Hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis: from genes to environment

Multifunctional fluorescence/photoacoustic bimodal imaging of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase in liver disorders under different triggering conditions

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) seriously threatens the human health. Previous investigations revealed that γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) was tightly associated with the chronic injury, hepatic fibrosis, and the development of HCC, therefore might act as a potential indicator for monitoring the HCC-related processes. Herein, with the contribution of a structurally optimized probe ETYZE-GGT, the bimodal imaging in both far red fluorescence (FL) and photoacoustic (PA) modes has been achieved in multiple HCC-related models. To our knowledge, this work covered the most comprehensive models including the fibrosis and developed HCC processes as well as the premonitory induction stages (autoimmune hepatitis, drug-induced liver injury, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). ETYZE-GGT exhibited steady and practical monitoring performances on reporting the HCC stages via visualizing the GGT dynamics. The two modes exhibited working consistency and complementarity with high spatial resolution, precise apparatus and desirable biocompatibility. In cooperation with the existing techniques including testing serum indexes and conducting pathological staining, ETYZE-GGT basically realized the universal application for the accurate pre-clinical diagnosis of as many HCC stages as possible. By deeply exploring the mechanically correlation between GGT and the HCC process, especially during the premonitory induction stages, we may further raise the efficacy for the early diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Mucin 1 expression is regulated by hsa_circ_0055054/microRNA‑122‑5p and promotes hepatocellular carcinoma development

The abnormal expression of mucin 1 (MUC1) is a major cause of poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Competitive endogenous RNA demonstrates a novel regulatory mechanism that can affect the biological behavior of tumors. In the present study, the regulatory functions of hsa_circ_0055054 as well as those of microRNA (miR/miRNA) 122-5p on MUC1 expression and its role in HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, were evaluated. MUC1 expression was assessed using western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The phenotypic functions of the HCC cell lines were evaluated following MUC1 knockdown using Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing and Transwell assays. Bioinformatics tools were used to identify specific miRNAs and circular (circ)RNAs that interact with and can regulate MUC1. The stability of circRNAs was assessed using a Ribonuclease R assay. The binding of circRNA/miRNA/MUC1 was assessed using dual-luciferase reporter assays and cellular function tests. Finally, in vivo experiments were performed using animal models. The results demonstrated that in MHCC97L cells, MUC1 and hsa_circ_0055054 were expressed at high levels while miR-122-5p was downregulated. The proliferation, migration and invasion of MHCC97L cells were suppressed by low MUC1 expression. hsa_circ_0055054 knockdown or miR-122-5p overexpression both led to a decrease in MUC1 expression. In MHCC97L cells with a low MUC1 expression caused by hsa_circ_0055054 knockdown, miR-122-5p inhibition resulted in the increased proliferation, migration and invasion of MHCC97L cells. In combination, the results of the present study indicate that hsa_circ_0055054 knockdown in MHCC97L cells leads to an increased expression of miR-122-5p and decreased expression of MUC1, which results in the inhibition of MHCC97L cell proliferation, migration and invasion.

Phenotypes of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) typically develops as a consequence of liver cirrhosis, but HCC epidemiology has evolved drastically in recent years. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, has emerged as the most common chronic liver disease worldwide and a leading cause of HCC. A substantial proportion of MASLD-associated HCC (MASLD-HCC) also can develop in patients without cirrhosis. The specific pathways that trigger carcinogenesis in this context are not elucidated completely, and recommendations for HCC surveillance in MASLD patients are challenging. In the era of precision medicine, it is critical to understand the processes that define the profiles of patients at increased risk of HCC in the MASLD setting, including cardiometabolic risk factors and the molecular targets that could be tackled effectively. Ideally, defining categories that encompass key pathophysiological features, associated with tailored diagnostic and treatment strategies, should facilitate the identification of specific MASLD-HCC phenotypes. In this review, we discuss MASLD-HCC, including its epidemiology and health care burden, the mechanistic data promoting MASLD, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, and MASLD-HCC. Its natural history, prognosis, and treatment are addressed specifically, as the role of metabolic phenotypes of MASLD-HCC as a potential strategy for risk stratification. The challenges in identifying high-risk patients and screening strategies also are discussed, as well as the potential approaches for MASLD-HCC prevention and treatment.

Revamping Hepatocellular Carcinoma Immunotherapy: The Advent of Microbial Neoantigen Vaccines

Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment paradigm for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its efficacy varies significantly with each patient's genetic composition and the complex interactions with their microbiome, both of which are pivotal in shaping anti-tumor immunity. The emergence of microbial neoantigens, a novel class of tumor vaccines, heralds a transformative shift in HCC therapy. This review explores the untapped potential of microbial neoantigens as innovative tumor vaccines, poised to redefine current HCC treatment modalities. For instance, neoantigens derived from the microbiome have demonstrated the capacity to enhance anti-tumor immunity in colorectal cancer, suggesting similar applications in HCC. By harnessing these unique neoantigens, we propose a framework for a personalized immunotherapeutic response, aiming to deliver a more precise and potent treatment strategy for HCC. Leveraging these neoantigens could significantly advance personalized medicine, potentially revolutionizing patient outcomes in HCC therapy.

Immunotherapy and liver cancer research trends and the 100 most cited articles: A bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND

Bibliometric analysis of liver cancer research, particularly in immunotherapy, reveals crucial insights. The US leads in liver cancer mortality but ranks fifth globally.

OBJECTIVE

Scopus database analysis identified 2,349 papers, with the top 100 ranging from 127 to 4,959 citations. Notably, "Microenvironmental Regulation of Tumours Progression and Metastasis" in the Journal of Nature Medicine garnered the highest citations.

METHODS

Journals like the Journal of Hepatology, Hepatology, and Nature Reports Clinical Oncology contributed significantly. Understanding molecular mechanisms and prognostic indicators is paramount for advancing combination therapies.

RESULTS

For better patient outcomes, research trends in liver cancer immunotherapy point to improved treatment protocols, knowledge of the tumor microenvironment, combining therapies, predicting disease course, international cooperation, sophisticated surgical techniques, early detection, oncolytic virotherapy, and patient-centered care.

CONCLUSIONS

This research underscores immunotherapy's pivotal role and encourages further exploration, offering valuable insights into liver cancer treatment trends.

Role of Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 Alpha in Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent primary liver cancer and the incidence of HCC is on the rise. Liver cancers in general and HCC in particular do not respond to chemotherapy. Radiological ablation, surgical resection, and liver transplantation are the only medical therapies currently available. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 α (HNF4α) is an orphan nuclear receptor expressed only in hepatocytes in the liver. HNF4α is considered the master regulator of hepatic differentiation because it regulates a significant number of genes involved in various liver-specific functions. In addition to maintaining hepatic differentiation, HNF4α also acts as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting hepatocyte proliferation by suppressing the expression of promitogenic genes and inhibiting epithelial to mesenchymal transition in hepatocytes. Loss of HNF4α expression and function is associated with rapid progression of chronic liver diseases that ultimately lead to liver cirrhosis and HCC, including metabolism-associated steatohepatitis, alcohol-associated liver disease, and hepatitis virus infection. This review summarizes the role of HNF4α in liver cancer pathogenesis and highlights its potential as a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

Lysosome-Related Genes and RNF19B as Prognostic Markers for Survival and Immunotherapy Efficacy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) poses a considerable worldwide health concern due to its associated high risk of death. The heterogeneity of HCC poses challenges in developing practical risk stratification tools and identifying prognostic markers for personalized targeted treatments. Recently, lysosomes were shown to be crucial contributors to numerous cellular activities, including tumor initiation and immune response regulation. We aimed to construct a reliable prognostic signature based on lysosome-related genes and determine its association with the immune microenvironment.

METHODS

We comprehensively analyzed lysosome-related genes in HCC to investigate their influence on patient survival and the tumor immune microenvironment. A prognostic signature comprising 14 genes associated with lysosomes was created to estimate the survival outcomes of individuals with HCC. In addition, we verified the prognostic importance of Ring Finger Protein 19B (RNF19B) in patients with HCC through multiplex immunohistochemistry analysis.

RESULTS

Our constructed lysosome-related prediction model could significantly discriminate between HCC patients with good and poor survival outcomes ( P < 0.05). We also found that elevated RNF19B expression was linked to unfavorable prognostic outcomes and showed a connection with specific clinicopathological characteristics. Moreover, it was observed that RNF19B could facilitate the transformation of macrophages into M2-polarized macrophages and showed a significant positive correlation with PD-1 and CTLA-4.

DISCUSSION

In summary, our study proposes that the expression of lysosome-related genes is associated with the immune microenvironment, serving as a predictor for HCC patient survival. Meanwhile, RNF19B was identified as a novel prognostic marker for predicting overall survival and immunotherapy effects in patients with HCC.

Genetic screening of liver cancer: State of the art

Liver cancer, primarily hepatocellular carcinoma, remains a global health challenge with rising incidence and limited therapeutic options. Genetic factors play a pivotal role in the development and progression of liver cancer. This state-of-the-art paper provides a comprehensive review of the current landscape of genetic screening strategies for liver cancer. We discuss the genetic underpinnings of liver cancer, emphasizing the critical role of risk-associated genetic variants, somatic mutations, and epigenetic alterations. We also explore the intricate interplay between environmental factors and genetics, highlighting how genetic screening can aid in risk stratification and early detection via using liquid biopsy, and advancements in high-throughput sequencing technologies. By synthesizing the latest research findings, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art genetic screening methods for liver cancer, shedding light on their potential to revolutionize early detection, risk assessment, and targeted therapies in the fight against this devastating disease.

Role of immunotherapies and stem cell therapy in the management of liver cancer: A comprehensive review

Liver cancer (LC) is the sixth most common disease and the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality. The WHO predicts that more than 1 million deaths will occur from LC by 2030. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common form of primary LC. Today, the management of LC involves multiple disciplines, and multimodal therapy is typically selected on an individual basis, considering the intricate interactions between the patient's overall health, the stage of the tumor, and the degree of underlying liver disease. Currently, the treatment of cancers, including LC, has undergone a paradigm shift in the last ten years because of immuno-oncology. To treat HCC, immune therapy approaches have been developed to enhance or cause the body's natural immune response to specifically target tumor cells. In this context, immune checkpoint pathway inhibitors, engineered cytokines, adoptive cell therapy, immune cells modified with chimeric antigen receptors, and therapeutic cancer vaccines have advanced to clinical trials and offered new hope to cancer patients. The outcomes of these treatments are encouraging. Additionally, treatment using stem cells is a new approach for restoring deteriorated tissues because of their strong differentiation potential and capacity to release cytokines that encourage cell division and the formation of blood vessels. Although there is no proof that stem cell therapy works for many types of cancer, preclinical research on stem cells has shown promise in treating HCC. This review provides a recent update regarding the impact of immunotherapy and stem cells in HCC and promising outcomes.

A rat model of cirrhosis with well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma induced by thioacetamide

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, and commonly associated with hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis. This study aims to establish a rat model mimicking the progression from liver fibrosis to cirrhosis and subsequently to HCC using thioacetamide (TAA). We utilized male Lewis rats, treating them with intra-peritoneal injections of TAA. These rats received bi-weekly injections of either 200 mg/kg TAA or saline (as a control) over a period of 34 weeks. The development of cirrhosis and hepatocarcinogenesis was monitored through histopathological examinations, biochemical markers, and immunohistochemical analyses. Our results demonstrated that chronic TAA administration induced cirrhosis and well-differentiated HCC, characterized by increased fibrosis, altered liver architecture, and enhanced hepatocyte proliferation. Biochemical analyses revealed significant alterations in liver function markers, including elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, without affecting kidney function or causing significant weight loss or mortality in rats. This TAA-induced cirrhosis and HCC rat model successfully replicates the clinical progression of human HCC, including liver function impairment and early-stage liver cancer characteristics. It presents a valuable tool for future research on the mechanisms of antitumor drugs in tumor initiation and development.

Prognosis and chemotherapy drug sensitivity in liver hepatocellular carcinoma through a disulfidptosis-related lncRNA signature

Disulfidptosis, a new type of regulated cell death associated with the actin cytoskeleton, provides a new therapeutic tool for cancers. The direct relationship between disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs(DRLs) in liver hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) remains unclear. We acquired transcriptomic data, corresponding clinical data, and tumor mutation data of HCC from the TCGA database. First of all, DRLs were determined through correlation analysis. Then, a prognostic model containing six DRLs was created by adopting univariate Cox regression, LASSO algorithm and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Based on the model, 424 HCC patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups. Next, we structured ROC curves and PCA through combining the model and clinical data. Enrichment analysis and immune infiltration analysis were adopted to further explore the relationship between the model and prognosis. In addition, we explored the relationship between the model and tumor mutation burden (TMB). There were significant differences between high- and low- risk groups, and patients in the high-risk group showed poor prognosis. Enrichment analysis suggested that metabolic progress was obviously different between the two groups. According to the analysis of immune infiltration, there were several differences in immune cells, function, and checkpoints. Patients with high-risk and high TMB demonstrated the least favorable prognosis. The two risk groups both manifested visiblly in chemotherapy drug sensitivity. To sum up, we set up a DRL-based signature and that may provide a predictable value for the prognosis and use of chemotherapy drugs for HCC patients.

Construction of a prognostic prediction model in liver cancer based on genes involved in integrin cell surface interactions pathway by multi-omics screening

Background: Liver cancer is a common malignant tumor with an increasing incidence in recent years. We aimed to develop a model by integrating clinical information and multi-omics profiles of genes to predict survival of patients with liver cancer. Methods: The multi-omics data were integrated to identify liver cancer survival-associated signal pathways. Then, a prognostic risk score model was established based on key genes in a specific pathway, followed by the analysis of the relationship between the risk score and clinical features as well as molecular and immunologic characterization of the key genes included in the prediction model. The function experiments were performed to further elucidate the undergoing molecular mechanism. Results: Totally, 4 pathways associated with liver cancer patients' survival were identified. In the pathway of integrin cell surface interactions, low expression of COMP and SPP1, and low CNVs level of COL4A2 and ITGAV were significantly related to prognosis. Based on above 4 genes, the risk score model for prognosis was established. Risk score, ITGAV and SPP1 were the most significantly positively related to activated dendritic cell. COL4A2 and COMP were the most significantly positively associated with Type 1 T helper cell and regulatory T cell, respectively. The nomogram (involved T stage and risk score) may better predict short-term survival. The cell assay showed that overexpression of ITGAV promoted tumorigenesis. Conclusion: The risk score model constructed with four genes (COMP, SPP1, COL4A2, and ITGAV) may be used to predict survival in liver cancer patients.

Targeted HBx gene editing by CRISPR/Cas9 system effectively reduces epithelial to mesenchymal transition and HBV replication in hepatoma cells

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) play a key role in pathogenesis of HBV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by promoting epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). In this study, we hypothesized that inhibition of HBx is an effective strategy to combat HCC.

METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS

We designed and synthesized novel HBx gene specific single guide RNA (sgRNA) with CRISPR/Cas9 system and studied its in vitro effects on tumour properties of HepG2-2.15. Full length HBx gene was excised using HBx-CRISPR that resulted in significant knockdown of HBx expression in hepatoma cells. HBx-CRISPR also decreased levels of HBsAg and HBV cccDNA expression. A decreased expression of mesenchymal markers, proliferation and tumorigenic properties was observed in HBx-CRISPR treated cells as compared to controls in both two- and three- dimensional (2D and 3D) tumour models. Transcriptomics data showed that out of 1159 differentially expressed genes in HBx-CRISPR transfected cells as compared to controls, 70 genes were upregulated while 1089 genes associated with cell proliferation and EMT pathways were downregulated.

CONCLUSION

Thus, targeting of HBx by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system reduces covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) levels, HBsAg production and mesenchymal characteristics of HBV-HCC cells. We envision inhibition of HBx by CRISPR as a novel therapeutic approach for HBV-induced HCC.

Individual and combined effects of phthalate metabolites on eczema in the United States population

Phthalates might trigger immune dysregulation. The relationship between a phthalate mixture exposure and eczema remains unclear. To address this research gap, four statistical models were used to investigate the individual, combined, and interaction relationships between monoesters of phthalates (MPAEs) and eczema, including the logistic regression, weighted quantile sum regression (WQS), quantile g computation (qg-computation), and bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). Moreover, subgroup analyses were performed by sex and age. After adjusting for all covariates, the logistic regression model suggested a positive correlation between mono-(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (MCPP) and eczema. Subgroup analysis suggested that the effect of the MPAEs on eczema was predominantly present in men and children. In the WQS model, the joint effect of 11 MPAEs on eczema was marginally significant [odds ratio = 1.36, 95% confidence interval: 0.97-1.90]. Moreover, a positive association was observed between the combined exposure to 11 MPAEs and eczema in the BKMR model. MCPP and mono-(carboxynonyl) phthalate were the most substantial risk factors based on the results of WQS and qg-computation models. The exposure to a mixture of MPAEs may lead to an elevated prevalence of eczema in the United States population, with men and children being particularly vulnerable to their effects.

The Role of microRNAs in Hepatocellular Cancer: A Narrative Review Focused on Tumor Microenvironment and Drug Resistance

Globally, hepatic cancer ranks fourth in terms of cancer-related mortality and is the sixth most frequent kind of cancer. Around 80% of liver cancers are hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), which are the leading cause of cancer death. It is well known that HCC may develop resistance to the available chemotherapy treatments very fast. One of the biggest obstacles in providing cancer patients with appropriate care is drug resistance. According to reports, more than 90% of cancer-specific fatalities are caused by treatment resistance. By binding to the 3'-untranslated region of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), a group of noncoding RNAs which are around 17 to 25 nucleotides long, regulate target gene expression. Moreover, they play role in the control of signaling pathways, cell proliferation, and cell death. As a result, miRNAs play an important role in the microenvironment of HCC by changing immune phenotypes, hypoxic conditions, and acidification, as well as angiogenesis and extracellular matrix components. Moreover, changes in miRNA levels in HCC can effectively resist cancer cells to chemotherapy by affecting various cellular processes such as autophagy, apoptosis, and membrane transporter activity. In the current work, we narratively reviewed the role of miRNAs in HCC, with a special focus on tumor microenvironment and drug resistance.

Biomarker Identification in Liver Cancers Using Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (DESI-MS) Imaging: An Approach for Spatially Resolved Metabolomics

Liver cancers are characterized by interindividual and intratumoral heterogeneity, which makes early diagnosis and the development of therapies challenging. Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) imaging is a potent and sensitive MS ionization technique for direct, unaltered 2D and 3D imaging of metabolites in complex biological samples. Indeed, DESI gently desorbs and ionizes analyte molecules from the sample surface using an electrospray source of highly charged aqueous spray droplets in ambient conditions. DESI-MS imaging of biological samples allows untargeted analysis and characterization of metabolites in liver cancers to identify new biomarkers of malignancy. In this chapter, we described a detailed protocol using liver cancer samples collected and stored for histopathology examination, either as frozen or as formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens. Such hepatocellular carcinoma samples can be subjected to DESI-MS analyses, illustrating the capacity of spatially resolved metabolomics to distinguish malignant lesions from adjacent normal liver tissue.

Targeting DDX11 promotes PARP inhibitor sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma by attenuating BRCA2-RAD51 mediated homologous recombination

Homologous recombination (HR) is a major DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair pathway of clinical interest because of treatment with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi). Cooperation between RAD51 and BRCA2 is pivotal for DNA DSB repair, and its dysfunction induces HR deficiency and sensitizes cancer cells to PARPi. The depletion of the DEAD-box protein DDX11 was found to suppress HR in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The HR ability of HCC cells is not always dependent on the DDX11 level because of natural DDX11 mutations. In Huh7 cells, natural DDX11 mutations were detected, increasing the susceptibility of Huh7 cells to olaparib in vitro and in vivo. The HR deficiency of Huh7 cells was restored when CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in genomic editing was used to revert the DDX11 Q238H mutation to wild type. The DDX11 Q238H mutation impeded the phosphorylation of DDX11 by ATM at serine 237, preventing the recruitment of RAD51 to damaged DNA sites by disrupting the interaction between RAD51 and BRCA2. Clinically, a high level of DDX11 correlated with advanced clinical characteristics and a poor prognosis and served as an independent risk factor for overall and disease-free survival in patients with HCC. We propose that HCC with a high level of wild-type DDX11 tends to be more resistant to PARPi because of enhanced recombination repair, and the key mutation of DDX11 (Q238H) is potentially exploitable.

New and Old Key Players in Liver Cancer

Liver cancer represents a major health problem worldwide with growing incidence and high mortality, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) being the most frequent. Hepatocytes are likely the cellular origin of most HCCs through the accumulation of genetic alterations, although hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) might also be candidates in specific cases, as discussed here. HCC usually develops in a context of chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis, although the role of fibrosis is controversial. The interplay between hepatocytes, immune cells and hepatic stellate cells is a key issue. This review summarizes critical aspects of the liver tumor microenvironment paying special attention to platelets as new key players, which exert both pro- and anti-tumor effects, determined by specific contexts and a tight regulation of platelet signaling. Additionally, the relevance of specific signaling pathways, mainly HGF/MET, EGFR and TGF-β is discussed. HGF and TGF-β are produced by different liver cells and platelets and regulate not only tumor cell fate but also HPCs, inflammation and fibrosis, these being key players in these processes. The role of C3G/RAPGEF1, required for the proper function of HGF/MET signaling in HCC and HPCs, is highlighted, due to its ability to promote HCC growth and, regulate HPC fate and platelet-mediated actions on liver cancer.

The circSNX14 functions as a tumor suppressor via the miR-562/ LATS2 pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play critical roles in the initiation and progression of various cancers. However, the potential functional roles of circSNX14 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain largely unknown. CircSNX14 expression pattern was analyzed in HCC tissues and cell lines via qRT-PCR. The effects of circSNX14 on cell proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were investigated by overexpression experiments. The role of circSNX14 in the tumorigenesis of HCC cells was examined using in vivo xenograft mouse model. The interaction between circSNX14, miR-562, and Large Tumor Suppressor Kinase 2 (LATS2) mRNA was confirmed by Luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) analysis. CircSNX14 was significantly down-regulated in HCC tissues and cell lines, and its down-regulation was correlated with a poor prognosis in HCC patients. In the following functional experiments, circSNX14 overexpression remarkably suppressed the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells, and attenuated the mesenchymall status. circSNX14 overexpression also suppressed the tumorigenesis of HCC cells in the mouse model. We further revealed the interaction of circSNX14 and miR-562, and miR-562 could suppress the expression of LATS2 by interacting with its mRNA. The negative correlation of circSNX14 and miR-562, negative correlation of miR-562 and LATS2, and positive correlation of circSNX14 and LATS2 have been confirmed by Pearson correlation in the HCC samples. Collectively, these results reveal a novel role of circSNX14/miR-562/LATS2 axis in regulating the malignant progression of HCC cancer progression, indicating the tumor suppressor role of circSNX14 and its potential as a prognostic biomarker.

Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy in the models of hepatocellular carcinomas using cetuximab-IR700

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has emerged as an important therapeutic target in many cancers, and overexpression of EGFR is frequently observed in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a new anticancer treatment that selectively damages the cell membrane of cancer cells after NIR light-induced photochemical reaction of IR700, which is bound to a targeting antibody on the cell membrane. NIR-PIT using cetuximab-IR700 has already been approved in Japan, is under review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for advanced head and neck cancers, and its safety has been established. However, EGFR has not been investigated as a target in NIR-PIT in HCCs. Here, we investigate the application of NIR-PIT using cetuximab-IR700 to HCCs using xenograft mouse models of EGFR-expressing HCC cell lines, Hep3B, HuH-7, and SNU-449. In vitro NIR-PIT using EGFR-targeted cetuximab-IR700 killed cells in a NIR light dose-dependent manner. In vivo NIR-PIT resulted in a delayed growth compared with untreated controls. In addition, in vivo NIR-PIT in both models showed histological signs of cancer cell damage, such as cytoplasmic vacuolation and nuclear dysmorphism. A significant decrease in Ki-67 positivity was also observed after NIR-PIT, indicating decreased cancer cell proliferation. This study suggests that NIR-PIT using cetuximab-IR700 has potential for the treatment of EGFR-expressing HCCs.

Adhesion G Protein-Coupled Receptor G2 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression and Serves as a Neutrophil-Related Prognostic Biomarker

Adhesion G protein-coupled receptor G2 (ADGRG2) is an orphan adhesion G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), which performs a tumor-promoting role in certain cancers; however, it has not been systematically investigated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the current study, we utilized multiple databases to analyze the expression and diagnostic and prognostic value of ADGRG2 in HCC and its correlation with immune infiltration and inflammatory factors. The function and upstream regulatory miRNA of ADGRG2 were validated through qPCR, Western blot, CCK8, wound healing, and dual luciferase assays. It turned out that ADGRG2 was significantly higher in HCC and had a poor survival rate, especially in AFP ≤ 400 ng/mL subgroups. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that ADGRG2 may be involved in cancer pathways and immune-related pathways. In vitro, siRNA-mediated ADGRG2 silencing could inhibit the proliferation and migration of Huh7 and HepG2 cells. There was a highly significant positive correlation between ADGRG2 and neutrophils. Moreover, NET-related genes were filtered and confirmed, such as ENO1 and S100A9. Meanwhile, the high expression of ADGRG2 was also accompanied by the highest number of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and chemokine receptors and good immunotherapy efficacy. Finally, AGDGR2 may be sensitive to two drugs (PIK-93 and NPK76-II-72-1) and can be targeted by miR-326. In conclusion, ADGRG2 may serve as a novel biomarker and drug target for HCC diagnosis, immunotherapy, and prognosis and was related to neutrophils and the inflammatory process of liver cancer development.

Distinct Types of Cell Death and Implications in Liver Diseases: An Overview of Mechanisms and Application

Cell death is associated with a variety of liver diseases, and hepatocyte death is a core factor in the occurrence and progression of liver diseases. In recent years, new cell death modes have been identified, and certain biomarkers have been detected in the circulation during various cell death modes that mediate liver injury. In this review, cell death modes associated with liver diseases are summarized, including some cell death modes that have emerged in recent years. We described the mechanisms associated with liver diseases and summarized recent applications of targeting cell death in liver diseases. It provides new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases. In addition, multiple cell death modes can contribute to the same liver disease. Different cell death modes are not isolated, and they interact with each other in liver diseases. Future studies may focus on exploring the regulation between various cell death response pathways in liver diseases.

Regucalcin Is a Potential Regulator in Human Cancer: Aiming to Expand into Cancer Therapy

Regucalcin, a calcium-binding protein lacking the EF-hand motif, was initially discovered in 1978. Its name is indicative of its function in calcium signaling regulation. The rgn gene encodes for regucalcin and is situated on the X chromosome in both humans and vertebrates. Regucalcin regulates pivotal enzymes involved in signal transduction and has an inhibitory function, which includes protein kinases, protein phosphatases, cysteinyl protease, nitric oxide dynthetase, aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) synthetase, and protein synthesis. This cytoplasmic protein is transported to the nucleus where it regulates deoxyribonucleic acid and RNA synthesis as well as gene expression. Overexpression of regucalcin inhibits proliferation in both normal and cancer cells in vitro, independent of apoptosis. During liver regeneration in vivo, endogenous regucalcin suppresses cell growth when overexpressed. Regucalcin mRNA and protein expressions are significantly downregulated in tumor tissues of patients with various types of cancers. Patients exhibiting upregulated regucalcin in tumor tissue have shown prolonged survival. The decrease of regucalcin expression is linked to the advancement of cancer. Overexpression of regucalcin carries the potential for preventing and treating carcinogenesis. Additionally, extracellular regucalcin has displayed control over various types of human cancer cells. Regucalcin may hold a prominent role as a regulatory factor in cancer development. Supplying the regucalcin gene could prove to be a valuable asset in cancer treatment. The therapeutic value of regucalcin suggests its potential significance in treating cancer patients. This review delves into the most recent research on the regulatory role of regucalcin in human cancer development, providing a novel approach for treatment.

Beta-Hydroxyisovaleryl-Shikonin Eradicates Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-Positive Liver Cancer Stem Cells by Suppressing dUTP Pyrophosphatase Expression

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play an essential role in tumorigenesis, chemoresistance, and metastasis. Previously, we demonstrated that the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is dictated by a subset of epithelial cell adhesion molecule-positive (EpCAM+) liver CSCs with the activation of Wnt signaling. In this study, we evaluated the expression of dUTP pyrophosphatase (dUTPase), which plays a central role in the development of chemoresistance to 5-fluorouracil, in EpCAM+ HCC cells. We further evaluated the effect of beta-hydroxyisovaleryl-shikonin (β-HIVS), an ATP-noncompetitive inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinases, on HCC CSCs. EpCAM and dUTPase were expressed in hepatoblasts in human fetal liver, hepatic progenitors in adult cirrhotic liver, and a subset of HCC cells. Sorted EpCAM+ CSCs from HCC cell lines showed abundant nuclear accumulation of dUTPase compared with EpCAM-negative cells. Furthermore, treatment with the Wnt signaling activator BIO increased EpCAM and dUTPase expression. In contrast, β-HIVS treatment decreased dUTPase expression. β-HIVS treatment decreased the population of EpCAM+ liver CSCs in a dose-dependent manner in vitro and suppressed tumor growth in vivo compared with the control vehicle. Taken together, our data suggest that dUTPase could be a good target to eradicate liver CSCs resistant to 5-fluorouracil. β-HIVS is a small molecule that could decrease dUTPase expression and target EpCAM+ liver CSCs.

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) signaling pathways and cancer: foes versus allies

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), is an old system with new fundamental roles in cancer biology which influences cell growth, migration, death, and metastasis. RAAS signaling enhances cell proliferation in malignancy directly and indirectly by affecting tumor cells and modulating angiogenesis. Cancer development may be influenced by the balance between the ACE/Ang II/AT1R and the ACE2/Ang 1-7/Mas receptor pathways. The interactions between Ang II/AT1R and Ang I/AT2R as well as Ang1-7/Mas and alamandine/MrgD receptors in the RAAS pathway can significantly impact the development of cancer. Ang I/AT2R, Ang1-7/Mas, and alamandine/MrgD interactions can have anticancer effects while Ang II/AT1R interactions can be involved in the development of cancer. Evidence suggests that inhibitors of the RAAS, which are conventionally used to treat cardiovascular diseases, may be beneficial in cancer therapies.Herein, we aim to provide a thorough description of the elements of RAAS and their molecular play in cancer. Alongside this, the role of RAAS components in sex-dependent cancers as well as GI cancers will be discussed with the hope of enlightening new venues for adjuvant cancer treatment.

Outer dynein arm docking complex subunit 2 polymorphism rs7893462 modulates hepatocellular carcinoma susceptibility and can serve as an overall survival biomarker for hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy: a cohort study with a long-term follow-up

BACKGROUND

Genetic variants of outer dynein arm docking complex subunit 2 (ODAD2) have been reported to be closely associated with primary ciliary dyskinesia and colorectal cancer in previous studies, but the association of genetic variants of ODAD2 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been reported.

METHODS

We enrolled 80 healthy subjects and 468 Guangxi hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC patients in this study. A case-control study method was used to explore the association of different ODAD2-rs7893462 genotypes with hepatocarcinogenesis. A comprehensive survival analysis was used to explore the association of rs7893462 with the prognosis of HBV-related HCC in Guangxi.

RESULTS

Through a case-control study, we observed that patients carrying the G allele of rs7893462 had a markedly increased susceptibility to hepatocarcinogenesis (odds ratio = 1.712, 95% confidence interval = 1.032-2.839, P = 0.037). We found that there were significant prognosis differences among three different genotypes of rs7893462. Nomogram analysis suggested that the contribution of rs7893462 polymorphisms to the prognosis of HBV-related HCC was second only to the BCLC stage. Stratified survival analysis suggested that the AG genotype of rs7893462 was an independent prognostic risk factor for HBV-related HCC. Joint effect survival analysis also observed that the AG genotype of rs7893462 combined with clinical parameters could significantly identify HBV-related HCC patients with different prognostic outcomes more accurately, and the AG genotype was also observed to be independent of clinical factors in HBV-related HCC survival.

CONCLUSION

The ODAD2-rs7893462 polymorphisms can be used as an independent prognostic indicator of HBV-related HCC overall survival and are significantly associated with susceptibility to hepatocarcinogenesis.

Hepatic stellate cell-intrinsic role of SOCS1 in controlling hepatic fibrogenic response and the pro-inflammatory macrophage compartment during liver fibrosis

Introduction

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) become activated, differentiate to myofibroblasts and produce extracellular fibrillar matrix during liver fibrosis. The hepatic fibrogenic response is orchestrated by reciprocal interactions between HSCs and macrophages and their secreted products. SOCS1 can regulate several cytokines and growth factors implicated in liver fibrosis. Here we investigated the role of SOCS1 in regulating HSC activation.

Methods

Mice lacking SOCS1 in HSCs (Socs1ΔHSC) were generated by crossing Socs1fl/fl and LratCre mice. Liver fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride and evaluated by Sirius red staining, hydroxyproline content and immunostaining of myofibroblasts. Gene expression of pro-fibrogenic factors, cytokines, growth factors and chemokines were quantified by RT-qPCR. The phenotype and the numbers of intrahepatic leukocyte subsets were studied by flow cytometry. The impact of fibrosis on the development of diethyl nitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma was evaluated.

Results

Socs1ΔHSC mice developed more severe liver fibrosis than control Socs1fl/fl mice that was characterized by increased collagen deposition and myofibroblast differentiation. Socs1ΔHSC mice showed a significant increase in the expression of smooth muscle actin, collagens, matrix metalloproteases, cytokines, growth factors and chemokines in the liver following fibrosis induction. The fibrotic livers of Socs1ΔHSC mice displayed heightened inflammatory cell infiltration with increased proportion and numbers of Ly6ChiCCR2+ pro-inflammatory macrophages. This macrophage population contained elevated numbers of CCR2+CX3CR1+ cells, suggesting impaired transition towards restorative macrophages. Fibrosis induction following exposure to diethyl nitrosamine resulted in more numerous and larger liver tumor nodules in Socs1ΔHSC mice than in Socs1fl/fl mice.

Discussion

Our findings indicate that (i) SOCS1 expression in HSCs is a critical to control liver fibrosis and development of hepatocaellular carcinoma, and (ii) attenuation of HSC activation by SOCS1 regulates pro-inflammatory macrophage recruitment and differentiation during liver fibrosis.

Ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A (UBE3A) mediation of viral infection and human diseases

The Ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A, UBE3A, also known as E6-associated protein (E6-AP), is known to play an essential role in regulating the degradation of various proteins by transferring Ub from E2 Ub conjugating enzymes to the substrate proteins. Several studies indicate that UBE3A regulates the stabilities of key viral proteins in the virus-infected cells and, thereby, the infected virus-mediated diseases, even if it were reported that UBE3A participates in non-viral-related human diseases. Furthermore, mutations such as deletions and duplications in the maternally inherited gene in the brain cause human neurodevelopmental disorders such as Angelman syndrome (AS) and autism. It is also known that UBE3A functions as a transcriptional coactivator for the expression of steroid hormone receptors. These reports establish that UBE3A is distinguished by its multitudinous functions that are paramount to viral pathology and human diseases. This review is focused on molecular mechanisms for such intensive participation of UBE3A in disease formation and virus regulation.

Potential role of human umbilical cord stem cells-derived exosomes as novel molecular inhibitors of hepatocellular carcinoma growth

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most critical cancers; thus, novel therapeutical regimens are of great need. In this study, we investigated the effects of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) derived exosomes on HepG2 cell line, and the underlying mechanism to control HCC proliferation, to identify the potential clinical role of exosomes as a novel molecular therapeutic target. Proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis effects were assessed together with the cell viability evaluation by MTT assay in HepG2 cells at 24/48 h. with or without UC-MSCs-derived exosomes. Gene expressions of TNF-α, caspase-3, VEGF, stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), and CX chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR-4) were measured by quantitative real-time PCR technique. Expression of sirtuin-1 (SIRT-1) protein was detected by western blot. Treatment of HepG2 cells with UC-MSCs-derived exosomes for 24 and 48 h. demonstrated a significant reduction of cells survival compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The SIRT-1 protein, and VEGF, SDF-1, CXCR-4 expression levels were significantly lower, TNF-α and caspase-3 expression levels were significantly higher in exosomal-treated HepG2 cells for 24 and 48 h. than those in the control group. Moreover, our findings documented that the anti-proliferative, apoptotic, and anti-angiogenic effects were achieved in a time-dependent manner in which more effects were determined after 48 h supplementation compared to 24 h (p < 0.05). UC-MSCs-derived exosomes exert anticarcinogenic molecular effects on HepG2 cells through the involvement of SIRT-1, SDF-1, and CXCR-4. Hence, exosomes would be a potential novel therapy regimen against HCC. Large-scale studies are recommended to verify this conclusion.

Advances in Histological and Molecular Classification of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer characterized by hepatocellular differentiation. HCC is molecularly heterogeneous with a wide spectrum of histopathology. The prognosis of patients with HCC is generally poor, especially in those with advanced stages. HCC remains a diagnostic challenge for pathologists because of its morphological and phenotypic diversity. However, recent advances have enhanced our understanding of the molecular genetics and histological subtypes of HCC. Accurate diagnosis of HCC is important for patient management and prognosis. This review provides an update on HCC pathology, focusing on molecular genetics, histological subtypes, and diagnostic approaches.

β-CATENIN stabilizes HIF2 through lncRNA and inhibits intravenous immunoglobulin immunotherapy

Introduction

Tumor-initiating cells (TICs) are rare, stem-like, and highly malignant. Although intravenous hepatitis B and C immunoglobulins have been used for HBV and HCV neutralization in patients, their tumor-inhibitory effects have not yet been examined. Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) therapy is employed to reduce hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence in patients after living donor liver transplantations (LDLT).

Hypothesis

We hypothesized that patient-derived intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) binding to HCC associated TICs will reduce self-renewal and cell viability driven by β-CATENIN-downstream pathways. β-CATENIN activity protected TICs from IVIG effects.

Methods

The effects of HBIG and HCIG binding to TICs were evaluated for cell viability and self-renewal.

Results

Inhibition of β-CATENIN pathway(s) augmented TIC susceptibility to HBIG- and HCIG-immunotherapy. HBV X protein (HBx) upregulates both β-CATENIN and NANOG expression. The co-expression of constitutively active β-CATENIN with NANOG promotes self-renewal ability and tumor-initiating ability of hepatoblasts. HBIG bound to HBV+ cells led to growth inhibition in a TIC subset that expressed hepatitis B surface antigen. The HBx protein transformed cells through β-CATENIN-inducible lncRNAs EGLN3-AS1 and lnc-β-CatM. Co-expression of constitutively active β-CATENIN with NANOG promoted self-renewal ability of TICs through EGLN3 induction. β-CATENIN-induced lncRNAs stabilized HIF2 to maintain self-renewal of TICs. Targeting of EGLN3-AS1 resulted in destabilization of EZH2-dependent β-CATENIN activity and synergized cell-killing of TICs by HBIG or HCIG immunotherapy.

Discussion

Taken together, WNT and stemness pathways induced HIF2 of TICs via cooperating lncRNAs resulting in resistance to cancer immunotherapy. Therefore, therapeutic use of IVIG may suppress tumor recurrence through inhibition of TICs.

Inflammatory Milieu Related to Dysbiotic Gut Microbiota Promotes Tumorigenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an invasive primary liver cancer caused by multiple pathogenic factors and is a significant global health concern. With few effective therapeutic options, HCC is a heterogeneous carcinoma that typically arises in an inflammatory environment. Recent studies have suggested that dysbiotic gut microbiota is involved in hepatocarcinogenesis via multiple mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the effects of gut microbiota, microbial components, and microbiota-derived metabolites on the promotion and progression of HCC by feeding a persistent inflammatory milieu. In addition, we discuss the potential therapeutic modalities for HCC targeting the inflammatory status induced by gut microbiota. A better understanding of the correlation between the inflammatory milieu and gut microbiota in HCC may be beneficial for developing new therapeutic strategies and managing the disease.

Hepatocellular carcinoma: molecular mechanism, targeted therapy, and biomarkers

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy and one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. The biological process of HCC is complex, with multiple factors leading to the broken of the balance of inactivation and activation of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes, the abnormal activation of molecular signaling pathways, the differentiation of HCC cells, and the regulation of angiogenesis. Due to the insidious onset of HCC, at the time of first diagnosis, less than 30% of HCC patients are candidates for radical treatment. Systematic antitumor therapy is the hope for the treatment of patients with middle-advanced HCC. Despite the emergence of new systemic therapies, survival rates for advanced HCC patients remain low. The complex pathogenesis of HCC has inspired researchers to explore a variety of biomolecular targeted therapeutics targeting specific targets. Correct understanding of the molecular mechanism of HCC occurrence is key to seeking effective targeted therapy. Research on biomarkers for HCC treatment is also advancing. Here, we explore the molecular mechanism that are associated with HCC development, summarize targeted therapies for HCC, and discuss potential biomarkers that may drive therapies.

Five Critical Gene-Based Biomarkers With Optimal Performance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most fatal cancers in the world. There is an urgent need to understand the molecular background of HCC to facilitate the identification of biomarkers and discover effective therapeutic targets. Published transcriptomic studies have reported a large number of genes that are individually significant for HCC. However, reliable biomarkers remain to be determined. In this study, built on max-linear competing risk factor models, we developed a machine learning analytical framework to analyze transcriptomic data to identify the most miniature set of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). By analyzing 9 public whole-transcriptome datasets (containing 1184 HCC samples and 672 nontumor controls), we identified 5 critical differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (ie, CCDC107, CXCL12, GIGYF1, GMNN, and IFFO1) between HCC and control samples. The classifiers built on these 5 DEGs reached nearly perfect performance in identification of HCC. The performance of the 5 DEGs was further validated in a US Caucasian cohort that we collected (containing 17 HCC with paired nontumor tissue). The conceptual advance of our work lies in modeling gene-gene interactions and correcting batch effect in the analytic framework. The classifiers built on the 5 DEGs demonstrated clear signature patterns for HCC. The results are interpretable, robust, and reproducible across diverse cohorts/populations with various disease etiologies, indicating the 5 DEGs are intrinsic variables that can describe the overall features of HCC at the genomic level. The analytical framework applied in this study may pave a new way for improving transcriptome profiling analysis of human cancers.

TRB CDR3 chemical complementarity with HBV epitopes correlates with increased hepatocellular carcinoma, disease-free survival

The liver is a site of immune privilege, compared with the bladder and skin, for example. To study this attenuation of the immune response in the cancer setting, we compared quantities and features of adaptive immune receptor (IR) recombination reads obtained from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and six other cancers. Of these cancers, HCC had the lowest numbers of IR recombination reads and was the only cancer with a greater number immunoglobulin rather than T-cell receptor recombination reads. To better understand the role of adaptive IRs obtained from the tumor microenvironment in shaping the outcome of HCC cases, we quantified the chemical complementarity between HCC tumor TRB and IGH complementarity determining region-3 (CDR3) amino acid (AA) sequences, and known hepatitis B virus (HBV) epitopes. High chemical complementarity between HCC-resident CDR3s and three HBV epitopes correlated with increased survival probabilities, for two sources of CDR3s representing different CDR3 recovery algorithms. These results suggest the potential of CDR3 AA sequences as biomarkers for HCC patient stratification and as guides for future development of therapeutics.

Isoformic PD-1-mediated immunosuppression underlies resistance to PD-1 blockade in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

OBJECTIVE

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has improved cancer treatment, yet why most hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients are resistant to PD-1 ICB remains elusive. Here, we elucidated the role of a programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) isoform, Δ42PD-1, in HCC progression and resistance to nivolumab ICB.

DESIGN

We investigated 74 HCC patients in three cohorts, including 41 untreated, 28 treated with nivolumab and 5 treated with pembrolizumab. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from blood samples and tumour infiltrating lymphocytes from tumour tissues were isolated for immunophenotyping. The functional significance of Δ42PD-1 was explored by single-cell RNA sequencing analysis and validated by functional and mechanistic studies. The immunotherapeutic efficacy of Δ42PD-1 monoclonal antibody was determined in HCC humanised mouse models.

RESULTS

We found distinct T cell subsets, which did not express PD-1 but expressed its isoform Δ42PD-1, accounting for up to 71% of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in untreated HCC patients. Δ42PD-1+ T cells were tumour-infiltrating and correlated positively with HCC severity. Moreover, they were more exhausted than PD-1+ T cells by single T cell and functional analysis. HCC patients treated with anti-PD-1 ICB showed effective PD-1 blockade but increased frequencies of Δ42PD-1+ T cells over time especially in patients with progressive disease. Tumour-infiltrated Δ42PD-1+ T cells likely sustained HCC through toll-like receptors-4-signalling for tumourigenesis. Anti-Δ42PD-1 antibody, but not nivolumab, inhibited tumour growth in three murine HCC models.

CONCLUSION

Our findings not only revealed a mechanism underlying resistance to PD-1 ICB but also identified anti-Δ42PD-1 antibody for HCC immunotherapy.

Transposon delivery for CRISPR-based loss-of-function screen in mice identifies NF2 as a cooperating gene involved with the canonical WNT signaling molecular class of hepatocellular carcinoma

Various molecular subclasses of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exists, with many novel cooperating oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes involved in its tumorigenesis. The emerging importance of WNT signaling in HCC has been established. However, the intricate genetic mechanisms involved in this complex signaling pathway remains to be elucidated. Importantly, while some cooperating genes have been identified, there are still many unknown genes associated with catenin beta 1 (CTNNB1)-induced HCC. Mutations in both oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are required for HCC tumorigenesis. The emergence of the CRISPR/Cas9 system has allowed researchers now to target both alleles efficiently. In this novel study, the Sleeping Beauty transposon system was used as a gene delivery system in vivo to stably integrate an expression cassette that carry pools of gRNAs and overexpress a mutant version of CTNNB1 into the hepatocyte genome. We identified 206 candidate genes that drive HCC tumorigenesis in the context of WNT signaling activation and, neurofibromin 2 (NF2) gene, a known tumor suppressor gene with clinical relevance was validated in this proof-of-principle study.

Anti-cancer effect of nano-encapsulated boswellic acids, curcumin and naringenin against HepG-2 cell line

BACKGROUND

liver cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. So far, there is no gold standard treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma. We conducted this in vitro study to assess the effect of three natural products: Boswellic acids, curcumin and naringin versus corresponding nanoparticles (NPs) on Hep G2 cells proliferation.

METHODS

Boswellic acid, curcumin, naringin-loaded NPs were prepared using nanoprecipitation method. Human liver (HepG2) cell line was cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM). The cell growth inhibition and cytotoxicity were evaluated by MTT assay.

RESULTS

Boswellic acid, curcumin, naringin were able to inhibit HepG2 cells proliferation. IC50 at 24 h, 48 h showed significant lower values in NPs versus Free herbs. IC50 values of free Boswellic acids and NPs at 24 h were (24.60 ± 1.89 and 7.78 ± 0.54, P < 0.001), at 48 h were (22.45 ± 1.13 and 5.58 ± 0.27, P < 0.001) respectively. IC50 values of free curcumin and NPs at 24 h were (5.89 ± 0.8 and 3.46 ± 0.23, P < 0.05), at 48 h were (5.57 ± 0.94 and 2.51 ± 0.11, P < 0.05), respectively. For free and naringenin NPs, IC50 values at 24 h were (14.57 ± 1.78 and 7.25 ± 0.17, P < 0.01), at 48 h were (11.37 ± 1.45 and 5.21 ± 0.18, P < 0.01) respectively.

CONCLUSION

Boswellic acid, curcumin, naringin and their nanoprecipitation prepared nanoparticles suppressed Hep G2 cells proliferation.

Loss of TP53 cooperates with c-MET overexpression to drive hepatocarcinogenesis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a deadly malignancy with high genetic heterogeneity. TP53 mutation and c-MET activation are frequent events in human HCCs. Here, we discovered that the simultaneous mutations in TP53 and activation of c-MET occur in ~20% of human HCCs, and these patients show a poor prognosis. Importantly, we found that concomitant deletion of Trp53 and overexpression of c-MET (c-MET/sgp53) in the mouse liver led to HCC formation in vivo. Consistent with human HCCs, RNAseq showed that c-MET/sgp53 mouse HCCs were characterized by activated c-MET and Ras/MAPK cascades and increased tumor cell proliferation. Subsequently, a stably passaged cell line derived from a c-MET/sgp53 HCC and corresponding subcutaneous xenografts were generated. Also, in silico analysis suggested that the MEK inhibitor trametinib has a higher inhibition score in TP53 null human HCC cell lines, which was validated experimentally. We consistently found that trametinib effectively inhibited the growth of c-MET/sgp53 HCC cells and xenografts, supporting the possible usefulness of this drug for treating human HCCs with TP53-null mutations. Altogether, our study demonstrates that loss of TP53 cooperates with c-MET to drive hepatocarcinogenesis in vivo. The c-MET/sgp53 mouse model and derived HCC cell lines represent novel and useful preclinical tools to study hepatocarcinogenesis in the TP53 null background.

Circ_0102543 suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression through the miR-942-5p/SGTB axis

Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most serious cancers. Circular RNA (circRNA) has been reported to regulate the progression of HCC. Herein, the role of circ_0102543 in HCC tumorigenesis was investigated.

Materials

The expression levels of circ_0102543, microRNA-942-5p (miR-942-5p), and small glutamine rich tetratricopeptide repeat co-chaperone beta (SGTB) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay, thymidine analog 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EDU) assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry were conducted to explore the function of circ_0102543 in HCC cells and the regulatory mechanism among circ_0102543, miR-942-5p and SGTB in HCC cells. Western blot examined the related protein levels.

Results

The expression of circ_0102543 and SGTB was decreased in HCC tissues, while the expression of miR-942-5p was increased. Circ_0102543 acted as a sponge for miR-942-5p, and SGTB was the target of miR-942-5p. Circ_0102543 up-regulation hindered tumor growth in vivo. In vitro experiments showed that overexpression of circ_0102543 significantly repressed the malignant behaviors of HCC cells, while co-transfection of miR-942-5p partially attenuated these effects mediated by circ_0102543. In addition, SGTB knockdown increased the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells inhibited by miR-942-5p inhibitor. Mechanically, circ_0102543 regulated SGTB expression in HCC cells by sponging miR-942-5p.

Conclusion

Overexpression of circ_0102543 suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells by regulating the miR-942-5p/SGTB axis, suggesting that circ_0102543/miR-942-5p/SGTB axis may be a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

Loss of Mettl3 enhances liver tumorigenesis by inducing hepatocyte dedifferentiation and hyperproliferation

While a few works have shown that Mettl3 plays oncogenic roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), its function in early HCC tumorigenesis remains unclear. In Mettl3^flox/flox; Alb-Cre knockout mice, Mettl3 loss leads to aberrant hepatocyte homeostasis and liver damage. Importantly, Mettl3 deletion dramatically accelerates liver tumorigenesis in various HCC mouse models. Depletion of Mettl3 in adult Mettl3^flox/flox mice through TBG-Cre administration also enhances liver tumor development, while overexpression of Mettl3 inhibits hepatocarcinogenesis. Mechanistically, aggravated tumorigenesis upon Mettl3 deletion is a consequence of hepatocyte dedifferentiation and hyperproliferation via m⁶A-mediated modulation on Hnf4α and cell cycle genes. In contrast, by using Mettl3^flox/flox; Ubc-Cre mice, depletion of Mettl3 in established HCC ameliorates tumor progression. Additionally, Mettl3 is overexpressed in HCC tumors compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues. The present findings define a tumor-suppressive role of Mettl3 in liver tumorigenesis, indicating its potentially opposite stage-dependent functions in HCC initiation versus progression.

Western diet unmasks transient low-level vinyl chloride-induced tumorigenesis; potential role of the (epi-)transcriptome

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Vinyl chloride (VC) monomer is a volatile organic compound commonly used in industry. At high exposure levels, VC causes liver cancer and toxicant-associated steatohepatitis. However, lower exposure levels (i.e., sub-regulatory exposure limits) that do not directly damage the liver, enhance injury caused by Western diet (WD). It is still unknown if the long-term impact of transient low-concentration VC enhances the risk of liver cancer development. This is especially a concern given that fatty liver disease is in and of itself a risk factor for the development of liver cancer.

METHODS

C57Bl/6 J mice were fed WD or control diet (CD) for 1 year. During the first 12 weeks of feeding only, mice were also exposed to VC via inhalation at sub-regulatory limit concentrations (<1 ppm) or air for 6 h/day, 5 days/week.

RESULTS

Feeding WD for 1 year caused significant hepatic injury, which was exacerbated by VC. Additionally, VC increased the number of tumors which ranged from moderately to poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated VC-induced changes in metabolic but also ribosomal processes. Epitranscriptomic analysis showed a VC-induced shift of the modification pattern that has been associated with metabolic disease, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that VC sensitizes the liver to other stressors (e.g., WD), resulting in enhanced tumorigenesis. These data raise concerns about potential interactions between VC exposure and WD. It also emphasizes that current safety restrictions may be insufficient to account for other factors that can influence hepatotoxicity.

Chronic Inflammation's Transformation to Cancer: A Nanotherapeutic Paradigm

The body's normal immune response against any invading pathogen that causes infection in the body results in inflammation. The sudden transformation in inflammation leads to the rise of inflammatory diseases such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune disorders, and colorectal cancer (different types of cancer develop at the site of chronic infection and inflammation). Inflammation results in two ways: short-term inflammation i.e., non-specific, involves the action of various immune cells; the other results in long-term reactions lasting for months or years. It is specific and causes angiogenesis, fibrosis, tissue destruction, and cancer progression at the site of inflammation. Cancer progression relies on the interaction between the host microenvironment and tumor cells along with the inflammatory responses, fibroblast, and vascular cells. The two pathways that have been identified connecting inflammation and cancer are the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Both have their own specific role in linking inflammation to cancer, involving various transcription factors such as Nuclear factor kappa B, Activator of transcription, Single transducer, and Hypoxia-inducible factor, which in turn regulates the inflammatory responses via Soluble mediators cytokines (such as Interleukin-6, Hematopoietin-1/Erythropoietin, and tumor necrosis factor), chemokines (such as Cyclooxygenase-2, C-X-C Motif chemokines ligand-8, and IL-8), inflammatory cells, cellular components (such as suppressor cells derived from myeloid, tumor-associated macrophage, and acidophils), and promotes tumorigenesis. The treatment of these chronic inflammatory diseases is challenging and needs early detection and diagnosis. Nanotechnology is a booming field nowadays for its rapid action and easy penetration inside the infected destined cells. Nanoparticles are widely classified into different categories based on their different factors and properties such as size, shape, cytotoxicity, and others. Nanoparticles emerged as excellent with highly progressive medical inventions to cure diseases such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, and others. Nanoparticles have shown higher binding capacity with the biomolecules in inflammation reduction and lowers the oxidative stress inside tissue/cells. In this review, we have overall discussed inflammatory pathways that link inflammation to cancer, major inflammatory diseases, and the potent action of nanoparticles in chronic inflammation-related diseases.

Crosstalk between miRNAs and DNA Methylation in Cancer

miRNAs are some of the most well-characterized regulators of gene expression. Integral to several physiological processes, their aberrant expression often drives the pathogenesis of both benign and malignant diseases. Similarly, DNA methylation represents an epigenetic modification influencing transcription and playing a critical role in silencing numerous genes. The silencing of tumor suppressor genes through DNA methylation has been reported in many types of cancer and is associated with tumor development and progression. A growing body of literature has described the crosstalk between DNA methylation and miRNAs as an additional layer in the regulation of gene expression. Methylation in miRNA promoter regions inhibits its transcription, while miRNAs can target transcripts and subsequently regulate the proteins responsible for DNA methylation. Such relationships between miRNA and DNA methylation serve an important regulatory role in several tumor types and highlight a novel avenue for potential therapeutic targets. In this review, we discuss the crosstalk between DNA methylation and miRNA expression in the pathogenesis of cancer and describe how miRNAs influence DNA methylation and, conversely, how methylation impacts the expression of miRNAs. Finally, we address how these epigenetic modifications may be leveraged as biomarkers in cancer.

Circ_0067934 as a novel therapeutic target in cancer: From mechanistic to clinical perspectives

Circular RNAs, as a type of non-coding RNAs, are identified in a various cell. Circular RNAs have stable structures, conserved sequence, and tissue and cell-specific level. High throughput technologies have proposed that circular RNAs act via various mechanisms like sponging microRNAs and proteins, regulating transcription factors, and scaffolding mediators. Cancer is one of the major threat for human health. Emerging data have proposed that circular RNAs are dysregulated in cancers as well as are associated with aggressive behaviors of cancer -related behaviors like cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Among them, circ_0067934 was shown to act as an oncogene in cancers to enhance migration, invasion, proliferation, cell cycle, EMT, and inhibit cell apoptosis. In addition, these studies have proposed that it could be a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in cancer. This study aimed to review the expression and molecular mechanism of circ_0067934 in modulating the malignant behaviors of cancers as well as to explore its potential as a target in cancer chemotherapy, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.

Exosomal miRNAs in the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is highly aggressive having an extremely poor prognosis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) of PC is complex and heterogeneous. Various cellular components in the microenvironment are capable of secreting different active substances that are involved in promoting tumor development. Their release may occur via exosomes, the most abundant extracellular vesicles (EVs), that can carry numerous factors as well as act as a mean of intercellular communication. Emerging evidence suggests that miRNAs are involved in the regulation and control of many pathological and physiological processes. They can also be transported by exosomes from donor cells to recipient cells, thereby regulating the TME. Exosomal miRNAs show promise for use as future targets for PC diagnosis and prognosis, which may reveal new treatment strategies for PC. In this paper, we review the important role of exosomal miRNAs in mediating cellular communication in the TME of PC as well as their potential use in clinical applications.

Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Interplay of Apoptosis and Autophagy

The pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a multifactorial process that has not yet been fully investigated. Autophagy and apoptosis are two important cellular pathways that are critical for cell survival or death. The balance between apoptosis and autophagy regulates liver cell turnover and maintains intracellular homeostasis. However, the balance is often dysregulated in many cancers, including HCC. Autophagy and apoptosis pathways may be either independent or parallel or one may influence the other. Autophagy may either inhibit or promote apoptosis, thus regulating the fate of the liver cancer cells. In this review, a concise overview of the pathogenesis of HCC is presented, with emphasis on new developments, including the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress, the implication of microRNAs and the role of gut microbiota. The characteristics of HCC associated with a specific liver disease are also described and a brief description of autophagy and apoptosis is provided. The role of autophagy and apoptosis in the initiation, progress and metastatic potential is reviewed and the experimental evidence indicating an interplay between the two is extensively analyzed. The role of ferroptosis, a recently described specific pathway of regulated cell death, is presented. Finally, the potential therapeutic implications of autophagy and apoptosis in drug resistance are examined.

Thai Rat-Tailed Radish Prevents Hepatocarcinogenesis in Rats by Blocking Mutagenicity, Inducing Hepatic Phase II Enzyme, and Decreasing Hepatic Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Gene Expression

Raphanus sativus L. var. caudatus Alef (RS) is an indigenous Thai plant with nutritional and medicinal values such as anticancer activity, but only in vitro. The chemopreventive effects of RS were, therefore, investigated in the initial stage of hepatocarcinogenesis in rats. Diethylnitrosamine (DEN), a carcinogen, was intraperitoneally injected into rats to induce liver cancer. Along with the DEN injection, either aqueous (RS-H₂O) or dichloromethane (RS-DCM) extract was administered orally. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect glutathione S-transferase placental (GST-P) positive foci and apoptotic cells in rat livers as indicators of initial-stage carcinogenesis. The underlying mechanisms of chemoprevention were investigated with (a) antimutagenic activity, (b) hepatic phase II enzyme induction, and (c) hepatic pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression. The results showed that RS-DCM was more potent than RS-H₂O in decreasing GST-P positive foci and apoptotic cells induced by DEN. The mechanisms of RS-DCM (phenolics and sulforaphene contents) against liver carcinogenesis (1) block the activity of carcinogens; (2) elevate phase II detoxifying enzymes; and (3) suppress the pro-inflammatory gene expression. RS-H₂O (phenolics contents), in contrast, only decreases pro-inflammatory gene expression. In conclusion, the RS extract consisting of phenolics and isothiocyanates exerted significant chemopreventive activity against DEN-induced liver carcinogenesis.

Should We Expect an Increase in the Number of Cancer Cases in People with Long COVID?

The relationship between viral infections and the risk of developing cancer is well known. Multiple mechanisms participate in and determine this process. The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has resulted in the deaths of millions of people worldwide. Although the effects of COVID-19 are limited for most people, a large number of people continue to show symptoms for a long period of time (long COVID). Several studies have suggested that cancer could also be a potential long-term complication of the virus; however, the causes of this risk are not yet well understood. In this review, we investigated arguments that could support or reject this possibility.

Attenuation of diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in a rat model by combination therapy of diacerein and gold nanoparticles: a histopathological and immunohistochemical study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of combined therapy of diacerein and gold nanoparticles (AuNP) on diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a rat model. Normal healthy and DEN-induced (HCC) rats were divided into five groups. Group I healthy rats served as normal control, Group II untreated HCC rats, Group III HCC rats administered diacerein, Group IV HCC rats administered AuNP, and Group V HCC rats administered diacerein and AuNP. All treatments were given once daily for 4 weeks. Liver morphology and necroinflammation in all groups were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson's trichrome for fibrosis, and immunohistochemistry assays for expression of TNF-α, IL-6, β-catenin, and caspase-3. Liver sections from Group II HCC rats showed loss of lobular architecture, thick fibrous tissue deposition, leukocyte infiltration, degenerated hepatocytes and HCC neoplastic nodules surrounded by extensive fibrosis. Group II had high expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and β-catenin, and low caspase-3 expression as compared to Group I. HCC rats treated with the combined therapy of diacerein and AuNP (Group V) showed markedly decreased HCC lesions, significant necroinflammation reduction (p ˂ 0.05) and 90% reduction in fibrosis as compared to Group II HCC + diacerein. This combined therapy also reduced (p ˂ 0.05) TNF-α, IL-6, β-catenin expression and increased caspase-3 expression. In conclusion, diacerein combined with AuNP synergistically attenuated the severity of HCC lesions by reducing necroinflammation and fibrosis, decreased TNF-α, IL-6, β-catenin expression, and increased caspase-3 expression for apoptosis.