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Sheng M, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Liu W, Wang X, Ke T, Liu P, Wang S, Shao W. Decoding the role of aberrant RNA alternative splicing in hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive review. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:17691-17708. [PMID: 37898981 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05474-8] [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: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
During eukaryotic gene expression, alternative splicing of messenger RNA precursors is critical in increasing protein diversity and regulatory complexity. Multiple transcript isoforms could be produced by alternative splicing from a single gene; they could eventually be translated into protein isoforms with deleted, added, or altered domains or produce transcripts containing premature termination codons that could be targeted by nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Alternative splicing can generate proteins with similar, different, or even opposite functions. Increasingly strong evidence indicates that abnormal RNA splicing is a prevalent and crucial occurrence in cellular differentiation, tissue advancement, and the development and progression of cancer. Aberrant alternative splicing could affect cancer cell activities such as growth, apoptosis, invasiveness, drug resistance, angiogenesis, and metabolism. This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of abnormal RNA alternative splicing on the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengfei Sheng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yaoyun Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Weiyi Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xingyu Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Tiaoying Ke
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Pingyang Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sihan Wang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Wei Shao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
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Xu K, Wu T, Xia P, Chen X, Yuan Y. Alternative splicing: a bridge connecting NAFLD and HCC. Trends Mol Med 2023; 29:859-872. [PMID: 37487782 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2023.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming the most important risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Understanding the progression of benign diseases to HCC is crucial for early prevention and reversal of malignant transformation. Alternative splicing (AS) of RNA plays a role in the pathogenicity, initiation, and transformation of liver disease. We summarize the changes or mutations in the activity of splicing factors in NAFLD and HCC, as well as the impact of AS mediated by epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, RNA methylation, histone modification, and protein phosphorylation on liver cell fate. We also summarize therapeutic methods and drugs that are helpful for treating NAFLD, HCC, and the early stages of NAFLD progression to HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kequan Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Hubei, PR China
| | - Tiangen Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Hubei, PR China
| | - Peng Xia
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Hubei, PR China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Hubei, PR China.
| | - Yufeng Yuan
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Hubei, PR China; TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China.
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Papadakos SP, Ferraro D, Carbone G, Frampton AE, Vennarecci G, Kykalos S, Schizas D, Theocharis S, Machairas N. The Emerging Role of Metformin in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Is There Any Value in Repurposing Metformin for HCC Immunotherapy? Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3161. [PMID: 37370771 PMCID: PMC10295995 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. There has been significant progress in understanding the risk factors and epidemiology of HCC during the last few decades, resulting in efficient preventative, diagnostic and treatment strategies. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been demonstrated to be a major risk factor for developing HCC. Metformin is a widely used hypoglycemic agent for patients with T2DM and has been shown to play a potentially beneficial role in improving the survival of patients with HCC. Experimental and clinical studies evaluating the outcomes of metformin as an antineoplastic drug in the setting of HCC were reviewed. Pre-clinical evidence suggests that metformin may enhance the antitumor effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and reverse the effector T cells' exhaustion. However, there is still limited clinical evidence regarding the efficacy of metformin in combination with ICIs for the treatment of HCC. We appraised and analyzed in vitro and animal studies that aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of action of metformin, as well as clinical studies that assessed its impact on the survival of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavros P. Papadakos
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Daniele Ferraro
- HPB Surgery and Liver Transplant Unit, AORN A. Cardarelli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (D.F.); (G.V.)
| | - Gabriele Carbone
- Department of General Surgery and Organ Transplantation, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Adam Enver Frampton
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN, UK;
- Oncology Section, Surrey Cancer Research Institute, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, FHMS, University of Surrey, The Leggett Building, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK
- HPB Surgical Unit, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK
| | - Giovanni Vennarecci
- HPB Surgery and Liver Transplant Unit, AORN A. Cardarelli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (D.F.); (G.V.)
| | - Stylianos Kykalos
- Second Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Dimitrios Schizas
- First Department of Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Stamatios Theocharis
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Nikolaos Machairas
- Second Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece;
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