The interplay of UBE2T and Mule in regulating Wnt/β-catenin activation to promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression

The role of abnormal ubiquitination in hepatocellular carcinoma pathology

Primary liver cancer is known for its high incidence and fatality rate. Over the years, therapeutic strategies for primary liver cancer have advanced significantly. Nonetheless, a substantial number of patients have not benefited from these methods, underscoring the pressing need for new and effective treatments for primary liver cancer. Ubiquitination is a critical post-translational modification that enables proteins to fulfill their normal biological functions and maintain their expression stability within cells. Importantly, increasing evidence suggests that the progression of liver cancer cells is often accompanied by disruptions in protein ubiquitination and deubiquitination processes. In this comprehensive review, we have compiled pertinent research about dysregulated ubiquitination in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to broaden our understanding in this field. We elucidate the connections between the ubiquitination proteasome system, deubiquitination, and HCC. Furthermore, we shed light on the role of ubiquitination in cells situated within the tumor microenvironment of HCC including its involvement in mediating the activation of oncogenic pathways, reprogramming metabolic processes, and perturbing normal cellular functions. In conclusion, targeting the dysregulation of ubiquitination in HCC holds promise as a prospective and complementary therapeutic approach to existing treatments.

Identification and characterization of inhibitors covalently modifying catalytic cysteine of UBE2T and blocking ubiquitin transfer

UBE2T is an E2 ubiquitin ligase critical for ubiquitination of substrate and plays important roles in many diseases. Despite the important function, UBE2T is considered as an undruggable target due to lack of a pocket for binding to small molecules with satisfied properties for clinical applications. To develop potent and specific UBE2T inhibitors, we adopted a high-throughput screening assay and two compounds-ETC-6152 and ETC-9004 containing a sulfone tetrazole scaffold were identified. Solution NMR study demonstrated the direct interactions between UBE2T and compounds in solution. Further co-crystal structures reveal the binding modes of these compounds. Both compound hydrolysation and formation of a hydrogen bond with the thiol group of the catalytic cysteine were observed. The formation of covalent complex was confirmed with mass spectrometry. As these two compounds inhibit ubiquitin transfer, our study provides a strategy to develop potent inhibitors of UBE2T.

Regulation of apoptosis by ubiquitination in liver cancer

Apoptosis is a programmed cell death process critical to cell development and tissue homeostasis in multicellular organisms. Defective apoptosis is a crucial step in the malignant transformation of cells, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), where the apoptosis rate is higher than in normal liver tissues. Ubiquitination, a post-translational modification process, plays a precise role in regulating the formation and function of different death-signaling complexes, including those involved in apoptosis. Aberrant expression of E3 ubiquitin ligases (E3s) in liver cancer (LC), such as cellular inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (cIAPs), X chromosome-linked IAP (XIAP), and linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC), can contribute to HCC development by promoting cell survival and inhibiting apoptosis. Therefore, the review introduces the main apoptosis pathways and the regulation of proteins in these pathways by E3s and deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). It summarizes the abnormal expression of these regulators in HCC and their effects on cancer inhibition or promotion. Understanding the role of ubiquitination in apoptosis and LC can provide insights into potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

UBE2T Promotes Temozolomide Resistance of Glioblastoma Through Regulating the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Purpose

Patients with glioblastoma (GBM) have poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options, largely because of chemoresistance to temozolomide (TMZ) treatment. Ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2 T (UBE2T) plays a key role in regulating the malignancy of various tumors, including GBM; however, its role in TMZ resistance of GBM has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of UBE2T in mediating TMZ resistance and investigate the specific underlying mechanism.

Methods

Western blotting was used to detect the protein levels of UBE2T and Wnt/β-catenin-related factors. CCK-8, flow cytometry, and colony formation assays were used to examine the effect of UBE2T on TMZ resistance. Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation was inhibited using XAV-939, and a xenograft mouse model was generated to clarify the function of TMZ in vivo.

Results

UBE2T knockdown sensitized GBM cells to TMZ treatment, whereas UBE2T overexpression promoted TMZ resistance. The specific UBE2T inhibitor, M435-1279, increased the sensitivity of GBM cells to TMZ. Mechanistically, our results demonstrated that UBE2T induces β-catenin nuclear translocation and increases the protein levels of downstream molecules, including survivin and c-Myc. Inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling using XAV-939 blocked TMZ resistance due to UBE2T overexpression in GBM cells. In addition, UBE2T was shown to facilitate TMZ resistance by inducing Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation in a mouse xenograft model. Combined treatment with TMZ and UBE2T inhibitor achieved superior tumor growth suppression relative to TMZ treatment alone.

Conclusion

Our data reveal a novel role of UBE2T in mediating TMZ resistance of GBM cells via regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. These findings indicate that targeting UBE2T has promising potential to overcome TMZ resistance of GBM.

Ubiquitin-proteasome system-mediated ubiquitination modification patterns and characterization of tumor microenvironment infiltration, stemness and cellular senescence in low-grade glioma

The Ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) performs a crucial role in immune activation and tumorigenesis. Nevertheless, the comprehensive role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in the low-grade glioma (LGG) tumor microenvironment (TME) remains unknown. Ubiquitination modification patterns in LGG patients and corresponding characteristics of tumor immune traits, CSC stemness, and cellular senescence were evaluated via a comprehensive analysis of 20 ubiquitination modification regulators. For quantification of the ubiquitination modification status of individual patients, the UM-score was constructed and associated with TME characteristics, clinical features, cancer stem cell stemness, cellular senescence, prognosis, and immunotherapy efficacy. We identified that alterations in multiple ubiquitination regulators are linked to patient survival and the shaping of the tumor microenvironment. We found two different styles of ubiquitination modification in patients with low-grade glioma (immune-inflamed differentiation and immune-exclude dedifferentiation), characterized by high and low UM-score, and the two regulatory patterns of ubiquitination modification on immunity, stemness feature, and cellular senescence. We demonstrate that the UM-score could forecast the subtype of LGG, the immunologic infiltration traits, the biological process, the stemness feature, and the cellular senescence trait. Notably, the UM-score was related to immunotherapeutic efficacy, implying that modifying ubiquitination modification patterns by targeting ubiquitination modification regulators or ubiquitination modification pattern signature genes to reverse unfavorable TME properties will provide new insights into cancer immunotherapy. This research indicated that the ubiquitin-proteasome system is crucial in the formation of TME complexity and multiformity. The UM-score can determine ubiquitination modification status in individual patients, bringing about more personalized and effective immunotherapeutic tactics.

Diverse roles of UBE2T in cancer (Review)

As a leading cause of mortalities worldwide, cancer results from accumulation of both genetic and epigenetic alterations. Disruption of epigenetic regulation in cancer, particularly aberrant ubiquitination, has drawn increasing interest in recent years. The present study aimed to review the roles of ubiquitin‑conjugating enzyme E2 T (UBE2T) and its associated pathways in the pathogenesis of pan‑cancer, and the development of small‑molecule modulators to regulate ubiquitination for treatment strategies. The current study comprehensively investigated the expression landscape and functional significance of UBE2T, as well as its correlation with cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapy/radiotherapy. Multiple levels of evidence suggested that aberrant UBE2T played important roles in pan‑cancer. Information was collected from 16 clinical trials on ubiquitin enzymes, and it was found that these molecules had an important role in the ubiquitin‑proteasome system. Further studies are necessary to explore their feasibility and effectiveness as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, or as up/down‑stream and therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

Pathogenesis and Current Treatment Strategies of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent liver cancer with high lethality and low five-year survival rates leading to a substantial worldwide burden for healthcare systems. HCC initiation and progression are favored by different etiological risk factors including hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, non-/and alcoholic fatty liver disease (N/AFLD), and tobacco smoking. In molecular pathogenesis, endogenous alteration in genetics (TP53, TERT, CTNNB1, etc.), epigenetics (DNA-methylation, miRNA, lncRNA, etc.), and dysregulation of key signaling pathways (Wnt/β-catenin, JAK/STAT, etc.) strongly contribute to the development of HCC. The multitude and complexity of different pathomechanisms also reflect the difficulties in tailored medical therapy of HCC. Treatment options for HCC are strictly dependent on tumor staging and liver function, which are structured by the updated Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification system. Surgical resection, local ablative techniques, and liver transplantation are valid and curative therapeutic options for early tumor stages. For multifocal and metastatic diseases, systemic therapy is recommended. While Sorafenib had been the standalone HCC first-line therapy for decades, recent developments had led to the approval of new treatment options as first-line as well as second-line treatment. Anti-PD-L1 directed combination therapies either with anti-VEGF directed agents or with anti-CTLA-4 active substances have been implemented as the new treatment standard in the first-line setting. However, data from clinical trials indicate different responses on specific therapeutic regimens depending on the underlying pathogenesis of hepatocellular cancer. Therefore, histopathological examinations have been re-emphasized by current international clinical guidelines in addition to the standardized radiological diagnosis using contrast-enhanced cross-sectional imaging. In this review, we emphasize the current knowledge on molecular pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. On this occasion, the treatment sequences for early and advanced tumor stages according to the recently updated Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification system and the current algorithm of systemic therapy (first-, second-, and third-line treatment) are summarized. Furthermore, we discuss novel precautional and pre-therapeutic approaches including therapeutic vaccination, adoptive cell transfer, locoregional therapy enhancement, and non-coding RNA-based therapy as promising treatment options. These novel treatments may prolong overall survival rates in regard with quality of life and liver function as mainstay of HCC therapy.

Targeting CSC-related transcription factors by E3 ubiquitin ligases for cancer therapy

Evidence has revealed that transcription factors play essential roles in regulation of multiple cellular processes, including cell proliferation, metastasis, EMT, cancer stem cells and chemoresistance. Dysregulated expression levels of transcription factors contribute to tumorigenesis and malignant progression. The expression of transcription factors is tightly governed by several signaling pathways, noncoding RNAs and E3 ubiquitin ligases. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been validated in regulation of tumor metastasis, reoccurrence and chemoresistance in human cancer. Transcription factors have been verified to participate in regulation of CSC formation, including Oct4, SOX2, KLF4, c-Myc, Nanog, GATA, SALL4, Bmi-1, OLIG2, POU3F2 and FOX proteins. In this review article, we will describe the critical role of CSC-related transcription factors. We will further discuss which E3 ligases regulate the degradation of these CSC-related transcription factors and their underlying mechanisms. We also mentioned the functions and mechanisms of EMT-associated transcription factors such as ZEB1, ZEB2, Snail, Slug, Twist1 and Twist2. Furthermore, we highlight the therapeutic potential via targeting E3 ubiquitin ligases for modulation of these transcription factors.

Pan-cancer analysis of UBE2T with a focus on prognostic and immunological roles in lung adenocarcinoma

Background

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 T (UBE2T) is a potential oncogene. However, Pan-cancer analyses of the functional, prognostic and predictive implications of this gene are lacking.

Methods

We first analyzed UBE2T across 33 tumor types in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project. We investigated the expression level of UBE2T and its effect on prognosis using the TCGA database. The correlation between UBE2T and cell cycle in pan-cancer was investigated using the single-cell sequencing data in Cancer Single-cell State Atlas (CancerSEA) database. The Weighted Gene Co-expression Network analysis (WGCNA), Univariate Cox and Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression models, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were applied to assess the prognostic impact of UBE2T-related cell cycle genes (UrCCGs). Furthermore, the consensus clustering (CC) method was adopted to divide TCGA-lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients into subgroups based on UrCCGs. Prognosis, molecular characteristics, and the immune panorama of subgroups were analyzed using Single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA). Results derived from TCGA-LUAD patients were validated in International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC)-LUAD data.

Results

UBE2T is highly expressed and is a prognostic risk factor in most tumors. CancerSEA database analysis revealed that UBE2T was positively associated with the cell cycle in various cancers(r > 0.60, p < 0.001). The risk signature of UrCCGs can reliably predict the prognosis of LUAD (AUC1 year = 0.720, AUC3 year = 0.700, AUC5 year = 0.630). The CC method classified the TCGA-LUAD cohort into 4 UrCCG subtypes (G1–G4). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis demonstrated that G2 and G4 subtypes had worse survival than G3 (Log-rank test PTCGA training set < 0.001, PICGC validation set < 0.001). A comprehensive analysis of immune infiltrates, immune checkpoints, and immunogenic cell death modulators unveiled different immune landscapes for the four subtypes. High immunophenoscore in G3 and G4 tumors suggested that these two subtypes were immunologically “hot,” tending to respond to immunotherapy compared to G2 subtypes (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

UBE2T is a critical oncogene in many cancers. Moreover, UrCCG classified the LUAD cohort into four subgroups with significantly different survival, molecular features, immune infiltrates, and immunotherapy responses. UBE2T may be a therapeutic target and predictor of prognosis and immunotherapy sensitivity.

Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling as a Driver of Stemness and Metabolic Reprogramming in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Simple Summary

Aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been reported to play crucial role in pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this review, we focus on the regulatory role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cancer stemness and metabolic reprogramming, which are two emerging hallmarks of cancer. Understanding the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in regulation of the above processes reveals novel therapeutic strategy against this deadly disease.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer death worldwide due to its high rates of tumor recurrence and metastasis. Aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been shown to play a significant role in HCC development, progression and clinical impact on tumor behavior. Accumulating evidence has revealed the critical involvement of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in driving cancer stemness and metabolic reprogramming, which are regarded as emerging cancer hallmarks. In this review, we summarize the regulatory mechanism of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and its role in HCC. Furthermore, we provide an update on the regulatory roles of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in metabolic reprogramming, cancer stemness and drug resistance in HCC. We also provide an update on preclinical and clinical studies targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling alone or in combination with current therapies for effective cancer therapy. This review provides insights into the current opportunities and challenges of targeting this signaling pathway in HCC.

UBE2T promotes glioblastoma malignancy through ubiquitination-mediated degradation of RPL6

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequent and aggressive malignant glioma. Due to patients' poor prognosis, it is of great clinical significance to determine new targets that may improve GBM treatment. In the present study, we showed that ubiquitin (Ub)-conjugating enzyme E2T (UBE2T) was significantly overexpressed in GBM and could promote proliferation, invasion, and inhibit apoptosis of GBM cells. Mechanistically, UBE2T functioned as the Ub enzyme of ribosomal protein L6 (RPL6) and induced the ubiquitination and degradation of RPL6 in an E3 ligase-independent manner through direct modification by K48-linked polyubiquitination, thus contributing to the malignant progression of GBM cells. Furthermore, inhibiting the expression of RPL6 by UBE2T could not only reduce the expression of wild-type p53, but also enhance the gain-of-function of mutant p53. Moreover, knockdown of UBE2T in LN229 cells obviously suppressed tumor growth in LN229 xenograft mouse models. Collectively, our study demonstrated that UBE2T promotes GBM malignancy through ubiquitination-mediated degradation of RPL6 regardless of the p53 mutation status. It will provide new candidates for molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets for clinical application in GBM.

UBE2T/STAT3 Signaling Promotes the Proliferation and Tumorigenesis in Retinoblastoma

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the expression and function of Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme 2T (UBE2T), a human E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, in human retinoblastoma.

Methods

The expression of UBE2T in normal retina and retinoblastoma was analyzed using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, and its expression was immunohistochemically evaluated in 29 retinoblastoma sections and 5 normal retinas. Then CCK-8, flow cytometry, RNA-sequencing analysis, and in vivo assays were performed to explore the exact role of UBE2T in retinoblastoma.

Results

We found that retinoblastoma showed higher UBE2T expression than normal retina in GEO datasets and tissues. The immunoreactive score of UBE2T ≥4 was associated with group E in IIRC, T2-T4b in pTNM staging, poorly differentiated retinoblastoma, and high-risk histopathological factors. Knockdown of UBE2T reduced the cell viability, increased the apoptosis cells and G0/G1 cells, and inhibited subcutaneous tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistic studies showed that UBE2T knockdown induced down-regulation of phosphorylation of STAT3 and its downstream genes in vitro and in vivo. Rescue assays confirmed that STAT3 signaling pathway was involved in the effect of reduced cell viability, elevated apoptosis cells, and G0/G1 cells mediated by UBE2T knockdown.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that UBE2T significantly participates in the proliferation of retinoblastoma via the STAT3 signaling pathway, suggesting the potential of UBE2T as a therapeutic target for retinoblastoma treatment.

CTB-193M12.5 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression via Enhancing NSD1-Mediated WNT10B/Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Activation

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

The roles of E3 ligases in Hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocarcinogenesis is a complex multistep biological process involving genetic and epigenetic alterations that are accompanied by activation of oncoproteins and inactivation of tumor suppressors, which in turn results in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the common tumors with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is the key to protein degradation and regulation of physiological and pathological processes, and E3 ligases are key enzymes in the UPS that contain a variety of subfamily proteins involved in the regulation of some common signal pathways in HCC. There is growing evidence that many structural or functional dysfunctions of E3 are engaged in the development and progression of HCC. Herein, we review recent research advances in HCC-associated E3 ligases, describe their structure, classification, functional roles, and discuss some mechanisms of the abnormal activation or inactivation of the HCC-associated signal pathway due to the binding of E3 to known substrates. In addition, given the success of proteasome inhibitors in the treatment of malignant cancers, we characterize the current knowledge and future prospects for targeted therapies against aberrant E3 in HCC.

Cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma - from origin to clinical implications

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive disease with a poor clinical outcome. The cancer stem cell (CSC) model states that tumour growth is powered by a subset of tumour stem cells within cancers. This model explains several clinical observations in HCC (as well as in other cancers), including the almost inevitable recurrence of tumours after initial successful chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, as well as the phenomena of tumour dormancy and treatment resistance. The past two decades have seen a marked increase in research on the identification and characterization of liver CSCs, which has encouraged the design of novel diagnostic and treatment strategies for HCC. These studies revealed novel aspects of liver CSCs, including their heterogeneity and unique immunobiology, which are suggestive of opportunities for new research directions and potential therapies. In this Review, we summarize the present knowledge of liver CSC markers and the regulators of stemness in HCC. We also comprehensively describe developments in the liver CSC field with emphasis on experiments utilizing single-cell transcriptomics to understand liver CSC heterogeneity, lineage-tracing and cell-ablation studies of liver CSCs, and the influence of the CSC niche and tumour microenvironment on liver cancer stemness, including interactions between CSCs and the immune system. We also discuss the potential application of liver CSC-based therapies for treatment of HCC.

The expression of circ_0090049 in hepatocellular carcinoma and the molecular regulation mechanism of other biological functions

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in liver cancer. Circular RNA_0090049 (circ_0090049) has been shown to be involved in the advance of HCC. However, the interaction between circ_0090049 and microRNA (miRNA) in HCC has not been studied. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of related genes. Through detection of cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and rate of tumor sphere formation, the capping experiment was carried out to verify the regulatory relationship between miRNA and circ_0090049 or circ_0090049 and ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 T (UBE2T). The expression of related proteins was detected by Western blotting. The interaction of miRNA with circ_0090049 or UBE2T was notarized by Dual-luciferase reporter assay. Xenotransplantation experiments confirmed the function of circ_0090049 in vivo. Circ_0090049 and UBE2T were upregulated in liver cancer. Silencing circ_0090049 reduced the proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor spheroid formation rate of Huh7 and HCCLM3 cells. MiR-605-5p and miR-548c-3p were identified as targets of circ_0090049, and UBE2T was the target of miR-605-5p and miR-548c-3p. Anti-miR-605-5p, anti-miR-548c-3p or UBE2T overexpression restored the inhibitory effect of circ_0090049 knockdown on HCC cells. Animal experiments confirmed the antitumor effect of silence circ_0090049. Circ_0090049 regulates the expression of UBE2T by regulating miR-605-5p or miR-548c-3p, thereby promoting the development of HCC cells.

New biomarkers and therapeutic targets of human liver cancer: Transcriptomic findings

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, causing 782,000 deaths in 2018. Poor prognosis and lack of treatment are the reasons for the high mortality rate of HCC. In the current study, we conducted a comparative transcriptomic analysis, followed by a series of bioinformatics analyses, including Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), aiming to unfold the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the development of HCC. In the comparative transcriptomic analysis of 10 pairs of HCC tumoral tissues and adjunct nontumoral tissues, we identified 115 common differentially expressed genes in HCC. The GO enrichment analysis of these genes highlighted alterations in the immune response, cell proliferation and DNA damage, energetic metabolism, cell-matrix adhesion, and filament assembly in HCC. In addition, the canonical pathway analysis of IPA further showed the importance of many cell-signaling pathways involved in the carcinogenesis of HCC. The findings of this study provide a cluster of novel biomarkers and molecular therapeutic targets for HCC diagnosis and treatment.

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2T promotes tumor stem cell characteristics and migration of cervical cancer cells by regulating the GRP78/FAK pathway

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2T (UBE2T) functions as an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme in the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation system and mediates cellular processes, such as cell cycle, proliferation, and differentiation. UBE2T has been considered to be an oncogene in a variety of tumors. However, the oncogenic role of UBE2T in cervical cancer remains unclear. In this study, our results first showed that the expression of UBE2T was higher in both of cervical cancer tissues and cells than that in the normal tissues and cells. Knockdown of UBE2T reduced cervical cancer cell viability and suppressed the proliferation, invasion, and migration. However, overexpression of UBE2T contributed to cervical cancer cell growth and metastasis. Moreover, UBE2T overexpression cervical cancer cells demonstrated enhanced self-renewal capacity with upregulation of SOX2, Oct-4, and Nanog protein. Silencing of UBE2T downregulated protein expression of SOX2, Oct-4, and Nanog in cervical cancer cells reduced self-renewal capacity. Furthermore, ectopic UBE2T expression promoted protein expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation in cervical cancer cells. The knockdown of UBE2T reduced protein expression of GRP78 and FAK phosphorylation. Collectively, UBE2T promoted cervical cancer stem cell traits and exerted an oncogenic role through activation of the GRP78/FAK pathway.

Upregulation of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2T (UBE2T) predicts poor prognosis and promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression

Reportedly, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2T (UBE2T) is closely related to the progression of several malignancies. This work is aimed to probe the role of UBE2T in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The microarray analysis was executed to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HCC tissues. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA2) databases, PCR and immunohistochemistry were utilized to validate the dysregulation of UBE2T in HCC. Kaplan-Meier analysis was employed to determine the relationship between UBE2T expression and the prognosis of HCC patients. PCR was carried out to detect UBE2T protein expression in HCC cell lines. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and 5-bromo-2ʹ-deoxyuridine (BrdU) experiments were conducted to examine the proliferation of HCC cells. Scratch healing and Transwell experiments were conducted to examine the migration of HCC cells. Bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter gene experiments predicted and validated the targeting relationship with miR-212-5p and UBE2T. We found that UBE2T expression was remarkably up-modulated in HCC tissues and cell lines, and its high expression was linked to a worse prognosis in HCC patients. UBE2T overexpression enhanced HCC cell proliferation and migration. Additionally, UBE2T was verified as a downstream target of miR-212-5p. In conclusion, UBE2T overexpression is markedly linked to unfavorable prognosis in HCC patients. UBE2T, regulated by miR-212-5p, significantly enhances the malignant phenotypes of HCC cells, which can be used as a target for HCC diagnosis and prognosis.

Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling as a Driver of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression: An Emphasis on Molecular Pathways

Liver cancers cause a high rate of death worldwide and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered as the most common primary liver cancer. HCC remains a challenging disease to treat. Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is considered a tumor-promoting factor in various cancers; hence, the present review focused on the role of Wnt signaling in HCC, and its association with progression and therapy response based on pre-clinical and clinical evidence. The nuclear translocation of β-catenin enhances expression level of genes such as c-Myc and MMPs in increasing cancer progression. The mutation of CTNNB1 gene encoding β-catenin and its overexpression can lead to HCC progression. β-catenin signaling enhances cancer stem cell features of HCC and promotes their growth rate. Furthermore, β-catenin prevents apoptosis in HCC cells and increases their migration via triggering EMT and upregulating MMP levels. It is suggested that β-catenin signaling participates in mediating drug resistance and immuno-resistance in HCC. Upstream mediators including ncRNAs can regulate β-catenin signaling in HCC. Anti-cancer agents inhibit β-catenin signaling and mediate its proteasomal degradation in HCC therapy. Furthermore, clinical studies have revealed the role of β-catenin and its gene mutation (CTNBB1) in HCC progression. Based on these subjects, future experiments can focus on developing novel therapeutics targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling in HCC therapy.