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Varghese N, Majeed A, Nyalakonda S, Boortalary T, Halegoua-DeMarzio D, Hann HW. Review of Related Factors for Persistent Risk of Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:777. [PMID: 38398168 PMCID: PMC10887172 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the largest global cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Current HBV treatment options include pegylated interferon-alpha and nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs), which have been shown to be effective in reducing HBV DNA levels to become undetectable. However, the literature has shown that some patients have persistent risk of developing HCC. The mechanism in which this occurs has not been fully elucidated. However, it has been discovered that HBV's covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) integrates into the critical HCC driver genes in hepatocytes upon initial infection; additionally, these are not targets of current NA therapies. Some studies suggest that HBV undergoes compartmentalization in peripheral blood mononuclear cells that serve as a sanctuary for replication during antiviral therapy. The aim of this review is to expand on how patients with HBV may develop HCC despite years of HBV viral suppression and carry worse prognosis than treatment-naive HBV patients who develop HCC. Furthermore, HCC recurrence after initial surgical or locoregional treatment in this setting may cause carcinogenic cells to behave more aggressively during treatment. Curative novel therapies which target the life cycle of HBV, modulate host immune response, and inhibit HBV RNA translation are being investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nevin Varghese
- Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (N.V.); (A.M.); (S.N.); (T.B.); (D.H.-D.)
| | - Amry Majeed
- Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (N.V.); (A.M.); (S.N.); (T.B.); (D.H.-D.)
| | - Suraj Nyalakonda
- Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (N.V.); (A.M.); (S.N.); (T.B.); (D.H.-D.)
| | - Tina Boortalary
- Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (N.V.); (A.M.); (S.N.); (T.B.); (D.H.-D.)
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Dina Halegoua-DeMarzio
- Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (N.V.); (A.M.); (S.N.); (T.B.); (D.H.-D.)
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Hie-Won Hann
- Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (N.V.); (A.M.); (S.N.); (T.B.); (D.H.-D.)
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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Zeng J, Wu J, Pang S, Wang F, Yu X, Zhang S, Zeng J, Yan J, Lian J. Brassicasterol inhibits hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma development via suppression of AKT signaling pathway. Infect Agent Cancer 2023; 18:22. [PMID: 37081537 PMCID: PMC10116783 DOI: 10.1186/s13027-023-00502-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) does not respond well to current treatment options like sorafenib, and there is an urgent need for developing therapeutical strategies for HBV + HCC. Brassicasterol has previously shown anti-cancer and anti-viral activities, however, its value against HBV + HCC remains to be explored. METHODS The inhibitory effect of brassicasterol and sorafenib was evaluated on HBV + HCC cell lines and xenograft mouse model. The cytotoxicity of brassicasterol on normal liver cells were measured by LDH assay. AKT agonist was used to identify the targeted signaling pathway by brassicasterol. RESULTS Brassicasterol induced HBV + HCC cell death in a both dose-dependent and time-dependent manner, and such inhibition was more potent than sorafenib. Brassicasterol did not show apparent cytotoxicity to normal liver cells. Xenograft mouse model further confirmed the inhibitory effect of brassicasterol on the growth of HBV + HCC. Furthermore, signaling pathway analysis showed that brassicasterol-treated HBV + HCC cells had decreased level of phosphor-AKT expression while the addition of AKT agonist could counteract the inhibitory effect of brassicasterol on HCC, indicating that brassicasterol suppressed AKT pathway to exhibit anti-cancer activity in HBV + HCC cells. In addition, brassicasterol showed similar levels of inhibition on HBV- and HBV + HCC cells. CONCLUSION Brassicasterol possesses anti-cancer activity against HCC through the downregulation of AKT pathway and such activity is independent of HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jindi Zeng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, 343000, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Jiancheng Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, 343000, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Shuijiao Pang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, 343000, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Feifei Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, 343000, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Xin Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No1 Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Shouhua Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Jiangxi Provincial Children's Hospital, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Junquan Zeng
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, 343000, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Jinlong Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No1 Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China.
| | - Jianping Lian
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, 343000, Jiangxi Province, China.
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Zhang S, Xu H, Li W, Ji J, Jin Q, Chen L, Gan Q, Tao Q, Chai Y. MDM2 promotes cancer cell survival through regulating the expression of HIF-1α and pVHL in retinoblastoma. Pathol Oncol Res 2023; 29:1610801. [PMID: 36741966 PMCID: PMC9892057 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2023.1610801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Hypoxia is an important tumor feature and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a master regulator of cell response to hypoxia. Mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) promotes cancer cell survival in retinoblastoma (RB), with the underlying mechanism remaining elusive. In this study, we investigated the role of MDM2 and its relation to HIF-1α in RB. Expression analysis on primary human RB samples showed that MDM2 expression was positively correlated with that of HIF-1α while negatively correlated with von Hippel-Lindau protein (pVHL), the regulator of HIF-1α. In agreement, RB cells with MDM2 overexpression showed increased expression of HIF-1α and decreased expression of pVHL, while cells with MDM2 siRNA knockdown or MDM2-specific inhibitor showed the opposite effect under hypoxia. Further immuno-precipitation analysis revealed that MDM2 could directly interact with pVHL and promotes its ubiquitination and degradation, which consequently led to the increase of HIF-1α. Inhibition of MDM2 and/or HIF-1α with specific inhibitors induced RB cell death and decreased the stem cell properties of primary RB cells. Taken together, our study has shown that MDM2 promotes RB survival through regulating the expression of pVHL and HIF-1α, and targeting MDM2 and/or HIF-1α represents a potential effective approach for RB treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shouhua Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Jiangxi Provincial Children’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Hongyan Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Jiangxi Provincial Children’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Weiming Li
- Department of General Surgery, Jiangxi Provincial Children’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jianfeng Ji
- Department of Ultrasound, Joint Support Forces of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army 908 Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Qifang Jin
- Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Leifeng Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Qiang Gan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jiangxi Provincial Children’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Qiang Tao
- Department of General Surgery, Jiangxi Provincial Children’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China,*Correspondence: Qiang Tao, ; Yong Chai,
| | - Yong Chai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jiangxi Provincial Children’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China,*Correspondence: Qiang Tao, ; Yong Chai,
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Canonical WNT Signaling Activated by WNT7B Contributes to L-HBs-Mediated Sorafenib Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Inhibiting Mitophagy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235781. [PMID: 36497264 PMCID: PMC9741164 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer death globally, with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection accounting for over half of all cases. HBV leads to the development of HCC according to a body of literature. Our previous research and other studies also suggest that HBV causes chemotherapeutic treatment resistance, however, the mechanism is uncertain. The WNT family, which encodes secreted signaling molecules, has been linked to carcinogenesis in a variety of malignancies, including HCC. However, little is known regarding WNT7B, a WNT ligand, in the development of HCC and HBV-induced chemoresistance. In this study, the bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of clinical samples revealed that WNT7B was overexpressed in HBV-associated HCC tissues versus nontumor liver tissues, which was related to HCC patient survival. Further study in vitro showed that WNT7B and its receptor frizzled-4 (FZD4) were upregulated in response to large hepatitis B surface antigens (L-HBs). L-HBs increased canonical WNT signaling in HCC cells through WNT7B/FZD4. According to functional experiments, WNT7B enhanced the cell proliferation and metastasis in HCC. In vivo and in vitro studies investigated whether L-HBs induced sorafenib resistance by WNT7B in HCC. Interestingly, L-HBs suppressed sorafenib-induced mitophagy by increasing WNT7B/CTNNB1 signaling, resulting in chemoresistance. The findings revealed that WNT7B could be a promising molecular therapeutic target as well as a predictor of sorafenib resistance in HBV-related HCC. The suppression of HBV structural proteins such as L-HBs may play a crucial role in systemic chemotherapy resistance in HBV-associated HCC.
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Chai Y, Jiao S, Peng X, Gan Q, Chen L, Hu X, Hao L, Zhang S, Tao Q. RING-Finger Protein 6 promotes Drug Resistance in Retinoblastoma via JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway. Pathol Oncol Res 2022; 28:1610273. [PMID: 35369571 PMCID: PMC8971205 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2022.1610273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Chemotherapy is the first-line treatment for human retinoblastoma (RB), but the occurrence of drug resistance greatly limited its efficacy in practice. RING-finger protein 6 (RNF6) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that is aberrantly upregulated in a range of cancers and plays important roles in cancer progression. However, the role of RNF6 in RB is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of RNF6 in RB drug resistance. Two carboplatin-resistant RB cells, Y-79/CR and SO-Rb50/CR, were generated based on Y-79 and SO-Rb50 cells. RT-PCR and western blot analyses showed that RNF6 expression on both mRNA and protein levels was significantly increased in Y-79/CR and SO-Rb50/CR cells comparing to their parental cells. Knockdown of RNF6 using siRNA in Y-79/CR and SO-Rb50/CR cells resulted in cells sensitive to carboplatin on a RNF6 siRNA dose dependent manner. Similarly, RNF6 overexpression in parental Y-79 and SO-Rb50 cells could help cells gain resistance to carboplatin on a RNF6 expression dependent manner. Signaling pathway analyses revealed that JAK2/STAT3 pathway was involved in the RNF6-induced carboplatin resistance in RB cells. We further revealed that RNF6 expression in both Y-79 and SO-Rb50 cells could render cells resistant to multiple anti-cancer drugs including carboplatin, vincristine and etoposide, an implication of RNF6 as a biomarker for RB drug resistance. Taken together, our study has revealed that RNF6 is upregulated in drug-resistant RB cells and RNF6 promotes drug resistance through JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. The importance of RNF6 in RB cells drug resistance may represent this protein as a potential biomarker and treatment target for drug resistance in RB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Chai
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Children's Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Shoufeng Jiao
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xin Peng
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Children's Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Qiang Gan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Children's Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Leifeng Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiaolu Hu
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Children's Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Liang Hao
- Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Shouhua Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Children's Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Qiang Tao
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Children's Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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USP1 Promotes GC Metastasis via Stabilizing ID2. DISEASE MARKERS 2021; 2021:3771990. [PMID: 34873426 PMCID: PMC8643267 DOI: 10.1155/2021/3771990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors all over the world. And recurrence and metastasis are still the main causes of low survival rate for advanced GC. USP1 has been shown overexpressed in multiple cancers, which indicate its important biomarker in tumorigenesis and development. Our study is aimed at defining the exact role of USP1 on GC metastasis and the underlying mechanism. USP1 was firstly found overexpressed in GC tissues and relatively high-expression levels conferred poor survival rates. Then, real-time cellular analysis (RTCA) showed that USP1 knockdown inhibited GC metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, we demonstrated that USP1 promoted GC metastasis via upregulating ID2 expression and further confirmed that USP1 stabilized ID2 expression through deubiquitinating ID2 in GC. In conclusion, our study showed that USP1 promoted GC metastasis via stabilizing ID2 expression, which provides a potential biomarker and therapy target for GC.
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García-Trejo JJ, Ortega R, Zarco-Zavala M. Putative Repurposing of Lamivudine, a Nucleoside/Nucleotide Analogue and Antiretroviral to Improve the Outcome of Cancer and COVID-19 Patients. Front Oncol 2021; 11:664794. [PMID: 34367956 PMCID: PMC8335563 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.664794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Lamivudine, also widely known as 3TC belongs to a family of nucleotide/nucleoside analogues of cytidine or cytosine that inhibits the Reverse Transcriptase (RT) of retroviruses such as HIV. Lamivudine is currently indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection or for chronic Hepatitis B (HBV) virus infection associated with evidence of hepatitis B viral replication and active liver inflammation. HBV reactivation in patients with HBV infections who receive anticancer chemotherapy can be a life-threatening complication during and after the completion of chemotherapy. Lamivudine is used, as well as other antiretrovirals, to prevent the reactivation of the Hepatitis B virus during and after chemotherapy. In addition, Lamivudine has been shown to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy. Lamivudine and other similar analogues also have direct positive effects in the prevention of cancer in hepatitis B or HIV positive patients, independently of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Recently, it has been proposed that Lamivudine might be also repurposed against SARS-CoV-2 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this review we first examine recent reports on the re-usage of Lamivudine or 3TC against the SARS-CoV-2, and we present docking evidence carried out in silico suggesting that Lamivudine may bind and possibly work as an inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp RNA polymerase. We also evaluate and propose assessment of repurposing Lamivudine as anti-SARS-CoV-2 and anti-COVID-19 antiviral. Secondly, we summarize the published literature on the use of Lamivudine or (3TC) before or during chemotherapy to prevent reactivation of HBV, and examine reports of enhanced effectiveness of radiotherapy in combination with Lamivudine treatment against the cancerous cells or tissues. We show that the anti-cancer properties of Lamivudine are well established, whereas its putative anti-COVID effect is under investigation. The side effects of lamivudine and the appearance of resistance to 3TC are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- José J García-Trejo
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Bioenergetics, Chemistry Faculty and School, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Raquel Ortega
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Bioenergetics, Chemistry Faculty and School, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mariel Zarco-Zavala
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Bioenergetics, Chemistry Faculty and School, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
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