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Guo DZ, Zhang X, Zhang SQ, Zhang SY, Zhang XY, Yan JY, Dong SY, Zhu K, Yang XR, Fan J, Zhou J, Huang A. Single-cell tumor heterogeneity landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma: unraveling the pro-metastatic subtype and its interaction loop with fibroblasts. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:157. [PMID: 39095854 PMCID: PMC11295380 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02062-3] [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: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor heterogeneity presents a formidable challenge in understanding the mechanisms driving tumor progression and metastasis. The heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cellular level is not clear. METHODS Integration analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data and spatial transcriptomics data was performed. Multiple methods were applied to investigate the subtype of HCC tumor cells. The functional characteristics, translation factors, clinical implications and microenvironment associations of different subtypes of tumor cells were analyzed. The interaction of subtype and fibroblasts were analyzed. RESULTS We established a heterogeneity landscape of HCC malignant cells by integrated 52 single-cell RNA sequencing data and 5 spatial transcriptomics data. We identified three subtypes in tumor cells, including ARG1+ metabolism subtype (Metab-subtype), TOP2A+ proliferation phenotype (Prol-phenotype), and S100A6+ pro-metastatic subtype (EMT-subtype). Enrichment analysis found that the three subtypes harbored different features, that is metabolism, proliferating, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Trajectory analysis revealed that both Metab-subtype and EMT-subtype originated from the Prol-phenotype. Translation factor analysis found that EMT-subtype showed exclusive activation of SMAD3 and TGF-β signaling pathway. HCC dominated by EMT-subtype cells harbored an unfavorable prognosis and a deserted microenvironment. We uncovered a positive loop between tumor cells and fibroblasts mediated by SPP1-CD44 and CCN2/TGF-β-TGFBR1 interaction pairs. Inhibiting CCN2 disrupted the loop, mitigated the transformation to EMT-subtype, and suppressed metastasis. CONCLUSION By establishing a heterogeneity landscape of malignant cells, we identified a three-subtype classification in HCC. Among them, S100A6+ tumor cells play a crucial role in metastasis. Targeting the feedback loop between tumor cells and fibroblasts is a promising anti-metastatic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-Zhen Guo
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Sen-Quan Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shi-Yu Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xiang-Yu Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jia-Yan Yan
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - San-Yuan Dong
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Kai Zhu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xin-Rong Yang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jia Fan
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Ao Huang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Zhou X, Xu R, Wu Y, Zhou L, Xiang T. The role of proteasomes in tumorigenesis. Genes Dis 2024; 11:101070. [PMID: 38523673 PMCID: PMC10958230 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.06.037] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein homeostasis is the basis of normal life activities, and the proteasome family plays an extremely important function in this process. The proteasome 20S is a concentric circle structure with two α rings and two β rings overlapped. The proteasome 20S can perform both ATP-dependent and non-ATP-dependent ubiquitination proteasome degradation by binding to various subunits (such as 19S, 11S, and 200 PA), which is performed by its active subunit β1, β2, and β5. The proteasome can degrade misfolded, excess proteins to maintain homeostasis. At the same time, it can be utilized by tumors to degrade over-proliferate and unwanted proteins to support their growth. Proteasomes can affect the development of tumors from several aspects including tumor signaling pathways such as NF-κB and p53, cell cycle, immune regulation, and drug resistance. Proteasome-encoding genes have been found to be overexpressed in a variety of tumors, providing a potential novel target for cancer therapy. In addition, proteasome inhibitors such as bortezomib, carfilzomib, and ixazomib have been put into clinical application as the first-line treatment of multiple myeloma. More and more studies have shown that it also has different therapeutic effects in other tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, glioblastoma, and neuroblastoma. However, proteasome inhibitors are not much effective due to their tolerance and singleness in other tumors. Therefore, further studies on their mechanisms of action and drug interactions are needed to investigate their therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyi Zhou
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Ruqing Xu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Li Zhou
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Tingxiu Xiang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, China
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3
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Ma Y, Lv H, Xing F, Xiang W, Wu Z, Feng Q, Wang H, Yang W. Cancer stem cell-immune cell crosstalk in the tumor microenvironment for liver cancer progression. Front Med 2024; 18:430-445. [PMID: 38600350 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-023-1049-z] [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: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Crosstalk between cancer cells and the immune microenvironment is determinant for liver cancer progression. A tumor subpopulation called liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) significantly accounts for the initiation, metastasis, therapeutic resistance, and recurrence of liver cancer. Emerging evidence demonstrates that the interaction between liver CSCs and immune cells plays a crucial role in shaping an immunosuppressive microenvironment and determining immunotherapy responses. This review sheds light on the bidirectional crosstalk between liver CSCs and immune cells for liver cancer progression, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms after presenting an overview of liver CSCs characteristic and their microenvironment. Finally, we discuss the potential application of liver CSCs-targeted immunotherapy for liver cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Ma
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Hongwei Lv
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
- International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Fuxue Xing
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Wei Xiang
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Zixin Wu
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Qiyu Feng
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Hongyang Wang
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China.
- International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hepato-biliary Tumor Biology, Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| | - Wen Yang
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China.
- International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hepato-biliary Tumor Biology, Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200438, China.
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Zhao H, Ling Y, He J, Dong J, Mo Q, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Yu H, Tang C. Potential targets and therapeutics for cancer stem cell-based therapy against drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Drug Resist Updat 2024; 74:101084. [PMID: 38640592 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2024.101084] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common digestive malignancyin the world, which is frequently diagnosed at late stage with a poor prognosis. For most patients with advanced HCC, the therapeutic options arelimiteddue to cancer occurrence of drug resistance. Hepatic cancer stem cells (CSCs) account for a small subset of tumor cells with the ability of self-renewal and differentiationin HCC. It is widely recognized that the presence of CSCs contributes to primary and acquired drug resistance. Therefore, hepatic CSCs-targeted therapy is considered as a promising strategy to overcome drug resistance and improve therapeutic outcome in HCC. In this article, we review drug resistance in HCC and provide a summary of potential targets for CSCs-based therapy. In addition, the development of CSCs-targeted therapeuticsagainst drug resistance in HCC is summarized in both preclinical and clinical trials. The in-depth understanding of CSCs-related drug resistance in HCC will favor optimization of the current therapeutic strategies and gain encouraging therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxing Zhao
- Department of Radiology, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yuhang Ling
- Central Laboratory, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Huzhou Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jie He
- Department of Hepatology, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jinling Dong
- Department of Hepatology, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Qinliang Mo
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yao Wang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Central Laboratory, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Hepatology, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Hongbin Yu
- Department of General Surgery, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Chengwu Tang
- Huzhou Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
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5
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Han S, Fan H, Zhong G, Ni L, Shi W, Fang Y, Wang C, Wang L, Song L, Zhao J, Tang M, Yang B, Li L, Bai X, Zhang Q, Liang T, Xu Y, Feng XH, Ding C, Fang D, Zhao B. Nuclear KRT19 is a transcriptional corepressor promoting histone deacetylation and liver tumorigenesis. Hepatology 2024:01515467-990000000-00832. [PMID: 38557414 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Epigenetic reprogramming and escape from terminal differentiation are poorly understood enabling characteristics of liver cancer. Keratin 19 (KRT19), classically known to form the intermediate filament cytoskeleton, is a marker of stemness and worse prognosis in liver cancer. This study aimed to address the functional roles of KRT19 in liver tumorigenesis and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. APPROACH AND RESULTS Using multiplexed genome editing of hepatocytes in vivo, we demonstrated that KRT19 promoted liver tumorigenesis in mice. Cell fractionation revealed a previously unrecognized nuclear fraction of KRT19. Tandem affinity purification identified histone deacetylase 1 and REST corepressor 1, components of the corepressor of RE-1 silencing transcription factor (CoREST) complex as KRT19-interacting proteins. KRT19 knockout markedly enhanced histone acetylation levels. Mechanistically, KRT19 promotes CoREST complex formation by enhancing histone deacetylase 1 and REST corepressor 1 interaction, thus increasing the deacetylase activity. ChIP-seq revealed hepatocyte-specific genes, such as hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha ( HNF4A ), as direct targets of KRT19-CoREST. In addition, we identified forkhead box P4 as a direct activator of aberrant KRT19 expression in liver cancer. Furthermore, treatment of primary liver tumors and patient-derived xenografts in mice suggest that KRT19 expression has the potential to predict response to histone deacetylase 1 inhibitors especially in combination with lenvatinib. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that nuclear KRT19 acts as a transcriptional corepressor through promoting the deacetylase activity of the CoREST complex, resulting in dedifferentiation of liver cancer. These findings reveal a previously unrecognized function of KRT19 in directly shaping the epigenetic landscape in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixun Han
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haonan Fan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guoxuan Zhong
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lei Ni
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenhao Shi
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yushan Fang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chenliang Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lang Song
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianhui Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mei Tang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bing Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Li
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xueli Bai
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tingbo Liang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanhui Xu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin-Hua Feng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chen Ding
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dong Fang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Center for Life Sciences, Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Shaoxing, China
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Ruszkowska-Ciastek B, Kwiatkowska K, Marques-da-Silva D, Lagoa R. Cancer Stem Cells from Definition to Detection and Targeted Drugs. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3903. [PMID: 38612718 PMCID: PMC11011379 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073903] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancers remain the second leading cause of mortality in the world. Preclinical and clinical studies point an important role of cancer/leukaemia stem cells (CSCs/LSCs) in the colonisation at secondary organ sites upon metastatic spreading, although the precise mechanisms for specific actions are still not fully understood. Reviewing the present knowledge on the crucial role of CSCs/LSCs, their plasticity, and population heterogeneity in treatment failures in cancer patients is timely. Standard chemotherapy, which acts mainly on rapidly dividing cells, is unable to adequately affect CSCs with a low proliferation rate. One of the proposed mechanisms of CSC resistance to anticancer agents is the fact that these cells can easily shift between different phases of the cell cycle in response to typical cell stimuli induced by anticancer drugs. In this work, we reviewed the recent studies on CSC/LSC alterations associated with disease recurrence, and we systematised the functional assays, markers, and novel methods for CSCs screening. This review emphasises CSCs' involvement in cancer progression and metastasis, as well as CSC/LSC targeting by synthetic and natural compounds aiming at their elimination or modulation of stemness properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Ruszkowska-Ciastek
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Collegium Medicum, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kwiatkowska
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Jan Biziel University Hospital No. 2, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland;
| | - Dorinda Marques-da-Silva
- Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering-Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal; (D.M.-d.-S.); (R.L.)
- Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- School of Technology and Management, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Morro do Lena-Alto do Vieiro, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Lagoa
- Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering-Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal; (D.M.-d.-S.); (R.L.)
- Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- School of Technology and Management, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Morro do Lena-Alto do Vieiro, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
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Yang CL, Song R, Hu JW, Huang JT, Li NN, Ni HH, Li YK, Zhang J, Lu Z, Zhou M, Wang JD, Li MJ, Zhan GH, Peng T, Yu HP, Qi LN, Wang QY, Xiang BD. Integrating single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing reveals CK19 + cancer stem cells and their specific SPP1 + tumor-associated macrophage niche in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatol Int 2024; 18:73-90. [PMID: 38159218 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-023-10615-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cytokeratin 19-positive cancer stem cells (CK19 + CSCs) and their tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have not been fully explored yet in the hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on the viable cells obtained from 11 treatment-naïve HBV-associated HCC patients, including 8 CK19 + patients, to elucidate their transcriptomic landscape, CK19 + CSC heterogeneity, and immune microenvironment. Two in-house primary HCC cohorts (96 cases-related HBV and 89 cases with recurrence), TCGA external cohort, and in vitro and in vivo experiments were used to validate the results. RESULTS A total of 64,581 single cells derived from the human HCC and adjacent normal tissues were sequenced, and 11 cell types were identified. The result showed that CK19 + CSCs were phenotypically and transcriptionally heterogeneous, co-expressed multiple hepatics CSC markers, and were positively correlated with worse prognosis. Moreover, the SPP1 + TAMs (TAM_SPP1) with strong M2-like features and worse prognosis were specifically enriched in the CK19 + HCC and promoted tumor invasion and metastasis by activating angiogenesis. Importantly, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) derived from TAM_SPP1, as the hub gene of CK19 + HCC, was activated by the VEGFA signal. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed the heterogeneity and stemness characteristics of CK19 + CSCs and specific immunosuppressive TAM_SPP1 in CK19 + HCC. The VEGFA signal can activate TAM_SPP1-derived MMP9 to promote the invasion and metastasis of CK19 + HCC tumors. This might provide novel insights into the clinical treatment of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Lei Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Rui Song
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Jun-Wen Hu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Jun-Tao Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Nan-Nan Li
- Department of Ultrasound, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Workers' Hospital, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Hang-Hang Ni
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Yuan-Kuan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Zhan Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Min Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Jun-Duo Wang
- The First Clinical Medical School, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Min-Jun Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Guo-Hua Zhan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Tao Peng
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Hong-Ping Yu
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Research Department, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Lu-Nan Qi
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China.
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China.
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China.
| | - Qiu-Yan Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China.
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuang Yong Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China.
| | - Bang-De Xiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China.
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China.
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China.
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Shi M, Huang K, Wei J, Wang S, Yang W, Wang H, Li Y. Identification and Validation of a Prognostic Signature Derived from the Cancer Stem Cells for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1031. [PMID: 38256104 PMCID: PMC10816075 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021031] [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: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The progression and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are highly influenced by cancer stem cells (CSCs) due to their unique self-renewal and plasticity. In this study, data were obtained from a single-cell RNA-sequencing dataset (GSE172577) in the GEO database, and LASSO-Cox regression analysis was performed on 1344 CSCs-related genes to establish a six-gene prognostic signature (6-GPS) consisting of ADM, POLR1D, PTGR1, RPL35A, PGK1, and P4HA1. High-risk scores were significantly associated with unfavorable survival outcomes, and these features were thoroughly validated in the ICGC. The results of nomograms, calibration plots, and ROC curves confirmed the good prognostic accuracy of 6-GPS for OSCC. Additionally, the knockdown of ADM or POLR1D genes may significantly inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells through the JAK/HIF-1 pathway. Furthermore, cell-cycle arrest occurred in the G1 phase by suppressing Cyclin D1. In summary, 6-GPS may play a crucial role in the occurrence and development of OSCC and has the potential to be developed further as a diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic tool for OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxuan Shi
- Key Laboratory of Dental Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Biological Intelligence Manufacturing, School of Stomatology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China; (M.S.); (K.H.); (J.W.); (S.W.); (W.Y.)
| | - Ke Huang
- Key Laboratory of Dental Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Biological Intelligence Manufacturing, School of Stomatology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China; (M.S.); (K.H.); (J.W.); (S.W.); (W.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Jiaqi Wei
- Key Laboratory of Dental Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Biological Intelligence Manufacturing, School of Stomatology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China; (M.S.); (K.H.); (J.W.); (S.W.); (W.Y.)
| | - Shiqi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Dental Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Biological Intelligence Manufacturing, School of Stomatology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China; (M.S.); (K.H.); (J.W.); (S.W.); (W.Y.)
| | - Weijia Yang
- Key Laboratory of Dental Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Biological Intelligence Manufacturing, School of Stomatology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China; (M.S.); (K.H.); (J.W.); (S.W.); (W.Y.)
| | - Huihui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Dental Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Biological Intelligence Manufacturing, School of Stomatology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China; (M.S.); (K.H.); (J.W.); (S.W.); (W.Y.)
| | - Yi Li
- Key Laboratory of Dental Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Biological Intelligence Manufacturing, School of Stomatology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China; (M.S.); (K.H.); (J.W.); (S.W.); (W.Y.)
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9
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Qin Q, Deng LP, Chen J, Ye Z, Wu YY, Yuan Y, Song B. The value of MRI in predicting hepatocellular carcinoma with cytokeratin 19 expression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Radiol 2023; 78:e975-e984. [PMID: 37783612 DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2023.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
AIM To evaluate the overall diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), different image features, and different image analysis methods in predicting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cytokeratin 19 (CK19) expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS A systematic literature search was performed to identify studies using MRI to predict HCC with CK19 expression between 2012 and 2023. Data were extracted to calculate the pooled sensitivity and specificity. Overall diagnostic performance was assessed using areas under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Subgroup analyses were conducted for specific image features and according to image analysis methods (traditional image feature, radiomics, and combined methods). Z-test statistics was used to analyse the differences in diagnostic performance between combined and individual methods. RESULTS Eleven studies with 14 datasets (1,278 lesions from 1,264 patients) were included. The overall pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated to be 0.72 (0.55, 0.85), 0.88 (0.80, 0.93), and 0.89 (0.86, 0.91) for MRI in predicting HCC with CK19 expression. Combined methods had higher sensitivity than image feature methods (0.86 versus 0.54, p=0.001), with no difference in specificity (0.85 versus 0.87, p=0.641). There were no significant differences between radiomics and combined methods regarding sensitivity (p=0.796) and specificity (p=0.535), respectively. CONCLUSION MRI shows moderate sensitivity and high specificity in identifying HCC with CK19 expression. The application of radiomics can improve the sensitivity of MRI in identifying HCC with CK19 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q Qin
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - L P Deng
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - J Chen
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Z Ye
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Y Y Wu
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Y Yuan
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - B Song
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; Department of Radiology, Sanya People's Hospital, Sanya, Hainan, China.
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10
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Lv J, Yin H, Yu H, Shi H. The added value of 18F-FDG PET/MRI multimodal imaging in hepatocellular carcinoma for identifying cytokeratin 19 status. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2023; 48:2331-2339. [PMID: 37119293 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-023-03911-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cytokeratin 19(CK19) has been proven to be associated with clinical aggressiveness. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the added value of 18F-FDG PET/MRI in predicting CK19 status in HCC. METHODS Sixty-six patients who underwent whole-body or abdominal 18F-FDG PET/MRI after conventional PET/CT for HCC were retrospectively enrolled. The maximal standard uptake value (T-SUVmax) and the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (T-ADCmean) of the tumor (T), as well as those of the normal liver tissues (L) were derived, followed by calculations of the T-SUVmax/L-SUVmax (SUVmax-T/L) and the T-ADCmean/L-ADCmean (ADCmean-T/L) ratios. Combined with the postoperative pathological results, the performance in predicting the CK19 status in HCC was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analysis (ROC). RESULTS The areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) for T-SUVmax, SUVmax-T/L, T-ADCmean, and ADCmean-T/L in predicting the CK19-positive HCC were 0.700, 0.717, 0.717, and 0.735, respectively. In the logistic regression analysis, the T-SUVmax was an independent and significant factor to predict CK19-positive HCC, with an odds ratio of 1.27. In addition, no significant differences were found in the pathological grading, microvascular invasion, liver capsular invasion, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, alpha fetoprotein (AFP) level, and tumor diameter between the CK19-positive and CK19-negative groups, except the recurrent rate. CONCLUSIONS The radiomic features derived from 18F-FDG PET/MRI can be used to predict the CK19 status of HCC. T-SUVmax and T-ADCmean were significant indicators, whereas T-SUVmax was an independent predictor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Lv
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Nuclear Medicine Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hongyan Yin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Nuclear Medicine Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Haojun Yu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Nuclear Medicine Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hongcheng Shi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Nuclear Medicine Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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11
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Kim M, Jo KW, Kim H, Han ME, Oh SO. Genetic heterogeneity of liver cancer stem cells. Anat Cell Biol 2023; 56:94-108. [PMID: 36384888 PMCID: PMC9989795 DOI: 10.5115/acb.22.161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cell heterogeneity is a serious problem in the control of tumor progression because it can cause chemoresistance and metastasis. Heterogeneity can be generated by various mechanisms, including genetic evolution of cancer cells, cancer stem cells (CSCs), and niche heterogeneity. Because the genetic heterogeneity of CSCs has been poorly characterized, the genetic mutation status of CSCs was examined using Exome-Seq and RNA-Seq data of liver cancer. Here we show that different surface markers for liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) showed a unique propensity for genetic mutations. Cluster of differentiation 133 (CD133)-positive cells showed frequent mutations in the IRF2, BAP1, and ERBB3 genes. However, leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5-positive cells showed frequent mutations in the CTNNB1, RELN, and ROBO1 genes. In addition, some genetic mutations were frequently observed irrespective of the surface markers for LCSCs. BAP1 mutations was frequently observed in CD133-, CD24-, CD13-, CD90-, epithelial cell adhesion molecule-, or keratin 19-positive LCSCs. ASXL2, ERBB3, IRF2, TLX3, CPS1, and NFATC2 mutations were observed in more than three types of LCSCs, suggesting that common mechanisms for the development of these LCSCs. The present study provides genetic heterogeneity depending on the surface markers for LCSCs. The genetic heterogeneity of LCSCs should be considered in the development of LCSC-targeting therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjeong Kim
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea
| | - Kwang-Woo Jo
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea
| | - Hyojin Kim
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea
| | - Myoung-Eun Han
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea
| | - Sae-Ock Oh
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea
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12
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Burciu C, Șirli R, Bende R, Popa A, Vuletici D, Miuțescu B, Rațiu I, Popescu A, Sporea I, Dănilă M. A Statistical Approach to the Diagnosis and Prediction of HCC Using CK19 and Glypican 3 Biomarkers. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13071253. [PMID: 37046471 PMCID: PMC10092964 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13071253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Various statistical models predict the probability of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis, with GALAD being one of the most extensively studied scores. Biomarkers like alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), AFP-L3, and des-g-carboxyprothrombin (DCP) are widely used alone or in conjunction with ultrasound to screen for HCC. Our study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and Glypican-3 (GPC3) as standalone biomarkers and in a statistical model to predict the likelihood of HCC. We conducted a monocentric prospective study involving 154 participants with previously diagnosed liver cirrhosis, divided into two groups: 95 patients with confirmed HCC based on clinical, biological, and imaging features and 59 patients without HCC. We measured the levels of AFP, AFP-L3, DCP, GPC3, and CK19 in both groups. We used univariate and multivariate statistical analyses to evaluate the ability of GPC3 and CK19 to predict the presence of HCC and incorporated them into a statistical model—the GALKA score—which was then compared to the GALAD score. AFP performed better than AFP-F3, DCP, GPC3, and CK19 in predicting the presence of HCC in our cohort. Additionally, GPC3 outperformed CK19. We used multivariate analysis to compute the GALKA score to predict the presence of HCC. Using these predictors, the following score was formulated: 0.005*AFP-L3 + 0.00069*AFP + 0.000066*GPC3 + 0.01*CK19 + 0.235*Serum Albumin—0.277. The optimal cutoff was >0.32 (AUROC = 0.98, sensitivity: 96.8%, specificity: 93%, positive predictive value—95.8%, negative predictive value—94.8%). The GALKA score had a similar predictive value to the GALAD score for the presence of HCC. In conclusion, AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP were the best biomarkers for predicting the likelihood of HCC. Our score performed well overall and was comparable to the GALAD score.
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Affiliation(s)
- Călin Burciu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Roxana Șirli
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Renata Bende
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Alexandru Popa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Deiana Vuletici
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Bogdan Miuțescu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Iulia Rațiu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Alina Popescu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ioan Sporea
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Mirela Dănilă
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
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13
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Yan ZJ, Chen L, Wang HY. To be or not to be: The double-edged sword roles of liver progenitor cells. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188870. [PMID: 36842766 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
Given the liver's remarkable and unique regenerative capacity, researchers have long focused on liver progenitor cells (LPCs) and liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs). LPCs can differentiate into both hepatocytes and cholangiocytes. However, the mechanism underlying cell conversion and its distinct contribution to liver homeostasis and tumorigenesis remain unclear. In this review, we discuss the complicated conversions involving LPCs and LCSCs. As the critical intermediate state in malignant transformation, LPCs play double-edged sword roles. LPCs are not only involved in hepatic wound-healing responses by supplementing liver cells and bile duct cells in the damaged liver but may transform into LCSCs under dysregulation of key signaling pathways, resulting in refractory malignant liver tumors. Because LPC lineages are temporally and spatially dynamic, we discuss crucial LPC subgroups and summarize regulatory factors correlating with the trajectories of LPCs and LCSCs in the liver tumor microenvironment. This review elaborates on the double-edged sword roles of LPCs to help understand the liver's regenerative potential and tumor heterogeneity. Understanding the sources and transformations of LPCs is essential in determining how to exploit their regenerative capacity in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Jun Yan
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital/National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai 200438, PR China; Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer (SMMU), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200438, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Tumor Biology (EHBH), Shanghai 200438, PR China
| | - Lei Chen
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital/National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai 200438, PR China; Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer (SMMU), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200438, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Tumor Biology (EHBH), Shanghai 200438, PR China.
| | - Hong-Yang Wang
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital/National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai 200438, PR China; Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer (SMMU), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200438, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Tumor Biology (EHBH), Shanghai 200438, PR China.
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14
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Zhou C, Xiang Y, Ren Y, Li M, Gou X, Li W. Keratin19 promotes pancreatic cancer progression and poor prognosis via activating the Hedgehog pathway. Int J Oncol 2023; 62:43. [PMID: 36825581 PMCID: PMC9946805 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2023.5491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a serious threat to human health, with strong invasiveness, rapid progression and poor prognosis. Tumors expressing keratin 19 (K19) have stronger invasiveness and a worse prognosis. However, the role and mechanism of K19 in pancreatic cancer have remained largely elusive. In the present study, K19 expression was detected in pancreatic cancer tissues, its effect on proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis of pancreatic cancer at the cellular, in vivo preclinical and clinical levels was evaluated and its effect on the Hedgehog pathway was analyzed. K19 was significantly overexpressed in pancreatic cancer, promoted pancreatic cancer proliferation and metastasis, inhibited tumor cell apoptosis and was associated with poor prognosis. Mechanistically, these effects were mediated through the activation of the Hedgehog pathway. In conclusion, K19 may be a novel target molecule for pancreatic cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changsheng Zhou
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, P.R. China,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou 550002, P.R. China,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, P.R. China,Cancer Research Center of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, P.R. China,Retroperitoneal Tumor Research Center of The Oncology Chapter of The Chinese Medical Association, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, P.R. China
| | - Yi Xiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou 550002, P.R. China
| | - Yantao Ren
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, P.R. China,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, P.R. China,Cancer Research Center of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, P.R. China,Retroperitoneal Tumor Research Center of The Oncology Chapter of The Chinese Medical Association, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, P.R. China
| | - Ming Li
- Xiamen Medicine Research Institute, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, P.R. China
| | - Xin Gou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou 550002, P.R. China,Correspondence to: Dr Xin Gou, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, 83 Zhongshandong Road, Guiyang, Guizhou 550002, P.R. China, E-mail:
| | - Wengang Li
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, P.R. China,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, P.R. China,Cancer Research Center of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, P.R. China,Retroperitoneal Tumor Research Center of The Oncology Chapter of The Chinese Medical Association, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, P.R. China,Dr Wengang Li, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 4221 Xiang'annan Road, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, P.R. China, E-mail:
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Gadoxetic Acid-Enhanced MRI-Based Radiomics Signature: A Potential Imaging Biomarker for Identifying Cytokeratin 19-Positive Hepatocellular Carcinoma. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2023; 2023:5424204. [PMID: 36814805 PMCID: PMC9940957 DOI: 10.1155/2023/5424204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Purpose One subtype of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with cytokeratin 19 expression (CK19+), has shown to be more aggressive and has a poor prognosis. However, CK19+ is determined by immunohistochemical examination using a surgically resected specimen. This study is aimed at establishing a radiomics signature based on preoperative gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI for predicting CK19 status in HCC. Patients and Methods. Clinicopathological and imaging data were retrospectively collected from patients who underwent hepatectomy between February 2015 and December 2020. Patients who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI and had CK19 results of histopathological examination were included. Radiomics features of the manually segmented lesion during the arterial, portal venous, and hepatobiliary phases were extracted. The 10 most reproducible and robust features at each phase were selected for construction of radiomics signatures, and their performance was evaluated by analyzing the area under the curve (AUC). The goodness of fit of the model was assessed by the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. Results A total of 110 patients were included. The incidence of CK19(+) HCC was 17% (19/110). Alpha fetoprotein was the only significant clinicopathological variable different between CK19(-) and CK19(+) groups. A majority of the selected radiomics features were wavelet filter-derived features. The AUCs of the three radiomics signatures based on arterial, portal venous, and hepatobiliary phases were 0.70 (95% CI: 0.56-0.83), 0.83 (95% CI: 0.73-0.92), and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.82-0.96), respectively. The three radiomics signatures were integrated, and the fusion signature yielded an AUC of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.86-0.98) and was used as the final model for CK19(+) prediction. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the fusion signature was 0.84, 0.89, 0.88, 0.62, and 0.96, respectively. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed a good fit of the fusion signature (p > 0.05). Conclusion The established radiomics signature based on preoperative gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI could be an accurate and potential imaging biomarker for HCC CK19(+) prediction.
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Chen J, Liu D, Guo Y, Zhang Y, Guo Y, Jiang M, Dai Y, Yao X. Preoperative identification of cytokeratin 19 status of hepatocellular carcinoma based on diffusion kurtosis imaging. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2023; 48:579-589. [PMID: 36416905 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-022-03736-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To explore the potential value of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) for identification of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) status of HCCs. METHODS This study was approved by the local institute review board and written informed consent was obtained. 73 patients with pathologically confirmed HCCs were included in this prospective study. All the diffusion-weighted (DW) images were acquired using a 3.0-T MR scanner with 4 b-values (0, 800, 1500 and 2000 s/mm2). The mean diffusion value (MD) and mean kurtosis coefficient (MK) from DKI, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from DW imaging (b = 0, 500 s/mm2), and tumor-to-liver signal intensity ratios on ADC map (SIRADC) and DW images with b-value of 500 s/mm2 (SIRb500) were calculated and compared between CK19-positive (n = 23) and CK19-negative (n = 50) HCC groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for the positive expression of CK19. RESULTS Increased a-fetoprotein level (p = 0.021) and SIRb500 (p = 0.006) and decreased ADC (p = 0.021) and MD (p < 0.001) were significantly correlated with CK19-positive HCCs at univariate analysis. Decreased MD value (odds ratio: 0.042, p = 0.002) and a-fetoprotein level (odds ratio: 5.139, p = 0.015) were the independent risk factors for CK19-positive HCCs at multivariate analysis. The area under the curve of MD value by receiver operating characteristic analysis was 0.823 with a sensitivity of 86.96% and a specificity of 76% for the prediction of CK19-positive HCCs. CONCLUSION The decreased MD value derived from DKI is potential quantitative biomarker for predicting CK19-positive HCCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiejun Chen
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Fudan University, No 130, Fenglin Rd, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Dingxia Liu
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Fudan University, No 130, Fenglin Rd, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yixian Guo
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Fudan University, No 130, Fenglin Rd, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunfei Zhang
- Central Research Institute, United Imaging Healthcare, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinglong Guo
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Fudan University, No 130, Fenglin Rd, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengmeng Jiang
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Fudan University, No 130, Fenglin Rd, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongming Dai
- Central Research Institute, United Imaging Healthcare, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuzhong Yao
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Fudan University, No 130, Fenglin Rd, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
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Park KC, Kim JM, Kim SY, Kim SM, Lim JH, Kim MK, Fang S, Kim Y, Mills GB, Noh SH, Cheong JH. PMCA inhibition reverses drug resistance in clinically refractory cancer patient-derived models. BMC Med 2023; 21:38. [PMID: 36726166 PMCID: PMC9893610 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02727-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer cells have developed molecular strategies to cope with evolutionary stressors in the dynamic tumor microenvironment. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC1α) is a metabolic rheostat that regulates diverse cellular adaptive behaviors, including growth and survival. However, the mechanistic role of PGC1α in regulating cancer cell viability under metabolic and genotoxic stress remains elusive. METHODS We investigated the PGC1α-mediated survival mechanisms in metabolic stress (i.e., glucose deprivation-induced metabolic stress condition)-resistant cancer cells. We established glucose deprivation-induced metabolic stress-resistant cells (selected cells) from parental tumor cells and silenced or overexpressed PGC1α in selected and parental tumor cells. RESULTS Several in vitro and in vivo mouse experiments were conducted to elucidate the contribution of PGC1α to cell viability in metabolic stress conditions. Interestingly, in the mouse xenograft model of patient-derived drug-resistant cancer cells, each group treated with an anti-cancer drug alone showed no drastic effects, whereas a group that was co-administered an anti-cancer drug and a specific PMCA inhibitor (caloxin or candidate 13) showed marked tumor shrinkage. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that PGC1α is a key regulator of anti-apoptosis in metabolic and genotoxic stress-resistant cells, inducing PMCA expression and allowing survival in glucose-deprived conditions. We have discovered a novel therapeutic target candidate that could be employed for the treatment of patients with refractory cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki Cheong Park
- Department of Surgery, Systems Cancer Biology & Biomarker Research Lab, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Min Kim
- Department of Surgery, Systems Cancer Biology & Biomarker Research Lab, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Yong Kim
- Department of Surgery, Systems Cancer Biology & Biomarker Research Lab, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok-Mo Kim
- Department of Surgery, Systems Cancer Biology & Biomarker Research Lab, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Hong Lim
- Department of Surgery, Systems Cancer Biology & Biomarker Research Lab, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Ki Kim
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, BK21 PLUS project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungsoon Fang
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, BK21 PLUS project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yonjung Kim
- EONE-DIAGNOMICS Genome Center, New drug R&D Center, 291 Harmony-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 22014, Republic of Korea
| | - Gordon B Mills
- Department of Systems Biology, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sung Hoon Noh
- Department of Surgery, Systems Cancer Biology & Biomarker Research Lab, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Ho Cheong
- Department of Surgery, Systems Cancer Biology & Biomarker Research Lab, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. .,Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. .,YUMC-KRIBB Medical Convergence Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Systems Cancer Biology & Biomarker Research Lab, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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SOX9 Expression Is Superior to Other Stem Cell Markers K19 and EpCAM in Predicting Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Am J Surg Pathol 2023; 47:1-11. [PMID: 36322988 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000001990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Various stem cell markers (eg, epithelial cell adhesion molecule [EpCAM], cytokeratin 19 [K19]) have been reported as predictors of poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the data remain limited, particularly in Western populations, and are often contradictory. In this study, the prognostic value of positive SOX9 immunohistochemistry was compared with that of more established markers EpCAM and K19 in a large cohort (n=216) of North American patients. The independent HCC cohort in The Cancer Gene Atlas (n=360) was utilized to validate our findings. Finally, molecular signatures associated with SOX9 -high HCC were determined. We found that the expression of SOX9, but not EpCAM or K19, was associated with worse overall survival and disease-free survival (DFS) and was an independent prognostic factor for DFS in our North American cohort, in which hepatitis C infection was the most common underlying etiology. High SOX9 mRNA level, but not increased expression of EpCAM mRNA or K19 mRNA, was also associated with worse DFS and was an independent prognostic factor for DFS in The Cancer Gene Atlas cohort. This group had underlying causes, including an increased incidence of hepatitis B, significantly different from our initial cohort. High SOX9 mRNA level is associated with molecular pathways important in HCC pathogenesis. Increased SOX9 expression is clinically and biologically relevant for HCC arising in patients with a variety of underlying etiologies. Immunohistochemistry for SOX9 is a reliable proxy for increased SOX9 mRNA and can be used to predict prognosis in HCC cases.
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Takan I, Karakülah G, Louka A, Pavlopoulou A. "In the light of evolution:" keratins as exceptional tumor biomarkers. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15099. [PMID: 36949761 PMCID: PMC10026720 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Keratins (KRTs) are the intermediate filament-forming proteins of epithelial cells, classified, according to their physicochemical properties, into "soft" and "hard" keratins. They have a key role in several aspects of cancer pathophysiology, including cancer cell invasion and metastasis, and several members of the KRT family serve as diagnostic or prognostic markers. The human genome contains both, functional KRT genes and non-functional KRT pseudogenes, arranged in two uninterrupted clusters on chromosomes 12 and 17. This characteristic renders KRTs ideal for evolutionary studies. Herein, comprehensive phylogenetic analyses of KRT homologous proteins in the genomes of major taxonomic divisions were performed, so as to fill a gap in knowledge regarding the functional implications of keratins in cancer biology among tumor-bearing species. The differential expression profiles of KRTs in diverse types of cancers were investigated by analyzing high-throughput data, as well. Several KRT genes, including the phylogenetically conserved ones, were found to be deregulated across several cancer types and to participate in a common protein-protein interaction network. This indicates that, at least in cancer-bearing species, these genes might have been under similar evolutionary pressure, perhaps to support the same important function(s). In addition, semantic relations between KRTs and cancer were detected through extensive text mining. Therefore, by applying an integrative in silico pipeline, the evolutionary history of KRTs was reconstructed in the context of cancer, and the potential of using non-mammalian species as model organisms in functional studies on human cancer-associated KRT genes was uncovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Işıl Takan
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Gökhan Karakülah
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Aikaterini Louka
- DNA Damage Laboratory, Department of Physics, School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasia Pavlopoulou
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
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Wang EJY, Chen IH, Kuo BYT, Yu CC, Lai MT, Lin JT, Lin LYT, Chen CM, Hwang T, Sheu JJC. Alterations of Cytoskeleton Networks in Cell Fate Determination and Cancer Development. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12121862. [PMID: 36551290 PMCID: PMC9775460 DOI: 10.3390/biom12121862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytoskeleton proteins have been long recognized as structural proteins that provide the necessary mechanical architecture for cell development and tissue homeostasis. With the completion of the cancer genome project, scientists were surprised to learn that huge numbers of mutated genes are annotated as cytoskeletal or associated proteins. Although most of these mutations are considered as passenger mutations during cancer development and evolution, some genes show high mutation rates that can even determine clinical outcomes. In addition, (phospho)proteomics study confirms that many cytoskeleton-associated proteins, e.g., β-catenin, PIK3CA, and MB21D2, are important signaling mediators, further suggesting their biofunctional roles in cancer development. With emerging evidence to indicate the involvement of mechanotransduction in stemness formation and cell differentiation, mutations in these key cytoskeleton components may change the physical/mechanical properties of the cells and determine the cell fate during cancer development. In particular, tumor microenvironment remodeling triggered by such alterations has been known to play important roles in autophagy, metabolism, cancer dormancy, and immune evasion. In this review paper, we will highlight the current understanding of how aberrant cytoskeleton networks affect cancer behaviors and cellular functions through mechanotransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Ja-Yang Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804201, Taiwan
| | - I-Hsuan Chen
- Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 813405, Taiwan
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Health Care, Tajen University, Pingtung County 907391, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Brian Yu-Ting Kuo
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804201, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Cheng Yu
- Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 813405, Taiwan
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Health Care, Tajen University, Pingtung County 907391, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114202, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Tsung Lai
- Department of Pathology, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung 403301, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Tai Lin
- Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 813405, Taiwan
| | - Leo Yen-Ting Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804201, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Mei Chen
- Human Genetic Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404327, Taiwan
| | - Tritium Hwang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804201, Taiwan
| | - Jim Jinn-Chyuan Sheu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804201, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807378, Taiwan
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804201, Taiwan
- Institute of Precision Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804201, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-7-5252000 (ext. 7102)
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Chen SH, Wang X. A high preoperative serum IL-25 level is a negative prognosis predictor after liver resection for HBV-HCC. Front Oncol 2022; 12:858151. [PMID: 36119529 PMCID: PMC9478489 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.858151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between preoperative IL-25 levels and HBV-HCC patient outcomes following liver surgery. Methods This study enrolled consecutive HCC patients that had undergone liver surgery from 2008 to 2015. Baseline patient clinical properties were assessed to establish predictors of postoperative overall survival and recurrence-free survival (OS and RFS, respectively) following liver resection. In addition, serum IL-25 levels were assessed via ELISA. Results Cox regression analyses revealed IL-25 levels to be independently related to the OS and RFS of 896 HBV-associated HCC patients. An optimal IL-25 cutoff level of 14.9 μg/ml was identified, with 206 patients in this cohort having IL-25 levels above this threshold. Both the OS and RFS of patients with an IL-25 level <14.9 μg/ml were significantly better after liver resection as compared to those of patients with higher preoperative levels of this cytokine (p < 0.05). Cox multivariate regression analyses revealed an IL-25 level ≥ 14.9 μg/L to be an independent predictor of poorer RFS and OS. A combination of IL-25 levels and tumor diameter may be an even more reliable predictor of OS. Conclusions IL-25 levels are independent predictors of postoperative survival within HCC patients undergoing liver resection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-hua Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, 900TH Hospital of Logistics Support Force, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Outpatient Department, Meng chao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xu Wang,
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Zhang L, Qi Q, Li Q, Ren S, Liu S, Mao B, Li X, Wu Y, Yang L, Liu L, Li Y, Duan S, Zhang L. Ultrasomics prediction for cytokeratin 19 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma: A multicenter study. Front Oncol 2022; 12:994456. [PMID: 36119507 PMCID: PMC9478580 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.994456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the preoperative prediction of Cytokeratin (CK) 19 expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by machine learning-based ultrasomics. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 214 patients with pathologically confirmed HCC who received CK19 immunohistochemical staining. Through random stratified sampling (ratio, 8:2), patients from institutions I and II were divided into training dataset (n = 143) and test dataset (n = 36), and patients from institution III served as external validation dataset (n = 35). All gray-scale ultrasound images were preprocessed, and then the regions of interest were then manually segmented by two sonographers. A total of 1409 ultrasomics features were extracted from the original and derived images. Next, the intraclass correlation coefficient, variance threshold, mutual information, and embedded method were applied to feature dimension reduction. Finally, the clinical model, ultrasonics model, and combined model were constructed by eXtreme Gradient Boosting algorithm. Model performance was assessed by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Results A total of 12 ultrasomics signatures were used to construct the ultrasomics models. In addition, 21 clinical features were used to construct the clinical model, including gender, age, Child-Pugh classification, hepatitis B surface antigen/hepatitis C virus antibody (positive/negative), cirrhosis (yes/no), splenomegaly (yes/no), tumor location, tumor maximum diameter, tumor number, alpha-fetoprotein, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, glutamyl-transpeptidase, albumin, total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, creatinine, prothrombin time, fibrinogen, and international normalized ratio. The AUC of the ultrasomics model was 0.789 (0.621 – 0.907) and 0.787 (0.616 – 0.907) in the test and validation datasets, respectively. However, the performance of the combined model covering clinical features and ultrasomics signatures improved significantly. Additionally, the AUC (95% CI), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 0.867 (0.712 – 0.957), 0.750, 0.875, 0.861, and 0.862 (0.703 – 0.955), 0.833, 0.862, and 0.857 in the test dataset and external validation dataset, respectively. Conclusion Ultrasomics signatures could be used to predict the expression of CK19 in HCC patients. The combination of clinical features and ultrasomics signatures showed excellent effects, which significantly improved prediction accuracy and robustness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Zhang
- Department of Ultrasound, Henan University People’s Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Ultrasonic Molecular Imaging and Nanotechnology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qinghua Qi
- Department of Ultrasound, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qian Li
- Department of Ultrasound, Henan Provincial Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shanshan Ren
- Department of Ultrasound, Henan University People’s Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Ultrasonic Molecular Imaging and Nanotechnology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shunhua Liu
- Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Ultrasonic Molecular Imaging and Nanotechnology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bing Mao
- Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Ultrasonic Molecular Imaging and Nanotechnology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Ultrasound, Henan University People’s Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Ultrasonic Molecular Imaging and Nanotechnology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yuejin Wu
- Department of Ultrasound, Henan University People’s Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Ultrasonic Molecular Imaging and Nanotechnology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lanling Yang
- Department of Ultrasound, Henan University People’s Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Ultrasonic Molecular Imaging and Nanotechnology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Luwen Liu
- Department of Ultrasound, Henan University People’s Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Ultrasonic Molecular Imaging and Nanotechnology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaqiong Li
- Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Ultrasonic Molecular Imaging and Nanotechnology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shaobo Duan
- Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Ultrasonic Molecular Imaging and Nanotechnology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Health Management, Henan University People’s Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Lianzhong Zhang, ; Shaobo Duan,
| | - Lianzhong Zhang
- Department of Ultrasound, Henan University People’s Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of Ultrasonic Molecular Imaging and Nanotechnology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Lianzhong Zhang, ; Shaobo Duan,
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Heterogeneity, inherent and acquired drug resistance in patient-derived organoid models of primary liver cancer. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2022; 45:1019-1036. [PMID: 36036881 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-022-00707-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We aimed to elucidate the applicability of tumor organoids for inherent drug resistance of primary liver cancer (PLC) and mechanisms of acquired drug resistance. METHODS PLC tissues were used to establish organoids, organoid-derived xenograft (ODX) and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Acquired drug resistance was induced in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) organoids. Gene expression profiling was performed by RNA-sequencing. RESULTS Fifty-two organoids were established from 153 PLC patients. Compared with establishing PDX models, establishing organoids of HCC showed a trend toward a higher success rate (29.0% vs. 23.7%) and took less time (13.0 ± 4.7 vs. 25.1 ± 5.4 days, p = 2.28 × 10-13). Larger tumors, vascular invasion, higher serum AFP levels, advanced stages and upregulation of stemness- and proliferation-related genes were significantly associated with the successful establishment of HCC organoids and PDX. Organoids and ODX recapitulated PLC histopathological features, but were enriched in more aggressive cell types. PLC organoids were mostly resistant to lenvatinib in vitro but sensitive to lenvatinib in ODX models. Stemness- and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related gene sets were found to be upregulated, whereas liver development- and liver specific molecule-related gene sets were downregulated in acquired sorafenib-resistant organoids. Targeting the mTOR signaling pathway was effective in treating acquired sorafenib-resistant HCC organoids, possibly via inducing phosphorylated S6 kinase. Genes upregulated in acquired sorafenib-resistant HCC organoids were associated with an unfavorable prognosis. CONCLUSIONS HCC organoids perform better than PDX for drug screening. Acquired sorafenib resistance in organoids promotes HCC aggressiveness via facilitating stemness, retro-differentiation and EMT. Phosphorylated S6 kinase may be predictive for drug resistance in HCC.
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Peng H, Zhu E, Zhang Y. Advances of cancer-associated fibroblasts in liver cancer. Biomark Res 2022; 10:59. [PMID: 35971182 PMCID: PMC9380339 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-022-00406-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, it is ranked sixth in incidence and fourth in mortality. According to the distinct origin of malignant tumor cells, liver cancer is mainly divided into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Since most cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, the prognosis of liver cancer is poor. Tumor growth depends on the dynamic interaction of various cellular components in the tumor microenvironment (TME). As the most abundant components of tumor stroma, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been involved in the progression of liver cancer. The interplay between CAFs and tumor cells, immune cells, or vascular endothelial cells in the TME through direct cell-to-cell contact or indirect paracrine interaction, affects the initiation and development of tumors. Additionally, CAFs are not a homogeneous cell population in liver cancer. Recently, single-cell sequencing technology has been used to help better understand the diversity of CAFs in liver cancer. In this review, we mainly update the knowledge of CAFs both in HCC and CCA, including their cell origins, chemoresistance, tumor stemness induction, tumor immune microenvironment formation, and the role of tumor cells on CAFs. Understanding the context-dependent role of different CAFs subsets provides new strategies for precise liver cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Peng
- Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Erwei Zhu
- The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang (The Oncology Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang, 222006, China
| | - Yewei Zhang
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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25
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Mori JO, White J, Elhussin I, Duduyemi BM, Karanam B, Yates C, Wang H. Molecular and pathological subtypes related to prostate cancer disparities and disease outcomes in African American and European American patients. Front Oncol 2022; 12:928357. [PMID: 36033462 PMCID: PMC9399459 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.928357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) disproportionately affects African American (AA) men, yet present biomarkers do not address the observed racial disparity. The objective of this study was to identify biomarkers with potential benefits to AA PCa patients. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) analysis coupled with gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and leading-edge genes analysis showed that the keratin family of genes, including KRT8, KRT15, KRT19, KRT34, and KRT80, constituted the single most prominent family of genes enriched in AA compared to European American (EA) PCa cell lines. In PCa patients (TCGA and MSKCC patient cohorts), KRT8, KRT15, and KRT19 expression were relatively higher in AA than in EA patients. The differences in the expression of KRT15 and KRT19, but not KRT8, were enhanced by Gleason score and ERG fusion status; in low Gleason (Gleason ≤ 6 [TCGA cohort] and Gleason ≤ 7 [MSKCC cohort]), the expression of KRT15 and KRT19 was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher in AA than in EA patients. Survival analysis revealed that high expression of KRT15 and KRT19 was associated with increased risk of biochemical recurrence in low Gleason category patients in the TCGA patient cohort. Interestingly, KRT15 and KRT19 expression were also associated with an increased risk of death in the metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma cohort, suggesting the potential to predict the risks of disease recurrence and death in the low Gleason category and advanced disease conditions respectively. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed known oncogenic gene signatures, including KRAS and ERBB2, to be enriched in patients expressing high KRT15 and KRT19. Furthermore, high KRT15 and KRT19 were linked to the basal and LumA PCa subtypes, which are associated with poor postoperative androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) response compared to the LumB subtype. Taken together, the present study identifies genes with high expression in AA than in EA PCa. The identified genes are linked to oncogenic gene signatures, including KRAS and ERBB2, and to basal and LumA PCa subtypes that are associated with poor postoperative ADT response. This study, therefore, reveals biomarkers with the potential to address biomarker bias in PCa risk stratification and/or prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joakin O. Mori
- Department of Biology and Center for Cancer Research, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, United States
- Department of Integrative Biosciences, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, United States
| | - Jason White
- Department of Biology and Center for Cancer Research, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, United States
| | - Isra Elhussin
- Department of Biology and Center for Cancer Research, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, United States
- Department of Integrative Biosciences, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, United States
| | - Babatunde M. Duduyemi
- College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Balasubramanyam Karanam
- Department of Biology and Center for Cancer Research, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, United States
| | - Clayton Yates
- Department of Biology and Center for Cancer Research, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, United States
| | - Honghe Wang
- Department of Biology and Center for Cancer Research, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, United States
- *Correspondence: Honghe Wang,
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26
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Zhou J, Zhang B, Wang H, Wang D, Zhang M, Zhang M, Wang X, Fan S, Xu Y, Zeng Q, Jia Y, Xi J, Nan X, He L, Zhou X, Li S, Zhong W, Yue W, Pei X. A Functional Screening Identifies a New Organic Selenium Compound Targeting Cancer Stem Cells: Role of c-Myc Transcription Activity Inhibition in Liver Cancer. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2201166. [PMID: 35652264 PMCID: PMC9353477 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202201166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are reported to play essential roles in chemoresistance and metastasis. Pathways regulating CSC self-renewal and proliferation, such as Hedgehog, Notch, Wnt/β-catenin, TGF-β, and Myc, may be potential therapeutic targets. Here, a functional screening from the focused library with 365 compounds is performed by a step-by-step strategy. Among these candidate molecules, phenyl-2-pyrimidinyl ketone 4-allyl-3-amino selenourea (CU27) is chosen for further identification because it proves to be the most effective compound over others on CSC inhibition. Through ingenuity pathway analysis, it is shown CU27 may inhibit CSC through a well-known stemness-related transcription factor c-Myc. Gene set enrichment analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assays, expression levels of typical c-Myc targets, molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance, immunoprecipitation, and chromatin immunoprecipitation are conducted. These results together suggest CU27 binds c-Myc bHLH/LZ domains, inhibits c-Myc-Max complex formation, and prevents its occupancy on target gene promoters. In mouse models, CU27 significantly sensitizes sorafenib-resistant tumor to sorafenib, reduces the primary tumor size, and inhibits CSC generation, showing a dramatic anti-metastasis potential. Taken together, CU27 exerts inhibitory effects on CSC and CSC-associated traits in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) via c-Myc transcription activity inhibition. CU27 may be a promising therapeutic to treat sorafenib-resistant HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun‐Nian Zhou
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine LabBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijing100850P. R. China
- South China Research Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineSCIBGuangzhou510005P. R. China
| | - Biao Zhang
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine LabBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijing100850P. R. China
- South China Research Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineSCIBGuangzhou510005P. R. China
| | - Hai‐Yang Wang
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine LabBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijing100850P. R. China
- South China Research Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineSCIBGuangzhou510005P. R. China
| | - Dong‐Xing Wang
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine LabBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijing100850P. R. China
| | - Ming‐Ming Zhang
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine LabBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijing100850P. R. China
| | - Min Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency DrugBeijing Institute of Pharmacology and ToxicologyBeijing100850P. R. China
| | - Xiao‐Kui Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency DrugBeijing Institute of Pharmacology and ToxicologyBeijing100850P. R. China
| | - Shi‐Yong Fan
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency DrugBeijing Institute of Pharmacology and ToxicologyBeijing100850P. R. China
| | - Ying‐Chen Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryBeijing Tongren HospitalBeijing100730P. R. China
| | - Quan Zeng
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine LabBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijing100850P. R. China
- South China Research Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineSCIBGuangzhou510005P. R. China
| | - Ya‐Li Jia
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine LabBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijing100850P. R. China
- South China Research Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineSCIBGuangzhou510005P. R. China
| | - Jia‐Fei Xi
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine LabBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijing100850P. R. China
- South China Research Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineSCIBGuangzhou510005P. R. China
| | - Xue Nan
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine LabBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijing100850P. R. China
- South China Research Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineSCIBGuangzhou510005P. R. China
| | - Li‐Juan He
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine LabBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijing100850P. R. China
- South China Research Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineSCIBGuangzhou510005P. R. China
| | - Xin‐Bo Zhou
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency DrugBeijing Institute of Pharmacology and ToxicologyBeijing100850P. R. China
| | - Song Li
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency DrugBeijing Institute of Pharmacology and ToxicologyBeijing100850P. R. China
| | - Wu Zhong
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency DrugBeijing Institute of Pharmacology and ToxicologyBeijing100850P. R. China
| | - Wen Yue
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine LabBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijing100850P. R. China
- South China Research Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineSCIBGuangzhou510005P. R. China
| | - Xue‐Tao Pei
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine LabBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijing100850P. R. China
- South China Research Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineSCIBGuangzhou510005P. R. China
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27
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Jang TH, Huang WC, Tung SL, Lin SC, Chen PM, Cho CY, Yang YY, Yen TC, Lo GH, Chuang SE, Wang LH. MicroRNA-485-5p targets keratin 17 to regulate oral cancer stemness and chemoresistance via the integrin/FAK/Src/ERK/β-catenin pathway. J Biomed Sci 2022; 29:42. [PMID: 35706019 PMCID: PMC9202219 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-022-00824-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The development of drug resistance in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) that frequently leads to recurrence and metastasis after initial treatment remains an unresolved challenge. Presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) has been increasingly reported to be a critical contributing factor in drug resistance, tumor recurrence and metastasis. Thus, unveiling of mechanisms regulating CSCs and potential targets for developing their inhibitors will be instrumental for improving OSCC therapy. Methods siRNA, shRNA and miRNA that specifically target keratin 17 (KRT17) were used for modulation of gene expression and functional analyses. Sphere-formation and invasion/migration assays were utilized to assess cancer cell stemness and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) properties, respectively. Duolink proximity ligation assay (PLA) was used to examine molecular proximity between KRT17 and plectin, which is a large protein that binds cytoskeleton components. Cell proliferation assay was employed to evaluate growth rates and viability of oral cancer cells treated with cisplatin, carboplatin or dasatinib. Xenograft mouse tumor model was used to evaluate the effect of KRT17- knockdown in OSCC cells on tumor growth and drug sensitization. Results Significantly elevated expression of KRT17 in highly invasive OSCC cell lines and advanced tumor specimens were observed and high KRT17 expression was correlated with poor overall survival. KRT17 gene silencing in OSCC cells attenuated their stemness properties including markedly reduced sphere forming ability and expression of stemness and EMT markers. We identified a novel signaling cascade orchestrated by KRT17 where its association with plectin resulted in activation of integrin β4/α6, increased phosphorylation of FAK, Src and ERK, as well as stabilization and nuclear translocation of β-catenin. The activation of this signaling cascade was correlated with enhanced OSCC cancer stemness and elevated expression of CD44 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). We identified and demonstrated KRT17 to be a direct target of miRNA-485-5p. Ectopic expression of miRNA-485-5p inhibited OSCC sphere formation and caused sensitization of cancer cells towards cisplatin and carboplatin, which could be significantly rescued by KRT17 overexpression. Dasatinib treatment that inhibited KRT17-mediated Src activation also resulted in OSCC drug sensitization. In OSCC xenograft mouse model, KRT17 knockdown significantly inhibited tumor growth, and combinatorial treatment with cisplatin elicited a greater tumor inhibitory effect. Consistently, markedly reduced levels of integrin β4, active β-catenin, CD44 and EGFR were observed in the tumors induced by KRT17 knockdown OSCC cells. Conclusions A novel miRNA-485-5p/KRT17/integrin/FAK/Src/ERK/β-catenin signaling pathway is unveiled to modulate OSCC cancer stemness and drug resistance to the common first-line chemotherapeutics. This provides a potential new therapeutic strategy to inhibit OSCC stem cells and counter chemoresistance. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12929-022-00824-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Te-Hsuan Jang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.,National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chieh Huang
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shiao-Lin Tung
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Ton-Yen General Hospital, Zhubei City, Hsinchu County, Taiwan.,Department of Nursing, Hsin Sheng Junior College of Medical Care and Management, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Chieh Lin
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Ming Chen
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yu Cho
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Yu Yang
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Chen Yen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Guo-Hsuen Lo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Shuang-En Chuang
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
| | - Lu-Hai Wang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. .,Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. .,Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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28
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Guo Y, Chen J, Zhang Y, Guo Y, Jiang M, Dai Y, Yao X. Differentiating Cytokeratin 19 expression of hepatocellular carcinoma by using multi-b-value diffusion-weighted MR imaging with mono-exponential, stretched exponential, intravoxel incoherent motion, diffusion kurtosis imaging and fractional order calculus models. Eur J Radiol 2022; 150:110237. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2022.110237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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29
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Castven D, Czauderna C, Becker D, Pereira S, Schmitt J, Weinmann A, Shah V, Hajduk J, Keggenhoff F, Binder H, Keck T, Heilmann-Heimbach S, Wörns MA, Thorgeirsson SS, Breuhahn K, Galle PR, Marquardt JU. Acquired Resistance to Antiangiogenic Therapies in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Is Mediated by Yes-Associated Protein 1 Activation and Transient Expansion of Stem-Like Cancer Cells. Hepatol Commun 2022; 6:1140-1156. [PMID: 34817932 PMCID: PMC9035566 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Induction of neoangiogenesis is a hallmark feature during disease progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Antiangiogenetic compounds represent a mainstay of therapeutic approaches; however, development of chemoresistance is observed in the majority of patients. Recent findings suggest that tumor-initiating cells (TICs) may play a key role in acquisition of resistance, but the exact relevance for HCC in this process remains to be defined. Primary and established hepatoma cell lines were exposed to long-term sorafenib treatment to model acquisition of resistance. Treatment effects on TICs were estimated by sphere-forming capacity in vitro, tumorigenicity in vivo, and flow cytometry. Adaptive molecular changes were assessed by whole transcriptome analyses. Compensatory mechanisms of resistance were identified and directly evaluated. Sustained antiproliferative effect following sorafenib treatment was observed in three of six HCC cell lines and was followed by rapid regrowth, thereby mimicking responses observed in patients. Resistant cells showed induction in sphere forming in vitro and tumor-initiating capacity in vivo as well as increased number of side population and epithelial cell adhesion molecule-positive cells. Conversely, sensitive cell lines showed consistent reduction of TIC properties. Gene sets associated with resistance and poor prognosis, including Hippo/yes-associated protein (YAP), were identified. Western blot and immunohistochemistry confirmed increased levels of YAP. Combined treatment of sorafenib and specific YAP inhibitor consistently revealed synergistic antioncogenic effects in resistant cell lines. Conclusion: Resistance to antiangiogenic therapy might be driven by transient expansion of TICs and activation of compensatory pro-oncogenic signaling pathways, including YAP. Specific targeting of TICs might be an effective therapeutic strategy to overcome resistance in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darko Castven
- Department of Medicine ILichtenberg Research Group for Molecular HepatocarcinogenesisUniversity Medical Center Schleswig HolsteinLuebeckGermany.,Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | - Carolin Czauderna
- Department of Medicine ILichtenberg Research Group for Molecular HepatocarcinogenesisUniversity Medical Center Schleswig HolsteinLuebeckGermany.,Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | - Diana Becker
- Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | - Sharon Pereira
- Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | - Jennifer Schmitt
- Institute of PathologyUniversity Hospital HeidelbergHeidelbergGermany
| | - Arndt Weinmann
- Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | - Viral Shah
- Department of HematologyMedical Oncology, and PneumologyUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | - Jovana Hajduk
- Department of Medicine ILichtenberg Research Group for Molecular HepatocarcinogenesisUniversity Medical Center Schleswig HolsteinLuebeckGermany.,Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | | | - Harald Binder
- Institute for Medical Biometry and StatisticsFaculty of MedicineUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Tobias Keck
- Clinic for SurgeryUniversity Medical Center Schleswig HolsteinLuebeckGermany
| | - Stefanie Heilmann-Heimbach
- Institute of Human GeneticsUniversity of Bonn School of MedicineUniversity of BonnBonnGermany.,Department of GenomicsLife and Brain CenterUniversity of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Marcus A Wörns
- Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | - Snorri S Thorgeirsson
- Laboratory of Human CarcinogenesisCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Kai Breuhahn
- Institute of PathologyUniversity Hospital HeidelbergHeidelbergGermany
| | - Peter R Galle
- Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | - Jens U Marquardt
- Department of Medicine ILichtenberg Research Group for Molecular HepatocarcinogenesisUniversity Medical Center Schleswig HolsteinLuebeckGermany.,Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
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30
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Yin L, Li Q, Mrdenovic S, Chu GCY, Wu BJ, Bu H, Duan P, Kim J, You S, Lewis MS, Liang G, Wang R, Zhau HE, Chung LWK. KRT13 promotes stemness and drives metastasis in breast cancer through a plakoglobin/c-Myc signaling pathway. Breast Cancer Res 2022; 24:7. [PMID: 35078507 PMCID: PMC8788068 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-022-01502-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Keratins (KRTs) are intermediate filament proteins that interact with multiple regulatory proteins to initiate signaling cascades. Keratin 13 (KRT13) plays an important role in breast cancer progression and metastasis. The objective of this study is to elucidate the mechanism by which KRT13 promotes breast cancer growth and metastasis.
Methods The function and mechanisms of KRT13 in breast cancer progression and metastasis were assessed by overexpression and knockdown followed by examination of altered behaviors in breast cancer cells and in xenograft tumor formation in mouse mammary fat pad. Human breast cancer specimens were examined by immunohistochemistry and multiplexed quantum dot labeling analysis to correlate KRT13 expression to breast cancer progression and metastasis. Results KRT13-overexpressing MCF7 cells displayed increased proliferation, invasion, migration and in vivo tumor growth and metastasis to bone and lung. Conversely, KRT13 knockdown inhibited the aggressive behaviors of HCC1954 cells. At the molecular level, KRT13 directly interacted with plakoglobin (PG, γ-catenin) to form complexes with desmoplakin (DSP). This complex interfered with PG expression and nuclear translocation and abrogated PG-mediated suppression of c-Myc expression, while the KRT13/PG/c-Myc signaling pathway increased epithelial to mesenchymal transition and stem cell-like phenotype. KRT13 expression in 58 human breast cancer tissues was up-regulated especially at the invasive front and in metastatic specimens (12/18) (p < 0.05). KRT13 up-regulation in primary breast cancer was associated with decreased overall patient survival. Conclusions This study reveals that KRT13 promotes breast cancer cell growth and metastasis via a plakoglobin/c-Myc pathway. Our findings reveal a potential novel pathway for therapeutic targeting of breast cancer progression and metastasis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13058-022-01502-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Yin
- Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Uro-Oncology Research Program, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8750 Beverly Boulevard, Atrium 105, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Qinlong Li
- Uro-Oncology Research Program, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8750 Beverly Boulevard, Atrium 105, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Stefan Mrdenovic
- Uro-Oncology Research Program, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8750 Beverly Boulevard, Atrium 105, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Gina Chia-Yi Chu
- Uro-Oncology Research Program, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8750 Beverly Boulevard, Atrium 105, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Boyang Jason Wu
- Uro-Oncology Research Program, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8750 Beverly Boulevard, Atrium 105, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Hong Bu
- Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Peng Duan
- Uro-Oncology Research Program, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8750 Beverly Boulevard, Atrium 105, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Jayoung Kim
- Division of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, Departments of Surgery and Biomedical Sciences, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sungyong You
- Division of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, Departments of Surgery and Biomedical Sciences, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael S Lewis
- Department of Pathology, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gangning Liang
- Department of Urology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ruoxiang Wang
- Uro-Oncology Research Program, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8750 Beverly Boulevard, Atrium 105, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
| | - Haiyen E Zhau
- Uro-Oncology Research Program, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8750 Beverly Boulevard, Atrium 105, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Leland W K Chung
- Uro-Oncology Research Program, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8750 Beverly Boulevard, Atrium 105, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
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31
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Woo HY, Rhee H, Yoo JE, Kim SH, Choi GH, Kim DY, Woo HG, Lee HS, Park YN. Lung and lymph node metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma: Comparison of pathological aspects. Liver Int 2022; 42:199-209. [PMID: 34490997 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Extrahepatic metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a catastrophic event, yet organ-specific pathological characteristics of metastatic HCC remain unclear. We aimed to characterize the pathological aspects of HCC metastases to various organs. METHODS We collected intrahepatic HCC (cohort 1, n = 322) and extrahepatic metastatic HCC (cohort 2, n = 130) samples. Clinicopathological evaluation and immunostaining for K19, CD34, αSMA, fibroblast-associated protein (FAP), CAIX, VEGF, PD-L1, CD3, CD8, Foxp3, CD163 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers were performed. RESULTS Independent factors for extrahepatic metastasis included BCLC stage B-C, microvascular invasion (MVI), vessels encapsulating tumour clusters (VETC)-HCC, K19 and FAP expression, and CD163+ macrophage infiltration (cohort 1, P < .05 for all). Lung metastases (n = 63) had the highest proportion of VETC-HCC and macrotrabecular-massive (MTM)-HCC. Lymph node metastases (n = 19) showed significantly high rates of EMT-high features, K19 expression, fibrous tumour stroma with αSMA and FAP expression, high immune cell infiltration, PD-L1 expression (combined positive score), CD3+, CD8+, Foxp3+ T cell and CD163+ macrophage infiltration (adjusted P < .05 for all). In both cohorts, EMT-high HCCs showed higher rates of K19 expression, fibrous tumour stroma, high immune cell infiltration, PD-L1 expression and CD3+ T cell infiltration, whereas EMT-low HCCs were more frequent among VETC-HCCs (P < .05 for all). Overall phenotypic features were not significantly different between paired primary-metastatic HCCs (n = 32). CONCLUSIONS Metastatic HCCs to various organs showed different pathological features. VETC and MTM subtypes were related to lung metastasis, whereas K19 expression, EMT-high features with fibrous tumour stroma and high immune cell infiltration were related to lymph node metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha Young Woo
- Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyungjin Rhee
- Department of Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Eun Yoo
- Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Hoon Kim
- Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Gi Hong Choi
- Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Do Young Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Goo Woo
- Department of Physiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Sun Lee
- Biostatistics Collaboration Unit, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Nyun Park
- Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma - from origin to clinical implications. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 19:26-44. [PMID: 34504325 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-021-00508-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 96.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive disease with a poor clinical outcome. The cancer stem cell (CSC) model states that tumour growth is powered by a subset of tumour stem cells within cancers. This model explains several clinical observations in HCC (as well as in other cancers), including the almost inevitable recurrence of tumours after initial successful chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, as well as the phenomena of tumour dormancy and treatment resistance. The past two decades have seen a marked increase in research on the identification and characterization of liver CSCs, which has encouraged the design of novel diagnostic and treatment strategies for HCC. These studies revealed novel aspects of liver CSCs, including their heterogeneity and unique immunobiology, which are suggestive of opportunities for new research directions and potential therapies. In this Review, we summarize the present knowledge of liver CSC markers and the regulators of stemness in HCC. We also comprehensively describe developments in the liver CSC field with emphasis on experiments utilizing single-cell transcriptomics to understand liver CSC heterogeneity, lineage-tracing and cell-ablation studies of liver CSCs, and the influence of the CSC niche and tumour microenvironment on liver cancer stemness, including interactions between CSCs and the immune system. We also discuss the potential application of liver CSC-based therapies for treatment of HCC.
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Ayanlaja AA, Hong X, Cheng B, Zhou H, Kanwore K, Alphayo-Kambey P, Zhang L, Tang C, Adeyanju MM, Gao D. Susceptibility of cytoskeletal-associated proteins for tumor progression. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 79:13. [PMID: 34964908 PMCID: PMC11072373 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04101-4] [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: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The traditional functions of cytoskeletal-associated proteins (CAPs) in line with polymerization and stabilization of the cytoskeleton have evolved and are currently underrated in oncology. Although therapeutic drugs have been developed to target the cytoskeletal components directly in cancer treatment, several recently established therapeutic agents designed for new targets block the proliferation of cancer cells and suppress resistance to existing target agents. It would seem like these targets only work toward inhibiting the polymerization of cytoskeletal components or hindering mitotic spindle formation in cancer cells, but a large body of literature points to CAPs and their culpability in cell signaling, molecular conformation, organelle trafficking, cellular metabolism, and genomic modifications. Here, we review those underappreciated functions of CAPs, and we delineate the implications of cellular signaling instigated by evasive properties induced by aberrant expression of CAPs in response to stress or failure to exert normal functions. We present an analogy establishing CAPs as vulnerable targets for cancer systems and credible oncotargets. This review establishes a paradigm in which the cancer machinery may commandeer the conventional functions of CAPs for survival, drug resistance, and energy generation; an interesting feature overdue for attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abiola Abdulrahman Ayanlaja
- Public Experimental Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 201 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Xiaoliang Hong
- Public Experimental Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bo Cheng
- The Affiliated Oriental Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Han Zhou
- Public Experimental Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kouminin Kanwore
- Public Experimental Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Piniel Alphayo-Kambey
- Public Experimental Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Public Experimental Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chuanxi Tang
- Public Experimental Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | | | - Dianshuai Gao
- Public Experimental Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China.
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Cai X, Zhou J, Deng J, Chen Z. Prognostic biomarker SMARCC1 and its association with immune infiltrates in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:701. [PMID: 34937564 PMCID: PMC8697473 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02413-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Epigenetic alterations contribute greatly to metastasis and dissemination in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). SMARCC1, as a SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling factor, has been reported to play important roles in many cancers. For the first time, with the bioinformatics analysis and wet-bench experiments, we explored the biological significance of SMARCC1 and its potential as putative therapeutic target in HCC. Methods The mRNA expression profiles and prognostic value of SMARCC1 were analyzed in the Oncomine, UALCAN and Kaplan–Meier Plotter databases. The expression of SMARCC1 and associated clinicopathological factors were further evaluated using a tissue microarray. Differentially expressed genes associated with SMARCC1 in HCC were obtained and analyzed via the LinkedOmics and GEPIA databases and Cytoscape software. To verify the important role of SMARCC1 in HCC, we knocked down and overexpressed SMARCC1 in different hepatic cell lines and conducted several functional experiments. Then, we evaluated the mutation profiles and transcriptional regulators of SMARCC1 using the cBioPortal, COSMIC, CistromeDB and TCGA databases. Finally, we addressed the relationship of SMARCC1 expression with immune cell infiltration via TIMER database analysis. Results Through data mining and tissue microarray verification, we found that the protein and mRNA levels of SMARCC1 are high in tumor tissues, which has remarkable diagnostic value in HCC patients. SMARCC1 and its hub genes showed prognostic value in HCC. Furthermore, we confirmed that SMARCC1 influenced the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. Moreover, correlation analyses revealed that SMARCC1 expression was positively correlated with ZBTB40 transcription factors and negatively correlated with the DNA methylation level. Overall, we found that SMARCC1 affects immune infiltration and plays a tumor-promoting role in HCC. Conclusions SMARCC1 is overexpressed and is a putative prognostic predictor in HCC. Due to the tumor-promoting role of SMARCC1, treatments inhibiting DNA methyltransferases and transcription factors or weakening the role of SMARCC1 in immune infiltration might improve the survival of HCC patients. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02413-w.
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El Raziky M, Abdel Hafez H, Elsharkawy A, Moneer TA, EL-Sheikh SM, Maher RM, Sharaf SA. Serum level of cytokeratin 19 as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in patients with HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma. EGYPTIAN LIVER JOURNAL 2021. [DOI: 10.1186/s43066-021-00125-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The heterogeneous nature of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) impedes both treatment strategies and prognostic predictions. Several markers have been proposed for the diagnosis of HCC. Cytoskeleton-associated proteins have been known as cellular integrators in neoplasm formation. Hepatic progenitor cells are thought to express alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and hematopoietic as well as biliary markers such as cytokeratin 19 (CK 19) and cytokeratin 7. The aim of this study was to verify the role of serum CK 19 alone or in combination with AFP as a diagnostic marker of HCC and to assess the changes in its levels after ablation of HCV-related HCC to evaluate its role as a predictor marker for recurrence of HCC after ablation. The study was conducted on 102 HCV-related cirrhotic patients categorized into three different groups according to the clinical, laboratory, and radiological evaluation: group I—62 patients with early or intermediate HCC who underwent locoregional intervention, group II—20 patients with advanced HCC not fit for any intervention apart from best supportive treatment, and group III—20 cirrhotic patients with no evidence of HCC as proved by two imaging techniques.
Results
The mean serum levels of CK 19 were 6.5 ± 5.7, 10.5 ± 12.5, and 6.8 ± 2.8 ng/ml in groups I, II, and III, respectively, with no significant difference between groups. Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of combined AFP and human CK 19 at cutoff levels of 25.5 ng/ml and 6.25 ng/ml were 93.9%, 45%, 87.5%, and 64.3%, respectively. In group I patients, CK 19 levels were comparable in patients with ablated focal lesion and those who did not at baseline; then, it was significantly higher in ablated patients than in patients with residual tumor 1 and 6 months after the intervention.
Conclusions
Combination of both AFP and CK 19 levels could increase the diagnostic accuracy of suspected HCCs. CK 19 levels are good predictors of ablation/recurrence in patients who underwent interventional procedures minimizing the need for follow-up imaging modalities.
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Nahm JH, Park YN. [Up-to-date Knowledge on the Pathological Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma]. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY 2021; 78:268-283. [PMID: 34824185 DOI: 10.4166/kjg.2021.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has heterogeneous molecular and pathological features and biological behavior. Large-scale genetic studies of HCC were accumulated, and a pathological-molecular classification of HCC was proposed. Approximately 35% of HCCs can be classified into distinct histopathological subtypes according to their molecular characteristics. Among recently identified subtypes, macrotrabecular massive HCC, neutrophil-rich HCC, vessels encapsulating tumor clusters HCC, and progenitor phenotype HCC (HCC with CK19 expression) are associated with a poor prognosis, whereas the lymphocyte-rich HCC subtype is related to a better prognosis. This review provides up-to-date knowledge on the pathological diagnosis of HCC according to the updated World Health Organization Classification of Digestive System Tumors 5th ed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Hae Nahm
- Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young Nyun Park
- Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Zhuo J, Lu D, Lin Z, Yang X, Yang M, Wang J, Tao Y, Wen X, Li H, Lian Z, Cen B, Dong S, Wei X, Xie H, Zheng S, Shen Y, Xu X. The distinct responsiveness of cytokeratin 19-positive hepatocellular carcinoma to regorafenib. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:1084. [PMID: 34785656 PMCID: PMC8595883 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04320-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cytokeratin 19-positive (CK19+) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive subtype characterized by early recurrence and chemotherapy tolerance. However, there is no specific therapeutic option for CK19+ HCC. The correlation between tumor recurrence and expression status of CK19 were studied in 206 patients undergoing liver transplantation for HCC. CK19-/+ HCC cells were isolated to screen effective antitumor drugs. The therapeutic effects of regorafenib were evaluated in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models from 10 HCC patients. The mechanism of regorafenib on CK19+ HCC was investigated. CK19 positiveness indicated aggressiveness of tumor and higher recurrence risk of HCC after liver transplantation. The isolated CK19+ HCC cells had more aggressive behaviors than CK19- cells. Regorafenib preferentially increased the growth inhibition and apoptosis of CK19+ cells in vitro, whereas sorafenib, apatinib, and 5-fluorouracil did not. In PDX models from CK19-/+ HCC patients, the tumor control rate of regorafenib achieved 80% for CK19+ HCCs, whereas 0% for CK19- HCCs. RNA-sequencing revealed that CK19+ cells had elevated expression of mitochondrial ribosomal proteins, which are essential for mitochondrial function. Further experiments confirmed that regorafenib attenuated the mitochondrial respiratory capacity in CK19+ cells. However, the mitochondrial respiration in CK19- cells were faint and hardly repressed by regorafenib. The mitochondrial respiration was regulated by the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), which was inhibited by regorafenib in CK19+ cells. Hence, CK19 could be a potential marker of the therapeutic benefit of regorafenib, which facilitates the individualized therapy for HCC. STAT3/mitochondria axis determines the distinct response of CK19+ cells to regorafenib treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyong Zhuo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, the Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Di Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, the Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zuyuan Lin
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, the Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinyu Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, the Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Modan Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, the Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianguo Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, the Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yaoye Tao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, the Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xue Wen
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huihui Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, the Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhengxing Lian
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, the Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Beini Cen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, the Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Siyi Dong
- National Center for Healthcare Quality Management in Liver Transplant, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xuyong Wei
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, the Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haiyang Xie
- Institute of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shusen Zheng
- Institute of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- National Center for Healthcare Quality Management in Liver Transplant, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Youqing Shen
- Center for Bionanoengineering and Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, the Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Institute of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- National Center for Healthcare Quality Management in Liver Transplant, Hangzhou, China.
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Does Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio Have a Role in Identifying Cytokeratin 19-Expressing Hepatocellular Carcinoma? J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11111078. [PMID: 34834430 PMCID: PMC8621990 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11111078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cytokeratin 19-positive (CK19(+)) hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) are generally associated with poor prognosis after hepatectomy. It is typically detected from postoperative immunochemistry. We have analyzed several clinically available biomarkers, in particular, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and aim to develop a panel of biomarkers in identifying CK19 expression in (HCC) preoperatively. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 36 HCC patients who underwent liver resections during January 2017 to March 2018 in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Patients were grouped based on the status of CK19 expression and their baseline characteristics, perioperative and oncologic outcomes were compared. Novel biomarkers including NLR, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and uric acid were analyzed and correlated with CK19 expression. RESULTS NLR is highly associated with CK19 expression. NLR alone gave an AUROC of 0.728 (p-value = 0.043), higher than AFP, CEA or tumor size alone. NLR when combined with AFP, CEA and uric acid, gave an AUROC as high as 0.933 (p-value = 0.004). CONCLUSION The current study demonstrated the predictive capability of NLR in combination with AFP, CEA and uric acid for CK19 expression in HCC patients preoperatively. Further prospective, large-scale studies are warranted to validate our findings.
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Nair G, Hema Sree GNS, Saraswathy GR, Marise VLP, Krishna Murthy TP. Application of comprehensive bioinformatics approaches to reconnoiter crucial genes and pathways underpinning hepatocellular carcinoma: a drug repurposing endeavor. Med Oncol 2021; 38:145. [PMID: 34687371 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-021-01576-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common neoplasm in the world. Chronic inflammation of liver and associated wound healing processes collectively contribute to the development of cirrhosis which further progresses to dysplastic nodule and then to HCC. Etiological mediators and ongoing manipulations at cellular level in HCC are well established; however, key protein interactions and genetic alterations involved in stepwise hepatocarcinogenic pathways are seldom explored. This study aims to unravel novel targets of HCC and repurpose the FDA-approved drugs against the same. Genetic data pertinent to different stages of HCC were retrieved from GSE6764 dataset and analyzed via GEO2R. Subsequently, protein-protein interaction network analysis of differentially expressed genes was performed to identify the hub genes with significant interaction. Hub genes displaying higher interactions were considered as potential HCC targets and were validated thorough UALCAN and GEPIA databases. These targets were screened against FDA-approved drugs through molecular docking and dynamics simulation studies to capture the drugs with potential activity against HCC. Finally, cytotoxicity of the shortlisted drug was confirmed in vitro by MTT assay. CDC20 was identified as potential druggable target. Docking, binding energy calculations, and dynamic studies revealed significant interaction exhibited by Labetalol with CDC20. Further, in MTT assay, Labetalol demonstrated an IC50 of 200.29 µg/ml in inhibiting the cell growth of HepG2 cell line. In conclusion, this study discloses a series of key genetic underpinnings of HCC and recommends the pertinence of labetalol as a potential repurposable drug against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gouri Nair
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
| | - G N S Hema Sree
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore, India, Karnataka
| | - Ganesan Rajalekshmi Saraswathy
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore, India, Karnataka
| | - V Lakshmi Prasanna Marise
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore, India, Karnataka
| | - T P Krishna Murthy
- Department of Biotechnology, M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560054, India
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40
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Baquero J, Tang XH, Scognamiglio T, Gudas LJ. EZH2 Knockout in Oral Cavity Basal Epithelia Causes More Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Carcinogenesis 2021; 42:1485-1495. [PMID: 34614148 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgab091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (oral SCC) is an aggressive disease and despite intensive treatments, 5-year survival rates for patients have remained low in the last 20 years. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), part of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), is highly expressed in human oral SCC samples and cell lines and has been associated with greater epithelia-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and metastasis. Here we developed a tamoxifen-regulated, transgenic mouse line (KcEZH2) in which EZH2 is selectively knocked out (KO) in some tongue epithelial basal stem cells (SCs) in adult mice. EZH2 KO SCs do not show the H3K27me3 mark, as assessed by double-label immunofluorescence. We used this mouse line to assess EZH2 actions during oral tumorigenesis with our immunocompetent 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) model of oral SCC. We report that higher percentages of mice with invasive SCCs and high-grade neoplastic lesions are observed in mice containing EZH2 KO SCs (KcEZH2-2TΔ and KcEZH2-5TΔ mice). Moreover, EZH2 expression does not correlate with the expression of markers of invasive SCCs. Finally, EZH2 KO cells that are E-cadherin+ are present at invasion fronts infiltrating underlying muscle tissue. Our findings indicate that the knockout of EZH2 in basal SCs of tongue epithelia results in more aggressive carcinomas, and this should be considered when targeting EZH2 as a therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Baquero
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiao-Han Tang
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Lorraine J Gudas
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Global DNA 5hmC and CK19 5hmC+ Contents: A Promising Biomarker for Predicting Prognosis in Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 28:3758-3770. [PMID: 34677239 PMCID: PMC8534723 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol28050321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) with dynamic existence possesses multiple regulatory functions. Whereas, 5hmC’s impact on small hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC) remains unclear. The present work focused on characterizing 5hmC content within SHCC and assessing the possibility of using global genomic 5hmC level as the predicative factor of clinical outcome. Methods: This study applied ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) in measuring 5mC, 5fC and 5hmC contents. In addition, immunohistochemistry (IHC) was adopted to measure CK19 and 5hmC contents. Results: Research showed 5mC, 5hmC, and 5fC contents from global genomics of SHCC reduced extensively compared with healthy samples (p < 0.001). Moreover, SHCC was associated with lymph node metastasis (LNM). Greater 5mC and 5hmC levels were observed in non-metastasis group compared with the metastasis group (p < 0.001). Correlation analysis between the HBV DNA level and 5mC, 5fC and 5hmC levels exhibited that HBV DNA was associated with 5mC, 5hmC, and 5fC content reduction, which was verified in the cytological experiments. Moreover, 5hmC content had a negative correlation with the expression level of CK19 in SHCC. The decrease in 5hmC and CK19 containing 5hmC positive cell (called CK195hmC+) should be ascribed to the bad prognosis among SHCC patients. Conclusions: The contents of 5hmC and CK195hmC+ of genomic DNA might be adopted for predicting SHCC survival as an important biomarker.
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Yang F, Wan Y, Xu L, Wu Y, Shen X, Wang J, Lu D, Shao C, Zheng S, Niu T, Xu X. MRI-Radiomics Prediction for Cytokeratin 19-Positive Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multicenter Study. Front Oncol 2021; 11:672126. [PMID: 34476208 PMCID: PMC8406635 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.672126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer and has poor prognosis. Cytokeratin (CK)19-positive (CK19+) HCC is especially aggressive; early identification of this subtype and timely intervention can potentially improve clinical outcomes. In the present study, we developed a preoperative gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomics model for noninvasive and accurate classification of CK19+ HCC. A multicenter and time-independent cohort of 257 patients were retrospectively enrolled (training cohort, n = 143; validation cohort A, n = 75; validation cohort B, n = 39). A total of 968 radiomics features were extracted from preoperative multisequence MR images. The maximum relevance minimum redundancy algorithm was applied for feature selection. Multiple logistic regression, support vector machine, random forest, and artificial neural network (ANN) algorithms were used to construct the radiomics model, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of corresponding classifiers. The incidence of CK19+ HCC was significantly higher in male patients. The ANN-derived combined classifier comprising 12 optimal radiomics features showed the best diagnostic performance, with AUROCs of 0.857, 0.726, and 0.790 in the training cohort and validation cohorts A and B, respectively. The combined model based on multisequence MRI radiomics features can be used for preoperative noninvasive and accurate classification of CK19+ HCC, so that personalized management strategies can be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Center of Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yidong Wan
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Radiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Radiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yichao Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Center of Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyong Shen
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianguo Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Center of Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Di Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Center of Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chuxiao Shao
- Department of General Surgery, Lishui Central Hospital, Lishui, China
| | - Shusen Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Shulan Health Hangzhou Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tianye Niu
- Nucelar & Radiological Engineering and Medical Physics Programs, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Xiao Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Center of Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Usefulness of Circulating CYFRA21-1 in Patients as a Biomarker in Patients Taking Sorafenib or Lenvatinib for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma. REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/reports4030025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: This study investigated the impact of serum cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1) level on the clinical outcomes of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with sorafenib (SOR) or lenvatinib (LEN). Methods: A total of 71 cases with unresectable HCC taking SOR or LEN were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the prognostic factors in patients taking SOR or LEN. Results: Among the 71 patients taking SOR or LEN, the frequency of cases showing high CYFRA21-1 levels after administration increased compared to before the administration. There was no association between the CYFRA21-1 level and the result of treatment response using modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) 12 weeks after the administration. Univariate analysis identified a maximum intrahepatic tumor diameter of 70 mm or more, extrahepatic metastasis, baseline alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ≥ 2000 ng/mL, baseline AFP-L3 index ≥ 15%, baseline des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) ≥ 1000 mAU/mL, baseline CYFRA21-1 > 3.5 ng/mL, 12-week mRECIST progressive disease (PD), 12-week DCP ratio ≥ 4, 12-week CYFRA21-1 ratio ≥ 2, administration period less than 12 weeks, ALBI grade 3 at PD, and no additional treatment after discontinuation of SOR/LEN as prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis revealed that AFP-L3 index ≥ 15%, 12-week mRECIST PD, 12-week DCP ratio ≥ 4, 12-week CYFRA21-1 ratio ≥ 2, administration period less than 12 weeks, and no additional treatment after discontinuation of SOR/LEN were independent factors. Conclusions: Patients with a high CYFRA21-1 level at baseline tend to have poor prognosis, and patients with a high CYFRA21-1 ratio 12 weeks after administration have poor prognosis. Serum CYFRA21-1 measurement may have additional effects on prognostic prediction, and it may be necessary to pay close attention to the transition to the next HCC treatment in cases whose CYFRA21-1 level is high.
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Xu Q, Xu H, Chen S, Huang W. Immunological Value of Prognostic Signature Based on Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:710207. [PMID: 34409040 PMCID: PMC8365341 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.710207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Liver cancer stem cells, characterized by self-renewal and initiating cancer cells, were decisive drivers of progression and therapeutic resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, a comprehensive understanding of HCC stemness has not been identified. Methods: RNA sequencing information, corresponding clinical annotation, and mutation data of HCC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas-LIHC project. Two stemness indices, mRNA expression-based stemness index (mRNAsi) and epigenetically regulated-mRNAsi, were used to comprehensively analyze HCC stemness. Estimation of Stromal and Immune Cells in Malignant Tumors using Expression Data and single-sample gene-set enrichment analysis algorithm were performed to characterize the context of tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Next, differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were employed to identify significant mRNAsi-related modules with hub genes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology enrichment pathways were analyzed to functionally annotate these key genes. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis was performed to establish a prognostic signature. Kaplan–Meier survival curves and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were applied for prognostic value validation. Seven algorithms (XCELL, TIMER, QUANTISEQ, MCPcounter, EPIC, CIBERSORT, and CIBERSORT-ABS) were utilized to draw the landscape of TIME. Finally, the mutation data were analyzed by employing “maftools” package. Results: mRNAsi was significantly elevated in HCC samples. mRNAsi escalated as tumor grade increased, with poor prognosis presenting the higher stemness index. The stemness-related (greenyellow) modules with 175 hub genes were screened based on DEGs and WGCNA. A prognostic signature was established using LASSO analysis of prognostic hub genes to classify samples into two risk subgroups, which exhibited good prognostic performance. Additionally, prognostic risk-clinical nomogram was drawn to estimate risk quantitatively. Moreover, risk score was significantly associated with contexture of TIME and immunotherapeutic targets. Finally, potential interaction between risk score with tumor mutation burden (TMB) was elucidated. Conclusion: This work comprehensively elucidated that stemness characteristics served as a crucial player in clinical outcome, complexity of TIME, and immunotherapeutic prediction from both mRNAsi and mRNA level. Quantitative identification of stemness characteristics in individual tumor will contribute into predicting clinical outcome, mapping landscape of TIME further optimizing precision immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianhui Xu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Hao Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shaohuai Chen
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Wen Huang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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45
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Zahan T, Das PK, Akter SF, Habib R, Rahman MH, Karim MR, Islam F. Therapy Resistance in Cancers: Phenotypic, Metabolic, Epigenetic and Tumour Microenvironmental Perspectives. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 20:2190-2206. [PMID: 32748758 DOI: 10.2174/1871520620999200730161829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemoresistance is a vital problem in cancer therapy where cancer cells develop mechanisms to encounter the effect of chemotherapeutics, resulting in cancer recurrence. In addition, chemotherapy- resistant leads to the formation of a more aggressive form of cancer cells, which, in turn, contributes to the poor survival of patients with cancer. OBJECTIVE In this review, we aimed to provide an overview of how the therapy resistance property evolves in cancer cells, contributing factors and their role in cancer chemoresistance, and exemplified the problems of some available therapies. METHODS The published literature on various electronic databases including, Pubmed, Scopus, Google scholar containing keywords cancer therapy resistance, phenotypic, metabolic and epigenetic factors, were vigorously searched, retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS Cancer cells have developed a range of cellular processes, including uncontrolled activation of Epithelial- Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic alterations. These cellular processes play significant roles in the generation of therapy resistance. Furthermore, the microenvironment where cancer cells evolve effectively contributes to the process of chemoresistance. In tumour microenvironment immune cells, Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), endothelial cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) contribute to the maintenance of therapy-resistant phenotype via the secretion of factors that promote resistance to chemotherapy. CONCLUSION To conclude, as these factors hinder successful cancer therapies, therapeutic resistance property of cancer cells is a subject of intense research, which in turn could open a new horizon to aim for developing efficient therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasnim Zahan
- Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Plabon K Das
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Syeda F Akter
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Rowshanul Habib
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Md Habibur Rahman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Md Rezaul Karim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Farhadul Islam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh,Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
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Chen J, Debebe A, Zeng N, Kopp J, He L, Sander M, Stiles BL. Transformation of SOX9 + cells by Pten deletion synergizes with steatotic liver injury to drive development of hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11823. [PMID: 34083580 PMCID: PMC8175600 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90958-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
SOX9 (Sex-determining region Y Box 9) is a well-characterized transcription factor that is a marker for progenitor cells in various tissues. In the liver, cells delineated by SOX9 are responsible for regenerating liver parenchyma when cell proliferation is impaired following chronic injury. However, whether these SOX9+ cells play a role in liver carcinogenesis has not been fully understood, although high SOX9 expression has been linked to poor survival outcome in liver cancer patients. To address this question, we developed a liver cancer mouse model (PtenloxP/loxP; Sox9-CreERT+; R26RYFP) where tumor suppressor Pten (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten) is deleted in SOX9+ cells following tamoxifen injection. In this paper, we employ lineage-tracing to demonstrate the tumorigenicity potential of the Pten-, SOX9+ cells. We show that these cells are capable of giving rise to mixed-lineage tumors that manifest features of both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Our results suggest that PTEN loss induces the transformation of SOX9+ cells. We further show that to activate these transformed SOX9+ cells, the presence of liver injury is crucial. Liver injury, induced by hepatotoxin 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) or high-fat diet (HFD), substantially increases tumor incidence and accelerates liver carcinogenesis from SOX9+ cells in Pten null mice but not in control mice. We further examine the mechanisms underlying tumor formation in this model to show that concurrent with the induction of niche signal (i.e., Wnt signaling), liver injury significantly stimulates the expansion of tumor-initiating cells (TICs). Together, these data show that (1) SOX9+ cells have the potential to become TICs following the primary transformation (i.e. Pten deletion) and that (2) liver injury is necessary for promoting the activation and proliferation of transformed SOX9+ cells, resulting in the genesis of mixed-lineage liver tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyu Chen
- Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Anketse Debebe
- Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Ni Zeng
- Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Janel Kopp
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Lina He
- Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Maike Sander
- Department of Pediatrics and Cellar and Molecular Medicine, UCSD, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Bangyan L Stiles
- Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
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Kmeid M, Lukose G, Hodge K, Cho D, Kim KA, Lee H. Aberrant expression of SATB2, CDX2, CDH17 and CK20 in hepatocellular carcinoma: a pathological, clinical and outcome study. Histopathology 2021; 79:768-778. [PMID: 34036629 DOI: 10.1111/his.14420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Data regarding expression of intestinal markers in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are limited. We determined the clinicopathological associations of cytokeratin (CK)19, a progenitor liver epithelial cell marker as well as biliary epithelial marker, and intestinal immunohistochemical markers expression in HCC and assessed their prognostic value. METHODS AND RESULTS Tissue sections and/or tissue microarrays (TMAs) from 202 known HCCs were immunostained using CK19, CK20, CDH17, CDX2 and SATB2 antibodies. Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained slides were reviewed for tumour grading. Clinical and oncological outcomes were retrieved. Associations of staining with clinicopathological features and survival outcomes were evaluated. CK19, CK20, CDH17, CDX2 and SATB2 were positive in 12.8, 5.4, 10.3, 8.6 and 59.9%, respectively. All but SATB2 were strongly associated with higher tumour grade and AFP levels > 400 ng/ml (P < 0.05). CK19-positive HCC were more likely to express CDX2 (P = 0.001), CDH17 (P < 0.001) and/or CK20 (P = 0.012). CK20, CDX2 and CDH17 co-expression was seen in five cases (2.5%). CK19 and SATB2 positivity, tumour size ≥ 5 cm, background cirrhosis, AFP > 400 ng/ml and having no treatment were associated with decreased overall survival by log-rank test and univariable proportional hazards regression. However, in a multivariable model, CK19 and SATB2 positivity were not independent predictors of decreased survival while their association with known poor prognosticators in HCC was evident. CONCLUSIONS HCC can express markers of intestinal differentiation. This phenotypical aberrancy correlates with variable clinicopathological parameters, some of which are independent predictors of poor survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Kmeid
- Department of Pathology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Daniel Cho
- Schenectady Pathology Associates, Ellis Hospital, Schenectady, NY, USA
| | - Kelly-Ann Kim
- Department of Pathology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Hwajeong Lee
- Department of Pathology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, USA
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Feng H, Li B, Li Z, Wei Q, Ren L. PIVKA-II serves as a potential biomarker that complements AFP for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:401. [PMID: 33849479 PMCID: PMC8045263 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08138-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive system and has high morbidity and mortality rates. It is essential to search new biomarkers to improve the accuracy of early HCC diagnosis. Therefore, we evaluated the diagnostic value of prothrombin induced by vitamin K deficiency or antagonist- II (PIVKA-II) as a potential biomarker that complements α-fetoprotein (AFP) in HCC by detecting the serum PIVKA-II levels. METHODS Serum PIVKA-II levels were compared in 168 HCC patients, 150 benign liver disease patients and 153 healthy controls to investigate the PIVKA-II potential to be a HCC biomarker. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the value of PIVKA-II in the diagnosis of HCC and its complementary role of AFP. The correlation between serum PIVKA-II levels and clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed to study the value of PIVKA-II in assessing HCC progression and prognosis. Finally, the ability of PIVKA-II in assessing the surgical treatment effects of HCC was studied by comparing the pre- and post-operative serum PIVKA-II levels in 89 HCC patients. RESULTS Serum PIVKA-II levels in HCC patients were significantly higher than that in patients with benign liver disease and healthy controls. The PIVKA-II performance in the diagnosing HCC as an individual biomarker was remarkable. The combined detection of PIVKA-II and AFP improved the diagnostic efficiency of HCC. PIVKA-II retained significant diagnosis capabilities for AFP-negative HCC patients. Significant correlations were found between PIVKA-II expression levels and some clinicopathological characteristics, including tumor size, tumor stage, tumor metastasis, differentiation degree and complications. PIVKA-II expression obviously decreased after surgical resection. CONCLUSIONS PIVKA-II is a promising serum biomarker for the HCC diagnosis that can be used as a supplement for AFP. The combined diagnosis of the two markers greatly improved the diagnostic efficiency of HCC. The PIVKA-II levels in HCC patients were widely associated with clinicopathological characteristics representing tumor cell dissemination and/or poor prognosis. PIVKA-II can be used to evaluate the curative effects of HCC resection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honglei Feng
- Department of Laboratory, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huanhuxi Road, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Bole Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Ze Li
- Department of Laboratory, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huanhuxi Road, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Qian Wei
- Department of Laboratory, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huanhuxi Road, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Li Ren
- Department of Laboratory, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huanhuxi Road, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, China.
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Zhang Q, Xing W, Zhang J, Hu J, Qi L, Xiang B. Circulating Tumor Cells Undergoing the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition: Influence on Prognosis in Cytokeratin 19-Positive Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Onco Targets Ther 2021; 14:1543-1552. [PMID: 33688202 PMCID: PMC7936932 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s298576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between cytokeratin 19 (CK19) expression and levels of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in preoperative peripheral blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the potential influence of that relationship on prognosis. Patients and Methods CanPatrol™ CTC-enrichment technique and in situ hybridization (ISH) were used to enrich and classify CTCs undergoing the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) from blood samples of 105 HCC patients. CK19 immunohistochemistry staining was performed on HCC tissues and compared with demographic and clinical data. Results In total, 27 of 105 (25.7%) HCC patients were CK19-positive. CK19-positive patients had significantly lower median tumor-free survival (TFS) than CK19-negative patients (5 vs 10 months, P = 0.047). In total, 98 (93.3%) patients showed pre-surgery peripheral blood CTCs (range: 0–76, median: 6), and 57 of 105 (54.3%) patients displayed CTC counts ≥6. Furthermore, CK19-positive patients with CTC count ≥6 showed significantly higher percentage than CK19-negative ones (77.8% vs 46.2%, P = 0.004). CK19-positive patients showed a significantly higher proportion of mesenchymal CTCs among CTCs undergoing EMT than CK19-negative patients (mean rank: 62.28 vs 49.79, P = 0.046). We also found that CK19-positive patients with high CTC count showed significantly shorter median tumor-free survival than CK19-negative patients with low CTC count (5 vs 16 months, P = 0.039). Conclusion High CTC count and high percentage of mesenchymal CTCs are closely related to the expression of CK19, which is associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumors, Ministry of Education, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanting Xing
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumors, Ministry of Education, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumors, Ministry of Education, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Junwen Hu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumors, Ministry of Education, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Lunan Qi
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumors, Ministry of Education, Nanning, People's Republic of China.,Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Bangde Xiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumors, Ministry of Education, Nanning, People's Republic of China.,Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, People's Republic of China
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50
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Jeong C, Lee J, Yoon H, Ha J, Kim MH, Bae JS, Jung CK, Kim JS, Kang MI, Lim DJ. Serum CYFRA 21.1 Level Predicts Disease Course in Thyroid Cancer with Distant Metastasis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040811. [PMID: 33671989 PMCID: PMC7919275 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The role of serum Cyfra 21.1 as a biomarker in thyroid cancer has yet to be validated. This study investigated the diagnostic or prognostic role of serum Cyfra 21.1 in thyroid cancer. In the present analysis, we found that serum Cyfra 21.1 was increased in thyroid cancer with distant metastasis compared with thyroid cancer without metastasis. Furthermore, in progressive disease when thyroglobulin was undetectable or thyroglobulin monitoring was useless because of thyroglobulin antibody, serial follow-up based on serum Cyfra 21.1 levels might be used as an alternative biomarker for disease monitoring. Abstract Background: Serum Cyfra 21.1, the soluble fragment of CK19, has been used as a prognostic tumor marker in various cancers, indicating poor tumor differentiation and increased metastasis. Methods: We analyzed the serum Cyfra 21.1 level in 51 consecutive patients with thyroid cancer manifesting distant metastasis treated with prior total thyroidectomy. Serum Cyfra 21.1 levels of 26 thyroid cancer patients without metastasis and 50 healthy individuals were used for comparison. Results: Higher serum Cyfra 21.1 levels were detected in thyroid cancer patients with distant metastasis compared with healthy subjects and thyroid cancer patients without metastasis (p = 0.012). Serum Cyfra 21.1 levels were significantly increased in patients with positive BRAF V600E mutation (p = 0.019), undergoing Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) therapy (p = 0.008), with radioiodine-refractory status (p = 0.047), and in disease progression compared with those manifesting stable disease (p = 0.007). In progressive disease with undetectable or unmonitored thyroglobulin because of thyroglobulin antibody, serum Cyfra 21.1 was useful as a biomarker for follow-up of disease course. Conclusion: Serum Cyfra 21.1 in thyroid cancer patients might represent an alternative biomarker predicting tumor progression, especially in cases not associated with serum Tg levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaiho Jeong
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea; (C.J.); (J.H.); (M.-I.K.)
| | - Jeongmin Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Eunpyeong St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea; (J.L.); (M.-H.K.)
| | - Hyukjin Yoon
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea;
| | - Jeonghoon Ha
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea; (C.J.); (J.H.); (M.-I.K.)
| | - Min-Hee Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Eunpyeong St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea; (J.L.); (M.-H.K.)
| | - Ja-Seong Bae
- Department of General Surgery, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea; (J.-S.B.); (J.-S.K.)
| | - Chan-Kwon Jung
- Department of Hospital Pathology, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea;
| | - Jeong-Soo Kim
- Department of General Surgery, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea; (J.-S.B.); (J.-S.K.)
| | - Moo-Il Kang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea; (C.J.); (J.H.); (M.-I.K.)
| | - Dong-Jun Lim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea; (C.J.); (J.H.); (M.-I.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-2258-6009; Fax: +82-2-599-3589
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