lacking Axl failed to stimulate ErbBs. Treatment of Rego-insensitive HCC cells with the pan-ErbB family inhibitor Afatinib rather than with Erlotinib blocking ErbB1 reduced cell viability and clonogenicity. Genetic intervention with ErbB2-4 but not ErbB1 confirmed their crucial involvement in refractoriness to Rego. Furthermore, Rego-resistant HCC cells secreted basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) depending on Axl expression. HCC patients treated with Sora in first-line and with Rego in second-line displayed elevated serum levels of bFGF, emphasizing bFGF as a predictive biomarker of TKI treatment. Discussion Together, these data suggest that the inhibition of ErbBs is synthetic lethal with Rego in Axl-expressing HCC cells, showing a novel vulnerability of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Breitenecker
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Viola Hedrich
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Franziska Pupp
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Doris Chen
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Perutz Labs Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Řezníčková
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Gregor Ortmayr
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Heidemarie Huber
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard Weber
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lorenz Balcar
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Pinter
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Mikulits
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Dong H, Zeng L, Chen W, Zhang Q, Wang F, Wu Y, Cui B, Qi J, Zhang X, Liu C, Deng J, Yu Y, Schmitt CA, Du J. N6-methyladenine-mediated aberrant activation of the lncRNA SOX2OT-GLI1 loop promotes non-small-cell lung cancer stemness. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:149. [PMID: 37149646 PMCID: PMC10164154 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01442-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the advent of precision medicine and immunotherapy, mortality due to lung cancer remains high. The sonic hedgehog (SHH) cascade and its key terminal factor, glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (GLI1), play a pivotal role in the stemness and drug resistance of lung cancer. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanism of non-canonical aberrant GLI1 upregulation. The SHH cascade was upregulated in stem spheres and chemo-resistant lung cancer cells and was accountable for drug resistance against multiple chemotherapy regimens. GLI1 and the long non-coding RNA SOX2OT were positively regulated, and the GLI1-SOX2OT loop mediated the proliferation of parental and stem-like lung cancer cells. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that SOX2OT facilitated METTL3/14/IGF2BP2-mediated m6A modification and stabilization of the GLI1 mRNA. Additionally, SOX2OT upregulated METTL3/14/IGF2BP2 by sponging miR-186-5p. Functional analysis corroborated that GLI1 acted as a downstream target of METTL3/14/IGF2BP2, and GLI1 silencing could block the oncogenicity of lung cancer stem-like cells. Pharmacological inhibition of the loop remarkably inhibited the oncogenesis of lung cancer cells in vivo. Compared with paired adjacent normal tissues, lung cancer specimens exhibited consistently upregulated GLI1/SOX2OT/METTL3/14/IGF2BP2. The m6A-modified GLI1-SOX2OT loop may serve as a potential therapeutic target and prognostic predictor for lung cancer therapy and diagnosis in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongliang Dong
- Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 256600, Binzhou, P. R. China
| | - Lili Zeng
- Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 256600, Binzhou, P. R. China
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 256600, Binzhou, P. R. China
| | - Weiwei Chen
- Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 256600, Binzhou, P. R. China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 256600, Binzhou, P. R. China
| | - Fei Wang
- Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 256600, Binzhou, P. R. China
| | - Yan Wu
- Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 256600, Binzhou, P. R. China
- Department of Oncology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 256600, Binzhou, P. R. China
| | - Bingjie Cui
- Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 256600, Binzhou, P. R. China
| | - Jingjing Qi
- Johannes Kepler University, Altenbergerstraße 69, 4040, Linz, Austria
| | - Xin Zhang
- Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 256600, Binzhou, P. R. China
- Department of Hematology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 256600, Binzhou, P. R. China
| | - Cuilan Liu
- Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 256600, Binzhou, P. R. China
| | - Jiong Deng
- Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 256600, Binzhou, P. R. China
| | - Yong Yu
- Johannes Kepler University, Altenbergerstraße 69, 4040, Linz, Austria
| | - Clemens A Schmitt
- Johannes Kepler University, Altenbergerstraße 69, 4040, Linz, Austria.
- Kepler University Hospital, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Krankenhausstraße 9, 4020, Linz, Austria.
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medical Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, and Molekulares Krebsforschungszentrum - MKFZ, Campus Virchow Klinikum, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert-Rössle-Straße, 1013125, Berlin, Germany.
- Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung (German Cancer Consortium), Partner site Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jing Du
- Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 256600, Binzhou, P. R. China.
- Department of Oncology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, 256600, Binzhou, P. R. China.
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Erratum: Drug resistance mechanism of kinase inhibitors in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1188062. [PMID: 37077813 PMCID: PMC10107049 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1188062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1097277.].
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10
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Caligiuri I, Vincenzo C, Asano T, Kumar V, Rizzolio F. The metabolic crosstalk between PIN1 and the tumour microenvironment. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 91:143-157. [PMID: 36871635 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.03.001] [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: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1 (PIN1) is a member of a family of peptidyl-prolyl isomerases that specifically recognizes and binds phosphoproteins, catalyzing the rapid cis-trans isomerization of phosphorylated serine/threonine-proline motifs, which leads to changes in the structures and activities of the targeted proteins. Through this complex mechanism, PIN1 regulates many hallmarks of cancer including cell autonomous metabolism and the crosstalk with the cellular microenvironment. Many studies showed that PIN1 is largely overexpressed in cancer turning on a set of oncogenes and abrogating the function of tumor suppressor genes. Among these targets, recent evidence demonstrated that PIN1 is involved in lipid and glucose metabolism and accordingly, in the Warburg effect, a characteristic of tumor cells. As an orchestra master, PIN1 finely tunes the signaling pathways allowing cancer cells to adapt and take advantage from a poorly organized tumor microenvironment. In this review, we highlight the trilogy among PIN1, the tumor microenvironment and the metabolic program rewiring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Caligiuri
- Pathology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy
| | - Canzonieri Vincenzo
- Pathology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Tomochiro Asano
- Department of Medical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - Vinit Kumar
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Amity University, Noida 201313, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Flavio Rizzolio
- Pathology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, 30123 Venezia, Italy.
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11
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Oura K, Morishita A, Hamaya S, Fujita K, Masaki T. The Roles of Epigenetic Regulation and the Tumor Microenvironment in the Mechanism of Resistance to Systemic Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032805. [PMID: 36769116 PMCID: PMC9917861 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major histologic type with a poor prognosis owing to the difficulty in early detection, the chemotherapy resistance, and the high recurrence rate of the disease. Despite recent advancements in HCC prevention and diagnosis, over 50% of patients are diagnosed at Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stage B or C. Systemic therapies are recommended for unresectable HCC (uHCC) with major vascular invasion, extrahepatic metastases, or intrahepatic lesions that have a limited response to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, but the treatment outcome tends to be unsatisfactory due to acquired drug resistance. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the resistance to systemic therapies and the appropriate response strategies to solve this issue will contribute to improved outcomes in the multidisciplinary treatment of uHCC. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the mechanisms of resistance to drugs such as sorafenib, regorafenib, and lenvatinib in molecularly targeted therapy, with a focus on epigenetic regulation and the tumor microenvironment and outline the approaches to improve the therapeutic outcome for patients with advanced HCC.
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12
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Jiang L, Li L, Liu Y, Lu L, Zhan M, Yuan S, Liu Y. Drug resistance mechanism of kinase inhibitors in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1097277. [PMID: 36891274 PMCID: PMC9987615 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1097277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer, and it usually occurs following chronic liver disease. Although some progress has been made in the treatment of HCC, the prognosis of patients with advanced HCC is not optimistic, mainly because of the inevitable development of drug resistance. Therefore, multi-target kinase inhibitors for the treatment of HCC, such as sorafenib, lenvatinib, cabozantinib, and regorafenib, produce small clinical benefits for patients with HCC. It is necessary to study the mechanism of kinase inhibitor resistance and explore possible solutions to overcome this resistance to improve clinical benefits. In this study, we reviewed the mechanisms of resistance to multi-target kinase inhibitors in HCC and discussed strategies that can be used to improve treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Jiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Luan Li
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yongzhuang Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ligong Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Meixiao Zhan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Shengtao Yuan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yanyan Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
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13
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Liu K, Wu J, Xu Y, Li D, Huang S, Mao Y. Efficacy and Safety of Regorafenib with or without PD-1 Inhibitors as Second-Line Therapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Real-World Clinical Practice. Onco Targets Ther 2022; 15:1079-1094. [PMID: 36212725 PMCID: PMC9534176 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s383685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Regorafenib is the first oral targeted drug as a second-line agent in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who progressed on sorafenib treatment. Recently, several studies demonstrated that the combination of regorafenib and PD-1 inhibitors showed a synergistic effect. Our study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of regorafenib with PD-1 inhibitors (RP) and regorafenib alone (R) as second-line treatment for advanced HCC. Methods From October 2018 to January 2022, our retrospective study evaluated advanced HCC patients who received regorafenib with PD-1 inhibitors or regorafenib alone as a second-line treatment at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, China. The efficacy and safety were compared between RP and R groups. Results In total, 78 patients were enrolled in our study and were separated into two groups – RP group (48) and R group (30) – according to the criteria. The ORR of RP group and R group was 18.8% and 10%, respectively, and the DCR was 66.7% and 43.3%, respectively. The RP group had a longer mPFS (5.9 months vs 3.0 months, P<0.001) and mOS (12.9 months vs 10.3 months, P=0.010) than the R group. Regorafenib monotherapy is an independent prognostic factor for OS and PFS. In OS, subgroup analysis showed that patients with AFP ≥ 400ng/mL, BCLC C stage and extrahepatic metastasis may benefit from RP, while in PFS, subgroup analysis showed that patients with BCLC C stage, AFP ≥ 400ng/mL, extrahepatic metastasis, ALBI ≥-2.60 and first-line treatment of sorafenib may benefit from RP. The incidence of grade 3/4 adverse reaction in the two groups was 22.9% and 23.3%, respectively, with no significant statistically difference (P=0.966). Conclusion In the second-line therapy of advanced HCC, compared to regorafenib alone, the combination of regorafenib and PD-1 inhibitors showed promising efficacy and tolerable drug toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kan Liu
- Department of Digestive Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Cancer Research, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianbing Wu
- Department of Digestive Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Cancer Research, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yongkang Xu
- Department of Digestive Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Cancer Research, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Digestive Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Cancer Research, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shenlang Huang
- Department of Digestive Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Cancer Research, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ye Mao
- Department of Digestive Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Cancer Research, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Ye Mao, Email
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14
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Targeting prolyl isomerase Pin1 as a promising strategy to overcome resistance to cancer therapies. Pharmacol Res 2022; 184:106456. [PMID: 36116709 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The development of tumor therapeutic resistance is one of the important reasons for the failure of antitumor therapy. Starting with multiple targets and multiple signaling pathways is helpful in understanding the mechanism of tumor resistance. The overexpression of prolyl isomerase Pin1 is highly correlated with the malignancy of cancer, since Pin1 controls many oncogenes and tumor suppressors, as well as a variety of cancer-driving signaling pathways. Strikingly, numerous studies have shown that Pin1 is directly involved in therapeutic resistance. In this review, we mainly summarize the functions and mechanisms of Pin1 in therapeutic resistance of multifarious cancers, such as breast, liver, and pancreatic carcinomas. Furtherly, from the perspective of Pin1-driven cancer signaling pathways including Raf/MEK/ERK, PI3K/Akt, Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB, as well as Pin1 inhibitors containing juglone, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO), it is better to demonstrate the important potential role and mechanism of Pin1 in resistance and sensitization to cancer therapies. It will provide new therapeutic approaches for clinical reversal and prevention of tumor resistance by employing synergistic administration of Pin1 inhibitors and chemotherapeutics, implementing combination therapy of Pin1-related cancer signaling pathway inhibitors and Pin1 inhibitors, and exploiting novel Pin1-specific inhibitors.
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15
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Wang Z, Zhu Q, Li X, Ren X, Li J, Zhang Y, Zeng S, Xu L, Dong X, Zhai B. TOP2A inhibition reverses drug resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma to regorafenib. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:4343-4360. [PMID: 36225636 PMCID: PMC9548008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death attributed to high frequency of metastasis and multiple drug resistance. We aim to examine the underlying molecular mechanism and to seek potential strategies to reverse primary/acquired resistance to regorafenib. Topoisomerase IIα (TOP2A) is critical for tumorigenesis and carcinogenesis. Clinically, high-TOP2A expression was correlated to shorter overall survival (OS) of patients, but its role in drug resistance of HCC remains unknown. Here, we screened the expression profiling of TOP2A in HCC and identified TOP2A as an upregulated gene involved in the resistance to regorafenib. Sustained exposure of HCC cells to regorafenib could upregulate the expression of TOP2A. Silencing TOP2A enhanced HCC cells' sensitivity to regorafenib. TOP2A inhibition by doxorubicin or epirubicin synergized with regorafenib to suppress the growth of sorafenib-resistant HCC tumors that possessed the sorafenib-resistant features both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, targeting TOP2A may be a promising therapeutic strategy to alleviate resistance to regorafenib and thus improving the efficacy of HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongwen Wang
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Qiankun Zhu
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xiaodong Li
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xiaohang Ren
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Jingtao Li
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Shicong Zeng
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Lishan Xu
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xiaoqun Dong
- The Liver Research Center of Rhode Island Hospital/Lifespan; Department of Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown UniversityProvidence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Bo Zhai
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China
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Vishnoi K, Ke R, Viswakarma N, Srivastava P, Kumar S, Das S, Singh SK, Principe DR, Rana A, Rana B. Ets1 mediates sorafenib resistance by regulating mitochondrial ROS pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:581. [PMID: 35789155 PMCID: PMC9253325 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05022-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are on a rise in the Western countries including US, attributed mostly to late detection. Sorafenib has been the first-line FDA-approved drug for advanced unresectable HCC for almost a decade, but with limited efficacy due to the development of resistance. More recently, several other multi-kinase inhibitors (lenvatinib, cabozantinib, regorafenib), human monoclonal antibody (ramucirumab), and immune checkpoint inhibitors (nivolumab, pembrolizumab) have been approved as systemic therapies. Despite this, the median survival of patients is not significantly increased. Understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) that govern HCC resistance is critically needed to increase efficacy of current drugs and to develop more efficacious ones in the future. Our studies with sorafenib-resistant (soraR) HCC cells using transcription factor RT2 Profiler PCR Arrays revealed an increase in E26 transformation-specific-1 (Ets-1) transcription factor in all soraR cells. HCC TMA studies showed an increase in Ets-1 expression in advanced HCC compared to the normal livers. Overexpression or knocking down Ets-1 modulated sorafenib resistance-related epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, and cell survival. In addition, the soraR cells showed a significant reduction of mitochondrial damage and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) generation, which were antagonized by knocking down Ets-1 expression. More in-depth analysis identified GPX-2 as a downstream mediator of Ets-1-induced sorafenib resistance, which was down-regulated by Ets-1 knockdown while other antioxidant pathway genes were not affected. Interestingly, knocking down GPX2 expression significantly increased sorafenib sensitivity in the soraR cells. Our studies indicate the activation of a novel Ets-1-GPX2 signaling axis in soraR cells, targeting which might successfully antagonize resistance and increase efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanchan Vishnoi
- grid.185648.60000 0001 2175 0319Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Rong Ke
- grid.185648.60000 0001 2175 0319Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Navin Viswakarma
- grid.185648.60000 0001 2175 0319Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Piush Srivastava
- grid.185648.60000 0001 2175 0319Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Sandeep Kumar
- grid.185648.60000 0001 2175 0319Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Subhasis Das
- grid.185648.60000 0001 2175 0319Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA ,grid.185648.60000 0001 2175 0319University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Sunil Kumar Singh
- grid.185648.60000 0001 2175 0319Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Daniel R. Principe
- grid.185648.60000 0001 2175 0319Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Ajay Rana
- grid.185648.60000 0001 2175 0319Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA ,grid.185648.60000 0001 2175 0319University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA ,grid.280892.90000 0004 0419 4711Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Basabi Rana
- grid.185648.60000 0001 2175 0319Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA ,grid.185648.60000 0001 2175 0319University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA ,grid.280892.90000 0004 0419 4711Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
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Yang X, Qin C, Zhao B, Li T, Wang Y, Li Z, Li T, Wang W. Long Noncoding RNA and Circular RNA: Two Rising Stars in Regulating Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Pancreatic Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:910678. [PMID: 35719940 PMCID: PMC9204003 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.910678] [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: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly malignant tumor with especially poor prognosis. However, the molecular mechanisms of pancreatic oncogenesis and malignant progression are not fully elucidated. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process is important to drive pancreatic carcinogenesis. Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs(circRNAs) have been characterized to participate in EMT in PDAC, which can affect the migration and invasion of tumor cells by playing important roles in epigenetic processes, transcription, and post-transcriptional regulation. LncRNAs can act as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) to sequester target microRNAs(miRNAs), bind to the genes which localize physically nearby, and directly interact with EMT-related proteins. Currently known circRNAs mostly regulate the EMT process in PDAC also by acting as a miRNA sponge, directly affecting the protein degradation process. Therefore, exploring the functions of lncRNAs and circRNAs in EMT during pancreatic cancer might help pancreatic cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Yang
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng Qin
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Bangbo Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Tianhao Li
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanyang Wang
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zeru Li
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyu Li
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Weibin Wang
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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Hyperglycemia induces gastric carcinoma proliferation and migration via the Pin1/BRD4 pathway. Cell Death Dis 2022; 8:224. [PMID: 35461311 PMCID: PMC9035156 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-022-01030-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Diabetes is a potential risk factor for gastric cancer (GC). Pin1, a peptidyl–prolyl cis/trans isomerase, promotes GC cell proliferation and migration. The role and underlying mechanism of the Pin1/BRD4 axis in hyperglycemia-induced proliferation and migration of GC cells were analyzed in vivo and in vitro. Proliferation and migration of GC cells were measured; Pin1 and BRD4 expression of the cell cycle were determined. Pin1 and BRD4 were downregulated by transfecting Pin1 shRNA lentivirus into GC cells and JQ1-intervention GC cells. Tumor formation and lung metastasis were assessed in vivo. Inhibition of Pin1 and BRD4 significantly suppressed high-glucose (HG)-induced GC cell proliferation and migration. HG enhanced G1/S cell-cycle transition, associated with increased Pin1 and BRD4 expression. Silencing Pin1 significantly downregulated the expression of BRD4 and NAP1L1 and upregulated that of P21 in GC cells. In vivo studies indicated that hyperglycemia promotes tumor growth and lung metastasis by inducing Pin1 and BRD4 expression. Thus, Pin1/BRD4 plays an important role in hyperglycemia-promoted tumor growth. The significance of these findings toward improved prognosis of diabetic patients with GC cannot be underestimated.
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Tian Y, Lei Y, Fu Y, Sun H, Wang J, Xia F. Molecular Mechanisms of Resistance to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Associated with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2022; 22:454-462. [PMID: 35362393 DOI: 10.2174/1568009622666220330151725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death, which can be attributed to the high incidence and first diagnosis at an advanced stage. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), a class of small-molecule targeting drugs, are primarily used for the clinical treatment of HCC after chemotherapy because they show significant clinical efficacy and low incidence of clinical adverse reactions. However, resistance to sorafenib and other TKIs, which can be used to treat advanced HCC, poses a significant challenge. Recent mechanistic studies have shown that epithelial-mesenchymal transition or transformation (EMT), ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters, hypoxia, autophagy, and angiogenesis are involved in apoptosis, angiogenesis, HCC cell proliferation, and TKI resistance in patients with HCC. Exploring and overcoming such resistance mechanisms is essential to extend the therapeutic benefits of TKIs to patients with TKI-resistant HCC. This review aims to summarize the potential resistance mechanism proposed in recent years and methods to reverse TKI resistance in the context of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichen Tian
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, the First Hospital Affiliated to AMU (Southwest Hospital), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yongrong Lei
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, the First Hospital Affiliated to AMU (Southwest Hospital), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yuna Fu
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Heng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Jianhua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Feng Xia
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, the First Hospital Affiliated to AMU (Southwest Hospital), Chongqing, 400038, China
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Modulation of the tumour microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma by tyrosine kinase inhibitors: from modulation to combination therapy targeting the microenvironment. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:73. [PMID: 35148789 PMCID: PMC8840552 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02435-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) remain the backbone of systematic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Sorafenib and lenvatinib are currently approved as first-line therapeutic drugs, and regorafenib and cabozantinib are applied as second-line treatments. With inhibition of angiogenesis as the main target, TKIs exert a profound effect on the tumour microenvironment (TME). The TME is a complex mixture of cellular and noncellular components surrounding the tumour mass, and is associated with tumour progression partially through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Specifically, the TME of HCC is characterized by profound extracellular matrix remodelling and an immunosuppressive microenvironment. The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of TME remodelling mediated by four Food and Drug Administration approved TKIs in HCC and thus summarize the rationale and potential targets for combination therapy. The modulatory effect of TKIs on the TME of HCC was reported to enhance the antitumour effect of TKIs through pyroptosis of macrophages and subsequent natural killer cell activation, T cell activation, regulatory T cell reduction in HCC. Meanwhile, TKIs also induce drug resistance via M2 polarization and accumulation, recruitment of tumour-associated neutrophils, and induction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In conclusion, the effect of TKIs on TME can enhance its antitumour effect, but might also partially contribute to the drug resistance that hinders the progression of TKIs as treatment for HCC. Additionally, the effect of TKIs also provides the rationale for combination therapy, including combining TKIs with immune checkpoint inhibitors, to facilitate increased drug efficacy of TKIs.
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21
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Resistomycin Induced Apoptosis and Cycle Arrest in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Activating p38 MAPK Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14100958. [PMID: 34681182 PMCID: PMC8537932 DOI: 10.3390/ph14100958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistomycin, a quinone-related natural antibiotic, has shown strong inhibitory activity against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vitro. Here, we investigated the role of p38 MAPK in the pro-apoptotic and G2/M phase arrest action of HCC HepG2 cells upon treatment with resistomycin in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that resistomycin dose- and time-dependently reduced the viability of HepG2 cells and also showed lower cytotoxicity in normal human kidney cells (293T) and hepatocyte cells (HL-7702). Resistomycin treatment induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cells, accompanied by changes in the expression of related proteins, including Bax, Cyclin B1, etc. Surprisingly, resistomycin-mediated apoptotic cell death and cell cycle arrest were impeded by SB203580 (an inhibitor of p38 catalytic activity), suggesting that p38 MAPK signaling may play an important role that impedes eventual cell death. In this connection, data in vitro and in vivo demonstrated that resistomycin increased the phosphorylation of p38 and MAPKAPK-2 in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, we provided evidence that p38 signaling is involved in resistomycin-induced p38 MAPK pathway effects in HCC, using computer docking models. Our study indicated that resistomycin activates the p38 MAPK signaling pathway by which the growth of HepG2 cells is suppressed for apoptosis and G2/M phase arrest in vitro and in vivo, and it is a promising therapeutic leading compound for drug development in HCC treatment.
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22
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Wang K, Yu G, Lin J, Wang Z, Lu Q, Gu C, Yang T, Liu S, Yang H. Berberine Sensitizes Human Hepatoma Cells to Regorafenib via Modulating Expression of Circular RNAs. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:632201. [PMID: 34220494 PMCID: PMC8248669 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.632201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Regorafenib resistance is a key limiting factor in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Increasing evidence has demonstrated that Berberine (BBR) can synergistically enhance the therapeutic effect of various chemotherapeutic agents. However, the contribution of BBR on regorafenib therapy remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the combined treatment effect of berberine and regorafenib in HCC. We found that BBR enhanced the cytotoxicity of regorafenib in HCC cells. Compared with regorafenib alone, the combined treatment of BBR and regorafenib significantly inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells and induced cellular apoptosis. Meanwhile, the combined treatment group with BBR (10mg/kg/day) and regorafenib (5mg/kg/day) had a dramatic inhibitory effect on the growth of HCC xenograft tumors in nude mice. The increased apoptosis of xenograft tumors was seen in the combined treatment group. Moreover, a comprehensive circular RNA sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed circRNAs in HCC cells after exposure to 100µM BBR and 5µM regorafenib. The volcano plot and scatter plot analyses revealed that there were 58 up-regulated and 19 down-regulated differentially expressed circRNAs between the combination treatment and control groups. Among them, the expression of hsa_circ_0032029 and hsa_circ_0008928 were up-regulated in HCC cells after treatment with 100µM BBR and 5µM regorafenib. Taken together, this study demonstrated that BBR enhanced the anti-HCC effect of regorafenib both in vitro and in vivo. The synergistic anti-tumor effect of BBR and regorafenib might be related to the up-regulation of hsa_circ_0032029 and hsa_circ_0008928 in HCC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunyuan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ganxiang Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaen Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhilei Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qianting Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chengxin Gu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shiming Liu
- Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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23
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Yang T, Huo J, Xu R, Zhang Y. Synergistic effect of toosendanin and regorafenib against cell proliferation and migration by regulating WWOX signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. Phytother Res 2021; 35:4567-4578. [PMID: 34058790 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Regorafenib (RGF), a second-line multi-kinase inhibitor in the treatment of HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) after sorafenib failure, exposes to the risk of drug resistance and subsequent progression of HCC patients. Toosendanin (TSN), a triterpenoid has presented excellent inhibition on several tumors. The purpose of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effect of the combination of TSN and RGF on HCC cells. We identified that TSN and RGF combination (TRC) synergistically inhibited the proliferation and migration of MHCC-97L cells. The upregulation of WWOX (WW-domain containing oxidoreductase) played a vital role in the HCC cell growth treated with TRC. TRC suppressed the phosphorylation of Stat3 and expression of DVL2, negatively regulated the activity of β-catenin by promoting the phosphorylation of GSK3β. In addition, the intranuclear proteins, including MMP2, MMP9, and C-MYC were significantly inhibited by TRC. The in vivo xenograft models confirmed that TRC effectually prevented the tumor growth through upregulating WWOX. Therefore, the treatment of TRC may be a potential solution of RGF resistance and promising therapeutic method in malignant HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianfeng Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.,State Key Laboratory of Shaanxi for Natural Medicines Research and Engineering, Xi'an, China
| | - Jian Huo
- School of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.,State Key Laboratory of Shaanxi for Natural Medicines Research and Engineering, Xi'an, China
| | - Rui Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.,State Key Laboratory of Shaanxi for Natural Medicines Research and Engineering, Xi'an, China
| | - Yanmin Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.,State Key Laboratory of Shaanxi for Natural Medicines Research and Engineering, Xi'an, China
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24
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Targeting Pin1 for Modulation of Cell Motility and Cancer Therapy. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9040359. [PMID: 33807199 PMCID: PMC8065645 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9040359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1 (Pin1) specifically binds and isomerizes the phosphorylated serine/threonine-proline (pSer/Thr-Pro) motif, which leads to changes in protein conformation and function. Pin1 is widely overexpressed in cancers and plays an important role in tumorigenesis. Mounting evidence has revealed that targeting Pin1 is a potential therapeutic approach for various cancers by inhibiting cell proliferation, reducing metastasis, and maintaining genome stability. In this review, we summarize the underlying mechanisms of Pin1-mediated upregulation of oncogenes and downregulation of tumor suppressors in cancer development. Furthermore, we also discuss the multiple roles of Pin1 in cancer hallmarks and examine Pin1 as a desirable pharmaceutical target for cancer therapy. We also summarize the recent progress of Pin1-targeted small-molecule compounds for anticancer activity.
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25
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Wu TM, Liu JB, Liu Y, Shi Y, Li W, Wang GR, Ma YS, Fu D. Power and Promise of Next-Generation Sequencing in Liquid Biopsies and Cancer Control. Cancer Control 2021; 27:1073274820934805. [PMID: 32806937 PMCID: PMC7791471 DOI: 10.1177/1073274820934805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional methods of cancer treatment are usually based on the morphological
and histological diagnosis of tumors, and they are not optimized according to
the specific situation. Precision medicine adjusts the existing treatment
regimen based on the patient’s genomic information to make it most suitable for
patients. Detection of genetic mutations in tumors is the basis of precise
cancer medicine. Through the analysis of genetic mutations in patients with
cancer, we can tailor the treatment plan for each patient with cancer to
maximize the curative effect, minimize damage to healthy tissues, and optimize
resources. In recent years, next-generation sequencing technology has developed
rapidly and has become the core technology of precise targeted therapy and
immunotherapy for cancer. From early cancer screening to treatment guidance for
patients with advanced cancer, liquid biopsy is increasingly used in cancer
management. This is as a result of the development of better noninvasive,
repeatable, sensitive, and accurate tools used in early screening, diagnosis,
evaluation, and monitoring of patients. Cell-free DNA, which is a new
noninvasive molecular pathological detection method, often carries
tumor-specific gene changes. It plays an important role in optimizing treatment
and evaluating the efficacy of different treatment options in clinical trials,
and it has broad clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Miao Wu
- Department of Radiology, 12485The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ji-Bin Liu
- Cancer Institute, 377323Nantong Tumor Hospital, Nantong, China
| | - Yu Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Rice and By-product Deep Processing, College of Food Science and Engineering, 12571Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Chaha, China
| | - Yi Shi
- National Engineering Laboratory for Rice and By-product Deep Processing, College of Food Science and Engineering, 12571Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Chaha, China
| | - Wen Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Rice and By-product Deep Processing, College of Food Science and Engineering, 12571Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Chaha, China
| | - Gao-Ren Wang
- Cancer Institute, 377323Nantong Tumor Hospital, Nantong, China
| | - Yu-Shui Ma
- Cancer Institute, 377323Nantong Tumor Hospital, Nantong, China.,Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, 12476Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Da Fu
- Department of Radiology, 12485The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, 12476Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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26
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Shen P, Yang T, Chen Q, Yuan H, Wu P, Cai B, Meng L, Huang X, Liu J, Zhang Y, Hu W, Miao Y, Lu Z, Jiang K. CircNEIL3 regulatory loop promotes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression via miRNA sponging and A-to-I RNA-editing. Mol Cancer 2021; 20:51. [PMID: 33750389 PMCID: PMC7941935 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-021-01333-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A growing number of studies have focused on investigating circRNAs as crucial regulators in the progression of multiple cancer types. Nevertheless, the biological effects and underlying mechanisms of circRNAs in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remain unclear. Methods Differentially expressed circRNAs between cancerous tissue and adjacent normal tissues were identified by RNA sequencing in PDAC. Subsequently, in vitro and in vivo functional experiments were performed to investigate the functional roles of circNEIL3 in PDAC tumour growth and metastasis. Furthermore, RNA pull-down, dual-luciferase reporter assays, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and Sanger sequencing assays were performed to examine the circular interaction among circNEIL3, miR-432-5p and adenosine deaminases acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1). Results CircNEIL3 was upregulated in PDAC and promoted the progression of PDAC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, circNEIL3 was shown to regulate the expression of ADAR1 by sponging miR-432-5p to induce RNA editing of glioma-associated oncogene 1 (GLI1), ultimately influencing cell cycle progression and promoting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in PDAC cells. Moreover, we discovered that the circNEIL3/miR-432-5p/ADAR1 axis was correlated with the PDAC clinical stage and overall survival of PDAC patients, while ADAR1 may reduce the biogenesis of circNEIL3. Conclusions Our findings reveal that circNEIL3 facilitates the proliferation and metastasis of PDAC through the circNEIL3/miR-432-5p/ADAR1/GLI1/cell cycle and EMT axis and that its expression is regulated by ADAR1 through a negative feedback loop. Therefore, circNEIL3 may serve as a prognostic marker and a therapeutic target for PDAC. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12943-021-01333-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Shen
- Pancreas Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Pancreas Institute, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Taoyue Yang
- Pancreas Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Pancreas Institute, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qun Chen
- Pancreas Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Pancreas Institute, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Yuan
- Pancreas Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Pancreas Institute, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Pengfei Wu
- Pancreas Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Pancreas Institute, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Baobao Cai
- Pancreas Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Pancreas Institute, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lingdong Meng
- Pancreas Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Pancreas Institute, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xumin Huang
- Pancreas Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Pancreas Institute, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiaye Liu
- Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yihan Zhang
- Pancreas Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Pancreas Institute, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Weikang Hu
- Pancreas Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Pancreas Institute, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yi Miao
- Pancreas Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Pancreas Institute, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zipeng Lu
- Pancreas Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. .,Pancreas Institute, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. .,Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Kuirong Jiang
- Pancreas Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. .,Pancreas Institute, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. .,Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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27
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Zheng N, Zhang S, Wu W, Zhang N, Wang J. Regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic targeting of vasculogenic mimicry in hepatocellular carcinoma. Pharmacol Res 2021; 166:105507. [PMID: 33610718 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical hyper-vascular solid tumor; aberrantly rich in tumor vascular network contributes to its malignancy. Conventional anti-angiogenic therapies seem promising but transitory and incomplete efficacy on HCC. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is one of functional microcirculation patterns independent of endothelial vessels which describes the plasticity of highly aggressive tumor cells to form vasculogenic-like networks providing sufficient blood supply for tumor growth and metastasis. As a pivotal alternative mechanism for tumor vascularization when tumor cells undergo lack of oxygen and nutrients, VM has an association with the malignant phenotype and poor clinical outcome for HCC, and may challenge the classic anti-angiogenic treatment of HCC. Current studies have contributed numerous findings illustrating the underlying molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways supporting VM in HCC. In this review, we summarize the correlation between epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cancer stem cells (CSCs) and VM, the role of hypoxia and extracellular matrix remodeling in VM, the involvement of adjacent non-cancerous cells, cytokines and growth factors in VM, as well as the regulatory influence of non-coding RNAs on VM in HCC. Moreover, we discuss the clinical significance of VM in practice and the potential therapeutic strategies targeting VM for HCC. A better understanding of the mechanism underlying VM formation in HCC may optimize anti-angiogenic treatment modalities for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Pharmacology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
| | - Shaoqin Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
| | - Wenda Wu
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
| | - Jichuang Wang
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China.
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28
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Zhang N, Zhang S, Wu W, Lu W, Jiang M, Zheng N, Huang J, Wang L, Liu H, Zheng M, Wang J. Regorafenib inhibits migration, invasion, and vasculogenic mimicry of hepatocellular carcinoma via targeting ID1-mediated EMT. Mol Carcinog 2021; 60:151-163. [PMID: 33428809 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Regorafenib is approved for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following sorafenib. However, the effect of regorafenib on HCC metastasis and its mechanism are poorly understood. Here, our data showed that regorafenib significantly restrained the migration, invasion and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) of HCC cells, and downregulated the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)/VM-related molecules. Using RNA-seq and cellular thermal shift assays, we found that inhibitor of differentiation 1 (ID1) was a key target of regorafenib. In HCC tissues, the protein expression of ID1 was positively correlated with EMT and VM formation (CD34- /PAS+ ). Functionally, ID1 knockdown inhibited HCC cell migration, invasion, metastasis, and VM formation in vitro and in vivo, with upregulation of E-cadherin and downregulation of Snail and VE-cadherin. Moreover, Snail overexpression promoted the migration, invasion, and VM formation of ID1 knockdown cells. Snail knockdown reduced the migration, invasion, and VM formation of ID1 overexpression cells. Finally, regorafenib suppressed VM formation and decreased the expression of ID1, VE-cadherin and Snail in HCC PDX model. In conclusion, we manifested that regorafenib distinctly inhibited EMT in HCC cells via targeting ID1, leading to the suppression of cell migration, invasion and VM formation. These findings suggest that regorafenib may be developed as a suitable therapeutic agent for HCC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fujian, China
| | - Shaoqin Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fujian, China
| | - Wenda Wu
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fujian, China
| | - Wenxian Lu
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fujian, China
| | - Mingting Jiang
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fujian, China
| | - Ning Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Pharmacology, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fujian, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fujian, China
| | - Long Wang
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fujian, China
| | - Hekun Liu
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fujian, China
| | - Min Zheng
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fujian, China
| | - Jichuang Wang
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fujian, China
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29
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Qiu J, Zhang S, Wang P, Wang H, Sha B, Peng H, Ju Z, Rao J, Lu L. BUB1B promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression via activation of the mTORC1 signaling pathway. Cancer Med 2020; 9:8159-8172. [PMID: 32977361 PMCID: PMC7643650 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.3411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Accumulating studies identified that BUB1 mitotic checkpoint serine/threonine kinase B (BUB1B) is integrally involved in the initiation and development of tumors. Nevertheless, the precise biological role and underlying mechanisms of BUB1B in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain indistinct. Method To figure out the role of BUB1B in HCC, we first assessed its expression using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases. We then verified BUB1B expression in HCC tissues, nontumor tissues, and HCC cell lines through western blotting, quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry. To explore the specific function of BUB1B in HCC in vivo and in vitro, we performed the flow cytometry, Cell Counting Kit‐8, 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine incorporation, colony formation, Transwell, wound‐healing, subcutaneous tumor growth, and metastasis assays. Additionally, we identified the BUB1B‐regulated pathways involved in HCC by using gene set enrichment analysis. Results Our data displayed that higher BUB1B expression was detected in HCC tissues and HCC cell lines. The overexpression of BUB1B was positively correlated with adverse clinicopathological characteristics. Survival analyses showed that lower recurrence‐free and overall survival rates were correlated with the overexpression of BUB1B in patients with HCC. Moreover, the malignancy of HCC was facilitated by BUB1B both in vivo and in vitro. Lastly, the results were confirmed by western blots, which showed that BUB1B upregulated mTORC1 signaling pathway in HCC. Meanwhile, the oncogenic effect of BUB1B will be impaired when the mTORC1 signaling pathway was inhibited by rapamycin. Conclusion We highlighted that BUB1B played an oncogenic role in HCC and was identified as a possible clinical prognostic factor and a potential novel therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiannan Qiu
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital ( Jiangsu Cancer Hospital), Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Hepatobiliary Center of The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Shaopeng Zhang
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital ( Jiangsu Cancer Hospital), Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Hepatobiliary Center of The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Peng Wang
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital ( Jiangsu Cancer Hospital), Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Hepatobiliary Center of The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Wang
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital ( Jiangsu Cancer Hospital), Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Hepatobiliary Center of The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Bowen Sha
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital ( Jiangsu Cancer Hospital), Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Hepatobiliary Center of The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Peng
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital ( Jiangsu Cancer Hospital), Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Hepatobiliary Center of The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Zheng Ju
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital ( Jiangsu Cancer Hospital), Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Hepatobiliary Center of The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianhua Rao
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital ( Jiangsu Cancer Hospital), Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Hepatobiliary Center of The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Ling Lu
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital ( Jiangsu Cancer Hospital), Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Hepatobiliary Center of The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University & Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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30
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Long noncoding RNA AC092171.4 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression by sponging microRNA-1271 and upregulating GRB2. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:14141-14156. [PMID: 32692718 PMCID: PMC7425487 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the mechanistic role of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) AC092171.4 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). AC092171.4 was significantly upregulated in HCC tumor tissues compared to normal liver tissues. HCC patients with high AC092171.4 expression showed poorer overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) than those with low AC092171.4 expression. In vitro cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness were all higher in AC092171.4-overexpressing HCC cells, but lower in AC092171.4-silenced HCC cells, than in controls. Balb/c nude mice injected with AC092171.4-silenced HCC cells had smaller xenograft tumors, which showed less growth and pulmonary metastasis than control tumors. Bioinformatics analyses and dual luciferase reporter assays confirmed that AC092171.4 binds directly to miR-1271, which targets the 3’UTR of GRB2 mRNA. AC092171.4 expression correlates negatively with miR1271 expression and correlates positively with GRB2 mRNA expression in HCC tissues from patients. HCC cells co-transfected with miR-1271 mimics and sh-AC092171.4 show less proliferation, migration, invasiveness, GRB2 protein, and epithelial to mesencyhmal transition (EMT) than sh-AC092171.4-transfected HCC cells. These findings demonstrate that AC092171.4 promotes growth and progression of HCC by sponging miR-1271 and upregulating GRB2. This makes AC092171.4 a potential prognostic indicator and therapeutic target for HCC patients.
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The mechanisms of sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma: theoretical basis and therapeutic aspects. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2020; 5:87. [PMID: 32532960 PMCID: PMC7292831 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-0187-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 452] [Impact Index Per Article: 113.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor capable of facilitating apoptosis, mitigating angiogenesis and suppressing tumor cell proliferation. In late-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), sorafenib is currently an effective first-line therapy. Unfortunately, the development of drug resistance to sorafenib is becoming increasingly common. This study aims to identify factors contributing to resistance and ways to mitigate resistance. Recent studies have shown that epigenetics, transport processes, regulated cell death, and the tumor microenvironment are involved in the development of sorafenib resistance in HCC and subsequent HCC progression. This study summarizes discoveries achieved recently in terms of the principles of sorafenib resistance and outlines approaches suitable for improving therapeutic outcomes for HCC patients.
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Wang J, Cai H, Liu Q, Xia Y, Xing L, Zuo Q, Zhang Y, Chen C, Xu K, Yin P, Chen T. Cinobufacini Inhibits Colon Cancer Invasion and Metastasis via Suppressing Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway and EMT. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2020; 48:703-718. [PMID: 32329642 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x20500354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cinobufacini is a well-known Chinese medicine extracted from Venenum Bufonis, also called Chan Su. It has been used clinically for various cancers, including colon cancer. However, the function of Cinobufacini on colon cancer invasion and metastasis, and its underlying molecular mechanism, is still not clear. In this study, we investigated the function and mechanism of Cinobufacini on colon cancer invasion and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo studies. Human colon cancer cells were cultured. CCK assay was used to detect the effect of Cinobufacini on colon cancer cells proliferation. The invasion and migration abilities were observed by transwell assays, and the expression of invasion and migration related genes MMP2, MMP9, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) relate genes were observed by Western blot assays. An orthotopic xenograft model in nude mice was established using colon cancer HCT116 cells, and the function of Cinobufacini on colon cancer invasion and metastasis were observed in vivo. We found Cinobufacini significantly inhibited colon cancer cell proliferation in a dose/time-dependent manner; the invasion and migration abilities of colon cancer were decreased after treated with Cinobufacini. The metastasis and EMT related genes MMP9, MMP2, N-cadherin and Snail were obviously down-regulated, while the expression of E-cadherin was up-regulated after treatment with Cinobufacini. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway related genes were observed using WB,and results show that the expression of β-catenin, wnt3a, c-myc, cyclin D1, and MMP7 were all down-regulated after being treated with cinobufacini, while the expression of APC was up-regulated. In vivo studies of the volume and weight of orthotopic xenograft tumors showed significantly shrinkage in the Cinobufacini group compared to the control group. The enterocoelia and liver metastasis tumors were significantly decreased, and the expression of MMP9, MMP2, and β-catenin were also down-regulated, while E-cadherin was up-regulated in vivo after the treatment with Cinobufacini. Our data proves that Cinobufacini can inhibit colon cancer invasion and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo; the mechanism is related by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and then inhibiting the EMT of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wang
- Department Surgery, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China
| | - Han Cai
- Department Surgery, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China
| | - Qiaoli Liu
- Clinical Laboratory, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China
| | - Yue Xia
- Department Surgery, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China
| | - LiKai Xing
- Department Surgery, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China
| | - Qingsong Zuo
- Department Surgery, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department Surgery, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China
| | - Cao Chen
- Department Surgery, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China
| | - Ke Xu
- Department Surgery, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China.,Interventional Cancer Institute of Chinese Integrative Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China
| | - Peihao Yin
- Department Surgery, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China.,Interventional Cancer Institute of Chinese Integrative Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China.,Shanghai Putuo Central School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Anhui 230022, P. R. China
| | - Teng Chen
- Department Surgery, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China.,Shanghai Putuo Central School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Anhui 230022, P. R. China
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33
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Yin W, Xu J, Li C, Dai X, Wu T, Wen J. Plantamajoside inhibits the proliferation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via modulating hypoxia-inducible factor-1α-dependent gene expression. Cell Biol Int 2020; 44:1616-1627. [PMID: 32239594 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
As a potential antitumor herbal medicine, plantamajoside (PMS) benefits the treatment of many human malignances. However, the role of PMS in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the related molecular mechanisms is still unknown. Here, we proved that the cell viabilities of HepG2 cells were gradually decreased with the increasing concentrations of CoCl2 and/or PMS via cell counting kit-8 assay. Meanwhile, 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and western blot assays were used to further confirm that PMS inhibited the CoCl2 -induced cell proliferation in HepG2 cells via suppressing the Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expressions. We also performed wound-healing and transwell assays and demonstrated that PMS inhibited CoCl2 -induced migration and invasion in HepG2 cells via suppressing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. In addition, the use of 3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'-furyl)-1-benzylindazole further proved that PMS inhibited the malignant biological behaviors of HepG2 cells under hypoxic condition by suppressing the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression. Besides, we further confirmed that PMS suppressed the growth and metastasis of implanted tumors in vivo. Given that PMS suppressed the proliferation and EMT induced by CoCl2 in HCC cells via downregulating HIF-1α signaling pathway, we provided evidence that PMS might be a novel anti-cancer drug for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhe Yin
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Chao Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiankui Dai
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Tong Wu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jifeng Wen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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Juengpanich S, Topatana W, Lu C, Staiculescu D, Li S, Cao J, Lin J, Hu J, Chen M, Chen J, Cai X. Role of cellular, molecular and tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma: Possible targets and future directions in the regorafenib era. Int J Cancer 2020; 147:1778-1792. [PMID: 32162677 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains as one of the major causes of cancer-related mortality, despite the recent development of new therapeutic options. Regorafenib, an oral multikinase inhibitor, is the first systemic therapy that has a survival benefit for patients with advanced HCC that have a poor response to sorafenib. Even though regorafenib has been approved by the FDA, the clinical trial for regorafenib treatment does not show significant improvement in overall survival. The impaired efficacy of regorafenib caused by various resistance mechanisms, including epithelial-mesenchymal transitions, inflammation, angiogenesis, hypoxia, oxidative stress, fibrosis and autophagy, still needs to be resolved. In this review, we provide insight on regorafenib microenvironmental, molecular and cellular mechanisms and interactions in HCC treatment. The aim of this review is to help physicians select patients that would obtain the maximal benefits from regorafenib in HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarun Juengpanich
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Win Topatana
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chen Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Daniel Staiculescu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shijie Li
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiasheng Cao
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiacheng Lin
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiahao Hu
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mingyu Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xiujun Cai
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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35
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Yu JH, Im CY, Min SH. Function of PIN1 in Cancer Development and Its Inhibitors as Cancer Therapeutics. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:120. [PMID: 32258027 PMCID: PMC7089927 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptidyl-prolyl isomerase (PIN1) specifically binds and isomerizes the phosphorylated serine/threonine-proline (pSer/Thr-Pro) motif, which results in the alteration of protein structure, function, and stability. The altered structure and function of these phosphorylated proteins regulated by PIN1 are closely related to cancer development. PIN1 is highly expressed in human cancers and promotes cancer as well as cancer stem cells by breaking the balance of oncogenes and tumor suppressors. In this review, we discuss the roles of PIN1 in cancer and PIN1-targeted small-molecule compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Hoon Yu
- New Drug Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (DGMIF), Daegu, South Korea
| | - Chun Young Im
- New Drug Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (DGMIF), Daegu, South Korea
| | - Sang-Hyun Min
- New Drug Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (DGMIF), Daegu, South Korea
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36
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Wei F, Wang M, Li Z, Wang Y, Zhou Y. Long Non-coding RNA MIR570MG Causes Regorafenib Resistance in Colon Cancer by Repressing miR-145/SMAD3 Signaling. Front Oncol 2020; 10:291. [PMID: 32195190 PMCID: PMC7066208 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of studies have shown that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) dysregulation plays a fundamental role in the development of various cancers, including colon cancer. Nonetheless, the mechanisms of lncRNA in regorafenib-resistance remain unclear. Our research revealed the lncRNA MIR570MG increased in regorafenib-resistant colon cancer cells compared to the regorafenib-sensitive cells. Furthermore, MIR570MG sponged miR-145, which declined in regorafenib-resistant colon cancer cell lines. More importantly, overexpression of miR-145 hampered cell proliferation and retrieved colon cancer regorafenib-sensitivity, contrary to the function of MIR570MG. Dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-145 bound to 3′-UTR of SMAD3, a transcriptional modulator activated by TGFβ, resulting in blockage of TGFβ /SMAD3-mediated cell growth and cycle progression. Besides, ectopic expression of miR-145 inhibitor in the parental cells endowed resistance to regorafenib. Inversely, knockdown of MIR570MG impoverished resistance against regorafenib. Additionally, overexpression of MIR570MG conquered the suppression of tumor growth by miR-146 and rehabilitated the resistance to regorafenib in HCT116R human colon cancer mouse models. In summary, our findings suggested that MIR570MG promoted regorafenib resistance via releasing SMAD3 from miR-145, leading to activation of SMAD3-mediated signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Wei
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Mofei Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yong Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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37
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Cheng CW, Tse E. Targeting PIN1 as a Therapeutic Approach for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 7:369. [PMID: 32010690 PMCID: PMC6974617 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
PIN1 is a peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase that specifically binds and catalyzes the cis/trans isomerization of the phosphorylated serine or threonine residue preceding a proline (pSer/Thr-Pro) motif of its interacting proteins. Through this phosphorylation-dependent prolyl isomerization, PIN1 is involved in the regulation of various important cellular processes including cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, apoptosis and microRNAs biogenesis; hence its dysregulation contributes to malignant transformation. PIN1 is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). By fine-tuning the functions of its interacting proteins such as cyclin D1, x-protein of hepatitis B virus and exportin 5, PIN1 plays an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis. Growing evidence supports that targeting PIN1 is a potential therapeutic approach for HCC by inhibiting cell proliferation, inducing cellular apoptosis, and restoring microRNAs biogenesis. Novel formulation of PIN1 inhibitors that increases in vivo bioavailability of PIN1 inhibitors represents a promising future direction for the therapeutic strategy of HCC treatment. In this review, the mechanisms underlying PIN1 over-expression in HCC are explored. Furthermore, we also discuss the roles of PIN1 in HCC tumorigenesis and metastasis through its interaction with various phosphoproteins. Finally, recent progress in the therapeutic options targeting PIN1 for HCC treatment is examined and summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Wai Cheng
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Eric Tse
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
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38
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Chuang HH, Hsu JF, Chang HL, Wang PH, Wei PJ, Wu DW, Huang MS, Hsiao M, Yang CJ. Pin1 coordinates HDAC6 upregulation with cell migration in lung cancer cells. Int J Med Sci 2020; 17:2635-2643. [PMID: 33162791 PMCID: PMC7645340 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.50097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) controls many cellular processes via its catalyzing deacetylation of downstream substrates or interacting with its partner proteins. Dysregulation of HDAC6 signaling links to many diseases. Our previous study has been reported peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase, and NIMA-interacting 1 (Pin1) involving in HDAC6-mediated cell motility. To gain insight into precisely coordination of HDAC6 and Pin1 in cell migration, shRNA-mediated gene silencing and ectopic expression were applied to manipulate protein expression level to evaluate relationship between HDAC6 and Pin1 expression. Quantitative RT-PCR and the cycloheximide (CHX) chase assay resulted in HDAC6 expression is correlated with Pin1 level in H1299 cells. It hints that the Pin1 increases HDAC6 expression through increased transcripts and posttranslational stabilization. Furthermore, wound healing assay and transwell invasion assay evidenced the contribution of Pin1 on cell motility in H1299 cells. Our data suggest that Pin1 acts as an important regulator to manage HDAC6 expression for cell motility in lung cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiang-Hao Chuang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Feng Hsu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hsu-Liang Chang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Hui Wang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Ju Wei
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Da-Wei Wu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Shyan Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, E-DA Cancer Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Michael Hsiao
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Jen Yang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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CRISPR Loss-of-Function Screen Identifies the Hippo Signaling Pathway as the Mediator of Regorafenib Efficacy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11091362. [PMID: 31540262 PMCID: PMC6770429 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11091362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Regorafenib is used for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its response does not last long, partly due to chemoresistance acquisition. We performed a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based loss-of-function genetic screen and aimed to discover molecules involved in regorafenib resistance in HCC. Xenograft tumors established from Cas9-expressing HCC cells with pooled CRISPR kinome libraries were treated with regorafenib or a vehicle. Sequencing analysis identified 31 genes, with the abundance of multiple guide RNAs increased in regorafenib-treated tumors compared to that in vehicle-treated tumors, including 2 paralogues, LATS2 and LATS1, core components of the Hippo signaling pathway. Notably, all eight designed guide RNAs targeting LATS2 increased in regorafenib-treated tumors, suggesting that LATS2 deletion confers regorafenib resistance in HCC cells. LATS2 knockdown significantly mitigated the cytotoxic and proapoptotic effects of regorafenib on HCC cells. LATS2 inhibition stabilized the Hippo signaling mediator YAP, leading to the upregulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-xL and the multidrug resistance transporter ABCB1. Among 12 hepatoma cell lines, the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of regorafenib were positively correlated with any of YAP, Bcl-xL and ABCB1 levels. The inhibition of YAP or Bcl-xL in regorafenib-insensitive HCC cells restored their susceptibility to regorafenib. In conclusion, our screen identified the Hippo signaling pathway as the mediator of regorafenib efficacy in HCC.
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40
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A positive feedback loop of β-catenin/CCR2 axis promotes regorafenib resistance in colorectal cancer. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:643. [PMID: 31501414 PMCID: PMC6733926 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1906-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Resistance to molecular targeted therapies is a significant challenge for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). Understanding the underlying mechanisms and developing effective strategies against regorafenib resistance are highly desired in the clinic. Here, we screened the expression of chemokine receptors and identified CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) as a top upregulated gene in regorafenib-resistant cells. CCR2 silencing alleviated drug tolerance in regorafenib-resistant cells, while overexpression of CCR2 enhanced CRC cells resistance to regorafenib. Moreover, CCR2-mediated regorafenib tolerance was demonstrated to be associated with AKT/GSK3β-regulated β-catenin stabilization. In turn, β-catenin modulation is sufficient to trigger the transcriptional activation of CCR2 expression. Clinically, high-CCR2 expression was correlated to shorter overall survival and disease-free survival of patients. A positive correlation between CCR2 and nuclear β-catenin expression was observed in a cohort of CRC tissues. Altogether, these findings suggest β-catenin and CCR2 are part of a positive-feedback loop, which sustains a high CCR2 expression level, conferring CRC cells resistance to regorafenib. Thus, targeting CCR2 may be a useful therapeutic strategy to alleviate regorafenib tolerance to increase the efficacy of CRC treatments.
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