1
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Mun SK, Sim HB, Lee JH, Kim H, Park DH, Lee YA, Han JY, Choi YJ, Son JS, Park J, Lim TH, Yee ST, Chang YT, Lee S, Chang DJ, Kim JJ. Targeting Heme Oxygenase 2 (HO2) with TiNIR, a Theragnostic Approach for Managing Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Biomater Res 2024; 28:0026. [PMID: 38665698 PMCID: PMC11045274 DOI: 10.34133/bmr.0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite notable advancements in cancer therapeutics, metastasis remains a primary obstacle impeding a successful prognosis. Our prior study has identified heme oxygenase 2 (HO2) as a promising therapeutic biomarker for the aggressive subsets within tumor. This study aims to systematically evaluate HO2 as a therapeutic target of cancer, with a specific emphasis on its efficacy in addressing cancer metastasis. Through targeted inhibition of HO2 by TiNIR (tumor-initiating cell probe with near infrared), we observed a marked increase in reactive oxygen species. This, in turn, orchestrated the modulation of AKT and cJUN activation, culminating in a substantial attenuation of both proliferation and migration within a metastatic cancer cell model. Furthermore, in a mouse model, clear inhibition of cancer metastasis was unequivocally demonstrated with an HO2 inhibitor administration. These findings underscore the therapeutic promise of targeting HO2 as a strategic intervention to impede cancer metastasis, enhancing the effectiveness of cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seul-Ki Mun
- Department of Biomedical Science,
Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Bo Sim
- Department of Biomedical Science,
Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Hyuk Lee
- Gwangju Center,
Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Gwangju 61751, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeongyeong Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science,
Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Han Park
- Department of Biomedical Science,
Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-An Lee
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS),
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Genome, Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
| | - Ji Yeon Han
- Department of Biomedical Science,
Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu-Jeong Choi
- Department of Biomedical Science,
Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Sang Son
- Department of Biomedical Science,
Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongwon Park
- Gwangju Center,
Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Gwangju 61751, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Hwan Lim
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Tae Yee
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Tae Chang
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering,
Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemistry,
Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongsoo Lee
- Gwangju Center,
Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Gwangju 61751, Republic of Korea
- Department of Systems Biotechnology,
Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Republic of Korea
- Department of Bio-Analysis Science,
University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Jo Chang
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Jin Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science,
Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea
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2
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Yang Q, Zhuo Z, Qiu X, Luo R, Guo K, Wu H, Jiang R, Li J, Lian Q, Chen P, Sha W, Chen H. Adverse clinical outcomes and immunosuppressive microenvironment of RHO-GTPase activation pattern in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Transl Med 2024; 22:122. [PMID: 38297333 PMCID: PMC10832138 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-04926-0] [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: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence suggests that Rho GTPases play a crucial role in tumorigenesis and metastasis, but their involvement in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not well understood. METHODS We aim to develop a tumor prognosis prediction system called the Rho GTPases-related gene score (RGPRG score) using Rho GTPase signaling genes and further bioinformatic analyses. RESULTS Our work found that HCC patients with a high RGPRG score had significantly worse survival and increased immunosuppressive cell fractions compared to those with a low RGPRG score. Single-cell cohort analysis revealed an immune-active TME in patients with a low RGPRG score, with strengthened communication from T/NK cells to other cells through MIF signaling networks. Targeting these alterations in TME, the patients with high RGPRG score have worse immunotherapeutic outcomes and decreased survival time in the immunotherapy cohort. Moreover, the RGPRG score was found to be correlated with survival in 27 other cancers. In vitro experiments confirmed that knockdown of the key Rho GTPase-signaling biomarker SFN significantly inhibited HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. CONCLUSIONS This study provides new insight into the TME features and clinical use of Rho GTPase gene pattern at the bulk-seq and single-cell level, which may contribute to guiding personalized treatment and improving clinical outcome in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zewei Zhuo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Xinqi Qiu
- Cancer Prevention Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruibang Luo
- Department of Computer Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, SAR, China
| | - Kehang Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, Henan, China
| | - Huihuan Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Rui Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Jingwei Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qizhou Lian
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518118, Guangdong, China.
- Cord Blood Bank, Guangzhou Institute of Eugenics and Perinatology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, Guangdong, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, SAR, China.
| | - Pengfei Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China.
| | - Weihong Sha
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China.
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China.
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China.
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China.
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Zhang J, Chen X, Chen G, Wang H, Jia L, Hao Y, Yao D. Identification of a novel PAK1/HDAC6 dual inhibitor ZMF-23 that triggers tubulin-stathmin regulated cell death in triple negative breast cancer. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 251:126348. [PMID: 37586623 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126348] [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] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most poorly treated subtype of breast cancer, and targeting the heterogeneity of TNBC has emerged as a fascinating therapeutic strategy. In this study, we propose for the first time that dual-targeting PAK1 and HDAC6 is a promising novel strategy for TNBC treatment due to their essential roles in the regulation of energy metabolism and epigenetic modification. We discovered a novel dual-targeting PAK1/HDAC6 inhibitor, 6 - (2-(cyclopropylamino) - 6 - (2,4-dichlorophenyl) - 7 - oxopyrido [2,3-d] pyrimidin - 8 (7H) -yl) - N-hydroxyhexanamide (ZMF-23), which presented profound inhibitory activity against PAK1 and HDAC6 and robust antiproliferative potency in MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition, SPR and CETSA assay demonstrated the targeted binding of ZMF-23 with PAK1/HDAC6. Mechanically, ZMF-23 strongly inhibited the cellular PAK1 and HDAC6 activity, impeded PAK1 and HDAC6 regulated aerobic glycolysis and migration. By RNA-seq analysis, ZMF-23 was found to induce TNF-α-regulated necroptosis, which further enhanced apoptosis. Additionally, ZMF-23 triggered PAK1-tubulin/HDAC6-Stathmin regulated microtubule structure changes, which further induced the G2/M cycle arrest. Moreover, prominent anti-proliferative effect of ZMF-23 was confirmed in the TNBC xenograft zebrafish and mouse model via PAK1 and HDAC6 inhibition. Collectively, ZMF-23 is a novel dual PAK1/HDAC6 inhibitor with TNBC treatment potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Xiya Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China
| | - Gang Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China
| | - Hailing Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China
| | - Lin Jia
- College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China.
| | - Yue Hao
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
| | - Dahong Yao
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China.
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4
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Yang Y, Xu X, He B, Chang J, Zheng Y, Li Y. The role of miRNA-26a-5p and target gene socs1a in flutolanil induced hepatotoxicity of zebrafish at environmental relevant levels. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 335:122322. [PMID: 37544405 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Flutolanil has been detected worldwide in aquatic environment and fish, which has become an undeniable stressor on ecosystem and human health. Flutolanil has been reported to be toxic to aquatic organisms. However, the pathophysiological and molecular mechanism behind the detrimental effects remains obscure. Here we reported hepatotoxicity induced by flutolanil in HepG2 cells and zebrafish, as revealed by toxicokinetic, HE staining, miRNAs-mRNAs sequencing, molecular dynamic simulations and dual luciferase reporter assays. Collectively, our results indicated that flutolanil could be absorbed by and accumulated in the liver of zebrafish, causing hepatic vacuolar degeneration, steatosis and nuclear condensation and abnormal liver function, where its exposure at environmental levels disrupted the expressions of miRNA-26a-5p and its target gene socs1a by mediating JAK-STAT signaling pathway, which was partially responsible for hepatotoxicity, correlated with oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, inflammation, cell cycle disorder and mitochondrial dysfunction. These findings suggest that miRNA-26a-5p/socs1a can serve as potential biomarkers of hepatotoxicity in zebrafish following exposure to flutolanil. This uncovered route will provide a new tool for the risk assessment of flutolanil and a guide to proper use of flutolanil and environmental remedy, and open up a new horizon for liver disease assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Disease and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiyan Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Disease and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China; College of Plant Health and Medicine, Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Agricultural Pest Management, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin He
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinhe Chang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Disease and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongquan Zheng
- College of Plant Health and Medicine, Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Agricultural Pest Management, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanbo Li
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Disease and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
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5
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Dukel M, Fiskin K. Combination of PAKs inhibitors IPA-3 and PF-3758309 effectively suppresses colon carcinoma cell growth by perturbing DNA damage response. Int J Radiat Biol 2023; 99:340-354. [PMID: 35939342 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2022.2110326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE PAKs proteins are speculated as new promising targets for cancer therapy due to their central role in many oncogenic pathways. Because PAKs proteins are very significant during carcinogenesis, we aimed to investigate the hypothesis that inhibition of PAKs with IPA-3 and PF-3758309 treatment could synergistically reduce colon carcinoma cell growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS The cytotoxic effects of both drugs were determined by a cell viability assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. The effects of inhibitor drugs on marker genes of apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle, and DNA damage were tested via immunoblotting. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS We found out the synergistic effect of these drugs in pair on five colon cancer cell lines. Combined treatment with IPA-3+PF-3758309 in SW620 and Colo 205 cells markedly suppressed colon formation and induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and autophagy compared with treatment with each drug alone. Additionally, this combination sensitized colon cancer cells to ionizing radiation that resulted in inhibition of cell growth. SIGNIFICANCE Collectively, our findings show for the first time that cotreatment of IPA-3 with PF-3758309 exhibits superior inhibitory effects on colon carcinoma cell growth via inducing DNA damage-related cell death and also enforces a cell cycle arrest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muzaffer Dukel
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Faculty of Art and Science, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Burdur, Turkey
| | - Kayahan Fiskin
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
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6
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Clinical Significance of Combined Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Markers Expression and Role of Rac1 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021765. [PMID: 36675278 PMCID: PMC9865966 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021765] [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: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been implicated in cancer progression, invasion, and metastasis. We aimed to evaluate the correlations between clinicopathological characteristics and EMT markers in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent surgical resection and to identify the key regulator in EMT process. Fresh-frozen HCC tissues and adjacent nontumor liver tissues from 30 patients who underwent surgical resection were provided by the Gachon University Gil Medical Center Bio Bank. Human HCC cell lines, Hep3B, SNU449, and Huh7 cells were transfected with Rac1 siRNA and exposed to hypoxic conditions. The combined EMT markers expression (down-expression of E-cadherin and overexpression of p21-activated kinases 1 (PAK1)/Snail) by Western blot in HCC tissues when compared to adjacent nontumor liver tissues was significantly associated with macrovascular invasion (p = 0.021), microvascular invasion (p = 0.001), large tumor size (p = 0.021), and advanced tumor stage (p = 0.015). Patients with combined EMT markers expression showed early recurrence and poor overall survival. In vitro studies showed that Rac1 knockdown decreased the expression of EMT markers including PAK1 and Snail in hypoxia-induced Hep3B cells and suppressed the migration and invasion of hypoxia-induced HCC cells. Rac1 may be a potential therapeutic target for inhibition of EMT process through the inhibition of PAK1 and Snail in HCC.
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7
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Qiu X, Xu H, Wang K, Gao F, Xu X, He H. P-21 Activated Kinases in Liver Disorders. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020551. [PMID: 36672500 PMCID: PMC9857091 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020551] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The p21 Activated Kinases (PAKs) are serine threonine kinases and play important roles in many biological processes, including cell growth, survival, cytoskeletal organization, migration, and morphology. Recently, PAKs have emerged in the process of liver disorders, including liver cancer, hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury, hepatitis, and liver fibrosis, owing to their effects in multiple signaling pathways in various cell types. Activation of PAKs promotes liver cancer growth and metastasis and contributes to the resistance of liver cancer to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, leading to poor survival of patients. PAKs also play important roles in the development and progression of hepatitis and other pathological processes of the liver such as fibrosis and ischemia-reperfusion injury. In this review, we have summarized the currently available studies about the role of PAKs in liver disorders and the mechanisms involved, and further explored the potential therapeutic application of PAK inhibitors in liver disorders, with the aim to provide a comprehensive overview on current progress and perspectives of PAKs in liver disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hanzhi Xu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou 310024, China
- Correspondence: (K.W.); (H.H.)
| | - Fengqiang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiao Xu
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou 310024, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Hong He
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, 145 Studley Rd., Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia
- Correspondence: (K.W.); (H.H.)
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8
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Azizidoost S, Ghaedrahmati F, Sheykhi-Sabzehpoush M, Uddin S, Ghafourian M, Mousavi Salehi A, Keivan M, Cheraghzadeh M, Nazeri Z, Farzaneh M, Khoshnam SE. The role of LncRNA MCM3AP-AS1 in human cancer. CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY : OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF SPANISH ONCOLOGY SOCIETIES AND OF THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE OF MEXICO 2023; 25:33-47. [PMID: 36002764 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-022-02904-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) play pivotal roles in every level of gene and genome regulation. MCM3AP-AS1 is a lncRNA that has an oncogenic role in several kinds of cancers. Aberrant expression of MCM3AP-AS1 has been reported to be involved in the progression of diverse malignancies, including colorectal, cervical, prostate, lymphoma, lung, ovary, liver, bone, and breast cancers. It is generally believed that MCM3AP-AS1 expression is associated with cancer cell growth, proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. MCM3AP-AS1 by targeting various signaling pathways and microRNAs (miRNAs) presents an important role in cancer pathogenesis. MCM3AP-AS1 as a competitive endogenous RNA has the ability to sponge miRNA, inhibit their expressions, and bind to different target mRNAs related to cancer development. Therefore, MCM3AP-AS1 by targeting several signaling pathways, including the FOX family, Wnt, EGF, and VEGF can be a potent target for cancer prediction and diagnosis. In this review, we will summarize the role of MCM3AP-AS1 in various human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Azizidoost
- Atherosclerosis Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Farhoodeh Ghaedrahmati
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | | | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute and Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mehri Ghafourian
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.,Fertility, Infertility and Perinatology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Abdolah Mousavi Salehi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mona Keivan
- Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Maryam Cheraghzadeh
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Zahra Nazeri
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Maryam Farzaneh
- Fertility, Infertility and Perinatology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
| | - Seyed Esmaeil Khoshnam
- Persian Gulf Physiology Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
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9
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Chen J, Li Z, Zhao Q, Chen L. Roles of apelin/APJ system in cancer: Biomarker, predictor, and emerging therapeutic target. J Cell Physiol 2022; 237:3734-3751. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Chen
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Drug Research, Hengyang Medical School, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology University of South China Hengyang Hunan China
| | - Zhiyue Li
- Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan Province China
| | - Qun Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Changsha Hunan China
| | - Linxi Chen
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Drug Research, Hengyang Medical School, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology University of South China Hengyang Hunan China
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10
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Goya T, Horisawa K, Udono M, Ohkawa Y, Ogawa Y, Sekiya S, Suzuki A. Direct Conversion of Human Endothelial Cells Into Liver Cancer-Forming Cells Using Nonintegrative Episomal Vectors. Hepatol Commun 2022; 6:1725-1740. [PMID: 35220676 PMCID: PMC9234650 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is an aggressive cancer associated with a poor prognosis. Development of therapeutic strategies for liver cancer requires fundamental research using suitable experimental models. Recent progress in direct reprogramming technology has enabled the generation of many types of cells that are difficult to obtain and provide a cellular resource in experimental models of human diseases. In this study, we aimed to establish a simple one-step method for inducing cells that can form malignant human liver tumors directly from healthy endothelial cells using nonintegrating episomal vectors. To screen for factors capable of inducing liver cancer-forming cells (LCCs), we selected nine genes and one short hairpin RNA that suppresses tumor protein p53 (TP53) expression and introduced them into human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), using episomal vectors. To identify the essential factors, we examined the effect of changing the amounts and withdrawing individual factors. We then analyzed the proliferation, gene and protein expression, morphologic and chromosomal abnormality, transcriptome, and tumor formation ability of the induced cells. We found that a set of six factors, forkhead box A3 (FOXA3), hepatocyte nuclear factor homeobox 1A (HNF1A), HNF1B, lin-28 homolog B (LIN28B), MYCL proto-oncogene, bHLH transcription factor (L-MYC), and Kruppel-like factor 5 (KLF5), induced direct conversion of HUVECs into LCCs. The gene expression profile of these induced LCCs (iLCCs) was similar to that of human liver cancer cells, and these cells effectively formed tumors that resembled human combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma following transplantation into immunodeficient mice. Conclusion: We succeeded in the direct induction of iLCCs from HUVECs by using nonintegrating episomal vectors. iLCCs generated from patients with cancer and healthy volunteers will be useful for further advancements in cancer research and for developing methods for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Goya
- Division of Organogenesis and RegenerationMedical Institute of BioregulationKyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan.,Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory ScienceGraduate School of Medical SciencesKyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Kenichi Horisawa
- Division of Organogenesis and RegenerationMedical Institute of BioregulationKyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Miyako Udono
- Division of Organogenesis and RegenerationMedical Institute of BioregulationKyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Yasuyuki Ohkawa
- Division of TranscriptomicsMedical Institute of BioregulationKyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Yoshihiro Ogawa
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory ScienceGraduate School of Medical SciencesKyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Sayaka Sekiya
- Division of Organogenesis and RegenerationMedical Institute of BioregulationKyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Atsushi Suzuki
- Division of Organogenesis and RegenerationMedical Institute of BioregulationKyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
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11
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Gao Z, Zhong M, Ye Z, Wu Z, Xiong Y, Ma J, Chen H, Zhu Y, Yang Y, Zhao Y, Zhang Z. PAK3 promotes the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating EMT process. J Cancer 2022; 13:153-161. [PMID: 34976179 PMCID: PMC8692680 DOI: 10.7150/jca.61918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. The malignant biological behavior of HCC is closely related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and EMT plays an important role in the progression, migration and metastasis of HCC. P21-activated kinase 3 (PAK3) is a serine/threonine protein kinase, and PAK3 affects the EMT, proliferation, metastasis and invasion of HCC. Methods: In this study, the relationship between PAK3 and HCC was first analyzed by bioinformatics, and then, the expression of PAK3 in clinical samples was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. Subsequently, the expression of PAK3 was further confirmed in HCC cells. In addition, after the overexpression or knockdown of PAK3 in cells, the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of these cells were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing and Transwell assays, and the results were confirmed in vivo experiments in mice. In addition, we also verified that PAK3 affected the EMT and EMT-related pathway of HCC through qRT-PCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence experiments. Results: Through database analysis, we found that PAK3 was highly expressed in HCC patients and was positively correlated with tumor stage and grade, suggesting that PAK3 expression was closely related to HCC occurrence and development. We subsequently confirmed that PAK3 was overexpressed in HCC clinical samples and HCC cell lines and that PAK3 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells in vitro. Finally, we found that PAK3 regulated EMT-related molecule expression and EMT-related TGF-β/smad signaling pathway. Conclusion: High expression of PAK3 enhances the invasion of HCC and regulates EMT, suggesting that PAK3 may be a potential target for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Gao
- National Center for International Research of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Talent Highland of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Medical University, China
| | - Mengya Zhong
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.,School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Zhijian Ye
- National Center for International Research of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Talent Highland of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Medical University, China.,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Zhengxin Wu
- School of Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Yubo Xiong
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.,School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jinsong Ma
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.,School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Huiyu Chen
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Yuekun Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,Medical Center, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Yan Yang
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Yongxiang Zhao
- National Center for International Research of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Talent Highland of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Medical University, China
| | - Zhiyong Zhang
- National Center for International Research of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Talent Highland of Bio-targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Medical University, China.,Department of Surgery, Robert-Wood-Johnson Medical School University Hospital, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ
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12
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Bui S, Mejia I, Díaz B, Wang Y. Adaptation of the Golgi Apparatus in Cancer Cell Invasion and Metastasis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:806482. [PMID: 34957124 PMCID: PMC8703019 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.806482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Golgi apparatus plays a central role in normal cell physiology by promoting cell survival, facilitating proliferation, and enabling cell-cell communication and migration. These roles are partially mediated by well-known Golgi functions, including post-translational modifications, lipid biosynthesis, intracellular trafficking, and protein secretion. In addition, accumulating evidence indicates that the Golgi plays a critical role in sensing and integrating external and internal cues to promote cellular homeostasis. Indeed, the unique structure of the mammalian Golgi can be fine-tuned to adapt different Golgi functions to specific cellular needs. This is particularly relevant in the context of cancer, where unrestrained proliferation and aberrant survival and migration increase the demands in Golgi functions, as well as the need for Golgi-dependent sensing and adaptation to intrinsic and extrinsic stressors. Here, we review and discuss current understanding of how the structure and function of the Golgi apparatus is influenced by oncogenic transformation, and how this adaptation may facilitate cancer cell invasion and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Bui
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Isabel Mejia
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Hematology and Oncology, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States
| | - Begoña Díaz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Hematology and Oncology, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States.,David Geffen School of Medicine and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Yanzhuang Wang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Department of Neurology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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13
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Centrosomal protein TAX1BP2 inhibits centrosome-microtubules aberrations induced by hepatitis B virus X oncoprotein. Cancer Lett 2020; 492:147-161. [PMID: 32827601 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Several etiological factors of HCC, including hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus infection, liver cirrhosis and aflatoxin B1 intake has been identified. HBx, which is an oncogenic protein encoded by the hepatitis B virus, is strongly associated with hepatocarcinogenesis. Using stable HBx-expressing cell, we showed that HBx induced chromosome gain, with amplification of centrosomes numbers and deregulation of centrosome ultrastructure. To dissect the mechanism for chromosome instability, our result revealed that HBx contributed to a hyperactive centrosome-microtubule dynamics by accelerating microtubule nucleation and polymerization. Further investigations suggested that HBx interacted with a centrosome linker protein TAX1BP2, which has previously been shown to function as an intrinsic block of centrosome amplification and a tumour suppressor in HCC. Restoring TAX1BP2 was able to block HBx-mediated centrosome amplification and abolish the HBx-mediated centrosome aberration, thereby suppressing chromosome instability. Thus, we demonstrate here a mechanism by which HBx deregulates centrosome-microtubule dynamics through interacting with TAX1BP2, which underlines the possibility of restoration of TAX1BP2 to rescue cells from chromosome instability.
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14
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Lee SE, Alcedo KP, Kim HJ, Snider NT. Alternative Splicing in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 10:699-712. [PMID: 32389640 PMCID: PMC7490524 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2020.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for the majority of primary liver cancer cases, with more than 850,000 new diagnoses per year globally. Recent trends in the United States have shown that liver cancer mortality has continued to increase in both men and women, while 5-year survival remains below 20%. Understanding key mechanisms that drive chronic liver disease progression to HCC can reveal new therapeutic targets and biomarkers for early detection of HCC. In that regard, many studies have underscored the importance of alternative splicing as a source of novel HCC prognostic markers and disease targets. Alternative splicing of pre-mRNA provides functional diversity to the genome, and endows cells with the ability to rapidly remodel the proteome. Genes that control fundamental processes, such as metabolism, cell proliferation, and apoptosis, are altered globally in HCC by alternative splicing. This review highlights the major splicing factors, RNA binding proteins, transcriptional targets, and signaling pathways that are of key relevance to HCC. We highlight primary research from the past 3-5 years involving functional interrogation of alternative splicing in rodent and human liver, using both large-scale transcriptomic and focused mechanistic approaches. Because this is a rapidly advancing field, we anticipate that it will be transformative for the future of basic liver biology, as well as HCC diagnosis and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Eun Lee
- Department of Surgery, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Karel P. Alcedo
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Hong Jin Kim
- Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Natasha T. Snider
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina,Correspondence Address correspondence to: Natasha Snider, PhD, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, 5340C MBRB, 111 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516. fax: (919) 966-6927.
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15
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Zhang J, Zou L, Tang P, Pan D, He Z, Yao D. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 1H-pyrazolo [3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives as PAK1 inhibitors that trigger apoptosis, ER stress and anti-migration effect in MDA-MB-231 cells. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 194:112220. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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16
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Chen L, Bi S, Wei Q, Zhao Z, Wang C, Xie S. Ivermectin suppresses tumour growth and metastasis through degradation of PAK1 in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:5387-5401. [PMID: 32237037 PMCID: PMC7205794 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the most common form of oesophageal malignancies in the Asia‐Pacific region, remains a major clinical challenge. In this study, we found that ivermectin, an effective antiparasitic drug that has been approved for patients to orally treat onchocerciasis for over 30 years, displayed potent antitumour activity against ESCC cells in vitro and in nude mice. We demonstrated that ivermectin significantly inhibited cell viability and colony formation, and induced apoptosis through a mitochondrial‐dependent manner in ESCC cells. Ivermectin also abrogated ESCC cell migration, invasion, as well as the protein levels of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9. Mechanistically, ivermectin strongly inhibited the expression of PAK1; by further gain‐ and loss‐of‐function experiments, we confirmed that PAK1 played a crucial role in ivermectin‐mediated inhibitory effects on ESCC cells. In addition, the data indicated that ivermectin promoted PAK1 degradation through the proteasome‐dependent pathway. Additionally, ivermectin synergized with chemotherapeutic drugs including cisplatin and 5‐fluorouracil to induce apoptosis of ESCC cells. Interestingly, the in vivo experiments also confirmed that ivermectin effectively suppressed tumour growth and lung metastasis of ESCC. Collectively, these results indicate that ivermectin exerts a potent antitumour activity against ESCC and is a promising therapeutic candidate drug for ESCC patients, even those carrying metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Shuning Bi
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Qiuren Wei
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Zhijun Zhao
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Luohe Medical College, Luohe, China
| | - Chaojie Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and Immuno-Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Songqiang Xie
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
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17
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Masoumi J, Jafarzadeh A, Khorramdelazad H, Abbasloui M, Abdolalizadeh J, Jamali N. Role of Apelin/APJ axis in cancer development and progression. Adv Med Sci 2020; 65:202-213. [PMID: 32087570 DOI: 10.1016/j.advms.2020.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 05/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Apelin is an endogenous peptide, which is expressed in a vast board of organs such as the brain, placenta, heart, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, testis, prostate and adipose tissues. The apelin receptor, called angiotensin-like-receptor 1 (APJ), is also expressed in the brain, spleen, placenta, heart, liver, intestine, prostate, thymus, testis, ovary, lungs, kidneys, stomach, and adipose tissue. The apelin/APJ axis is involved in a number of physiological and pathological processes. The apelin expression is increased in various kinds of cancer and the apelin/APJ axis plays a key role in the development of tumors through enhancing angiogenesis, metastasis, cell proliferation and also through the development of cancer stem cells and drug resistance. The apelin also stops the apoptosis of cancer cells. The apelin/APJ axis was considered in this review as an attractive therapeutic target for cancer treatment.
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18
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Dang Y, Guo Y, Ma X, Chao X, Wang F, Cai L, Yan Z, Xie L, Guo X. Systemic analysis of the expression and prognostic significance of PAKs in breast cancer. Genomics 2020; 112:2433-2444. [PMID: 31987914 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
PAKs (p21-activated kinases) are reported to play crucial roles in a variety of cellular processes and participate in the progression of human cancers. However, the expression and prognostic values of PAKs remain poorly explored in breast cancers. In our study, we examined the mRNA and protein expression levels of PAKs and the prognostic value. We also analyzed the interaction network, genetic alteration, and functional enrichment of PAKs. The results showed that the mRNA levels of PAK1, PAK2, PAK4 and PAK6 were significantly up-regulated in breast cancer compared with normal tissues, while the reverse trend for PAK3 and PAK5 was found, furthermore, the proteins expression of PAK1, PAK2 and PAK4 in breast cancer tissues were higher than that in normal breast tissues. Survival analysis revealed breast cancer patients with low mRNA expression of PAK3 and PAK5 showed worse RFS, conversely, elevated PAK4 levels predicted worse RFS. In addition, the breast cancer patients with PAKs genetic alterations correlated with worse OS. These results indicated that PAKs might be promising potential biomarkers for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifang Dang
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Ying Guo
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Xiaoyu Ma
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Xiaoyu Chao
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Linghao Cai
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Zhongyi Yan
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Longxiang Xie
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Xiangqian Guo
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
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19
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He QL, Qin SY, Tao L, Ning HJ, Jiang HX. Prognostic value and prospective molecular mechanism of miR-100-5p in hepatocellular carcinoma: A comprehensive study based on 1,258 samples. Oncol Lett 2019; 18:6126-6142. [PMID: 31788087 PMCID: PMC6865135 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.10962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The prognostic value and molecular mechanism of microRNA-100-5p (miR-100-5p) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still unclear. To explore the prognostic value and the mechanism of miR-100-5p in HCC, the present study analyzed the results of 18 previous studies and bioinformatic datasets. The clinical significance of miR-100-5p and its targets in HCC were investigated using The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Gene Expression Omnibus, as well as relevant literature. In total, 12 online tools were used to predict the target genes of miR-100-5p. Bioinformatics analysis and Spearman correlation analysis were performed, and genomic alterations of the hub genes were evaluated. A meta-analysis with 1,258 samples revealed that miR-100-5p was significantly downregulated in HCC [standard mean difference (SMD), -0.94; 95% confidence interval (CI), -1.14 to -0.74; I2, 35.2%]. Lower miR-100-5p expression was associated with poorer clinical characteristics and a poorer prognosis for patients with HCC. Additionally, bioinformatics analysis revealed that the 'regulation of transcription', 'chromatin remodeling complex', 'transcription regulator activity', 'pathways in cancer' and 'heparan sulfate biosynthesis' were the most enriched terms. Furthermore, expression of histone deacetylase (HDAC)2, HDAC3, SHC-transforming protein 1 (SHC1), Ras-related protein Rac1 (RAC1) and E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase CBL (CBL) was negatively correlated with miR-100-5p expression. Among these, upregulated HDAC2 [hazard ratio (HR), 1.910; 95% CI, 1.309-2.787; P=0.0007], HDAC3 (HR, 1.474; 95% CI, 1.012-2.146; P=0.0435), SHC1 (HR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.043-2.215; P=0.0281) and RAC1 (HR, 1.817; 95% CI, 1.248-2.645; P=0.0022) were associated with shorter survival. Alterations in HDAC2, SHC1, RAC1 and IGF1R were linked with a poorer outcome for HCC, and alternative splicing of SHC and RAC1 were significantly decreased and increased in HCC, respectively. In summary, the downregulation of miR-100-5p may be involved in the progression and prognosis of HCC. The upregulation of HDAC2, HDAC3, SHC1 and RAC1 may indicate a poorer survival rate for patients with HCC. Thus, miR-100-5p and these 4 potential target genes may provide novel therapeutic targets and prognostic predictors for patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Lin He
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
| | - Shan-Yu Qin
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
| | - Lin Tao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
| | - Hong-Jian Ning
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
| | - Hai-Xing Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
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20
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Zhang H, Luo C, Zhang G. LncRNA MCM3AP-AS1 Regulates Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Autophagy to Promote Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis by Interacting with miR-455. DNA Cell Biol 2019; 38:857-864. [PMID: 31237446 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2019.4770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been reported to be one of the major tumors in the world. There is a study indicating that MCM3AP-AS1 is an oncogenic factor in HCC; however, the mechanism by which MCM3AP-AS1 regulates HCC remains not fully understood. Reverse Transcription-quantitative PCR and Western blot approaches were used to detect mRNA and protein levels of various genes. To examine invasion of HCC cells and lymphatic vessel formation of human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells (HDLECs), we employed transwell invasion assay and lymphatic vessel assay. Bioinformatic analysis and luciferase reporter assay were used to establish direct interactions between MCM3AP-AS1 and miR-455. Besides, The Cancer Genome Atlas analyses of HCCs were performed to determine the association of MCM3AP-AS1 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with overall survival. MCM3AP-AS1 knockdown impaired invasion of HCC cells and lymphatic vessel formation of HDLECs. MCM3AP-AS1 directly interacted with miR-455. Furthermore, miR-455 inhibitor-transfected HepG2 cells enhanced the invasion and lymphatic vessel formation abilities. The rescue experiments indicated that EGFR was critical for MCM3AP-AS1- and miR-455-regulated invasion and lymphatic vessel formation. More interestingly, autophagy-related genes (Beclin1, LC3 II/I, and ATG7) were abnormally regulated in miR-455 mimic or inhibitor HepG2 cells. miR-455 mimic inhibited cell invasion and lymphatic vessel formation, which was evidently abrogated by ATG7 overexpression. Finally, we analyzed The Cancer Genome Atlas data sets to test the upregulated expression levels of MCM3AP-AS1 and EGFR. In addition, the results showed that low levels of both genes facilitate survival of HCC patients. In this study, we reveal a novel mechanism underlying MCM3AP-AS1-induced HCC metastasis by regulating miR-455. The conclusions provide more insights into understanding mechanism underlying HCC and help development of therapeutical approaches for treating HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Huangshi Central Hospital, Huangshi, P.R. China
| | - Cheng Luo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Huangshi Central Hospital, Huangshi, P.R. China
| | - Guoxing Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Huangshi Central Hospital, Huangshi, P.R. China
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21
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Shi Y, Yang X, Xue X, Sun D, Cai P, Song Q, Zhang B, Qin L. HANR promotes lymphangiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma via secreting miR-296 exosome and regulating EAG1/VEGFA signaling in HDLEC cells. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:17699-17708. [PMID: 31127654 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.29036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The long noncoding RNA HANR has been shown to be involved in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the underlying mechanism of HCC-associated long noncoding RNA (HANR)-regulated HCC metastasis and lymphangiogenesis has not been elucidated. RT-qPCR and Western blot methods were utilized to detect the gene expressions. Interaction of HANR with miR-296 was predicted by a bioinformatic program and validated by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. For the functional experiment, a transwell invasion assay was utilized to examine the invasion abilities of HepG2 and Huh-7 cells. The lymphatic vessel formation assay was used to show the HCC-associated lymphatic vessel formation ability of human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells (HDLEC). HANR was shown to directly bind to miR-296, and miR-296 downregulated HANR expression in HepG2 cells. Then, we observed that miR-296 inhibitor transfection in shHANR HCC cells could promote lymphatic vessel formation and invasion of HDLEC cells compared with shHANR HCC cells. EAG1 or VEGFA overexpression in HDLEC cells rescued lymphatic vessel formation and invasion in HDLEC cells coincubated with the medium of HepG2 cells expressing shHANR or miR-296 mimic. Ultimately, HANR knockdown and miR-296 mimic led to a significant decrease in the EAG1 and VEGFA expression levels in HepG2 cells. Here, we reveal a novel molecular mechanism in which the HANR/miR-296/EAG1/VEGF axis is responsible for the lymphangiogenesis of HCC cells. Our findings provide more insights into developing therapeutical or diagnostic methods by targeting HANR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Shi
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xiaohua Yang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xiaofeng Xue
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, P.R. China
| | - Ding Sun
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, P.R. China
| | - Peng Cai
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, P.R. China
| | - Qingwei Song
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, P.R. China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, P.R. China
| | - Lei Qin
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, P.R. China
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22
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Chen L, Bi S, Hou J, Zhao Z, Wang C, Xie S. Targeting p21-activated kinase 1 inhibits growth and metastasis via Raf1/MEK1/ERK signaling in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells. Cell Commun Signal 2019; 17:31. [PMID: 30971268 PMCID: PMC6458688 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-019-0343-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) plays a fundamental role in promoting the development and progression of several cancers and is a potential therapeutic target. However, the biological function and underlying mechanism of PAK1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain unclear. Methods The expression of PAK1 was detected in both ESCC cell lines and clinical samples. Cell growth was measured by MTT, focus formation and soft agar assays. Cell migration and invasion were detected by wound healing and transwell assays. Animal models of subcutaneous tumourigenicity and tail vein metastasis were performed to determine the inhibitory effect of pharmacological inhibitor IPA-3 on tumor growth and metastasis of ESCC cells. Results We found that PAK1 was frequently overexpressed in ESCC. Ectopic expression of PAK1 promoted cellular growth, colony formation and anchorage-independent growth. Overexpressing PAK1 also enhanced migration, invasion and the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in ESCC cells. In contrast, silencing PAK1 by lentiviral knockdown or a specific inhibitor IPA-3 resulted in a contrary effect. Subsequent investigations revealed that Raf1/MEK1/ERK signaling pathway was involved in PAK1-mediated effect. Enhanced expression of Raf1 attenuated the inhibitory functions of PAK1 shRNA. Whereas blocking of Raf1 by shRNA or specific inhibition of MEK1 by U0126 antagonized the oncogenetic effect of PAK1 on ESCC cells. More importantly, Pharmacological inhibition of PAK1 by IPA-3 significantly suppressed tumor growth and lung metastasis of ESCC cells in vivo. Conclusions These data support that PAK1 is an ideal target for the development of potential therapeutic drugs for ESCC patients even with metastasis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12964-019-0343-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Chen
- Institute of Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Shuning Bi
- Institute of Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Jiuzhou Hou
- Institute of Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Zhijun Zhao
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Luohe Medical College, Luohe, 462000, China.
| | - Chaojie Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and Immuno-Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
| | - Songqiang Xie
- Institute of Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
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Abstract
The Golgi apparatus is a central intracellular membrane-bound organelle with key functions in trafficking, processing, and sorting of newly synthesized membrane and secretory proteins and lipids. To best perform these functions, Golgi membranes form a unique stacked structure. The Golgi structure is dynamic but tightly regulated; it undergoes rapid disassembly and reassembly during the cell cycle of mammalian cells and is disrupted under certain stress and pathological conditions. In the past decade, significant amount of effort has been made to reveal the molecular mechanisms that regulate the Golgi membrane architecture and function. Here we review the major discoveries in the mechanisms of Golgi structure formation, regulation, and alteration in relation to its functions in physiological and pathological conditions to further our understanding of Golgi structure and function in health and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Erpan Ahat
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yanzhuang Wang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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24
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LaPak KM, Vroom DC, Garg AA, Guan X, Hays JL, Song JW, Burd CE. Melanoma-associated mutants within the serine-rich domain of PAK5 direct kinase activity to mitogenic pathways. Oncotarget 2018; 9:25386-25401. [PMID: 29875996 PMCID: PMC5986637 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The overexpression and hyperactivity of p21-activated serine/threonine kinases (PAKs) is known to facilitate tumorigenesis; however, the contribution of cancer-associated PAK mutations to tumor initiation and progression remains unclear. Here, we identify p21-activated serine/threonine kinase 5 (PAK5) as the most frequently altered PAK family member in human melanoma. More than 60% of melanoma-associated PAK5 gene alterations are missense mutations, and distribution of these variants throughout the protein coding sequence make it difficult to distinguish oncogenic drivers from passengers. To address this issue, we stably introduced the five most common melanoma-associated PAK5 missense mutations into human immortalized primary melanocytes (hMELTs). While expression of these mutants did not promote single-cell migration or induce temozolomide resistance, a subset of variants drove aberrant melanocyte proliferation. These mitogenic mutants, PAK5 S364L and D421N, clustered within an unstructured, serine-rich domain of the protein and inappropriately activated ERK and PKA through kinase-independent and -dependent mechanisms, respectively. Together, our findings establish the ability of mutant PAK5 to enhance PKA and MAPK signaling in melanocytes and localize the engagement of mitogenic pathways to a serine-rich region of PAK5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle M LaPak
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Dennis C Vroom
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ayush A Garg
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Xiangnan Guan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - John L Hays
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jonathan W Song
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Christin E Burd
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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25
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Mortezaee K. Human hepatocellular carcinoma: Protection by melatonin. J Cell Physiol 2018; 233:6486-6508. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.26586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Keywan Mortezaee
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences Sanandaj Iran
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26
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D'Alessandro R, Refolo MG, Lippolis C, Carella N, Messa C, Cavallini A, Carr BI. Strong enhancement by IGF1-R antagonists of hepatocellular carcinoma cell migration inhibition by Sorafenib and/or vitamin K1. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2018; 41:283-296. [PMID: 29470830 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-018-0370-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Emerging evidence indicates that combining Sorafenib with vitamin K1 (VK1) may result in a synergistic inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell migration and proliferation. Despite this synergy, its benefits may be limited due to drug resistance resulting from cross-talk with the tumor microenvironment. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) signaling acts as an important modulator of HCC cell growth, motility and drug resistance. Therefore, we aimed to explore the effects of Sorafenib in combination with VK1 and/or IGF1-R antagonists on HCC cells. METHODS Scratch wound migration assays were performed to assess the motility of HCC-derived PLC/PRF/5, HLF and Hep3B cells. The synergistic, additive or antagonistic effects of Sorafenib, VK1 and IGF1-R antagonists on HCC cell motility were assessed using CompuSyn software. The effects mediated by these various compounds on HCC cytoskeleton organization were evaluated using DyLight 554 Phalloidin staining. Proliferation and migration-associated signaling pathways were analyzed in PLC/PRF/5 cells using Erk1/2 and Akt activation kits and Western blotting (Mek, JNK, Akt, Paxillin and p38), respectively. RESULTS The effects of the IGF1-R antagonists GSK1838705A and OSI-906 on HCC cell migration inhibition after Sorafenib and/or VK1 administration, individually or in combination, were evaluated. We found a synergistic effect in PLC/PRF/5, HLF and Hep3B cells for combinations of fixed doses of GSK1838705A or OSI-906 together with different doses of Sorafenib and/or VK1. The levels of synergy were found to be stronger at higher Sorafenib and/or VK1 concentrations and lower or absent at lower concentrations, with some variation among the different cell lines tested. In addition, we found that in PLC/PRF/5 and HLF cells IGF1-R blockage strongly enhanced the reduction and redistribution of F-actin induced by Sorafenib and/or VK1 through alterations in the phosphorylation levels of some of the principal proteins involved in the MAPK signaling cascade, which is essential for cell migration. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that modulation of the efficacy of Sorafenib through combinations with VK1 and/or IGF1-R antagonists results in synergistic inhibition of HCC cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalba D'Alessandro
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Clinical Pathology, National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. De Bellis" Research Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013, Castellana Grotte, BA, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Refolo
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Clinical Pathology, National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. De Bellis" Research Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013, Castellana Grotte, BA, Italy
| | - Catia Lippolis
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Clinical Pathology, National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. De Bellis" Research Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013, Castellana Grotte, BA, Italy
| | - Nicola Carella
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Clinical Pathology, National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. De Bellis" Research Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013, Castellana Grotte, BA, Italy
| | - Caterina Messa
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Clinical Pathology, National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. De Bellis" Research Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013, Castellana Grotte, BA, Italy
| | - Aldo Cavallini
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Clinical Pathology, National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. De Bellis" Research Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013, Castellana Grotte, BA, Italy
| | - Brian Irving Carr
- Program for Targeted Experimental Therapeutics, Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey.
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Liu C, Qiu H, Lin D, Wang Z, Shi N, Tan Z, Liu J, Jiang Z, Wu S. c-Jun-dependent β3GnT8 promotes tumorigenesis and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing CD147 glycosylation and altering N-glycan patterns. Oncotarget 2018; 9:18327-18340. [PMID: 29719608 PMCID: PMC5915075 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
β3GnT8, a key polylactosamine synthase, plays a vital role in progression of various types of human cancer. The role of β3GnT8 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the underlying mechanisms, however, remain largely unknown. In this study, we found that β3GnT8 and polylactosamine were highly expressed in HCC tissues compared with those in adjacent paracancer tissues. Overexpression of β3GnT8 promoted while knockdown of β3GnT8 inhibited HCC cell invasion and migration in vitro. Importantly, enhanced tumorigenesis was observed in nude mice inoculated with β3GnT8-overexpressing HCC cells, suggesting that β3GnT8 is important for HCC development in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, β3GnT8 modulated the N-glycosylation patterns of CD147 and altered the polylactosamine structures in HCC cells by physically interacting with CD147. In addition, our data showed the c-Jun could directly bind to the promoter of β3GnT8 gene and regulate β3GnT8 expression. β3GnT8 regulated HCC cell invasion and migration in a C-Jun-dependent manner. Collectively, our study identified β3GnT8 as a novel regulator for HCC invasion and tumorigenesis. Targeting β3GnT8 may be a potential therapeutic strategy against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunliang Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P.R. China
| | - Hao Qiu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P.R. China
| | - Dandan Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P.R. China
| | - Zerong Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Fifth People's Hospital of Suzhou, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215007, P.R. China
| | - Ning Shi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Georgia, Athens 30602 GA, USA
| | - Zengqi Tan
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xian, Shanxi 710069, P.R. China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P.R. China
| | - Zhi Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P.R. China
| | - Shiliang Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P.R. China
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28
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Wang J, Tai G. Role of C-Jun N-terminal Kinase in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development. Target Oncol 2017; 11:723-738. [PMID: 27392951 DOI: 10.1007/s11523-016-0446-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most frequently occurring cancers and the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide. Identification of the signaling pathways regulating liver carcinogenesis is critical for developing novel chemoprevention and targeted therapies. C-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is a member of a larger group of serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) protein kinases known as the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family. JNK is an important signaling component that converts external stimuli into a wide range of cellular responses, including cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, migration, invasion, and apoptosis, as well as the development of inflammation, fibrosis, cancer growth, and metabolic diseases. Because of the essential roles of JNK in these cellular functions, deregulated JNK is often found to contribute to the development of HCC. Recently, the functions and molecular mechanisms of JNK in HCC development have been addressed using mouse models and human HCC cell lines. Furthermore, recent studies demonstrate that the activation of JNK by oncogenes can promote the development of cancers by regulating the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/Smad pathway, which makes the oncogenes/JNK/Smad signaling pathway an attractive target for cancer therapy. Additionally, JNK-targeted therapy has a broad potential for clinical applications. In summary, we are convinced that promising new avenues for the treatment of HCC by targeting JNK are on the horizon, which will undoubtedly lead to better, more effective, and faster therapies in the years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, 126 Xinmin Street, Jilin, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Guixiang Tai
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, 126 Xinmin Street, Jilin, Changchun, 130021, China.
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29
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Liu F, Cheng Z, Li X, Li Y, Zhang H, Li J, Liu F, Xu H, Li F. A Novel Pak1/ATF2/miR-132 Signaling Axis Is Involved in the Hematogenous Metastasis of Gastric Cancer Cells. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2017; 8:370-382. [PMID: 28918037 PMCID: PMC5537170 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2017.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We, along with others, have shown previously that P21-activated kinase 1 (Pak1) plays a pivotal role in gastric cancer progression and metastasis. However, whether Pak1 controls gastric cancer metastasis by regulating microRNAs (miRNAs) has never been explored. Here, we report a novel mechanism of Pak1 in tumor metastasis. A detailed examination revealed that Pak1 interacts with and phosphorylates the serine 62 residue of ATF2 and then blocks its translocation into the nucleus. We also confirmed that ATF2 binds to the promoter of miR-132 and tightly regulates its transcription, thus explaining the regulatory mechanism of miR-132 by Pak1. miR-132 also significantly reduced cell adhesion, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells in vitro and significantly prevented tumor metastasis in vivo. miR-132 specifically inhibited hematogenous metastasis, but not lymph node or implantation metastases. In order to further delineate the effects of the Pak1/ATF2/miR-132 cascade on gastric cancer progression, we identified several targets of miR-132 using a bioinformatics TargetScan algorithm. Notably, miR-132 reduced the expression of CD44 and fibronectin1 (FN1), and such inhibition enabled lymphocytes to home in on gastric cancer cells and induce tumor apoptosis. Taken together, our studies establish a novel cell-signaling pathway and open new possibilities for therapeutic intervention of gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Funan Liu
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China; Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Zhenguo Cheng
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Xiaodong Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Yanshu Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Hongyan Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Jiabin Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Furong Liu
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Huimian Xu
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China.
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30
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Xie YX, Liao R, Pan L, Du CY. ERK pathway activation contributes to the tumor-promoting effects of hepatic stellate cells in hepatocellular carcinoma. Immunol Lett 2017; 188:116-123. [PMID: 28668554 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2017.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Activated hepatic stellate cell (aHSC) play a critical role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression crosstalking with cancer cell via various signaling pathways. The aim of our study is to explore the tumor-promoting effects of aHSCs on HCC via ERK pathway. METHODS α-SMA, p-ERK and p-JNK expression levels in tumoral and peritumoral tissues of HCC were assessed by immunohistochemical and western blotting. The protein and mRNA expression levels in human hepatoma cell treated with aHSC conditioned medium (CM) were determined by western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively. Cell migration and invasion abilities were assessed using transwell assays. The proliferation ability of HCC cells induced by aHSCs-CM was detected by CCK-8 assay and cell cycle analysis. RESULTS We found that aHSC number was positively correlated with p-ERK expression levels in tumoral tissues and aHSC-CM could time-dependently promote PCNA, p-ERK expression in HCC cells. Moreover, aHSC-CM enhanced HCC cells proliferation via ERK. Additionally, aHSC upregulated c-jun and cyclinD1 expression levels, accelerating the transition from G1 to the S phase of HCC cells, and this effect could be arrested by inhibiting ERK pathway. Furthermore, aHSC-CM promoted migration and invasion of HCC cells via ERK. Epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMT) phenomenon could be reversed by ERK suppression. CONCLUSION High expression of p-ERK and aHSCs may be associated with the aggressive behavior of HCC cells. Secretions from aHSCs could promote proliferation and EMT of HCC cells via ERK1/2/c-jun/cyclinD1 axis or ERK pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Xiao Xie
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Rui Liao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Long Pan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Cheng-You Du
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
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31
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Li LH, Wu GY, Lu YZ, Chen XH, Liu BY, Zheng MH, Cai JC. p21-activated protein kinase 1 induces the invasion of gastric cancer cells through c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase-mediated activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2. Oncol Rep 2017; 38:193-200. [PMID: 28534988 DOI: 10.3892/or.2017.5643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. The prognosis of GC is poor, mostly due to widespread metastasis. p21-activated kinase 1 (Pak1), the best characterized member of an evolutionarily conserved family of serine/threonine kinases, plays an important role in the regulation of cell morphogenesis, motility, mitosis and angiogenesis. By qRT-PCR and Gelatin zymograph assay, we demonstrated in the present study that stable overexpression of Pak1 induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 mRNA expression and activity in the human MKN45 GC cell line. Conversely, knockdown of endogenous Pak1 expression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) decreased MMP-2 mRNA expression and activity in the MKN45 GC cells. Activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was required for Pak1-induced upregulation of MMP-2 mRNA level and activity. Moreover, upregulation of MMP-2 by Pak1 via the JNK pathway notably promoted the invasion of MKN45 GC cells. Overexpression of MMP-2 mRNA was once again confirmed to be associated with GC metastasis. In conclusion, our results demonstrated for the first time that Pak1 stimulated MMP-2 mRNA expression and activity in MKN45 GC cells. The JNK signaling pathway was involved in Pak1 modulation of MMP-2, which was important for MKN45 GC cell invasiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang-Hui Li
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, P.R. China
| | - Guo-Yang Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, P.R. China
| | - Yi-Zhuo Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, P.R. China
| | - Xue-Hua Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China
| | - Bing-Ya Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China
| | - Min-Hua Zheng
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China
| | - Jian-Chun Cai
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, P.R. China
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32
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Gan J, Ke X, Jiang J, Dong H, Yao Z, Lin Y, Lin W, Wu X, Yan S, Zhuang Y, Chu WK, Cai R, Zhang X, Cheung HS, Block NL, Pang CP, Schally AV, Zhang H. Growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor antagonists inhibit human gastric cancer through downregulation of PAK1-STAT3/NF-κB signaling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:14745-14750. [PMID: 27930339 PMCID: PMC5187693 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1618582114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) ranks as the fourth most frequent in incidence and second in mortality among all cancers worldwide. The development of effective treatment approaches is an urgent requirement. Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and GHRH receptor (GHRH-R) have been found to be present in a variety of tumoral tissues and cell lines. Therefore the inhibition of GHRH-R was proposed as a promising approach for the treatment of these cancers. However, little is known about GHRH-R and the relevant therapy in human GC. By survival analyses of multiple cohorts of GC patients, we identified that increased GHRH-R in tumor specimens correlates with poor survival and is an independent predictor of patient prognosis. We next showed that MIA-602, a highly potent GHRH-R antagonist, effectively inhibited GC growth in cultured cells. Further, this inhibitory effect was verified in multiple models of human GC cell lines xenografted into nude mice. Mechanistically, GHRH-R antagonists target GHRH-R and down-regulate the p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1)-mediated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inflammatory pathway. Overall, our studies establish GHRH-R as a potential molecular target in human GC and suggest treatment with GHRH-R antagonist as a promising therapeutic intervention for this cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Gan
- Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Xiurong Ke
- Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Jiali Jiang
- Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Hongmei Dong
- Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Zhimeng Yao
- Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Yusheng Lin
- Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Wan Lin
- Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Xiao Wu
- Tumor Tissue Bank, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Shumei Yan
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yixuan Zhuang
- Tumor Tissue Bank, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Wai Kit Chu
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Renzhi Cai
- Endocrine, Polypeptide, and Cancer Institute, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL 33125
- South Florida Veterans Affairs Foundation for Research and Education, Miami, FL 33125
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136
| | - Xianyang Zhang
- Endocrine, Polypeptide, and Cancer Institute, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL 33125
- South Florida Veterans Affairs Foundation for Research and Education, Miami, FL 33125
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136
| | - Herman S Cheung
- Endocrine, Polypeptide, and Cancer Institute, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL 33125
- South Florida Veterans Affairs Foundation for Research and Education, Miami, FL 33125
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146
| | - Norman L Block
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136
| | - Chi Pui Pang
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Andrew V Schally
- Endocrine, Polypeptide, and Cancer Institute, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL 33125;
- South Florida Veterans Affairs Foundation for Research and Education, Miami, FL 33125
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136
| | - Hao Zhang
- Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China;
- Tumor Tissue Bank, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
- Department of Biotherapy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
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Hydrogen peroxide inducible clone-5 mediates reactive oxygen species signaling for hepatocellular carcinoma progression. Oncotarget 2016; 6:32526-44. [PMID: 26416447 PMCID: PMC4741710 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the signaling components involved in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression is the focal adhesion adaptor paxillin. Hydrogen peroxide inducible clone-5 (Hic-5), one of the paralogs of paxillin, exhibits many biological functions distinct from paxillin, but may cooperate with paxillin to trigger tumor progression. Screening of Hic-5 in 145 surgical HCCs demonstrated overexpression of Hic-5 correlated well with intra- and extra-hepatic metastasis. Hic-5 highly expressed in the patient derived HCCs with high motility such as HCC329 and HCC353 but not in the HCCs with low motility such as HCC340. Blockade of Hic-5 expression prevented constitutive migration of HCC329 and HCC353 and HGF-induced cell migration of HCC340. HCC329Hic-5(−), HCC353Hic-5(−), HCC372Hic-5(−), the HCCs stably depleted of Hic-5, exhibited reduced motility compared with each HCC expressing Scramble shRNA. Moreover, intra/extrahepatic metastasis of HCC329Hic-5(−) in SCID mice greatly decreased compared with HCC329Scramble. On the other hand, ectopic Hic-5 expression in HCC340 promoted its progression. Constitutive and HGF-induced Hic-5 expression in HCCs were suppressed by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers catalase and dithiotheritol and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor SP600125. On the contrary, depletion of Hic-5 blocked constitutive and HGF-induced ROS generation and JNK phosphorylation in HCCs. Also, ectopic expression of Hic-5 enhanced ROS generation and JNK phosphorylation. These highlighted that Hic-5 plays a central role in the positive feedback ROS-JNK signal cascade. Finally, the Chinese herbal derived anti-HCC peptide LZ-8 suppressed constitutive Hic-5 expression and JNK phosphorylation. In conclusion, Hic-5 mediates ROS-JNK signaling and may serve as a therapeutic target for prevention of HCC progression.
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Feng XJ, Pan Q, Wang SM, Pan YC, Wang Q, Zhang HH, Zhu MH, Zhang SH. MAP4K4 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Tumour Biol 2016; 37:11457-67. [PMID: 27010469 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-016-5022-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Our previous study has reported that mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase 4 (MAP4K4) regulates the growth and survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. This study was undertaken to explore the roles of MAP4K4 in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis in HCC. Effects of overexpression and knockdown of MAP4K4 on the migration, invasion, and EMT of HCC cells were examined. The in vivo role of MAP4K4 in lung metastasis of HCC was determined in nude mice. The relationship between MAP4K4 expression and EMT in human HCC specimens was determined by immunohistochemistry. MAP4K4 overexpression significantly enhanced the migration and invasion of MHCC-97L HCC cells, whereas MAP4K4 silencing hindered the migration and invasion of MHCC-97H HCC cells. MAP4K4-overexpressing cells undergo EMT, which was accompanied by downregulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of vimentin. In contrast, MAP4K4 silencing caused a reversion from a spindle morphology to cobblestone-like morphology and induction of E-cadherin and reduction of vimentin. Pretreatment with chemical inhibitors of JNK and NF-κB abolished MAP4K4-mediated migration, invasion, and regulation of EMT markers in MHCC-97L cells. Ectopic expression of MAP4K4 promoted and knockdown of MAP4K4 inhibited lung metastasis of HCC, which was associated with regulation of JNK and NF-κB signaling and EMT markers. High MAP4K4 immunoreactivity was inversely correlated with E-cadherin and was positively correlated with vimentin, phospho-JNK, and phospho-NF-κB in HCC specimens. Taken together, MAP4K4 promotes the EMT and invasiveness of HCC cells largely via activation of JNK and NF-κB signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jun Feng
- Department of Pathology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Changxing Chinese medicine hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Qing Pan
- Department of Pathology, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shou-Mei Wang
- Department of Pathology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun-Cui Pan
- Department of Pathology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Pathology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huan-Huan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming-Hua Zhu
- Department of Pathology, Changhai Hospital and Institute of Liver Diseases, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu-Hui Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Kumar R, Li DQ. PAKs in Human Cancer Progression: From Inception to Cancer Therapeutic to Future Oncobiology. Adv Cancer Res 2016; 130:137-209. [PMID: 27037753 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2016.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Since the initial recognition of a mechanistic role of p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) in breast cancer invasion, PAK1 has emerged as one of the widely overexpressed or hyperactivated kinases in human cancer at-large, allowing the PAK family to make in-roads in cancer biology, tumorigenesis, and cancer therapeutics. Much of our current understanding of the PAK family in cancer progression relates to a central role of the PAK family in the integration of cancer-promoting signals from cell membrane receptors as well as function as a key nexus-modifier of complex, cytoplasmic signaling network. Another core aspect of PAK signaling that highlights its importance in cancer progression is through PAK's central role in the cross talk with signaling and interacting proteins, as well as PAK's position as a key player in the phosphorylation of effector substrates to engage downstream components that ultimately leads to the development cancerous phenotypes. Here we provide a comprehensive review of the recent advances in PAK cancer research and its downstream substrates in the context of invasion, nuclear signaling and localization, gene expression, and DNA damage response. We discuss how a deeper understanding of PAK1's pathobiology over the years has widened research interest to the PAK family and human cancer, and positioning the PAK family as a promising cancer therapeutic target either alone or in combination with other therapies. With many landmark findings and leaps in the progress of PAK cancer research since the infancy of this field nearly 20 years ago, we also discuss postulated advances in the coming decade as the PAK family continues to shape the future of oncobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Kumar
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States; Rajiv Gandhi Center of Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India.
| | - D-Q Li
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Epigenetics in Shanghai, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Abstract
The Golgi apparatus-complex is a highly dynamic organelle which is considered the "heart" of intracellular transportation. Since its discovery by Camillo Golgi in 1873, who described it as the "black reaction," and despite the enormous volume of publications about Golgi, this apparatus remains one of the most enigmatic of the cytoplasmic organelles. A typical mammalian Golgi consists of a parallel series of flattened, disk-shaped cisternae which align into stacks. The tremendous volume of Golgi-related incoming and outgoing traffic is mediated by different motor proteins, including members of the dynein, kinesin, and myosin families. Yet in spite of the strenuous work it performs, Golgi contrives to maintain its monolithic morphology and orchestration of matrix and residential proteins. However, in response to stress, alcohol, and treatment with many pharmacological drugs over time, Golgi undergoes a kind of disorganization which ranges from mild enlargement to critical scattering. While fragmentation of the Golgi was confirmed in cancer by electron microscopy almost fifty years ago, it is only in recent years that we have begun to understand the significance of Golgi fragmentation in the biology of tumors. Below author would like to focus on how Golgi fragmentation opens the doors for cascades of fatal pathways which may facilitate cancer progression and metastasis. Among the issues addressed will be the most important cancer-specific hallmarks of Golgi fragmentation, including aberrant glycosylation, abnormal expression of the Ras GTPases, dysregulation of kinases, and hyperactivity of myosin motor proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armen Petrosyan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
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PAK1 and CtBP1 Regulate the Coupling of Neuronal Activity to Muscle Chromatin and Gene Expression. Mol Cell Biol 2015; 35:4110-20. [PMID: 26416879 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00354-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acetylcholine receptor (AChR) expression in innervated muscle is limited to the synaptic region. Neuron-induced electrical activity participates in this compartmentalization by promoting the repression of AChR expression in the extrasynaptic regions. Here, we show that the corepressor CtBP1 (C-terminal binding protein 1) is present on the myogenin promoter together with repressive histone marks. shRNA-mediated downregulation of CtBP1 expression is sufficient to derepress myogenin and AChR expression in innervated muscle. Upon denervation, CtBP1 is displaced from the myogenin promoter and relocates to the cytoplasm, while repressive histone marks are replaced by activating ones concomitantly to the activation of myogenin expression. We also observed that upon denervation the p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) expression is upregulated, suggesting that phosphorylation by PAK1 may be involved in the relocation of CtBP1. Indeed, preventing CtBP1 Ser158 phosphorylation induces CtBP1 accumulation in the nuclei and abrogates the activation of myogenin and AChR expression. Altogether, these findings reveal a molecular mechanism to account for the coordinated control of chromatin modifications and muscle gene expression by presynaptic neurons via a PAK1/CtBP1 pathway.
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PAK1 is a therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. Blood 2015; 126:1118-27. [PMID: 26170031 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2014-12-618801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2014] [Accepted: 06/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Poor clinical outcome of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) has been attributed to failure of current chemotherapeutic regimens to target leukemic stem cells. We recently identified p21-activated kinase (PAK1) as a downstream effector molecule of H2.0-like homeobox (HLX), a gene functionally relevant for AML pathogenesis. In this study, we find that inhibition of PAK1 activity by small molecule inhibitors or by RNA interference leads to profound leukemia inhibitory effects both in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of PAK1 induces differentiation and apoptosis of AML cells through downregulation of the MYC oncogene and a core network of MYC target genes. Importantly, we find that inhibition of PAK1 inhibits primary human leukemic cells including immature leukemic stem cell-enriched populations. Moreover, we find that PAK1 upregulation occurs during disease progression and is relevant for patient survival in MDS. Our studies highlight PAK1 as a novel target in AML and MDS and support the use of PAK1 inhibitors as a therapeutic strategy in these diseases.
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Gan J, Zhang Y, Ke X, Tan C, Ren H, Dong H, Jiang J, Chen S, Zhuang Y, Zhang H. Dysregulation of PAK1 Is Associated with DNA Damage and Is of Prognostic Importance in Primary Esophageal Small Cell Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:12035-50. [PMID: 26023713 PMCID: PMC4490427 DOI: 10.3390/ijms160612035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary esophageal small cell carcinoma (PESCC) is a rare, but fatal subtype of esophageal carcinoma. No effective therapeutic regimen for it. P21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) is known to function as an integrator and an indispensable node of major growth factor signaling and the molecular therapy targeting PAK1 has been clinical in pipeline. We thus set to examine the expression and clinical impact of PAK1 in PESCC. The expression of PAK1 was detected in a semi-quantitative manner by performing immunohistochemistry. PAK1 was overexpressed in 22 of 34 PESCC tumors, but in only 2 of 18 adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Overexpression of PAK1 was significantly associated with tumor location (p = 0.011), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.026) and patient survival (p = 0.032). We also investigated the association of PAK1 with DNA damage, a driven cause for malignancy progression. γH2AX, a DNA damage marker, was detectable in 18 of 24 (75.0%) cases, and PAK1 expression was associated with γH2AX (p = 0.027). Together, PAK1 is important in metastasis and progression of PESCC. The contribution of PAK1 to clinical outcomes may be involved in its regulating DNA damage pathway. Further studies are worth determining the potentials of PAK1 as prognostic indicator and therapeutic target for PESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Gan
- Cancer Research Centre, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515063, China.
| | - Yuling Zhang
- Department of Information, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515031, China.
| | - Xiurong Ke
- Cancer Research Centre, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515063, China.
- Department of Biotherapy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515031, China.
| | - Chong Tan
- Department of General Surgery, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China.
| | - Hongzheng Ren
- Department of Pathology, Central Hospital of Kaifeng, Kaifeng 475000, China.
| | - Hongmei Dong
- Cancer Research Centre, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515063, China.
| | - Jiali Jiang
- Cancer Research Centre, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515063, China.
- Department of Biotherapy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515031, China.
| | - Shaobin Chen
- Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515031, China.
| | - Yixuan Zhuang
- Tumor Tissue Bank, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515031, China.
| | - Hao Zhang
- Cancer Research Centre, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515063, China.
- Department of Biotherapy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515031, China.
- Tumor Tissue Bank, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515031, China.
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Li Z, Zou X, Xie L, Chen H, Chen Y, Yeung SCJ, Zhang H. Personalizing risk stratification by addition of PAK1 expression to TNM staging: improving the accuracy of clinical decision for gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. Int J Cancer 2015; 136:1636-45. [PMID: 25159681 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.29167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2014] [Revised: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 08/19/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GEJA) is an aggressive malignancy with an alarmingly rising incidence. TNM staging is widely used by oncologists to stratify prognosis as well as direct therapeutic strategies. However, inadequate lymphadenectomy is frequently encountered for GEJA and largely confounds prognosis resulting from TNM staging. Thus, a molecular biomarker, which can accurately forecast the risk of nodal metastasis in patients with inadequate lymphadenectomy, is required to guide precisely clinical decision. In this study, bioinformatics and pathological analysis identified that p21 protein-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) is associated with lymph nodal metastasis of GEJA. The PAK1 H-score was lower in the patients with negative lymph nodes than that in patients with positive (metastatic) lymph nodes (6.865 ± 3.376, 9.370 ± 2.530, respectively; p < 0.001). The PAK1 H-score in lymph nodes was positively correlated with that in primary tumors (PTs; p < 0.001; r = 0.475). PAK1 H-scores in PTs had the best performance based on its area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve compared with PAK1 H-scores in lymph nodes, histological grade, lymph nodal metastasis status, tumor size, depth of tumor, TNM stage and number of resected lymph nodes. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard and Fine and Gray models showed that histological grade 3, Charlson comorbidity index > 7 and high PAK1 expression in PTs were associated with significantly increased risk of recurrence and cancer-related death. In conclusion, high PAK1 expression in PTs is predictive of node metastasis and can be easily integrated in the clinical decision process for personalized therapeutics of GEJA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongtai Li
- Department of Biotherapy and Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China; Department of Oncological Radiotherapy, The People's Hospital of Gaozhou, Gaozhou, Guangdong, China; Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
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Hu CT, Cheng CC, Wu JR, Pan SM, Wu WS. PKCε-mediated c-Met endosomal processing directs fluctuant c-Met-JNK-paxillin signaling for tumor progression of HepG2. Cell Signal 2015; 27:1544-55. [PMID: 25778903 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2015.02.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2014] [Accepted: 02/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) induced c-Met signaling play critical roles in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, c-Met targeting approaches suffered resistance and side effect, thus identification of more suitable downstream targets is needed. Recently, we demonstrated HGF-induced fluctuant ERK/paxillin signaling within 24h. We further examined the underlying mechanisms for fluctuant c-Met/JNK/paxillin signal cascade within 12h. HGF-induced phosphorylation of c-Met, JNK, and paxillin (Ser178) shared a common fluctuation pattern characterized by an initial peak at 0.5h, a middle drop at 4h, and a later peak at 10h. Dynasore, the inhibitor of dynamin, suppressed HGF-induced c-Met internalization and phosphorylation of JNK and paxillin (Ser178) at 0.5h, indicating that endosome formation is required for initial signal enhancement. Further, depletion of PKCε not only enhanced HGF-induced phosphorylation of JNK and paxillin (Ser178) but also prevented c-Met degradation at 0.5h, suggesting that PKCε mediated c-Met degradation for signal declination. On the other hand, HGF induced colocalizations of both phosphorylated JNK and paxillin with the endosomal recycling protein GGA3 at 10h and depletion of GGA3 abolished membrane recycling of c-Met and phosphorylation of JNK/paxillin at the same time point. Interestingly, HGF induced GGA3 phosphorylation in a PKCε-dependent manner during 0.5-4h, which is associated with c-Met degradation in the same period. Finally, HGF-induced cell migration, invasion and intrahepatic metastasis of HepG2 were prevented by the inhibitors of endocytosis. Our results suggest that critical endosomal components are promising therapeutic targets for preventing HGF-induced progression of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Tan Hu
- Research Centre for Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital and School of Medicine Tzu Chi University, Taiwan
| | - Chuan-Chu Cheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Ru Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Siou-Mei Pan
- Research Centre for Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital and School of Medicine Tzu Chi University, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Sheng Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
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Arias-Romero LE, Chernoff J. p21-activated kinases in Erbb2-positive breast cancer: A new therapeutic target? Small GTPases 2014; 1:124-128. [PMID: 21686266 DOI: 10.4161/sgtp.1.2.14109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2010] [Revised: 10/27/2010] [Accepted: 10/29/2010] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The activation of receptor tyrosine kinases, particularly ErbB2, has been linked to the genesis and progression of breast cancer. Two of the central signaling pathways activated by ErbB2 are the Ras/Raf-1/Mek/Erk pathway, which plays an important role in tumor cell growth and migration, and the PI3K/Akt pathway, which plays an important role in cell survival. Recently, we and others have shown that signaling through the Ras-Erk pathway can be influenced by p21-activated kinase 1 (Pak1), an effector of the Rho family GTP ases Rac and Cdc42. Expression of activated forms of Rac promotes activation of Erk through mechanisms involving Pak1 phosphorylation of Raf-1 and Mek1. In addition, Pak1 has also been implicated in the activation of Akt. However, our understanding regarding the degree to which Rho GTPases, and their effectors such as Pak1, contribute to ErbB2-mediated signaling is very limited.Recent results from our laboratory indicate that ErbB2 expression correlates with Pak activation in estrogen receptor negative human breast tumor samples. Using a three-dimensional (3D) culture of human MCF-10A mammary epithelial cells, we found that activation of Rac-Pak pathway by ErbB2 induces growth factor independent proliferation and promotes disruption of acini-like structures through the activation of the Erk and Akt pathways. We also observed that blocking Pak1 activity by small molecule inhibitors impeded the ability of activated ErbB2 to transform these cells and to activate its associated downstream signaling targets. In addition, we found that suppressing Pak activity in ErbB2-amplified breast cancer cells delayed tumor formation and downregulated Erk and Akt signaling in vivo. These results support a model in which Pak, by activating Erk and Akt, cooperates with ErbB2 in transforming mammary epithelial cells.
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Dammann K, Khare V, Gasche C. Republished: tracing PAKs from GI inflammation to cancer. Postgrad Med J 2014; 90:657-68. [PMID: 25335797 PMCID: PMC4222351 DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2014-306768rep] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Revised: 04/07/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
P-21 activated kinases (PAKs) are effectors of Rac1/Cdc42 which coordinate signals from the cell membrane to the nucleus. Activation of PAKs drive important signalling pathways including mitogen activated protein kinase, phospoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K/AKT), NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin. Intestinal PAK1 expression increases with inflammation and malignant transformation, although the biological relevance of PAKs in the development and progression of GI disease is only incompletely understood. This review highlights the importance of altered PAK activation within GI inflammation, emphasises its effect on oncogenic signalling and discusses PAKs as therapeutic targets of chemoprevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Dammann
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Christian Doppler Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Chemoprevention, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vineeta Khare
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Christian Doppler Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Chemoprevention, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Gasche
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Christian Doppler Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Chemoprevention, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Abstract
Transformation of a normal cell to a cancer cell is caused by mutations in genes that regulate proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion. Small GTPases such as Ras, Rho, Rac and Cdc42 orchestrate many of the signals that are required for malignant transformation. The p21-activated kinases (PAKs) are effectors of Rac and Cdc42. PAKs are a family of serine/threonine protein kinases comprised of six isoforms (PAK1–6), and they play important roles in cytoskeletal dynamics, cell survival and proliferation. They act as key signal transducers in several cancer signaling pathways, including Ras, Raf, NFκB, Akt, Bad and p53. Although PAKs are not mutated in cancers, they are overexpressed, hyperactivated or amplified in several human tumors and their role in cell transformation make them attractive therapeutic targets. This review discusses the evidence that PAK is important for cell transformation and some key signaling pathways it regulates. This review primarily discusses Group I PAKs (PAK1, PAK2 and PAK3) as Group II PAKs (PAK4, PAK5 and PAK6) are discussed elsewhere in this issue (by Minden).
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Zi Ye
- Department of Pharmacology; Perelman School of Medicine; University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA USA
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Han J, Wang F, Yuan SQ, Guo Y, Zeng ZL, Li LR, Yang J, Wang DS, Liu MY, Zhao H, Liu KY, Liao JW, Zou QF, Xu RH. Reduced expression of p21-activated protein kinase 1 correlates with poor histological differentiation in pancreatic cancer. BMC Cancer 2014; 14:650. [PMID: 25182632 PMCID: PMC4242600 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-14-650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND P21-activated protein kinase 1 (PAK1), a main downstream effector of small Rho GTPases, is overexpressed in many malignancies. PAK1 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in some tumor types, including breast cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer. However, the expression and clinical relevance of PAK1 expression in human pancreatic cancer remains unknown. METHODS The present study investigated the clinical and prognostic significance of PAK1 expression in pancreatic carcinoma. We examined and scored the expression of PAK1 by immunohistochemistry in 72 primary pancreatic carcinoma samples and 20 liver metastatic samples. The relationships between PAK1 and clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in primary and metastatic pancreatic cancer were analyzed. RESULTS Among the total 92 cases, primary pancreatic cancer samples had a significantly higher rate (38/72, 52.8%) of high PAK1 expression than liver metastatic samples (5/20, 25.0%) (P=0.028). Among the 72 primary pancreatic cancer patients, high PAK1 expression was associated with younger age (P=0.038) and moderately or well differentiated tumor (P=0.007). Moreover, a positive relationship was found between high PAK1 expression and overall survival (OS) (P<0.005). Patients with high PAK1 expression had a better OS than those with low PAK1 expression. Univariate and multivariate analysis by Cox regression including PAK1 and other prognostic pathological markers demonstrated high PAK1 immunostaining as a prognostic factor for survival in pancreatic cancer patients (P<0.005). CONCLUSIONS We report for the first time that PAK1 is a novel prognostic marker for pathologically confirmed human pancreatic cancer. Reduced expression of PAK1 correlates with poor histological differentiation in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Qing-feng Zou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, China.
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Prediction of dynamical drug sensitivity and resistance by module network rewiring-analysis based on transcriptional profiling. Drug Resist Updat 2014; 17:64-76. [PMID: 25156319 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2014.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Revealing functional reorganization or module rewiring between modules at network levels during drug treatment is important to systematically understand therapies and drug responses. The present article proposed a novel model of module network rewiring to characterize functional reorganization of a complex biological system, and described a new framework named as module network rewiring-analysis (MNR) for systematically studying dynamical drug sensitivity and resistance during drug treatment. MNR was used to investigate functional reorganization or rewiring on the module network, rather than molecular network or individual molecules. Our experiments on expression data of patients with Hepatitis C virus infection receiving Interferon therapy demonstrated that consistent module genes derived by MNR could be directly used to reveal new genotypes relevant to drug sensitivity, unlike the other differential analyses of gene expressions. Our results showed that functional connections and reconnections among consistent modules bridged by biological paths were necessary for achieving effective responses of a drug. The hierarchical structures of the temporal module network can be considered as spatio-temporal biomarkers to monitor the efficacy, efficiency, toxicity, and resistance of the therapy. Our study indicates that MNR is a useful tool to identify module biomarkers and further predict dynamical drug sensitivity and resistance, characterize complex dynamic processes for therapy response, and provide biologically systematic clues for pharmacogenomic applications.
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Tse EYT, Ching YP. The role of p21-activated kinases in hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis. J Mol Signal 2014; 9:7. [PMID: 25093037 PMCID: PMC4121300 DOI: 10.1186/1750-2187-9-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2014] [Accepted: 07/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The p21-activated kinases (PAKs) are downstream effectors of the Rho family small GTPases as well as a wide variety of mitogenic factors and have been implicated in cancer formation, development and metastasis. PAKs phosphorylate a wide spectrum of substrates to mediate extracellular signals and regulate cytoskeletal remodeling, cell motility and survival. In this review, we aim to summarize the findings regarding the oncogenic role and the underlying mechanisms of PAKs signaling in various cancers, and in particular highlight the prime importance of PAKs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and metastasis. Recent studies exploring the potential therapeutic application of PAK inhibitors will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edith Yuk Ting Tse
- Department of Anatomy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yick Pang Ching
- Department of Anatomy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China ; State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Abstract
P-21 activated kinases (PAKs) are effectors of Rac1/Cdc42 which coordinate signals from the cell membrane to the nucleus. Activation of PAKs drive important signalling pathways including mitogen activated protein kinase, phospoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K/AKT), NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin. Intestinal PAK1 expression increases with inflammation and malignant transformation, although the biological relevance of PAKs in the development and progression of GI disease is only incompletely understood. This review highlights the importance of altered PAK activation within GI inflammation, emphasises its effect on oncogenic signalling and discusses PAKs as therapeutic targets of chemoprevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Dammann
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Christian Doppler Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Chemoprevention, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vineeta Khare
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Christian Doppler Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Chemoprevention, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Gasche
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Christian Doppler Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Chemoprevention, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Magi S, Saeki Y, Kasamatsu M, Tashiro E, Imoto M. Chemical genomic-based pathway analyses for epidermal growth factor-mediated signaling in migrating cancer cells. PLoS One 2014; 9:e96776. [PMID: 24820097 PMCID: PMC4018296 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2013] [Accepted: 04/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
To explore the diversity and consistency of the signaling pathways that regulate tumor cell migration, we chose three human tumor cell lines that migrated after treatment with EGF. We then quantified the effect of fifteen inhibitors on the levels of expression or the phosphorylation levels of nine proteins that were induced by EGF stimulation in each of these cell lines. Based on the data obtained in this study and chemical-biological assumptions, we deduced cell migration pathways in each tumor cell line, and then compared them. As a result, we found that both the MEK/ERK and JNK/c-Jun pathways were activated in all three migrating cell lines. Moreover, GSK-3 and p38 were found to regulate PI3K/Akt pathway in only EC109 cells, and JNK was found to crosstalk with p38 and Fos related pathway in only TT cells. Taken together, our analytical system could easily distinguish between the common and cell type-specific pathways responsible for tumor cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeyuki Magi
- Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan
| | - Yuya Saeki
- Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan
| | - Masato Kasamatsu
- Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan
| | - Etsu Tashiro
- Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan
| | - Masaya Imoto
- Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan
- * E-mail:
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Chen H, Miao J, Li H, Wang C, Li J, Zhu Y, Wang J, Wu X, Qiao H. Expression and prognostic significance of p21-activated kinase 6 in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Surg Res 2014; 189:81-8. [PMID: 24576777 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2014.01.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2013] [Revised: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 01/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND p21-activated protein kinase (PAK) 6 is a serine-threonine kinase belonging to the PAK family. Previous studies have indicated that abnormal expressions of PAK1, PAK2, and PAK5 played critical roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent studies suggested that deregulation of PAK6 expression played an important role in oncogenesis. To explore the potential roles of PAK6 in HCC, expression of PAK6 was detected in human HCC specimens. METHODS Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were performed for PAK6 in 121 HCC samples. The data were correlated with clinicopathologic features. The univariate and multivariate survival analyses were also performed to determine their clinical prognostic significance. RESULTS PAK6 was overexpressed in HCC as compared with the adjacent noncancerous liver tissues. High expression of PAK6 was associated with Edmondson-Steiner grade (P = 0.006) and number of tumor nodules (P < 0.001), and PAK6 was positively correlated with proliferation marker Ki-67 (P < 0.01). Univariate analysis suggested that PAK6 expression was associated with poor prognosis (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that PAK6 and Ki-67 protein expressions were independent prognostic markers for HCC (P = 0.0245 and 0.0331, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that PAK6 overexpression is involved in the pathogenesis of HCC; it may be an independent poor prognostic factor for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, China.
| | - Jinlin Miao
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The Fourth People's Hospital of Taizhou, Taizhou, China
| | - Hongchen Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Chunhua Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Junliang Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Yong Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Jianxin Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Xia Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Hongying Qiao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, China
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