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Guan L, Wu S, Zhu Q, He X, Li X, Song G, Zhang L, Yin X. GPC3-targeted CAR-M cells exhibit potent antitumor activity against hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochem Biophys Rep 2024; 39:101741. [PMID: 38881757 PMCID: PMC11176667 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2024.101741] [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: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified macrophages are a promising treatment for solid tumor. So far the potential effects of CAR-M cell therapy have rarely been investigated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a biomarker for a variety of malignancies, including liver cancer, which is not expressed in most adult tissues. Thus, it is an ideal target for the treatment of HCC. In this study, we engineered mouse macrophage cells with CAR targeting GPC3 and explored its therapeutic potential in HCC. First, we generated a chimeric adenoviral vector (Ad5f35) delivering an anti-GPC3 CAR, Ad5f35-anti-GPC3-CAR, which using the CAR construct containing the scFv targeting GPC3 and CD3ζ intracellular domain. Phagocytosis and killing effect indicated that macrophages transduced with Ad5f35-anti-GPC3-CAR (GPC3 CAR-Ms) exhibited antigen-specific phagocytosis and tumor cell clearance in vitro, and GPC3 CAR-Ms showed significant tumor-killing effects and promoted expression of pro-inflammatory (M1) cytokines and chemokines. In 3D NACs-origami spheroid model of HCC, CAR-Ms were further demonstrated to have a significant tumor killing effect. Together, our study provides a new strategy for the treatment of HCC through CAR-M cells targeting GPC3, which provides a basis for the research and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Guan
- Applied Biology Laboratory, College of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang, 110142, China
| | - Shanshan Wu
- Applied Biology Laboratory, College of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang, 110142, China
| | - Qinyao Zhu
- Applied Biology Laboratory, College of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang, 110142, China
| | - Xiaofang He
- PuHeng Biotechnology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd, Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Xuelong Li
- Applied Biology Laboratory, College of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang, 110142, China
| | - Guangqi Song
- PuHeng Biotechnology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd, Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Luo Zhang
- Research Center of Bioengineering, The Medical Innovation Research Division of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Xiushan Yin
- Applied Biology Laboratory, College of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang, 110142, China
- Suzhou RocRock No.1 Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Suzhou, 215000, China
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Udupi A, Shetty S, Aranjani JM, Kumar R, Bharati S. Anticancer therapeutic potential of multimodal targeting agent- "phosphorylated galactosylated chitosan coated magnetic nanoparticles" against N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2024:10.1007/s13346-024-01655-1. [PMID: 38990437 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-024-01655-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are extensively used as carriers in targeted drug delivery and has several advantages in the field of magnetic hyperthermia, chemodynamic therapy and magnet assisted radionuclide therapy. The characteristics of SPIONs can be tailored to deliver drugs into tumor via "passive targeting" and they can also be coated with tissue-specific agents to enhance tumor uptake via "active targeting". In our earlier studies, we developed HCC specific targeting agent- "phosphorylated galactosylated chitosan"(PGC) for targeting asialoglycoprotein receptors. Considering their encouraging results, in this study we developed a multifunctional targeting system- "phosphorylated galactosylated chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles"(PGCMNPs) for targeting HCC. PGCMNPs were synthesized by co-precipitation method and characterized by DLS, XRD, TEM, VSM, elemental analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy. PGCMNPs were evaluated for in vitro antioxidant properties, uptake in HepG2 cells, biodistribution, in vivo toxicity and were also evaluated for anticancer therapeutic potential against NDEA-induced HCC in mice model in terms of tumor status, electrical properties, antioxidant defense status and apoptosis. The characterization studies confirmed successful formation of PGCMNPs with superparamagnetic properties. The internalization studies demonstrated (99-100)% uptake of PGCMNPs in HepG2 cells. These results were also supported by biodistribution studies in which increased iron content (296%) was noted inside the hepatocytes. Further, PGCMNPs exhibited no in vivo toxicity. The anticancer therapeutic potential was evident from observation that PGCMNPs treatment decreased tumor bearing animals (41.6%) and significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lowered tumor multiplicity. Overall, this study indicated that PGCMNPs with improved properties are efficiently taken-up by hepatoma cells and has therapeutic potential against HCC. Further, this agent can be tagged with 32P and hence can offer multimodal cancer treatment options via radiation ablation as well as magnetic hyperthermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anushree Udupi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Sachin Shetty
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Jesil Mathew Aranjani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Rajesh Kumar
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, 342005, Rajasthan, India
| | - Sanjay Bharati
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India.
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3
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Zarlashat Y, Mushtaq H, Pham L, Abbas W, Sato K. Advancements in Immunotherapeutic Treatments for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Potential of Combination Therapies. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6830. [PMID: 38999940 PMCID: PMC11241106 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25136830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most prevalent cancer and a significant global health burden, with increasing incidence rates and limited treatment options. Immunotherapy has become a promising approach due to its ability to affect the immune microenvironment and promote antitumor responses. The immune microenvironment performs an essential role in both the progression and the development of HCC, with different characteristics based on specific immune cells and etiological factors. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, including programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors (pembrolizumab, nivolumab, and durvalumab) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 inhibitors (tremelimumab and ipilimumab), have the potential to treat advanced HCC and overcome adverse effects, such as liver failure and chemoresistance. Phase II and phase III clinical trials highlight the efficacy of pembrolizumab and nivolumab, respectively, in advanced HCC patients, as demonstrated by their positive effects on overall survival and progression-free survival. Tremelimumab has exhibited modest response rates, though it does possess antiviral activity. Thus, it is still being investigated in ongoing clinical trials. Combination therapies with multiple drugs have demonstrated potential benefits in terms of survival and tumor response rates, improving patient outcomes compared to monotherapy, especially for advanced-stage HCC. This review addresses the clinical trials of immunotherapies for early-, intermediate-, and advanced-stage HCC. Additionally, it highlights how combination therapy can significantly enhance overall survival, progression-free survival, and objective response rate in advanced-stage HCC, where treatment options are limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusra Zarlashat
- Department of Biochemistry, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Hassan Mushtaq
- Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering-C (NIBGE), Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
- Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad 45650, Pakistan
| | - Linh Pham
- Department of Science and Mathematics, Texas A&M University-Central Texas, Killeen, TX 76549, USA
| | - Wasim Abbas
- Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering-C (NIBGE), Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
- Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad 45650, Pakistan
| | - Keisaku Sato
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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Urquijo-Ponce JJ, Alventosa-Mateu C, Latorre-Sánchez M, Castelló-Miralles I, Diago M. Present and future of new systemic therapies for early and intermediate stages of hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2024; 30:2512-2522. [PMID: 38817666 PMCID: PMC11135412 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i19.2512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a high mortality neoplasm which usually appears on a cirrhotic liver. The therapeutic arsenal and subsequent prognostic outlook are intrinsically linked to the HCC stage at diagnosis. Notwithstanding the current deployment of treatments with curative intent (liver resection/local ablation and liver transplantation) in early and intermediate stages, a high rate of HCC recurrence persists, underscoring a pivotal clinical challenge. Emergent systemic therapies (ST), particularly immunotherapy, have demonstrate promising outcomes in terms of increase overall survival, but they are currently bound to the advanced stage of HCC. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the literature, encompassing studies up to March 10, 2024, evaluating the impact of novel ST in the early and intermediate HCC stages, specially focusing on the findings of neoadjuvant and adjuvant regimens, aimed at increasing significantly overall survival and recurrence-free survival after a treatment with curative intent. We also investigate the potential role of ST in enhancing the downstaging rate for the intermediate-stage HCC initially deemed ineligible for treatment with curative intent. Finally, we critically discuss about the current relevance of the results of these studies and the encouraging future implications of ST in the treatment schedules of early and intermediate HCC stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Jose Urquijo-Ponce
- Hepatology Unit, Department of Digestive Diseases, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario of Valencia, Valencia 46014, Spain
| | - Carlos Alventosa-Mateu
- Hepatology Unit, Department of Digestive Diseases, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario of Valencia, Valencia 46014, Spain
| | - Mercedes Latorre-Sánchez
- Hepatology Unit, Department of Digestive Diseases, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario of Valencia, Valencia 46014, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Castelló-Miralles
- Hepatology Unit, Department of Digestive Diseases, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario of Valencia, Valencia 46014, Spain
| | - Moisés Diago
- Hepatology Unit, Department of Digestive Diseases, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario of Valencia, Valencia 46014, Spain
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Li J, Li Y, Wang D, Liao R, Wu Z. PLAG1 interacts with GPX4 to conquer vulnerability to sorafenib induced ferroptosis through a PVT1/miR-195-5p axis-dependent manner in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:143. [PMID: 38745179 PMCID: PMC11092053 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03061-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sorafenib is a standard first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet its effectiveness is often constrained. Emerging studies reveal that sorafenib triggers ferroptosis, an iron-dependent regulated cell death (RCD) mechanism characterized by lipid peroxidation. Our findings isolate the principal target responsible for ferroptosis in HCC cells and outline an approach to potentially augment sorafenib's therapeutic impact on HCC. METHODS We investigated the gene expression alterations following sgRNA-mediated knockdown induced by erastin and sorafenib in HCC cells using CRISPR screening-based bioinformatics analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and the "GDCRNATools" package facilitated the correlation studies. We employed tissue microarrays and cDNA microarrays for validation. Ubiquitination assay, Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, and dual-luciferase reporter assay were utilized to delineate the specific mechanisms underlying ferroptosis in HCC cells. RESULTS Our study has revealed that pleiomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1), a gene implicated in pleomorphic adenoma, confers resistance to ferroptosis in HCC cells treated with sorafenib. Sorafenib leads to the opposite trend of protein and mRNA levels of PLAG1, which is not caused by affecting the stability or ubiquitination of PLAG1 protein, but by the regulation of PLAG1 at the transcriptional level by its upstream competitive endogenous long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1). Data from 139 HCC patients showed a significant positive correlation between PLAG1 and GPX4 levels in tumor samples, and PLAG1 is instrumental in redox homeostasis by driving the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), the enzyme that reduces lipid peroxides (LPOs), which further leads to ferroptosis inhibition. CONCLUSIONS Ferroptosis is a promising target for cancer therapy, especially for patients resistant to standard chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Our findings indicate that PLAG1 holds therapeutic promise and may enhance the efficacy of sorafenib in treating HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiarui Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Yilan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Denghui Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Rui Liao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Zhongjun Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China.
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Yan X, Bai L, Lv J, Qi P, Song X, Zhang L. Effects of Combined Live Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Bacillus Cereus Tablets on the Structure and Function of the Intestinal Flora in Rabbits Undergoing Hepatic Artery Infusion Chemotherapy. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:327. [PMID: 38785809 PMCID: PMC11117994 DOI: 10.3390/biology13050327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Few studies have explored the biological mechanism by which probiotics alleviate adverse reactions to chemotherapy drugs after local hepatic chemotherapy perfusion by regulating the intestinal flora. This study investigates the effects of Combined Live Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Bacillus Cereus Tablets on the intestinal microbial structure and intestinal barrier function, as well as the potential mechanism in rabbits after local hepatic chemotherapy infusion. Eighteen New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into a control group, a hepatic local chemotherapy perfusion group, and a hepatic local chemotherapy perfusion + Combined Live Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Bacillus Cereus Tablets group to assess the effects of Combined Live Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Bacillus Cereus Tablets on the adverse reactions. The administration of Combined Live Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Bacillus Cereus Tablets alleviated the intestinal flora disorder caused by local hepatic perfusion chemotherapy, promoted the growth of beneficial bacteria, and inhibited the growth of harmful bacteria. The Combined Live Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Bacillus Cereus Tablets also reduced the levels of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines and liver injury factors induced by local hepatic perfusion chemotherapy. Our findings indicate that Combined Live Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Bacillus Cereus Tablets can ameliorate the toxicity and side effects of chemotherapy by regulating intestinal flora, blocking pro-inflammatory cytokines, reducing liver injury factors, and repairing the intestinal barrier. Probiotics may be used as a potential alternative therapeutic strategy to prevent the adverse reactions caused by chemotherapy with local hepatic perfusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangdong Yan
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (X.Y.); (L.B.); (J.L.); (P.Q.); (X.S.)
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Liuhui Bai
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (X.Y.); (L.B.); (J.L.); (P.Q.); (X.S.)
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jin Lv
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (X.Y.); (L.B.); (J.L.); (P.Q.); (X.S.)
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ping Qi
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (X.Y.); (L.B.); (J.L.); (P.Q.); (X.S.)
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xiaojing Song
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (X.Y.); (L.B.); (J.L.); (P.Q.); (X.S.)
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (X.Y.); (L.B.); (J.L.); (P.Q.); (X.S.)
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
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Wagenpfeil J, Kupczyk PA, Bruners P, Siepmann R, Guendel E, Luetkens JA, Isaak A, Meyer C, Kuetting F, Pieper CC, Attenberger UI, Kuetting D. Outcome of transarterial radioembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma as a first-line interventional therapy and after a previous transarterial chemoembolization. FRONTIERS IN RADIOLOGY 2024; 4:1346550. [PMID: 38445105 PMCID: PMC10912470 DOI: 10.3389/fradi.2024.1346550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Purpose Due to a lack of data, there is an ongoing debate regarding the optimal frontline interventional therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the study is to compare the results of transarterial radioembolization (TARE) as the first-line therapy and as a subsequent therapy following prior transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in these patients. Methods A total of 83 patients were evaluated, with 38 patients having undergone at least one TACE session prior to TARE [27 male; mean age 67.2 years; 68.4% stage Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) B, 31.6% BCLC C]; 45 patients underwent primary TARE (33 male; mean age 69.9 years; 40% BCLC B, 58% BCLC C). Clinical [age, gender, BCLC stage, activity in gigabecquerel (GBq), Child-Pugh status, portal vein thrombosis, tumor volume] and procedural [overall survival (OS), local tumor control (LTC), and progression-free survival (PFS)] data were compared. A regression analysis was performed to evaluate OS, LTC, and PFS. Results No differences were found in OS (95% CI: 1.12, P = 0.289), LTC (95% CI: 0.003, P = 0.95), and PFS (95% CI: 0.4, P = 0.525). The regression analysis revealed a relationship between Child-Pugh score (P = 0.005), size of HCC lesions (>10 cm) (P = 0.022), and OS; neither prior TACE (Child-Pugh B patients; 95% CI: 0.120, P = 0.729) nor number of lesions (>10; 95% CI: 2.930, P = 0.087) correlated with OS. Conclusion Prior TACE does not affect the outcome of TARE in unresectable HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Wagenpfeil
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Patrick Arthur Kupczyk
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Philipp Bruners
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Robert Siepmann
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Emelie Guendel
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Julian Alexander Luetkens
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Alexander Isaak
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Carsten Meyer
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Fabian Kuetting
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Claus Christian Pieper
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Ulrike Irmgard Attenberger
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Daniel Kuetting
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Duesseldorf, Germany
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Chen W, Chen F, Gong M, Ye L, Weng D, Jin Z, Wang J. Fenofibrate suppresses the progression of hepatoma by downregulating osteopontin through inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/Twist pathway. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:1025-1035. [PMID: 37566308 PMCID: PMC10791796 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02604-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) is a leading threat to cancer patients with few effective treatment strategies. OPN is found to be an oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with potential as a treating target for PHC. Fenofibrate is a lipid-lowering drug with potential anti-tumor properties, which is claimed with suppressive effects on OPN expression. Our study proposes to explore the molecular mechanism of fenofibrate in inhibiting HCC. OPN was found extremely upregulated in 6 HCC cell lines, especially Hep3B cells. Hep3B and Huh7 cells were treated with 75 and 100 μM fenofibrate, while OPN-overexpressed Hep3B cells were treated with 100 μM fenofibrate. Decreased clone number, elevated apoptotic rate, reduced number of migrated cells, and shortened migration distance were observed in fenofibrate-treated Hep3B and Huh7 cells, which were markedly abolished by the overexpression of OPN. Furthermore, the facilitating effect against apoptosis and the inhibitory effect against migration of fenofibrate in Hep3B cells were abolished by 740 Y-P, an agonist of PI3K. Hep3B xenograft model was established, followed by treated with 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg fenofibrate, while OPN-overexpressed Hep3B xenograft was treated with 200 mg/kg fenofibrate. The tumor growth was repressed by fenofibrate, which was notably abolished by OPN overexpression. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of fenofibrate on the PI3K/AKT/Twist pathway in Hep3B cells and Hep3B xenograft model was abrogated by OPN overexpression. Collectively, fenofibrate suppressed progression of hepatoma downregulating OPN through inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/Twist pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqing Chen
- Department of General Surgery, First People's Hospital of Hangzhou Lin'an District, NO.548 Yijin Street, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, People's Republic of China
| | - Feihua Chen
- Department of General Surgery, First People's Hospital of Hangzhou Lin'an District, NO.548 Yijin Street, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, People's Republic of China
| | - Mouchun Gong
- Department of General Surgery, First People's Hospital of Hangzhou Lin'an District, NO.548 Yijin Street, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, People's Republic of China
| | - Lijun Ye
- Department of General Surgery, First People's Hospital of Hangzhou Lin'an District, NO.548 Yijin Street, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, People's Republic of China
| | - Dengcheng Weng
- Department of General Surgery, First People's Hospital of Hangzhou Lin'an District, NO.548 Yijin Street, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaoqing Jin
- Department of General Surgery, First People's Hospital of Hangzhou Lin'an District, NO.548 Yijin Street, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianjiang Wang
- Department of General Surgery, First People's Hospital of Hangzhou Lin'an District, NO.548 Yijin Street, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, People's Republic of China.
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Zhu M, Rovella V, Scimeca M, Mauriello A, Shi Y, Bischof J, Woodsmith J, Anselmo A, Melino G, Tisone G, Agostini M. Genomic and transcriptomic profiling of hepatocellular carcinoma reveals a rare molecular subtype. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:10. [PMID: 38228856 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00850-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, occurring predominantly in patients with underlying chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Here, we describe a case of a 62-year-old man that was admitted to our hospital and diagnosed with HCC where the cancer has already metastasized to the retroperitoneum and peritoneum. In order to better characterize the HCC, both the cancerous liver tissue and the adjacent normal liver tissue of the patient were collected and subjected to a genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic analysis. Our patient carries a highly mutated HCC, which is characterized by both somatic mutation in the following genes ALK, CDK6, TP53, PGR. In addition, we observe several molecular alterations that are associated with potential therapy resistance, for example the expression of the organic-anion-transporting polypeptide (OATP) family members B1 and B3, that mediate the transport of the anticancer drugs, has been found decreased. Overall, our molecular profiling potentially classify the patient with poor prognosis and possibly displaying resistance to pharmacological therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengting Zhu
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Valentina Rovella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuel Scimeca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Mauriello
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Yufang Shi
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Julia Bischof
- Indivumed GmbH, Falkenried, 88 Building D, 20251, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Alessandro Anselmo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Gerry Melino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Tisone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Massimiliano Agostini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy.
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10
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Li H, Liang C, Kuang D, Huang G, Zhang M, Chen P, Zheng Q, Xu W, Ren J, Han X, Duan X. The impact of drug-eluting bead (vs. conventional) transarterial chemoembolization on hepatic fibrosis in treating intermediate or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Biol Ther 2023; 24:2166335. [PMID: 36751709 PMCID: PMC9928450 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2023.2166335] [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: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Limited studies have reported the impact of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) on hepatic fibrosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study evaluated multiple hepatic fibrosis indicators, aiming to comprehensively compare the influence of DEB-TACE and conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) on hepatic fibrosis in treating HCC patients. METHODS Intermediate/advanced HCC patients (N = 121) were divided into the DEB-TACE group (n = 62) and the cTACE group (n = 59) based on their chosen treatment. Serum hyaluronic acid (HA), pro-collagen type-III (PC-III), collagen type-IV (IV-C), and laminin (LN) were detected; aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis index based on the four factors (FIB-4) were calculated; liver stiffness measurement (LSM) was assessed by real-time shear wave elastography. RESULTS HA, PC-III, IV-C, and LN at 1 month after the second TACE and at 12 months after the first TACE were all decreased in DEB-TACE group compared with cTACE group (all P < .050). Then, APRI, FIB-4, and LSM were further assessed, which also showed a decreasing trend at aforementioned timepoints in DEB-TACE group compared with cTACE group (all P < .050). Additionally, the multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that DEB-TACE (vs. cTACE) was independently associated with reduced occurrence of severe hepatic fibrosis at 12 months (OR = 0.215, 95%CI: 0.058-0.802, P = .022). Concerning the liver function indexes, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin after treatment were not different between the two groups (all P > .050). CONCLUSION DEB-TACE displays attenuated hepatic fibrosis progression and noninferior tolerance compared to cTACE in treating intermediate- or advanced-stage HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Li
- Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chao Liang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Donglin Kuang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Guohao Huang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Mengfan Zhang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Pengfei Chen
- Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qingzhu Zheng
- Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenze Xu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jianzhuang Ren
- Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinwei Han
- Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xuhua Duan
- Department of Interventional Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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11
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Ventura I, Sanchiz L, Legidos-García ME, Murillo-Llorente MT, Pérez-Bermejo M. Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab Combination Therapy in the Treatment of Advanced Hepatocellular Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:197. [PMID: 38201624 PMCID: PMC10777975 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010197] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma, is a global concern. This study focuses on the evaluation of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab combination therapy as a promising alternative in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. The objectives of this systematic review include evaluating the efficacy of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab combination therapy compared to conventional therapies with Sorafenib and other conventional therapies, analyzing the associated adverse effects, and exploring prognostic factors in the setting of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. A systematic literature review was carried out using the PubMed and Web of Science databases. Fifteen related articles were included and evaluated according to their level of evidence and recommendation. Results: The combination therapy of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab, along with Sorafenib, showed positive results in the treatment of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Significant adverse effects were identified, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, arterial hypertension, and proteinuria, which require careful attention. In addition, prognostic factors, such as transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and vascular invasion, were highlighted as key indicators of hepatocellular carcinoma progression. Conclusions: The combination of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab is shown to be effective in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, although it is essential to take into consideration the associated adverse effects. The prognostic factors identified may provide valuable information for the clinical management of this disease. This study provides a comprehensive overview of a promising emerging therapy for liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Ventura
- Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, C/Quevedo nº 2, 46001 Valencia, Spain;
- Translational Research Center San Alberto Magno CITSAM, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, C/Quevedo nº 2, 46001 Valencia, Spain
| | - Lorena Sanchiz
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, C/Quevedo nº 2, 46001 Valencia, Spain;
| | - María Ester Legidos-García
- SONEV Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, C/Quevedo nº 2, 46001 Valencia, Spain; (M.E.L.-G.); (M.T.M.-L.)
| | - María Teresa Murillo-Llorente
- SONEV Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, C/Quevedo nº 2, 46001 Valencia, Spain; (M.E.L.-G.); (M.T.M.-L.)
| | - Marcelino Pérez-Bermejo
- SONEV Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, C/Quevedo nº 2, 46001 Valencia, Spain; (M.E.L.-G.); (M.T.M.-L.)
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12
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Cao F, Qi Y, Wu W, Li X, Yang C. Single-cell and genetic multi-omics analysis combined with experiments confirmed the signature and potential targets of cuproptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1240390. [PMID: 37745297 PMCID: PMC10516581 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1240390] [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: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Cuproptosis, as a recently discovered type of programmed cell death, occupies a very important role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and provides new methods for immunotherapy; however, the functions of cuproptosis in HCC are still unclear. Methods: We first analyzed the transcriptome data and clinical information of 526 HCC patients using multiple algorithms in R language and extensively described the copy number variation, prognostic and immune infiltration characteristics of cuproptosis related genes (CRGs). Then, the hub CRG related genes associated with prognosis through LASSO and Cox regression analyses and constructed a prognostic prediction model including multiple molecular markers and clinicopathological parameters through training cohorts, then this model was verified by test cohorts. On the basis of the model, the clinicopathological indicators, immune infiltration and tumor microenvironment characteristics of HCC patients were further explored via bioinformation analysis. Then, We further explored the key gene biological function by single-cell analysis, cell viability and transwell experiments. Meantime, we also explored the molecular docking of the hub genes. Results: We have screened 5 hub genes associated with HCC prognosis and constructed a prognosis prediction scoring model. And the model results showed that patients in the high-risk group had poor prognosis and the expression levels of multiple immune markers, including PD-L1, CD276 and CTLA4, were higher than those patients in the low-risk group. We found a significant correlation between risk score and M0 macrophages and memory CD4+ T cells. And the single-cell analysis and molecular experiments showed that BEX1 were higher expressed in HCC tissues and deletion inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration and EMT pathway of HCC cells. Finally, it was observed that BEX1 could bind to sorafenib to form a stable conformation. Conclusion: The study not only revealed the multiomics characteristics of CRGs in HCC but also constructed a new high-accuracy prognostic prediction model. Meanwhile, BEX1 were also identified as hub genes that can mediate the cuproptosis of hepatocytes as potential therapeutic targets for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Cao
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Yong Qi
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wenyong Wu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xutong Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chuang Yang
- Department of Visceral, Transplant, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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13
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Xie M, Lin Z, Ji X, Luo X, Zhang Z, Sun M, Chen X, Zhang B, Liang H, Liu D, Feng Y, Wang Y, Li Y, Liu B, Huang W, Xia L. FGF19/FGFR4-mediated elevation of ETV4 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis by upregulating PD-L1 and CCL2. J Hepatol 2023; 79:109-125. [PMID: 36907560 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.02.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Metastasis remains the major reason for the high mortality of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study was designed to investigate the role of E-twenty-six-specific sequence variant 4 (ETV4) in promoting HCC metastasis and to explore a new combination therapy strategy for ETV4-mediated HCC metastasis. METHODS PLC/PRF/5, MHCC97H, Hepa1-6, and H22 cells were used to establish orthotopic HCC models. Clodronate liposomes were used to clear macrophages in C57BL/6 mice. Gr-1 monoclonal antibody was used to clear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in C57BL/6 mice. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were used to detect the changes of key immune cells in the tumour microenvironment. RESULTS ETV4 expression was positively related to higher tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, poor tumour differentiation, microvascular invasion, and poor prognosis in human HCC. Overexpression of ETV4 in HCC cells transactivated PD-L1 and CCL2 expression, which increased tumour-associated macrophage (TAM) and MDSC infiltration and inhibited CD8+ T-cell accumulation. Knockdown of CCL2 by lentivirus or CCR2 inhibitor CCX872 treatment impaired ETV4-induced TAM and MDSC infiltration and HCC metastasis. Furthermore, FGF19/FGFR4 and HGF/c-MET jointly upregulated ETV4 expression through the ERK1/2 pathway. Additionally, ETV4 upregulated FGFR4 expression, and downregulation of FGFR4 decreased ETV4-enhanced HCC metastasis, which created a FGF19-ETV4-FGFR4 positive feedback loop. Finally, anti-PD-L1 combined with FGFR4 inhibitor BLU-554 or MAPK inhibitor trametinib prominently inhibited FGF19-ETV4 signalling-induced HCC metastasis. CONCLUSIONS ETV4 is a prognostic biomarker, and anti-PD-L1 combined with FGFR4 inhibitor BLU-554 or MAPK inhibitor trametinib may be effective strategies to inhibit HCC metastasis. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Here, we reported that ETV4 increased PD-L1 and chemokine CCL2 expression in HCC cells, which resulted in TAM and MDSC accumulation and CD8+ T-cell inhibition to facilitate HCC metastasis. More importantly, we found that anti-PD-L1 combined with FGFR4 inhibitor BLU-554 or MAPK inhibitor trametinib markedly inhibited FGF19-ETV4 signalling-mediated HCC metastasis. This preclinical study will provide a theoretical basis for the development of new combination immunotherapy strategies for patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhuoying Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shangrao People's Hospital, Shangrao, China
| | - Xiaoyu Ji
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiangyuan Luo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zerui Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengyu Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoping Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, China
| | - Bixiang Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, China
| | - Huifang Liang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, China
| | - Danfei Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yangyang Feng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yijun Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiwei Li
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bifeng Liu
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenjie Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, China.
| | - Limin Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, China.
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14
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Mahmoud K, Teaima M, Attia Y, El-Nabarawi M, Swidan S. Size-optimized simvastatin-loaded TPGS modified lipid nanocapsules for targeting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma: Role of PTEN/AKT signaling. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2023; 20:703-719. [PMID: 37208857 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2023.2216451] [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: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Novel D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) modified lipid nanocapsules (LNC) were prepared with the aim of improving the effectiveness of simvastatin (SIM) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study, therefore, sought to investigate the effect of size-optimized SIM-loaded LNC on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HCC, providing insights on the implication of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/protein kinase B (AKT) axis. METHODS Two optimized SIM-loaded LNCs with particle sizes 25 nm (SIM-LNC25) and 50 nm (SIM-LNC50) were prepared and biodistribution studies were performed. The anticancer effect of the prepared LNC was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The anti-migratory potential and EMT suppression through PTEN/AKT axis modulation were also explored. RESULTS SIM-LNC50 was superior to SIM-LNC25 in both in vitro and in vivo experiments, as evidenced by cytotoxicity assays, tumor histopathology, and enhanced apoptosis. SIM-LNC50 also alleviated the migratory potential of HCC cells. Moreover, EMT markers implied a transition of tumor cells toward the epithelial rather than the mesenchymal phenotype both in vitro and in vivo. PTEN/AKT axis modulation was also evident with SIM-LNC50. CONCLUSION The present study, therefore, suggests the efficacy of the 50 nm particles in SIM-loaded LNC in HCC by targeting EMT via modulating the PTEN/AKT signaling axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Mahmoud
- a Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El-Sherouk City, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Teaima
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Yasmeen Attia
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El-Sherouk City, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed El-Nabarawi
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Shady Swidan
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El-Sherouk City, Cairo, Egypt
- The Center for Drug Research and Development (CDRD), Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El-Sherouk City, Cairo, Egypt
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15
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Liu Y, Kong WY, Yu CF, Shao ZL, Lei QC, Deng YF, Cai GX, Zhuang XF, Sun WS, Wu SG, Wang R, Chen X, Chen GX, Huang HB, Liao YN. SNS-023 sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma to sorafenib by inducing degradation of cancer drivers SIX1 and RPS16. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2023; 44:853-864. [PMID: 36261513 PMCID: PMC10043269 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-022-01003-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains challenging due to the lack of efficient therapy. Promoting degradation of certain cancer drivers has become an innovative therapy. The nuclear transcription factor sine oculis homeobox 1 (SIX1) is a key driver for the progression of HCC. Here, we explored the molecular mechanisms of ubiquitination of SIX1 and whether targeting SIX1 degradation might represent a potential strategy for HCC therapy. Through detecting the ubiquitination level of SIX1 in clinical HCC tissues and analyzing TCGA and GEPIA databases, we found that ubiquitin specific peptidase 1 (USP1), a deubiquitinating enzyme, contributed to the lower ubiquitination and high protein level of SIX1 in HCC tissues. In HepG2 and Hep3B cells, activation of EGFR-AKT signaling pathway promoted the expression of USP1 and the stability of its substrates, including SIX1 and ribosomal protein S16 (RPS16). In contrast, suppression of EGFR with gefitinib or knockdown of USP1 restrained EGF-elevated levels of SIX1 and RPS16. We further revealed that SNS-023 (formerly known as BMS-387032) induced degradation of SIX1 and RPS16, whereas this process was reversed by reactivation of EGFR-AKT pathway or overexpression of USP1. Consequently, inactivation of the EGFR-AKT-USP1 axis with SNS-032 led to cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and suppression of cell proliferation and migration in HCC. Moreover, we showed that sorafenib combined with SNS-032 or gefitinib synergistically inhibited the growth of Hep3B xenografts in vivo. Overall, we identify that both SIX1 and RPS16 are crucial substrates for the EGFR-AKT-USP1 axis-driven growth of HCC, suggesting a potential anti-HCC strategy from a novel perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, 511500, China
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
| | - Wei-Yao Kong
- Department of General Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, 511500, China
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
| | - Cui-Fu Yu
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
| | - Zhen-Long Shao
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
| | - Qiu-Cheng Lei
- Department of Hepatopancreatic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, 528000, China
| | - Yuan-Fei Deng
- Department of Pathology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, 528000, China
| | - Geng-Xi Cai
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, 528000, China
| | - Xue-Fen Zhuang
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
| | - Wen-Shuang Sun
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
| | - Shi-Gang Wu
- Department of Pathology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, 511500, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, 511500, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, 511500, China
| | - Guo-Xing Chen
- Department of General Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, 511500, China.
| | - Hong-Biao Huang
- Department of General Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, 511500, China.
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.
| | - Yu-Ning Liao
- Department of General Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, 511500, China.
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.
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16
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Wong JK, Lim HJ, Tam VC, Burak KW, Dawson LA, Chaudhury P, Abraham RJ, Meyers BM, Sapisochin G, Valenti D, Samimi S, Ramjeesingh R, Mujoomdar A, Martins I, Dixon E, Segedi M, Liu DM. Clinical consensus statement: Establishing the roles of locoregional and systemic therapies for the treatment of intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma in Canada. Cancer Treat Rev 2023; 115:102526. [PMID: 36924644 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2023.102526] [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: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide and approximately one-third of patients present with intermediate-stage disease. The treatment landscape of intermediate-stage HCC is rapidly evolving due to developments in local, locoregional and systemic therapies. Treatment recommendations focused on this heterogenous disease stage and that take into account the Canadian reality are lacking. To address this gap, a pan-Canadian group of experts in hepatology, transplant, surgery, radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, interventional radiology, and medical oncology came together to develop consensus recommendations on management of intermediate-stage HCC relevant to the Canadian context. METHODS A modified Delphi framework was used to develop consensus statements with strengths of recommendation and supporting levels of evidence graded using the AHA/ACC classification system. Tentative consensus statements were drafted based on a systematic search and expert input in a series of iterative feedback cycles and were then circulated via online survey to assess the level of agreement. RESULTS & CONCLUSION The pre-defined ratification threshold of 80 % agreement was reached for all statements in the areas of multidisciplinary treatment (n = 4), intra-arterial therapy (n = 14), biologics (n = 5), radiation therapy (n = 3), surgical resection and transplantation (n = 7), and percutaneous ablative therapy (n = 4). These generally reflected an expansion in treatment options due to developments in previously established or emergent techniques, introduction of new and more active therapies and increased therapeutic flexibility. These developments have allowed for greater treatment tailoring and personalization as well as a paradigm shift toward strategies with curative intent in a wider range of disease settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason K Wong
- University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Howard J Lim
- BC Cancer Agency, 600 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada.
| | - Vincent C Tam
- Tom Baker Cancer Centre, University of Calgary, 1331 29 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N2, Canada.
| | - Kelly W Burak
- University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Laura A Dawson
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, 610 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 2C1, Canada.
| | | | - Robert J Abraham
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Dalhousie University, 6299 South St, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Brandon M Meyers
- Juravinski Cancer Centre, 699 Concession St, Hamilton, ON L8V 5C2, Canada.
| | | | - David Valenti
- McGill University, 845 Rue Sherbrooke O, Montréal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada.
| | - Setareh Samimi
- Hopital Sacre-Coeur de Montreal, University of Montreal, 5400 Boul Gouin O, Montréal, QC H4J 1C5, Canada.
| | - Ravi Ramjeesingh
- Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, 6299 South St, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Amol Mujoomdar
- Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada.
| | - Ilidio Martins
- Kaleidoscope Strategic, Inc. 1 King Street W, Suite 4800 - 117, Toronto, ON M5H 1A1, Canada.
| | - Elijah Dixon
- University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Maja Segedi
- Department of Surgery, Vancouver General Hospital, Jim Pattison Pavilion, 899 W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada.
| | - David M Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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Ren Y, Song Z, Rieser J, Ackermann J, Koch I, Lv X, Ji T, Cai X. USP15 Represses Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression by Regulation of Pathways of Cell Proliferation and Cell Migration: A System Biology Analysis. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15051371. [PMID: 36900163 PMCID: PMC10000201 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15051371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) leads to 600,000 people's deaths every year. The protein ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 15 (USP15) is a ubiquitin-specific protease. The role of USP15 in HCC is still unclear. METHOD We studied the function of USP15 in HCC from the viewpoint of systems biology and investigated possible implications using experimental methods, such as real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), Western blotting, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), and next-generation sequencing (NGS). We investigated tissues samples of 102 patients who underwent liver resection between January 2006 and December 2010 at the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH). Tissue samples were immunochemically stained; a trained pathologist then scored the tissue by visual inspection, and we compared the survival data of two groups of patients by means of Kaplan-Meier curves. We applied assays for cell migration, cell growth, and wound healing. We studied tumor formation in a mouse model. RESULTS HCC patients (n = 26) with high expression of USP15 had a higher survival rate than patients (n = 76) with low expression. We confirmed a suppressive role of USP15 in HCC using in vitro and in vivo tests. Based on publicly available data, we constructed a PPI network in which 143 genes were related to USP15 (HCC genes). We combined the 143 HCC genes with results of an experimental investigation to identify 225 pathways that may be related simultaneously to USP15 and HCC (tumor pathways). We found the 225 pathways enriched in the functional groups of cell proliferation and cell migration. The 225 pathways determined six clusters of pathways in which terms such as signal transduction, cell cycle, gene expression, and DNA repair related the expression of USP15 to tumorigenesis. CONCLUSION USP15 may suppress tumorigenesis of HCC by regulating pathway clusters of signal transduction for gene expression, cell cycle, and DNA repair. For the first time, the tumorigenesis of HCC is studied from the viewpoint of the pathway cluster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyue Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine and Innovation Center for Minimally Invasive Technique and Device, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China
| | - Zhen Song
- Molecular Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Computer Science, Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Correspondence: (Z.S.); (T.J.); (X.C.)
| | - Jens Rieser
- Molecular Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Computer Science, Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jörg Ackermann
- Molecular Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Computer Science, Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ina Koch
- Molecular Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Computer Science, Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Xingyu Lv
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine and Innovation Center for Minimally Invasive Technique and Device, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China
| | - Tong Ji
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine and Innovation Center for Minimally Invasive Technique and Device, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China
- Correspondence: (Z.S.); (T.J.); (X.C.)
| | - Xiujun Cai
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine and Innovation Center for Minimally Invasive Technique and Device, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China
- Correspondence: (Z.S.); (T.J.); (X.C.)
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18
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Bowman KER, Ahne L, O'Brien L, Vander Mause ER, Lu P, Wallis B, Evason KJ, Lim CS. p53-Bad* Fusion Gene Therapy Induces Apoptosis In Vitro and Reduces Zebrafish Tumor Burden in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:331-340. [PMID: 36490361 PMCID: PMC10760808 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
With few curative treatments and a global yearly death rate of over 800,000, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) desperately needs new therapies. Although wild-type p53 gene therapy has been shown to be safe in HCC patients, it has not shown enough efficacy to merit approval. This work aims to show how p53 can be re-engineered through fusion to the pro-apoptotic BH3 protein Bcl-2 antagonist of cell death (Bad) to improve anti-HCC activity and potentially lead to a novel HCC therapeutic, p53-Bad*. p53-Bad* is a fusion of p53 and Bad, with two mutations, S112A and S136A. We determined mitochondrial localization of p53-Bad* in liver cancer cell lines with varying p53 mutation statuses via fluorescence microscopy. We defined the apoptotic activity of p53-Bad* in four liver cancer cell lines using flow cytometry. To determine the effects of p53-Bad* in vivo, we generated and analyzed transgenic zebrafish expressing hepatocyte-specific p53-Bad*. p53-Bad* localized to the mitochondria regardless of the p53 mutation status and demonstrated superior apoptotic activity over WT p53 in early, middle, and late apoptosis assays. Tumor burden in zebrafish HCC was reduced by p53-Bad* as measured by the liver-to-body mass ratio and histopathology. p53-Bad* induced significant apoptosis in zebrafish HCC as measured by TUNEL staining but did not induce apoptosis in non-HCC fish. p53-Bad* can induce apoptosis in a panel of liver cancer cell lines with varying p53 mutation statuses and induce apoptosis/reduce HCC tumor burden in vivo in zebrafish. p53-Bad* warrants further investigation as a potential new HCC therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E Redd Bowman
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Lisa Ahne
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
- Institute of Pharmacy, Experimental Pharmacology for Natural Sciences, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany
| | - Liam O'Brien
- Department of Pathology and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Erica R Vander Mause
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Phong Lu
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Bryce Wallis
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Kimberley J Evason
- Department of Pathology and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Carol S Lim
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
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19
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Huang J, Xu S, Yu Z, Zheng Y, Yang B, Ou Q. ATP13A2 is a Prognostic Biomarker and Correlates with Immune Infiltrates in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Gastrointest Surg 2023; 27:56-66. [PMID: 36127552 DOI: 10.1007/s11605-021-05099-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To explore the expression and role of ATPase cation transporting 13A2 (ATP13A2) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and prognosis. METHODS The level of ATP13A2 in 63 HCC tissues was evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Then, the prognostic value of ATP13A2 for HCC was explored. GO and KEGG pathway enrichments were performed to predict ATP13A2-mediated biological functions. Besides, the correlations between ATP13A2 and key regulators involved in cell cycle and metastasis, the status of different tumor-infiltrating immune cells was investigated. RESULTS ATP13A2 was frequently upregulated in 63 HCC tissues relatively to matched non-tumor tissues. The level of ATP13A2 significantly correlated with tumor stage and tumor grade. HCC patients with higher levels of ATP13A2 had a worse prognosis. Moreover, multivariate survival analysis supported ATP13A2 to be an independent prognostic factor for HCC. GO and KEGG analysis indicated a potential role of ATP13A2 on regulating cell cycle, metastasis, and immune infiltrates. Especially, the level of ATP13A2 was positively correlated with CCNB1, CCND3, CDC25B, CDK4, Vimentin, MMP9, MMP14, and LMNB2. A positive correlation was noticed between ATP13A2 and infiltration levels of B cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, monocytes, M2 macrophages, and exhausted T cells in HCC. CONCLUSION Upregulation of ATP13A2 is a common feature as well as an independent prognostic biomarker for HCC. ATP13A2 are associated with key regulators involved in cell cycle, metastasis, and immune infiltrates in HCC, and may act as a potential immunotherapy target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlan Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian Province, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian Province, China
- Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian Province, China
| | - Siyi Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian Province, China
| | - Zhou Yu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian Province, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian Province, China
- Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian Province, China
| | - Yansong Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian Province, China
| | - Bin Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian Province, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian Province, China
- Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian Province, China
| | - Qishui Ou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian Province, China.
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian Province, China.
- Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian Province, China.
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20
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Does aspirin reduce the incidence, recurrence, and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma? A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2023; 79:39-61. [PMID: 36334108 DOI: 10.1007/s00228-022-03414-y] [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: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Aspirin has been suggested to reduce the risk of cancer. However, previous studies have been inconsistent regarding the relationship between aspirin use and the risk of occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of aspirin on clinical outcomes in patients with HCC in a meta-analysis and to explore the possible dose-response relationship. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted in 10 electronic databases and 4 registries. The combined hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using a random-effects model with 95% confidence interval (CIs) to assess the effect of aspirin on the risk of HCC. Relevant subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS The results show that aspirin use correlated with lower incidence of HCC (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.71-0.80), decreased risk of HCC recurrence (HR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.65-0.96), and reduced mortality (HR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.60-0.87). The results of the subgroup analysis showed that aspirin use was consistently associated with reduced incidence of HCC across different regions, study designs, and populations. A linear relationship was found for both dosage and duration of aspirin use. An increased of bleeding with aspirin use among patients was also observed (HR 1.10, 95% CI: 1.02-1.20). CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis found that aspirin use was independently associated with a reduced risk of HCC incidence, recurrence, and death. Furthermore, aspirin use influenced HCC occurrence in a dose-dependent and duration-dependent manner. However, an increased risk of bleeding with aspirin use was noted.
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21
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Li X, Sun X, Wang B, Li Y, Tong J. Oncolytic virus-based hepatocellular carcinoma treatment: Current status, intravenous delivery strategies, and emerging combination therapeutic solutions. Asian J Pharm Sci 2023; 18:100771. [PMID: 36896445 PMCID: PMC9989663 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajps.2022.100771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Current treatments for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have limited success in improving patients' quality of life and prolonging life expectancy. The clinical need for more efficient and safe therapies has contributed to the exploration of emerging strategies. Recently, there has been increased interest in oncolytic viruses (OVs) as a therapeutic modality for HCC. OVs undergo selective replication in cancerous tissues and kill tumor cells. Strikingly, pexastimogene devacirepvec (Pexa-Vec) was granted an orphan drug status in HCC by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2013. Meanwhile, dozens of OVs are being tested in HCC-directed clinical and preclinical trials. In this review, the pathogenesis and current therapies of HCC are outlined. Next, we summarize multiple OVs as single therapeutic agents for the treatment of HCC, which have demonstrated certain efficacy and low toxicity. Emerging carrier cell-, bioengineered cell mimetic- or nonbiological vehicle-mediated OV intravenous delivery systems in HCC therapy are described. In addition, we highlight the combination treatments between oncolytic virotherapy and other modalities. Finally, the clinical challenges and prospects of OV-based biotherapy are discussed, with the aim of continuing to develop a fascinating approach in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinguo Li
- The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China
| | - Xiaonan Sun
- The 4th People's Hospital of Shenyang, Shenyang 110031, China
| | - Bingyuan Wang
- The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China
| | - Yiling Li
- The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China
| | - Jing Tong
- The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China
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22
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Wang J, Wu R, Sun JY, Lei F, Tan H, Lu X. An overview: Management of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Biosci Trends 2022; 16:405-425. [PMID: 36476621 DOI: 10.5582/bst.2022.01109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has constituted a significant health burden worldwide, and patients with advanced HCC, which is stage C as defined by the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system, have a poor overall survival of 6-8 months. Studies have indicated the significant survival benefit of treatment based on sorafenib, lenvatinib, or atezolizumab-bevacizumab with reliable safety. In addition, the combination of two or more molecularly targeted therapies (first- plus second-line) has become a hot topic recently and is now being extensively investigated in patients with advanced HCC. In addition, a few biomarkers have been investigated and found to predict drug susceptibility and prognosis, which provides an opportunity to evaluate the clinical benefits of current therapies. In addition, many therapies other than tyrosine kinase inhibitors that might have additional survival benefits when combined with other therapeutic modalities, including immunotherapy, transarterial chemoembolization, radiofrequency ablation, hepatectomy, and chemotherapy, have also been examined. This review provides an overview on the current understanding of disease management and summarizes current challenges with and future perspectives on advanced HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jincheng Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Rui Wu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jin-Yu Sun
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Feifei Lei
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Liver Disease Laboratory, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
| | - Huabing Tan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Liver Disease Laboratory, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaojie Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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23
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Li Z, Li Y, Ouyang Q, Li X, Huang J. Exosome-derived GTF2H2 from Huh7 cells can inhibit endothelial cell viability, migration, tube formation, and permeability. Tissue Cell 2022; 79:101922. [PMID: 36116407 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2022.101922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Given that HCC is an extraordinarily heterogeneous malignant disease, finding an effective therapeutic strategy for treating it has been difficult. Because of the importance of angiogenesis in tumorigenesis, targeting the more homogenous HCC endothelial cells may be a better therapeutic strategy. In a unpublished manuscript, we found that the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and matrix metalloproteinase 2/9 (MMP2/9) were reduced in human HCC tissues that overexpressed DNA damage repair gene general transcription factor II subunit H2 (GTF2H2). This suggested that GTF2H2 may have an inhibitory effect on angiogenesis. Therefore, we hypothesized that GTF2H2 acts as an anti-angiogenesis gene. However, our results showed that GTF2H2 overexpression had no effect on endothelial cell viability, migration, or permeability. To our surprise, treating human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with the culture medium of Huh 7 cells overexpressing GTF2H2 could inhibit their viability, migration, and permeability. We then isolated the culture medium into exosomes and other components from the culture medium. Only GTF2H2-enriched exosomes could inhibit the viability, migration, tube formation, and permeability of HUVECs. Our results suggest that overexpressing GTF2H2 had no effect on HUVECs, while GTF2H2 enriched exosomes from Huh7 cells could inhibit HUVEC phenotypes such as proliferation and migration. Therefore, GTF2H2-enriched exosomes can possibly be utilized as a novel drug for treating HCC and also serve as a potential molecular target for inhibiting tumor angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenkun Li
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong-An Road, Xi-Cheng District, Beijing 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanmeng Li
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong-An Road, Xi-Cheng District, Beijing 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Qin Ouyang
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong-An Road, Xi-Cheng District, Beijing 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojin Li
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong-An Road, Xi-Cheng District, Beijing 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Huang
- Beijing Clinical Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yong-An Road, Xi-Cheng District, Beijing 100050, People's Republic of China.
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24
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Zhang X, Ding J, Feng L, Wu H, Xu Z, Tao W, Wang Y, Zheng Y, Ling Y, Zhu P. Development of novel nitric oxide-releasing quinolinedione/furoxan hybrids as NQO1 inhibitors for intervention of drug-resistant hepatocellular cancer. Bioorg Chem 2022; 129:106174. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.106174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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25
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Rizzo A, Carloni R, Ricci AD, Cusmai A, Laforgia M, Calabrò C, Ungaro V, Oreste D, Sollitto M, Palmiotti G, Brandi G. Treatment-related adverse events of first-line immunotherapy versus sorafenib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2022; 22:323-329. [DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2023.2152793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Rizzo
- Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale di Oncologia Medica per la Presa in Carico Globale del Paziente Oncologico “Don Tonino Bello”, I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, Viale Orazio Flacco 65, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Riccardo Carloni
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni - 15, Bologna, Italy
| | - Angela Dalia Ricci
- Medical Oncology Unit, National Institute of Gastroenterology, “Saverio de Bellis” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Italy
| | - Antonio Cusmai
- Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale di Oncologia Medica per la Presa in Carico Globale del Paziente Oncologico “Don Tonino Bello”, I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, Viale Orazio Flacco 65, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Mariarita Laforgia
- S.C. Farmacia e U.Ma.C.A., Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II-Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Concetta Calabrò
- S.C. Farmacia e U.Ma.C.A., Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II-Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Valentina Ungaro
- S.C. Farmacia e U.Ma.C.A., Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II-Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Donato Oreste
- Radiology Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, Bari, Italy
| | - Mario Sollitto
- Radiology Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, Bari, Italy
| | - Gennaro Palmiotti
- Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale di Oncologia Medica per la Presa in Carico Globale del Paziente Oncologico “Don Tonino Bello”, I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, Viale Orazio Flacco 65, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Brandi
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni - 15, Bologna, Italy
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Proteome expression profiling of red blood cells during the tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276904. [DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been clinically elucidated, leading to an increased mortality rate in patients with HCC. HCC is a systemic disease related to disorders of blood homeostasis, and the association between red blood cells (RBCs) and HCC tumorigenesis remains elusive. We performed data-independent acquisition proteomic analyses of 72 clinical RBC samples, including HCC (n = 30), liver cirrhosis (LC, n = 17), and healthy controls (n = 25), and characterized the clinical relevance of RBCs and tumorigenesis in HCC. We observed dynamic changes in RBCs during HCC tumorigenesis, and our findings indicate that, based on the protein expression profiles of RBCs, LC is a developmental stage closely approaching HCC. The expression of hemoglobin (HbA and HbF) in peripheral blood dynamically changed during HCC tumorigenesis, suggesting that immature erythroid cells exist in peripheral blood of HCC patients and that erythropoiesis is influenced by the onset of LC. We also identified the disrupted autophagy pathway in RBCs at the onset of LC, which persisted during HCC tumorigenesis. The oxytocin and GnRH pathways were disrupted and first identified during the development of LC into HCC. Significantly differentially expressed SMIM1, ANXA7, HBA1, and HBE1 during tumorigenesis were verified as promising biomarkers for the early diagnosis of HCC using parallel reaction monitoring technology. This study may enhance the understanding of HCC tumorigenesis from a different point of view and aid the early diagnosis of HCC.
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27
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Prognostic significance of combined α-fetoprotein and CA19-9 for hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy. World J Surg Oncol 2022; 20:346. [PMID: 36258212 PMCID: PMC9580117 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-022-02806-9] [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: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) varies considerably among patients with the same disease stage and characteristics, and only about two thirds show high levels of α-fetoprotein (AFP), a common prognostic indicator for HCC. Here, we assessed whether the combination of presurgical serum levels of AFP and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) can predict the prognosis of HCC patients after hepatectomy. Methods The clinicopathological characteristics and post-hepatectomy outcomes of 711 HCC patients were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were classified into three groups based on whether their preoperative serum levels of both AFP and CA19-9 were higher than the respective cut-offs of 400 ng/ml and 37 U/ml [double positive (DP)], the level of only one marker was higher than the cut-off [single positive (SP)], or neither level was higher than the cut-off [negative (N)]. The overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were estimated using Kaplan–Meier curves. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed to identify the clinicopathological factors significantly associated with HCC prognosis. Results The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year RFS and OS rates in the N group were significantly higher than those in the SP group, while the DP group showed the lowest rates. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that large tumor size (> 5 cm), multiple tumors (≥ 2), incomplete tumor capsule, positive microvascular invasion, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer C stage, and CA19-9 level > 37 U/mL were independent risk factors for RFS and OS in HCC patients. Moreover, aspartate aminotransferase levels > 40 U/L proved to be an independent prognostic factor for OS. Conclusion The combination of serum AFP and CA19-9 levels may be a useful prognostic marker for HCC patients after hepatectomy.
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Is There a Place for Somatostatin Analogues for the Systemic Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Immunotherapy Era? LIVERS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/livers2040024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have a very limited survival rate even after the recent inclusion of kinase inhibitors or immune checkpoint inhibitors in the therapeutic armamentarium. A significant problem with the current proposed therapies is the considerable cost of treatment that may be a serious obstacle in low- and middle-income countries. Implementation of somatostatin analogues (SSAs) has the potential to overcome this obstacle, but due to some negative studies their extensive evaluation came to a halt. However, experimental evidence, both in vitro and in vivo, has revealed various mechanisms of the anti-tumor effects of these analogues, including inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and angiogenesis and induction of apoptosis. Favorable indirect effects such as inhibition of liver inflammation and fibrosis and influence on macrophage-mediated innate immunity have also been noted and are presented in this review. Furthermore, the clinical application of SSAs is both presented and compared with clinical trials of kinase and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). No direct trials have been performed to compare survival in the same cohort of patients, but the cost of treatment with SSAs is a fraction compared to the other modalities and with significantly less serious side effects. As in immunotherapy, patients with viral HCC (excluding alcoholics), as well as Barcelona stage B or C and Child A patients, are the best candidates, since they usually have a survival prospect of at least 6 months, necessary for optimum results. Reasons for treatment failures are also discussed and further research is proposed.
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Chen M, Wu GB, Xie ZW, Shi DL, Luo M. A novel diagnostic four-gene signature for hepatocellular carcinoma based on artificial neural network: Development, validation, and drug screening. Front Genet 2022; 13:942166. [PMID: 36246599 PMCID: PMC9554094 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.942166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers with high mortality in the world. HCC screening and diagnostic models are becoming effective strategies to reduce mortality and improve the overall survival (OS) of patients. Here, we expected to establish an effective novel diagnostic model based on new genes and explore potential drugs for HCC therapy. Methods: The gene expression data of HCC and normal samples (GSE14811, GSE60502, GSE84402, GSE101685, GSE102079, GSE113996, and GSE45436) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to distinguish two differentially expressed genes (DEGs), diagnostic candidate genes, and functional enrichment pathways. QRT-PCR was used to validate the expression of diagnostic candidate genes. A diagnostic model based on candidate genes was established by an artificial neural network (ANN). Drug sensitivity analysis was used to explore potential drugs for HCC. CCK-8 assay was used to detect the viability of HepG2 under various presentative chemotherapy drugs. Results: There were 82 DEGs in cancer tissues compared to normal tissue. Protein–protein interaction (PPI), Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses and infiltrating immune cell analysis were administered and analyzed. Diagnostic-related genes of MT1M, SPINK1, AKR1B10, and SLCO1B3 were selected from DEGs and used to construct a diagnostic model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were 0.910 and 0.953 in the training and testing cohorts, respectively. Potential drugs, including vemurafenib, LOXO-101, dabrafenib, selumetinib, Arry-162, and NMS-E628, were found as well. Vemurafenib, dabrafenib, and selumetinib were observed to significantly affect HepG2 cell viability. Conclusion: The diagnostic model based on the four diagnostic-related genes by the ANN could provide predictive significance for diagnosis of HCC patients, which would be worthy of clinical application. Also, potential chemotherapy drugs might be effective for HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Urology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guang-Bo Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Wen Xie
- Department of Urology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan-Li Shi
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Dan-Li Shi, ; Meng Luo,
| | - Meng Luo
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Dan-Li Shi, ; Meng Luo,
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Chen W, Ma Z, Yu L, Mao X, Ma N, Guo X, Yin X, Jiang F, Wang Q, Wang J, Fang M, Lin N, Zhang Y. Preclinical investigation of artesunate as a therapeutic agent for hepatocellular carcinoma via impairment of glucosylceramidase-mediated autophagic degradation. EXPERIMENTAL & MOLECULAR MEDICINE 2022; 54:1536-1548. [PMID: 36123535 PMCID: PMC9535011 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-022-00780-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Artesunate (ART) has been indicated as a candidate drug for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Glucosylceramidase (GBA) is required for autophagic degradation. Whether ART regulates autophagic flux by targeting GBA in HCC remains to be defined. Herein, our data demonstrated that the dramatic overexpression of GBA was significantly associated with aggressive progression and short overall survival times in HCC. Subsequent experiments revealed an association between autophagic activity and GBA expression in clinical HCC samples, tumor tissues from a rat model of inflammation-induced HCC and an orthotopic mouse model, and human HCC cell lines. Interestingly, probe labeling identified GBA as an ART target, which was further verified by both a glutathione-S-transferase pulldown assay and surface plasmon resonance analysis. The elevated protein expression of LC3B, the increased numbers of GFP-LC3B puncta and double-membrane vacuoles, and the enhanced expression of SQSTM1/p62 indicated that the degradation of autophagosomes in HCC cells was inhibited by ART treatment. Both the in vitro and in vivo data revealed that autophagosome accumulation through targeting of GBA was responsible for the anti-HCC effects of ART. In summary, this preclinical study identified GBA as one of the direct targets of ART, which may have promising potential to inhibit lysosomal autophagy for HCC therapy. Confirmation that the malaria drug artesunate targets a key enzyme overexpressed in aggressive liver cancer suggests it may be a novel therapeutic option for the disease. High levels of an enzyme called glucosylceramidase (GBA) are associated with poor prognosis in liver cancer, according to research conducted by Yanqiong Zhang and Na Lin at the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, and co-workers. In experiments on rat and mouse models and human cell lines, the team demonstrated that high GBA levels over activated autophagic flux, accelerated the rate at which cellular material may be degraded and recycled in balanced, healthy cells. This disturbance enables liver cancer to progress. The researchers found that artesunate can suppress GBA expression levels and restore normal autophagic flux, boosting the drug’s anticancer activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjia Chen
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Zhaochen Ma
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Lingxiang Yu
- The Fifth Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Xia Mao
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Nan Ma
- Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, 100700, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodong Guo
- The Fifth Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Xiaoli Yin
- College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Funeng Jiang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Clinical Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Qian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jigang Wang
- Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, 100700, Beijing, China
| | - Mingliang Fang
- Nanyang Technology University of Singapore, APT11-04, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Na Lin
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Yanqiong Zhang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
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Gu EM, Liu YN, Pan L, Hu Y, Ye X, Luo P. A high throughput method for Monitoring of Sorafenib, regorafenib, cabozantinib and their metabolites with UPLC-MS/MS in rat plasma. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:955263. [PMID: 36160432 PMCID: PMC9493307 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.955263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
As multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors, sorafenib, regorafenib and cabozantinib are widely used in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for systemic therapies with anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic effects. Nevertheless, adverse effects or insufficient efficacy appear frequently due to the plasma concentration with individual variability of these drugs. To ensure the curative effect and safety by therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), this study developed a high throughput method to quantify sorafenib, regorafenib, cabozantinib and their active metabolites in plasma simultaneously. The chromatographic separation analysis achievement was performed on a Waters-ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column by UPLC-MS/MS system using a gradient elution of solvent A (acetonitrile) and solvent B (water with 0.1% formic acid) in 3.0 min. This method presented satisfactory results of specificity, precision (the intra-day coefficient of variation was between 2.5% and 6.6%, and the inter-day coefficient of variation was between 4.0% and 11.1%) and accuracy (within ±15% for intra-day and inter-day), as well as the stability under certain conditions, the matrix effect in plasma, and extraction recovery (75.6%–94.4%). The linearity of each analyte in the proper concentration scope indicated excellent. This study strictly complied with the performance rules of assay validation in biological medium proposed by FDA and was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study in rats. Thus, it would be an advantageous option to research the relationship between concentration-efficacy and concentration-toxic in HCC patients who were supposed to take these medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Er-Min Gu
- The First People’s Hospital of Jiashan, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ya-Nan Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lvjun Pan
- The First People’s Hospital of Jiashan, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yingying Hu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xuemei Ye
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- *Correspondence: Pingping Luo, ; Xuemei Ye,
| | - Pingping Luo
- The People’s Hospital of Lishui, Lishui, Zhejiang, China
- *Correspondence: Pingping Luo, ; Xuemei Ye,
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Targeted Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Old and New Opportunities. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14164028. [PMID: 36011021 PMCID: PMC9406380 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14164028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primitive cancer of the liver, accounting for 90% of all recorded cases. HCC is the third most common cause of cancer-related death, with a 5-year survival rate of just 3%. In terms of the advanced stages, systemic treatments have allowed patients to achieve clinical benefits, although the prognosis remains very poor. In the past few decades, new molecular targeted therapies have been developed and clinically evaluated with interesting results. However, on the basis of the poor prognoses and the meager benefits deriving from the available systemic therapies, research into new treatments is extremely necessary. In this review, we focus on the available systemic therapies for advanced HCC, with a look toward the future. Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primitive cancer of the liver, accounting for 90% of all recorded cases. HCC is the third most common cause of cancer-related death, with a 5-year survival rate of just 3%. In the advanced stages, systemic treatments allow doctors to obtain clinical benefits, although the prognosis remains very poor. In the past few decades, new molecular targeted therapies against receptor tyrosine kinases have been developed and clinically evaluated. Sorafenib was the first oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) approved for the treatment of advanced HCC in 2007. Subsequently, other TKIs, including Cabozantinib, Regorafenib, Lenvatinib, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) inhibitors such as Ramucirumab and VEGF inhibitors such as Bevacizumab have been approved as first- or second-line treatments. More recently, the combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and VEGF inhibitors (Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab) have been analyzed and approved for the treatment of advanced HCC. On the basis of the poor prognoses and the meager benefits deriving from the available systemic therapies, research into new treatments is extremely necessary. In this review, we focus on the available systemic therapies for advanced HCC, with a look toward the future.
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M6A Modifier-Mediated Methylation Characterized by Diverse Prognosis, Tumor Microenvironment, and Immunotherapy Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:2513813. [PMID: 36016585 PMCID: PMC9398803 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2513813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Objective. Emerging evidence highlights the clinical implications of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification in HCC. Yet, the roles of m6A modification in modulating cancer immunity and shaping tumor microenvironment (TME) are undefined in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods. Here, m6A modification classification was determined for HCC through 23 m6A modifier levels by employing consensus clustering approach. Prognosis analysis was presented for comparing the differences in survival outcomes. The ssGSEA and ESTIMATE approaches were adopted for evaluating the abundances of tumor-infiltrating immune cell populations. The m6A scoring system was computed for reflecting m6A modification classification via PCA algorithm. Results. Three m6A modifier-mediated modification patterns were established among HCC specimens, which were characterized by different prognosis, signaling pathways, and TME features. After extracting m6A phenotype-associated DEGs, we determined m6A scores in individual HCC and stratified patients into high- and low-score groups. Patients with low m6A score displayed the survival advantage and higher sensitivity to gemcitabine. Moreover, those with low m6A score possessed the better anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapeutic response in the IMvigor210 immunotherapy cohort. Conclusion. Our findings highlighted that m6A modification exerted a nonnegligible role in remodeling diverse and complex TME. Quantification of the m6A modification patterns of individual HCC may enhance the comprehension of TME features and facilitate immunotherapeutic plans.
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Akada K, Koyama N, Miura Y, Aoshima K. Nationwide database analysis of insomnia, depression, and sleeping pill prescriptions in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Curr Med Res Opin 2022; 38:1333-1339. [PMID: 35608320 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2022.2081451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To clarify the status of insomnia and depression and the prescription of sleeping pills in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients before and after HCC diagnosis and treatment. METHODS Patients' data from a Japanese health insurance claims database were analyzed retrospectively to determine the incidence of insomnia and depression and their association with sleeping pill prescriptions during the 6 months before and after HCC diagnosis and treatment. RESULTS A total of 9,109 HCC patients (median age at diagnosis = 71.5 years, 68.1% male) were analyzed. The incidences of insomnia and depression increased significantly after HCC diagnosis. Insomnia was reported in 15.0% of patients before diagnosis, and it increased to 27.6% after diagnosis. Similarly, depression was reported in 6.3% and 11.3% before and after diagnosis, respectively. The incidences of insomnia and depression before diagnosis were higher in patients with concomitant liver diseases including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatic encephalopathy. However, the rate of sleeping pill prescription was significantly lower in patients with concomitant liver diseases after diagnosis. The incidence of fracture was higher in insomnia or depression patients than others and in patients treated with sleeping pills than without before and after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS HCC patients had increased risks of insomnia and depression after diagnosis. The high risk of fracture in HCC patients with insomnia and depression and treated with sleeping pills suggests that it is difficult to optimize the management of HCC patients, especially those with concomitant liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keishi Akada
- hhc Data Creation Center, Eisai Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Koyama
- Government Relations Strategy Department, Eisai Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuji Miura
- hhc Data Creation Center, Eisai Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ken Aoshima
- hhc Data Creation Center, Eisai Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan
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Sagmeister P, Daza J, Ofner A, Ziesch A, Ye L, Ben Khaled N, Ebert M, Mayerle J, Teufel A, De Toni EN, Munker S. Comparative Response of HCC Cells to TKIs: Modified in vitro Testing and Descriptive Expression Analysis. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2022; 9:595-607. [PMID: 35845819 PMCID: PMC9278726 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s356333] [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: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Although the treatment paradigm for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has recently shifted in favour of checkpoint inhibitor (CPI)-based treatment options, the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) currently approved for the treatment of HCC are expected to remain the cornerstone of HCC treatment alone or in combination with CPIs. Despite considerable research efforts, no biomarker capable of predicting the response to specific TKIs has been validated. Thus, personalized approaches to HCC may aid in determining optimal treatment lines for 2nd and 3rd lines. To identify new biomarkers, we examined differential sensitivity and investigated potential transcriptomic predictors. Methods To this aim, the sensitivity of nine HCC cell lines to sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, and cabozantinib was evaluated by a prolonged treatment scheme to determine their respective growth rate inhibition concentrations (GR50). Subgroups discriminated by GR50 values underwent differential expression and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Results The nine cell lines showed broadly different sensitivities to different TKIs. GR50 values of sorafenib and regorafenib clustered closer in all cell lines, whereas treatments with lenvatinib and cabozantinib showed diversified GR50 values. GSEA showed the activation of specific pathways in sensitive vs non-sensitive cell lines. A signature consisting of 14 biomarkers (GAGE12H, GJB6, PTCHD3, PRH1-PRR4, C6orf222, HBB, C17orf99, GOLGA6A, CRYAA, CCL23, RP11-347C12.3, RP11-514O12.4, FAM180B, and TMPRSS4) discriminates the cell lines' response into three distinct treatment profiles: 1) equally sensible to sorafenib, regorafenib and cabozantinib, 2) sensible to lenvatinib, and 3) more sensible to regorafenib than sorafenib. Conclusion We observed diverse responses to either of the four TKIs. Subgroup analysis of TKI effectiveness showed distinct transcriptomic profiles and signaling pathways associated with responsiveness. This prompts more extensive studies to explore and validate pharmacogenomic and transcriptomic strategies for a personalized treatment approach, particularly after the failure of CPI treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jimmy Daza
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Baden Wurttenberg, Germany
| | - Andrea Ofner
- Department of Medicine II, LMU Munich, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Andreas Ziesch
- Department of Medicine II, LMU Munich, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Liangtao Ye
- Department of Medicine II, LMU Munich, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.,Liver Center Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.,Center of Digestive Disease, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Najib Ben Khaled
- Department of Medicine II, LMU Munich, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.,Liver Center Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Matthias Ebert
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Baden Wurttenberg, Germany.,Center for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health Baden-Württenberg (CPDBW), Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Baden Wurttenberg, Germany
| | - Julia Mayerle
- Department of Medicine II, LMU Munich, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Andreas Teufel
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Baden Wurttenberg, Germany.,Center for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health Baden-Württenberg (CPDBW), Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Baden Wurttenberg, Germany
| | - Enrico N De Toni
- Department of Medicine II, LMU Munich, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.,Liver Center Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Stefan Munker
- Department of Medicine II, LMU Munich, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.,Liver Center Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
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Li L, Wu W, Yin M. Effect of Hematocrit Injury on the Survival Rate of Advanced Malignant Tumors and Its Clinical Significance. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2022; 2022:4968754. [PMID: 35756408 PMCID: PMC9217579 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4968754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Objective To investigate the effect of logistic multivariate analysis on the survival rate of advanced malignant tumors and to evaluate the effect of erythrocyte storage injury on the survival rate of advanced malignant tumors and its clinical significance. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 120 advanced cancer patients who received blood transfusion in Shaanxi Cancer Hospital from March 2018 to June 2019, and the risk factors for death were analyzed. A total of 72 advanced cancer patients admitted to hospital from March 2019 to June 2021 were included in the study. The patients with red blood cell transfusion storage time ≤ 14 d were the study group (n = 36), and the patients with red blood cell transfusion storage time > 14 d were the control group (n = 36). Compare the total efficiency of blood transfusion. The levels of Hb, erythrocyte count, hematocrit (HCT), blood oxygen saturation (SPO2), creatinine (Cr), erythrocyte deformability index, whole blood, erythrocyte, and hemoglobin before and after blood transfusion were compared, and the adverse reactions of blood transfusion were recorded. Results Dyspnea and delirium were significantly associated with patient survival time (P < 0.05). Red blood cell storage time ≤ 14 days, Lym% < 12%, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) > 500 U/L, and ALB < 30 g/L were significantly correlated with survival time. Karnofsky performance status (KPS) < 30, delirium, LDH > 500 U/L, and albumin (ALB) < 30 g/L were independent influencing factors of survival (P < 0.05). The overall effective rate of the research group was higher (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the study group was lower (P < 0.05). The levels of Hb, red blood cell count, and HCT in the study group were higher (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the SPO2 level and the red blood cell deformability index were higher in the study group (P < 0.05). After blood transfusion, the level of (diphosphoglycerate) DPG in the study group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The length of hospital stay in the study group was significantly shortened (P < 0.05). The nosocomial infection rate and case fatality rate in the study group were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Conclusion Red blood cell storage time ≤ 14 d, LYM% < 12%, LDH > 500 U/L, and ALB < 30 g/L are all significantly correlated with survival time. KPS < 30, delirium, LDH > 500 U/L, and ALB < 30 g/L were independent factors for survival (P < 0.05). Transfusion of red blood cells stored for ≤14 days in patients with advanced malignant tumors can significantly increase the effective infusion rate, improve anemia status, shorten hospital stay, and reduce mortality and risk of nosocomial infection and is worthy of clinical promotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Li
- Shaanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital Pathology Department, 710068, China
| | - Weibin Wu
- Shaanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital Transfusion Department, 710068, China
| | - Mingdi Yin
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine Faculty of Medicine and Technology Department of Laboratory, 710068, China
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Peptide-Conjugated Aggregation-Induced Emission Fluorogenic Probe for Glypican-3 Protein Detection and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Imaging. CHEMOSENSORS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/chemosensors10050195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality on a global scale, and the development of accurate detection and imaging methods for HCC cells is urgently needed. Herein, by connecting peptide L5, which can specifically bind to the overexpressed Glypican-3 (GPC-3) protein of HCC cells with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) moiety ammonium cation-functionalized 9,10-distyrylanthracene (NDSA) via the “click” reaction, we synthesized a fluorescent probe NDSA-L5. In an aqueous solution, the probe shows weak emission, whereas, in the presence of the GPC-3 protein, bright fluorescence can be obtained since NDSA-L5 binds to the GPC-3 protein, leading to the restricted intramolecular movement of AIE-active NDSA-L5. The imaging and flow cytometry experiments demonstrate that the NDSA-L5 probe can rapidly accumulate in the subcutaneous HCC cells and liver tumor tissue and shows a potential application in early detection and surgical navigation for HCC cancer.
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Wang Q, Tang Y, Ge Y, Zhang S, Zheng M. Long non-coding RNA NRAV enhances proliferation and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by modulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Bioengineered 2022; 13:10026-10037. [PMID: 35436415 PMCID: PMC9161990 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2062977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Many dysregulated lncRNAs have been reported to perform an integral function in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) NRAV in HCC has not been elucidated. To address this issue, we investigated the function of NRAV in HCC in this research. Through bioinformatics prediction and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation, we found that NRAV plays an upmodulating role in HCC cells and tissues, and patients with high NRAV expression showed a poor prognosis. Cell viability was examined by conducting a Cell Counting Kit-8 analysis. Subsequently, the proliferation capacity of the cells was analyzed utilizing cell colony formation assay, and transwell invasion experiments were conducted to identify the cell invasion ability. To determine the association between NRAV and miR-199a-3p, and CDGSH iron-sulfur domain-containing protein 2 (CISD2), we conducted a dual luciferase assay. The protein and gene expressions were estimated utilizing Western blot. Findings illustrated that the overexpression of NRAV enhanced the HCC cell viability, proliferation and invasion, whereas they were inhibited significantly by down expression of NRAV. The dual-luciferase assay showed that miR-199a-3p is not only a target for NRAV but also interacts with the 3' UTR of CISD2 in HCC cells. MiR-199a-3p/CISD2 axis performs a function in NRAV-mediated cell behavior regulation. NRAV may trigger the Wnt/β-catenin signaling via the modulation of the miR-199a-3p/CISD2 axis in HCC. The findings of this work can provide novel insights into clinical diagnosis and the treatment of HCC in the future.Abbreviations: HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; LncRNA, long non-coding RNA; CISD2, CDGSH iron-sulfur domain-containing protein 2; CCK-8, Cell Counting Kit-8; cDNA, single-stranded complementary DNA; RT-qPCR, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction; BCA, bicinchoninic acid; ceRNA, competing endogenous RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxian Wang
- Department of Oncology, Tangshan City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei, China
| | - Yumei Tang
- Internal Medicine of Chinese Medicine, North China University of Science and Technology, Hebei, China
| | - Yuansen Ge
- Department of Oncology, Tangshan City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei, China
| | - Songming Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Tangshan City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei, China
| | - Meiyuan Zheng
- Department of Oncology, Tangshan City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei, China
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Mahmoud K, Swidan S, El-Nabarawi M, Teaima M. Lipid based nanoparticles as a novel treatment modality for hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive review on targeting and recent advances. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:109. [PMID: 35248080 PMCID: PMC8898455 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01309-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is considered one of the deadliest diseases with one of the highest disease burdens worldwide. Among the different types of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma is considered to be the most common type. Multiple conventional approaches are being used in treating hepatocellular carcinoma. Focusing on drug treatment, regular agents in conventional forms fail to achieve the intended clinical outcomes. In order to improve the treatment outcomes, utilizing nanoparticles-specifically lipid based nanoparticles-are considered to be one of the most promising approaches being set in motion. Multiple forms of lipid based nanoparticles exist including liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, microemulsion, nanoemulsion, phytosomes, lipid coated nanoparticles, and nanoassemblies. Multiple approaches are used to enhance the tumor uptake as well tumor specificity such as intratumoral injection, passive targeting, active targeting, and stimuli responsive nanoparticles. In this review, the effect of utilizing lipidic nanoparticles is being discussed as well as the different tumor uptake enhancement techniques used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Mahmoud
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El-Sherouk City, Cairo, 11837, Egypt
- The Center for Drug Research and Development (CDRD), Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El-Sherouk City, Cairo, 11837, Egypt
| | - Shady Swidan
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El-Sherouk City, Cairo, 11837, Egypt.
- The Center for Drug Research and Development (CDRD), Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El-Sherouk City, Cairo, 11837, Egypt.
| | - Mohamed El-Nabarawi
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, Egypt.
| | - Mahmoud Teaima
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, Egypt
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Fan Y, Xue H, Zheng H. Systemic Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Updates and Outlook. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2022; 9:233-263. [PMID: 35388357 PMCID: PMC8977221 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s358082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has emerged the culprit of cancer-related mortality worldwide with its dismal prognosis climbing. In recent years, ground-breaking progress has been made in systemic therapy for HCC. Targeted therapy based on specific signaling molecules, including sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, cabozantinib, and ramucirumab, has been widely used for advanced HCC (aHCC). Immunotherapies such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab greatly improve the survival of aHCC patients. More recently, synergistic combination therapy has boosted first-line (atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab) and second-line (ipilimumab in combination with nivolumab) therapeutic modalities for aHCC. This review aims to summarize recent updates of systemic therapy relying on the biological mechanisms of HCC, particularly highlighting the approved agents for aHCC. Adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy, as well as a combination with locoregional therapies (LRTs), are also discussed. Additionally, we describe the promising effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as systemic therapy on HCC. In this setting, the challenges and future directions of systemic therapy for HCC are also explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinjie Fan
- College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110847, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Oncology and Experimental Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, 067000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hang Xue
- Department of Oncology and Experimental Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, 067000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huachuan Zheng
- Department of Oncology and Experimental Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, 067000, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Huachuan Zheng, Department of Oncology and Experimental Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, 067000, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-0314-2279458, Fax +86-0314-2279458, Email
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Liu JKH, Irvine AF, Jones RL, Samson A. Immunotherapies for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Med 2022; 11:571-591. [PMID: 34953051 PMCID: PMC8817091 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are rapidly rising. This is particularly the case in the Western world, as a result of increasing rates of chronic liver disease, secondary to lifestyle-associated risk factors and the lack of an established screening programme for the general population. Traditionally, radical/curative treatment options for HCC, including liver transplantation and surgical resection are reserved for the minority of patients, presenting with an early stage cancer. For patients with advanced disease, Sorafenib and Lenvatinib were, until recently, the only licensed systemic treatments, and provided only limited survival benefits at the cost of a multitude of potential side effects. Recent scientific advances in the field of cancer immunotherapy have renewed significant interest in advanced HCC, in order to fulfil this apparent area of unmet clinical need. This has led to the success and recent regulatory approval of an Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab combination for the first-line treatment of advanced HCC following results from the IMbrave150 clinical trial in 2019, with further immune checkpoint inhibitors currently undergoing testing in advanced clinical trials. Furthermore, other cancer immunotherapies, including chimeric antigen receptor T-cells, dendritic cell vaccines and oncolytic viruses are also in early stage clinical trials, for the treatment of advanced HCC. This review will summarise the major approaches that have been and are currently in development for the systemic treatment of advanced HCC, their advantages, drawbacks, and predictions of where this revolutionary treatment field will continue to travel for the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin K. H. Liu
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's (LIMR)School of MedicineFaculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of LeedsSt James's University HospitalLeedsUK
| | - Andrew F. Irvine
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's (LIMR)School of MedicineFaculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of LeedsSt James's University HospitalLeedsUK
| | - Rebecca L. Jones
- Leeds Liver UnitSt James's University HospitalLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS TrustLeedsUK
| | - Adel Samson
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's (LIMR)School of MedicineFaculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of LeedsSt James's University HospitalLeedsUK
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Wang J, Wang Y, Steffani M, Stöß C, Ankerst D, Friess H, Hüser N, Hartmann D. Novel Risk Classification Based on Pyroptosis-Related Genes Defines Immune Microenvironment and Pharmaceutical Landscape for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020447. [PMID: 35053610 PMCID: PMC8773536 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence has indicated that pyroptosis functions in the development of cancer. Nonetheless, specific roles of pyroptosis-related genes in tumor progression, immune response, prognosis, and immunotherapy have not been thoroughly elucidated. After a comprehensive evaluation of pyroptosis genes, unsupervised clustering was performed to generate three distinct clusters from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples. Three distinct pyroptosis-related molecular subtypes comprising three gene clusters that had differential prognostic effects on patient survival were then identified. Immune characteristics analyses revealed diversified immune cell infiltration among the subtypes. Two clusters served as immune-hot phenotypes associated with significantly poorer survival compared to a remaining third immune-cold cluster. Among these, the immune-hot clusters were characterized by abundant adaptive immune cell infiltration, active CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, high total leukocyte counts and tumor growth status, and lower Th17 cell and M2 macrophage densities. Then, risk scores indicated that low-risk patients were more sensitive to anti-tumor therapy. Subsequently, we found a significant correlation between pyroptosis and prognosis in HCC and that pyroptosis genes drive the heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment. The risk scoring system, based on pyroptosis-related differentially expressed genes, was established to evaluate the individual outcomes and contribute to new insights into the molecular characterization of pyroptosis-related subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianye Wang
- Department of Surgery, TUM School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany; (J.W.); (M.S.); (C.S.); (H.F.); (N.H.)
| | - Ying Wang
- Chair of Livestock Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Liesel Beckman Str. 1, 85354 Freising, Germany;
| | - Marcella Steffani
- Department of Surgery, TUM School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany; (J.W.); (M.S.); (C.S.); (H.F.); (N.H.)
| | - Christian Stöß
- Department of Surgery, TUM School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany; (J.W.); (M.S.); (C.S.); (H.F.); (N.H.)
| | - Donna Ankerst
- Departments of Mathematics and Life Science Systems, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr. 3, 85748 Garching, Germany;
| | - Helmut Friess
- Department of Surgery, TUM School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany; (J.W.); (M.S.); (C.S.); (H.F.); (N.H.)
| | - Norbert Hüser
- Department of Surgery, TUM School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany; (J.W.); (M.S.); (C.S.); (H.F.); (N.H.)
| | - Daniel Hartmann
- Department of Surgery, TUM School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany; (J.W.); (M.S.); (C.S.); (H.F.); (N.H.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-89-4140-5886; Fax: +49-89-4140-4780
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Xu C, Li YM, Sun B, Zhong FJ, Yang LY. GNA14's interaction with RACK1 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma progression through reducing MAPK/JNK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Carcinogenesis 2021; 42:1357-1369. [PMID: 34657150 PMCID: PMC8598382 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgab098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Gαq subfamily proteins play critical roles in many biological functions including cardiovascular development, angiogenesis, and tumorigenesis of melanoma. However, the understanding of G Protein Subunit Alpha 14 (GNA14) in diseases, especially in cancers is limited. Here, we revealed that GNA14 was significantly low expression in Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples. Low GNA14 expression was correlated with aggressive clinicopathological features. Moreover, the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of high GNA14 expression HCC patients were much better than low GNA14 expression group. Lentivirus-mediated GNA14 knockdown significantly promoted the growth of liver cancer in vitro and in vivo. However, opposing results were observed when GNA14 is upregulated. Mechanistically, We identified receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) as a binding partner of GNA14 by co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry (MS). Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pull-down assay further verified the direct interaction between GNA14 and RACK1. RNA-Seq and loss- and gain-of-function assays also confirmed that GNA14 reduced the activity of both MAPK/JNK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways through RACK1. GNA14 synergized with U73122 (PLC inhibitor) to enhance this effect. Further studies suggested that GNA14 potentially competed with protein kinase C (PKC) to bind with RACK1, consequently reducing the stability of PKC. Moreover, we also showed that GNA14’supression of p-AKT protein level depended on sufficient RACK1 expression. In conclusion, we indicated a different role of GNA14, which acted as a suppressor inhibiting liver cancer progression through MAPK/JNK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Due to this, GNA14 served as a potentially valuable prognostic biomarker for liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Xu
- Liver Cancer Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Yi-Ming Li
- Liver Cancer Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Bo Sun
- Liver Cancer Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Fang-Jing Zhong
- Liver Cancer Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Lian-Yue Yang
- Liver Cancer Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China
- Department of Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +86-(0)731-84327365; Fax: (0)731-84327618;
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Li X, Yu Y, Liu L. Influence of aspirin use on clinical outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2021; 45:101545. [PMID: 33067170 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2020.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aspirin use has been suggested to reduce cancer risk. However, previous studies showed inconsistent results as for the association between aspirin use and mortality in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of aspirin use on clinical outcomes of patients with HCC in a meta-analysis. MATERIALS Studies were obtained via systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane's Library, and Embase databases. A random-effect model, which incorporated the potential heterogeneity, was used to pool the results. RESULTS Six retrospective cohort studies including 18,855 HCC patients that underwent liver resection or transarterial chemoembolization were included. Pooled results showed that compared to the non-users, aspirin users of HCC had significantly reduced risk of HCC recurrence (risk ratio [RR]: 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59-0.93, p = 0.01; I2 = 34%) and all-cause mortality (RR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.47-0.73, p < 0.001; I2 = 0%) after controlling of potential confounding factors. In addition, pooled results showed that aspirin use was not associated with a significantly increased risk of major bleeding events (RR: 1.42, 95% CI: 0.81-2.51, p = 0.22; I2 = 29%) in patients with HCC. CONCLUSIONS Evidence from retrospective studies suggests that aspirin use is associated with reduced recurrence and all-cause mortality of HCC. These results should be validated in prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Yiwu Central Hospital, Yiwu 322000, China.
| | - Yuexiao Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Yiwu Central Hospital, Yiwu 322000, China
| | - Liwen Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Yiwu Central Hospital, Yiwu 322000, China
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Mir-21 Suppression Promotes Mouse Hepatocarcinogenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194983. [PMID: 34638467 PMCID: PMC8508272 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a frequent cancer of the liver with limited therapeutic options. MicroRNAs are a class of small molecules regulating a wide range of cellular processes that are important for cancer development. Among these microRNAs, miR-21 is strongly upregulated in almost all human cancers including HCC, and is considered as a strong driver of cancer development, suggesting that its pharmacological inhibition might represent a potential therapy. In this study, we show that deletion of miR-21 in genetically engineered mice promotes instead the development of HCC in several mouse models of this liver cancer. We further show that the lack of miR-21 is associated with increases in the expression of oncogenes such as Cdc25a, subtle deregulations of the MAPK, HiPPO, and STAT3 signaling pathways, as well as alterations of the inflammatory/immune anti-tumoral responses in the liver, which overtime contribute to enhanced tumorigenesis and progression toward malignancy. These results call for cautiousness when considering miR-21 inhibition for therapeutic purposes in HCC. Abstract The microRNA 21 (miR-21) is upregulated in almost all known human cancers and is considered a highly potent oncogene and potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment. In the liver, miR-21 was reported to promote hepatic steatosis and inflammation, but whether miR-21 also drives hepatocarcinogenesis remains poorly investigated in vivo. Here we show using both carcinogen (Diethylnitrosamine, DEN) or genetically (PTEN deficiency)-induced mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), total or hepatocyte-specific genetic deletion of this microRNA fosters HCC development—contrasting the expected oncogenic role of miR-21. Gene and protein expression analyses of mouse liver tissues further indicate that total or hepatocyte-specific miR-21 deficiency is associated with an increased expression of oncogenes such as Cdc25a, subtle deregulations of the MAPK, HiPPO, and STAT3 signaling pathways, as well as alterations of the inflammatory/immune anti-tumoral responses in the liver. Together, our data show that miR-21 deficiency promotes a pro-tumoral microenvironment, which over time fosters HCC development via pleiotropic and complex mechanisms. These results question the current dogma of miR-21 being a potent oncomiR in the liver and call for cautiousness when considering miR-21 inhibition for therapeutic purposes in HCC.
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Martini G, Ciardiello D, Paragliola F, Nacca V, Santaniello W, Urraro F, Stanzione M, Niosi M, Dallio M, Federico A, Selvaggi F, Della Corte CM, Napolitano S, Ciardiello F, Martinelli E. How Immunotherapy Has Changed the Continuum of Care in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13184719. [PMID: 34572944 PMCID: PMC8466991 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13184719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The use of local treatment, such as surgical resection, liver transplant, and local ablation, has improved the survival of patients with HCC detected at an early stage. Until recently, the treatment of patients with metastatic disease was limited to the use of the multikinase inhibitor (MKI) sorafenib with a marginal effect on survival outcome. New target approaches, such as the oral MKI lenvatinib in first-line treatment and regorafenib, ramucirumab, and cabozantinib in later lines of therapy, have demonstrated efficacy in patients with preserved liver function (Child-Pugh class A) and good performance status. On the other hand, the implementation of immune checkpoint inhibitors directed against PD-1 (nivolumab and pembrolizumab), PD-L1 (atezolizumab), and anti-CTLA4 (ipilimumab) in the management of advanced HCC has strongly changed the continuum of care of HCC. Future research should include the evaluation of molecular biomarkers that can help patient selection and provide new insight on potential combined approaches. In this review, we provide an overview of the clinical evidence of the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in HCC, and discuss how immunotherapy has been implemented into the continuum of HCC care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Martini
- Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy; (G.M.); (D.C.); (F.P.); (V.N.); (C.M.D.C.); (S.N.); (F.C.)
| | - Davide Ciardiello
- Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy; (G.M.); (D.C.); (F.P.); (V.N.); (C.M.D.C.); (S.N.); (F.C.)
| | - Fernando Paragliola
- Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy; (G.M.); (D.C.); (F.P.); (V.N.); (C.M.D.C.); (S.N.); (F.C.)
| | - Valeria Nacca
- Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy; (G.M.); (D.C.); (F.P.); (V.N.); (C.M.D.C.); (S.N.); (F.C.)
| | - Walter Santaniello
- Chirurgia Epatobiliare e Trapianto di Fegato, A.O.R.N. Antonio Cardarelli, 80100 Naples, Italy;
| | - Fabrizio Urraro
- Radiologia, Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy;
| | - Maria Stanzione
- Malattie Infettive, Dipartimento di Salute Mentale e Fisica e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy;
| | - Marco Niosi
- Epato-Gastroenterologia, Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy; (M.N.); (M.D.); (A.F.)
| | - Marcello Dallio
- Epato-Gastroenterologia, Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy; (M.N.); (M.D.); (A.F.)
| | - Alessandro Federico
- Epato-Gastroenterologia, Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy; (M.N.); (M.D.); (A.F.)
| | - Francesco Selvaggi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche Avanzate, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy;
| | - Carminia Maria Della Corte
- Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy; (G.M.); (D.C.); (F.P.); (V.N.); (C.M.D.C.); (S.N.); (F.C.)
| | - Stefania Napolitano
- Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy; (G.M.); (D.C.); (F.P.); (V.N.); (C.M.D.C.); (S.N.); (F.C.)
| | - Fortunato Ciardiello
- Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy; (G.M.); (D.C.); (F.P.); (V.N.); (C.M.D.C.); (S.N.); (F.C.)
| | - Erika Martinelli
- Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy; (G.M.); (D.C.); (F.P.); (V.N.); (C.M.D.C.); (S.N.); (F.C.)
- Correspondence:
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Xu C, Li YM, Sun B, Zhong FJ, Yang LY. ATE1 Inhibits Liver Cancer Progression through RGS5-Mediated Suppression of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling. Mol Cancer Res 2021; 19:1441-1453. [PMID: 34158395 PMCID: PMC9398136 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-21-0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Arginyltransferase (ATE1) plays critical roles in many biological functions including cardiovascular development, angiogenesis, adipogenesis, muscle contraction, and metastasis of cancer. However, the role of ATE1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. In this study, we find that ATE1 plays an essential role in growth and malignancy of liver cancer. ATE1 expression is significantly reduced in human HCC samples compared with normal liver tissue. In addition, low ATE1 expression is correlated with aggressive clinicopathologic features and is an independent poor prognostic factor for overall survival and disease-free survival of patients with HCC. Lentivirus-mediated ATE1 knockdown significantly promoted liver cancer growth, migration, and disease progression in vitro and in vivo. Opposing results were observed when ATE1 was upregulated. Mechanistically, ATE1 accelerated the degradation of β-catenin and inhibited Wnt signaling by regulating turnover of Regulator of G Protein Signaling 5 (RGS5). Loss- and gain-of-function assays confirmed that RGS5 was a key effector of ATE1-mediated regulation of Wnt signaling. Further studies indicated that RGS5 might be involved in regulating the activity of GSK3-β, a crucial component of the cytoplasmic destruction complex. Treatment with a GSK inhibitor (CHIR99021) cooperated with ablation of ATE1 or RGS5 overexpression to promote Wnt/β-catenin signaling, but overexpression of ATE1 or RGS5 knockdown did not reverse the effect of GSK inhibitor. IMPLICATIONS: ATE1 inhibits liver cancer progression by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling and can serve as a potentially valuable prognostic biomarker for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Xu
- Liver Cancer Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yi-Ming Li
- Liver Cancer Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Bo Sun
- Liver Cancer Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Fang-Jing Zhong
- Liver Cancer Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lian-Yue Yang
- Liver Cancer Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Department of Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Corresponding Author: Lian-Yue Yang, Department of Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China. Phone: 731-8432-7365; Fax: 731-8432-7618; E-mail:
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Wu K, Teng M, Zhou W, Lu F, Zhou Y, Zeng J, Yang J, Liu X, Zhang Y, Ding Y, Shen W. Wogonin Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Activating Hippo Signalling. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 22:1551-1560. [PMID: 34431466 DOI: 10.2174/1871520621666210824105915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The current study aimed to illustrate whether wogonin influences HCC cell cycle progression and apoptosis by regulating Hippo signaling. <P> Methods: The effects of wogonin on HCC cell viability, cell cycle progression and apoptosis were analyzed by utilizing CCK-8 and flow cytometry. RNA-seq was employed to analyze the expression profiles between wogonin-treated and control HCC cells, and the selected RNA-seq transcripts were validated by reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect the distribution of YAP/TAZ in the nucleus and cytoplasm in HCC cells. Western blotting and human apoptosis array were performed to examine the expression of the indicated genes. <P> Results: We demonstrated that wogonin induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of HCC cell lines SMMC7721 and HCCLM3. RNA-seq analysis showed enrichment in genes associated with cell cycle progression and apoptosis following incubation with wogonin in HCC cells, and the pathways analysis further identified that Hippo signaling pathways highly altered in wogonin-treated cells. Specifically, wogonin increased the phosphorylation of MOB1 and LATS1, promoted translocation of endogenous YAP and TAZ from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and facilitated phosphorylation of YAP and TAZ. Notably, overexpression of YAP or TAZ partially abrogated the wogonin-mediated HCC cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and reversed wogonin-mediated suppression of Claspin. <P> Conclusion: Wogonin induced HCC cell cycle arrest and apoptosis probably by activating MOB1-LATS1 signaling to inhibit the activation of YAP and TAZ, and then decrease the expression of Claspin, suggesting that the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying wogonin-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis may be useful in HCC therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyan Wu
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu. China
| | - Man Teng
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu. China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu. China
| | - Fanglin Lu
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu. China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu. China
| | - Jing Zeng
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu. China
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu. China
| | - Xinnong Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu. China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu. China
| | - Yanbing Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu. China
| | - Weigan Shen
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu. China
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Qing X, Xu W, Zong J, Du X, Peng H, Zhang Y. Emerging treatment modalities for systemic therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. Biomark Res 2021; 9:64. [PMID: 34419152 PMCID: PMC8380325 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-021-00319-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has long been a major global clinical problem as one of the most common malignant tumours with a high rate of recurrence and mortality. Although potentially curative therapies are available for the early and intermediate stages, the treatment of patients with advanced HCC remains to be resolved. Fortunately, the past few years have shown the emergence of successful systemic therapies to treat HCC. At the molecular level, HCC is a heterogeneous disease, and current research on the molecular characteristics of HCC has revealed numerous therapeutic targets. Targeted agents based on signalling molecules have been successfully supported in clinical trials, and molecular targeted therapy has already become a milestone for disease management in patients with HCC. Immunotherapy, a viable approach for the treatment of HCC, recognizes the antigens expressed by the tumour and treats the tumour using the immune system of the host, making it both selective and specific. In addition, the pipeline for HCC is evolving towards combination therapies with promising clinical outcomes. More drugs designed to focus on specific pathways and immune checkpoints are being developed in the clinic. It has been demonstrated that some drugs can improve the prognosis of patients with HCC in first- or second-line settings, and these drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or are nearing approval. This review describes targeting pathways and systemic treatment strategies in HCC and summarizes effective targeted and immune-based drugs for patients with HCC and the problems encountered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Qing
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Wenjing Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jingjing Zong
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xuanlong Du
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Hao Peng
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yewei Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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D'Alessio A, Cammarota A, Prete MG, Pressiani T, Rimassa L. The evolving treatment paradigm of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: putting all the pieces back together. Curr Opin Oncol 2021; 33:386-394. [PMID: 33867478 DOI: 10.1097/cco.0000000000000744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The therapeutic landscape of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become notably complex in recent years. With this review, we aimed to put the most recent findings in perspective and tried to delineate the rapidly changing treatment algorithm. RECENT FINDINGS The combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab has become the new first-line standard of care treatment for unresectable HCC after the positive results of the phase 3 IMbrave150 study. Nivolumab monotherapy failed to demonstrate advantage versus sorafenib in the CheckMate 459 trial, while two different therapeutic strategies (sintilimab and bevacizumab biosimilar and donafenib) outperformed sorafenib in two phase 2/3 studies conducted in the Chinese population. Several immunotherapy combinations are currently under study in large phase 3 trials after promising results in earlier phase studies. About further lines of treatment, the combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab was approved for sorafenib-pretreated patients after the positive results of the phase 1/2 CheckMate 040 study and apatinib was proven effective in the Chinese population in a phase 2/3 study, while pembrolizumab as monotherapy did not show statistically significant superiority when compared with placebo in the KEYNOTE-240 study. SUMMARY Because of the growing complexity of advanced HCC treatment, the implementation of predictive biomarkers of response is eagerly needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio D'Alessio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonella Cammarota
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Giuseppina Prete
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Tiziana Pressiani
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, Humanitas Cancer Center, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
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