RASSF1A Ala133Ser polymorphism is associated with increased susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma in a Turkish population

Recent Updates on the Therapeutic Prospects of Reversion-Inducing Cysteine-Rich Protein with Kazal Motifs (RECK) in Liver Injuries

The reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK), a membrane-anchored glycoprotein, negatively regulates various membrane proteins involved in the tissue governing extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling such as metalloproteases (MMPs) and the sheddases ADAM10 and ADAM17. The significance of the present review is to summarize the current understanding of the pathophysiological role of RECK, a newly discovered signaling pathway associated with different liver injuries. Specifically, this review analyzes published data on the downregulation of RECK expression in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, liver-related cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), as well as in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In addition, this review discusses the regulation of RECK by inducers, such as FXR agonists. The RECK protein has also been suggested as a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker for liver injury or as a biomarker with predictive value for drug treatment efficacy.

Association of RASSF1A Ala133Ser polymorphism with cancer risk: a updated meta-analysis involving 7362 subjects

It has been demonstrated in many studies that the polymorphism of Ras association domain family 1 isoform A (RASSF1A) is related to tumor risk; however, this conclusion remains a controversy. In this study, we systemically retrieved relevant studies in electronic databases such as PUBMED, and EMBASE, and calculated odds ratios (ORs) as well as relevant 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Besides, meta-package in STATA version 12.0 was used. This meta-analysis finally included altogether 12 studies with 16 case-control articles. According to our data, the polymorphism of RASSF1A Ala133Ser was associated with tumor risk (Ser vs. Ala: OR = 1.68,95% CI = 1.20-2.36; Ala/Ser vs. Ala/Ala:OR = 1.63,95% CI = 1.16-2.27; Ser/Ser vs. Ala/Ala:OR = 3.06,95% CI = 1.91-4.89; Recessive model:OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.66-4.32; Dominant model: OR =1.72, 95% CI =1.20-2.45). Further, subgroup analyses stratified based on race and cancer type indicated this polymorphism is related to lung cancer(LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) susceptibility in Asians.In conclusion, we found that RASSF1A Ala133Ser polymorphism increased LC and HCC risk in Asians, which requires large-scale, delicately-designed researches for verification.

Investigation of the relationship between CTLA4 and the tumor suppressor RASSF1A and the possible mediating role of STAT4 in a cohort of Egyptian patients infected with hepatitis C virus with and without hepatocellular carcinoma

The Ras association domain family 1 isoform A (RASSF1A), cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) genes play a role in regulating the cell cycle, apoptosis, and the autoimmune response against cancer. We investigated the genotype frequency and the possible association of the rs2073498 (RASSF1A), rs5742909 (CTLA-4) and rs7574865 (STAT4) genetic variants with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-G4-mediated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression in Egyptian patients. Fifty patients with HCV infection, 50 patients with HCV-mediated HCC, and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. The investigated variants were genotyped based on polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The Ser133 mutant G4 variant of the rs2073498 SNP in RASSF1A exhibited a positive correlation with HCC incidence risk (OR = 0.571, 95% CI = 0.175-1.865, P < 0.001). The rs7574865 variant in STAT4 (G/T) occurred frequently in both HCV groups, with a significant incidence risk (OR = 1.583, 95% CI = 1.123-2.232, P = 0.005). The rs5742909 change in CTLA4 (C/T) did not show a significant difference between HCV-mediated HCC cases and the control group (OR = 4.5, 95% CI = 1.326-15.277, P > 0.001). Activation of the immune checkpoint gene CTLA4 or polymorphism in the encoded CTLA4 protein causes phosphorylation of kinases needed for RAS gene activation. This in turn downregulates the tumor suppressor RASSF1, inhibiting apoptosis and leading to HCC development, indicating a negative impact of CTLA4 gene polymorphism on HCV-mediated HCC cases. A major determinant of disease progression could be immune system genetic variants, together with the presence of costimulatory factors. The rs2073498 and rs7574865 variations in the RASSF1A and STAT4 genes, respectively, could be genetic susceptibility factors for Egyptian patients with HCV-mediated HCC.

RASSF1A, RECK genotypes and haplotypes in Egyptian population with Hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The development of HCC is multifactorial, resulting from the interaction of environmental factors (possibly hepatitis viruses) and host factors (genetic factors). So identification of risk factors that contribute to HCC and thus early diagnosis and therapy is necessary. This study aimed to investigate the role of tumor suppressor genes RASSF1A Ala133Ser and RECK rs11788747polymorphisms and their haplotypes in HCC.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

104 cases of HCC and 100 healthy controls were included in a case-control study. RASSF1A and RECK genotypes, allele and haplotypes were detected by PCR-RFLP.

RESULTS

Risk of HCC was significantly associated with carriers of A1a/Ser, Ser/Ser, Ser allele and A1a/Ser +GA haplotypes (OR=20.57, p<0.001, OR=7.26, p=0.05, OR=10.64, p<0.001, OR=12.52, p=0.005) respectively. More over RECK GG, G allele and haplotype A1a/A1a+GG were protective to HCC (OR=0.11, p<0.001, & OR=0.53, p=0.001 & OR=0.16, p=0.002) respectively. Also, it was found that RASSF1A gene polymorphism significantly associated with bad pathological features but no association with RECK gene polymorphism.

CONCLUSIONS

The RASSF1AAla133Ser polymorphism, RECK gene polymorphism and for the first time haplotype of both genes influence molecular carcinogenesis and clinic pathological features of HCC within the Egyptian population.

The Association of Ala133Ser Polymorphism and Methylation in Ras Association Domain Family 1A Gene With Unfavorable Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The functional and prognostic significance of Ras association domain family 1A gene (RASSF1A) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been well characterized.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the association between Ala133Ser polymorphism or promoter methylation in RASSF1A and the prognosis of HCC in Nantong City, one of the areas with the highest incidence of cancer in China.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using peripheral blood plasma, the incidence rate of RASSF1A Ala133Ser in 235 controls and subjects with 260 HCC was analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. We further investigated the RASSF1A methylation status in HCC and corresponding peri-tumorous normal tissues using the methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction approach.

RESULTS

It was found that the frequency of the RASSF1A Ala133Ser T allele (Ala/Ser and Ser/Ser) genotype in HCC cases was observably higher than that of normal subjects (P < 0.001). In comparison to the Ala/Ala genotype, the T allele genotype improved the susceptibility to HCC. The study also found that RASSF1A methylation improves the risk of HCC. Furthermore, in contrast with the corresponding peri-tumorous normal tissues, we observed that the RASSF1A methylation status was markedly higher in HCC tissues (P < 0.001). The Kaplan-Meier and multivariate analyses suggested that the poor survival of HCC patients was closely connected with hepatocirrhosis, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage, Edmondson division, RASSF1A methylation and Ala133Ser polymorphism (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The polymorphism and promoter methylation of RASSF1A may be a significant factor in HCC, and can be an indicator for poor prognosis in patients with HCC.

Clinical utility of RASSF1A methylation in human malignancies

The high frequency of RASSF1A methylation has been noted in a vast number of patients in a broad spectrum of malignancies, suggesting that RASSF1A inactivation is associated with cancer pathogenesis. However, whether this recurrent incidence of RASSF1A hypermethylation in human malignancies and its association with more aggressive tumour phenotype is a frequent event across different cancer types has not yet been discussed. In this review, we interrogated existing evidence for association of RASSF1A hypermethylation with clinicopathological characteristics that can indicate more invasive lesions.

Association between RASSF1A Ala133Ser polymorphism and cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis involving 8,892 subjects

BACKGROUND

Published studies on the association between the Ras Association Domain Family 1 isoform A (RASSF1A) Ala133Ser polymorphism and cancer susceptibility have yielded conflicting results. Thus, a meta- analysis was here performed to assess the possible association.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All eligible case-control studies published up to November 2013 on the association between RASSF1A Ala133Ser polymorphism and cancer susceptibility were identified by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct and hand search. Bothfixed- effect and random-effect models were used to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software version 2.2.

RESULTS

A total of 10 studies including 4,572 cancer cases and 4,320 controls were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, significantly increased cancer risk was associated with the variant Ser133 when all studies were pooled (Ser vs Ala: OR=1.51, 95% CI=1.08- 2.12, Pheterogeneity≤0.001; Ser/Ser+Ala/Ser vs Ala/Ala: OR=1.55, 95% CI=1.08-2.22, Pheterogeneity ≤ 0.001). Moreover, in subgroup analyses by cancer types, a significant association between RASSF1A Ala133Ser polymorphism and lung cancer risk was found (Ser vs Ala: OR=2.27, 95% CI=1.29-4.02, Pheterogeneity=0.61; Ser/Ser+Ala/ Ser vs Ala/Ala: OR=2.42, 95% CI=1.33-4.42, Pheterogeneity=0.75). In addition, in subgroup analyses by ethnicity, it was found that the RASSF1A Ala133Ser polymorphism was associated with overall cancer risk in Asians (Ser vs Ala: OR=1.37, 95% CI=1.06-1.77, Pheterogeneity=0.06) and Caucasians (Ser/Ser+Ala/Ser vs Ala/Ala: OR=2.21, 95% CI=1.01-4.82, Pheterogeneity≤0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis suggests, for the first time, that RASSF1A Ala133Ser polymorphism may contribute to cancer susceptibility, especially for lung cancer. Besides, additional well-designed studies with larger sample size focusing on different ethnicities and cancer types are needed to confirm these findings.

Role of RASSF1A promoter methylation in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis of 21 cohort studies

We carried out the current meta-analysis aiming to comprehensively assess the potential role of RASSF1A aberrant promoter methylation in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A range of electronic databases were searched: Web of Science (1945-2013), the Cochrane Library Database (Issue 12, 2013), PubMed (1966-2013), EMBASE (1980-2013), CINAHL (1982-2013) and the Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) (1982-2013) without language restrictions. Meta-analysis was conducted using the STATA 12.0 software. Crude risk difference (RD) with their 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated. In the present meta-analysis, 21 clinical cohort studies with a total of 1,205 HCC patients were included. The results of our meta-analysis illustrated that the frequency of RASSF1A promoter methylation in cancer tissues were significantly higher than those of normal, adjacent and benign tissues (cancer tissues vs. normal tissues: RD = 0.63, 95% CI 0.53-0.73, P < 0.001; cancer tissues vs. adjacent tissues: RD = 0.43, 95% CI 0.33-0.53, P < 0.001; cancer tissues vs. benign tissues: RD = 0.48, 95% CI 038-0.58, P < 0.001; respectively). Further subgroup by ethnicity demonstrated that RASSF1A aberrant promoter methylation was correlated with the pathogenesis of HCC among both Asians and Caucasians (all P < 0.05). The current meta-analysis suggests that RASSF1A aberrant promoter methylation may be implicated in the pathogenesis of HCC. Thus, detection of RASSF1A promoter methylation may be a helpful and valuable biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of HCC.

Lack of an association of programmed cell death-1 PD1.3 polymorphism with risk of hepatocellular carcinoma susceptibility in Turkish population: a case-control study

AIM

The programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) is a potent immunoregulatory molecule which is responsible for the negative regulation of T-cell activation and peripheral tolerance. Recently, overexpression of PD-1 has been reported to contribute to immune system evasion and poor survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A common single nucleotide polymorphism in intron 4 of PD-1 gene called PD-1.3 has been reported to influence PD-1 expression, but its association with HCC has yet to be investigated. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether this polymorphism could be involved in the risk of HCC susceptibility.

METHODS

The genotype frequency of PD-1.3 polymorphism was determined by using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in 236 subjects with HCC and 236 cancer-free control subjects matched on age, gender, smoking and alcohol status.

RESULTS

No statistically significant differences were found in the genotype distributions of the PD-1.3 polymorphism among HCC and cancer-free control subjects (P=0.22).

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate for the first time that the PD-1.3 polymorphism has not been in any major role in genetic susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinogenesis, at least in the population studied here. Independent studies are needed to validate our findings in a larger series, as well as in patients of different ethnic origins.