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Xue T, Wang X, Pan X, Liu M, Xu F. PTX promotes breast cancer migration and invasion by recruiting ATF4 to upregulate FGF19. Cell Signal 2024; 122:111309. [PMID: 39053672 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Widely-spread among women, breast cancer is a malignancy with fatalities, and chemotherapy is a vital treatment option for it. Recent studies have underscored the potential of chemotherapeutic agents such as paclitaxel, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, and gemcitabine, among others, in facilitating tumor metastasis, with paclitaxel being extensively researched in this context. The molecular mechanism of these genes and their potential relevance to breast cancer is noteworthy. METHOD Clinical tissue specimens were used to analyze the expression and clinical significance of FGF19 or P-FGFR4 in patients with breast cancer before and after chemotherapy. qRT-PCR, ELISA, immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to detect the expression level of FGF19 in breast cancer cells. The biological impacts of paclitaxel, FGF19, and ATF4 on breast cancer cells were assessed through CCK8, Transwell, and Western blot assays. The expression of ATF4 in breast cancer cells was determined through database analysis, Western blot analysis, qRT-PCR, and immunofluorescence. The direct interaction between FGF19 and ATF4 was confirmed by a luciferase assay, and Western blotting was used to assess the levels of key proteins in the stress response pathway. To confirm the effects of PTX and FGF19 in vivo, we established a lung metastasis model in nude mice. RESULTS FGF19 expression was increased in breast cancer patients after chemotherapy. Paclitaxel can boost the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells, accompanied by an increase in FGF19 expression. ATF4 might be involved in facilitating the enhancing effect of FGF19 on breast cancer cell migration. Finally, stimulation during paclitaxel treatment could trigger a stress response, influencing the expression of FGF19 and the migration of breast cancer cells. CONCLUSION These data suggest that paclitaxel regulates FGF19 expression through ATF4 and thus promotes breast cancer cell migration and invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Xue
- School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuezhen Wang
- School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianjun Pan
- Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, People's Republic of China
| | - Mei Liu
- Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, People's Republic of China
| | - Faliang Xu
- School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China; Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, People's Republic of China.
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2
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Chen W, Tan M, Zhang H, Gao T, Ren J, Cheng S, Chen J. Signaling molecules in the microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Funct Integr Genomics 2024; 24:146. [PMID: 39207523 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-024-01427-7] [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: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 08/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major fatal cancer that is known for its high recurrence and metastasis. An increasing number of studies have shown that the tumor microenvironment is closely related to the metastasis and invasion of HCC. The HCC microenvironment is a complex integrated system composed of cellular components, the extracellular matrix (ECM), and signaling molecules such as chemokines, growth factors, and cytokines, which are generally regarded as crucial molecules that regulate a series of important processes, such as the migration and invasion of HCC cells. Considering the crucial role of signaling molecules, this review aims to elucidate the regulatory effects of chemokines, growth factors, and cytokines on HCC cells in their microenvironment to provide important references for clarifying the development of HCC and exploring effective therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanjin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated By the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Ming Tan
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated By the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated By the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Tingting Gao
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated By the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Jihua Ren
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated By the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Shengtao Cheng
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated By the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
| | - Juan Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases Designated By the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
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Lin K, Xia B, Wang X, He X, Zhou M, Lin Y, Qiao Y, Li R, Chen Q, Li Y, Feng J, Chen T, Chen C, Li X, Zhang H, Lu L, Liu B, Zhang X. Development of nanobodies targeting hepatocellular carcinoma and application of nanobody-based CAR-T technology. J Transl Med 2024; 22:349. [PMID: 38610029 PMCID: PMC11015683 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05159-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy, as an emerging anti-tumor treatment, has garnered extensive attention in the study of targeted therapy of multiple tumor-associated antigens in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the suppressive microenvironment and individual heterogeneity results in downregulation of these antigens in certain patients' cancer cells. Therefore, optimizing CAR-T cell therapy for HCC is imperative. METHODS In this study, we administered FGFR4-ferritin (FGFR4-HPF) nanoparticles to the alpaca and constructed a phage library of nanobodies (Nbs) derived from alpaca, following which we screened for Nbs targeting FGFR4. Then, we conducted the functional validation of Nbs. Furthermore, we developed Nb-derived CAR-T cells and evaluated their anti-tumor ability against HCC through in vitro and in vivo validation. RESULTS Our findings demonstrated that we successfully obtained high specificity and high affinity Nbs targeting FGFR4 after screening. And the specificity of Nbs targeting FGFR4 was markedly superior to their binding to other members of the FGFR family proteins. Furthermore, the Nb-derived CAR-T cells, targeting FGFR4, exhibited significantly enhanced anti-tumor efficacy in both experiments when in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS In summary, the results of this study suggest that the CAR-T cells derived from high specificity and high affinity Nbs, targeting FGFR4, exhibited significantly enhanced anti-tumor efficacy in vitro and in vivo. This is an exploration of FGFR4 in the field of Nb-derived CAR-T cell therapy for HCC, holding promise for enhancing safety and effectiveness in the clinical treatment of HCC in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keming Lin
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Baijin Xia
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuemei Wang
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin He
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Mo Zhou
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingtong Lin
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Yidan Qiao
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Rong Li
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Qier Chen
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuzhuang Li
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinzhu Feng
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Chen
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Cancan Chen
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Lijuan Lu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Avenue, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, People's Republic of China.
| | - Bingfeng Liu
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xu Zhang
- Institute of Human Virology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China.
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Ding K, Chen L, Levine K, Sikora M, Tasdemir N, Dabbs D, Jankowitz R, Hazan R, Shah OS, Atkinson JM, Lee AV, Oesterreich S. Estrogen regulation and functional role of FGFR4 in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.18.585626. [PMID: 38562741 PMCID: PMC10983957 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.18.585626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Background Resistance to endocrine therapy is a major challenge of managing estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer. We previously reported frequent overexpression of FGFR4 in endocrine resistant cell lines and breast cancers that recurred and metastasized following endocrine therapy, suggesting FGFR4 as a potential driver of endocrine resistance. In this study, we investigated the role of FGFR4 in mediating endocrine resistance and explored the therapeutic potential of targeting FGFR4 in advanced breast cancer. Methods A gene expression signature of FGFR4 activity was examined in ER+ breast cancer pre- and post-neoadjuvant endocrine therapy and the association between FGFR4 expression and patient survival was examined. A correlation analysis was used to uncover potential regulators of FGFR4 overexpression. To investigate if FGFR4 is necessary to drive endocrine resistance, we tested response to FGFR4 inhibition in long term estrogen deprived (LTED) cells and their paired parental cells. Doxycycline inducible FGFR4 overexpression and knockdown cell models were generated to examine if FGFR4 was sufficient to confer endocrine resistance. Finally, we examined response to FGFR4 monotherapy or combination therapy with fulvestrant in breast cancer cell lines to explore the potential of FGFR4 targeted therapy for advanced breast cancer and assessed the importance of PAM50 subtype in response to FGFR4 inhibition. Results A FGFR4 activity gene signature was significantly upregulated post neoadjuvant aromatase inhibitor treatment, and high FGFR4 expression predicted poorer survival in patients with ER+ breast cancer. Gene expression association analysis using TCGA, METABRIC and SCAN-B datasets uncovered ER as the most significant gene negatively correlated with FGFR4 expression. ER negatively regulates FGFR4 expression at both the mRNA and protein level across multiple ER+ breast cancer cell lines. Despite robust overexpression of FGFR4, LTED cells did not show enhanced responses to FGFR4 inhibition compared to parental cells. Similarly, FGFR4 overexpression, knockdown or hotspot mutations did not significantly alter response to endocrine treatment in ER+ cell lines, nor did FGFR4 and fulvestrant combination treatment show synergistic effects. The HER2-like subtype of breast cancer showed elevated expression of FGFR4 and an increased response to FGFR4 inhibition relative to other breast cancer subtypes. Conclusions Despite ER-mediated upregulation of FGFR4 post endocrine therapy, our study does not support a general role of FGFR4 in mediating endocrine resistance in ER+ breast cancer. Our data suggests that specific genomic backgrounds such as HER2 expression may be required for FGFR4 function in breast cancer and should be further explored.
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5
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Rodrigues SG, van der Merwe S, Krag A, Wiest R. Gut-liver axis: Pathophysiological concepts and medical perspective in chronic liver diseases. Semin Immunol 2024; 71:101859. [PMID: 38219459 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2023.101859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Susana G Rodrigues
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Schalk van der Merwe
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University hospital Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven, Belgium
| | - Aleksander Krag
- Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Centre for Liver Research, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Reiner Wiest
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland.
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6
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Chen X, Huang Y, Chen B, Liu H, Cai Y, Yang Y. Insight into the design of FGFR4 selective inhibitors in cancer therapy: Prospects and challenges. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 263:115947. [PMID: 37976704 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Recently, FGFR4 has become a hot target for the treatment of cancer owing to its important role in cellular physiological processes. FGFR4 has been validated to be closely related to the occurrence of cancers, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, breast cancer and colorectal cancer. Hence, the development of FGFR4 small-molecule inhibitors is essential to further understanding the functions of FGFR4 in cancer and the treatment of FGFR4-dependent diseases. Given the particular structures of FGFR1-4, the development of FGFR4 selective inhibitors presents significant challenges. The non-conserved Cys552 in the hinge region of the FGFR4 complex becomes the key to the selectivity of FGFR4 and FGFR1/2/3 inhibitors. In this review, we systematically introduce the close relationship between FGFR4 and cancer, and conduct an in-depth analysis of the developing methodology, binding mechanism, kinase selectivity, pharmacokinetic characteristics of FGFR4 selectivity inhibitors, and their application in clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolu Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Jingzhou Hospital Affiliated to Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, 434020, China
| | - Yajiao Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, Jingzhou Hospital Affiliated to Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, 434020, China
| | - Ban Chen
- School of Biological Engineering and Food, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China
| | - Huihui Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Jingzhou Hospital Affiliated to Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, 434020, China
| | - Yuepiao Cai
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China.
| | - Yuanrong Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Jingzhou Hospital Affiliated to Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, 434020, China.
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Takahashi M, Araki T, Yashima H, Nagamine A, Nagano D, Yamamoto K. Increased c‑SRC expression is involved in acquired resistance to lenvatinib in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol Lett 2023; 26:529. [PMID: 38020292 PMCID: PMC10654551 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.14116] [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: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Lenvatinib, a multi-kinase inhibitor, serves a crucial role in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, >50% of patients receiving lenvatinib therapy experience tumor growth or metastasis within 1 year, highlighting the need to address acquired resistance as a critical clinical challenge. To elucidate the factors associated with acquired resistance to lenvatinib, a lenvatinib-resistant HCC cell line (JHH-7_LR) was established by exposing a lenvatinib-sensitive HCC cell line, JHH-7, to lenvatinib. The changes in protein expression associated with the development of resistance were analyzed using a proteomic approach, detecting 1,321 proteins and significant changes in the expression of 267 proteins. Using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis bioinformatics software, it was revealed that the activity of multiple signaling pathways varied alongside the changes in expression of these proteins, and c-SRC was identified as a protein involved in a number of these signaling pathways, with its activity varying markedly upon the acquisition of resistance. When co-administering dasatinib, a c-SRC inhibitor, the partial restoration of lenvatinib sensitivity in the JHH-7_LR cell line was observed. The present study demonstrated that increased c-SRC expression was partially associated with HCC resistance to lenvatinib, suggesting that c-SRC inhibition could reduce the resistance of HCC to lenvatinib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masamitsu Takahashi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
- Department of Pharmacy, Gunma University Hospital, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Takuya Araki
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
- Department of Pharmacy, Gunma University Hospital, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Hideaki Yashima
- Department of Pharmacy, Gunma University Hospital, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Ayumu Nagamine
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
- Education Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare, Takasaki, Gunma 370-0033, Japan
| | - Daisuke Nagano
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
- Education and Research Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Medical and Applied Life Sciences, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan
| | - Koujirou Yamamoto
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
- Department of Pharmacy, Gunma University Hospital, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
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Liu Q, Huang J, Yan W, Liu Z, Liu S, Fang W. FGFR families: biological functions and therapeutic interventions in tumors. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e367. [PMID: 37750089 PMCID: PMC10518040 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
There are five fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs), namely, FGFR1-FGFR5. When FGFR binds to its ligand, namely, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), it dimerizes and autophosphorylates, thereby activating several key downstream pathways that play an important role in normal physiology, such as the Ras/Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT, phospholipase C gamma/diacylglycerol/protein kinase c, and signal transducer and activator of transcription pathways. Furthermore, as an oncogene, FGFR genetic alterations were found in 7.1% of tumors, and these alterations include gene amplification, gene mutations, gene fusions or rearrangements. Therefore, FGFR amplification, mutations, rearrangements, or fusions are considered as potential biomarkers of FGFR therapeutic response for tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, it is worth noting that with increased use, resistance to TKIs inevitably develops, such as the well-known gatekeeper mutations. Thus, overcoming the development of drug resistance becomes a serious problem. This review mainly outlines the FGFR family functions, related pathways, and therapeutic agents in tumors with the aim of obtaining better outcomes for cancer patients with FGFR changes. The information provided in this review may provide additional therapeutic ideas for tumor patients with FGFR abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Liu
- Cancer CenterIntegrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Jiyu Huang
- Cancer CenterIntegrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Weiwei Yan
- Cancer CenterIntegrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Zhen Liu
- Cancer CenterIntegrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and DegradationBasic School of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Shu Liu
- Department of Breast SurgeryThe Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical UniversityGuiyangGuizhouChina
| | - Weiyi Fang
- Cancer CenterIntegrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
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Guo W, Li S, Qian Y, Li L, Wang F, Tong Y, Li Q, Zhu Z, Gao W, Liu Y. KDM6A promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression and dictates lenvatinib efficacy by upregulating FGFR4 expression. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1452. [PMID: 37846441 PMCID: PMC10580016 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1452] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the major causes of death from cancer and has a very poor prognosis with few effective therapeutic options. Despite the approval of lenvatinib for the treatment of patients suffering from advanced HCC, only a small number of patients can benefit from this targeted therapy. METHODS Diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-CCL4 mouse liver tumour and the xenograft tumour models were used to evaluate the function of KDM6A in HCC progression. The xenograft tumour model and HCC cell lines were used to evaluate the role of KDM6A in HCC drug sensitivity to lenvatinib. RNA-seq and ChIP assays were conducted for mechanical investigation. RESULTS We revealed that KDM6A exhibited a significant upregulation in HCC tissues and was associated with an unfavourable prognosis. We further demonstrated that KDM6A knockdown remarkably suppressed HCC cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Moreover, hepatic Kdm6a loss also inhibited liver tumourigenesis in a mouse liver tumour model. Mechanistically, KDM6A loss downregulated the FGFR4 expression to suppress the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signalling pathway, leading to a glucose and lipid metabolism re-programming in HCC. KDM6A and FGFR4 levels were positively correlated in HCC specimens and mouse liver tumour tissues. Notably, KDM6A knockdown significantly inhibited the efficacy of lenvatinib therapy in HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Our findings revealed that KDM6A promoted HCC progression by activating FGFR4 expression and may be an essential molecule for influencing the efficacy of lenvatinib in HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyun Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Songling Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Med‐X Research InstituteShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Yifei Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Linfeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Fan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Yu Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Qianyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Zijun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Wei‐Qiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Med‐X Research InstituteShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Yanfeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and ImmonologyShanghai Institute of TransplantationShanghaiP. R. China
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Francque S, Ratziu V. Future Treatment Options and Regimens for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Clin Liver Dis 2023; 27:429-449. [PMID: 37024217 DOI: 10.1016/j.cld.2023.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent progress in our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms that drive progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis as well as lessons learned from several clinical trials that have been conducted over the past 15 years guide our current regulatory framework and trial design. Targeting the metabolic drivers should probably be the backbone of therapy in most of the patients, with some requiring more specific intrahepatic antiinflammatory and antifibrotic actions to achieve success. New and innovative targets and approaches as well as combination therapies are currently explored, while awaiting a better understanding of disease heterogeneity that should allow for future individualized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Francque
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium; Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Paediatrics (LEMP), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; InflaMed Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Translational Sciences in Inflammation and Immunology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat 665, Edegem B-2650, Belgium.
| | - Vlad Ratziu
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux De Paris, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, Paris Cedex 13 75651, France; INSERM UMRS 1138 CRC, Paris, France.
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11
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Zhang D, Liu X, Qi Y, Lin Y, Zhao K, Jin Y, Luo J, Xu L, Yu D, Li C. Binding, activity and risk assessment of bisphenols toward farnesoid X receptor pathway: In vitro and in silico study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 869:161701. [PMID: 36709907 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161701] [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: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Bisphenols have been identified as emerging environmental pollutants of high concern with potential adverse effects through interactions with receptor-mediated pathways. However, their potential mechanism of action and health risks through the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) pathway remain poorly understood. In the present study, we aimed to explore the potential disruption mechanism of bisphenols through the FXR signalling pathway. Receptor binding assays showed that bisphenols bound to FXR directly, with tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA; 34-fold), tetrachlorobisphenol A (TCBPA; 8.7-fold), bisphenol AF (BPAF; 2.0-fold), and bisphenol B (BPB; 1.9-fold) showing a significantly stronger binding potency than bisphenol A (BPA). In receptor transcriptional activity assays, bisphenols showed agonistic activity toward FXR, with BPAF, BPB, and bisphenol F (BPF) exhibiting higher activity than BPA, but TBBPA and TCBPA showing significantly weaker activity than BPA. Molecular docking results indicated that the number of hydrogen bonds dictated their binding strength. Intracellular concentrations of bisphenols were quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in receptor activity assays, and it was found that the intracellular concentrations of TBBPA and TCBPA were 40-fold lower than those of BPA. Using the bioactivity concentrations in the FXR receptor activity assay, the liver concentrations of bisphenols were estimated using physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models through their serum concentrations, and the hazard quotient (HQ) values were calculated. The results suggest a potentially high concern for the risk of activating the FXR pathway for some populations with high exposure. Overall, these results indicate that bisphenols can bind to and activate FXR receptors, and that the activation mechanism is dependent on cellular uptake and binding strength. This study provides important information regarding the exposure risk of bisphenols, which can promote the development of environmentally friendly bisphenols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghui Zhang
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Xinya Liu
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Yuan Qi
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Yongfeng Lin
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Kunming Zhao
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Yuan Jin
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Jiao Luo
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Lin Xu
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Dianke Yu
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Chuanhai Li
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, China.
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12
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Zhang Y, Wu T, Wang Y, Chen Z, Chen J, Lu S, Xia W. Reciprocal FGF19-GLI2 signaling induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition to promote lung squamous cell carcinoma metastasis. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2023; 46:437-450. [PMID: 36598638 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-022-00760-y] [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: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Metastatic lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is one of the most common causes of cancer death worldwide. As yet, however, the molecular mechanism underlying LUSC metastasis remains elusive. In this study, we report a novel mechanism involving signaling interactions between FGF19 and GLI2 that could drive the progression of LUSC. METHODS The expression of FGF19 in human LUSC samples was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The concentration of FGF19 in serum samples was assessed by ELISA. RNA sequencing, scratch wound-healing, trans-well, GO analysis, GSEA, luciferase reporter, Western blotting, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry assays, as well as an animal model were used to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying FGF19 driven LUSC progression. The therapeutic effect of a GLI2 inhibitor was determined using both in vitro cellular and in vivo animal experiments. RESULTS We found that FGF19, a member of the fibroblast growth factor family, plays a crucial role in the invasion and metastasis of LUSC, and identified GLI2 as an important downstream effector of FGF19 involved in metastasis. Surprisingly, we found that FGF19 and GLI2 could reciprocally induce the expression of each other, and form a positive feedback loop to promote LUSC cell invasion and metastasis. These findings were corroborated by an association between a poor prognosis of LUSC patients and FGF19/GLI2 co-expression. In addition, we found that the GLI inhibitor GANT61 could effectively reduce FGF19-mediated LUSC invasion and metastasis. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that FGF19 may serve as a novel biomarker for predicting metastatic LUSC. Intervening with the FGF19-GLI2 feedback loop may be a strategy for the treatment of FGF19-driven LUSC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanshuang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, 200030, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingyu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, 200030, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuting Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Lung Cancer Center, Shanghai Chest Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, 200030, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhuo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, 200030, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiachen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, 200030, Shanghai, China
| | - Shun Lu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Lung Cancer Center, Shanghai Chest Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, 200030, Shanghai, China
| | - Weiliang Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, 200030, Shanghai, China.
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13
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One-step metal affinity purification of recombinant hFGF19 without using tags. Protein Expr Purif 2023; 201:106186. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2022.106186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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14
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López‐Cánovas JL, Hermán‐Sánchez N, Moreno‐Montilla MT, del Rio‐Moreno M, Alors‐Perez E, Sánchez‐Frias ME, Amado V, Ciria R, Briceño J, de la Mata M, Castaño JP, Rodriguez‐Perálvarez M, Luque RM, Gahete MD. Spliceosomal profiling identifies EIF4A3 as a novel oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma acting through the modulation of FGFR4 splicing. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e1102. [PMID: 36419260 PMCID: PMC9684617 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Altered splicing landscape is an emerging cancer hallmark; however, the dysregulation and implication of the cellular machinery controlling this process (spliceosome components and splicing factors) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is poorly known. This study aimed to comprehensively characterize the spliceosomal profile and explore its role in HCC. METHODS Expression levels of 70 selected spliceosome components and splicing factors and clinical implications were evaluated in two retrospective and six in silico HCC cohorts. Functional, molecular and mechanistic studies were implemented in three cell lines (HepG2, Hep3B and SNU-387) and preclinical Hep3B-induced xenograft tumours. RESULTS Spliceosomal dysregulations were consistently found in retrospective and in silico cohorts. EIF4A3, RBM3, ESRP2 and SRPK1 were the most dysregulated spliceosome elements in HCC. EIF4A3 expression was associated with decreased survival and greater recurrence. Plasma EIF4A3 levels were significantly elevated in HCC patients. In vitro EIF4A3-silencing (or pharmacological inhibition) resulted in reduced aggressiveness, and hindered xenograft-tumours growth in vivo, whereas EIF4A3 overexpression increased tumour aggressiveness. EIF4A3-silencing altered the expression and splicing of key HCC-related genes, specially FGFR4. EIF4A3-silencing blocked the cellular response to the natural ligand of FGFR4, FGF19. Functional consequences of EIF4A3-silencing were mediated by FGFR4 splicing as the restoration of non-spliced FGFR4 full-length version blunted these effects, and FGFR4 inhibition did not exert further effects in EIF4A3-silenced cells. CONCLUSIONS Splicing machinery is strongly dysregulated in HCC, providing a source of new diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic options in HCC. EIF4A3 is consistently elevated in HCC patients and associated with tumour aggressiveness and mortality, through the modulation of FGFR4 splicing.
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15
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Guthrie G, Vonderohe C, Burrin D. Fibroblast growth factor 15/19 expression, regulation, and function: An overview. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2022; 548:111617. [PMID: 35301051 PMCID: PMC9038700 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2022.111617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Since the discovery of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-19 over 20 years ago, our understanding of the peptide and its role in human biology has moved forward significantly. A member of a superfamily of paracrine growth factors regulating embryonic development, FGF19 is unique in that it is a dietary-responsive endocrine hormone linked with bile acid homeostasis, glucose and lipid metabolism, energy expenditure, and protein synthesis during the fed to fasted state. FGF19 achieves this through targeting multiple tissues and signaling pathways within those tissues. The diverse functional capabilities of FGF19 is due to the unique structural characteristics of the protein and its receptor binding in various cell types. This review will cover the current literature on the protein FGF19, its target receptors, and the biological pathways they target through unique signaling cascades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg Guthrie
- USDA-ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Caitlin Vonderohe
- USDA-ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Douglas Burrin
- USDA-ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States.
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16
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Agarwal S, Afaq F, Bajpai P, Kim H, Elkholy A, Behring M, Chandrashekar DS, Diffalha SA, Khushman M, Sugandha SP, Varambally S, Manne U. DCZ0415, a small-molecule inhibitor targeting TRIP13, inhibits EMT and metastasis via inactivation of the FGFR4/STAT3 axis and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in colorectal cancer. Mol Oncol 2022; 16:1728-1745. [PMID: 35194944 PMCID: PMC9019876 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroid receptor-interacting protein 13 (TRIP13), a protein of the AAA-ATPase family, is upregulated in various human cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). This study focused on the inhibition of TRIP13-induced CRC progression and signalling by DCZ0415, a small molecule targeting TRIP13. It demonstrated potent antitumour activity in TRIP13-deregulated cancer cell lines, regardless of their p53, KRAS, BRAF, epidermal growth factor receptor or microsatellite instability status. The treatment of CRC cells with DCZ0415 resulted in decreased cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest in the G2-M phase and increased apoptosis. DCZ0415 diminished xenograft tumour growth and metastasis of CRC in immunocompromised mice. DCZ0415 reduced expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and proteins associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways in cells and xenografts exhibiting high expression of TRIP13. Additionally, DCZ0415 decreased cyclin D1, β-catenin and T-cell factor 1, leading to the inactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In a syngeneic CRC model, DCZ0415 treatment induced an immune response by decreasing PD1 and CTLA4 levels and increasing granzyme B, perforin and interferon gamma. In sum, DCZ04145 inhibits the TRIP13-FGFR4-STAT3 axis, inactivates NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin signalling, activates antitumour immune response and reduces the progression and metastasis of CRC. This study provides a rationale to evaluate DCZ0415 clinically for the treatment of a subset of CRCs that exhibit dysregulated TRIP13 and FGFR4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumit Agarwal
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Farrukh Afaq
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Prachi Bajpai
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Hyung‐Gyoon Kim
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Amr Elkholy
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Michael Behring
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | | | - Sameer Al Diffalha
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Moh’d Khushman
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
- Department of MedicineDivision of Medical OncologyUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Shajan P. Sugandha
- Department of MedicineDivision of GastroenterologyUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Sooryanarayana Varambally
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
| | - Upender Manne
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamALUSA
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17
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Mohamed GA, Nashaat EH, Fawzy HM, ElGhandour AM. Assessment of fibroblast growth factor 19 as a non-invasive serum marker for hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Hepatol 2022; 14:623-633. [PMID: 35582295 PMCID: PMC9055196 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v14.i3.623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF-19) is one of the founding members of the endocrine FGF subfamily. Recently, it has been the subject of much interest owing to its role in various physiological processes affecting glucose and lipid metabolism and the regulation of bile acid secretion as well as cell proliferation, differentiation, and motility. Additionally, FGF-19 secretion in an autocrine style has reportedly contributed to cancer progression in various types of malignancies including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). AIM To estimate the serum FGF-19 concentrations in HCC cases and assess its diagnostic performance for the detection of HCC. METHODS We recruited 90 adult participants and divided them into three equal groups: Healthy controls, cirrhosis patients, and HCC patients. Serum FGF-19 concentrations were measured using the Human FGF-19 ELISA kit. RESULTS We detected a high statistically significant difference in serum FGF-19 levels among the three groups. The highest level was observed in the HCC group, followed by the cirrhosis and control groups (236.44 ± 40.94 vs 125.63 ± 31.54 vs 69.60 ± 20.90 pg/mL, respectively, P ≤ 0.001). FGF-19 was positively correlated with alpha fetoprotein (AFP; r = 0.383, P = 0.003) and international normalised ratio (r = 0.357, P = 0.005), while it was negatively correlated with albumin (r = -0.500, P ≤ 0.001). For the detection of HCC, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the best cut-off point of AFP was > 8.2 ng/mL with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.78, sensitivity of 63.33%, specificity of 83.33%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 79.2%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 69.4%, and total accuracy of 78%. However, FGF-19 at a cut-off point > 180 pg/mL had an AUC of 0.98, sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 90.0%, PPV of 90.0%, NPV of 100%, and total accuracy of 98%. CONCLUSION FGF-19 represents a possible novel non-invasive marker for HCC. It may improve the prognosis of HCC patients due to its utility in several aspects of HCC detection and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghada Abdelrahman Mohamed
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11591, Egypt.
| | - Ehab Hasan Nashaat
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11591, Egypt
| | - Hadeer Mohamed Fawzy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11591, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Mohamed ElGhandour
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11591, Egypt
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18
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Chaudhary CL, Lim D, Chaudhary P, Guragain D, Awasthi BP, Park HD, Kim JA, Jeong BS. 6-Amino-2,4,5-trimethylpyridin-3-ol and 2-amino-4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-5-ol derivatives as selective fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 inhibitors: design, synthesis, molecular docking, and anti-hepatocellular carcinoma efficacy evaluation. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2022; 37:844-856. [PMID: 35296193 PMCID: PMC8933034 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2022.2048378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel series of aminotrimethylpyridinol and aminodimethylpyrimidinol derivatives were designed and synthesised for FGFR4 inhibitors. Structure-activity relationship on the FGFR4 inhibitory activity of the new compounds was clearly elucidated by an intensive molecular docking study. Anti-cancer activity of the compounds was evaluated using hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and a chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) tumour model. Compound 6O showed FGFR4 inhibitory activity over FGFR1 - 3. Compared to the positive control BLU9931, compound 6O exhibited at least 8 times higher FGFR4 selectivity. Strong anti-proliferative activity of compound 6O was observed against Hep3B, an HCC cell line which was a much more sensitive cell line to BLU9931. In vivo anti-tumour activity of compound 6O against Hep3B-xenografted CAM tumour model was almost similar to BLU9931. Overall, compound 6O, a novel derivative of aminodimethylpyrimidinol, was a selective FGFR4 kinase inhibitor blocking HCC tumour growth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dongchul Lim
- Innovo Therapeutics Inc, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Prakash Chaudhary
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Diwakar Guragain
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | - Jung-Ae Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Byeong-Seon Jeong
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
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19
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Oshima K, Kato K, Ito Y, Daiko H, Nozaki I, Nakagawa S, Shibuya Y, Kojima T, Toh Y, Okada M, Hironaka S, Akiyama Y, Komatsu Y, Maejima K, Nakagawa H, Onuki R, Nagai M, Kato M, Kanato K, Kuchiba A, Nakamura K, Kitagawa Y. A prognostic biomarker study in patients with clinical stage I esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: JCOG0502-A1. Cancer Sci 2021; 113:1018-1027. [PMID: 34962019 PMCID: PMC8898710 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15251] [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: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
We conducted genomic analyses of Japanese patients with stage I esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to investigate the frequency of genomic alterations and the association with survival outcomes. Biomarker analysis was conducted for patients with clinical stage T1bN0M0 ESCC enrolled in JCOG0502 (UMIN000000551). Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed using DNA extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue of ESCC and normal tissue or blood sample. Single nucleotide variants (SNVs), insertions/deletions (indels), and copy number alterations (CNAs) were identified. We then evaluated the associations between each gene alteration with a frequency ≥10% and progression-free survival (PFS) using a Cox regression model. We controlled for family-wise errors at 0.05 using the Bonferroni method. Among the 379 patients who were enrolled in JCOG0502, 127 patients were successfully analyzed using WES. The median patient age was 63 years (IQR, 57-67 years), and 78.0% of the patients ultimately underwent surgery. The 3-year PFS probability was 76.3%. We detected 20 genes with SNVs, indels, or amplifications with a frequency of ≥10%. Genomic alterations in FGF19 showed the strongest association with PFS with a borderline level of statistical significance of p = 0.00252 (Bonferroni-adjusted significance level is 0.0025). Genomic alterations in FGF4, MYEOV, CTTN, and ORAOV1 showed a marginal association with PFS (p < 0.05). These genomic alterations were all CNAs at chromosome 11q13.3. We have identified new genomic alterations associated with the poor efficacy of ESCC (T1bN0M0). These findings open avenues for the development of new potential treatments for patients with ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kotoe Oshima
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo
| | - Ken Kato
- Department of Head and Neck, Esophageal Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo
| | - Yoshinori Ito
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo
| | - Hiroyuki Daiko
- Esophageal Surgery Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo
| | - Isao Nozaki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, National Hospital Organization Shikoku Cancer Center, Matsuyama
| | - Satoru Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Niigata Cancer Center Hospital, Niigata
| | - Yuichi Shibuya
- Department of Gastroenterology Surgery, Kochi Health Sciences Center, Kochi
| | - Takashi Kojima
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa
| | - Yasushi Toh
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka
| | | | - Shuichi Hironaka
- Clinical Trial Promotion Department, Chiba Cancer Center, Chiba.,Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Yufu
| | - Yuji Akiyama
- Department of Surgery, Iwate Medical University, Iwate
| | - Yoshito Komatsu
- Cancer Chemotherapy, Hokkaido University Hospital Cancer Center, Sapporo
| | - Kazuhiro Maejima
- Laboratory for Cancer Genomics, RIKEN Center for integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama
| | - Hidewaki Nakagawa
- Laboratory for Cancer Genomics, RIKEN Center for integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama
| | - Ritsuko Onuki
- Division of Bioinformatics, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Tokyo
| | - Momoko Nagai
- Division of Bioinformatics, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Tokyo
| | - Mamoru Kato
- Division of Bioinformatics, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Tokyo
| | - Keisuke Kanato
- Research Management Division, Clinical Research Support Office, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo
| | - Aya Kuchiba
- Biostatistics Division, Center for Research Administration and Support, National Cancer Center, Tokyo.,Graduate School of Health Innovation, Kanagawa University of Human Services, Kanagawa
| | - Kenichi Nakamura
- Research Management Division, Clinical Research Support Office, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo
| | - Yuko Kitagawa
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo
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20
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Yang J, Sontag D, Kung S, Minuk GY. Fibroblast Growth Factor 19 Induced Changes in Non-malignant Cholangiocytes. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2021; 9:909-916. [PMID: 34966654 PMCID: PMC8666367 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2021.00087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)19 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of murine hepatocellular carcinoma. Whether it plays a role in the development or course of human cholangiocarcinoma remains to be determined. The aim of this study was to determine whether prolonged exposure to FGF19 results in the transformation of non-malignant human cholangiocytes into cells with malignant features. METHODS Human SV-40 transfected non-malignant H69 cholangiocytes were cultured with FGF19 (0-50 ng/mL) for 6 weeks, followed by 6 weeks with medium alone. Cell proliferation, invasion, stem cell surface markers, oncofetoprotein expression, state of differentiation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and interleukin (IL)-6 expression were documented at various time intervals throughout the 12-week period. RESULTS FGF19 exposure was associated with significant increases in cell proliferation, de-differentiation, EMT and IL-6 expression. However, each of these effects returned to baseline or control values during the 6-week FGF19 free follow-up period. The remaining cell properties remained unaltered. CONCLUSIONS Six weeks of FGF19 exposure did not result in the acquisition of permanent malignant features in non-malignant, human cholangiocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Yang
- Section of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - David Sontag
- Section of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Sam Kung
- Department of Immunology, Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Gerald Y. Minuk
- Section of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Correspondence to: Gerald Y. Minuk, Morberg Family Chair in Hepatology, University of Manitoba, John Buhler Research Centre, 715 McDermot Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2687-940X. Tel: +1-204-789-3204, Fax: +1-204-789-3987, E-mail:
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21
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Xie H, Alem Glison DM, Kim RD. FGFR4 inhibitors for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: a synopsis of therapeutic potential. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2021; 31:393-400. [PMID: 34913780 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2022.2017879] [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] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The mainstay pharmacological approaches to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are tyrosine kinase inhibitors, antiangiogenic agents, and immune checkpoint inhibitors in combination therapy. Aberrant signaling of fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) and its corresponding receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), are a driver of HCC cell growth and survival. However, the clinical potential of agents targeting aberrant FGF19/FGFR4 signaling has not been adequately explored. AREAS COVERED We evaluate the existing literature on aberrant signaling of FGF19/FGFR4 in HCC and address the recent preclinical and clinical advances of selective FGFR4 inhibitors in the treatment of advanced HCC. Our literature search was performed in September 2021 on clinical trials and ongoing studies published in journals or presented in conferences for cancer research. EXPERT OPINION Preclinical studies show selective FGFR4 inhibitors to be highly potent. These inhibitors also show promise in clinical trials and demonstrate manageable on-target side effects. An emphasis should be placed on the development of predictive biomarkers and on enhancing the understanding of primary and acquired resistance mechanisms. This will inspire rationale combination therapy strategies for testing in future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Xie
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA.,Department of Oncologic Sciences, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Diego M Alem Glison
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Richard D Kim
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA.,Department of Oncologic Sciences, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
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22
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Nam Y, Shin I, Kim Y, Ryu S, Kim N, Ju E, Sim T. Anti-cancer effects of 3,4-dihydropyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidin-2(1H)-one derivatives on hepatocellular carcinoma harboring FGFR4 activation. Neoplasia 2021; 24:34-49. [PMID: 34864570 PMCID: PMC8649585 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2021.11.011] [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: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is disease with a high mortality rate and limited treatment options. Alterations of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) has been regarded as an oncogenic driver for HCC and a promising target for HCC therapeutics. Herein, we report that GNF-7, a multi-targeted kinase inhibitor, and its derivatives including SIJ1263 (IC50 < 1 nM against FGFR4) are highly potent FGFR4 inhibitors and are capable of strongly suppressing proliferation of HCC cells and Ba/F3 cells transformed with wtFGFR4 or mtFGFR4. Compared with known FGFR4 inhibitors, both GNF-7 and SIJ1263 possess much higher (up to 100-fold) anti-proliferative activities via FGFR signaling blockade and apoptosis on HCC cells. Especially, SIJ1263 is 80-fold more potent (GI50 = 24 nM) on TEL-FGFR4 V550E Ba/F3 cells than BLU9931, which suggests that SIJ1263 would be effective for overriding drug resistance. In addition, both substances strongly suppress migration/invasion and colony formation of HCC cells. It is worth noting that SIJ1263 is superior to GNF-7 with regards to the fact that activities of SIJ1263 are higher than those of GNF-7 in all assays performed in this study. Collectively, this study provides insight into designing highly potent FGFR4 inhibitors capable of potentially overcoming drug-resistance for the treatment of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunju Nam
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea; Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Injae Shin
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea; Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Younghoon Kim
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea; Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - SeongShick Ryu
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea; Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Namdoo Kim
- Voronoibio Inc., 32 Songdogwahak-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 21984, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunhye Ju
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Taebo Sim
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea; Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
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23
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Dark and bright side of targeting fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 in the liver. J Hepatol 2021; 75:1440-1451. [PMID: 34364916 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor 4 (FGFR4) and its cognate ligand, FGF19, are implicated in a range of cellular processes, including differentiation, metabolism and proliferation. Indeed, their aberrant activation has been associated with the development of hepatic tumours. Despite great advances in early diagnosis and the development of new therapies, liver cancer is still associated with a high mortality rate, owing primarily to high molecular heterogeneity and unclear molecular targeting. The development of FGFR4 inhibitors is a promising tool in patients with concomitant supraphysiological levels of FGF19 and several clinical trials are testing these treatments for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Conversely, using FGF19 analogues to activate FGFR4-KLOTHO β represents a novel therapeutic strategy in patients presenting with cholestatic liver disorders and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which could potentially prevent the development of metabolic HCC. Herein, we provide an overview of the currently available therapeutic options for targeting FGFR4 in HCC and other liver diseases, highlighting the need to carefully stratify patients and personalise therapeutic strategies.
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24
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Ray T, Ryusaki T, Ray PS. Therapeutically Targeting Cancers That Overexpress FOXC1: A Transcriptional Driver of Cell Plasticity, Partial EMT, and Cancer Metastasis. Front Oncol 2021; 11:721959. [PMID: 34540690 PMCID: PMC8446626 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.721959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastasis accounts for more than 90% of cancer related mortality, thus the most pressing need in the field of oncology today is the ability to accurately predict future onset of metastatic disease, ideally at the time of initial diagnosis. As opposed to current practice, what would be desirable is that prognostic, biomarker-based detection of metastatic propensity and heightened risk of cancer recurrence be performed long before overt metastasis has set in. Without such timely information it will be impossible to formulate a rational therapeutic treatment plan to favorably alter the trajectory of disease progression. In order to help inform rational selection of targeted therapeutics, any recurrence/metastasis risk prediction strategy must occur with the paired identification of novel prognostic biomarkers and their underlying molecular regulatory mechanisms that help drive cancer recurrence/metastasis (i.e. recurrence biomarkers). Traditional clinical factors alone (such as TNM staging criteria) are no longer adequately prognostic for this purpose in the current molecular era. FOXC1 is a pivotal transcription factor that has been functionally implicated to drive cancer metastasis and has been demonstrated to be an independent predictor of heightened metastatic risk, at the time of initial diagnosis. In this review, we present our viewpoints on the master regulatory role that FOXC1 plays in mediating cancer stem cell traits that include cellular plasticity, partial EMT, treatment resistance, cancer invasion and cancer migration during cancer progression and metastasis. We also highlight potential therapeutic strategies to target cancers that are, or have evolved to become, “transcriptionally addicted” to FOXC1. The potential role of FOXC1 expression status in predicting the efficacy of these identified therapeutic approaches merits evaluation in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Ray
- R&D Division, Onconostic Technologies (OT), Inc., Champaign, IL, United States
| | | | - Partha S Ray
- R&D Division, Onconostic Technologies (OT), Inc., Champaign, IL, United States
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25
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Shibata O, Kamimura K, Ko M, Sakai N, Abe H, Morita S, Mizusawa T, Sato H, Sakamaki A, Terai S. Effect of Lenvatinib on a Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 4 Expression: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Intern Med 2021; 60:1709-1715. [PMID: 33390501 PMCID: PMC8222122 DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.6580-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Basic and clinical research have shown that the expression of molecules involved in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell signaling pathway is related to the sensitivity to molecular-targeted agents. We herein report a case of HCC that was effectively treated with lenvatinib after a poor response to sorafenib. The tumor showed a high expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4, which is reportedly related to the sensitivity to lenvatinib in vitro. The information obtained from this case and from our literature review highlights the importance of assessing the expression of the molecules involved in tumors for effective precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osamu Shibata
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Japan
| | - Kenya Kamimura
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Ko
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Japan
| | - Norihiro Sakai
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Abe
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Japan
| | - Shinichi Morita
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Japan
| | - Takeshi Mizusawa
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Japan
| | - Hiroki Sato
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Japan
| | - Akira Sakamaki
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Japan
| | - Shuji Terai
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Japan
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26
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Liu ZL, Liu JH, Staiculescu D, Chen J. Combination of molecularly targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors in the new era of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treatment. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2021; 13:17588359211018026. [PMID: 34104226 PMCID: PMC8150670 DOI: 10.1177/17588359211018026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) have been the only first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for more than a decade, until the approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Moreover, the combination regimen of atezolizumab (anti-programmed cell death protein ligand 1 antibody) plus bevacizumab (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monoclonal antibody) has recently been demonstrated to have superior efficacy when compared with sorafenib monotherapy. The remarkable efficacy has made this combination therapy the new standard treatment for advanced HCC. In addition to MKIs, many other molecularly targeted therapies are under investigation, some of which have shown promising results. Therefore, in the era of immuno-oncology, there is a significant rationale for testing the combinations of molecularly targeted therapies and ICIs. Indeed, numerous preclinical and clinical studies have shown the synergic antitumor efficacy of such combinations. In this review, we aim to summarize the current knowledge on the combination of molecularly targeted therapies and immune checkpoint therapies for HCC from both preclinical and clinical perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze-Long Liu
- Division of Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jing-Hua Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Professor Cai’s Laboratory, Linyi People’s Hospital, Linyi, Shandong Province, China
| | - Daniel Staiculescu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jiang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, No. 3, East Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310016, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
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27
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The Role of Fibroblast Growth Factor 19 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2021; 191:1180-1192. [PMID: 34000282 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2021.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common type of cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Liver resection or liver transplantation is the most effective therapy for HCC because drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat patients with unresectable HCC have an unfavorable overall survival rate. Therefore, the development of biomarkers for early diagnosis and effective therapy strategies are still necessary to improve patient outcomes. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19 was amplified in patients with HCC from various studies, including patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas. FGF19 plays a syngeneic function with other signaling pathways in primary liver cancer development, such as epidermal growth factor receptor, Wnt/β-catenin, the endoplasmic reticulum-related signaling pathway, STAT3/IL-6, RAS, and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, among others. The current review presents a comprehensive description of the FGF19 signaling pathway involved in liver cancer development. The use of big data and bioinformatic analysis can provide useful clues for further studies of the FGF19 pathway in HCC, including its application as a biomarker, targeted therapy, and combination therapy strategies.
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28
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The role of farnesoid X receptor in metabolic diseases, and gastrointestinal and liver cancer. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 18:335-347. [PMID: 33568795 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-020-00404-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor involved in the control of bile acid (BA) synthesis and enterohepatic circulation. FXR can influence glucose and lipid homeostasis. Hepatic FXR activation by obeticholic acid is currently used to treat primary biliary cholangitis. Late-stage clinical trials investigating the use of obeticholic acid in the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis are underway. Mouse models of metabolic disease have demonstrated that inhibition of intestinal FXR signalling reduces obesity, insulin resistance and fatty liver disease by modulation of hepatic and gut bacteria-mediated BA metabolism, and intestinal ceramide synthesis. FXR also has a role in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal and liver cancers. Studies using tissue-specific and global Fxr-null mice have revealed that FXR acts as a suppressor of hepatocellular carcinoma, mainly through regulating BA homeostasis. Loss of whole-body FXR potentiates progression of spontaneous colorectal cancer, and obesity-induced BA imbalance promotes intestinal stem cell proliferation by suppressing intestinal FXR in Apcmin/+ mice. Owing to altered gut microbiota and FXR signalling, changes in overall BA levels and specific BA metabolites probably contribute to enterohepatic tumorigenesis. Modulating intestinal FXR signalling and altering BA metabolites are potential strategies for gastrointestinal and liver cancer prevention and treatment. In this Review, studies on the role of FXR in metabolic diseases and gastrointestinal and liver cancer are discussed, and the potential for development of targeted drugs are summarized.
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29
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Gallage S, García-Beccaria M, Szydlowska M, Rahbari M, Mohr R, Tacke F, Heikenwalder M. The therapeutic landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma. MED 2021; 2:505-552. [DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2021.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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30
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Liu Y, Wang C, Li J, Zhu J, Zhao C, Xu H. Novel Regulatory Factors and Small-Molecule Inhibitors of FGFR4 in Cancer. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:633453. [PMID: 33981224 PMCID: PMC8107720 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.633453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) is a tyrosine kinase receptor that is a member of the fibroblast growth factor receptor family and is stimulated by highly regulated ligand binding. Excessive expression of the receptor and its ligand, especially FGF19, occurs in many types of cancer. Abnormal FGFR4 production explains these cancer formations, and therefore, this receptor has emerged as a potential target for inhibiting cancer development. This review discusses the diverse mechanisms of oncogenic activation of FGFR4 and highlights some currently available inhibitors targeting FGFR4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Liu
- Affiliated Yueqing Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Canwei Wang
- Affiliated Yueqing Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jifa Li
- Affiliated Yueqing Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jiandong Zhu
- Affiliated Yueqing Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chengguang Zhao
- Affiliated Yueqing Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Huanhai Xu
- Affiliated Yueqing Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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31
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Wang H, Yang J, Zhang K, Liu J, Li Y, Su W, Song N. Advances of Fibroblast Growth Factor/Receptor Signaling Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and its Pharmacotherapeutic Targets. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:650388. [PMID: 33935756 PMCID: PMC8082422 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.650388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a type of primary liver cancer with poor prognosis, and its incidence and mortality rate are increasing worldwide. It is refractory to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy owing to its high tumor heterogeneity. Accumulated genetic alterations and aberrant cell signaling pathway have been characterized in HCC. The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family and their receptors (FGFRs) are involved in diverse biological activities, including embryonic development, proliferation, differentiation, survival, angiogenesis, and migration, etc. Data mining results of The Cancer Genome Atlas demonstrate high levels of FGF and/or FGFR expression in HCC tumors compared with normal tissues. Moreover, substantial evidence indicates that the FGF/FGFR signaling axis plays an important role in various mechanisms that contribute to HCC development. At present, several inhibitors targeting FGF/FGFR, such as multikinase inhibitors, specific FGFR4 inhibitors, and FGF ligand traps, exhibit antitumor activity in preclinical or early development phases in HCC. In this review, we summarize the research progress regarding the molecular implications of FGF/FGFR-mediated signaling and the development of FGFR-targeted therapeutics in hepatocarcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Jie Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Jia Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Yushan Li
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Wei Su
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Na Song
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Institute of Precision Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
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Wang Y, Liu G, Liu R, Wei M, Zhang J, Sun C. EPS364, a Novel Deep-Sea Bacterial Exopolysaccharide, Inhibits Liver Cancer Cell Growth and Adhesion. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:171. [PMID: 33809909 PMCID: PMC8004136 DOI: 10.3390/md19030171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The prognosis of liver cancer was inferior among tumors. New medicine treatments are urgently needed. In this study, a novel exopolysaccharide EPS364 was purified from Vibrio alginolyticus 364, which was isolated from a deep-sea cold seep of the South China Sea. Further research showed that EPS364 consisted of mannose, glucosamine, gluconic acid, galactosamine and arabinose with a molar ratio of 5:9:3.4:0.5:0.8. The relative molecular weight of EPS364 was 14.8 kDa. Our results further revealed that EPS364 was a β-linked and phosphorylated polysaccharide. Notably, EPS364 exhibited a significant antitumor activity, with inducing apoptosis, dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Huh7.5 liver cancer cells. Proteomic and quantitative real-time PCR analyses indicated that EPS364 inhibited cancer cell growth and adhesion via targeting the FGF19-FGFR4 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that EPS364 is a promising antitumor agent for pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Wang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology & Center of Deep Sea Research, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (Y.W.); (G.L.); (R.L.); (M.W.)
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
- College of Earth Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Center of Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Ge Liu
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology & Center of Deep Sea Research, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (Y.W.); (G.L.); (R.L.); (M.W.)
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
- Center of Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Rui Liu
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology & Center of Deep Sea Research, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (Y.W.); (G.L.); (R.L.); (M.W.)
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
- Center of Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Maosheng Wei
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology & Center of Deep Sea Research, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (Y.W.); (G.L.); (R.L.); (M.W.)
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
- College of Earth Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Center of Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
| | | | - Chaomin Sun
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology & Center of Deep Sea Research, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (Y.W.); (G.L.); (R.L.); (M.W.)
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
- Center of Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
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FGF/FGFR Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Carcinogenesis to Recent Therapeutic Intervention. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13061360. [PMID: 33802841 PMCID: PMC8002748 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary As the most common primary liver cancer, HCC is a tricky cancer resistant to systemic therapies. The fibroblast growth factor family and its receptors are gaining more and more attention in various cancers. Noticing an explosion in the number of studies about aberrant FGF/FGFR signaling in HCC being studied, we were encouraged to summarize them. This review discusses how FGF/FGFR signaling influences HCC development and its implications in HCC prediction and target treatment, and combination treatment. Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, ranking third in cancer deaths worldwide. Over the last decade, several studies have emphasized the development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) to target the aberrant pathways in HCC. However, the outcomes are far from satisfactory due to the increasing resistance and adverse effects. The family of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and its receptors (FGFR) are involved in various biological processes, including embryogenesis, morphogenesis, wound repair, and cell growth. The aberrant FGF/FGFR signaling is also observed in multiple cancers, including HCC. Anti-FGF/FGFR provides delightful benefits for cancer patients, especially those with FGF signaling alteration. More and more multi-kinase inhibitors targeting FGF signaling, pan-FGFR inhibitors, and selective FGFR inhibitors are now under preclinical and clinical investigation. This review summarizes the aberrant FGF/FGFR signaling in HCC initiating, development and treatment status, and provide new insights into the treatment of HCC.
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Lang L, Xiong Y, Prieto-Dominguez N, Loveless R, Jensen C, Shay C, Teng Y. FGF19/FGFR4 signaling axis confines and switches the role of melatonin in head and neck cancer metastasis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2021; 40:93. [PMID: 33691750 PMCID: PMC7945659 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01888-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is no consensus about the effective dosages of melatonin in cancer management, thus, it is imperative to fully understand the dose-dependent responsiveness of cancer cells to melatonin and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells with or without melatonin treatment were used as a research platform. Gene depletion was achieved by short hairpin RNA, small interfering RNA, and CRISPR/Cas9. Molecular changes and regulations were assessed by Western blotting, quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, and chromatin Immunoprecipitation coupled with qPCR (ChIP-qPCR). The therapeutic efficacy of FGF19/FGFR4 inhibition in melatonin-mediated tumor growth and metastasis was evaluated in orthotopic tongue tumor mice. RESULTS The effect of melatonin on controlling cell motility and metastasis varies in HNSCC cells, which is dose-dependent. Mechanistically, high-dose melatonin facilitates the upregulation of FGF19 expression through activating endoplasmic stress (ER)-associated protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK)-Eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α)-activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) pathway, which in turn promotes FGFR4-Vimentin invasive signaling and attenuates the role of melatonin in repressing metastasis. Intriguingly, following long-term exposure to high-dose melatonin, epithelial HNSCC cells revert the process towards mesenchymal transition and turn more aggressive, which is enabled by FGF19/FGFR4 upregulation and alleviated by genetic depletion of the FGF19 and FGFR4 genes or the treatment of FGFR4 inhibitor H3B-6527. CONCLUSIONS Our study gains novel mechanistic insights into melatonin-mediated modulation of FGF19/FGFR4 signaling in HNSCC, demonstrating that activating this molecular node confines the role of melatonin in suppressing metastasis and even triggers the switch of its function from anti-metastasis to metastasis promotion. The blockade of FGF19/FGFR4 signaling would have great potential in improving the efficacy of melatonin supplements in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwei Lang
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Yuanping Xiong
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.,Present address: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Nestor Prieto-Dominguez
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Reid Loveless
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Caleb Jensen
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Chloe Shay
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory Children's Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yong Teng
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA. .,Georgia Cancer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA. .,Department of Medical Laboratory, Imaging and Radiologic Sciences, College of Allied Health, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
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Wang J, Zhao H, Zheng L, Zhou Y, Wu L, Xu Y, Zhang X, Yan G, Sheng H, Xin R, Jiang L, Lei J, Zhang J, Chen Y, Peng J, Chen Q, Yang S, Yu K, Li D, Xie Q, Li Y. FGF19/SOCE/NFATc2 signaling circuit facilitates the self-renewal of liver cancer stem cells. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:5045-5060. [PMID: 33754043 PMCID: PMC7978301 DOI: 10.7150/thno.56369] [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: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims: Liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) mediate therapeutic resistance and correlate with poor outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-19 is a crucial oncogenic driver gene in HCC and correlates with poor prognosis. However, whether FGF19 signaling regulates the self-renewal of LCSCs is unknown. Methods: LCSCs were enriched by serum-free suspension. Self-renewal of LCSCs were characterized by sphere formation assay, clonogenicity assay, sorafenib resistance assay and tumorigenic potential assays. Ca2+ image was employed to determine the intracellular concentration of Ca2+. Gain- and loss-of function studies were applied to explore the role of FGF19 signaling in the self-renewal of LCSCs. Results: FGF19 was up-regulated in LCSCs, and positively correlated with certain self-renewal related genes in HCC. Silencing FGF19 suppressed self-renewal of LCSCs, whereas overexpressing FGF19 facilitated CSCs-like properties via activation of FGF receptor (FGFR)-4 in none-LCSCs. Mechanistically, FGF19/FGFR4 signaling stimulated store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) through both the PLCγ and ERK1/2 pathways. Subsequently, SOCE-calcineurin signaling promoted the activation and translocation of nuclear factors of activated T cells (NFAT)-c2, which transcriptionally activated the expression of stemness-related genes (e.g., NANOG, OCT4 and SOX2), as well as FGF19. Furthermore, blockade of FGF19/FGFR4-NFATc2 signaling observably suppressed the self-renewal of LCSCs. Conclusions: FGF19/FGFR4 axis promotes the self-renewal of LCSCs via activating SOCE/NFATc2 pathway; in turn, NFATc2 transcriptionally activates FGF19 expression. Targeting this signaling circuit represents a potential strategy for improving the therapeutic efficacy of HCC.
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Chen J, Shao J, Shen A, Zhu X, Zhang X, Sun H, Wei S, Ling Y. Enhanced expression of FGF19 predicts poor prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. J Thorac Dis 2021; 13:1769-1784. [PMID: 33841967 PMCID: PMC8024864 DOI: 10.21037/jtd-21-126] [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] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Background Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers and a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Although many treatment options exist for lung cancer, some patients still suffer postoperative recurrence, and a consequent reduction of overall survival (OS). Our study aimed to investigate the correlation of FGF19 expression with the clinicopathological features and survival outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods Bioinformatics analysis was conducted using the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to distinguish between the FGF19 levels of tumor and normal tissue and to determine their correlation with the OS. A total of 187 NSCLC patients who underwent radical resection of lung cancer were enrolled, and tissues were collected to determine FGF19 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay. Clinicopathological features including the survival date were collected for detailed research. Results According to the analysis based on the TCGA database, we found that the NSCLC tissues exhibited enhanced FGF19 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and that the FGF19 mRNA levels correlated with shorter OS in NSCLC patients. IHC staining indicated that 88 (47.1%) patients had high FGF19 expression and 99 (52.9%) patients had low FGF19 expression. Meanwhile, survival data showed that high FGF19 expression was correlated with reduced OS (P<0.001). Moreover, both the univariate analysis and the forward stepwise multivariate Cox regression revealed that high FGF19 expression was an independent prognostic factor for decreased OS (P=0.001). Conclusions The expression of FGF19 is significantly upregulated in NSCLC, and the overexpression of FGF19 is correlated with poor OS, especially in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cases. FGF19 might serve as a potential biomarker for predicting poor OS in NSCLC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Chen
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China.,Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jingjing Shao
- Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Aiguo Shen
- Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xinghua Zhu
- Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xunlei Zhang
- Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Hui Sun
- Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Sheng Wei
- Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yang Ling
- Changzhou Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Changzhou, China
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Wang LX, Frey MR, Kohli R. The Role of FGF19 and MALRD1 in Enterohepatic Bile Acid Signaling. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:799648. [PMID: 35116006 PMCID: PMC8804323 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.799648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Bile acids are the catabolic end products of cholesterol metabolism that are best known for their role in the digestion of lipids. In the last two decades, extensive investigation has shown bile acids to be important signaling molecules in metabolic processes throughout the body. Bile acids are ligands that can bind to several receptors, including the nuclear receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in ileal enterocytes. FXR activation induces the expression of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 15/19, a hormone that can modulate bile acid levels, repress gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis, and promote glycogen synthesis. Recent studies have described a novel intestinal protein, MAM and LDL Receptor Class A Domain containing 1 (MALRD1) that positively affects FGF15/19 levels. This signaling pathway presents an exciting target for treating metabolic disease and bile acid-related disorders.
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Small hepatitis B virus surface antigen promotes malignant progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced FGF19/JAK2/STAT3 signaling. Cancer Lett 2020; 499:175-187. [PMID: 33249195 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.11.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major global health problems. Although the small protein of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), SHBs, is the most abundant HBV viral protein, its pathogenic role and molecular mechanism in malignant progression of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain largely unknown. Here we reported that SHBs expression induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in HCC cells and significantly increased their migratory and invasive ability as well as metastatic potential. Mechanistically, SHBs expression in HCC cells induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress that activated the activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) to increase the expression and secretion of fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19). The autocrine released FGF19 in turn activated JAK2/STAT3 signaling for induction of EMT process in HCC. Notably, SHBs was positively correlated with the expression of mesenchymal markers, the phosphorylation status of JAK2 and STAT3 as well as FGF19 levels in human HCC samples. HCC patients with SHBs positive had a more advanced clinical stage and worse prognosis. These results suggest an important role of SHBs in the metastasis and progression of HCC and may highlight a potential target for preventive and therapeutic intervention of HBV-related HCC and its malignant progression.
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Garcia-Lezana T, Lopez-Canovas JL, Villanueva A. Signaling pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma. Adv Cancer Res 2020; 149:63-101. [PMID: 33579428 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2020.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite the recent introduction of new effective systemic agents, the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at advanced stages remains dismal. This underscores the need for new therapies, which has spurred extensive research on the identification of the main drivers of pathway de-regulation as a source of novel therapeutic targets. Frequently altered pathways in HCC involve growth factor receptors (e.g., VEGFR, FGFR, TGFA, EGFR, IGFR) and/or its cytoplasmic intermediates (e.g., PI3K-AKT-mTOR, RAF/ERK/MAPK) as well as key pathways in cell differentiation (e.g., Wnt/β-catenin, JAK/STAT, Hippo, Hedgehog, Notch). Somatic mutations, chromosomal aberrations and epigenetic changes are common mechanisms for pathway deregulation in HCC. Aberrant pathway activation has also been explored as a biomarker to predict response to specific therapies, but currently, these strategies are not implemented when deciding systemic therapies in HCC patients. Beyond the well-established molecular cascades, there are numerous emerging signaling pathways also deregulated in HCC (e.g., tumor microenvironment, non-coding RNA, intestinal microbiota), which have opened new avenues for therapeutic exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Garcia-Lezana
- Division of Liver Diseases, Liver Cancer Program, Department of Medicine, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Juan Luis Lopez-Canovas
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Maimonides Institute of Biomedical Research of Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Augusto Villanueva
- Division of Liver Diseases, Liver Cancer Program, Department of Medicine, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.
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Jin Q, Zhang D, Gao M, Jiang C, Zhang J. Pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-3-one derivatives as novel fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 inhibitors for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Bioorg Med Chem 2020; 29:115862. [PMID: 33218898 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2020.115862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant signaling of the FGF/FGFR pathway occurs frequently in cancers and is an oncogenic driver in many solid tumors, especially liver cancer. With the resurgence of interest in irreversible inhibitors, efforts have been directed to the discovery of irreversible FGFR4 inhibitors. Currently, several selective irreversible inhibitors containing pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-3-one and pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-amine skeletons were designed and synthesized as FGFR4 inhibitors. Among the screened compounds, derivative 25 showed excellent enzymatic inhibitory activity (IC50, 51.6 nM) and antiproliferative potency of 0.1397 μM against Hep3B cell lines. Compound 25 exhibited good in vitro human liver microsomal stability with the half-life of 62.0 min, which was more stable than BLU9931 (46.7 min). But the in vivo pharmacokinetic results showed that the oral bioavailability was only 6.65%, which needs to be improved in the next work. These results showed that compound 25 might be an effective lead compound for further investigation to treat the hepatocellular carcinoma.
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MESH Headings
- Administration, Oral
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage
- Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
- Humans
- Injections, Intravenous
- Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Liver Neoplasms/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Male
- Microsomes, Liver/chemistry
- Microsomes, Liver/metabolism
- Molecular Docking Simulation
- Molecular Structure
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/administration & dosage
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemistry
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Pyridines/administration & dosage
- Pyridines/chemistry
- Pyridines/pharmacology
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4/metabolism
- Structure-Activity Relationship
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaomei Jin
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, China; Laboratories of Translational Medicine, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Dongjian Zhang
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, China; Laboratories of Translational Medicine, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, China
| | - Meng Gao
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, China; Laboratories of Translational Medicine, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, China
| | - Cuihua Jiang
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, China; Laboratories of Translational Medicine, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, China; Laboratories of Translational Medicine, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, China.
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Sasaki N, Gomi F, Yoshimura H, Yamamoto M, Matsuda Y, Michishita M, Hatakeyama H, Kawano Y, Toyoda M, Korc M, Ishiwata T. FGFR4 Inhibitor BLU9931 Attenuates Pancreatic Cancer Cell Proliferation and Invasion While Inducing Senescence: Evidence for Senolytic Therapy Potential in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12102976. [PMID: 33066597 PMCID: PMC7602396 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly malignancy that is projected to become the leading cause of cancer death by 2050. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) is a transmembrane receptor that is overexpressed in half of PDACs. We determined that its expression in PDAC positively correlated with larger tumor size and more advanced tumor stage, and that BLU9931, a selective FGFR4 inhibitor, reduced PDAC cell proliferation and invasion while promoting their senescence. Quercetin, a senolytic drug, induced cell death in BLU9931-treated cells. We propose that targeting FGFR4 in combination with senolysis could provide a novel therapeutic strategy in patients whose PDAC expresses high FGFR4 levels. Abstract Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), one of four tyrosine kinase receptors for FGFs, is involved in diverse cellular processes. Activation of FGF19/FGFR4 signaling is closely associated with cancer development and progression. In this study, we examined the expression and roles of FGF19/FGFR4 signaling in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In human PDAC cases, FGFR4 expression positively correlated with larger primary tumors and more advanced stages. Among eight PDAC cell lines, FGFR4 was expressed at the highest levels in PK-1 cells, in which single-nucleotide polymorphism G388R in FGFR4 was detected. For inhibition of autocrine/paracrine FGF19/FGFR4 signaling, we used BLU9931, a highly selective FGFR4 inhibitor. Inhibition of signal transduction through ERK, AKT, and STAT3 pathways by BLU9931 reduced proliferation in FGF19/FGFR4 signaling-activated PDAC cells. By contrast, BLU9931 did not alter stemness features, including stemness marker expression, anticancer drug resistance, and sphere-forming ability. However, BLU9931 inhibited cell invasion, in part, by downregulating membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase-1 in FGF19/FGFR4 signaling-activated PDAC cells. Furthermore, downregulation of SIRT1 and SIRT6 by BLU9931 contributed to senescence induction, priming these cells for quercetin-induced death, a process termed senolysis. Thus, we propose that BLU9931 is a promising therapeutic agent in FGFR4-positive PDAC, especially when combined with senolysis (195/200).
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Affiliation(s)
- Norihiko Sasaki
- Research team for Geriatric Medicine (Vascular Medicine), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Sakae-cho 35-2, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan; (N.S.); (M.T.)
| | - Fujiya Gomi
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan;
| | - Hisashi Yoshimura
- Division of Physiological Pathology, Department of Applied Science, School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan; (H.Y.); (M.Y.)
| | - Masami Yamamoto
- Division of Physiological Pathology, Department of Applied Science, School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan; (H.Y.); (M.Y.)
| | - Yoko Matsuda
- Oncology Pathology, Department of Pathology and Host-Defense, Kagawa University, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan;
| | - Masaki Michishita
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan;
| | - Hitoshi Hatakeyama
- Department of Comprehensive Education in Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan;
| | - Yoichi Kawano
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan;
| | - Masashi Toyoda
- Research team for Geriatric Medicine (Vascular Medicine), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Sakae-cho 35-2, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan; (N.S.); (M.T.)
| | - Murray Korc
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA;
| | - Toshiyuki Ishiwata
- Division of Aging and Carcinogenesis, Research Team for Geriatric Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-3-3964-1141 (ext. 4414)
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Levine KM, Ding K, Chen L, Oesterreich S. FGFR4: A promising therapeutic target for breast cancer and other solid tumors. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 214:107590. [PMID: 32492514 PMCID: PMC7494643 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling pathway has long been known to cancer researchers because of its role in cell survival, proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. Dysregulation of FGFR signaling is frequently reported in cancer studies, but most of these studies focus on FGFR1-3. However, there is growing evidence implicating an important and unique role of FGFR4 in oncogenesis, tumor progression, and resistance to anti-tumor therapy in multiple types of cancer. Importantly, there are several novel FGFR4-specific inhibitors in clinical trials, making FGFR4 an attractive target for further research. In this review, we focus on assessing the role of FGFR4 in cancer, with an emphasis on breast cancer. First, the structure, physiological functions and downstream signaling pathways of FGFR4 are introduced. Next, different mechanisms reported to cause aberrant FGFR4 activation and their functions in cancer are discussed, including FGFR4 overexpression, FGF ligand overexpression, FGFR4 somatic hotspot mutations, and the FGFR4 G388R single nucleotide polymorphism. Finally, ongoing and recently completed clinical trials targeting FGFRs in cancer are reviewed, highlighting the therapeutic potential of FGFR4 inhibition for the treatment of breast cancer.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Female
- Humans
- Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- Biomarkers, Tumor/antagonists & inhibitors
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Breast Neoplasms/enzymology
- Breast Neoplasms/genetics
- Breast Neoplasms/pathology
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Molecular Targeted Therapy
- Mutation
- Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/adverse effects
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4/genetics
- Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Levine
- Women's Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Magee-Women's Research Institute, Magee-Women's Research Hospital of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kai Ding
- Women's Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Magee-Women's Research Institute, Magee-Women's Research Hospital of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Integrative Systems Biology Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lyuqin Chen
- Women's Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Magee-Women's Research Institute, Magee-Women's Research Hospital of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Steffi Oesterreich
- Women's Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Magee-Women's Research Institute, Magee-Women's Research Hospital of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Chen J, Du F, Dang Y, Li X, Qian M, Feng W, Qiao C, Fan D, Nie Y, Wu K, Xia L. Fibroblast Growth Factor 19-Mediated Up-regulation of SYR-Related High-Mobility Group Box 18 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis by Transactivating Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 4 and Fms-Related Tyrosine Kinase 4. Hepatology 2020; 71:1712-1731. [PMID: 31529503 DOI: 10.1002/hep.30951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The poor prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is mainly attributed to its high rate of metastasis and recurrence. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying HCC metastasis need to be elucidated. The SRY-related high-mobility group box (SOX) family proteins, which are a group of highly conserved transcription factors, play important roles in cancer initiation and progression. Here, we report on a role of SOX18, a member of the SOX family, in promoting HCC invasion and metastasis. APPROACH AND RESULTS The elevated expression of SOX18 was positively correlated with poor tumor differentiation, higher tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and poor prognosis. Overexpression of SOX18 promoted HCC metastasis by up-regulating metastasis-related genes, including fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) and fms-related tyrosine kinase 4 (FLT4). Knockdown of both FGFR4 and FLT4 significantly decreased SOX18-mediated HCC invasion and metastasis, whereas the stable overexpression of FGFR4 and FLT4 reversed the decrease in cell invasion and metastasis that was induced by inhibition of SOX18. Fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19), which is the ligand of FGFR4, up-regulated SOX18 expression. A mechanistic investigation indicated that the up-regulation of SOX18 that was mediated by the FGF19-FGFR4 pathway relied on the phosphorylated (p)-fibroblast growth factor receptor substrate 2/p-glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta/β-catenin pathway. SOX18 knockdown significantly reduced FGF19-enhanced HCC invasion and metastasis. Furthermore, BLU9931, a specific FGFR4 inhibitor, significantly reduced SOX18-mediated HCC invasion and metastasis. In human HCC tissues, SOX18 expression was positively correlated with FGF19, FGFR4, and FLT4 expression, and patients that coexpressed FGF19/SOX18, SOX18/FGFR4, or SOX18/FLT4 had the worst prognosis. CONCLUSIONS We defined a FGF19-SOX18-FGFR4 positive feedback loop that played a pivotal role in HCC metastasis, and targeting this pathway may be a promising therapeutic option for the clinical management of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chen
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Feng Du
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yunzhi Dang
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaowei Li
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Meirui Qian
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Weibo Feng
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chenyang Qiao
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Daiming Fan
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yongzhan Nie
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Kaichun Wu
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Limin Xia
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
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Ye Y, Jiang D, Li J, Han C, Wang X, Wang F, Li J. Role of fibroblast growth factor 4 in the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer. Int J Oncol 2020; 56:1565-1573. [PMID: 32236572 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2020.5029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) in colorectal cancer (CRC) is poorly characterized. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to investigate the expression levels of FGFR4 in colorectal cancer and its prognostic value, and clarify the role of FGFR4 in the proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the association between FGFR4 expression and clinicopathological features in colorectal cancer tissues. The effect of FGFR4 silencing on tumor cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, migration and invasion was evaluated via lentiviral transfection of the colorectal cancer cell line SW620. Western blot analysis was used to detect the changes of epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, following FGFR4 silencing. FGFR4 is upregulated in CRC tissues compared with normal tissues. Patients with high FGFR4 expression exhibited a lower 5‑year survival rate compared with patients with low FGFR4 expression (64 vs. 74%). FGFR4 silencing reduced proliferation, inhibited cell invasion, arrested cells in S phase and promoted apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. FGFR4 silencing partially reversed EMT progression and FGFR4 this effect was enhanced in the presence of XAV939 (a β‑catenin inhibitor). The current data suggest that FGFR4 may be associated with prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer. In vitro functional tests revealed that FGFR4 may represent an effective therapeutic target for colorectal cancer. FGFR4 may also regulate EMT via the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwei Ye
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Dongbao Jiang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Chao Han
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Xinru Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Jingjing Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
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45
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Lang L, Shull AY, Teng Y. Interrupting the FGF19-FGFR4 Axis to Therapeutically Disrupt Cancer Progression. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2020; 19:17-25. [PMID: 29557750 DOI: 10.2174/1568009618666180319091731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Coordination between the amplification of the fibroblast growth factor FGF19, overexpression of its corresponding receptor FGFR4, and hyperactivation of the downstream transmembrane enzyme β-klotho has been found to play pivotal roles in mediating tumor development and progression. Aberrant FGF19-FGFR4 signaling has been implicated in driving specific tumorigenic events including cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis resistance, and metastasis by activating a myriad of downstream signaling cascades. As an attractive target, several strategies implemented to disrupt the FGF19-FGFR4 axis have been developed in recent years, and FGF19-FGFR4 binding inhibitors are being intensely evaluated for their clinical use in treating FGF19-FGFR4 implicated cancers. Based on the established work, this review aims to detail how the FGF19-FGFR4 signaling pathway plays a vital role in cancer progression and why disrupting communication between FGF19 and FGFR4 serves as a promising therapeutic strategy for disrupting cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwei Lang
- Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Austin Y Shull
- Department of Biology, Presbyterian College, Clinton, SC 29325, United States
| | - Yong Teng
- Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States.,Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States.,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
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46
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Minagawa T, Yamazaki K, Masugi Y, Tsujikawa H, Ojima H, Hibi T, Abe Y, Yagi H, Kitago M, Shinoda M, Itano O, Kitagawa Y, Sakamoto M. Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma with aggressive phenotypes. Hepatol Res 2020; 50:353-364. [PMID: 31702093 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.13445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
AIM Sorafenib inhibits multiple kinase signaling pathways, including the rat sarcoma virus (Ras)/rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (Raf)/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, and is a promising therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the role of ERK activation in HCC remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate the potential link between ERK activation and aggressive HCC phenotypes. METHODS We evaluated nuclear ERK expression by immunohistochemistry in 154 resected HCC nodules from 136 patients. We then investigated the associations of ERK expression with the clinicopathological characteristics of HCC, c-MET expression, and the molecular subclass biomarkers Ki-67, keratin 19 (KRT19, CK19, or K19), and sal-like protein 4. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was carried out to determine independent prognostic factors for overall survival and recurrence-free survival. The effects of ERK activation by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on eight HCC cell lines were further examined. RESULTS High-level nuclear expression of ERK was observed in 20 (13%) of 154 nodules and was significantly associated with higher serum alpha-fetoprotein levels (P = 0.034), poorer differentiation (P = 0.003), a higher Ki-67 index (P < 0.001), high-level expression of c-MET (P = 0.008), KRT19 (P = 0.002), or sal-like protein 4 (P < 0.001), and shorter overall survival (multivariate hazard ratio 3.448; P = 0.028) and recurrence-free survival (multivariate hazard ratio 2.755; P = 0.004). HCC cells treated with hepatocyte growth factor showed enhanced cell proliferation together with ERK activation and upregulated KRT19 expression, both of which were inhibited by sorafenib. CONCLUSIONS High-level ERK activation is associated with a KRT19-positive highly proliferative subtype of HCC with a dismal prognosis. These findings support the key role of the hepatocyte growth factor/c-MET/ERK axis in HCC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Minagawa
- Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ken Yamazaki
- Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yohei Masugi
- Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hanako Tsujikawa
- Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidenori Ojima
- Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taizo Hibi
- Department of Pediatric Surgery and Transplantation, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yuta Abe
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yagi
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minoru Kitago
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Shinoda
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Osamu Itano
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic and Gastrointestinal Surgery, School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yuko Kitagawa
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Michiie Sakamoto
- Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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47
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Li F, Li Z, Han Q, Cheng Y, Ji W, Yang Y, Lu S, Xia W. Enhanced autocrine FGF19/FGFR4 signaling drives the progression of lung squamous cell carcinoma, which responds to mTOR inhibitor AZD2104. Oncogene 2020; 39:3507-3521. [PMID: 32111983 PMCID: PMC7176586 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1227-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Lung cancer occurrence and associated mortality ranks top in all countries. Despite the rapid development of targeted and immune therapies, many patients experience relapse within a few years. It is urgent to uncover the mechanisms that drive lung cancer progression and identify novel molecular targets. Our group has previously identified FGF19 as a prognostic marker and potential driver gene of lung squamous cell carcinomas (LSQ) in Chinese smoking patients. However, the underlying mechanism of how FGF19 promotes the progression of LSQ remains unclear. In this study, we characterized and confirmed that FGF19 serves as an oncogenic driver in LSQ development and progression, and reported that the amplification and high expression of FGF19 in LSQ was significantly associated with poor overall and progression-free survival. A higher serum level of FGF19 was found in lung cancer patients, which could also serve as a novel diagnostic index to screen lung cancer. Overproduction of FGF19 in LSQ cells markedly promoted cell growth, progression and metastasis, while downregulating FGF19 effectively inhibited LSQ progression in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, downregulating the receptor FGFR4 was also effective to suppress the growth and migration of LSQ cells. Since FGF19 could be induced by smoking or endoplasmic reticulum stress, to tackle the more malignant FGF19-overproducing LSQ, we reported for the first time that inhibiting mTOR pathway by using AZD2014 was effective and feasible. These findings have offered a new strategy by using anti-FGF19/FGFR4 therapy or mTOR-based therapy in FGF19-driven LSQ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ziming Li
- Shanghai Lung Cancer Center, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Han
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yirui Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenxiang Ji
- Shanghai Lung Cancer Center, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Shanghai Lung Cancer Center, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shun Lu
- Shanghai Lung Cancer Center, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weiliang Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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48
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Liu Y, Cao M, Cai Y, Li X, Zhao C, Cui R. Dissecting the Role of the FGF19-FGFR4 Signaling Pathway in Cancer Development and Progression. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:95. [PMID: 32154250 PMCID: PMC7044267 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor 4 (FGFR4) belongs to a family of tyrosine kinase receptor. FGFR4 is highly activated in certain types of cancer and its activation is closely associated with its specific ligand, FGF19. Indeed, FGF19-FGFR4 signaling is implicated in many cellular processes including cell proliferation, migration, metabolism, and differentiation. Since active FGF19-FGFR4 signaling acts as an oncogenic pathway in certain types of cancer, the development and therapeutic evaluation of FGFR4-specific inhibitors in cancer patients is a topic of significant interest. In this review, we aim to provide an updated overview of currently-available FGFR4 inhibitors and their ongoing clinical trials, as well as upcoming potential therapeutics. Further, we examined the possibility of enhancing the therapeutic efficiency of FGFR4 inhibitors in cancer patients. We also discussed the underlying molecular mechanisms of oncogenic activation of FGFR4 by FGF19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Liu
- Cancer and Anticancer Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Meng Cao
- Cancer and Anticancer Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yuepiao Cai
- Cancer and Anticancer Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiaokun Li
- Cancer and Anticancer Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chengguang Zhao
- Cancer and Anticancer Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Wenzhou University-Wenzhou Medical University Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical, Wenzhou, China
- Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ri Cui
- Cancer and Anticancer Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Wenzhou University-Wenzhou Medical University Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical, Wenzhou, China
- Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, China
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49
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Serum Fibroblast Growth Factor 19 and Total Bile Acid Concentrations Are Potential Biomarkers of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:1751989. [PMID: 32104677 PMCID: PMC7036095 DOI: 10.1155/2020/1751989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) carries a high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Both serum fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) and bile acid concentrations are associated with T2DM and HCC. We aimed at evaluating the relationships between FGF19 and bile acid concentrations and HCC in patients with T2DM. Methods Twenty-seven healthy volunteers (control group), 27 patients with T2DM (T2DM group), 16 patients with newly diagnosed HCC (HCC group), and 10 T2DM patients with newly diagnosed HCC (T2DM-HCC group) were studied at the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University between June 2016 and June 2017. The serum concentrations of serum FGF19 and total bile acids (TBA) were measured in all the participants. Correlation analysis and multiple stepwise regression analysis of the FGF19 and TBA concentrations were performed in all the participants and in the four groups. Results The concentrations of FGF19 were 220.5 pg/ml, 185.1 pg/ml, 115.8 pg/ml, and 70.4 pg/ml in the HCC, T2DM-HCC, control, and T2DM groups, respectively (p < 0.001), and the TBA concentrations were 21.75 μmol/l, 14.25 μmol/l, 14.25 μmol/l, 14.25 μmol/l, 14.25 p < 0.001), and the TBA concentrations were 21.75 r = 0.777; p < 0.001), and the TBA concentrations were 21.75 r = 0.777; p < 0.001), and the TBA concentrations were 21.75 r = 0.777; p < 0.001), and the TBA concentrations were 21.75 r = 0.777; p < 0.001), and the TBA concentrations were 21.75 r = 0.777; p < 0.001), and the TBA concentrations were 21.75 Conclusions Simultaneous increase of serum FGF19 and TBA levels may be used as indicators of HCC screening at early stage in patients with T2DM.
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50
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Raja A, Park I, Haq F, Ahn SM. FGF19- FGFR4 Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cells 2019; 8:E536. [PMID: 31167419 PMCID: PMC6627123 DOI: 10.3390/cells8060536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common type of cancer, with an increasing mortality rate. Aberrant expression of fibroblast growth factor 19-fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGF19-FGFR4) is reported to be an oncogenic-driver pathway for HCC patients. Thus, the FGF19-FGFR4 signaling pathway is a promising target for the treatment of HCC. Several pan-FGFR (1-4) and FGFR4-specific inhibitors are in different phases of clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the information, recent developments, binding modes, selectivity, and clinical trial phases of different available FGFR4/pan-FGF inhibitors. We also discuss future perspectives and highlight the points that should be addressed to improve the efficacy of these inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aroosha Raja
- Department of Biosciences, Comsats University, Islamabad 45550, Pakistan.
| | - Inkeun Park
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon 21565, Korea.
| | - Farhan Haq
- Department of Biosciences, Comsats University, Islamabad 45550, Pakistan.
| | - Sung-Min Ahn
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon 21565, Korea.
- Department of Genome Medicine and Science, College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 21565, Korea.
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