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Li Z, Hong Q, Li K. Nomogram predicting survival in patients with lymph node-negative hepatocellular carcinoma based on the SEER database and external validation. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 36:904-915. [PMID: 38652516 PMCID: PMC11136272 DOI: 10.1097/meg.0000000000002756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship between lymph node (LN) status and survival outcome in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly controversial topic. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic factors in patients without LN metastasis (LNM) and to construct a nomogram to predict cancer-specific survival (CSS) in this group of patients. METHODS We screened 6840 eligible HCC patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results(SEER)database between 2010 and 2019 and randomized them into a training cohort and an internal validation cohort, and recruited 160 patients from Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University as an external validation cohort. Independent prognostic factors obtained from univariate and multivariate analysis were used to construct a nomogram prediction model. The concordance index (C-index), area under curve (AUC), calibration plots and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to assess the predictive power and clinical application of the model. RESULTS Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed age, gender, bone metastasis, lung metastasis, AFP, T stage, surgery and chemotherapy as independent prognostic factors. The C-index of the constructed nomogram for the training cohort, internal validation cohort and external validation cohort are 0.746, 0.740, and 0.777, respectively. In the training cohort, the AUC at 1-, 3-, and 5-year were 0.81, 0.800, and 0.800, respectively. Calibration curves showed great agreement between the actual observations and predictions for the three cohorts. The DCA results suggest that the nomogram model has more clinical application potential. CONCLUSION We constructed a nomogram to predict CSS in HCC patients without LNM. The model has been internally and externally validated to have excellent predictive performance and can help clinicians determine prognosis and make treatment decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqiang Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Hubei Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qingyong Hong
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Hubei Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kun Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Hubei Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Li J, Li Y, Song J, Zhao L. Efficacy and Safety Analysis of Transarterial Chemoembolization Plus Donafenib With or Without Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Prospective, Single-Arm, Single-Center, Phase II Clinical Study. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:1207-1219. [PMID: 38946843 PMCID: PMC11214825 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s473617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose To observe and assess the efficacy and safety of donafenib combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) to treat unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients and Methods This prospective, single-arm, single-center, phase II clinical study enrolled 36 patients with initial unresectable HCC who had not undergone any systemic treatment. The patients received donafenib plus TACE (n = 26) or donafenib plus TACE plus programmed death receptor 1 inhibitors (n = 10). The primary endpoint was short-term efficacy, with secondary endpoints including progression-free survival (PFS), time to response (TTR), disease control rate (DCR), and adverse events. The tumor feeding artery diameter was also measured. Results Efficacy evaluation of all 36 patients revealed 6 cases of complete response, 19 of partial response, 8 of stable disease, and 3 of progressive disease. Six (16.7%) patients successfully underwent conversion surgery, all achieving R0 resection, and 2 (5.6%) achieved a complete pathological response. The objective response rate (ORR) was 69.4% and the DCR was 91.7%. The median PFS was 10.7 months, the median overall survival was not reached, and the median TTR was 1.4 months. The median survival rates at 6, 12, and 18 months were 85.0%, 77.6%, and 71.3%, respectively. The median PFS rates at 6, 12, and 18 months were 65.3%, 45.6%, and 34.2%, respectively. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in all 25 subjects, including 4 (11.3%) grade 3 TRAEs. No grade 4 or 5 TRAEs occurred. The tumor feeding artery diameter was significantly decreased following treatment (P = 0.036). Multivariable analysis revealed the sum of baseline target lesion diameters, best tumor response, and combined immunotherapy as independent predictors of PFS. Conclusion TACE plus donafenib reduced the tumor feeding artery diameter in patients with unresectable HCC. The safety profile was good, and a high ORR was achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinpeng Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology,Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Interventional Therapy I, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Radiology, Shanghe County People’s Hospital, Jinan, 250000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jinlong Song
- Department of Interventional Therapy I, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lujun Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology,Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, People’s Republic of China
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Xu K, Xiang C, Yu Z, Li J, Liu C. Survival Benefit of Synchronous Lenvatinib Combined PD-1 Inhibitors for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Beyond Oligometastasis. Immunotargets Ther 2024; 13:305-317. [PMID: 38910584 PMCID: PMC11192195 DOI: 10.2147/itt.s458700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Strategies therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beyond oligometastasis are limited. The optimal sequence of systemic treatment for advanced HCC is not yet clear. Our study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of simultaneous lenvatinib combined PD-1 inhibitor on advanced HCC beyond oligometastasis. Patients and Methods A total of 232 patients were enrolled in our retrospective study. Patients divided into three groups. (a) Lenvatinib plus simultaneous PD-1 inhibitor (Simultaneous group, n=58); (b) patients received PD-1 inhibitor before the tumor progression with continued lenvatinib administration (Before PD group, n=77); (c) patients received PD-1 inhibitor after the tumor progression (After PD group, n=97). To analyze overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) among the three groups. Results The estimated 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-mon OS for Simultaneous group patients were 100%, 93.1%, 63.4%, 48.3%, whereas the OS rates were 100%, 78%, 36.3%, 23.6% in Before PD group, and 99%, 61.2%, 22.1%, 7.5% in After PD group. The OS rates were obviously improved with the use of simultaneous PD-1 inhibitor among the three groups (P <0.001). The estimated 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-month PFS rates for patients were 89.6%, 44.8%, 24.6%, 6% in After PD group, 90.9%, 59.7%, 27.3%, 12.4% in Before PD group and 98.3%, 81%, 51.7%, 39.7% in Simultaneous group, respectively. PFS rate was significantly different among the three groups (P <0.001). Conclusion Synchronous administration of lenvatinib and PD-1 inhibitors improved survival rate significantly. The synchronous combination could represent a promising strategy in HCC beyond oligometastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiwu Xu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital (The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University), Changsha, Hunan Province, 410005, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cailing Xiang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital (The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University), Changsha, Hunan Province, 410005, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhige Yu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital (The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University), Changsha, Hunan Province, 410005, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jia Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital (The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University), Changsha, Hunan Province, 410005, People’s Republic of China
| | - Changjun Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital (The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University), Changsha, Hunan Province, 410005, People’s Republic of China
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Wang P, Xu MH, Xu WX, Dong ZY, Shen YH, Qin WZ. CXCL9 Overexpression Predicts Better HCC Response to Anti-PD-1 Therapy and Promotes N1 Polarization of Neutrophils. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:787-800. [PMID: 38737384 PMCID: PMC11088828 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s450468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Anti-programmed death-1 (PD1) antibodies have changed the treatment landscape for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and exhibit promising treatment efficacy. However, the majority of HCCs still do not respond to anti-PD-1 therapy. Methods We analyzed the expression of CXCL9 in blood samples from patients who received anti-PD-1 therapy and evaluated its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes. Based on the results of Cox regression analysis, a nomogram was established for predicting HCC response to anti-PD-1 therapy. qRT‒PCR and multiple immunofluorescence assays were utilized to analyze the proportions of N1-type neutrophils in vitro and in tumor samples, respectively. Results The nomogram showed good predictive efficacy in the training and validation cohorts and may be useful for guiding clinical treatment of HCC patients. We also found that HCC cell-derived CXCL9 promoted N1 polarization of neutrophils in vitro and that AMG487, a specific CXCR3 inhibitor, significantly blocked this process. Moreover, multiple immunofluorescence (mIF) showed that patients with higher serum CXCL9 levels had greater infiltration of the N1 phenotype of tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs). Conclusion Our study highlights the critical role of CXCL9 as an effective biomarker of immunotherapy efficacy and in promoting the polarization of N1-type neutrophils; thus, targeting the CXCL9-CXCR3 axis could represent a novel pharmaceutical strategy to enhance immunotherapy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Wang
- Endoscopy Center and Endoscopy Research Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Digestive Medicine, Wuwei People’s Hospital, Wuwei City, Gansu Province, 733000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ming-Hao Xu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wen-Xin Xu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zi-Ying Dong
- Department of CT/MRI Center, Wuwei People’s Hospital, Wuwei City, Gansu Province, 733000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying-Hao Shen
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wen-Zheng Qin
- Endoscopy Center and Endoscopy Research Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People’s Republic of China
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Xu W, Weng J, Xu M, Zhou Q, Liu S, Hu Z, Ren N, Zhou C, Shen Y. Chemokine CCL21 determines immunotherapy response in hepatocellular carcinoma by affecting neutrophil polarization. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:56. [PMID: 38367070 PMCID: PMC10874310 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03650-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is poor and great heterogeneity among individuals. Chemokines are highly correlated with tumor immune response. Here, we aimed to identify an effective chemokine for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy in HCC. METHODS Chemokine C-C motif ligand 21 (CCL21) was screened by transcriptomic analysis in tumor tissues from HCC patients with different responses to ICIs. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis was conducted to construct a predictive nomogram. Neutrophils in vitro and HCC subcutaneous tumor model in vivo were applied to explore the role of CCL21 on the tumor microenvironment (TME) of HCC. RESULTS Transcriptome analysis showed that CCL21 level was much higher in HCC patients with response to immunotherapy. The predictive nomogram was constructed and validated as a classifier. CCL21 could inhibit N2 neutrophil polarization by suppressing the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. In addition, CCL21 enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of ICIs. CONCLUSION CCL21 may serve as a predictive biomarker for immunotherapy response in HCC patients. High levels of CCL21 in TME inhibit immunosuppressive polarization of neutrophils. CCL21 in combination with ICIs may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxin Xu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Jialei Weng
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai, 201199, People's Republic of China
| | - Minghao Xu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai, 201199, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai, 201199, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaoqing Liu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai, 201199, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiqiu Hu
- Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai, 201199, People's Republic of China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201199, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Fudan-Minhang Academic Health System, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201199, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning Ren
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai, 201199, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Fudan-Minhang Academic Health System, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201199, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chenhao Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai, 201199, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yinghao Shen
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
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Zhao CK, Guan X, Pu YY, Zhou BY, Wang LF, Sun YK, Yin HH, Xia HS, Wang X, Han H, Xu HX. Response Evaluation Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound for Unresectable Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated With Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Plus Anti-PD-1 Antibody Therapy. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2024; 50:142-149. [PMID: 37852872 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2023.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the work described here was to evaluate the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in response evaluation for unresectable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) plus anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) antibody therapy. METHODS A prospective cohort of consecutive patients with HCC who received combined TKI/anti-PD-1 antibody treatment for unresectable HCC between January 2022 and October 2022 was included in this study. The patients underwent unenhanced ultrasound (US) and CEUS examinations before treatment and at follow-up. Changes in the largest diameters of the target tumor on unenhanced US and the largest diameters of the enhancing target tumors on CEUS were evaluated. Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 with unenhanced US and magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography (MRI/CT) and modified RECIST (mRECIST) with CEUS and CEMRI/CT were used to assess treatment response. RESULTS A total of 24 HCC patients (23 men and 1 woman; mean age: 56.5 ± 8.5 y; Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C, 62.5%; 29 intrahepatic target tumors) were studied. Calculations of degree of necrosis in the target tumors revealed no significant differences between CEUS and CEMRI/CT (44.5 ± 36.2% vs. 45.3 ± 36.8%, p = 0.862). As for the differentiation of responders from non-responders, the agreement between RECIST version 1.1 of unenhanced US and mRECIST-CEUS was poor (κ coefficient = 0.233). Meanwhile, there was a high degree of concordance between mRECIST-CEUS and mRECIST-CEMRI/CT (κ coefficient = 0.812). CONCLUSION CEUS proved to be superior to baseline US and is comparable to CEMRI/CT in defining treatment outcome for combined TKI/anti-PD-1 antibody therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong-Ke Zhao
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Guan
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, China
| | - Yin-Ying Pu
- Central Laboratory and Department of Medical Ultrasound, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Bo-Yang Zhou
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, China
| | - Li-Fan Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Kang Sun
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao-Hao Yin
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, China
| | - Han-Sheng Xia
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Han
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui-Xiong Xu
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Chen H, Wang Z, Wang C. Lenvatinib Combined with the PD-1 Inhibitor Camrelizumab in the Treatment of Primary Liver Cancer Caused Hemorrhagic Exfoliative Gastritis. Case Rep Oncol 2024; 17:543-548. [PMID: 38595961 PMCID: PMC11003730 DOI: 10.1159/000538006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Patients with advanced primary liver cancer often lose the opportunity for surgery when they are found, and the treatment options are limited. Lenvatinib, as a multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been used as the first-line treatment for advanced liver cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as programmed cell death protein 1 inhibitors, have been successfully used in advanced or metastatic liver cancer. Case Presentation We report a case of combined lenvatinib and the programmed cell death protein 1 inhibitor camrelizumab in the treatment of primary liver cancer, in which the rare complication of full-thickness gastric mucosa exfoliation occurred. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the side effect of hemorrhagic exfoliative gastritis with the combination of lenvatinib and camrelizumab. Conclusion Hemorrhagic exfoliative gastritis is an extremely rare clinical complication. Lenvatinib inhibits vascular proliferation and could cause gastrointestinal perforation, which is considered to be the main factor, but whether camrelizumab plays a role in it or only causes gastrointestinal reactions leading to nausea and vomiting, resulting in gastric mucosal exfoliation bleeding, remains to be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Chen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Zihua Wang
- Department of Oncology, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Chunhua Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
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Zhang J, Dong K, Zhang X, Li C, Yu J, Wang W. Characteristics of lactate metabolism phenotype in hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19674. [PMID: 37952028 PMCID: PMC10640573 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47065-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly heterogeneous cancer, and more effective prognostic markers are needed. Lactic acid has been proved to be an important metabolite involved in cancer development, metastasis, and the tumor microenvironment, affecting the prognosis of patients. The role of lactic acid metabolism regulators (LAMRs) in HCC is still unclear. In this study, we analyzed the status of LAMRs, a gene list containing lactate from Molecular Signatures database, in HCC and consensus clustering was performed based on these LAMRs. Cluster B showed higher infiltrations of immune cells, higher TME scores, and a poorer prognosis. We further constructed a risk score based on DEGs using LASSO and COX regression analysis between two clusters, which could effectively predict the prognosis of TCGA-LIHC patients. The GSE14520 cohort confirmed the result. We also examined the correlation of risk scores with clinical characteristics, genetic mutations, drug sensitivity, immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs), and immunotherapy. In conclusion, our findings will facilitate a further understanding of the role of partial lactate metabolism related genes in HCC and suggest a new risk score to predict prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiacheng Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Keshuai Dong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunlei Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
| | - Weixing Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
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Zaki WA, El-Sayed SM, Alswah M, El-Morsy A, Bayoumi AH, Mayhoub AS, Moustafa WH, Awaji AA, Roh EJ, Hassan AH, Mahmoud K. Design, Synthesis, In Vitro, and In Silico Studies of New N5-Substituted-pyrazolo[3,4- d]pyrimidinone Derivatives as Anticancer CDK2 Inhibitors. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1593. [PMID: 38004458 PMCID: PMC10674233 DOI: 10.3390/ph16111593] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
CDK2 is a key player in cell cycle processes. It has a crucial role in the progression of various cancers. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) are two common cancers that affect humans worldwide. The available therapeutic options suffer from many drawbacks including high toxicity and decreased specificity. Therefore, there is a need for more effective and safer therapeutic agents. A series of new pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine analogs was designed, synthesized, and evaluated as anticancer agents against the CRC and HCC cells, HCT116, and HepG2, respectively. Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidinone derivatives bearing N5-2-(4-halophenyl) acetamide substituents were identified as the most potent amongst evaluated compounds. Further evaluation of CDK2 kinase inhibition of two potential cytotoxic compounds 4a and 4b confirmed their CDK2 inhibitory activity. Compound 4a was more potent than the reference roscovitine regarding the CDK2 inhibitory activity (IC50 values: 0.21 and 0.25 µM, respectively). In silico molecular docking provided insights into the molecular interactions of compounds 4a and 4b with important amino acids within the ATP-binding site of CDK2 (Ile10, Leu83, and Leu134). Overall, compounds 4a and 4b were identified as interesting CDK2 inhibitors eliciting antiproliferative activity against the CRC and HCC cells, HCT116 and HepG2, respectively, for future further investigations and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waheed A. Zaki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | - Selwan M. El-Sayed
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Alswah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | - Ahmed El-Morsy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, College of Pharmacy, The Islamic University, Najaf 54001, Iraq
| | - Ashraf H. Bayoumi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | - Abrahman S. Mayhoub
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
- Nanoscience Program, University of Science and Technology, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October, Giza 12578, Egypt
| | - Walaa H. Moustafa
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo 19448, Egypt
| | - Aeshah A. Awaji
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University College of Taymaa, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eun Joo Roh
- Chemical and Biological Integrative Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Ahmed H.E. Hassan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Kazem Mahmoud
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Egyptian Russian University, Badr City 11829, Egypt
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10
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Wang H, Wu D, Wang P, Gao C, Teng H, Liu D, Zhao Y, Du R. Albumin nanoparticles and their folate modified counterparts for delivery of a lupine derivative to hepatocellular carcinoma. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 167:115485. [PMID: 37713994 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115485] [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: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, folate polyethylene glycol CTr albumin nanoparticles (FA-PEG-CTr-NPs) targeting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were prepared. The nanoparticle preparation method was optimized using single-factor and response surface analysis. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized for their particle size, zeta potential, and morphology. The particle size and zeta potential were also determined. Additionally, drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro drug release of the nanoparticles were determined. Using the Cell Counting Kit-8 method, their cytotoxicity and their cell-targeted uptake were determined using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. Finally, the in vivo antitumor impact and tumor-targeting ability of the nanoparticles were evaluated by determining tumor volume inhibition and drug biodistribution and performing hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. It was found that CTr could be effectively encapsulated into albumin nanoparticles and functionalized. The drug loading of the two nanoparticles was 67.12 ± 2.4% and 69.33 ± 2.8%, respectively. Regarding drug release, FA-PEG-CTr-NPs (89.0%) exhibited a superior release rate to CTr-NPs (70.5%) in an acidic environment. The in vitro experiments confirmed that FA-PEG-CTr-NPs yielded better cytotoxicity and faster drug uptake results than CTr and CTr-NPs. In vivo experiments confirmed that FA-PEG-CTr-NPs exhibited markedly better tumor inhibitory activity (inhibition rate was 80.21%), drug safety, and targeting than CTr and CTr-NPs. In conclusion, functionalized nanoparticles (FA-PEG-CTr-NPs) can specifically inhibit the malignant proliferation of HCC cells and are thus a promising nanoagent for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haohao Wang
- School of biological and pharmaceutical engineering, West Anhui University, Lu'an 237012, China
| | - Di Wu
- Department of Breast Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Pan Wang
- School of biological and pharmaceutical engineering, West Anhui University, Lu'an 237012, China
| | - Chunyu Gao
- College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Hongbo Teng
- College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Dong Liu
- School of biological and pharmaceutical engineering, West Anhui University, Lu'an 237012, China; Anhui Traditional Chinese Medicine Ecological Agricultural engineering Research Center, Lu'an 237012, China.
| | - Yan Zhao
- College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Rui Du
- College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
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11
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Yu Y, Wu T, Zhang X, Li P, Ye L, Kuang J, Tao L, Ni L, Zhao Q, Zhang J, Pan H, Xie C, Zheng C, Li S, Cui R. Regorafenib activates oxidative stress by inhibiting SELENOS and potentiates oxaliplatin-induced cell death in colon cancer cells. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 957:175986. [PMID: 37598924 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer, and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. At the time of diagnosis, about 20% of patients with CRC present metastatic disease. Regorafenib, an oral multi-kinase inhibitor, has been demonstrated the efficacy and tolerability in patients with metastatic CRC. Oxaliplatin is a frontline treatment regimen for CRC, and combination treatments with oxaliplatin and other chemotherapeutic agents exert superior therapeutic effects. However, side effects and drug resistance limited their further clinical application. Here, we found that combined treatment with regorafenib and oxaliplatin synergistically enhanced anti-tumor activities in CRC by activating reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, C-Jun-amino-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 signaling pathways. Regorafenib promoted ROS production by suppressing the expression of selenoprotein S (SELENOS). Knocking down SELENOS sensitized ROS-mediated anti-tumor effects of regorafenib in CRC cells. Furthermore, mouse xenograft models demonstrated that synergistic anti-tumor effects of combined treatment with regorafenib and oxaliplatin. This study provided solid experimental evidences for the combined treatment with regorafenib and oxaliplatin in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Yu
- Cancer and Anticancer Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China; Department of Radiotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Tao Wu
- Cancer and Anticancer Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China; Department of Radiotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Xiaodong Zhang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Pengfei Li
- Cancer and Anticancer Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Lihua Ye
- Cancer and Anticancer Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Jiayang Kuang
- Cancer and Anticancer Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Lu Tao
- Cancer and Anticancer Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Lianli Ni
- Cancer and Anticancer Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Qi Zhao
- Cancer and Anticancer Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Ji Zhang
- Cancer and Anticancer Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Huanle Pan
- Department of Radiotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China; Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Basic Science and Translational Research of Radiation Oncology, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Congying Xie
- Department of Radiotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China; Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Basic Science and Translational Research of Radiation Oncology, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Chenguo Zheng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China.
| | - Shaotang Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China.
| | - Ri Cui
- Cancer and Anticancer Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China; Department of Radiotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China.
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12
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Radić J, Kožik B, Nikolić I, Kolarov-Bjelobrk I, Vasiljević T, Vranjković B, Despotović S. Multiple Roles of LOXL2 in the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Its Potential for Therapeutic Targeting. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11745. [PMID: 37511503 PMCID: PMC10380739 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411745] [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: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
LOXL2, a copper-dependent amine oxidase, has emerged as a promising therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Increased LOXL2 expression in HCC has been linked with an aggressive phenotype and represents a poor prognostic factor. Here, we focus on the mechanisms through which LOXL2 orchestrates multiple oncogenic functions in HCC development. We performed a review of the current knowledge on the roles LOXL2 performs in the modulation of the HCC tumor microenvironment, formation of premetastatic niches, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. We also highlighted the complex interplay between LOXL2 and hypoxia, angiogenesis, and vasculogenic mimicry in HCC. At the end of the review, we summarize the current LOXL2 inhibitors and discuss their potential in HCC precision treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Radić
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21137 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, 21204 Sremska Kamenica, Serbia
| | - Bojana Kožik
- Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11100 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivan Nikolić
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21137 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, 21204 Sremska Kamenica, Serbia
| | - Ivana Kolarov-Bjelobrk
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21137 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, 21204 Sremska Kamenica, Serbia
| | - Tijana Vasiljević
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21137 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Department of Pathology, Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, 21204 Sremska Kamenica, Serbia
| | - Bojana Vranjković
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, 21204 Sremska Kamenica, Serbia
| | - Sanja Despotović
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
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Zhang J, Zhang Z, Huang Z, Li M, Yang F, Wu Z, Guo Q, Mei X, Lu B, Wang C, Wang Z, Ji L. Isotoosendanin exerts inhibition on triple-negative breast cancer through abrogating TGF- β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition via directly targeting TGF βR1. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:2990-3007. [PMID: 37521871 PMCID: PMC10372922 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
As the most aggressive breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is still incurable and very prone to metastasis. The transform growth factor β (TGF-β)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucially involved in the growth and metastasis of TNBC. This study reported that a natural compound isotoosendanin (ITSN) reduced TNBC metastasis by inhibiting TGF-β-induced EMT and the formation of invadopodia. ITSN can directly interact with TGF-β receptor type-1 (TGFβR1) and abrogated the kinase activity of TGFβR1, thereby blocking the TGF-β-initiated downstream signaling pathway. Moreover, the ITSN-provided inhibition on metastasis obviously disappeared in TGFβR1-overexpressed TNBC cells in vitro as well as in mice bearing TNBC cells overexpressed TGFβR1. Furthermore, Lys232 and Asp351 residues in the kinase domain of TGFβR1 were found to be crucial for the interaction of ITSN with TGFβR1. Additionally, ITSN also improved the inhibitory efficacy of programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody for TNBC in vivo via inhibiting the TGF-β-mediated EMT in the tumor microenvironment. Our findings not only highlight the key role of TGFβR1 in TNBC metastasis, but also provide a leading compound targeting TGFβR1 for the treatment of TNBC metastasis. Moreover, this study also points out a potential strategy for TNBC treatment by using the combined application of anti-PD-L1 with a TGFβR1 inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingnan Zhang
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines and the SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ze Zhang
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines and the SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zhenlin Huang
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines and the SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Manlin Li
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines and the SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Fan Yang
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines and the SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zeqi Wu
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines and the SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qian Guo
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines and the SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiyu Mei
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines and the SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Bin Lu
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines and the SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Changhong Wang
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines and the SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zhengtao Wang
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines and the SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Lili Ji
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines and the SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
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14
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Zhang X, Xu X, Wang X, Lin Y, Zheng Y, Xu W, Liu J, Xu W. Hepatoma-targeting and reactive oxygen species-responsive chitosan-based polymeric micelles for delivery of celastrol. Carbohydr Polym 2023; 303:120439. [PMID: 36657834 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.120439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A glycyrrhetinic acid-modified carboxymethyl chitosan-thioketal-rhein (GCTR) conjugate was designed and synthesized for the in vivo delivery of celastrol (Cela). Cela was encapsulated into polymeric micelles (PMs) formed by GCTR conjugates self-assembly in water to form Cela/GCTR PMs with high drug loading capacity and small particle size. Cela/GCTR PMs had a sustained-release characteristic in the blood environment and a rapid-release feature in the tumor microenvironment. Cela/GCTR PMs had a significant proliferation inhibitory effect on HepG2 and BEL-7402 cells, but a negligible impact on L-02 cells at low concentrations. Cela/GCTR PMs possessed reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive properties in vitro and in cells, could improve the bioavailability of Cela, and exert remarkable hepatoma-targeting properties. Cela/GCTR PMs could also effectively inhibit tumor growth with no apparent damage to different organs. In summary, GCTR PMs with good ROS-responsive and hepatoma-targeting properties are expected to be possible delivery carriers for hydrophobic antineoplastic drugs for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Zhang
- Pharmacy College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
| | - Xueya Xu
- Pharmacy College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- Pharmacy College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China.
| | - Yajuan Lin
- Pharmacy College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
| | - Yaling Zheng
- Pharmacy College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
| | - Wen Xu
- Pharmacy College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Pharmacy College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Pharmacy College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China.
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15
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Wang X, Liu C, Wen H, Duan X, Jiao Y, Liu Y, Chen M, Zhu K, Mao X, Zhou Q. Effectiveness of lenvatinib plus immune checkpoint inhibitors in primary advanced hepatocellular carcinoma beyond oligometastasis. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1214. [PMID: 36855781 PMCID: PMC9975463 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Targeted therapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors is considered a promising treatment for primary advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nevertheless, the difference between synchronous and asynchronous treatment of lenvatinib with programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitor in advanced HCC is still unclear. The aim of this investigation is to evaluate the effectiveness of synchronous and asynchronous of lenvatinib and PD-1 inhibitor on the advanced HCC beyond oligometastasis. METHODS In this study, 213 patients from four institutions in China were involved. Patients were split into two collections: (1) lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitor were used synchronously (synchronous treatment group); (2) patients in asynchronous treatment group received PD-1 inhibitor after 3 months of lenvatinib treatment prior to tumour progression. To analyse progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), efficacy and safety of patients in both groups, we employed propensity score matching (PSM). RESULTS The 6-, 12- and 24-month OS rates were 100%, 93.4% and 58.1% in the synchronous treatment group and 100%, 71.5% and 25.3% in the asynchronous treatment group, respectively. In contrast to the asynchronous treatment group, the group treated synchronously exhibited a substantially enhanced OS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.30-0.66; p < .001). The 6-, 12- and 18-month PFS rates were 82.6%, 42.6% and 10.8% in the synchronous treatment group and 63.3%, 14.2% and 0% in the asynchronous treatment group, respectively. A significant difference was observed in the PFS rate (HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.33-0.63; p < .001) between the two collections. CONCLUSIONS Patients with advanced HCC beyond oligometastasis, simultaneous administration of lenvatinib and PD-1 inhibitor led to significant improvements in survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao‐Hui Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryHunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, ChangshaHunan ProvinceChina
| | - Chang‐Jun Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryHunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, ChangshaHunan ProvinceChina
| | - Hao‐Quan Wen
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryHunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, ChangshaHunan ProvinceChina
| | - Xiao‐Hui Duan
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryHunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, ChangshaHunan ProvinceChina
| | - Yu‐Qing Jiao
- Department of Minimally Invasive Interventional RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Yu‐Jiang Liu
- Department of Interventional UltrasoundChinese PLA General HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Min‐Shan Chen
- Department of Liver SurgerySun Yat‐Sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Kang‐Shun Zhu
- Department of Minimally Invasive Interventional RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Xian‐Hai Mao
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryHunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, ChangshaHunan ProvinceChina
| | - Qun‐Fang Zhou
- Department of Interventional UltrasoundChinese PLA General HospitalBeijingChina
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16
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Xu MH, Huang C, Li ML, Zhu XD, Tan CJ, Zhou J, Fan J, Sun HC, Shen YH. Effectiveness and safety of lenvatinib plus anti-programmed death-1 antibodies in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A real-world cohort study. Cancer Med 2023; 12:9202-9212. [PMID: 36790032 PMCID: PMC10166966 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Lenvatinib plus anti-programmed death-1 (anti-PD-1) antibody combinations have shown potent anti-tumor effect in phase I/II trials in advanced or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but real-world data are limited. METHODS To investigate the effectiveness and safety of lenvatinib plus anti-PD-1 antibodies in a real-world cohort, we retrospectively evaluated 210 patients with unresectable or advanced HCC treated with these regimens between October 2018 and February 2022. RESULTS The objective response rate and disease control rate per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 were 28.1% and 75.2%. Median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in the overall cohort were 17.2 and 8.4 months, respectively. Median OS and PFS of patients receiving first-line treatment reached 18.9 and 9.6 months. Median OS was significantly longer in patients with Child-Pugh class A versus B (18.8 vs. 5.9 months, respectively), as was median PFS (9.1 vs. 4.4 months). Patients with albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade 1 versus grade 2/3 also had significantly greater median OS (23.5 vs. 13.4 months). Treatment-related adverse events (AEs) occurred in 79.5% of patients. Patients with ALBI grade 2/3 had a higher rate of grade 3/4 AEs than patients with ALBI grade 1 (57.5% vs. 38.5%). CONCLUSION Lenvatinib combined with anti-PD-1 antibody therapy was effective in patients with sufficient liver function reserve. Further study is needed to improve therapeutic efficacy and AE management in patients with Child-Pugh class B or ALBI grade 2/3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Hao Xu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng Huang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mei-Ling Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Zhu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chang-Jun Tan
- Department of Liver Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Fan
- Department of Liver Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui-Chuan Sun
- Department of Liver Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying-Hao Shen
- Department of Liver Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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17
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Chen Z, Chen Z, Fan W, Zou Y, Zhang Y, Shi N, Jin H. Conversion surgery for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma after combination treatment of lenvatinib and camrelizumab: a case report. World J Surg Oncol 2023; 21:29. [PMID: 36721173 PMCID: PMC9887816 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-023-02910-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive malignancy with high morbidity and mortality. Conversion therapy can improve surgical resection rate and prolong survival time for patients with advanced HCC. We show that combination therapy with lenvatinib and camrelizumab is a novel approach to downstage unresectable HCC. CASE PRESENTATION A 49-year-old man was diagnosed with massive HCC with hilar lymph node and lung metastases. Since radical resection was not feasible, lenvatinib and camrelizumab were administered as first-line therapy. After 10 cycles of camrelizumab and continuous oral administration of lenvatinib, the tumor exhibited striking shrinkage in volume indicating a partial radiological response, accompanied by a reduction in the alpha-fetoprotein levels, followed by salvage resection. Intriguingly, an improvement in predictive biomarkers, like lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), was observed. Notably, the pathological examination found high levels of necrosis in the resected tumor, and flow cytometry analysis indicated a significant increase in the ratio of CD5+ and CD5- B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. After the treatment, the overall survival period was over 24 months, and no recurrence was observed 17-month post-surgery. CONCLUSIONS A combination of lenvatinib and camrelizumab may be a new conversion therapy for initially unresectable HCC to resectable HCC, thus contributing to improve the disease prognosis. In addition, the combination regimen could cause an activated immune response, and LDH, NLR, and CD5+ B-cell levels might be predictors for immunotherapy efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihong Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Zhenrong Chen
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wu Fan
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiping Zou
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Yuanpeng Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ning Shi
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Haosheng Jin
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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18
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Hsu CH, Weng PW, Chen MY, Yeh CT, Setiawan SA, Yadav VK, Wu ATH, Tzeng DTW, Gong JX, Yang Z, Tzeng YM. Therapeutic targeting of hepatocellular carcinoma cells with antrocinol, a novel, dual-specificity, small-molecule inhibitor of the KRAS and ERK oncogenic signaling pathways. Chem Biol Interact 2023; 370:110329. [PMID: 36565974 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110329] [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: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Until recently, sorafenib has been the only treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Some patients, however, exhibit resistance to this treatment and subsequently experience cancer progression, recurrence, or death. Therefore, identifying a new alternative treatment for patients with little or no response to sorafenib treatment is vital. In this study, we explored the therapeutic potential and underlying molecular mechanism of antrocinol ((3aS,4R,6aS,10aR)-4-(hydroxymethyl)-7,7-dimethyldecahydro-1H-naphtho[1,8a-c]furan-1-one) in patients with HCC. The results indicated that antrocinol was more therapeutically effective than antrocin, Stivarga, and sorafenib against HCC cell lines. Antrocinol also substantially suppressed the expression of KRAS-GTP, p-MEK1/2, p-ERK1/2, and p-AKT in the Huh7 cell line. Additionally, antrocinol-induced apoptosis in the Huh7 cell line, inhibited the formation of tumorspheres, and suppressed the expression of cancer stem cell markers CD133, KLF4, CD44, OCT4, SOX2, and c-Myc. Animal studies revealed that antrocinol alone considerably suppressed tumor growth in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mice inoculated with Huh7 tumorspheres. It also synergistically enhanced the anticancer effect of sorafenib, resulting in enhanced suppression of tumor growth (p < 0.001) and tumorsphere formation (p < 0.001). In tumor samples resected from mice treated with antrocinol alone or in combination with sorafenib, immunohistochemical analysis revealed an increase in BAX expression and a decrease in ERK and AKT protein expression. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the anti-HCC activity of antrocinol. With its higher therapeutic efficacy than that of sorafenib, antrocinol is a candidate drug for patients with HCC who demonstrate little or no response to sorafenib treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Hung Hsu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, 23561, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, 11031, Taiwan; Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Wei Weng
- Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan; Department of Orthopaedics, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, 23561, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Biomedical Materials and Tissue Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Yao Chen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, 23561, Taiwan; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Tai Yeh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, 23561, Taiwan; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan; Continuing Education Program of Food Biotechnology Applications, College of Science and Engineering, National Taitung University, Taitung, 95092, Taiwan
| | - Syahru Agung Setiawan
- International Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Vijesh Kumar Yadav
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, 23561, Taiwan; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Alexander T H Wu
- Ph.D. Program of Translational Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - David T W Tzeng
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China; Lifebit, London, EC2A 2AP, UK
| | - Jian-Xian Gong
- Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zhen Yang
- Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China; State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of the Ministry of Education and Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China; Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Yew-Min Tzeng
- Department of Applied Science, National Taitung University, Taitung, 95092, Taiwan; Department of Applied Chemistry, Chaoyang University of Technology, Taichung, 41349, Taiwan.
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19
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Hu C, Xu B, Wang X, Wan W, Lu J, Kong D, Jin Y, You W, Sun H, Mu X, Feng D, Chen Y. Gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids regulate group 3 innate lymphoid cells in HCC. Hepatology 2023; 77:48-64. [PMID: 35262957 PMCID: PMC9970019 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) are essential for host defense against infection and tissue homeostasis. However, their role in the development of HCC has not been adequately confirmed. In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory role of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) derived from intestinal microbiota in ILC3 regulation. APPROACH AND RESULTS We report that Lactobacillus reuteri was markedly reduced in the gut microbiota of mice with HCC, accompanied by decreased SCFA levels, especially acetate. Additionally, transplantation of fecal bacteria from wild-type mice or L. reuteri could promote an anticancer effect, elevate acetate levels, and reduce IL-17A secretion in mice with HCC. Mechanistically, acetate reduced the production of IL-17A in hepatic ILC3s by inhibiting histone deacetylase activity, increasing the acetylation of SRY (sex-determining region Y)-box transcription factor 13 (Sox13) at site K30, and decreasing expression of Sox13. Moreover, the combination of acetate with programmed death 1/programmed death ligand 1 blockade significantly enhanced antitumor immunity. Consistently, tumor-infiltrating ILC3s correlated with negative prognosis in patients with HCC, which could be functionally mediated by acetate. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggested that modifying bacteria, changing SCFAs, reducing IL-17A-producing ILC3 infiltration, and combining with immune checkpoint inhibitors will contribute to the clinical treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chupeng Hu
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Research Center for Clinical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bingqing Xu
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Ultrasound, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wen‐Hua Wan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory 8 of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat‐sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinying Lu
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Research Center for Clinical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Deyuan Kong
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Research Center for Clinical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu Jin
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Research Center for Clinical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenhua You
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Research Center for Clinical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hua Sun
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Xiaoxin Mu
- Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dongju Feng
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yun Chen
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Research Center for Clinical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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20
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Wang T, Rao D, Yu C, Sheng J, Luo Y, Xia L, Huang W. RHO GTPase family in hepatocellular carcinoma. Exp Hematol Oncol 2022; 11:91. [DOI: 10.1186/s40164-022-00344-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractRHO GTPases are a subfamily of the RAS superfamily of proteins, which are highly conserved in eukaryotic species and have important biological functions, including actin cytoskeleton reorganization, cell proliferation, cell polarity, and vesicular transport. Recent studies indicate that RHO GTPases participate in the proliferation, migration, invasion and metastasis of cancer, playing an essential role in the tumorigenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This review first introduces the classification, structure, regulators and functions of RHO GTPases, then dissects its role in HCC, especially in migration and metastasis. Finally, we summarize inhibitors targeting RHO GTPases and highlight the issues that should be addressed to improve the potency of these inhibitors.
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21
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Ye R, Lu X, Liu J, Duan Q, Xiao J, Duan X, Yue Z, Liu F. CircSOD2 Contributes to Tumor Progression, Immune Evasion and Anti-PD-1 Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Targeting miR-497-5p/ANXA11 Axis. Biochem Genet 2022; 61:597-614. [PMID: 36008700 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-022-10273-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) can function as functional molecules in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, circRNA superoxide dismutase 2 (circSOD2) was researched in HCC progression and immune system. The real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used for quantification of circSOD2, microRNA-497-5p (miR-497-5p) and Annexin A11 (ANXA11). Cell assays were performed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-y1)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and colony formation assays for proliferation, flow cytometry for apoptosis and cell cycle, wound healing assay for migration and transwell assay for migration/invasion. ANXA11 and metastatic protein levels were measured by western blot. Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were performed to analyze target binding. CD8+ T cell immunity was assessed by Immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay, and the effect of circSOD2 on programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitors (anti-PD-1) therapy was evaluated by mice xenograft assay. CircSOD2 was upregulated in HCC tissues and cells. Knockdown of circSOD2 resulted in HCC cell growth inhibition, apoptosis promotion, cell cycle arrest and metastasis suppression. Mechanically, circSOD2 promoted HCC development by acting as a miR-497-5p sponge and miR-497-5p played a tumor-inhibitory role in HCC cells by targeting ANXA11. Moreover, circSOD2 induced upregulation of ANXA11 expression by interacting with miR-497-5p. Also, the promoting effects of circSOD2 on immune evasion and anti-PD-1 resistance were related to miR-497-5p/ANXA11 axis. This study elucidated the pivotal function of circSOD2 in HCC progression and immunosuppression by mediating miR-497-6p/ANXA11 axis. CircSOD2/miR-497-5p/ANXA11 axis was a novel view of circRNA research in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Ye
- Department of General Surgery 3, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, No. 128 Jinling Road, Jingkai District, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Xingyu Lu
- Outpatient department, Ganzhou City Third People's Hospital, Ganzhou, 341001, China
| | - Jianping Liu
- Department of General Surgery 3, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, No. 128 Jinling Road, Jingkai District, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Qing Duan
- Department of General Surgery 3, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, No. 128 Jinling Road, Jingkai District, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Junqi Xiao
- Department of General Surgery 3, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, No. 128 Jinling Road, Jingkai District, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Xunhong Duan
- Department of General Surgery 3, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, No. 128 Jinling Road, Jingkai District, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Zhibiao Yue
- Department of General Surgery 3, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, No. 128 Jinling Road, Jingkai District, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
| | - Fengen Liu
- Department of General Surgery 3, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, No. 128 Jinling Road, Jingkai District, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
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22
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Investigating the Role of Dahuang in Hepatoma Treatment Using Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and Survival Analysis. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:5975223. [PMID: 35872841 PMCID: PMC9307382 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5975223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatoma is one of the most common malignant tumors. The incidence rate is high in developing countries, and China has the most significant number of cases. Dahuang is a classic traditional antitumor drug commonly used in China and has also been applied to treat hepatoma. However, the potential mechanism of Dahuang in treating hepatoma is not clear. Therefore, this study is aimed at elucidating the possible molecular mechanism and key targets of Dahuang using methods of network pharmacology, molecular docking, and survival analysis. Firstly, the active ingredients and key targets of Dahuang were analyzed through public databases, and then the drug-ingredient-target-disease network diagram of Dahuang against hepatoma was constructed. Five main active components and five core targets were determined according to the enrichment degree. Enrichment analysis demonstrated that Dahuang treated hepatoma through the multiple pathways in cancer. Additionally, molecular docking predicted that aloe-emodin and PIK3CG depicted the best binding energy. Survival analysis indicated that a high/ESR1 gene expression had a relatively good prognosis for patients with hepatoma (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the current study results demonstrated that Dahuang could treat hepatoma through a variety of active ingredients, targets, and multiantitumor pathways. Moreover, it effectively improved the prognosis of hepatoma patients. ESR1 is the potential key gene that is beneficial for the survival of hepatoma patients. Also, aloe-emodin and beta-sitosterol are the two main active crucial ingredients for hepatoma treatment. The study also provided some functional bases and references for the development of new drugs, target mining, and experimental animal research of hepatoma in the future.
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23
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Ma XL, Zhu KY, Chen YD, Tang WG, Xie SH, Zheng H, Tong Y, Wang YC, Ren N, Guo L, Lu RQ. Identification of a novel Calpain-2-SRC feed-back loop as necessity for β-Catenin accumulation and signaling activation in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncogene 2022; 41:3554-3569. [PMID: 35697802 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02367-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Rapid progression is the major cause of the poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the underlying mechanism remained unclear. Here, we found Calpain-2 (CAPN2), a well-established protease that accelerates tumor progression in several malignancies, is overexpressed in HCC and acts as an independent predictor for poor outcomes. Furthermore, CAPN2 promoted the proliferation and invasion of HCC, and showed a positive correlation with the levels of invasion-related markers. Mechanistically, a novel CAPN2-SRC positive regulatory loop was identified upstream of β-catenin to prevent its ubiquitination and degradation, and subsequently promoted HCC progression: CAPN2 could proteolyze PTP1B to form a truncation of approximately 42 kDa with increased phosphatase activity, resulting in reduced SRC Y530 phosphorylation and increased SRC kinase activity; meanwhile, CAPN2 itself was a bone fide substrate of SRC that was primarily phosphorylated at Y625 by SRC and exhibited increased proteolysis activity upon phosphorylation. Interestingly, the CAPN2-SRC loop could not only restrain most of cytoplasmic β-catenin degradation by inhibiting GSK3β pathway, but also prevented TRIM33-induced nuclear β-catenin degradation even in β-catenin-mutant cells. Present study identified a CAPN2-SRC positive loop responsible for intracellular β-catenin accumulation and signaling activation, and targeting CAPN2 protease activity might be a promising approach for preventing HCC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Lu Ma
- Department of clinical laboratory, Shanghai Cancer center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ke-Yu Zhu
- Department of clinical laboratory, Shanghai Cancer center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yue-Da Chen
- Department of general surgery, Xiamen Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Wei-Guo Tang
- Liver cancer institute, Zhongshan hospital, Fudan university, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201100, China
| | - Su-Hong Xie
- Department of clinical laboratory, Shanghai Cancer center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hui Zheng
- Department of clinical laboratory, Shanghai Cancer center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ying Tong
- Department of clinical laboratory, Shanghai Cancer center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yan-Chun Wang
- Department of clinical laboratory, Shanghai Cancer center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ning Ren
- Liver cancer institute, Zhongshan hospital, Fudan university, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201100, China.
| | - Lin Guo
- Department of clinical laboratory, Shanghai Cancer center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Ren-Quan Lu
- Department of clinical laboratory, Shanghai Cancer center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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24
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Cisneros-Garza L, González-Huezo M, Moctezuma-Velázquez C, Ladrón de Guevara-Cetina L, Vilatobá M, García-Juárez I, Alvarado-Reyes R, Álvarez-Treviño G, Allende-Pérez S, Bornstein-Quevedo L, Calderillo-Ruiz G, Carrillo-Martínez M, Castillo-Barradas M, Cerda-Reyes E, Félix-Leyva J, Gabutti-Thomas J, Guerrero-Ixtlahuac J, Higuera-de la Tijera F, Huitzil-Melendez D, Kimura-Hayama E, López-Hernández P, Malé-Velázquez R, Méndez-Sánchez N, Morales-Ruiz M, Ruíz-García E, Sánchez-Ávila J, Torrecillas-Torres L. The second Mexican consensus on hepatocellular carcinoma. Part II: Treatment. REVISTA DE GASTROENTEROLOGÍA DE MÉXICO (ENGLISH EDITION) 2022; 87:362-379. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rgmxen.2022.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
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25
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Wu S, Liu S, Li Y, Liu C, Pan H. Lestaurtinib Has the Potential to Inhibit the Proliferation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Uncovered by Bioinformatics Analysis and Pharmacological Experiments. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:837428. [PMID: 35646925 PMCID: PMC9136166 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.837428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) seek a satisfactory prognosis. However, most HCC patients present a risk of recurrence, thus highlighting the lack of effectiveness of current treatments and the urgent need for improved treatment options. The purpose of this study was to identify new candidate factors in the STAT family, which is involved in hepatocellular carcinogenesis, and new targets for the treatment of HCC. Bioinformatics web resources, including Oncomine, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), The Human Protein Atlas (HPA), Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), and GSCALite, were used to identify candidate genes among the STAT family in HCC. STAT1 was significantly overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma. More meaningfully, the high STAT1 expression was significantly associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, STAT1 is expected to be a therapeutic target. The JAK2 inhibitor lestaurtinib was screened by the Genomics of Cancer Drug Sensitivity Project (GDSC) analysis. Pharmacological experiments showed that lestaurtinib has the ability to prevent cell migration and colony formation from single cells. We also found that STAT1 is involved in inflammatory responses and immune cell infiltration. Immune infiltration analysis revealed a strong association between STAT1 levels and immune cell abundance, immune biomarker levels, and immune checkpoints. This study suggests that STAT1 may be a key oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma and provides evidence that the JAK2 inhibitor lestaurtinib is a potent antiproliferative agent that warrants further investigation as a targeted therapy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Department of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shihai Liu
- Medical Animal Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Operation Room, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Changchang Liu
- Medical Animal Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Huazheng Pan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- *Correspondence: Huazheng Pan,
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26
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Castven D, Czauderna C, Becker D, Pereira S, Schmitt J, Weinmann A, Shah V, Hajduk J, Keggenhoff F, Binder H, Keck T, Heilmann-Heimbach S, Wörns MA, Thorgeirsson SS, Breuhahn K, Galle PR, Marquardt JU. Acquired Resistance to Antiangiogenic Therapies in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Is Mediated by Yes-Associated Protein 1 Activation and Transient Expansion of Stem-Like Cancer Cells. Hepatol Commun 2022; 6:1140-1156. [PMID: 34817932 PMCID: PMC9035566 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Induction of neoangiogenesis is a hallmark feature during disease progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Antiangiogenetic compounds represent a mainstay of therapeutic approaches; however, development of chemoresistance is observed in the majority of patients. Recent findings suggest that tumor-initiating cells (TICs) may play a key role in acquisition of resistance, but the exact relevance for HCC in this process remains to be defined. Primary and established hepatoma cell lines were exposed to long-term sorafenib treatment to model acquisition of resistance. Treatment effects on TICs were estimated by sphere-forming capacity in vitro, tumorigenicity in vivo, and flow cytometry. Adaptive molecular changes were assessed by whole transcriptome analyses. Compensatory mechanisms of resistance were identified and directly evaluated. Sustained antiproliferative effect following sorafenib treatment was observed in three of six HCC cell lines and was followed by rapid regrowth, thereby mimicking responses observed in patients. Resistant cells showed induction in sphere forming in vitro and tumor-initiating capacity in vivo as well as increased number of side population and epithelial cell adhesion molecule-positive cells. Conversely, sensitive cell lines showed consistent reduction of TIC properties. Gene sets associated with resistance and poor prognosis, including Hippo/yes-associated protein (YAP), were identified. Western blot and immunohistochemistry confirmed increased levels of YAP. Combined treatment of sorafenib and specific YAP inhibitor consistently revealed synergistic antioncogenic effects in resistant cell lines. Conclusion: Resistance to antiangiogenic therapy might be driven by transient expansion of TICs and activation of compensatory pro-oncogenic signaling pathways, including YAP. Specific targeting of TICs might be an effective therapeutic strategy to overcome resistance in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darko Castven
- Department of Medicine ILichtenberg Research Group for Molecular HepatocarcinogenesisUniversity Medical Center Schleswig HolsteinLuebeckGermany.,Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | - Carolin Czauderna
- Department of Medicine ILichtenberg Research Group for Molecular HepatocarcinogenesisUniversity Medical Center Schleswig HolsteinLuebeckGermany.,Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | - Diana Becker
- Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | - Sharon Pereira
- Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | - Jennifer Schmitt
- Institute of PathologyUniversity Hospital HeidelbergHeidelbergGermany
| | - Arndt Weinmann
- Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | - Viral Shah
- Department of HematologyMedical Oncology, and PneumologyUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | - Jovana Hajduk
- Department of Medicine ILichtenberg Research Group for Molecular HepatocarcinogenesisUniversity Medical Center Schleswig HolsteinLuebeckGermany.,Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | | | - Harald Binder
- Institute for Medical Biometry and StatisticsFaculty of MedicineUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Tobias Keck
- Clinic for SurgeryUniversity Medical Center Schleswig HolsteinLuebeckGermany
| | - Stefanie Heilmann-Heimbach
- Institute of Human GeneticsUniversity of Bonn School of MedicineUniversity of BonnBonnGermany.,Department of GenomicsLife and Brain CenterUniversity of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Marcus A Wörns
- Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | - Snorri S Thorgeirsson
- Laboratory of Human CarcinogenesisCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Kai Breuhahn
- Institute of PathologyUniversity Hospital HeidelbergHeidelbergGermany
| | - Peter R Galle
- Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
| | - Jens U Marquardt
- Department of Medicine ILichtenberg Research Group for Molecular HepatocarcinogenesisUniversity Medical Center Schleswig HolsteinLuebeckGermany.,Department of Medicine IUniversity Medical CenterMainzGermany
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Guo Y, Ren Y, Chen L, Sun T, Zhang W, Sun B, Zhu L, Xiong F, Zheng C. Transarterial chemoembolization combined with camrelizumab for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:270. [PMID: 35287627 PMCID: PMC8922827 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09325-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with camrelizumab (hereafter, TACE-camrelizumab) in the treatment of patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (R-HCC) after curative resection. Patients and methods R-HCC patients who underwent TACE plus camrelizumab or TACE-alone from January 2016 to August 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were assessed for tumor response, progression-free survival, survival rates and adverse events. Results Seventy-one patients were included in this study, including 20 patients in the TACE- camrelizumab group and 51 patients in the TACE-alone group. The objective response rate was 56.9% in the TACE-alone group and 40% in the TACE-camrelizumab group at 3 months (P = 0.201). The disease control rates were 84.3% in TACE-alone group and 80% in TACE-camrelizumab group at 3 months (P = 0.663). The progression-free survival (PFS) of the TACE-alone group was slightly longer than those of the TACE- camrelizumab group (9 months vs. 6 months). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the median PFS (P = 0.586). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the half-year and one-year survival rates (P = 0.304, P = 0.430). Multivariate analysis revealed that Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was associated with PFS significantly. 75% patients developed at least one type of AEs related to camrelizumab in TACE-camrelizumab group, and no patients developed severe AEs. Conclusion Comparing with TACE-Alone, the efficacy of TACE-camrelizumab for patients with R-HCC was similar. Meanwhile, the results of this study also indicated that TACE is still a better choice for patients with R-HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusheng Guo
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.,Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yanqiao Ren
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.,Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.,Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Tao Sun
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.,Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Weihua Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.,Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Bo Sun
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.,Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Licheng Zhu
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.,Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Fu Xiong
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China. .,Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| | - Chuansheng Zheng
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China. .,Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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28
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Wu S, Liu S, Cao Y, Chao G, Wang P, Pan H. Downregulation of ZC3H13 by miR-362-3p/miR-425-5p is associated with a poor prognosis and adverse outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 14:2304-2319. [PMID: 35278064 PMCID: PMC8954979 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is notorious for its poor prognosis. Previous studies identified several N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-related genes that play key roles in the initiation and progression of HCC patients. In particular, the N6-methyladenosine RNA methylation regulator ZC3H13 could be a candidate as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma. In HCC, low expression of ZC3H13 was reported, but the molecular reason is unclear. In this study, we performed pan cancer analysis for ZC3H13 expression and prognosis using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) data and found that ZC3H13 might be a potential tumor suppressor gene in HCC. Subsequently, miRNAs contributing to ZC3H13 downregulation were identified by a series of in silico analyses, including expression analysis, correlation analysis, and survival analysis. Finally, the miR-362-3p/miR-425-5p-ZC3H13 axis was identified as the most likely upstream miRNA-related pathway of ZC3H13 in HCC. Additionally, miR-362-3p/miR-425-5p mimic and inhibitor results were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis and western blotting. We identified an upstream regulatory mechanism of ZC3H13 in HCC, namely, the miR-362-3p/miR-425-5p-ZC3H13 axis. Moreover, the ZC3H13 level was significantly positively associated with tumor immune cell infiltration, biomarkers of immune cells, and immune checkpoint expression. Collectively, our findings elucidated that ncRNA-mediated downregulation of ZC3H13 was correlated with a poor prognosis and tumor immune infiltration in HCC. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that ZC3H13 is a direct target of miR-362-3p/miR-425-5p in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) that regulates immune modulation in the microenvironment of LIHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Shihai Liu
- Medical Animal Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongxian Cao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Geng Chao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Yidu Central Hospital, Qingzhou 262509, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Huazheng Pan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong, People's Republic of China
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Sun X, Yang Z, Tang Y, Mao S, Xiong P, Wang J, Chen J, Zhang Y, Chen M, Xu L. Optimal subsequent treatments for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma resistant to anti-PD-1 treatment. Immunotherapy 2021; 14:195-203. [PMID: 34758630 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2021-0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: The subsequent treatments for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resistant to immunotherapy remain unclear. This study aimed to identify optimal treatments for HCC patients with progression after anti-PD-1 therapy. Methods: The authors retrospectively analyzed 197 HCC patients with progressive disease after anti-PD-1 treatment. These patients were classified into initial resistant and secondary resistant groups. Results: In the initial resistant group, subsequent treatment with PD-1 antibody plus locoregional therapy prolonged post-progression survival and overall survival (p = 0.025 and 0.029, respectively). In the secondary resistant group, subsequent treatment did not improve the prognosis of patients. Conclusion: Subsequent PD-1 antibody plus locoregional therapy could achieve survival benefits in HCC patients initially resistant to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuqi Sun
- Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, 510060, China
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Ziliang Yang
- Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, 510060, China
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Yuhao Tang
- Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, 510060, China
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Sihan Mao
- School of Data Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Peiyao Xiong
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
- School of Data Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Juncheng Wang
- Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, 510060, China
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Jinbin Chen
- Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, 510060, China
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Yaojun Zhang
- Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, 510060, China
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Minshan Chen
- Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, 510060, China
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Li Xu
- Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, 510060, China
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
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Ji J, Fang S, Minjiang chen, Liyun zheng, Chen W, Zhao Z, Cheng Y. Precision interventional radiology. J Interv Med 2021; 4:155-158. [PMID: 35586378 PMCID: PMC8947994 DOI: 10.1016/j.jimed.2021.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent interest in precision medicine among interventionists has led to the establishment of the concept of precision interventional radiology (PIR). This concept focuses not only on the accuracy of interventional operations using traditional image-guided techniques, but also on the comprehensive evaluation of diseases. The invisible features extracted from CT, MRI, or US improve the accuracy and specificity of diagnosis. The integration of multi-omics and molecule imaging provides more information for interventional operations. The development and application of drugs, embolic materials, and devices broaden the concept of PIR. Integrating medicine and engineering brings new image-guided techniques that increase the efficacy of interventional operations while reducing the complications of interventional treatment. In all, PIR, an important part of precision medicine, emphasizing the whole disease management process, including precision diagnosis, comprehensive evaluation, and interventional therapy, maximizes the benefits of patients with limited damage.
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31
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Tissue Pathogens and Cancers: A Review of Commonly Seen Manifestations in Histo- and Cytopathology. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111410. [PMID: 34832566 PMCID: PMC8624235 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111410] [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: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue pathogens are commonly encountered in histopathology and cytology practice, where they can present as either benign mimickers of malignancy or true malignancies. The aim of this review is to provide a timely synthesis of our understanding of these tissue pathogens, with an emphasis on pertinent diagnostic conundrums associated with the benign mimickers of malignancy that can be seen with viral infections and those which manifest as granulomas. The oncogenic pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites, are then discussed with relationship to their associated malignancies. Although not exhaustive, the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, and histological findings are included, along with a short review of emerging therapies.
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32
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Liu W, Feng Q, Liao W, Li E, Wu L. TUG1 promotes the expression of IFITM3 in hepatocellular carcinoma by competitively binding to miR-29a. J Cancer 2021; 12:6905-6920. [PMID: 34659578 PMCID: PMC8517998 DOI: 10.7150/jca.57477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Numerous studies have demonstrated the important relationship of TUG1 with tumorigenesis. The present study investigated the role of TUG1 and its downstream genes miR-29a and IFITM3 in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We found that both TUG1 and IFITM3 genes are highly expressed in HCC, whereas the expression of miR-29a is low in HCC. Downregulation of TUG1 reduces cell invasion, metastasis, and cell proliferation ability and promotes cell apoptosis. Simultaneous downregulation of miR-29a reverses this effect. Moreover, IFITM3, as the target gene of miR-29a, is positively regulated by TUG1. However, the adjustment relationship between these three components is still unknown and thus warrants further investigation. The objective of this study was to investigate the regulatory relationship between TUG1, miR-29a, and IFITM3 in human liver cancer. Patients and methods: The expression of TUG1 and miR-29a in tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues of 65 patients with HCC was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The migration and invasion of liver cancer cells were studied by the wound healing assay and the Transwell method, respectively. The apoptosis rate of HCC cells was detected by flow cytometry, and the proliferation rate of hepatoma cells was detected by the 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) method. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of TUG1 and IFITM3 in HCC-LM3 and HL-7702 cell lines. The relationship between TUG1 and miR-29a was detected using a double luciferase reporter assay and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Tumors were established in vivo by subcutaneous injection of HCC cells into nude mice and injection of these cells into the tail vein. Western blotting was used to quantify the biomarkers. Results: The expression of TUG1 increased significantly in tumor tissues and HCC cells. Moreover, the expression of miR-29a in liver cancer tissues was significantly lower than that in normal human liver tissues. The expression of TUG1 in liver cancer tissue was negatively correlated with miR-29a. Knockdown of TUG1 weakened the invasion, migration, and proliferation of HCC cells, and enhanced their apoptosis. A simultaneous knockdown of miR-29a enhanced cell invasion, metastasis, and cell proliferation, whereas the apoptosis ability decreased. As a target gene of miR-29a, IFITM3 is not only negatively regulated by miR-29a, but also positively regulated by TUG1. Therefore, TUG1 regulates IFITM3 in HCC cells by competitively binding to miR-29a, thus affecting cell invasion, migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. Conclusion: As a CeRNA, TUG1 competitively binds to miR-29a to regulate IFITM3 and promote the development of liver cancer. Downregulation of TUG1 can significantly inhibit the migration, invasion, and proliferation of liver cancer cells. Based on these results, we conclude that TUG1 could serve as a key gene to improve the prognosis of patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Mindle Road, Nanchang Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Qian Feng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Mindle Road, Nanchang Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Wenjun Liao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Mindle Road, Nanchang Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Enliang Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Mindle Road, Nanchang Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Linquan Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Mindle Road, Nanchang Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
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33
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Yi M, Niu M, Zhang J, Li S, Zhu S, Yan Y, Li N, Zhou P, Chu Q, Wu K. Combine and conquer: manganese synergizing anti-TGF-β/PD-L1 bispecific antibody YM101 to overcome immunotherapy resistance in non-inflamed cancers. J Hematol Oncol 2021; 14:146. [PMID: 34526097 PMCID: PMC8442312 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-021-01155-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our previous work showed that the anti-TGF-β/PD-L1 bispecific antibody YM101 effectively overcame anti-PD-L1 resistance in immune-excluded tumor models. However, in immune-desert models, the efficacy of YM101 was limited. Bivalent manganese (Mn2+) is identified as a natural stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist, which might enhance cancer antigen presentation and improve the therapeutic effect of YM101. METHODS The effect of Mn2+ on STING pathway was validated by western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Dendritic cell (DC) maturation was measured by flow cytometry. The synergistic effect between Mn2+ and YM101 in vitro was determined by one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction, CFSE dilution assay, and cytokine detection. The in vivo antitumor effect of Mn2+ plus YM101 therapy was assessed in CT26, EMT-6, H22, and B16 tumor models. Flow cytometry, RNA-seq, and immunofluorescent staining were adopted to investigate the alterations in the tumor microenvironment. RESULTS Mn2+ could activate STING pathway and promote the maturation of human and murine DC. The results of one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction showed that Mn2+ synergized YM101 in T cell activation. Moreover, in multiple syngeneic murine tumor models, Mn2+ plus YM101 therapy exhibited a durable antitumor effect and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Relative to YM101 monotherapy and Mn2+ plus anti-PD-L1 therapy, Mn2+ plus YM101 treatment had a more powerful antitumor effect and a broader antitumor spectrum. Mechanistically, Mn2+ plus YM101 strategy simultaneously regulated multiple components in the antitumor immunity and drove the shift from immune-excluded or immune-desert to immune-inflamed tumors. The investigation in the TME indicated Mn2+ plus YM101 strategy activated innate and adaptive immunity, enhanced cancer antigen presentation, and upregulated the density and function of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. This normalized TME and reinvigorated antitumor immunity contributed to the superior antitumor effect of the combination therapy. CONCLUSION Combining Mn2+ with YM101 has a synergistic antitumor effect, effectively controlling tumor growth and prolonging the survival of tumor-bearing mice. This novel cocktail strategy has the potential to be a universal regimen for inflamed and non-inflamed tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yi
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030 People’s Republic of China
| | - Mengke Niu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Wuhan YZY Biopharma Co., Ltd, Biolake, C2-1, No.666 Gaoxin Road, Wuhan, 430075 People’s Republic of China
| | - Shiyu Li
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030 People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuangli Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yongxiang Yan
- Wuhan YZY Biopharma Co., Ltd, Biolake, C2-1, No.666 Gaoxin Road, Wuhan, 430075 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450008 People’s Republic of China
| | - Pengfei Zhou
- Wuhan YZY Biopharma Co., Ltd, Biolake, C2-1, No.666 Gaoxin Road, Wuhan, 430075 People’s Republic of China
| | - Qian Chu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030 People’s Republic of China
| | - Kongming Wu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030 People’s Republic of China
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450008 People’s Republic of China
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Gao Z, Jia H, Yu F, Guo H, Li B. KIF2C promotes the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Exp Ther Med 2021; 22:1094. [PMID: 34504548 PMCID: PMC8383772 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies with high mortality and morbidity rates. In recent years, HCC targeted therapy has gained increasing attention. Due to the heterogeneity and high metastasis of HCC, more effective therapeutic targets are needed. Kinesin family member 2C (KIF2C), also known as mitotic centromere-associated kinesin, is a microtubule-based motor protein which is involved in a variety of important cellular processes, such as mitosis. The effects of KIF2C on cancer progression and development have been widely studied; however, its potential effects on HCC remains unclear. In the present study, high expression of KIF2C in human HCC tissues was demonstrated using The Cancer Genome Atlas database and immunohistochemistry assays. KIF2C expression was associated with HCC prognosis, including overall survival and disease-free survival. KIF2C expression was also associated with clinical pathological characteristics including the number of tumor nodes (P=0.015) and tumor size (P=0.009). KIF2C knockdown inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells in vitro, confirmed by MTT and colony formation assays, and suppressed tumor growth in mice which was confirmed by a xenograft mouse model. Together, the results suggested that KIF2C may serve as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenya Gao
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Xuchang University, Xuchang, Henan 461000, P.R. China
| | - Huanxia Jia
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Xuchang University, Xuchang, Henan 461000, P.R. China
| | - Fang Yu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Xuchang University, Xuchang, Henan 461000, P.R. China
| | - Hongfang Guo
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Xuchang University, Xuchang, Henan 461000, P.R. China
| | - Baoyu Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Secondary Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China
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35
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Mei J, Sun XQ, Lin WP, Li SH, Lu LH, Zou JW, Wei W, Guo RP. Comparison of the Prognostic Value of Inflammation-Based Scores in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Anti-PD-1 Therapy. J Inflamm Res 2021; 14:3879-3890. [PMID: 34408469 PMCID: PMC8364914 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s325600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Inflammatory response is related to cancer progression and patient survival. However, the value in predicting survival in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who received anti-PD-1 therapy has not been elucidated. This study aimed to compare the predictive ability of inflammation-based scores for the prognosis of HCC patients after anti-PD-1 therapy. Methods A total of 442 patients who received anti-PD-1 therapy were included in the study. Representative inflammation-based prognostic scores, including the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein (CRP) ratio (LCR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), systemic immune inflammation index (SII), CRP-to-albumin ratio (CAR), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS), and prognostic index (PI), were assessed for prediction accuracy using Kaplan–Meier survival curves, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and Harrell’s concordance index (C-index) analyses. Results All the inflammation-based prognostic scores exhibited good discriminatory ability in overall survival (OS) (all P < 0.01), while the PNI score was a unique independent predictor for OS in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 1.770; confidence interval, 1.309–2.393; P < 0.001). The areas under the ROC curves at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months and the C-index (0.65) demonstrated that the predictive accuracy of the PNI score was superior to that of the other inflammation-based scores. Conclusion The PNI score is a discriminatory prognostic indicator for OS in HCC patients with anti-PD-1 therapy and is superior to the other inflammation-based prognostic scores in terms of predictive ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Mei
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu-Qi Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Ping Lin
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shao-Hua Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang-He Lu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing-Wen Zou
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Rong-Ping Guo
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
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Niu M, Yi M, Li N, Wu K, Wu K. Advances of Targeted Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:719896. [PMID: 34381735 PMCID: PMC8350567 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.719896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the common and fatal malignancies, which is a significant global health problem. The clinical applicability of traditional surgery and other locoregional therapies is limited, and these therapeutic strategies are far from satisfactory in improving the outcomes of advanced HCC. In the past decade, targeted therapy had made a ground-breaking progress in advanced HCC. Those targeted therapies exert antitumor effects through specific signals, including anti-angiogenesis or cell cycle progression. As a standard systemic therapy option, it tremendously improves the survival of this devastating disease. Moreover, the combination of targeted therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) has demonstrated more potent anticancer effects and becomes the hot topic in clinical studies. The combining medications bring about a paradigm shift in the treatment of advanced HCC. In this review, we presented all approved targeted agents for advanced HCC with an emphasis on their clinical efficacy, summarized the advances of multi-target drugs in research for HCC and potential therapeutic targets for drug development. We also discussed the exciting results of the combination between targeted therapy and ICI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengke Niu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ming Yi
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Kongju Wu
- Department of Nursing, Medical School of Pingdingshan University, Pingdingshan, China
| | - Kongming Wu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
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Over-activation of EFTUD2 correlates with tumor propagation and poor survival outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Transl Oncol 2021; 24:93-103. [PMID: 34282556 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-021-02673-y] [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: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Elongation factor Tu GTP-binding domain containing 2 (EFTUD2) is an essential constituent of U5 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) and plays a crucial role in spliceosome activation and cancer. The mechanism of EFTUD2 on carcinogenesis and development of liver cancer still need further study. METHODS Bioinformatic analysis was performed to find differential expressed genes and related pathways. Western blotting and quantitative PCR assays were used to verify the EFTUD2 expression in HCC cell lines and tumor tissues of liver cancer patients. Transfection of shRNAs in SKHEP1 and Huh7 cell lines was conducted to explore the mechanisms of EFTUD2 in HCC. CCK-8 method, colony formation, and cell cycle detection kit were used to detect the proliferation. A tumor model in nude mice was used to explore the role of EFTUD2 in liver cancer in vivo. RESULTS Based on the tumor tissues and para-tumor tissues in our HCC patients, we identified EFTUD2 as highly expressed in HCC tissues (P < 0.001). Bioinformatic analysis from the TCGA database also supported this biological phenomenon (P = 1.911e-17). Furtherly, the results of clinical specimens and TCGA data suggested that higher EFTUD2 expression levels correlated with high histologic grades, high pathological grades, and poor survival prognoses in HCC patients. And knockdown of EFTUD2 suppressed cell proliferation and colony formation in vitro. In vivo, knockdown of EFTUD2 constrained the tumor growing and expansion derived from SKHEP1 cells and induced a decrease in the tumor volume and tumor weight resected from nude mice. Furthermore, RNA sequencing based on EFTUD2 knockdown revealed that EFTUD2 affected target genes concerned with the cell cycle. Flow cytometric analyses in the SKHEP1 cell model revealed that knockdown significantly suppressed cell cycle course and caused cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. CyclinD1 proteins were also inhibited by knocking down of EFTUD2. CONCLUSION EFTUD2 is markedly overexpressed in HCC tumor tissues. High EFTUD2 expression in HCC patients is associated with clinical features. Moreover, we confirmed that EFTUD2 shows a pivotal role in HCC cell proliferation and cell cycle course and could be a possible therapeutic avenue in HCC through disturbing EFTUD2.
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Yang Q, Gao L, Huang X, Weng J, Chen Y, Lin S, Yin Q. Sorafenib prevents the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of liver cancer cells by regulating autophagy and hypoxia-inducible factor-1. Exp Ther Med 2021; 22:980. [PMID: 34345262 PMCID: PMC8311259 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Sorafenib has been approved as a systemic drug for advanced liver cancer; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of sorafenib on the proliferation, autophagy and apoptosis of HepG2 cells under hypoxia. Briefly, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting was performed to quantify HIF-1, LC3II/I, mTOR and p70s6K expression levels. Cell proliferation was determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and the cell apoptosis rate was evaluated using flow cytometry. The results demonstrated that autophagy and apoptosis were induced by hypoxia, and that sorafenib further enhanced hypoxia-induced autophagy and apoptosis in HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the mechanism of sorafenib-mediated autophagy in liver cancer cell were investigated by using chloroquine (CQ). The results showed that CQ significantly inhibited autophagy by decreasing LC3II/LC3I ratio in HepG2 cells treated with sorafenib and/or hypoxia. By contrast, sorafenib could increase the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and of the autophagy marker (LC3II/I) and decrease the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin and p70 ribosomal S6 kinase in HepG2 cells under normoxia and hypoxia conditions, suggesting that sorafenib could induce hypoxia and autophagy in liver cancer cells. In addition, sorafenib was demonstrated to prevent proliferation and induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells under normoxia and hypoxia. Sorafenib could also prevent the malignant behavior of HepG2 by inducing hypoxia and autophagy. In summary, the findings from the present study suggested that sorafenib may inhibit liver cancer progression by activating autophagy and HIF-1 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingzhuang Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 570102, P.R. China
| | - Lianghui Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 570102, P.R. China
| | - Xiaolong Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 570102, P.R. China
| | - Jie Weng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 570102, P.R. China
| | - Youke Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 570102, P.R. China
| | - Shibu Lin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 570102, P.R. China
| | - Qiushi Yin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 570102, P.R. China
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Guo Z, Zhong N, Xu X, Zhang Y, Luo X, Zhu H, Zhang X, Wu D, Qiu Y, Tu F. Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Response to Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization: A Real-World Study Based on Non-Contrast Computed Tomography Radiomics and General Image Features. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2021; 8:773-782. [PMID: 34277508 PMCID: PMC8277455 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s316117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To construct a predictive model of short-term response and overall survival for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients based on non-contrast computed tomography (NC-CT) radiomics and clinical features. Methods Ninety-four HCC patients who underwent CT scanning 1 week before the first TACE treatment were retrospectively recruited and divided randomly into a training group (n = 47) and a validation group (n = 47). NC-CT radiomics data were extracted using MaZda software, and the compound model was calculated from radiomics and clinical features by logistic regression. The performance of the different models was compared by examining the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The prediction of prognosis was evaluated using survival analysis. Results Thirty NC-CT radiomic features were extracted and analyzed. The compound model was formed using four NC-CT run-length matrix (RLM) features and general image features, which included the maximum diameter (cm) of the tumor and the number of tumors (n). The AUCs of the model for TACE response were 0.840 and 0.815, whereas the AUCs of the six-and-twelve grade were 0.754 and 0.750 in the training and validation groups, respectively. HCC patients were divided into two groups using the cutoff value of the model: a group in which the TACE-response led to good survival and a group in which TACE-nonresponse caused poor prognosis. Conclusion Radiomic features from NC-CT predicted TACE-response. The compound model generated by NC-CT radiomics and clinical features is effective and directly predicts TACE-response and overall survival. The model may be used repeatedly and is easy to operate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Guo
- Department of Oncology, Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Carcinomas, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.,Department of Hematology and Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Hematological Malignancies, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Nanying Zhong
- First School of Clinical Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xueming Xu
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoning Luo
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Huabin Zhu
- First School of Clinical Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiufang Zhang
- First School of Clinical Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Di Wu
- Department of Imaging, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingwei Qiu
- Department of Radiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Department of Radiology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuping Tu
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
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Devan AR, Kumar AR, Nair B, Anto NP, Muraleedharan A, Mathew B, Kim H, Nath LR. Insights into an Immunotherapeutic Approach to Combat Multidrug Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14070656. [PMID: 34358082 PMCID: PMC8308499 DOI: 10.3390/ph14070656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has emerged as one of the most lethal cancers worldwide because of its high refractoriness and multi-drug resistance to existing chemotherapies, which leads to poor patient survival. Novel pharmacological strategies to tackle HCC are based on oral multi-kinase inhibitors like sorafenib; however, the clinical use of the drug is restricted due to the limited survival rate and significant side effects, suggesting the existence of a primary or/and acquired drug-resistance mechanism. Because of this hurdle, HCC patients are forced through incomplete therapy. Although multiple approaches have been employed in parallel to overcome multidrug resistance (MDR), the results are varying with insignificant outcomes. In the past decade, cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a breakthrough approach and has played a critical role in HCC treatment. The liver is the main immune organ of the lymphatic system. Researchers utilize immunotherapy because immune evasion is considered a major reason for rapid HCC progression. Moreover, the immune response can be augmented and sustained, thus preventing cancer relapse over the post-treatment period. In this review, we provide detailed insights into the immunotherapeutic approaches to combat MDR by focusing on HCC, together with challenges in clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aswathy R. Devan
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Science Campus, Kochi 682041, Kerala, India; (A.R.D.); (A.R.K.); (B.N.)
| | - Ayana R. Kumar
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Science Campus, Kochi 682041, Kerala, India; (A.R.D.); (A.R.K.); (B.N.)
| | - Bhagyalakshmi Nair
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Science Campus, Kochi 682041, Kerala, India; (A.R.D.); (A.R.K.); (B.N.)
| | - Nikhil Ponnoor Anto
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel; (N.P.A.); (A.M.)
| | - Amitha Muraleedharan
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel; (N.P.A.); (A.M.)
| | - Bijo Mathew
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Science Campus, Kochi 682041, Kerala, India;
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, and Research Institute of Life Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Korea
- Correspondence: (H.K.); (L.R.N.)
| | - Lekshmi R. Nath
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Science Campus, Kochi 682041, Kerala, India; (A.R.D.); (A.R.K.); (B.N.)
- Correspondence: (H.K.); (L.R.N.)
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Yang S, Yang S, Zhang H, Hua H, Kong Q, Wang J, Jiang Y. Targeting Na + /K + -ATPase by berbamine and ouabain synergizes with sorafenib to inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 178:4389-4407. [PMID: 34233013 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The multikinase inhibitor sorafenib is a first-line drug for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. The response to sorafenib varies among hepatocellular carcinoma patients and many of the responders suffer from reduced sensitivity after long-term treatment. This study aims to explore a novel strategy to potentiate or maximize the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effects of sorafenib. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We used hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, western blotting, various antagonists, siRNA and tumour xenografts mouse model to determine the anti- hepatocellular carcinoma effects of sorafenib in combination with berbamine or other Na+ /K+ -ATPase ligands. KEY RESULTS Berbamine and the cardiotonic steroid, ouabain, synergize with sorafenib to inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma cells growth. Mechanistically, berbamine induces Src phosphorylation in Na+ /K+ -ATPase-dependent manner, leading to the activation of p38MAPK and EGFR-ERK pathways. The Na+ /K+ -ATPase ligand ouabain also induces Src, EGFR, type I insulin-like growth factor receptor, ERK1/2 and p38MAPK phosphorylation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma cells with Src or EGFR inhibitor inhibits the induction of ERK1/2 phosphorylation by berbamine. Moreover, sorafenib inhibits the induction of Src, p38MAPK, EGFR and ERK1/2 phosphorylation by berbamine and ouabain. Importantly, combination of sorafenib with berbamine or ouabain synergistically inhibits both sorafenib-naïve and sorafenib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cells growth. Co-treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma cells with berbamine and sorafenib significantly induces cell death and significantly inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts growth in vivo. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Berbamine or other Na+ /K+ -ATPase ligands have a potential for improving sorafenib responsiveness in hepatocellular carcinoma. Targeting Na+ /K+ -ATPase represents a novel strategy to potentiate the anti- hepatocellular carcinoma effects of sorafenib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songpeng Yang
- Laboratory of Oncogene, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shu Yang
- Laboratory of Oncogene, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongying Zhang
- Laboratory of Oncogene, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hui Hua
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qingbin Kong
- Laboratory of Oncogene, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiao Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yangfu Jiang
- Laboratory of Oncogene, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Treatment for liver cancer: From sorafenib to natural products. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 224:113690. [PMID: 34256124 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Liver cancer most commonly develops in patients with chronic liver disease, the etiology of which includes viral hepatitis (B and C), alcohol, obesity, dietary carcinogens, and so forth. The current treatment modalities, including surgical resection and liver transplantation, have been found far from effective. Hence, there is an obvious critical need to develop alternative strategies for the treatment of it. In this review, we discuss the formation process and therapeutic targets of liver cancer. Currently, targeted therapy is limited to sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, ramucirumab and cabozantinib which leads to a survival benefit in patients, but on the other hand is hampered by the occurrence of drug resistance. Pleasingly and importantly, there are multiple natural products undergoing clinical evaluation in liver cancer, such as polyphenols like icaritin, resveratrol, and silybin, saponins including ginsenoside Rg3 and glycyrrhizinate, alkaloid containing irinotecan and berberine and inorganic compound arsenic trioxide at present. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that these compounds inhibit liver cancer formation owing to the influence on the anti-viral, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant, anti-angiogenesis and anti-metastasis activity. Furthermore, a series of small molecule derivatives inspired by the aforementioned compounds are designed and synthesized according to structure-activity relationship studies. Drug combination and novel type of drug-targeted delivery system thereof have been well developed. This article is ended by a perspective remark of futuristic development of natural product-based therapeutic regimen for liver cancer treatment. We expect that this review is an account for current status of natural products as promising anti-liver cancer treatments and should contribute to its understanding.
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Reductions in AFP and PIVKA-II can predict the efficiency of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in HCC patients. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:775. [PMID: 34218801 PMCID: PMC8254996 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08428-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few biomarkers can predict the efficiency of PD-1 blockade in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to investigate the prognostic role of AFP and PIVKA-II in HCC patients receiving anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. METHODS A total of 235 HCC patients treated with PD-1 blockade were enrolled. Serum AFP and PIVKA-II levels were collected before and after treatments. The patients were divided into groups based on the reduction in AFP and PIVKA-II: AFP reduction ≤50% vs AFP reduction > 50% and PIVKA-II reduction ≤50% vs PIVKA-II reduction > 50%. The primary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Binary logistic regression analyses were used to explore the related factors of ORR. A Cox proportional hazards model was employed to identify the potential prognostic factors of PFS and OS. RESULTS Among all the patients, 34.9% (82/235) achieved a complete or partial response. There was a positive correlation between AFP reduction > 50% or PIVKA-II reduction> 50% and the ORR of PD-1 blockade (P < 0.001 and = 0.003). PFS was significantly improved in patients with AFP reduction > 50% and PIVKA-II reduction > 50% (p < 0.001 and = 0.021). In addition, AFP reduction > 50% and PIVKA-II reduction> 50% were positively correlated with longer OS (p = 0.003 and 0.006). CONCLUSION Early reductions in AFP and PIVKA-II can be predictors of the efficacy of PD-1 blockade in HCC patients.
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Zhu XD, Huang C, Shen YH, Ji Y, Ge NL, Qu XD, Chen L, Shi WK, Li ML, Zhu JJ, Tan CJ, Tang ZY, Zhou J, Fan J, Sun HC. Downstaging and Resection of Initially Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor and Anti-PD-1 Antibody Combinations. Liver Cancer 2021; 10:320-329. [PMID: 34414120 PMCID: PMC8339461 DOI: 10.1159/000514313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Combined therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and anti-PD-1 antibodies has shown high tumor response rates for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, using this treatment strategy to convert initially unresectable HCC to resectable HCC was not reported. METHODS Consecutive patients with unresectable HCC who received first-line therapy with combined TKI/anti-PD-1 antibodies were analyzed. Tumor response and resectability were evaluated via imaging every 2 months (±2 weeks) using RECIST v1.1. Resectability criteria were (1) R0 resection could be achieved with sufficient remnant liver volume and function; (2) intrahepatic lesions were evaluated as partial responses or stable disease for at least 2 months; (3) no severe or persistent adverse effects occurred; and (4) hepatectomy was not contraindicated. RESULTS Sixty-three consecutive patients were enrolled. Of them, 10 (15.9%) underwent R0 resection in 3.2 months (range: 2.4-8.3 months) after the initiation of combination therapy. At baseline, these 10 patients had a median largest tumor diameter of 9.3 cm, 7 had Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C (vascular invasion) disease, 2 had stage B, and 1 had stage A. Before surgery, 6 patients were evaluated as a partial response, 3 stable disease, and 1 partial response in the intrahepatic lesion but a new metastatic lesion in the right adrenal gland. Six patients (60%) achieved a pathological complete response. One patient died from immune-related adverse effects 2.4 months after hepatectomy. After a median follow-up of 11.2 months (range: 7.8-15.9 months) for other 9 patients, 8 survived without disease recurrence, and 1 experienced tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Combination of TKI/anti-PD-1 antibodies is a feasible conversion therapy for patients with unresectable HCC to become resectable. This study represents the largest patient cohort on downstaging role of combinational systemic therapy on TKI and PD-1 antibody for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Dong Zhu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng Huang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying-Hao Shen
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Ji
- Department of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ning-Ling Ge
- Department of Hepatic Oncology, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu-Dong Qu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingli Chen
- Department of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Kai Shi
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Mei-Ling Li
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin-Jin Zhu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chang-Jun Tan
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhao-You Tang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Fan
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui-Chuan Sun
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China,*Hui-Chuan Sun Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University No. 180, Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032 (China)
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Gao Y, Lyu L, Feng Y, Li F, Hu Y. A review of cutting-edge therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): Perspectives from patents. Int J Med Sci 2021; 18:3066-3081. [PMID: 34400877 PMCID: PMC8364461 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.59930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a challenging disease due to its heterogenous etiology. Several breakthroughs have occurred in treatment of HCC, associated with an enormous number of patent publications for a variety of HCC treatment modalities. As patents can provide valuable information for academic research and commercial development, this study aims to unravel the cutting-edge therapies for HCC by using patents as an indicator. The outcome from this analysis may offer meaningful insights for respective policymaking, strategic plan and research and development (R&D) prioritization. Methods: Derwent Innovation platform was employed to collect the sample data of patents related to HCC treatment technologies worldwide as of December 31, 2019. Data inclusion, screening and exclusion were according to the rules of preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). Technologies were classified based on Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system and recent clinical publications. Patent citation network analysis was carried out to identify and understand HCC therapeutic technology flow. Results: A dataset of 2543 patent documents and 528 patent families was generated. 11 technological categories were classified. Numerous researches were focalized on refinements in technologies and innovations within the field of HCC therapy, and the major achievements are technology advancement on molecular target therapy, chemotherapy, locoregional therapy, combination therapy and immunotherapy with demonstrated clinical benefits. In patent citation network, Notch pathway investigation, antibody drug conjugate (ADC) technology development and drug eluting beads trans artery chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) advancement are the major technological communities involving patents with the greatest future exploratory potential. Conclusion: Numerous emerging technologies have been identified in this study, in which exploring novel therapeutic targets in molecular target therapy, more localized and visible locoregional therapy and combination of immunotherapy with target therapy or other traditional therapies are highlighted as the future trends in treating HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Yuanjia Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao, China
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Luo X, Cao M, Gao F, He X. YTHDF1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression via activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Exp Hematol Oncol 2021; 10:35. [PMID: 34088349 PMCID: PMC8176587 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-021-00227-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, as the most abundant RNA modification, widely participates in the physiological process and is involved in multiple disease progression, especially cancer. YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein 1 (YTHDF1) is a pivotal m6A "reader" protein, which has been reported in multiple cancers. However, the role and molecular mechanism of YTHDF1 in HCC are still not fully elucidated. METHODS Based on various bioinformatics databases, q-RT PCR, western blot, and a tissue microarray containing 90 HCC samples, we examined the expression of YTHDF1 in HCC. Then, we applied the loss-of-function experiments to explore the role of YTHDF1 in HCC by in vitro and in vivo assays. Finally, we performed the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) to predict the potential signaling pathway of YTHDF1 involved in HCC and further verified this prediction. RESULTS YTHDF1 was overexpressed in HCC and associated with HCC grade. Depletion of YTHDF1 markedly impaired the proliferation, migration, invasion, and cell cycle process of HCC cells. Mechanistically, YTHDF1 promoted the growth of HCC cells via activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Moreover, we also demonstrated that the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mediated the promoting effect of YTHDF1 on the migration and invasion of HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS YTHDF1 contributes to the progression of HCC by activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and inducing EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyuan Luo
- Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Mengdie Cao
- Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Fan Gao
- Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xingxing He
- Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China. .,Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Luo XY, Wu KM, He XX. Advances in drug development for hepatocellular carcinoma: clinical trials and potential therapeutic targets. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:172. [PMID: 34006331 PMCID: PMC8130401 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01968-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest health burdens worldwide, few drugs are available for its clinical treatment. However, in recent years, major breakthroughs have been made in the development of new drugs due to intensive fundamental research and numerous clinical trials in HCC. Traditional systemic therapy schemes and emerging immunotherapy strategies have both advanced. Between 2017 and 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a variety of drugs for the treatment of HCC, including multikinase inhibitors (regorafenib, lenvatinib, cabozantinib, and ramucirumab), immune checkpoint inhibitors (nivolumab and pembrolizumab), and bevacizumab combined with atezolizumab. Currently, there are more than 1000 ongoing clinical trials involving HCC, which represents a vibrant atmosphere in the HCC drug research and development field. Additionally, traditional Chinese medicine approaches are being gradually optimized. This review summarizes FDA-approved agents for HCC, elucidates promising agents evaluated in clinical phase I/II/III trials and identifies emerging targets for HCC treatment. In addition, we introduce the development of HCC drugs in China. Finally, we discuss potential problems in HCC drug therapy and possible future solutions and indicate future directions for the development of drugs for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Yuan Luo
- Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Kong-Ming Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450008, China
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xing-Xing He
- Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Blockade of AMPK-Mediated cAMP-PKA-CREB/ATF1 Signaling Synergizes with Aspirin to Inhibit Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13071738. [PMID: 33917483 PMCID: PMC8038809 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Epidemiological and experimental studies have demonstrated that aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) may prevent the incidence of some types of human cancer, including colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In addition, preclinical studies indicate that aspirin in combination with other treatments may achieve a more significant anti-cancer effect for established tumors. This study aims to improve the anti-cancer effect of aspirin by targeting signaling pathways related to aspirin and its targets. We find that aspirin may induce cAMP–PKA–CREB/ATF1 signaling in HCC via AMPK and its downstream target carbamoyl-phosphate synthase 1 (CPS1). Blockade of PKA–CREB/ATF1 signaling by the natural agent berbamine could sensitize HCC to aspirin. This research indicates that the combination of two inexpensive drugs, aspirin and berbamine, holds promise in preventing and treating HCC. Abstract Aspirin can prevent or inhibit inflammation-related cancers, such as colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the effectiveness of chemotherapy may be compromised by activating oncogenic pathways in cancer cells. Elucidation of such chemoresistance mechanisms is crucial to developing novel strategies to maximize the anti-cancer effects of aspirin. Here, we report that aspirin markedly induces CREB/ATF1 phosphorylation in HCC cells, which compromises aspirin’s anti-HCC effect. Inhibition of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) abrogates the induction of CREB/ATF1 phosphorylation by aspirin. Mechanistically, activation of AMPK by aspirin results in decreased expression of the urea cycle enzyme carbamoyl-phosphate synthase 1 (CPS1) in HCC cells and xenografts. Treatment with aspirin or CPS1 knockdown stimulates soluble adenylyl cyclase expression, thereby increasing cyclic AMP (cAMP) synthesis and stimulating PKA–CREB/ATF1 signaling. Importantly, abrogation of aspirin-induced CREB/ATF1 phosphorylation could sensitize HCC to aspirin. The bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid berbamine suppresses the expression of cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A), leading to protein phosphatase 2A-mediated downregulation of CREB/ATF1 phosphorylation. The combination of berbamine and aspirin significantly inhibits HCC in vitro and in vivo. These data demonstrate that the regulation of cAMP-PKA-CREB/ATF1 signaling represents a noncanonical function of CPS1. Targeting the PKA–CREB/ATF1 axis may be a strategy to improve the therapeutic effects of aspirin on HCC.
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Liu C, Zha Z, Zhou C, Chen Y, Xia W, Wang YN, Lee HH, Yin Y, Yan M, Chang CW, Chan LC, Qiu Y, Li H, Li CW, Hsu JM, Hsu JL, Wang SC, Ren N, Hung MC. Ribonuclease 7-driven activation of ROS1 is a potential therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol 2021; 74:907-918. [PMID: 33031845 PMCID: PMC7979498 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS There are currently limited therapeutic options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly when it is diagnosed at advanced stages. Herein, we examined the pathophysiological role of ROS1 and assessed the utility of ROS1-targeted therapy for the treatment of HCC. METHODS Recombinant ribonucleases (RNases) were purified, and the ligand-receptor relationship between RNase7 and ROS1 was validated in HCC cell lines by Duolink, immunofluorescence, and immunoprecipitation assays. Potential interacting residues between ROS1 and RNase7 were predicted using a protein-protein docking approach. The oncogenic function of RNase7 was analyzed by cell proliferation, migration and invasion assays, and a xenograft mouse model. The efficacy of anti-ROS1 inhibitor treatment was evaluated in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and orthotopic models. Two independent patient cohorts were analyzed to evaluate the pathological relevance of RNase7/ROS1. RESULTS RNase7 associated with ROS1's N3-P2 domain and promoted ROS1-mediated oncogenic transformation. Patients with HCC exhibited elevated plasma RNase7 levels compared with healthy individuals. High ROS1 and RNase7 expression were strongly associated with poor prognosis in patients with HCC. In both HCC PDX and orthotopic mouse models, ROS1 inhibitor treatment markedly suppressed RNase7-induced tumorigenesis, leading to decreased plasma RNase7 levels and tumor shrinkage in mice. CONCLUSIONS RNase7 serves as a high-affinity ligand for ROS1. Plasma RNase7 could be used as a biomarker to identify patients with HCC who may benefit from anti-ROS1 treatment. LAY SUMMARY Receptor tyrosine kinases are known to be involved in tumorigenesis and have been targeted therapeutically for a number of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma. ROS1 is the only such receptor with kinase activity whose ligand has not been identified. Herein, we show that RNase7 acts as a ligand to activate ROS1 signaling. This has important pathophysiological and therapeutic implications. Anti-ROS1 inhibitors could be used to treatment patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and high RNase7 levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunxiao Liu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zhengyu Zha
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chenhao Zhou
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yeh Chen
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Research Center for Cancer Biology, and Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | - Weiya Xia
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ying-Nai Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Heng-Huan Lee
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yirui Yin
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Meisi Yan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pathology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Chiung-Wen Chang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Li-Chuan Chan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yufan Qiu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; The Third Department of Breast Cancer, China Tianjin Breast Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Research Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chia-Wei Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jung-Mao Hsu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Research Center for Cancer Biology, and Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | - Jennifer L Hsu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shao-Chun Wang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Research Center for Cancer Biology, and Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | - Ning Ren
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Mien-Chie Hung
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Research Center for Cancer Biology, and Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
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Li H. Angiogenesis in the progression from liver fibrosis to cirrhosis and hepatocelluar carcinoma. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 15:217-233. [PMID: 33131349 DOI: 10.1080/17474124.2021.1842732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Persistent inflammation and hypoxia are strong stimulus for pathological angiogenesis and vascular remodeling, and are also the most important elements resulting in liver fibrosis. Sustained inflammatory process stimulates fibrosis to the end-point of cirrhosis and sinusoidal portal hypertension is an important feature of cirrhosis. Neovascularization plays a pivotal role in collateral circulation formation of portal vein, mesenteric congestion, and high perfusion. Imbalance of hepatic artery and portal vein blood flow leads to the increase of hepatic artery inflow, which is beneficial to the formation of nodules. Angiogenesis contributes to progression from liver fibrosis to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and anti-angiogenesis therapy can improve liver fibrosis, reduce portal pressure, and prolong overall survival of patients with HCC. Areas covers: This paper will try to address the difference of the morphological characteristics and mechanisms of neovascularization in the process from liver fibrosis to cirrhosis and HCC and further compare the different efficacy of anti-angiogenesis therapy in these three stages. Expert opinion: More in-depth understanding of the role of angiogenesis factors and the relationship between angiogenesis and other aspects of the pathogenesis and transformation may be the key to enabling future progress in the treatment of patients with liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Central Laboratory, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Chengdu, Sichuan Province, P. R. China
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