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Ahmad MF, Ahmad FA, Alsayegh AA, Zeyaullah M, AlShahrani AM, Muzammil K, Saati AA, Wahab S, Elbendary EY, Kambal N, Abdelrahman MH, Hussain S. Pesticides impacts on human health and the environment with their mechanisms of action and possible countermeasures. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29128. [PMID: 38623208 PMCID: PMC11016626 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Pesticides are chemical constituents used to prevent or control pests, including insects, rodents, fungi, weeds, and other unwanted organisms. Despite their advantages in crop production and disease management, the use of pesticides poses significant hazards to the environment and public health. Pesticide elements have now perpetually entered our atmosphere and subsequently contaminated water, food, and soil, leading to health threats ranging from acute to chronic toxicities. Pesticides can cause acute toxicity if a high dose is inhaled, ingested, or comes into contact with the skin or eyes, while prolonged or recurrent exposure to pesticides leads to chronic toxicity. Pesticides produce different types of toxicity, for instance, neurotoxicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, and endocrine disruption. The toxicity of a pesticide formulation may depend on the specific active ingredient and the presence of synergistic or inert compounds that can enhance or modify its toxicity. Safety concerns are the need of the hour to control contemporary pesticide-induced health hazards. The effectiveness and implementation of the current legislature in providing ample protection for human health and the environment are key concerns. This review explored a comprehensive summary of pesticides regarding their updated impacts on human health and advanced safety concerns with legislation. Implementing regulations, proper training, and education can help mitigate the negative impacts of pesticide use and promote safer and more sustainable agricultural practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Faruque Ahmad
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad
- Department of Basic and Applied Science, School of Engineering and Science, G.D Goenka University, Gururgram, Haryana, 122103, India
| | - Abdulrahman A. Alsayegh
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Md. Zeyaullah
- Department of Basic Medical Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Khamis Mushayt Campus, King Khalid University (KKU), Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah M. AlShahrani
- Department of Basic Medical Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Khamis Mushayt Campus, King Khalid University (KKU), Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khursheed Muzammil
- Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Khamis Mushayt Campus, King Khalid University (KKU), Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Ali Saati
- Department of Community Medicine & Pilgrims Healthcare, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shadma Wahab
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, 62529, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ehab Y. Elbendary
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nahla Kambal
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed H. Abdelrahman
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sohail Hussain
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia
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Chamseddine S, LaPelusa M, Xiao L, Mohamed YI, Lee SS, Hu ZI, Hatia RI, Hassan M, Yao JC, Duda DG, Datar S, Amin HM, Kaseb AO. Plasma Growth Hormone as a Prognostic Biomarker to Durvalumab and Tremelimumab in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:455-461. [PMID: 38463542 PMCID: PMC10921889 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s452564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction In this study, we explored the potential of plasma growth hormone (GH) as a prognostic biomarker in patients with advanced HCC treated with durvalumab plus tremelimumab (D+T). Methods In this study, we included 16 patients with advanced HCC who received D+T at MD Anderson Cancer Center between 2022 and 2023 and had plasma GH measurements recorded before treatment. Plasma GH levels were measured from prospectively collected blood samples and were correlated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The cutoff for normal GH levels in women and men was defined as ≤3.7 μg/L and ≤0.9 μg/L, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier method was employed to compute the median OS and PFS, while the Log rank test was applied to compare the survival outcomes between the GH-high and GH-low groups. Results Sixteen patients were included in this analysis, two female and fourteen male, with a median age of 65.5 years. At the time of the analysis, the 6-month OS rate was 100% among GH-low patients (6 patients) and 30% among GH-high patients (10 patients). OS was significantly longer in GH-low patients (not evaluable) compared to GH-high patients (3.94 months) (p = 0.030). PFS was also significantly longer in GH-low patients (not evaluable) compared to the GH-high patients (1.87 months) (p = 0.036). Conclusion Plasma GH is a prognostic biomarker in patients with advanced HCC treated with D+T. Given the relatively small patient cohort size, this finding should be further validated in larger randomized clinical trials in advanced HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shadi Chamseddine
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michael LaPelusa
- Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lianchun Xiao
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yehia I Mohamed
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sunyoung S Lee
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zishuo Ian Hu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rikita I Hatia
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Manal Hassan
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - James C Yao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dan G Duda
- Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Saumil Datar
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hesham M Amin
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ahmed O Kaseb
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Zhao R, Hu Z, Zhang X, Huang S, Yu G, Wu Z, Yu W, Lu J, Ruan B. The oncogenic mechanisms of the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway in digestive tract tumors. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:68. [PMID: 38273295 PMCID: PMC10809652 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01421-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Digestive tract tumors are heterogeneous and involve the dysregulation of multiple signaling pathways. The Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway plays a notable role in the oncogenesis of digestive tract tumors. Typically activated by pro-inflammatory cytokines, it regulates important biological processes, such as cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, immune responses, and inflammation. The aberrant activation of this pathway manifests in different forms, including mutations in JAKs, overexpression of cytokine receptors, and sustained STAT activation, and contributes to promoting the malignant characteristics of cancer cells, including uncontrolled proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, enhanced invasion and metastasis, angiogenesis, acquisition of stem-like properties, and drug resistance. Numerous studies have shown that aberrant activation of the JAK-STAT pathway is closely related to the development and progression of digestive tract tumors, contributing to tumor survival, angiogenesis, changes in the tumor microenvironment, and even immune escape processes. In addition, this signaling pathway also affects the sensitivity of digestive tract tumors to chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehensively understand the oncogenic mechanisms underlying the JAK-STAT pathway in order to develop effective therapeutic strategies against digestive tract tumors. Currently, several JAK-STAT inhibitors are undergoing clinical and preclinical trials as potential treatments for various human diseases. However, further investigation is required to determine the role of this pathway, as well as the effectiveness and safety of its inhibitors, especially in the context of digestive tract tumors. In this review, we provide an overview of the structure, classic activation, and negative regulation of the JAK-STAT pathway. Furthermore, we discuss the pathogenic mechanisms of JAK-STAT signaling in different digestive tract tumors, with the aim of identifying potential novel therapeutic targets. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruihong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Zhangmin Hu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Xiaoli Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Shujuan Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Guodong Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Zhe Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Wei Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Juan Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China.
| | - Bing Ruan
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China.
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Petrashen AP, Lin Y, Kun B, Kreiling JA. A cluster of X-linked miRNAs are de-repressed with age in mouse liver and target growth hormone signaling. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2023; 4:1261121. [PMID: 37881503 PMCID: PMC10594992 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2023.1261121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) signaling influences lifespan in a wide variety of mammalian species. We previously reported that a cluster of miRNAs located on the X-chromosome are de-repressed with age in male mouse liver, and a subset, the mir-465 family, can directly attenuate expression of the growth hormone receptor (GHR) in vitro leading to a reduction in GH signaling. Here we show that this cluster of miRNAs is also upregulated in the liver with age in females, and that calorie restriction and the Ames dwarf genotype, both known to delay aging, attenuate the upregulation of the miRNA cluster. Upregulation of mir-465 in vivo leads to a reduction in GHR mRNA in the liver and an attenuation of GH signaling, indicated by a reduction in GHR, IGF-1, IGFBP3, and ALS mRNA expression. There is a corresponding reduction in IGF-1 protein levels in the liver and plasma. These results suggest that the age-associated upregulation of the X-chromosomal cluster of miRNAs could influence lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jill A. Kreiling
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Center for the Biology of Aging, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
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Zhang B, Chang B, Wang L, Xu Y. Three E2F target-related genes signature for predicting prognosis, immune features, and drug sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1266515. [PMID: 37854038 PMCID: PMC10579819 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1266515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is extremely malignant and difficult to treat. The adenoviral early region 2 binding factors (E2Fs) target pathway is thought to have a major role in tumor growth. This study aimed to identify a predictive E2F target signature and facilitate individualized treatment for HCC patients. Methods: We constructed an E2F target-related gene profile using univariate COX and LASSO regression models and proved its predictive efficacy in external cohorts. Furthermore, we characterized the role of the E2F target pathway in pathway enrichment, immune cell infiltration, and drug sensitivity of HCC. Results: Lasso Cox regression created an E2F target-related gene signature of GHR, TRIP13, and CDCA8. HCC patients with high risk were correlated with shorter survival time, immune evasion, tumor stem cell characteristics and high sensitivity to Tipifarnib and Camptothecin drugs. Conclusion: Hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis was predicted by an E2F target signature. This finding establishes the theoretical usefulness of the E2F target route in customized identification and treatment for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baozhu Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The People’s Hospital of Baoan Shenzhen, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Boyang Chang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The People’s Hospital of Baoan Shenzhen, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuzhong Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The People’s Hospital of Baoan Shenzhen, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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Wahlang B. RISING STARS: Sex differences in toxicant-associated fatty liver disease. J Endocrinol 2023; 258:e220247. [PMID: 37074385 PMCID: PMC10330380 DOI: 10.1530/joe-22-0247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Based on biological sex, the consequential health outcomes from exposures to environmental chemicals or toxicants can differ in disease pathophysiology, progression, and severity. Due to basal differences in cellular and molecular processes resulting from sexual dimorphism of organs including the liver and additional factors influencing 'gene-environment' interactions, males and females can exhibit different responses to toxicant exposures. Associations between environmental/occupational chemical exposures and fatty liver disease (FLD) have been well-acknowledged in human epidemiologic studies and their causal relationships demonstrated in experimental models. However, studies related to sex differences in liver toxicology are still limited to draw any inferences on sex-dependent chemical toxicity. The purpose of this review is to highlight the present state of knowledge on the existence of sex differences in toxicant-associated FLD (TAFLD), discuss potential underlying mechanisms driving these differences, implications of said differences on disease susceptibility, and emerging concepts. Chemicals of interest include various categories of pollutants that have been investigated in TAFLD, namely persistent organic pollutants, volatile organic compounds, and metals. Insight into research areas requiring further development is also discussed, with the objective of narrowing the knowledge gap on sex differences in environmental liver diseases. Major conclusions from this review exercise are that biological sex influences TAFLD risks, in part due to (i) toxicant disruption of growth hormone and estrogen receptor signaling, (ii) basal sex differences in energy mobilization and storage, and (iii) differences in chemical metabolism and subsequent body burden. Finally, further sex-dependent toxicological assessments are warranted for the development of sex-specific intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banrida Wahlang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
- UofL Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
- The Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
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Zhou F, Kang Q, Ma J, Cai J, Chen Y, Qu K, Li F. Integrated analysis of RNA-seq in hepatocellular carcinoma reveals competing endogenous RNA network composed of circRNA, lncRNA, and mRNA. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e32915. [PMID: 36827016 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000032915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circular RNAs (circRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been hypothesized to have important roles in the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the synergistic effect of circRNA and lncRNA in the pathogenesis of HCC has rarely been studied. METHODS In this study, the Gene Expression Omnibus database was used to get the expression profiles of circRNAs, micro RNAs (miRNAs), lncRNAs, and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in HCC tissues and normal tissues. The accession numbers for this database are GSE101728, GSE155949, and GSE108724. We found 291 differentially overexpressed lncRNAs and 541 differentially overexpressed mRNA in GSE101728, 30 differentially overexpressed circRNA in GSE155949, and 48 significantly downregulated miRNA in GSE198724. Meanwhile, based on Pearson correlation test, we established lncRNA-mRNA networks. We constructed lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA pairs through Starbase database prediction and identified the common miRNAs. The intersection of co-predicted miRNAs and the 48 significantly low expression miRNAs in GSE198724 were included in the following study. miRDB, Targetscan, miRwalk, and lncRNA-related mRNA jointly determined the miRNA-mRNA portion of the circRNA/lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA co-expression network. And, among 55 differentially expressed mRNA in circRNA/lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network, CPEB3, EFNB3, FATA4, growth hormone receptor, GSTZ1, KLF8, MFAP4, PAIP2B, PHACTR3, PITPNM3, RPS6KA6, RSPO3, SLITRK6, SMOC1, STEAP4, SYT1, TMEM132E, TSPAN11, and ZFPM2 were intimately related to the prognosis of HCC patients in Kaplan-Meier plotter analysis (P < .05). CONCLUSION We have discovered that the prognosis-related lncRNAs/circRNAs-miRNA-mRNA network plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of HCC. These findings may offer fresh perspectives for further research into the pathogenesis of HCC and the search for novel treatments for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuyin Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, People's Hospital of Putuo District, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China
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Oxley M, Francis H, Sato K. Growth Hormone Signaling in Liver Diseases: Therapeutic Potentials and Controversies. Semin Liver Dis 2023; 43:24-30. [PMID: 36652958 DOI: 10.1055/a-2015-1359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) and downstream insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signaling mediate growth and metabolism. GH deficiency causes short stature or dwarfism, and excess GH causes acromegaly. Although the association of GH/IGF1 signaling with liver diseases has been suggested previously, current studies are controversial and the functional roles of GH/IGF1 signaling are still undefined. GH supplementation therapy showed promising therapeutic effects in some patients, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, but inhibition of GH signaling may be beneficial for other liver diseases, such as hepatocellular carcinoma. The functional roles of GH/IGF1 signaling and the effects of agonists/antagonists targeting this signaling may differ depending on the liver injury or animal models. This review summarizes current controversial studies of GH/IGF1 signaling in liver diseases and discusses therapeutic potentials of GH therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madisyn Oxley
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Heather Francis
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Department of Research, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Keisaku Sato
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
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Mohamed YI, Duda DG, Awiwi MO, Lee SS, Altameemi L, Xiao L, Morris JS, Wolff RA, Elsayes KM, Hatia RI, Qayyum A, Chamseddine SM, Rashid A, Yao JC, Mahvash A, Hassan MM, Amin HM, Kaseb AO. Plasma growth hormone is a potential biomarker of response to atezolizumab and bevacizumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Oncotarget 2022; 13:1314-1321. [PMID: 36473155 PMCID: PMC9726202 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has limited systemic therapy options when discovered at an advanced stage. Thus, there is a need for accessible and minimally invasive biomarkers of response to guide the selection of patients for treatment. This study investigated the biomarker value of plasma growth hormone (GH) level as a potential biomarker to predict outcome in unresectable HCC patients treated with current standard therapy, atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atezo/Bev). MATERIALS AND METHODS Study included unresectable HCC patients scheduled to receive Atezo/Bev. Patients were followed to determine progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Plasma GH levels were measured by ELISA and used to stratify the HCC patients into GH-high and GH-low groups (the cutoff normal GH levels in women and men are ≤3.7 μg/L and ≤0.9 μg/L, respectively). Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate median OS and PFS and Log rank test was used to compare survival outcomes between GH-high and -low groups. RESULTS Thirty-seven patients were included in this analysis, of whom 31 were males and 6 females, with a median age of 67 years (range: 37-80). At the time of the analysis, the one-year survival rate was 70% (95% CI: 0.51, 0.96) among GH low patients and 33% (95% CI: 0.16, 0.67) among GH high patients. OS was significantly superior in GH-low compared to GH-high patients (median OS: 18.9 vs. 9.3 months; p = 0.014). PFS showed a non-significant trend in favor of GH-low patients compared to the GH-high group (median PFS: 6.6 vs. 2.9 months; p = 0.053). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Plasma GH is a biomarker candidate for predicting treatment outcomes in advanced HCC patients treated with Atezo/Bev. This finding should be further validated in larger randomized clinical trials in advanced HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yehia I. Mohamed
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Dan G. Duda
- Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Muhammad O. Awiwi
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sunyoung S. Lee
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lina Altameemi
- Hurley Medical Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Lianchun Xiao
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jeffrey S. Morris
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Robert A. Wolff
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Khaled M. Elsayes
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rikita I. Hatia
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Aliya Qayyum
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shadi M. Chamseddine
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Asif Rashid
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - James C. Yao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Armeen Mahvash
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Manal M. Hassan
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hesham M. Amin
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ahmed Omar Kaseb
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Kaseb AO, Haque A, Vishwamitra D, Hassan MM, Xiao L, George B, Sahu V, Mohamed YI, Carmagnani Pestana R, Lombardo JL, Avritscher R, Yao JC, Wolff RA, Rashid A, Morris JS, Amin HM. Blockade of growth hormone receptor signaling by using pegvisomant: A functional therapeutic strategy in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:986305. [PMID: 36276070 PMCID: PMC9582251 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.986305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive neoplasm with poor clinical outcome because most patients present at an advanced stage, at which point curative surgical options, such as tumor excision or liver transplantation, are not feasible. Therefore, the majority of HCC patients require systemic therapy. Nonetheless, the currently approved systemic therapies have limited effects, particularly in patients with advanced and resistant disease. Hence, there is a critical need to identify new molecular targets and effective systemic therapies to improve HCC outcome. The liver is a major target of the growth hormone receptor (GHR) signaling, and accumulating evidence suggests that GHR signaling plays an important role in HCC pathogenesis. We tested the hypothesis that GHR could represent a potential therapeutic target in this aggressive neoplasm. We measured GH levels in 767 HCC patients and 200 healthy controls, and then carried out clinicopathological correlation analyses. Moreover, specific inhibition of GHR was performed in vitro using siRNA and pegvisomant (a small peptide that blocks GHR signaling and is currently approved by the FDA to treat acromegaly) and in vivo, also using pegvisomant. GH was significantly elevated in 49.5% of HCC patients, and these patients had a more aggressive disease and poorer clinical outcome (P<0.0001). Blockade of GHR signaling with siRNA or pegvisomant induced substantial inhibitory cellular effects in vitro. In addition, pegvisomant potentiated the effects of sorafenib (P<0.01) and overcame sorafenib resistance (P<0.0001) in vivo. Mechanistically, pegvisomant decreased the phosphorylation of GHR downstream survival proteins including JAK2, STAT3, STAT5, IRS-1, AKT, ERK, and IGF-IR. In two patients with advanced-stage HCC and high GH who developed sorafenib resistance, pegvisomant caused tumor stability. Our data show that GHR signaling represents a novel “druggable” target, and pegvisomant may function as an effective systemic therapy in HCC. Our findings could also lead to testing GHR inhibition in other aggressive cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed O. Kaseb
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Hesham M. Amin, ; Ahmed O. Kaseb,
| | - Abedul Haque
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Deeksha Vishwamitra
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Manal M. Hassan
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Lianchun Xiao
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Bhawana George
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Vishal Sahu
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yehia I. Mohamed
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Roberto Carmagnani Pestana
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jamie Lynne Lombardo
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Rony Avritscher
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - James C. Yao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Robert A. Wolff
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Asif Rashid
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jeffrey S. Morris
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Hesham M. Amin
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
- MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Hesham M. Amin, ; Ahmed O. Kaseb,
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