Bone marrow cells: Important role on neovascularization of hepatocellular carcinoma

ADAM17-regulated CX3CL1 expression produced by bone marrow endothelial cells promotes spinal metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma

Spinal metastasis occurs in 50-75% of bone metastases caused by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and HCC-derived spinal metastasis can lead to a less favorable prognosis. Recently, several studies have demonstrated that C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CX3CL1) is closely associated with cancer metastasis, and its secretion is modulated by a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17). Bone marrow endothelial cells (BMECs) are an essential component of bone marrow. However, little is known about the roles in and effects of BMECs on HCC spinal metastasis. The present study demonstrated that CX3CL1 and C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) expression was upregulated in HCC spinal metastases, and that CX3CL1 promoted the migration and invasion of HCC cells to the spine. Western blot analysis revealed that the Src/protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2) axis participated in CX3CL1-induced HCC cell invasion and migration. CX3CL1 also increased the expression of M2 macrophage markers in THP-1 monocytes. BMECs promoted the migration and invasion of Hep3B and MHCC97H cells by secreting soluble CX3CL1, whereas the neutralization of CX3CL1 inhibited this enhancement. CX3CL1 enhanced the activation of the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphos-phate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA)/AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1) and Ras homolog family member A (RHOA)/Rho associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) signaling pathways through the Src/PTK2 signaling pathway. Furthermore, ADAM17 was activated by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) z14 in BMECs and significantly promoted the secretion of CX3CL1. HCC cells enhanced the recruitment and proliferation of BMECs. The overexpression of CX3CR1 facilitated the spinal metastasis of HCC in a mouse model in vivo. In addition, in vivo experiments revealed that BMECs promoted the growth of HCC in the spine. The present study demonstrated that CX3CL1 participates in HCC spinal metastasis, and that BMECs play an important role in the regulation of CX3CL1 in the spinal metastatic environment.

Platelet-related phenotypic patterns in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) usually arise in cirrhosis, often with associated thrombocytopenia. Many patients with large HCCs have normal blood platelet counts. In this review, we compare parameter and phenotype patterns of patients with small (≤ 3 cm) and larger HCCs. A retrospective analysis was undertaken of a 4,139-patient HCC database to compare patient demographics, and liver and tumor characteristics associated with small and large HCCs, especially with respect to platelet counts. We found that patients with larger HCCs had more tumor nodules and portal vein thrombosis (PVT) positivity, and had higher blood alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), bilirubin, and platelet counts. In patients with larger tumors and normal platelets (43.7% of the cohort), tumors were larger and AFP levels were higher, with lower bilirubin and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels than in patients with larger tumors and thrombocytopenia (17.5%). A parsimonious multinomial regression model showed a high odds ratio for AFP and platelets for tumors>3 cm with PVT. We conclude that platelet levels are associated with distinct large HCC phenotypes.

Small molecule with big role: MicroRNAs in cancer metastatic microenvironments

Cancer metastasis is closely related to tumor cell microenvironments. Cancer cells and stromal cells interact with one another through extracellular matrix (ECM) and jointly participate in establishing the microenvironments. However, many questions remain to be addressed, in particular, a crucial question is which messengers mediate the mutual interaction and regulation between cancer cells and stromal cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as oncogenic and oncosuppressor genes, regulate the expression and function of their related target genes to affect the biological behaviors of cancer cells and stromal cells, which may play an important role in cancer metastasis. Many miRNAs associated with cancer metastasis have been identified. The molecules of miRNAs are small and relatively easy to be secreted into extracellular microenvironments and devoured by nearby cells. As the regulatory messengers between cells, the secreted miRNAs function to regulate cancer cell proliferation, migration, intercellular communication and stromal modification, thereby helping cancer cells to establish their microenvironments for metastasis. In conclusion, miRNAs are small molecules, but they play a powerful role in regulating cancer metastatic ability by construction and modification of microenvironments.

Intravenous administration of endothelial progenitor cells transfected with the TRAIL gene inhibits the growth of tumors derived from H22 cells in nude mice

AIM: To investigate the influence of intravenous administration of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) transfected with the TRAIL gene on the growth of tumors derived from subcutaneously inoculated H22 cells in nude mice to provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of liver cancer.

METHODS: The TRAIL gene was amplified by PCR, cloned into the pcDNA3.1 vector, and transfected into EPCs. The expression of TRAIL protein was detected by Western blot. Mice were inoculated subcutaneously with H22 cells to induce tumor formation. Tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into three groups and injected via the tail vein with EPCs transfected with the recombinant adenoviral vector carrying the TRAIL gene, the empty vector, and normal saline, respectively.

RESULTS: Restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing analyses indicate that the recombinant plasmid was constructed successfully. TRAIL expression was detected in EPCs transfected with the recombinant adenoviral vector by Western blot. The rate of reduced tumor growth was 47.77% in mice administered with EPCs carrying the TRAIL gene. Tumor volume and weight in the experimental group (0.791 cm3 ± 0.119 cm3, 0.29 g ± 0.04 g) were significantly lower than those in the two control groups (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The recombinant plasmid carrying the TRAIL gene has been successfully constructed. Intravenous administration of endothelial progenitor cells transfected with the TRAIL gene inhibits the growth of tumors derived from H22 cells in nude mice.