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Liu HQ, Sun LX, Yu L, Liu J, Sun LC, Yang ZH, Shu X, Ran YL. HSP90, as a functional target antigen of a mAb 11C9, promotes stemness and tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:273. [PMID: 37759328 PMCID: PMC10523703 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03453-x] [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: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identification of promising targeted antigens that exhibited cancer-specific expression is a crucial step in the development of novel antibody-targeted therapies. We here aimed to investigate the anti-tumor activity of a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) 11C9 and identify the antibody tractable target in the hepatocellular cancer stem cells (HCSCs). METHODS The identification of the targeted antigen was conducted using SDS-PAGE, western blot, mass spectrometry, and co-immunoprecipitation. Silence of HSP90 was induced by siRNA interference. Positive cells were sorted by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Double-immunofluorescent (IF) staining and two-color flow cytometry detected the co-expression. Self-renewal, invasion, and drug resistance were assessed by sphere formation, matrigel-coated Transwell assay, and CCK-8 assay, respectively. Tumorigenicity was evaluated in mouse xenograft models. RNA-seq and bioinformatics analysis were performed to explore the mechanism of mAb 11C9 and potential targets. RESULTS MAb 11C9 inhibited invasion and self-renewal abilities of HCC cell lines and reversed the cisplatin resistance. HSP90 (~ 95 kDa) was identified as a targeted antigen of mAb 11C9. Tissue microarrays and online databases revealed that HSP90 was overexpressed in HCC and associated with a poor prognosis. FACS and double-IF staining showed the co-expression of HSP90 and CSCs markers (CD90 and ESA). In vitro and in vivo demonstrated the tumorigenic potentials of HSP90. The inhibition of HSP90 by siRNA interference or 17-AAG inhibitor both decreased the number of invasion, sphere cells, and CD90+ or ESA+ cells, as well as reversed the resistance. Bioinformatics analysis and western blot verified that HSP90 activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling. CONCLUSIONS The study preliminarily revealed the anti-tumor activity of mAb 11C9. More importantly, we identified HSP90 as a targeted antigen of mAb 11C9, which functions as an oncogene in phenotype shaping, stemness maintenance, and therapeutic resistance by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Qi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 17 Panjiayuan Subdistrict, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100021 People’s Republic of China
| | - Li-Xin Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 17 Panjiayuan Subdistrict, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100021 People’s Republic of China
| | - Long Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 17 Panjiayuan Subdistrict, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100021 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 17 Panjiayuan Subdistrict, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100021 People’s Republic of China
| | - Li-Chao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 17 Panjiayuan Subdistrict, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100021 People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Hua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 17 Panjiayuan Subdistrict, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100021 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiong Shu
- National Center for Orthopaedics, Beijing Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 31 Xinjiekou E Road, Xicheng, Beijing, 100035 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu-Liang Ran
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 17 Panjiayuan Subdistrict, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100021 People’s Republic of China
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Zhang J, Han H, Wang L, Wang W, Yang M, Qin Y. Overcoming the therapeutic resistance of hepatomas by targeting the tumor microenvironment. Front Oncol 2022; 12:988956. [DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.988956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for the majority of primary liver cancers and is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Multifactorial drug resistance is regarded as the major cause of treatment failure in HCC. Accumulating evidence shows that the constituents of the tumor microenvironment (TME), including cancer-associated fibroblasts, tumor vasculature, immune cells, physical factors, cytokines, and exosomes may explain the therapeutic resistance mechanisms in HCC. In recent years, anti-angiogenic drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown satisfactory results in HCC patients. However, due to enhanced communication between the tumor and TME, the effect of heterogeneity of the microenvironment on therapeutic resistance is particularly complicated, which suggests a more challenging research direction. In addition, it has been reported that the three-dimensional (3D) organoid model derived from patient biopsies is more intuitive to fully understand the role of the TME in acquired resistance. Therefore, in this review, we have focused not only on the mechanisms and targets of therapeutic resistance related to the contents of the TME in HCC but also provide a comprehensive description of 3D models and how they contribute to the exploration of HCC therapies.
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Kimura Y, Tsunedomi R, Yoshimura K, Matsukuma S, Shindo Y, Matsui H, Tokumitsu Y, Yoshida S, Iida M, Suzuki N, Takeda S, Ioka T, Hazama S, Nagano H. Immune Evasion of Hepatoma Cancer Stem-Like Cells from Natural Killer Cells. Ann Surg Oncol 2022; 29:7423-7433. [PMID: 35876924 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-022-12220-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Poor prognosis in liver cancer is due to its high frequency of intrahepatic metastasis. Cancer stem-like cells (CSLCs), which possess the properties of stemness, tumor initiation capability, and resistance to therapy, also exhibit metastatic potential. Immune surveillance plays an important role in the accomplishment of metastasis. Herein, the property of immune evasion in CSLCs was investigated. METHODS Sphere cells were induced as CSLCs using a sphere induction medium containing neural survival factor-1. The expression of genes involved in immune evasion was determined using RNA-sequencing for sphere and parental cells followed by validation using flow cytometric analysis and ELISA. Susceptibility to natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity was examined by a chromium release assay. A xenograft model using BALB/c nu/nu mice was used to assess tumor growth. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed for interpreting RNA sequencing. RESULTS The cell surface expressions of PD-L1, PD-L2, and CEACAM1 were upregulated and those of ULBP1 and MICA/MICB were downregulated in SK-sphere, CSLCs derived from SK-HEP-1, compared with that in parental cells. Levels of soluble MICA were elevated in conditioned medium from SK-sphere. Expression of HLA class I was not downregulated in SK-sphere. The susceptibilities to NK cell-mediated killing and secreted perforin were significantly lower in both CSLCs derived from SK-HEP-1 and HLE than in parental cells. Tumors formed upon inoculation of SK-sphere in immunodeficient mice harboring NK cells were larger than those formed upon inoculation of parental cells. CONCLUSION Human hepatoma cell line-derived CSLCs may possess immune evasion properties, especially from NK cell-mediated immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Kimura
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast, and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Ryouichi Tsunedomi
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast, and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
| | - Kiyoshi Yoshimura
- Department of Clinical Research in Tumor Immunology, Showa University Clinical Research Institute for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Matsukuma
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast, and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Yoshitaro Shindo
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast, and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Hiroto Matsui
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast, and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Yukio Tokumitsu
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast, and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Shin Yoshida
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast, and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Michihisa Iida
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast, and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Suzuki
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast, and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Shigeru Takeda
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast, and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Ioka
- Oncology Center, Yamaguchi University Hospital, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Shoichi Hazama
- Department of Translational Research and Developmental Therapeutics Against Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Nagano
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast, and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan
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FOXM1-CD44 Signaling Is Critical for the Acquisition of Regorafenib Resistance in Human Liver Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147782. [PMID: 35887129 PMCID: PMC9324640 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Regorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor that was approved by the US Food and Drug administration in 2017. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subset of cancer-initiating cells that are thought to contribute to therapeutic resistance. The forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) plays an important role in the regulation of the stemness of CSCs and mediates resistance to chemotherapy. However, the relationship between FOXM1 and regorafenib resistance in liver cancer cells remains unknown. We found that regorafenib-resistant HepG2 clones overexpressed FOXM1 and various markers of CSCs. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma also exhibited an upregulation of FOXM1 and resistance to regorafenib, which were correlated with a poor survival rate. We identified a close relationship between FOXM1 expression and regorafenib resistance, which was correlated with the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, a strategy that antagonizes FOXM1–CD44 signaling would enhance the therapeutic efficacy of regorafenib in these patients.
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Vasefifar P, Motafakkerazad R, Maleki LA, Najafi S, Ghrobaninezhad F, Najafzadeh B, Alemohammad H, Amini M, Baghbanzadeh A, Baradaran B. Nanog, as a key cancer stem cell marker in tumor progression. Gene X 2022; 827:146448. [PMID: 35337852 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small population of malignant cells that induce tumor onset and development. CSCs share similar features with normal stem cells in the case of self-renewal and differentiation. They also contribute to chemoresistance and metastasis of cancer cells, leading to therapeutic failure. To identify CSCs, multiple cell surface markers have been characterized, including Nanog, which is found at high levels in different cancers. Recent studies have revealed that Nanog upregulation has a substantial association with the advanced stages and poor prognosis of malignancies, playing a pivotal role through tumorigenesis of multiple human cancers, including leukemia, liver, colorectal, prostate, ovarian, lung, head and neck, brain, pancreatic, gastric and breast cancers. Nanog through different signaling pathways, like JAK/STAT and Wnt/β-catenin pathways, induces stemness, self-renewal, metastasis, invasiveness, and chemoresistance of cancer cells. Some of these signaling pathways are common in various types of cancers, but some have been found in one or two cancers. Therefore, this review aimed to focus on the function of Nanog in multiple cancers based on recent studies surveying the suitable approaches to target Nanog and inhibit CSCs residing in tumors to gain favorable results from cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Vasefifar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | | | - Souzan Najafi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Basira Najafzadeh
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hajar Alemohammad
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amini
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amir Baghbanzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Pharmaceutical Analysis Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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Tsunedomi R, Yoshimura K, Kimura Y, Nishiyama M, Fujiwara N, Matsukuma S, Kanekiyo S, Matsui H, Shindo Y, Watanabe Y, Tokumitsu Y, Yoshida S, Iida M, Suzuki N, Takeda S, Ioka T, Hazama S, Nagano H. Elevated expression of RAB3B plays important roles in chemoresistance and metastatic potential of hepatoma cells. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:260. [PMID: 35277124 PMCID: PMC8917729 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09370-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to play important roles in carcinogenesis, recurrence, metastasis, and therapy-resistance. We have successfully induced cancer stem-like sphere cells (CSLCs) which possess enhanced chemoresistance and metastatic potential. To enable the development of targeted therapy against CSLCs, we identified a gene responsible for this phenotype in CSLC.
Methods
Human hepatoma cell line SK-HEP-1 was used for CSLC induction with a unique sphere inducing medium, and HuH-7 cells were used as non-sphere forming cells in the same condition. RNA-sequencing was performed followed by validation with quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting. Knockdown experiments were done by using CRISPR-Cas9 genome-editing, and the rescue experiments were performed using the expressing plasmid vector. Chemoresistance and liver metastasis of the cells, was studied following the splenic injection of cells to severely immune deficient mice and evaluated using the MTS assay. Quantification of exosomes in the medium was done using ELISA.
Results
RAB3B was identified as an up-regulated gene in both CSLCs and prognostically poor hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by RNA-sequencing. RAB3B-KD cells showed altered CSLC phenotypes such as sphere formation, chemoresistance, and metastatic potentials, and those were rescued by RAB3B complementation. Increased exosome secretion was observed in CSLCs, and it was not observed in the RAB3B-KD cells. In addition, the RAB3B expression correlated with the expression of ABCG2, APOE, LEPR, LXN, and TSPAN13.
Conclusion
The up regulation of RAB3B may play an important role in the chemoresistance and metastatic potential of CSLCs.
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Shrestha R, Bridle KR, Cao L, Crawford DHG, Jayachandran A. Dual Targeting of Sorafenib-Resistant HCC-Derived Cancer Stem Cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 28:2150-2172. [PMID: 34208001 PMCID: PMC8293268 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol28030200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sorafenib, an oral multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been the first-line therapy for the treatment of patients with advanced HCC, providing a survival benefit of only three months in approximately 30% of patients. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a rare tumour subpopulation with self-renewal and differentiation capabilities, and have been implicated in tumour growth, recurrence and drug resistance. The process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes to the generation and maintenance of the CSC population, resulting in immune evasion and therapy resistance in several cancers, including HCC. The aim of this study is to target the chemoresistant CSC population in HCC by assessing the effectiveness of a combination treatment approach with Sorafenib, an EMT inhibitor and an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). A stem-cell-conditioned serum-free medium was utilised to enrich the CSC population from the human HCC cell lines Hep3B, PLC/PRF/5 and HepG2. The anchorage independent spheres were characterised for CSC features. The human HCC-derived spheres were assessed for EMT status and expression of immune checkpoint molecules. The effect of combination treatment with SB431542, an EMT inhibitor, and siRNA-mediated knockdown of programmed cell death protein ligand-1 (PD-L1) or CD73 along with Sorafenib on human HCC-derived CSCs was examined with cell viability and apoptosis assays. The three-dimensional spheres enriched from human HCC cell lines demonstrated CSC-like features. The human HCC-derived CSCs also exhibited the EMT phenotype along with the upregulation of immune checkpoint molecules. The combined treatment with SB431542 and siRNA-mediated PD-L1 or CD73 knockdown effectively enhanced the cytotoxicity of Sorafenib against the CSC population compared to Sorafenib alone, as evidenced by the reduced size and proliferation of spheres. Furthermore, the combination treatment of Sorafenib with SB431542 and PD-L1 or CD73 siRNA resulted in an increased proportion of an apoptotic population, as evidenced by flow cytometry analysis. In conclusion, the combined targeting of EMT and immune checkpoint molecules with Sorafenib can effectively target the CSC tumour subpopulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritu Shrestha
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia; (R.S.); (K.R.B.); (L.C.); (D.H.G.C.)
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia
| | - Kim R. Bridle
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia; (R.S.); (K.R.B.); (L.C.); (D.H.G.C.)
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia
| | - Lu Cao
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia; (R.S.); (K.R.B.); (L.C.); (D.H.G.C.)
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia
| | - Darrell H. G. Crawford
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia; (R.S.); (K.R.B.); (L.C.); (D.H.G.C.)
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia
| | - Aparna Jayachandran
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia; (R.S.); (K.R.B.); (L.C.); (D.H.G.C.)
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia
- Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, Ballarat, VIC 3350, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-4-2424-8058
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Xu C, Cao X, Cao X, Liu L, Qiu Y, Li X, Zhou L, Ning Y, Ren K, Cao J. Isovitexin Inhibits Stemness and Induces Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma SK-Hep-1 Spheroids by Upregulating miR-34a Expression. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 20:1654-1663. [PMID: 32329692 DOI: 10.2174/1871520620666200424123139] [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: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We previously demonstrated that isovitexin (apigenin-6-C-glucoside, ISOV) suppressed the stemness of human Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) cells. However, the mechanism of its action remains to be deciphered. OBJECTIVE The current study was to examine whether ISOV regulates the miR-34a expression and hence suppresses the stemness of HCC SK-Hep-1 cells. METHODS After identification of the stemness, apoptosis resistance and decreased miR-34a expression of spheres from SK-Hep-1 cells (SK-SC), we utilized transfection of a miR-34a mimic or inhibitor to investigate the effects of ISOV on miR-34a, Bcl-2, Bax and Mcl-1 expression in order to understand the mechanism underlying ISOV-mediated repression of stemness and promotion of apoptosis. RESULTS Our results demonstrated that SK-SC displayed higher stemness and resistance to apoptosis, as well as reduced miR-34a levels compared to SK-Hep-1 cells. ISOV suppressed sphere and colony formation, and decreased CD44+ cell populations. In addition, ABCG2, ALDH1, and NANOG mRNA levels were decreased, while there was a concomitant increase in miR-34a levels. With regards to apoptosis-related proteins, ISOV increased Bax protein levels, and reduced Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 protein levels in SK-SC. Importantly, there was a cooperative effect when miR-34a was overexpressed in the presence of ISOV in SK-SC, and down-regulation of miR-34a attenuated the effects of ISOV in SK-Hep-1 cells. CONCLUSION We suggest that ISOV-mediated miR-34a upregulation induces apoptosis and suppresses the stemness of SK-SC. Our data indicate that ISOV exhibits therapeutic potential for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discover of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China,Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha,
Hunan 410013, China
| | - Xiaocheng Cao
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discover of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China,Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha,
Hunan 410013, China
| | - XiaoZheng Cao
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Clinical Medical School of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s
Hospital, Shenzhen 518020, China,Shenzhen Public Service Platform on Tumor Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis,
Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Lihua Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Clinical Medical School of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s
Hospital, Shenzhen 518020, China,Shenzhen Public Service Platform on Tumor Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis,
Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Yebei Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discover of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China,Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha,
Hunan 410013, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discover of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China,Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha,
Hunan 410013, China
| | - Lingli Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discover of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China,Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha,
Hunan 410013, China
| | - Yingxia Ning
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Kaiqun Ren
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discover of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China,Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha,
Hunan 410013, China
| | - Jianguo Cao
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discover of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China,Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha,
Hunan 410013, China
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Cheng CC, Chao WT, Shih JH, Lai YS, Hsu YH, Liu YH. Sorafenib combined with dasatinib therapy inhibits cell viability, migration, and angiogenesis synergistically in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2021; 88:143-153. [PMID: 33860837 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-021-04272-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor used for treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Sorafenib resistance may be related to Src-induced cell migration and angiogenesis, which are regulated by cancer stem cell activation and release of vascular endothelial growth factor. Dasatinib is a Src inhibitor that inhibits Src phosphorylation and suppresses Src-associated cell migration and angiogenesis. This study investigated whether combined treatment with dasatinib can overcome sorafenib resistance. METHODS Hepatoma cell lines were used for sorafenib and/or dasatinib treatment. Cell viability, cell migration, molecular expressions, and release of vascular endothelial growth factor by hepatoma cells were evaluated. Hepatoma cell culture medium was applied on human umbilical vein endothelial cells to monitor angiogenesis promoted by the hepatoma cells. RESULTS Sorafenib and dasatinib combined therapy suppressed cell viability of hepatoma cells synergistically. Dasatinib suppressed sorafenib-induced cell migration via inhibiting sorafenib-induced Src/FAK phosphorylation, cell-to-cell contact and cancer stem cell activation. Culture medium from Chang liver and PLC/PRF/5 cells suppressed angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells with any treatment, whereas sorafenib-treated medium of HepG2 cells induced angiogenesis. This sorafenib-induced angiogenesis was then suppressed by dasatinib. Vascular endothelial growth factor released from hepatoma cells was also inhibited by combined treatment. CONCLUSION Src/FAK phosphorylation and cancer stem cell activation inducing cell migration and angiogenesis may be the key factors of sorafenib resistance. Sorafenib and dasatinib combined treatment suppresses cell migration and angiogenesis by inhibiting the Src/FAK phosphorylation, cell-to-cell contact, cancer stem cell activation, and release of vascular endothelial growth factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiung-Chi Cheng
- Department of Pathology, Chang Bing Show-Chwan Memorial Hospital, 6, Lugong Road, Lukang Zhen, Changhua County, 505, Taiwan
- Center for General Education, Providence University, 200, Section 7, Taiwan Boulevard, Shalu District, Taichung City, 433, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Ting Chao
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, 1727, Section 4, Taiwan Boulevard, Xitun District, Taichung City, 407, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Hao Shih
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, 1727, Section 4, Taiwan Boulevard, Xitun District, Taichung City, 407, Taiwan
| | - Yih-Shyong Lai
- Department of Pathology, Chang Bing Show-Chwan Memorial Hospital, 6, Lugong Road, Lukang Zhen, Changhua County, 505, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Hsiang Hsu
- Department of Pathology, Tzu Chi University, 701, Section 3, Jhongyang Road, Hualien, 97004, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsiang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Chang Bing Show-Chwan Memorial Hospital, 6, Lugong Road, Lukang Zhen, Changhua County, 505, Taiwan.
- Department of Pathology, Tzu Chi University, 701, Section 3, Jhongyang Road, Hualien, 97004, Taiwan.
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Reactive Oxygen Species Induce Endothelial Differentiation of Liver Cancer Stem-Like Sphere Cells through the Activation of Akt/IKK Signaling Pathway. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2020; 2020:1621687. [PMID: 33101583 PMCID: PMC7576363 DOI: 10.1155/2020/1621687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) from various cancers are able to transdifferentiate into endothelial cells and further form functional blood vessels, indicating another possible resistance mechanism to antiangiogenic agents. However, it remains unclear whether CSCs from hepatocellular carcinoma have the ability to differentiate into endothelial cells, and thus resulting in resistance to antiangiogenic therapy targeting VEGF. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the self-renewal and differentiation of CSCs, yet, their role in endothelial differentiation of CSCs has been poorly understood. In this study, we found that cancer stem-like sphere cells enriched from human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Hep G2 could differentiate into endothelial cells morphologically and functionally, and this process could be blocked by Akt1/2 kinase inhibitor and IKK-β inhibitor BAY 11-7082 but not by Bevacizumab, a VEGFA-binding antibody, and DAPT, a γ-secretase inhibitor. Both hydrogen peroxide and BSO (an inhibitor of GSH biosynthesis) induce the differentiation of cancer stem-like sphere cells into endothelial cells, which can be canceled by the antioxidant N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). We also found that hydrogen peroxide or BSO induces the phosphorylation of Akt and IKK of endothelial differentiated sphere cells. Accordingly, both Akt1/2 kinase inhibitor and BAY 11-7082 inhibited hydrogen peroxide and BSO-mediated endothelial differentiation of cancer stem-like sphere cells. Collectively, the results of the present study demonstrate that cancer stem-like sphere cells from Hep G2 are able to differentiate into endothelial cells both morphologically and functionally, and this process is independent of VEGF and NOTCH signaling but dependent on the activation of Akt and IKK. ROS promote endothelial differentiation of cancer stem-like sphere cells through activation of Akt/IKK signaling pathway. Therefore, our study reveals a novel mechanism of resistance to conventional antiangiogenic therapy and may provide a potential therapeutic target for liver cancer treatment.
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11
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Effects of Pyrrole-Imidazole Polyamides Targeting Human TGF-β1 on the Malignant Phenotypes of Liver Cancer Cells. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25122883. [PMID: 32585841 PMCID: PMC7356887 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25122883] [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: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic pyrrole-imidazole (PI) polyamides bind to the minor groove of double-helical DNA with high affinity and specificity, and inhibit the transcription of corresponding genes. In liver cancer, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β expression is correlated with tumor grade, and high-grade liver cancer tissues express epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers. TGF-β1 was reported to be involved in cancer development by transforming precancer cells to cancer stem cells (CSCs). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of TGF-β1-targeting PI polyamide on the growth of liver cancer cells and CSCs and their TGF-β1 expression. We analyzed TGF-β1 expression level after the administration of GB1101, a PI polyamide that targets human TGF-β1 promoter, and examined its effects on cell proliferation, invasiveness, and TGF-β1 mRNA expression level. GB1101 treatment dose-dependently decreased TGF-β1 mRNA levels in HepG2 and HLF cells, and inhibited HepG2 colony formation associated with downregulation of TGF-β1 mRNA. Although GB1101 did not substantially inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells compared to untreated control cells, GB1101 significantly suppressed the invasion of HLF cells, which displayed high expression of CD44, a marker for CSCs. Furthermore, GB1101 significantly inhibited HLF cell sphere formation by inhibiting TGF-β1 expression, in addition to suppressing the proliferation of HLE and HLF cells. Taken together, GB1101 reduced TGF-β1 expression in liver cancer cells and suppressed cell invasion; therefore, GB1101 is a novel candidate drug for the treatment of liver cancer.
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12
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Zhou X, Xiao D. Long non-coding RNA GAS5 is critical for maintaining stemness and induces chemoresistance in cancer stem-like cells derived from HCT116. Oncol Lett 2020; 19:3431-3438. [PMID: 32269616 PMCID: PMC7138034 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.11471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are recognized as critical regulators of self-renewal in human cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), which are a subpopulation of cancer cells primarily responsible for the malignant features of cancer. However, most CSC-related lncRNAs remain unidentified. The results of the present study suggested that growth-arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5), a tumor suppressor, exhibited increased expression and was associated with malignant features in human colorectal cancer cell HCT116-derived CSCs. Phenotypic analysis indicated that GAS5 knockdown by specific siRNA significantly decreased CSC self-renewal capacity, proliferation and migration. Moreover, GAS5 knockdown sensitized CSCs to the chemotherapeutic agents 5-fluorouracil and doxorubicin by inducing apoptosis detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. Inhibition of Nodal growth differentiation factor (NODAL) signaling, which has been reported to be protected by GAS5, presented similar chemosensitivity effects to the GAS5 knockdown results. The present study also assessed the effects of GAS5 overexpression on HCT116 cells, and revealed that overexpression of GAS5 sensitized HCT116 cells to chemotherapeutic agents, which is the opposite of the effect observed in CSCs derived from HCT116 cells. Therefore, it was hypothesized that GAS5 may function as a critical factor for maintaining stemness and that it may exert protective effects on CSCs in a NODAL-dependent manner. Collectively, the results of the present study indicate that GAS5 may be a promising therapeutic target for overcoming malignant features and chemoresistance in colorectal cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiong Zhou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 410000, P.R. China
| | - Dachun Xiao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 410000, P.R. China
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13
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Li X, Wang L, Cao X, Zhou L, Xu C, Cui Y, Qiu Y, Cao J. Casticin inhibits stemness of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via disrupting the reciprocal negative regulation between DNMT1 and miR-148a-3p. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2020; 396:114998. [PMID: 32268151 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2020.114998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Casticin (CAS) is a polymethyl flavonoid from Fructus viticis and has multiple pharmacological activities, including anticancer. However, whether the molecular mechanism underlying CAS represses stemness characteristics in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells involves intervention in the reciprocal negative regulation between DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and miR-148a-3p has not yet been reported. In this study, the effect of CAS on stemness characteristics of HCC cells and its mechanism were investigated. Results showed that CAS selectively reduced the viabilities of HCC cells but not L02 cells, as determined by CCK-8 assay. Importantly, the sub-cytotoxic concentrations of CAS could inhibit the stemness characteristics in HCC cells, as demonstrated by the expression of stemness biomarkers (CD44, EpCAM, Bmi1, Nanog, and Oct4), sphere forming assay, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting. In addition, CAS repressed DNMT1 activity and expression and increased miR-148a-3p. The effect of CAS on stemness characteristics was abolished by stable DNMT1 overexpression. MiR-148a-3p overexpression enhanced the reduction of CAS on stemness characteristics. DNMT1 overexpression promoted miR-148a-3p promoter hypermethylation as detected by methylation-specific PCR (MSP), which repressed its expression. Conversely, miR-148a-3p repressed DNMT1 expression by specific site binding to 3'-UTR of DNMT1 mRNA, as determined by luciferase assay. Moreover, the combination of CAS and agomir-148a-3p had robust effects on tumor suppression as compared to the sole activity of either molecule in nude mouse xenograft experiments in vivo. The findings suggested that CAS could inhibit stemness characteristics in HCC cells by interruption of the reciprocal negative regulation between DNMT1 and miR-148a-3p.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Li
- Department of Preclinical Medicine, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China.
| | - Lianghou Wang
- Department of Preclinical Medicine, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Xiaocheng Cao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China; Key Laboratory of Study and Discover of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Lingli Zhou
- Department of Preclinical Medicine, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Chang Xu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China; Key Laboratory of Study and Discover of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Yinghong Cui
- Department of Preclinical Medicine, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Yebei Qiu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China; Key Laboratory of Study and Discover of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Jianguo Cao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China; Key Laboratory of Study and Discover of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical College, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China.
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14
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Tsunedomi R, Yoshimura K, Suzuki N, Hazama S, Nagano H. Clinical implications of cancer stem cells in digestive cancers: acquisition of stemness and prognostic impact. Surg Today 2020; 50:1560-1577. [PMID: 32025858 DOI: 10.1007/s00595-020-01968-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Digestive system cancers are the most frequent cancers worldwide and often associated with poor prognosis because of their invasive and metastatic characteristics. Recent studies have found that the plasticity of cancer cells can impart cancer stem-like properties via the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Cancer stem-like properties such as tumor initiation are integral to the formation of metastasis, which is the main cause of poor prognosis. Numerous markers of cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in many types of cancer. Therefore, CSCs, via their stem cell-like functions, may play an important role in prognosis after surgery. While several reports have described prognostic analysis using CSC markers, few reviews have summarized CSCs and their association with prognosis. Herein, we review the prognostic potential of eight CSC markers, CD133, CD44, CD90, ALDH1A1, EPCAM, SOX2, SOX9, and LGR5, in digestive cancers including those of the pancreas, colon, liver, gastric, and esophagus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryouichi Tsunedomi
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan.
| | - Kiyoshi Yoshimura
- Showa University Clinical Research Institute for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa, Tokyo, 142-8555, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Suzuki
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Shoichi Hazama
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan.,Faculty of Medicine, Department of Translational Research and Developmental Therapeutics against Cancer, Yamaguchi University, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Nagano
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
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15
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Kaneko S, Yamazaki T, Kohno K, Sato A, Kato K, Yano T. Combination Effect of Bowman-Birk Inhibitor and α-Tocopheryl Succinate on Prostate Cancer Stem-Like Cells. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 2020; 65:272-277. [PMID: 31257268 DOI: 10.3177/jnsv.65.272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The reoccurrence of androgen-dependent prostate cancer after anti-androgen therapy mainly depends on prostate cancer stem-like cells. To reduce the risk, it is important to delete the cancer stem-like cells. Furthermore, to induce differentiation of cancer stem-like cells is critical to abrogate stemness of the cells. Therefore, we tried to investigate a possibility on the establishment of a new effective therapy to eradicate the cancer stem-like cells via the induction of differentiation in this study. Prostate cancer stem-like cells from an androgen-dependent prostate cancer cell line (LNCaP cell) had severe resistance against an anti-androgen therapeutic agent. We selected Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI) from soybeans reported as a chemopreventive agent in prostate cancer to differentiate the caner stem-like cells and α-tocopheryl succinate (TOS) known as a mitocan to induce effectively cytotoxic effect against the cancer stem-like cells. In fact, only TOS treatment had cytotoxic effect against the cancer stem-like cells, but the addition of BBI treatment to the cells treated with TOS reinforced TOS-mediated cytotoxicity in the cancer stem-like cells. This reinforcement coincided with the combination-enhanced apoptosis in the stem-like cells. Also, we confirmed caspase9-caspase3 cascade mainly contributed to the enhancement of the cytotoxicity in the stem-like cells caused by the combination, indicating that the reinforcement of BBI on TOS-mediated apoptosis via mitochondria related to the enhancing cytotoxic effect of the combination on the prostate cancer stem-like cells. Overall, it seems that the combination is an effective new approach to reduce the reoccurrence of prostate cancer targeting prostate cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saki Kaneko
- Graduate School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Toyo University
| | | | - Kakeru Kohno
- Graduate School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Toyo University.,Research Institute of Life Innovation, Toyo University
| | - Ayami Sato
- Research Institute of Life Innovation, Toyo University
| | - Kazunori Kato
- Graduate School of Science and Engineerin, Toyo University
| | - Tomohiro Yano
- Graduate School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Toyo University.,Research Institute of Life Innovation, Toyo University
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16
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Aravindan N, Jain D, Somasundaram DB, Herman TS, Aravindan S. Cancer stem cells in neuroblastoma therapy resistance. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2019; 2:948-967. [PMID: 31867574 PMCID: PMC6924637 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2019.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common cancer of infancy and accounts for nearly one tenth of pediatric cancer deaths. This mortality rate has been attributed to the > 50% frequency of relapse despite intensive, multimodal clinical therapy in patients with progressive NB. Given the disease’s heterogeneity and developed resistance, attaining a cure after relapse of progressive NB is highly challenging. A rapid decrease in the timeline between successive recurrences is likely due to the ongoing acquisition of genetic rearrangements in undifferentiated NB-cancer stem cells (CSCs). In this review, we present the current understanding of NB-CSCs, their intrinsic role in tumorigenesis, their function in disease progression, and their influence on acquired therapy resistance and tumor evolution. In particular, this review focus on the intrinsic involvement of stem cells and signaling in the genesis of NB, the function of pre-existing CSCs in NB progression and therapy response, the formation and influence of induced CSCs (iCSCs) in drug resistance and tumor evolution, and the development of a CSC-targeted therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natarajan Aravindan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.,Department of Pathology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Drishti Jain
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Dinesh Babu Somasundaram
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Terence S Herman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.,Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
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17
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Sreekumar R, Emaduddin M, Al-Saihati H, Moutasim K, Chan J, Spampinato M, Bhome R, Yuen HM, Mescoli C, Vitale A, Cillo U, Rugge M, Primrose J, Hilal MA, Thirdborough S, Tulchinsky E, Thomas G, Mirnezami A, Sayan AE. Protein kinase C inhibitors override ZEB1-induced chemoresistance in HCC. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:703. [PMID: 31543517 PMCID: PMC6755133 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1885-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process by which tumour cells lose epithelial characteristics, become mesenchymal and highly motile. EMT pathways also induce stem cell features and resistance to apoptosis. Identifying and targeting this pool of tumour cells is a major challenge. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibition has been shown to eliminate breast cancer stem cells but has never been assessed in hepatocellular cancer (HCC). We investigated ZEB family of EMT inducer expression as a biomarker for metastatic HCC and evaluated the efficacy of PKC inhibitors for HCC treatment. We showed that ZEB1 positivity predicted patient survival in multiple cohorts and also validated as an independent biomarker of HCC metastasis. ZEB1-expressing HCC cell lines became resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic agents and were enriched in CD44high/CD24low cell population. ZEB1- or TGFβ-induced EMT increased PKCα abundance. Probing public databases ascertained a positive association of ZEB1 and PKCα expression in human HCC tumours. Inhibition of PKCα activity by small molecule inhibitors or by PKCA knockdown reduced viability of mesenchymal HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that ZEB1 expression predicts survival and metastatic potential of HCC. Chemoresistant/mesenchymal HCC cells become addicted to PKC pathway and display sensitivity to PKC inhibitors such as UCN-01. Stratifying patients according to ZEB1 and combining UCN-01 with conventional chemotherapy may be an advantageous chemotherapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Sreekumar
- University of Southampton Cancer Sciences Division, Somers Cancer Research Building, Southampton University, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK
- Department of Surgery, Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Muhammad Emaduddin
- University of Southampton Cancer Sciences Division, Somers Cancer Research Building, Southampton University, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK
| | - Hajir Al-Saihati
- University of Southampton Cancer Sciences Division, Somers Cancer Research Building, Southampton University, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK
| | - Karwan Moutasim
- University of Southampton Cancer Sciences Division, Somers Cancer Research Building, Southampton University, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK
| | - James Chan
- University of Southampton Cancer Sciences Division, Somers Cancer Research Building, Southampton University, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK
| | - Marcello Spampinato
- HPB Unit, Department of General and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Policlinico of Abano Terme, Abano Terme, Italy
| | - Rahul Bhome
- University of Southampton Cancer Sciences Division, Somers Cancer Research Building, Southampton University, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK
- Department of Surgery, Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Ho Ming Yuen
- Primary Care and Population Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Alessandro Vitale
- Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplantation Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Umberto Cillo
- Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplantation Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Massimo Rugge
- Department of Pathology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - John Primrose
- University of Southampton Cancer Sciences Division, Somers Cancer Research Building, Southampton University, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK
- Department of Surgery, Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Mohammad Abu Hilal
- Department of Surgery, Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Stephen Thirdborough
- University of Southampton Cancer Sciences Division, Somers Cancer Research Building, Southampton University, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK
| | - Eugene Tulchinsky
- Cancer Sciences and Molecular Medicine Department, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudnuy, Moscow region, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Gareth Thomas
- University of Southampton Cancer Sciences Division, Somers Cancer Research Building, Southampton University, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK
| | - Alex Mirnezami
- University of Southampton Cancer Sciences Division, Somers Cancer Research Building, Southampton University, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK
- Department of Surgery, Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - A Emre Sayan
- University of Southampton Cancer Sciences Division, Somers Cancer Research Building, Southampton University, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK.
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18
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Atashzar MR, Baharlou R, Karami J, Abdollahi H, Rezaei R, Pourramezan F, Zoljalali Moghaddam SH. Cancer stem cells: A review from origin to therapeutic implications. J Cell Physiol 2019; 235:790-803. [PMID: 31286518 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.29044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs), also known as tumor-initiating cells (TICs), are elucidated as cells that can perpetuate themselves via autorestoration. These cells are highly resistant to current therapeutic approaches and are the main reason for cancer recurrence. Radiotherapy has made a lot of contributions to cancer treatment. However, despite continuous achievements, therapy resistance and tumor recurrence are still prevalent in most patients. This resistance might be partly related to the existence of CSCs. In the present study, recent advances in the investigation of different biological properties of CSCs, such as their origin, markers, characteristics, and targeting have been reviewed. We have also focused our discussion on radioresistance and adaptive responses of CSCs and their related extrinsic and intrinsic influential factors. In summary, we suggest CSCs as the prime therapeutic target for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Reza Atashzar
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Rasoul Baharlou
- Cancer Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.,Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Jafar Karami
- Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Abdollahi
- Department of Radiologic Sciences and Medical Physics, School of Allied Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ramazan Rezaei
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Pourramezan
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
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19
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Safa AR, Kamocki K, Saadatzadeh MR, Bijangi-Vishehsaraei K. c-FLIP, a Novel Biomarker for Cancer Prognosis, Immunosuppression, Alzheimer's Disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and a Rationale Therapeutic Target. BIOMARKERS JOURNAL 2019; 5:4. [PMID: 32352084 PMCID: PMC7189798 DOI: 10.36648/2472-1646.5.1.59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation of c-FLIP (cellular FADD-like IL-1β-converting enzyme inhibitory protein) has been shown in several diseases including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). c-FLIP is a critical anti-cell death protein often overexpressed in tumors and hematological malignancies and its increased expression is often associated with a poor prognosis. c-FLIP frequently exists as long (c-FLIPL) and short (c-FLIPS) isoforms, regulates its anti-cell death functions through binding to FADD (FAS associated death domain protein), an adaptor protein known to activate caspases-8 and -10 and links c-FLIP to several cell death regulating complexes including the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) formed by various death receptors. c-FLIP also plays a critical role in necroptosis and autophagy. Furthermore, c-FLIP is able to activate several pathways involved in cytoprotection, proliferation, and survival of cancer cells through various critical signaling proteins. Additionally, c-FLIP can inhibit cell death induced by several chemotherapeutics, anti-cancer small molecule inhibitors, and ionizing radiation. Moreover, c-FLIP plays major roles in aiding the survival of immunosuppressive tumor-promoting immune cells and functions in inflammation, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Therefore, c-FLIP can serve as a versatile biomarker for cancer prognosis, a diagnostic marker for several diseases, and an effective therapeutic target. In this article, we review the functions of c-FLIP as an anti-apoptotic protein and negative prognostic factor in human cancers, and its roles in resistance to anticancer drugs, necroptosis and autophagy, immunosuppression, Alzheimer's disease, and COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad R Safa
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Krzysztof Kamocki
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - M Reza Saadatzadeh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
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20
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Bort A, Sánchez BG, Mateos-Gómez PA, Vara-Ciruelos D, Rodríguez-Henche N, Díaz-Laviada I. Targeting AMP-activated kinase impacts hepatocellular cancer stem cells induced by long-term treatment with sorafenib. Mol Oncol 2019; 13:1311-1331. [PMID: 30959553 PMCID: PMC6487713 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. HCC treatment is hindered by the frequent emergence of chemoresistance to the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib, which has been related to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) that self‐renew and often escape therapy. The key metabolic sensor AMP‐activated kinase (AMPK) has recently been recognized as a tumour growth regulator. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of AMPK in the development of a stem cell phenotype in HCC cells. To this end, we enriched the CSC population in HCC cell lines that showed increased expression of drug resistance (ALDH1A1, ABCB1A) and stem cell (CD133, Nanog, Oct4, alpha fetoprotein) markers and demonstrated their stemness phenotype. These cells were refractory to sorafenib‐induced cell death. We report that sorafenib‐resistant cells had lower levels of total and phosphorylated AMPK as well as its downstream substrate, ACC, compared with the parental cells. Interestingly, AMPK knockdown with siRNA or inhibition with dorsomorphin increased the expression of stem cell markers in parental cells and blocked sorafenib‐induced cell death. Conversely, the upregulation of AMPK, either by transfection or by pharmacological activation with A‐769662, decreased the expression of ALDH1A1, ABCB1A, CD133, Nanog, Oct4, and alpha fetoprotein, and restored sensitivity to sorafenib. Analysis of the underlying mechanism points to hypoxia‐inducible factor HIF‐1α as a regulator of stemness. In vivo studies in a xenograft mouse model demonstrated that stem‐like cells have greater tumourigenic capacity. AMPK activation reduced xenograft tumour growth and decreased the expression of stem cell markers. Taken together, these results indicate that AMPK may serve as a novel target to overcome chemoresistance in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Bort
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Belén G Sánchez
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro A Mateos-Gómez
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Diana Vara-Ciruelos
- Division of Cell Signalling & Immunology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, UK
| | - Nieves Rodríguez-Henche
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés Díaz-Laviada
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.,Chemical Research Institute 'Andrés M. del Río' (IQAR), Alcalá University, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
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Neuroblastoma RAS Viral Oncogene Homolog (NRAS) Is a Novel Prognostic Marker and Contributes to Sorafenib Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Neoplasia 2019; 21:257-268. [PMID: 30685691 PMCID: PMC6370713 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2018.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Revised: 10/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of the RAS-RAF-ERK-pathway using sorafenib as a first-line and regorafenib as a second-line treatment approach is the only effective therapeutic strategy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent studies suggest that wild-type KRAS and HRAS isoforms could majorly contribute to HCC progression and sorafenib resistance. In contrast, the role of neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog (NRAS) in HCC remained elusive. In this study, wild-type NRAS was found to be overexpressed in HCC cell lines, preclinical HCC models, and human HCC tissues. Moreover, NRAS overexpression correlated with poor survival and proliferation in vivo. However, si-RNA-pool–mediated NRAS knockdown showed only slight effects on HCC proliferation, clonogenicity, and AKT activity. We determined that KRAS upregulation served as a functional compensatory mechanism in the absence of NRAS, which was overcome by combined inhibition of NRAS and KRAS in HCC cells. Furthermore, NRAS expression was elevated in sorafenib-resistant compared to nonresistant HCC cells, and NRAS knockdown enhanced sorafenib efficacy in resistant cells. In summary, NRAS appears to be a prognostic marker in HCC and contributes to sorafenib resistance. Regarding potential therapeutic strategies, NRAS inhibition in HCC should be combined with KRAS inhibition to prevent KRAS-mediated rescue effects.
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22
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Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers with high mortality rate. It is a heterogeneous cancer with diverse inter- and intra-heterogeneity, also in terms of histology, prognosis, and molecular profiles. A rapidly growing evidence has demonstrated that some HCCs, if not all, were caused by the activation of the cancer stem cells (CSC), a small population within the cancer that is responsible for the initiation and maintenance of cancer growth. Until now, various populations of hepatic CSC with more than ten different phenotypical protein markers, such as CD133, CD90, EpCAM, CD24, and CD13, have been identified and validated in xenotransplantation models. They are associated with risk factors, prognosis, chemo-resistance, and metastasis. This chapter summarizes available data on different hepatic CSC markers for the development of potential future therapy.
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23
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Fabregat I, Caballero-Díaz D. Transforming Growth Factor-β-Induced Cell Plasticity in Liver Fibrosis and Hepatocarcinogenesis. Front Oncol 2018; 8:357. [PMID: 30250825 PMCID: PMC6139328 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) family plays relevant roles in the regulation of different cellular processes that are essential for tissue and organ homeostasis. In the case of the liver, TGF-β signaling participates in different stages of disease progression, from initial liver injury toward fibrosis, cirrhosis and cancer. When a chronic injury takes place, mobilization of lymphocytes and other inflammatory cells occur, thus setting the stage for persistence of an inflammatory response. Macrophages produce profibrotic mediators, among them, TGF-β, which is responsible for activation -transdifferentiation- of quiescent hepatic stellate cells (HSC) to a myofibroblast (MFB) phenotype. MFBs are the principal source of extracellular matrix protein (ECM) accumulation and prominent mediators of fibrogenesis. TGF-β also mediates an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in hepatocytes that may contribute, directly or indirectly, to increase the MFB population. In hepatocarcinogenesis, TGF-β plays a dual role, behaving as a suppressor factor at early stages, but contributing to later tumor progression, once cells escape from its cytostatic effects. As part of its potential pro-tumorigenic actions, TGF-β induces EMT in liver tumor cells, which increases its pro-migratory and invasive potential. In parallel, TGF-β also induces changes in tumor cell plasticity, conferring properties of a migratory tumor initiating cell (TIC). The main aim of this review is to shed light about the pleiotropic actions of TGF-β that explain its effects on the different liver cell populations. The cross-talk with other signaling pathways that contribute to TGF-β effects, in particular the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), will be presented. Finally, we will discuss the rationale for targeting the TGF-β pathway in liver pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Fabregat
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Oncology Program, CIBEREHD, National Biomedical Research Institute on Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Caballero-Díaz
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Oncology Program, CIBEREHD, National Biomedical Research Institute on Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
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24
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Transient receptor potential vanilloid-type 2 targeting on stemness in liver cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 105:697-706. [PMID: 29906748 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The malignant phenotype of the cells resulting from human liver cancer is driven by liver cancer stem-like cells (LCSLCs). Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid-type 2 channel (TRPV2) contributes to the progression of different tumor types, including liver cancer. In the current study, the TRPV2 expression levels give rise to the effect on stemness in liver cancer cell lines. TRPV2 knockdown in HepG2 cells enhanced spheroid and colony formation, and expression levels of CD133, CD44 and ALDH1 whereas the opposite effects were observed in TRPV2 enforced expression in SMMC-7721 cells. Furthermore, TRPV2 overexpression restored inhibition of spheroid and colony formation, and stem cell markers expression in HepG2 cells with TRPV2 silencing. The addition of the TRPV2 agonist probenecid and the TRPV2 antagonist tranilast suppressed and/or increased in vitro spheroid and colony formation, and stem cell marker expression of LCSLCs and/or liver cancer cell lines, respectively. Notably, probenecid and tranilast significantly inhibited or promoted tumor growth of HepG2 xenografts in the severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mouse model, respectively. TRPV2 expression at protein levels revealed converse correlation with those of CD133 and CD44 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue. Collectively, the data demonstrate that TRPV2 exert effects on stemness of liver cancer and is a potential target in the treatment of human liver cancer patients.
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25
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Huang WC, Tung SL, Chen YL, Chen PM, Chu PY. IFI44L is a novel tumor suppressor in human hepatocellular carcinoma affecting cancer stemness, metastasis, and drug resistance via regulating met/Src signaling pathway. BMC Cancer 2018; 18:609. [PMID: 29848298 PMCID: PMC5977745 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-018-4529-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The disease recurrent rate is relatively high resulted in poor 5-year survival in advanced HCC. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been considered to be one of the main mechanisms for chemoresistance, metastasis, and recurrent disease. Interferon-induced protein 44-like (IFI44L) gene is a type I interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) and belongs to the IFI44 family. Previous reports indicated antiviral activity against HCV in IFI44L, however, its precise role and function in HCC has not been unveiled. METHODS To explore the characteristics of hepatic CSCs, we successfully enriched hepatic cancer stem-like cells from three established liver cancer cell lines (Hep3B, HepG2, and PLC lines). Parental Hep3B and HepG2 cells and their sphere cells were treated with doxorubicin for 48 h and cell viability was measured by MTT assay. HCC tissue blocks from 217 patients were sampled for tissue microarray (TMA). Follow-up information and histopathological and clinical data including age, gender, tumor grade, advanced stages, HBV, HCV, tumor number, tumor size, relapse-free survival, and overall survival were obtained from the cancer registry and medical charts. The liver TMA was evaluated for IFI44L expression using immunohistochemical staining and scores. RESULTS These hepatic cancer stem-like cells possess important cancer stemness characteristics including sphere-forming abilities, expressing important HCC cancer stem cell markers, and more chemoresistant. Interestingly, we found that overexpression of IFI44L decreased chemoresistance towards doxorubicin and knockdown of IFI44L restored chemoresistance as well as promoted sphere formation. Furthermore, we found that depletion of IFI44L enhanced migration, invasion, and pulmonary metastasis through activating Met/Src signaling pathway. Clinically, the expression level of IFI44L significantly reduced in HCC tumor tissues. Low expression of IFI44L levels also correlated with larger tumor size, disease relapse, advanced stages, and poor clinical survival in HCC patients. CONCLUSION Taken together, we first demonstrated that IFI44L is a novel tumor suppressor to affect cancer stemness, metastasis, and drug resistance via regulating Met/Src signaling pathway in HCC and can be serve as an important prognostic marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Chieh Huang
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shiao-Lin Tung
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Ton-Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Li Chen
- School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of General Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Po-Ming Chen
- Taiwan Agricultural Chemicals and Toxic Substances Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Yi Chu
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei, Taiwan. .,Department of Pathology, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, No.542, Sec.1, Chung-Shang Road, Changhua City, Changhua County, 50008, Taiwan, Republic of China. .,National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan.
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26
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Nishiyama M, Tsunedomi R, Yoshimura K, Hashimoto N, Matsukuma S, Ogihara H, Kanekiyo S, Iida M, Sakamoto K, Suzuki N, Takeda S, Yamamoto S, Yoshino S, Ueno T, Hamamoto Y, Hazama S, Nagano H. Metastatic ability and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in induced cancer stem-like hepatoma cells. Cancer Sci 2018; 109:1101-1109. [PMID: 29417690 PMCID: PMC5891178 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Revised: 01/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to play important roles in cancer malignancy. Previously, we successfully induced sphere cancer stem-like cells (CSLCs) from several cell lines and observed the property of chemoresistance. In the present study, we examined the metastatic potential of these induced CSLCs. Sphere cancer stem-like cells were induced from a human hepatoma cell line (SK-HEP-1) in a unique medium containing neural survival factor-1. Splenic injection of cells into immune-deficient mice was used to assess hematogenous liver metastasis. Transcriptomic strand-specific RNA-sequencing analysis, quantitative real-time PCR, and flow cytometry were carried out to examine the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes. Splenic injection of CSLCs resulted in a significantly increased frequency of liver metastasis compared to parental cancer cells (P < .05). In CSLCs, a mesenchymal marker, Vimentin, and EMT-promoting transcription factors, Snail and Twist1, were upregulated compared to parental cells. Correspondingly, significant enrichment of the molecular signature of the EMT in CSLCs relative to parental cancer cells was shown (q < 0.01) by RNA-sequencing analysis. This analysis also revealed differential expression of CD44 isoforms between CSLCs and parental cancer cells. Increasing CD44 isoforms containing an extra exon were observed, and the standard CD44 isoform decreased in CSLCs compared to parental cells. Interestingly, another CD44 variant isoform encoding a short cytoplasmic tail was also upregulated in CSLCs (11.7-fold). Our induced CSLCs possess an increased liver metastatic potential in which promotion of the EMT and upregulation of CD44 variant isoforms, especially short-tail, were observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuo Nishiyama
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Ryouichi Tsunedomi
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Kiyoshi Yoshimura
- Division of Cancer ImmunotherapyExploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial CenterNational Cancer CenterTokyoJapan
| | - Noriaki Hashimoto
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Satoshi Matsukuma
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Hiroyuki Ogihara
- Division of Electrical, Electronic and Information EngineeringYamaguchi University Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for InnovationUbeJapan
| | - Shinsuke Kanekiyo
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Michihisa Iida
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Kazuhiko Sakamoto
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Nobuaki Suzuki
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Shigeru Takeda
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Shigeru Yamamoto
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
| | | | - Tomio Ueno
- Department of Digestive SurgerySchool of MedicineKawasaki Medical SchoolKurashikiJapan
| | - Yoshihiko Hamamoto
- Division of Electrical, Electronic and Information EngineeringYamaguchi University Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for InnovationUbeJapan
| | - Shoichi Hazama
- Department of Translational Research and Developmental Therapeutics against CancerYamaguchi University Faculty of MedicineUbeJapan
| | - Hiroaki Nagano
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine SurgeryYamaguchi University Graduate School of MedicineUbeJapan
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27
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Noncoding RNAs in liver cancer stem cells: The big impact of little things. Cancer Lett 2018; 418:51-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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28
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Zhang Q, Li XT, Chen Y, Chen JQ, Zhu JY, Meng Y, Wang XQ, Li Y, Geng SS, Xie CF, Wu JS, Zhong CY, Han HY. Wnt/β-catenin signaling mediates the suppressive effects of diallyl trisulfide on colorectal cancer stem cells. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2018; 81:969-977. [DOI: 10.1007/s00280-018-3565-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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29
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Correnti M, Raggi C. Stem-like plasticity and heterogeneity of circulating tumor cells: current status and prospect challenges in liver cancer. Oncotarget 2018; 8:7094-7115. [PMID: 27738343 PMCID: PMC5351693 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Poor prognosis and high recurrence remain leading causes of primary liver cancerassociated mortality. The spread of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood plays a major role in the initiation of metastasis and tumor recurrence after surgery. Nevertheless, only a subset of CTCs can survive, migrate to distant sites and establish secondary tumors. Consistent with cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis, stem-like CTCs might represent a potential source for cancer relapse and distant metastasis. Thus, identification of stem-like metastasis-initiating CTC-subset may provide useful clinically prognostic information. This review will emphasize the most relevant findings of CTCs in the context of stem-like biology associated to liver carcinogenesis. In this view, the emerging field of stem-like CTCs may deliver substantial contribution in liver cancer field in order to move to personalized approaches for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Correnti
- Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Chiara Raggi
- Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
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30
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Selective and Irreversible Induction of Necroptotic Cell Death in Lung Tumorspheres by Short-Term Exposure to Verapamil in Combination with Sorafenib. Stem Cells Int 2017; 2017:5987015. [PMID: 29201061 PMCID: PMC5671752 DOI: 10.1155/2017/5987015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Revised: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence of highly resistant cancer cells and the toxicity to normal cells are key factors that limit chemotherapy. Here, we used two models of highly resistant lung cancer cells: (1) adherent cells growing under prolonged periods of serum starvation (PPSS) and (2) cells growing as floating tumorspheres (FTs) to evaluate the effect of Verapamil (VP) in combination with Sorafenib (SF). Compared to cells growing under routine culture conditions (RCCs), PPPS cells or FTs were highly sensitive to short-term exposure (24 h) to VP 100 μM + SF 5 μM (VP100 + SF5). Recovery experiments exposing cells to VP100 + SF5 for 24 h followed by incubation in drug-free media for 48 h demonstrated that while PPSS as well as FT cells were unable to recover, cancer cells and the noncancerous cell line Beas-2B growing under RCCs were less sensitive and were also able to recover significantly. VP100 + SF5 induced significant changes in the expression of protein associated with apoptosis, autophagy, and to a lesser extent necroptosis. Coincubation experiments with z-VAD-FMK, necrostatin 1, or chloroquine showed evidence that necroptosis played a central role. Our data demonstrates that highly resistant cancer cells can be selectively eliminated by VP + SF and that necroptosis plays a central role.
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31
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Involvement of inflammation and its related microRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget 2017; 8:22145-22165. [PMID: 27888618 PMCID: PMC5400654 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most commonly diagnosed type of cancer. The tumor inflammatory microenvironment regulates almost every step towards liver tumorigenesis and subsequent progression, and regulation of the inflammation-related signaling pathways, cytokines, chemokines and non-coding RNAs influences the proliferation, migration and metastasis of liver tumor cells. Inflammation fine-tunes the cancer microenvironment to favor epithelial-mesenchymal transition, in which cancer stem cells maintain tumorigenic potential. Emerging evidence points to inflammation-related microRNAs as crucial molecules to integrate the complex cellular and molecular crosstalk during HCC progression. Thus understanding the mechanisms by which inflammation regulates microRNAs might provide novel and admissible strategies for preventing, diagnosing and treating HCC. In this review, we will update three hypotheses of hepatocarcinogenesis and elaborate the most predominant inflammation signaling pathways, i.e. IL-6/STAT3 and NF-κB. We also try to summarize the crucial tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressing microRNAs and detail how they regulate HCC initiation and progression and collaborate with other critical modulators in this review.
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32
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Abstract
Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that human cancers arise from various tissues of origin that initiate from cancer stem cells (CSCs) or cancer-initiating cells. The extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways are dysregulated in CSCs, and these cells play crucial roles in tumor initiation, progression, cell death resistance, chemo- and radiotherapy resistance, and tumor recurrence. Understanding CSC-specific signaling proteins and pathways is necessary to identify specific therapeutic targets that may lead to the development of more efficient therapies selectively targeting CSCs. Several signaling pathways-including the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK), NOTCH1, and Wnt/Β-catenin&and expression of the CSC markers CD133, CD24, CD44, Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, and ALDH1A1 maintain CSC properties. Studying such pathways may help to understand CSC biology and lead to the development of potential therapeutic interventions to render CSCs more sensitive to cell death triggered by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Moreover, recent demonstrations of dedifferentiation of differentiated cancer cells into CSC-like cells have created significant complexity in the CSCs hypothesis. Therefore, any successful therapeutic agent or combination of drugs for cancer therapy must eliminate not only CSCs but differentiated cancer cells and the entire bulk of tumor cells. This review article expands on the CSC hypothesis and paradigm with respect to major signaling pathways and effectors that regulate CSC apoptosis resistance. Moreover, selective CSC apoptotic modulators and their therapeutic potential for making tumors more responsive to therapy are discussed. The use of novel therapies, including small-molecule inhibitors of specific proteins in signaling pathways that regulate stemness, proliferation and migration of CSCs, immunotherapy, and noncoding microRNAs may provide better means of treating CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad R Safa
- Indiana University Simon Cancer Center and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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33
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Karimabad MN, Mahmoodi M, Jafarzadeh A, Darehkordi A, Hajizadeh MR, Khorramdelazad H, Sayadi AR, Rahmani F, Hassanshahi G. Evaluating of OCT-4 and NANOG was differentially regulated by a new derivative indole in leukemia cell line. Immunol Lett 2017; 190:7-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2017.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Revised: 06/11/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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34
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Jayachandran A, Shrestha R, Dhungel B, Huang IT, Vasconcelos MYK, Morrison BJ, Ramlogan-Steel CA, Steel JC. Murine hepatocellular carcinoma derived stem cells reveal epithelial-to-mesenchymal plasticity. World J Stem Cells 2017; 9:159-168. [PMID: 29026462 PMCID: PMC5620425 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v9.i9.159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To establish a model to enrich and characterize stem-like cells from murine normal liver and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and to further investigate stem-like cell association with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
METHODS In this study, we utilized a stem cell conditioned serum-free medium to enrich stem-like cells from mouse HCC and normal liver cell lines, Hepa 1-6 and AML12, respectively. We isolated the 3-dimensional spheres and assessed their stemness characteristics by evaluating the RNA levels of stemness genes and a cell surface stem cell marker by quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR (qRT-PCR). Next, we examined the relationship between stem cells and EMT using qRT-PCR.
RESULTS Three-dimensional spheres were enriched by culturing murine HCC and normal hepatocyte cell lines in stem cell conditioned serum-free medium supplemented with epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and heparin sulfate. The 3-dimensional spheres had enhanced stemness markers such as Klf4 and Bmi1 and hepatic cancer stem cell (CSC) marker Cd44 compared to parental cells grown as adherent cultures. We report that epithelial markers E-cadherin and ZO-1 were downregulated, while mesenchymal markers Vimentin and Fibronectin were upregulated in 3-dimensional spheres. The 3-dimensional spheres also exhibited changes in expression of Snai, Zeb and Twist family of EMT transcription factors.
CONCLUSION Our novel method successfully enriched stem-like cells which possessed an EMT phenotype. The isolation and characterization of murine hepatic CSCs could establish a precise target for the development of more effective therapies for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparna Jayachandran
- the University of Queensland School of Medicine and the Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia
| | - Ritu Shrestha
- the University of Queensland School of Medicine and the Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia
| | - Bijay Dhungel
- the University of Queensland School of Medicine and the Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia
| | - I-Tao Huang
- the University of Queensland School of Medicine and the Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia
| | - Marianna Yumi Kawashima Vasconcelos
- the University of Queensland School of Medicine and the Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia
| | - Brian J Morrison
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Infectious Diseases Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD 20910, United States
| | - Charmaine A Ramlogan-Steel
- the University of Queensland School of Medicine and the Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia
| | - Jason C Steel
- the University of Queensland School of Medicine and the Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia
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35
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Chen X, Liao R, Li D, Sun J. Induced cancer stem cells generated by radiochemotherapy and their therapeutic implications. Oncotarget 2017; 8:17301-17312. [PMID: 28038467 PMCID: PMC5370042 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.14230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Local and distant recurrence of malignant tumors following radio- and/or chemotherapy correlates with poor prognosis of patients. Among the reasons for cancer recurrence, preexisting cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered the most likely cause due to their properties of self-renewal, pluripotency, plasticity and tumorigenicity. It has been demonstrated that preexisting cancer stem cells derive from normal stem cells and differentiated somatic cells that undergo transformation and dedifferentiation respectively under certain conditions. However, recent studies have revealed that cancer stem cells can also be induced from non-stem cancer cells by radiochemotherapy, constituting the subpopulation of induced cancer stem cells (iCSCs). These findings suggest that radiochemotherapy has the side effect of directly transforming non-stem cancer cells into induced cancer stem cells, possibly contributing to tumor recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, drugs targeting cancer stem cells or preventing dedifferentiation of non-stem cancer cells can be combined with radiochemotherapy to improve its antitumor efficacy. The current review is to investigate the mechanisms by which induced cancer stem cells are generated by radiochemotherapy and hence provide new strategies for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiewan Chen
- Medical English Department, College of Basic Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Cancer Institute of PLA, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Rongxia Liao
- Medical English Department, College of Basic Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dezhi Li
- Cancer Institute of PLA, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jianguo Sun
- Cancer Institute of PLA, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
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36
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Kim B, Jung JW, Jung J, Han Y, Suh DH, Kim HS, Dhanasekaran DN, Song YS. PGC1α induced by reactive oxygen species contributes to chemoresistance of ovarian cancer cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:60299-60311. [PMID: 28947972 PMCID: PMC5601140 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 06/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant cells are subjected to high levels of oxidative stress that arise from the increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to their altered metabolism. They activate antioxidant mechanisms to relieve the oxidative stress, and thereby acquire resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. In the present study, we found that PGC1α, a key molecule that both increases mitochondrial biogenesis and activates antioxidant enzymes, enhances chemoresistance in response to ROS generated by exposure of cells to ovarian sphere-forming culture conditions. Cells in the cultured spheres exhibited stem cell-like characteristics, and maintained higher ROS levels than their parent cells. Intriguingly, scavenging ROS diminished the aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-positive cell population, and inhibited proliferation of the spheres. ROS production triggered PGC1α expression, which in turn caused changes to mitochondrial biogenesis and activity within the spheres. The drug-resistant phenotype was observed in both spheres and PGC1α-overexpressing parent cells, and conversely, PGC1α knockdown sensitized the spheres to cisplatin treatment. Similarly, floating malignant cells derived from patient ascitic fluid included an ALDH-positive population and exhibited the tendency of a positive correlation between expressions of multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) and PGC1α. The present study suggests that ROS-induced PGC1α mediates chemoresistance, and represents a novel therapeutic target to overcome chemoresistance in ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyun Kim
- Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea.,Nano System Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Je Won Jung
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jaeyoung Jung
- Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea.,WCU Biomodulation, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Youngjin Han
- Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea.,WCU Biomodulation, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Dong Hoon Suh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 13620, Korea
| | - Hee Seung Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Danny N Dhanasekaran
- Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73012, United States of America
| | - Yong Sang Song
- Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea.,WCU Biomodulation, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea
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37
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Wuputra K, Lin CS, Tsai MH, Ku CC, Lin WH, Yang YH, Kuo KK, Yokoyama KK. Cancer cell reprogramming to identify the genes competent for generating liver cancer stem cells. Inflamm Regen 2017; 37:15. [PMID: 29259714 PMCID: PMC5725927 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-017-0041-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis postulates that cancer originates from the malignant transformation of stem/progenitor cells and is considered to apply to many cancers, including liver cancer. Identification that CSCs are responsible for drug resistance, metastasis, and secondary tumor appearance suggests that these populations are novel obligatory targets for the treatment of cancer. Here, we describe our new method for identifying potential CSC candidates. The reprogramming of cancer cells via induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology is a novel therapy for the treatment and for the study of CSC-related genes. This technology has advantages for studying the interactions between CSC-related genes and the cancer niche microenvironment. This technology may also provide a useful platform for studying the genes involved in the generation of CSCs before and after reprogramming, and for elucidating the mechanisms underlying cancer initiation and progression. The present review summarizes the current understanding of transcription factors involved in the generation of liver CSCs from liver cancer cell-derived iPSCs and how these contribute to oncogenesis, and discusses the modeling of liver cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenly Wuputra
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807 Taiwan
| | - Chang-Shen Lin
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807 Taiwan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, 805 Taiwan
| | - Ming-Ho Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807 Taiwan
| | - Chia-Chen Ku
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807 Taiwan
| | - Wen-Hsin Lin
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807 Taiwan
| | - Ya-Han Yang
- Center of Stem Cell Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807 Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807 Taiwan
| | - Kung-Kai Kuo
- Center of Stem Cell Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807 Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807 Taiwan
| | - Kazunari K. Yokoyama
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807 Taiwan
- Center of Stem Cell Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807 Taiwan
- Center of Infectious Diseases and Cancer Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807 Taiwan
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807 Taiwan
- Faculty of Molecular Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Tokushima Bunri University, Sanuki, 763-2193 Japan
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38
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Qureshi-Baig K, Ullmann P, Haan S, Letellier E. Tumor-Initiating Cells: a criTICal review of isolation approaches and new challenges in targeting strategies. Mol Cancer 2017; 16:40. [PMID: 28209178 PMCID: PMC5314476 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-017-0602-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 01/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Most cancers contain a subpopulation of highly tumorigenic cells, known as cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor-initiating cells (TICs). Targeting TICs may be essential to achieve cure, because of their self-renewal and tumorigenic properties as well as their resistance to conventional therapies. Despite significant advances in TIC biology, their isolation and identification remain largely disputed and incompletely established. In this review, we discuss the latest developments in isolation and culturing approaches of TICs, with focus on colorectal cancer (CRC). We feature recent findings on TIC-relevant signaling pathways and the metabolic identity of TICs, as well as their current clinical implications. Lastly, we highlight the influence of inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity on TIC function and targeting approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Komal Qureshi-Baig
- Life Sciences Research Unit, Molecular Disease Mechanisms Group, University of Luxembourg, 6, Avenue du Swing, L-4367, Campus Belval, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Pit Ullmann
- Life Sciences Research Unit, Molecular Disease Mechanisms Group, University of Luxembourg, 6, Avenue du Swing, L-4367, Campus Belval, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Serge Haan
- Life Sciences Research Unit, Molecular Disease Mechanisms Group, University of Luxembourg, 6, Avenue du Swing, L-4367, Campus Belval, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Elisabeth Letellier
- Life Sciences Research Unit, Molecular Disease Mechanisms Group, University of Luxembourg, 6, Avenue du Swing, L-4367, Campus Belval, Belvaux, Luxembourg.
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Ikemoto T, Shimada M, Yamada S. Pathophysiology of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation. Hepatol Res 2017; 47:23-30. [PMID: 26990590 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.12705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is effective for the local control of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly when a patient's liver functional reserve does not allow radical resection. There is controversy regarding the superiority of surgical resection compared with RFA for such patients, particularly those with three or fewer tumors with diameters ≤3 cm. Moreover, HCC often recurs after RFA, and the tumor cells show distinct phenotypic changes. Incomplete ablation accounts for tumor recurrence, and recent studies provide new insights into the biological mechanisms responsible for the pathological changes of HCC after RFA. This review focuses on the roles of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stemness that are driven by a mechanism that involves microRNA-mediated upregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1. The studies reviewed here provide compelling evidence that complete ablation of HCC is required to prevent recurrence and indicate that further research is urgently required to develop a new systematic strategy to prevent tumor recurrence by targeting hypoxia-inducible factor-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Ikemoto
- Department of Surgery, Tokushima University, Tokushima City, Japan
| | - Mitsuo Shimada
- Department of Surgery, Tokushima University, Tokushima City, Japan
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Rosa R, D'Amato V, De Placido S, Bianco R. Approaches for targeting cancer stem cells drug resistance. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2016; 11:1201-1212. [PMID: 27700193 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2016.1243525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Several reports have suggested that a population of undifferentiated cells known as cancer stem cells (CSCs), is responsible for cancer formation and maintenance. In the last decade, the presence of CSCs in solid cancers have been reported. Areas covered: This review summarizes the main approaches for targeting CSCs drug resistance. It is indeed known that CSCs may contribute to resistance to conventional chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted agents. Among the mechanisms by which CSCs escape anticancer therapies, removal of therapeutic agents by drug efflux pumps, enhanced DNA damage repair, activation of mitogenic/anti-apoptotic pathways; the main features of CSCs, stemness and EMT, are involved, as well as the capability to evade immune response. Expert opinion: Different approaches are suitable to target CSCs mediated drug resistance. Some of them are currently under clinical evaluation in different cancer types. A better understanding of CSC biology, as well as more accurate study design, may maximize the therapeutic effects of these agents. In this respect, it is important to establish: (i) which molecules should be targeted; (ii) what drug combinations may be suitable; (iii) which patient settings will CSC targeting offer the highest clinical benefit; and (iv) how to integrate therapeutic approaches targeting CSCs with standard cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Rosa
- a Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia , Università di Napoli Federico II , Napoli , Italy
| | - Valentina D'Amato
- a Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia , Università di Napoli Federico II , Napoli , Italy
| | - Sabino De Placido
- a Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia , Università di Napoli Federico II , Napoli , Italy
| | - Roberto Bianco
- a Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia , Università di Napoli Federico II , Napoli , Italy
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41
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Pak PJ, Kang BH, Park SH, Sung JH, Joo YH, Jung SH, Chung N. Antitumor effects of herbal mixture extract in the pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line PANC1. Oncol Rep 2016; 36:2875-2883. [DOI: 10.3892/or.2016.5067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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42
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Jayachandran A, Dhungel B, Steel JC. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal plasticity of cancer stem cells: therapeutic targets in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hematol Oncol 2016; 9:74. [PMID: 27578206 PMCID: PMC5006452 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-016-0307-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the most common and lethal malignancies worldwide despite the development of various therapeutic strategies. A better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for HCC initiation and progression is essential for the development of more effective therapies. The cancer stem cell (CSC) model has provided new insights into the development and progression of HCC. CSCs are specialized tumor cells that are capable of self-renewal and have long-term repopulation potential. As they are important mediators of tumor proliferation, invasion, metastasis, therapy resistance, and cancer relapse, the selective targeting of this crucial population of cells has the potential to improve HCC patient outcomes and survival. In recent years, the role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the advancement of HCC has gained increasing attention. This multi-step reprograming process resulting in a phenotype switch from an epithelial to a mesenchymal cellular state has been closely associated with the acquisition of stem cell-like attributes in tumors. Moreover, CSC mediates tumor metastasis by maintaining plasticity to transition between epithelial or mesenchymal states. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms of the reprograming switches that determine the progression through EMT and generation of CSC is essential for developing clinically relevant drug targets. This review provides an overview of the proposed roles of CSC in HCC and discusses recent results supporting the emerging role of EMT in facilitating hepatic CSC plasticity. In particular, we discuss how these important new insights may facilitate rational development of combining CSC- and EMT-targeted therapies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparna Jayachandran
- The University of Queensland School of Medicine and the Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bijay Dhungel
- The University of Queensland School of Medicine and the Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jason C Steel
- The University of Queensland School of Medicine and the Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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43
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Yang XJ. Liver cancer stem cells and new strategies for targeted therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2016; 24:3337-3346. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v24.i22.3337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past ten years, increasing studies show that liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) are responsible not only for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) initiation and development but also for the generation of distant metastasis and relapse after therapy. Therefore, further research for LCSCs is considered a new avenue to explore the cause of HCC invasion and metastasis in order to formulate prevention and control strategies. Current traditional cancer therapies including chemotherapy and radiotherapy which primarily target rapidly dividing and most likely well differentiated tumor cells, would fail to eliminate LCSCs. After surgical removal of HCC mass, the remaining LCSCs still have the ability to differentiate, proliferate and even migrate to other places to form metastatic tumors. Therefore, to explore various kinds of targeted therapies for LCSCs is the only way to break through the "bottleneck" of HCC treatment. Strategies for targeted therapy of HCC include inhibiting LCSCs proliferation, inducing apoptosis and differentiation, increasing chemotherapy sensitivity and disrupting the tumor niche essential for CSC homeostasis.
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Wang X, Sun W, Shen W, Xia M, Chen C, Xiang D, Ning B, Cui X, Li H, Li X, Ding J, Wang H. Long non-coding RNA DILC regulates liver cancer stem cells via IL-6/STAT3 axis. J Hepatol 2016; 64:1283-94. [PMID: 26812074 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2016.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 229] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Revised: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Emerging evidence has demonstrated the aberrant expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in various malignancies including HCC. However, the knowledge of cancer stem cell-related lncRNAs remains limited. METHODS lnc-DILC (lncRNA downregulated in liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs)) was identified by microarray and validated by real-time PCR. The role of lnc-DILC in LCSCs was assessed both in vitro and in vivo. Pull down assay and oligoribonucleotides or oligodeoxynucleotides treatment were conducted to evaluate the interaction between lnc-DILC and interleukin-6 (IL-6) promoter. RESULTS Depletion of lnc-DILC markedly enhanced LCSC expansion and facilitated HCC initiation and progression, whereas ectopic expression of lnc-DILC dramatically inhibited LCSC expansion. Mechanistically, lnc-DILC inhibited the autocrine IL-6/STAT3 signaling. The putative binding locus of lnc-DILC within IL-6 promoter was confirmed by pull down assay. Consistently, the oligoribonucleotide mimics and an oligodeoxynucleotide decoy of lnc-DILC abrogated the effects on IL-6 transcription, STAT3 activation and LCSC expansion triggered by lnc-DILC depletion and lnc-DILC overexpression. Moreover, our data suggested that lnc-DILC mediated the crosstalk between TNF-α/NF-κB signaling and IL-6/STAT3 cascade. Clinical investigation demonstrated the reduction of lnc-DILC in patient HCCs, and suggested the correlation between lnc-DILC levels and IL-6, EpCAM or CD24 expression. Decreased lnc-DILC expression in HCCs predicts early recurrence and short survival of patients, highlighting its prognostic value. CONCLUSIONS lnc-DILC mediates the crosstalk between TNF-α/NF-κB signaling and autocrine IL-6/STAT3 cascade and connects hepatic inflammation with LCSC expansion, suggesting that lnc-DILC could be not only a potential prognostic biomarker, but also a possible therapeutic target against LCSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Wang
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 200438 Shanghai, China
| | - Wen Sun
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 200438 Shanghai, China
| | - Weifeng Shen
- The Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 200438 Shanghai, China
| | - Mingyang Xia
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 200438 Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 200438 Shanghai, China
| | - Daimin Xiang
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 200438 Shanghai, China
| | - Beifang Ning
- The Department of Gastroenterology, Changzheng Hospital, 200003 Shanghai, China
| | - Xiuliang Cui
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 200438 Shanghai, China
| | - Hengyu Li
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 200438 Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaofeng Li
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 200438 Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Ding
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 200438 Shanghai, China; National Center for Liver Cancer, 201805 Shanghai, China.
| | - Hongyang Wang
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 200438 Shanghai, China; National Center for Liver Cancer, 201805 Shanghai, China.
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Yamashita M, Wada H, Eguchi H, Ogawa H, Yamada D, Noda T, Asaoka T, Kawamoto K, Gotoh K, Umeshita K, Doki Y, Mori M. A CD13 inhibitor, ubenimex, synergistically enhances the effects of anticancer drugs in hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Oncol 2016; 49:89-98. [PMID: 27121124 PMCID: PMC4902077 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2016.3496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) were reported to be involved in resistance to chemo/radiation therapy. We previously reported that CD13 was both a marker of CSCs and a candidate therapeutic target in HCC. In the present study, we explored the antitumor effect of a combined therapy, where ubenimex, a CD13 inhibitor, was combined with conventional anticancer drugs, fluorouracil (5-FU), cisplatin (CDDP), doxorubicin (DXR) and sorafenib (SOR), and we elucidated the mechanism of these combination therapies. We evaluated changes in the expression of CD13 before and after treatment with anticancer drugs and with or without ubenimex in the human HCC cell lines HuH7 and PLC/PRF/5. The interactions between the anticancer drugs and ubenimex were determined with isobologram analyses. We analyzed cell cycle, apoptosis, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels to explore the mechanisms of the combination therapies. In both cell lines, the expression of CD13 increased after a 72-h exposure to each anticancer drug alone (P<0.05), and the expression of CD13 decreased with ubenimex administration (P<0.05). Isobologram analyses indicated that ubenimex had synergistic effects with 5-FU, CDDP and DXR, and an additive effect with SOR. Cell cycle analyses showed that ubenimex decreased the proportion of cells in G0/G1. Ubenimex enhanced the effects of 5-FU, CDDP and DXR by increasing apoptosis and intracellular ROS levels. In combination therapies, ubenimex synergistically enhanced the antitumor effects of 5-FU, CDDP and DXR on cell cycle regulation and apoptosis induction in HCC cell lines. The effects of ubenimex were due to increased intracellular ROS levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masafumi Yamashita
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Wada
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Eguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hisataka Ogawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Daisaku Yamada
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Takehiro Noda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tadafumi Asaoka
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Koichi Kawamoto
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kunihito Gotoh
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Koji Umeshita
- Division of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Doki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masaki Mori
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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New Insights into the Crossroads between EMT and Stemness in the Context of Cancer. J Clin Med 2016; 5:jcm5030037. [PMID: 26985909 PMCID: PMC4810108 DOI: 10.3390/jcm5030037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Revised: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an example of cellular plasticity, where an epithelial cell acquires a mesenchymal-like phenotype that increases its migratory and invasive properties. Stemness is the ability of stem cells to proliferate in an asymmetric way that allows them to maintain the reservoir of undifferentiated cells with stem cell identity, but also to produce new differentiated cells. Initial works revealed that activation of the EMT program in epithelial cells induces the acquisition of stem cell properties, which in the context of cancer may contribute to the appearance of tumor initiating cells (TIC). However, a number of groups have recently reported that mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) is required for efficient metastatic colonization and that EMT may be not necessarily associated with stemness. In this review, we summarize recent findings that extend our knowledge about the crossroads between EMT and stemness and their relevance under physiological or pathological conditions.
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47
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Shukla S, Sinha S, Khan S, Kumar S, Singh K, Mitra K, Maurya R, Meeran SM. Cucurbitacin B inhibits the stemness and metastatic abilities of NSCLC via downregulation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis. Sci Rep 2016; 6:21860. [PMID: 26905250 PMCID: PMC4764833 DOI: 10.1038/srep21860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lack of effective anti-metastatic drugs creates a major hurdle for metastatic lung cancer therapy. For successful lung cancer treatment, there is a strong need of newer therapeutics with metastasis-inhibitory potential. In the present study, we determined the anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic potential of a natural plant triterpenoid, Cucurbitacin B (CuB) against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) both in vitro and in vivo. CuB demonstrated a strong anti-migratory and anti-invasive ability against metastatic NSCLC at nanomolar concentrations. CuB also showed significant tumor angiogenesis-inhibitory effects as evidenced by the inhibition of migratory, invasive and tube-forming capacities of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. CuB-mediated inhibition of angiogenesis was validated by the inhibition of pre-existing vasculature in chick embryo chorio-allantoic membrane and matrigel plugs. Similarly, CuB inhibited the migratory behavior of TGF-β1-induced experimental EMT model. The CuB-mediated inhibition of metastasis and angiogenesis was attributable to the downregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis, validated by siRNA-knockdown of Wnt3 and Wnt3a. The CuB-mediated downregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling was also validated using 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)-induced lung tumorigenesis model in vivo. Collectively, our findings suggest that CuB inhibited the metastatic abilities of NSCLC through the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samriddhi Shukla
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Division of Endocrinology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Sonam Sinha
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Division of Endocrinology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Sajid Khan
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Division of Endocrinology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Kavita Singh
- Electron Microscopy Unit, SAIF, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Kalyan Mitra
- Electron Microscopy Unit, SAIF, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Rakesh Maurya
- Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Syed Musthapa Meeran
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Division of Endocrinology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, India
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48
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Lee CH, Yu CC, Wang BY, Chang WW. Tumorsphere as an effective in vitro platform for screening anti-cancer stem cell drugs. Oncotarget 2016; 7:1215-26. [PMID: 26527320 PMCID: PMC4811455 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a sub-population of cells within cancer tissues with tumor initiation, drug resistance and metastasis properties. CSCs also have been considered as the main cause of cancer recurrence. Targeting CSCs have been suggested as the key for successful treatment against cancer. Tumorsphere cultivation is based on culturing cancer cells onto ultralow attachment surface in serum-free media under the supplementation with growth factors such as epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. Tumorsphere cultivation is widely used to analyze the self-renewal capability of CSCs and to enrich these cells from bulk cancer cells. This method also provides a reliable platform for screening potential anti-CSC agents. The in vitro anti-proliferation activity of potential agents selected from tumorsphere assay is more translatable into in vivo anti-tumorigenic activity compared with general monolayer culture. Tumorsphere assay can also measure the outcome of clinical trials for potential anti-cancer agents. In addition, tumorsphere assay may be a promising strategy in the innovation of future cancer therapeutica and may help in the screening of anti-cancer small-molecule chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che-Hsin Lee
- Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Chia Yu
- School of Dentistry, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan
- Department of Dentistry, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan
- Institute of Oral Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan
| | - Bing-Yen Wang
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, ChangHua Christian Hospital, ChangHua County, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Wei Chang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan
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Crosstalk-eliminated quantitative determination of aflatoxin B1-induced hepatocellular cancer stem cells based on concurrent monitoring of CD133, CD44, and aldehyde dehydrogenase1. Toxicol Lett 2015; 243:31-9. [PMID: 26739636 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2015.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Revised: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs), known as tumor initiating cells, have become a critically important issue for cancer therapy. Although much research has demonstrated the induction of hepato cellular carcinoma by aflatoxin B1, the formation of hepatocellular CSCs and their quantitative determination is hardly reported. In this work, it was found that hepatocellular CSCs were produced from HepG2 cells by aflatoxin B1-induced mutation, and their amount was quantitatively determined using crosstalk-eliminated multicolor cellular imaging based on quantum dot (Qdot) nanoprobes and an acousto-optical tunable filter (AOTF). Hepatocellular CSCs were acquired via magnetic bead-based sorting and observed using concurrent detection of three different markers: CD133, CD44, and aldehyde dehydrogenase1 (ALDH1). The DNA mutation of HepG2 cells caused by aflatoxin B1 was quantitatively observed via absorbance spectra of aflatoxin B1-8, 9-epoxide-DNA adducts. The percentages of hepatocellular CSCs formed in the entire HepG2 cells were determined to be 9.77±0.65%, 10.9±1.39%, 11.4±1.32%, and 12.8±0.7%, respectively, at 0 μM, 5 μM, 10 μM, and 20 μM of aflatoxin B1. The results matched well with those obtained utilizing flow cytometry. This study demonstrates that aflatoxin mediated mutation induced the conversion of hepatic cancer cell to hepatic CSCs by using a Qdot based constructed multicolor cellular imaging system.
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CZARNECKA ANNAM, SOLAREK WOJCIECH, KORNAKIEWICZ ANNA, SZCZYLIK CEZARY. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors target cancer stem cells in renal cell cancer. Oncol Rep 2015; 35:1433-42. [DOI: 10.3892/or.2015.4514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2015] [Accepted: 10/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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