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Chan YT, Zhang C, Wu J, Lu P, Xu L, Yuan H, Feng Y, Chen ZS, Wang N. Biomarkers for diagnosis and therapeutic options in hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:189. [PMID: 39242496 PMCID: PMC11378508 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02101-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is a global health challenge, causing a significant social-economic burden. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant type of primary liver cancer, which is highly heterogeneous in terms of molecular and cellular signatures. Early-stage or small tumors are typically treated with surgery or ablation. Currently, chemotherapies and immunotherapies are the best treatments for unresectable tumors or advanced HCC. However, drug response and acquired resistance are not predictable with the existing systematic guidelines regarding mutation patterns and molecular biomarkers, resulting in sub-optimal treatment outcomes for many patients with atypical molecular profiles. With advanced technological platforms, valuable information such as tumor genetic alterations, epigenetic data, and tumor microenvironments can be obtained from liquid biopsy. The inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity of HCC are illustrated, and these collective data provide solid evidence in the decision-making process of treatment regimens. This article reviews the current understanding of HCC detection methods and aims to update the development of HCC surveillance using liquid biopsy. Recent critical findings on the molecular basis, epigenetic profiles, circulating tumor cells, circulating DNAs, and omics studies are elaborated for HCC diagnosis. Besides, biomarkers related to the choice of therapeutic options are discussed. Some notable recent clinical trials working on targeted therapies are also highlighted. Insights are provided to translate the knowledge into potential biomarkers for detection and diagnosis, prognosis, treatment response, and drug resistance indicators in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yau-Tuen Chan
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Cheng Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Junyu Wu
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Pengde Lu
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Lin Xu
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Hongchao Yuan
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Yibin Feng
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Zhe-Sheng Chen
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, NY, 11439, USA.
| | - Ning Wang
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
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Zhao Y, Wan K, Wang J, Wang S, Chang Y, Du Z, Zhang L, Dong L, Zhou D, Zhang W, Wang S, Yang Q. DNA methylation and gene expression profiling reveal potential association of retinol metabolism related genes with hepatocellular carcinoma development. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17916. [PMID: 39193514 PMCID: PMC11348899 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Aberrant DNA methylation patterns play a critical role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the molecular mechanisms associated with these aberrantly methylated genes remain unclear. This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the methylation-driven gene expression alterations in HCC using a multi-omics dataset. Methods Whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) techniques were used to assess the methylation and gene expression profiles of HCC tissues (HCCs) and normal adjacent tissues (NATs). The candidate genes' potential function was further investigated using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA seq) data. Results We observed widespread hypomethylation in HCCs compared to NATs. Methylation levels in distinct genomic regions exhibited significant differences between HCCs and NATs. We identified 247,632 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and 4,926 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between HCCs and NATs. Integrated analysis of DNA methylation and RNA-seq data identified 987 methylation-driven candidate genes, with 970 showing upregulation and 17 showing downregulation. Four genes involved in the retinol metabolic pathway, namely ADH1A, CYP2A6, CYP2C8, and CYP2C19, were identified as hyper-downregulated genes. Their expression levels could stratify HCCs into three subgroups with distinct survival outcomes, immune cell infiltration, and tumor microenvironments. Validation of these findings in an independent dataset yielded similar outcomes, confirming the high concordance and potential prognostic value of these genes. ScRNA seq data revealed the low expression of these genes in immune cells, emphasizing their role in promoting malignant cell proliferation and migration. In conclusion, this study provides insights into the molecular characteristics of HCC, revealing the involvement of retinol metabolism-related genes in the development and progression of HCC. These findings have implications for HCC diagnosis, prognosis prediction, and the development of therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanteng Zhao
- Department of Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Kangkang Wan
- Wuhan Ammunition Life-tech Company, Ltd., CN, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Shuya Wang
- Department of Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Yanli Chang
- Department of Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Zhuanyun Du
- Department of Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Lianglu Zhang
- Wuhan Ammunition Life-tech Company, Ltd., CN, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Lanlan Dong
- Wuhan Ammunition Life-tech Company, Ltd., CN, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Dihan Zhou
- Wuhan Ammunition Life-tech Company, Ltd., CN, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Wuhan Ammunition Life-tech Company, Ltd., CN, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Shaochi Wang
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qiankun Yang
- Department of Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
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Tustumi F, Xavier das Neves R, Pereira MA, Coelho FF, Andraus W. Editorial: Liver cancer awareness month 2023: current progress and future prospects on advances in primary liver cancer investigation and treatment. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1453709. [PMID: 39011479 PMCID: PMC11247360 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1453709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Tustumi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Department of Surgery, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Wellington Andraus
- Department of Gastroenterology, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Draškovič T, Hauptman N. Discovery of novel DNA methylation biomarker panels for the diagnosis and differentiation between common adenocarcinomas and their liver metastases. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3095. [PMID: 38326602 PMCID: PMC10850119 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53754-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Differentiation between adenocarcinomas is sometimes challenging. The promising avenue for discovering new biomarkers lies in bioinformatics using DNA methylation analysis. Utilizing a 2853-sample identification dataset and a 782-sample independent verification dataset, we have identified diagnostic DNA methylation biomarkers that are hypermethylated in cancer and differentiate between breast invasive carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma and stomach adenocarcinoma. The best panels for cancer type exhibit sensitivity of 77.8-95.9%, a specificity of 92.7-97.5% for tumors, a specificity of 91.5-97.7% for tumors and normal tissues and a diagnostic accuracy of 85.3-96.4%. We have shown that the results can be extended from the primary cancers to their liver metastases, as the best panels diagnose and differentiate between pancreatic adenocarcinoma liver metastases and breast invasive carcinoma liver metastases with a sensitivity and specificity of 83.3-100% and a diagnostic accuracy of 86.8-91.9%. Moreover, the panels could detect hypermethylation of selected regions in the cell-free DNA of patients with liver metastases. At the same time, these were unmethylated in the cell-free DNA of healthy donors, confirming their applicability for liquid biopsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Draškovič
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nina Hauptman
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Tsoneva DK, Ivanov MN, Vinciguerra M. Liquid Liver Biopsy for Disease Diagnosis and Prognosis. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2023; 11:1520-1541. [PMID: 38161500 PMCID: PMC10752811 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2023.00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver diseases are a major burden worldwide, the scope of which is expected to further grow in the upcoming years. Clinically relevant liver dysfunction-related blood markers such as alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase have limited accuracy. Nowadays, liver biopsy remains the gold standard for several liver-related pathologies, posing a risk of complication due to its invasive nature. Liquid biopsy is a minimally invasive approach, which has shown substantial potential in the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of liver diseases by detecting disease-associated particles such as proteins and RNA molecules in biological fluids. Histones are the core components of the nucleosomes, regulating essential cellular processes, including gene expression and DNA repair. Following cell death or activation of immune cells, histones are released in the extracellular space and can be detected in circulation. Histones are stable in circulation, have a long half-life, and retain their post-translational modifications. Here, we provide an overview of the current research on histone-mediated liquid biopsy methods for liver diseases, with a focus on the most common detection methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desislava K. Tsoneva
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Transplantology, Research Institute, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
| | - Martin N. Ivanov
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Transplantology, Research Institute, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Research Institute, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
| | - Manlio Vinciguerra
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Transplantology, Research Institute, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
- Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Pierdomenico M, Bacchetta L, Benassi B. The ethanolic extract of Corylus avellana L. drives a microRNA-based cytotoxic effect on HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells. Nat Prod Res 2023:1-8. [PMID: 38013231 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2287170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
An ethanolic extract of Corylus avellana L. hazelnut was characterised by liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry. We here evaluated the in vitro cytotoxic response to such extract in HepG2 cells and tried to depict the underlying mechanism(s) in terms of microRNA-34b/c involvement. Following long-term exposure (144h) of HepG2 cells with 0.04-0.4 mg/ml of hazelnut extract, we demonstrated that miR-34 precursor RNA and both mature miR-34b and miR-34c molecules underwent a significant stimulation (>2-fold change, p < 0.05) in cells treated with the highest concentration. The epigenetic modulation was accompanied by the inhibition of cell proliferation, the decrease of viability and activation of apoptosis at 144h of treatment with 0.4 mg/ml of hazelnut.These in vitro findings demonstrate the cytotoxic effect of the C. avellana extract in HepG2 cells and open the way to in vivo validation of possible application of hazelnut-based extracts, and/or its metabolites, as promising epigenetics drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pierdomenico
- Division of Health Protection Technologies, ENEA-Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Rome, Italy
| | - Loretta Bacchetta
- Division of Biotechnologies and Agroindustry, ENEA-Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Benassi
- Division of Health Protection Technologies, ENEA-Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Rome, Italy
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van der Meeren PE, de Wilde RF, Sprengers D, IJzermans JNM. Benefit and harm of waiting time in liver transplantation for HCC. Hepatology 2023:01515467-990000000-00646. [PMID: 37972979 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Liver transplantation is the most successful treatment for limited-stage HCC. The waiting time for liver transplantation (LT) can be a critical factor affecting the oncological prognosis and outcome of patients with HCC. Efficient strategies to optimize waiting time are essential to maximize the benefits of LT and to reduce the harm of delay in transplantation. The ever-increasing demand for donor livers emphasizes the need to improve the organization of the waiting list for transplantation and to optimize organ availability for patients with and without HCC. Current progress in innovations to expand the donor pool includes the implementation of living donor LT and the use of grafts from extended donors. By expanding selection criteria, an increased number of patients are eligible for transplantation, which necessitates criteria to prevent futile transplantations. Thus, the selection criteria for LT have evolved to include not only tumor characteristics but biomarkers as well. Enhancing our understanding of HCC tumor biology through the analysis of subtypes and molecular genetics holds significant promise in advancing the personalized approach for patients. In this review, the effect of waiting time duration on outcome in patients with HCC enlisted for LT is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pam Elisabeth van der Meeren
- Department of Surgery, Division of HPB & Transplant Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Roeland Frederik de Wilde
- Department of Surgery, Division of HPB & Transplant Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dave Sprengers
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Nicolaas Maria IJzermans
- Department of Surgery, Division of HPB & Transplant Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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8
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Tu T, Ajoyan H, George J. Novel Assays to Solve the Clinical and Scientific Challenges of Chronic Hepatitis B. Clin Liver Dis 2023; 27:837-855. [PMID: 37778773 DOI: 10.1016/j.cld.2023.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Chronic infection with Hepatitis B is a common, incurable, and deadly infection. Despite inexpensive laboratory tests for diagnosis and management that have been established for decades, the worldwide rate of diagnosis is only ∼10%, and ∼5% of people are under treatment. Novel assays have been developed to improve linkage to care by providing more flexible approaches to determine a patient's health status. Other assays have been established to better investigate intrahepatic host-virus interactions to support clinical trials for cure research. This review outlines the clinical and scientific challenges still to be solved and the upcoming methods used to address them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Tu
- Storr Liver Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia; Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, The University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Harout Ajoyan
- Storr Liver Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jacob George
- Storr Liver Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
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Brockley LJ, Souza VGP, Forder A, Pewarchuk ME, Erkan M, Telkar N, Benard K, Trejo J, Stewart MD, Stewart GL, Reis PP, Lam WL, Martinez VD. Sequence-Based Platforms for Discovering Biomarkers in Liquid Biopsy of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2275. [PMID: 37190212 PMCID: PMC10136462 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15082275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer detection and monitoring are hampered by a lack of sensitive biomarkers, which results in diagnosis at late stages and difficulty in tracking response to treatment. Recent developments have established liquid biopsies as promising non-invasive methods for detecting biomarkers in lung cancer patients. With concurrent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies and bioinformatics tools, new approaches for biomarker discovery have emerged. In this article, we survey established and emerging biomarker discovery methods using nucleic acid materials derived from bodily fluids in the context of lung cancer. We introduce nucleic acid biomarkers extracted from liquid biopsies and outline biological sources and methods of isolation. We discuss next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms commonly used to identify novel biomarkers and describe how these have been applied to liquid biopsy. We highlight emerging biomarker discovery methods, including applications of long-read sequencing, fragmentomics, whole-genome amplification methods for single-cell analysis, and whole-genome methylation assays. Finally, we discuss advanced bioinformatics tools, describing methods for processing NGS data, as well as recently developed software tailored for liquid biopsy biomarker detection, which holds promise for early diagnosis of lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam J. Brockley
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (V.G.P.S.); (A.F.); (M.E.P.); (N.T.); (K.B.); (J.T.); (M.D.S.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Vanessa G. P. Souza
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (V.G.P.S.); (A.F.); (M.E.P.); (N.T.); (K.B.); (J.T.); (M.D.S.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil;
| | - Aisling Forder
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (V.G.P.S.); (A.F.); (M.E.P.); (N.T.); (K.B.); (J.T.); (M.D.S.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Michelle E. Pewarchuk
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (V.G.P.S.); (A.F.); (M.E.P.); (N.T.); (K.B.); (J.T.); (M.D.S.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Melis Erkan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS B3K 6R8, Canada;
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3K 6R8, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Nikita Telkar
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (V.G.P.S.); (A.F.); (M.E.P.); (N.T.); (K.B.); (J.T.); (M.D.S.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Katya Benard
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (V.G.P.S.); (A.F.); (M.E.P.); (N.T.); (K.B.); (J.T.); (M.D.S.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Jessica Trejo
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (V.G.P.S.); (A.F.); (M.E.P.); (N.T.); (K.B.); (J.T.); (M.D.S.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Matt D. Stewart
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (V.G.P.S.); (A.F.); (M.E.P.); (N.T.); (K.B.); (J.T.); (M.D.S.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Greg L. Stewart
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (V.G.P.S.); (A.F.); (M.E.P.); (N.T.); (K.B.); (J.T.); (M.D.S.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Patricia P. Reis
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil;
- Department of Surgery and Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil
| | - Wan L. Lam
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (V.G.P.S.); (A.F.); (M.E.P.); (N.T.); (K.B.); (J.T.); (M.D.S.); (G.L.S.); (W.L.L.)
| | - Victor D. Martinez
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS B3K 6R8, Canada;
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3K 6R8, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
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Goncharova IA, Zarubin AA, Babushkina NP, Koroleva IA, Nazarenko MS. Changes in DNA methylation profile in liver tissue during progression of HCV-induced fibrosis to hepatocellular carcinoma. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2023; 27:72-82. [PMID: 36923478 PMCID: PMC10009477 DOI: 10.18699/vjgb-23-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study we compared methylation levels of 27,578 CpG sites between paired samples of the tumor and surrounding liver tissues with various degrees of damage (fibrosis, cirrhosis) in HCV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, as well as between tumor and normal tissue in non-viral HCC patients, using GSE73003 and GSE37988 data from GEODataSets (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). A significantly lower number of differentially methylated sites (DMS) were found between HCC of non-viral etiology and normal liver tissue, as well as between HCC and fibrosis (32 and 40), than between HCC and cirrhosis (2450 and 2304, respectively, according to GSE73003 and GSE37988 datasets). As the pathological changes in the tissue surrounding the tumor progress, the ratio of hyper-/hypomethylated DMSs in the tumor decreases. Thus, in tumor tissues compared with normal/fibrosis/cirrhosis of the liver, 75/62.5/47.7 % (GSE73003) and 16 % (GSE37988) of CpG sites are hypermethylated, respectively. Persistent hypermethylation of the ZNF154 and ZNF540 genes, as well as CCL20 hypomethylation, were registered in tumor tissue in relation to both liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis. Protein products of the EDG4, CCL20, GPR109A, and GRM8 genes, whose CpG sites are characterized by changes in DNA methylation level in tumor tissue in the setting of cirrhosis and fibrosis, belong to "Signaling by G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)" category. However, changes in the methylation level of the "driver" genes for oncopathology (АРС, CDKN2B, GSTP1, ELF4, TERT, WT1) are registered in tumor tissue in the setting of liver cirrhosis but not fibrosis. Among the genes hypermethylated in tumor tissue in the setting of liver cirrhosis, the most represented biological pathways are developmental processes, cell-cell signaling, transcription regulation, Wnt-protein binding. Genes hypomethylated in liver tumor tissue in the setting of liver cirrhosis are related to olfactory signal transduction, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, keratinization, immune response, inhibition of serine proteases, and zinc metabolism. The genes hypermethylated in the tumor are located at the 7p15.2 locus in the HOXA cluster region, and the hypomethylated CpG sites occupy extended regions of the genome in the gene clusters of olfactory receptors (11p15.4), keratin and keratin-associated proteins (12q13.13, 17q21.2, and 21q22.11), epidermal differentiation complex (1q21.3), and immune system function loci 9p21.3 (IFNA, IFNB1, IFNW1 cluster) and 19q13.41-19q13.42 (KLK, SIGLEC, LILR, KIR clusters). Among the genes of fibrogenesis or DNA repair, cg14143055 (ADAMDEC1) is located in the binding region of the HOX gene family transcription factors (TFs), while cg05921699 (CD79A), cg06196379 (TREM1) and cg10990993 (MLH1) are located in the binding region of the ZNF protein family transcription factor (TF). Thus, the DNA methylation profile in the liver in HCV-induced HCC is unique and differs depending on the degree of surrounding tissue lesion - liver fibrosis or liver cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- I A Goncharova
- Research Institute of Medical Genetics, Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
| | - A A Zarubin
- Research Institute of Medical Genetics, Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
| | - N P Babushkina
- Research Institute of Medical Genetics, Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
| | - I A Koroleva
- Research Institute of Medical Genetics, Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
| | - M S Nazarenko
- Research Institute of Medical Genetics, Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
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Chen J, Niu C, Yang N, Liu C, Zou SS, Zhu S. Biomarker discovery and application-An opportunity to resolve the challenge of liver cancer diagnosis and treatment. Pharmacol Res 2023; 189:106674. [PMID: 36702425 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most common malignancies, with severe morbidity and mortality. While considerable progress has been made in liver cancer treatment, the 5-year overall survival (OS) of patients has not improved significantly. Reasons include the inadequate capability of early screening and diagnosis, a high incidence of recurrence and metastasis, a high degree of tumor heterogeneity, and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Therefore, the identification and validation of specific and robust liver cancer biomarkers are of major importance for early screening, timely diagnosis, accurate prognosis, and the prevention of tumor progression. In this review, we highlight some of the latest research progress and potential applications of liver cancer biomarkers, describing hotspots and prospective directions in biomarker discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingtao Chen
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Chao Niu
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Ning Yang
- Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Chunyan Liu
- Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Shan-Shan Zou
- Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Shan Zhu
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
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12
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Significance of Circulating Cell-Free DNA Biomarkers in HBeAg-Negative Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Their Changes after Treatment Initiation. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12030394. [PMID: 36986316 PMCID: PMC10053129 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12030394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a common chronic liver disease that is closely associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Circulating cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) and global DNA methylation, expressed as circulating levels of 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine, are increasingly used to monitor chronic inflammatory diseases of several etiologies. This study attempts to investigate the serum levels of circulating cf-DNA and 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine in HBeAg-negative patients with chronic infection (carriers) and chronic hepatitis B (CHB), as well as their changes after treatment initiation in CHB. Methods: Serum samples from a total of 61 HBeAg-negative patients (30 carriers and 31 CHB patients) were included in order to quantify the levels of circulating cf-DNA and 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine. In addition, serum samples from 17 CHB patients in complete virological and biochemical remission after initiation of treatment with a nucleos(t)ide analogue were included. Results: Circulating cf-DNA concentration was significantly increased after the initiation of treatment (15 vs. 10 ng/mL, p = 0.022). There was a trend in higher mean levels of circulating 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine in carriers compared to CHB patients (211.02 vs. 175.66 ng/mL, p = 0.089), as well as a trend in increasing 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine levels after treatment initiation in CHB patients compared to pre-treatment levels (215 vs. 173 ng/mL, p = 0.079). Conclusions: Both circulating levels of cf-DNA and 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine might be useful biomarkers in order to monitor liver disease activity and response to antiviral treatment in HBeAg-negative chronic HBV patients, but further studies are essential in order to validate these intriguing findings.
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13
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Pan A, Truong TN, Su YH, Dao DY. Circulating Biomarkers for the Early Diagnosis and Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Potential Application in Resource-Limited Settings. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:676. [PMID: 36832164 PMCID: PMC9954913 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13040676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the world's third most lethal cancers. In resource-limited settings (RLS), up to 70% of HCCs are diagnosed with limited curative treatments at an advanced symptomatic stage. Even when HCC is detected early and resection surgery is offered, the post-operative recurrence rate after resection exceeds 70% in five years, of which about 50% occur within two years of surgery. There are no specific biomarkers addressing the surveillance of HCC recurrence due to the limited sensitivity of the available methods. The primary goal in the early diagnosis and management of HCC is to cure disease and improve survival, respectively. Circulating biomarkers can be used as screening, diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers to achieve the primary goal of HCC. In this review, we highlighted key circulating blood- or urine-based HCC biomarkers and considered their potential applications in resource-limited settings, where the unmet medical needs of HCC are disproportionately highly significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabelle Pan
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Thai N. Truong
- Department of Internal Medicine, Campus in Thanh Hoa, Hanoi Medical University, Thanh Hoa 40000, Vietnam
| | - Ying-Hsiu Su
- Department of Translational Medical Science, The Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA
| | - Doan Y Dao
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Center of Excellence for Liver Disease in Vietnam, Johns Hopkins University of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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14
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Kim M, Delgado E, Ko S. DNA methylation in cell plasticity and malignant transformation in liver diseases. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 241:108334. [PMID: 36535346 PMCID: PMC9841769 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The liver possesses extraordinary regenerative capacity mainly attributable to the ability of hepatocytes (HCs) and biliary epithelial cells (BECs) to self-replicate. This ability is left over from their bipotent parent cell, the hepatoblast, during development. When this innate regeneration is compromised due to the absence of proliferative parenchymal cells, such as during cirrhosis, HCs and BEC can transdifferentiate; thus, adding another layer of complexity to the process of liver repair. In addition, dysregulated lineage maintenance in these two cell populations has been shown to promote malignant growth in experimental conditions. Here, malignant transformation, driven in part by insufficient maintenance of lineage reprogramming, contributes to end-stage liver disease. Epigenetic changes are key drivers for cell fate decisions as well as transformation by finetuning overall transcription and gene expression. In this review, we address how altered DNA methylation contributes to the initiation and progression of hepatic cell fate conversion and cancer formation. We also discussed the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of targeting DNA methylation in liver cancer, its current limitations, and what future research is necessary to facilitate its contribution to clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minwook Kim
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Evan Delgado
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Sungjin Ko
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America.
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