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Hasan AM, Cavalu S, Saber S, Doghish AS, Hamad RS, Abdel-Reheim MA, Alghamdi M, Alamri MMS, Alfaifi J, Adam MIE, Alqarni AA, Rezigalla AA, Negm S, El-Kott AF, Alshehri AS, BinAfeef SF, Abdel-Ghany S, Attia MA, Mohammed OA. Hedgehog signaling mastery: R51211's promise in augmenting the therapeutic efficacy of sorafenib. Life Sci 2024; 351:122791. [PMID: 38848936 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122791] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor employed for managing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The emergence of sorafenib resistance presents an obstacle to its therapeutic efficacy. One notable approach to overcoming sorafenib resistance is the exploration of combination therapies. The role of hedgehog signaling in sorafenib resistance has been also examined in HCC. R51211, known as itraconazole, has been safely employed in clinical practice. Through in vitro and in vivo investigations, we assessed the potential of R51211 to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of sorafenib by inhibiting the hedgehog signaling. The zero-interaction potency synergy model demonstrated a synergistic interaction between R51211 and sorafenib, a phenomenon reversed by the action of a smoothened receptor agonist. This dual therapy exhibited an increased capacity to induce apoptosis, as evidenced by alterations in the Bax/BCL-2 ratio and caspase-3, along with a propensity to promote autophagy, as indicated by changes in BECN1, p62, and the LC3I/LC3II ratio. Furthermore, the combination therapy resulted in significant reductions in biomarkers associated with liver preneoplastic alterations, improved liver microstructure, and mitigated changes in liver function enzymes. The substantial decrease in hedgehog components (Shh, SMO, GLI1, and GLI2) following R51211 treatment appears to be a key factor contributing to the increased efficacy of sorafenib. In conclusion, our study highlights the potential of R51211 as an adjunct to sorafenib, introducing a new dimension to this combination therapy through the modulation of the hedgehog signaling pathway. Further investigations are essential to validate the therapeutic efficacy of this combined approach in inhibiting the development of liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru Madalin Hasan
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, P-ta 1 Decembrie 10, 410087 Oradea, Romania.
| | - Simona Cavalu
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, P-ta 1 Decembrie 10, 410087 Oradea, Romania.
| | - Sameh Saber
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Delta University for Science and Technology, Gamasa 11152, Egypt.
| | - Ahmed S Doghish
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo 11231, Egypt.
| | - Rabab S Hamad
- Biological Sciences Department, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; Central Laboratory, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza 12411, Egypt.
| | - Mustafa Ahmed Abdel-Reheim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Shaqra University, Aldawadmi 11961, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef 62521, Egypt.
| | - Mushabab Alghamdi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mohannad Mohammad S Alamri
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Jaber Alfaifi
- Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Masoud I E Adam
- Department of Medical Education and Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Abdullah Ali Alqarni
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Assad Ali Rezigalla
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Sally Negm
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Science and Art Mahyel Aseer, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Attalla F El-Kott
- Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, 61421 Abha, Saudi Arabia; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22511, Egypt.
| | - Ali S Alshehri
- Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, 61421 Abha, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Shahad Fuad BinAfeef
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21421, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Sameh Abdel-Ghany
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt; Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Ibn Sina University for Medical Sciences, Amman 16197, Jordan.
| | - Mohammed A Attia
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt; Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, AlMaarefa University, Diriyiah, Riyadh 13713, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Osama A Mohammed
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt; Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
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Shu B, Zhou Y, Lei G, Peng Y, Ding C, Li Z, He C. TRIM21 is critical in regulating hepatocellular carcinoma growth and response to therapy by altering the MST1/YAP pathway. Cancer Sci 2024; 115:1476-1491. [PMID: 38475938 PMCID: PMC11093211 DOI: 10.1111/cas.16134] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related death globally. Despite efforts being made in last two decades in cancer diagnosis and treatment, the 5-year survival rate of liver cancer remains extremely low. TRIM21 participates in cancer metabolism, glycolysis, immunity, chemosensitivity and metastasis by targeting various substrates for ubiquitination. TRIM21 serves as a prognosis marker for human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the mechanism by which TRIM21 regulates HCC tumorigenesis and progression remains elusive. In this study, we demonstrated that TRIM21 protein levels were elevated in human HCC. Elevated TRIM21 expression was associated with HCC progression and poor survival. Knockdown of TRIM21 in HCC cell lines significantly impaired cell growth and metastasis and enhanced sorafenib-induced toxicity. Mechanistically, we found that knockdown of TRIM21 resulted in cytosolic translocation and inactivation of YAP. At the molecular level, we further identified that TRIM21 interacted and induced ubiquitination of MST1, which resulted in MST1 degradation and YAP activation. Knockdown of MST1 or overexpression of YAP reversed TRIM21 knockdown-induced impairment of HCC growth and chemosensitivity. Taken together, the current study demonstrates a novel mechanism that regulates the Hippo pathway and reveals TRM21 as a critical factor that promotes growth and chemoresistance in human HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Shu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaHunanChina
| | - Yingxia Zhou
- Department of Surgical Operation, The Second Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaHunanChina
| | - Guoqiong Lei
- Department of NeurosurgeryBrain Hospital of Hunan Province (The Second People's Hospital of Human Province)ChangshaHunanChina
| | - Yu Peng
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaHunanChina
| | - Cong Ding
- Department of PharmacyHunan Normal University School of MedicineChangshaHunanChina
| | - Zhuan Li
- Department of PharmacyHunan Normal University School of MedicineChangshaHunanChina
| | - Chao He
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaHunanChina
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3
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Said YA, Hammad SF, Halim MI, El-Moneim AA, Osman A. Assessment of the therapeutic potential of a novel phosphoramidate acyclic nucleoside on induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rat model. Life Sci 2024:122669. [PMID: 38677390 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122669] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is renowned as a deadly primary cancer of hepatic origin. Sorafenib is the drug-of-choice for targeted treatment of unresectable end-stage HCC. Unfortunately, great proportion of HCC patients showed intolerance or unresponsiveness to treatment. This study assesses potency of novel ProTide; SH-PAN-19 against N-Nitrosodiethylamine (DEN)-induced HCC in male Wistar rats, compared to Sorafenib. MAIN METHODS Structural entity of the synthesized compound was substantiated via FT-IR, UV-Vis, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopic analysis. In vitro, SH-PAN-19 cytotoxicity was tested against 3 human cell lines; hepatocellular carcinoma; HepG-2, colorectal carcinoma; HCT-116 and normal fibroblasts; MRC-5. In vivo, therapeutic efficacy of SH-PAN-19 (300 mg/kg b.w./day) against HCC could be revealed and compared to that of Sorafenib (15 mg/kg b.w./day) by evaluating the morphometric, biochemical, histopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular key markers. KEY FINDINGS SH-PAN-19 was relatively safe toward MRC-5 cells (IC50 = 307.6 μg/mL), highly cytotoxic to HepG-2 cells (IC50 = 24.9 μg/mL) and prominently hepato-selective (TSI = 12.35). Oral LD50 of SH-PAN-19 was >3000 mg/kg b.w. DEN-injected rats suffered hepatomegaly, oxidative stress, elevated liver enzymes, hypoalbuminemia, bilirubinemia and skyrocketed AFP plasma titre. SH-PAN-19 alleviated the DEN-induced alterations in apoptotic, angiogenic and inflammatory markers. SH-PAN-19 produced a 2.5-folds increase in Caspase-9 and downregulated VEGFR-2, IL-6, TNF-α, TGFβ-1, MMP-9 and CcnD-1 to levels comparable to that elicited by Sorafenib. SH-PAN-19 resulted in near-complete pathological response versus partial response achieved by Sorafenib. SIGNIFICANCE This research illustrated that SH-PAN-19 is a promising chemotherapeutic agent capable of restoring cellular plasticity and could stop HCC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youssef A Said
- Biotechnology Program, Basic and Applied Sciences Institute, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), 21934 New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, Egypt; Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, 11566 Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Sherif F Hammad
- Medicinal Chemistry Department, PharmD Program, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), 21934 New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, Egypt; Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, 11795 Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mariam I Halim
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, 11566 Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Abd El-Moneim
- Graphene Center of Excellence, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), 21934 New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, Egypt; Physical Chemistry Department, National Research Centre (NRC), 12622 Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Osman
- Biotechnology Program, Basic and Applied Sciences Institute, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), 21934 New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, Egypt; Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, 11566 Cairo, Egypt
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4
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Wang W, Wang T, Lin H, Liu D, Yu P, Zhang J. Ropivacaine combined with sorafenib attenuates hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and metastasis by inhibiting the miR-224/HOXD10 axis. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024; 39:2429-2438. [PMID: 38197552 DOI: 10.1002/tox.24111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The development of drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells limits the effectiveness of sorafenib (Sor). However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying the effects of the combination Sor and ropivacaine (Rop) on HCC cells remain unclear. METHODS miR-224 and HOXD10 mRNA expression in HCC cells was analyzed using qRT-PCR. CCK-8, Transwell assays and tumor formation experiments in nude mice were used to assess HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Migration of HCC cells was also analyzed using a cell scratch assay. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to detect tumor area. RESULTS miR-224 expression profoundly increased in HepG2 and Huh7 cells. Treatment with Rop and/or Sor blocked miR-244 expression, especially the combination treatment. Transfection of miR-224 mimic increased HCC cell proliferation and tumor size in nude mice, and migration and invasion in vitro in the presence of Rop and Sor compared to the negative control mimic. Dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that HOXD10 was targeted by miR-224. HOXD10 protein expression and was markedly reduced in HepG2 and Huh7 cells. Rop and/or Sor treatment increased HOXD10 protein expression, particularly the combination treatment. miR-224 negatively regulated HOXD10 expression in HCC cells treated with Rop and Sor. Transfection-mediated silencing of HOXD10 increased HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in the presence of Rop and Sor compared with negative control transfection. CONCLUSION The combination of Rop and Sor attenuates HCC cell proliferation and metastasis via the miR-224/HOXD10 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Hongyun Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Desheng Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Peng Yu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
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Xu K, Wang X, Hu S, Tang J, Liu S, Chen H, Zhang X, Dai P. LINC00540 promotes sorafenib resistance and functions as a ceRNA for miR-4677-3p to regulate AKR1C2 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27322. [PMID: 38463802 PMCID: PMC10920722 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27322] [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: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Sorafenib resistance is one of the main causes of poor prognosis in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) function as suppressors or oncogenic factors during tumor progression and drug resistance. Here, to identify therapeutic targets for HCC, the biological mechanisms of abnormally expressed lncRNAs were examined in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. Specifically, we established sorafenib-resistant HCC cell lines (Huh7-S and SMMC7721-S), which displayed an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed to established differential lncRNA expression profiles for sorafenib-resistant cells. Through this analysis, we identified LINC00540 as significantly up-regulated in sorafenib-resistant cells and a candidate lncRNA for further mechanistic investigation. Functionally, LINC00540 knockdown promoted sorafenib sensitivity and suppressed migration, invasion, EMT and the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells, whereas overexpression of LINC00540 resulted in the opposite effects in parental cells. LINC00540 functions as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by competitively binding to miR-4677-3p , thereby promoting AKR1C2 expression. This is the first study that demonstrates a role for LINC00540 in enhancing sorafenib resistance, migration and invasion of HCC cells through the LINC00540/miR-4677-3p/AKR1C2 axis, suggesting that LINC00540 may represent a potential therapeutic target and prognosis biomarker for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixuan Xu
- National Engineering Research Center for Miniaturized Detection Systems, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Xinxin Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Miniaturized Detection Systems, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Shuwei Hu
- National Engineering Research Center for Miniaturized Detection Systems, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Jiaxuan Tang
- National Engineering Research Center for Miniaturized Detection Systems, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Shihui Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for Miniaturized Detection Systems, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Hui Chen
- The University Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Xiaobin Zhang
- The University Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Penggao Dai
- National Engineering Research Center for Miniaturized Detection Systems, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Shaanxi Lifegen Co., Ltd, Xi'an, 712000, China
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Shih MS, Suk FM, Chiu WC, Lee CY, Hsu FY, Liao YJ. Long-term di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate exposure reduces sorafenib treatment efficacy by enhancing mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 273:116161. [PMID: 38430581 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116161] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/04/2024]
Abstract
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a worldwide common plasticizer. Nevertheless, DEHP is easily leached out to the environment due to the lack of covalent bonds with plastic. High dose of DEHP exposure is often observed in hemodialysis patients because of the continual usage of plastic medical devices. Although the liver is the major organ that catabolizes DEHP, the impact of long-term DEHP exposure on the sensitivity of liver cancer to chemotherapy remains unclear. In this study, we established long-term DEHP-exposed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and two NOD/SCID mice models to investigate the effects and the underlying mechanisms of long-term DEHP exposure on chemosensitivity of HCC. The results showed long-term DEHP exposure potentially increased epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HCC cells. Next generation sequencing showed that long-term DEHP exposure increased cell adhesion/migratory related genes expression and blunted sorafenib treatment induced genes alterations. Long-term exposure to DEHP reduced the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib-induced anti-migratory effect by enhancing the EMT transcription factors (slug, twist, and ZEB1) and mesenchymal protein (vimentin) expression. In NOD/SCID mice model, we showed that long-term DEHP-exposed HCC cells exhibited higher growth rate. Regarding the anti-HCC effects of sorafenib, subcutaneous HuH7 tumor grew slowly in sorafenib-treated mice. Nonetheless, the anti-tumor growth effect of sorafenib was not observed in long-term DEHP-exposed mice. Higher mesenchymal markers and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression were found in sorafenib-treated long-term DEHP-exposed mice. In conclusion, long-term DEHP exposure promoted migratory activity in HCC cells and decreased sorafenib sensitivity in tumor-bearing mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Syuan Shih
- School of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Shuang-Ho Campus, Taipei 235, Taiwan
| | - Fat-Moon Suk
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Chun Chiu
- School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Research Center of Geriatric Nutrition, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110Taiwan; Department of Nutrition, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Ya Lee
- School of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Shuang-Ho Campus, Taipei 235, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Yu Hsu
- School of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Shuang-Ho Campus, Taipei 235, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Jen Liao
- School of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Shuang-Ho Campus, Taipei 235, Taiwan; TMU Research Center for Digestive Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan.
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7
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Wonglhow J, Sunpaweravong P, Sathitruangsak C, Dechaphunkul A. LABS score- a prognostic tool for FOLFOX4-treated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and real-world efficacy: a single-center retrospective study. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:281. [PMID: 38429725 PMCID: PMC10908120 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12040-z] [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: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND No widely used prognostic tool exists to demonstrate the benefit of oxaliplatin plus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (FOLFOX4) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to establish a prognostic score and demonstrate the real-world efficacy of FOLFOX4 chemotherapy in Thai patients. METHODS Between August 2017 and December 2021, we identified 58 FOLFOX4-treated patients with HCC. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR) were assessed. The prognostic score was constructed by stepwise Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to select variables for the best model with the lowest Akaike information criterion from all potential variables. RESULTS Forty-four patients (76%) received FOLFOX4 as first-line therapy. The ORR in the entire cohort was 8.6%, and the disease control rate was 29.3%. The PFS and OS were 3.7 and 4.8 months, respectively. Four clinically relevant variables were included in the new prognostic score to predict 6-month OS: L, the presence of lung metastasis; A, alcoholic cirrhosis; B, elevated total bilirubin level; and S, sorafenib-naïve status. Using the LABS score, patients were classified into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, demonstrating OS values of 9.3, 4.2, and 2.1 months, respectively (p < 0.0001). The C-index and area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of the score were 0.71 and 0.73, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The proposed LABS score could discriminate patients who would derive benefit from FOLFOX4 chemotherapy. FOLFOX4 chemotherapy is an option for patients who cannot receive immunotherapy and targeted therapy, particularly those with a low-risk score. However, further validation of this model via larger cohorts is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jirapat Wonglhow
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Patrapim Sunpaweravong
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Chirawadee Sathitruangsak
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Arunee Dechaphunkul
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand.
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8
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Xu W, Yang M, Zhang W, Jia W, Zhang H, Zhang Y. Tumor microenvironment responsive nano-platform for overcoming sorafenib resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma. Mater Today Bio 2024; 24:100902. [PMID: 38188646 PMCID: PMC10767498 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100902] [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: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor, which seriously jeopardizes human health. The 5-year relative survival rate of HCC is only about 18%. Sorafenib, a small molecule multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (MTKI), has been classified as the first-line treatment scheme for HCC and has significantly extended the median survival time for patients with advanced HCC. Nevertheless, the emergence of sorafenib resistance has substantially hampered its further clinical application. Herein, the nano-platform based on phototherapy and small molecular targeted therapy (SMTT) was devised to overcome the sorafenib resistance and reduce the adverse effects. Hollow mesoporous manganese dioxide (H-MnO2) was prepared by hard template method, and the prepared H-MnO2 was used to load sorafenib and Chlorin e6 (Ce6). Subsequently, the nanoparticle (NPs) were modified with dopamine to optimize biocompatibility. The final prepared NPs (MCS NPs) exhibit regular spherical shape with a hydrated particle size of approximately 97.02 nm. MCS NPs can not only possess tumor microenvironment (TME) stimuli-responsive drug release performance but also can enhance the efficacy of photodynamic therapy and reverse sorafenib resistance by alleviating tumor hypoxia. Under the action of phototherapy (Ce6) combined with molecular targeted therapy (sorafenib), MCS NPs manifest a satisfactory antitumor effect for sorafenib-sensitive or sorafenib-resistant HCC cells, and retain the antiangiogenic properties of sorafenib. In the nude mouse subcutaneous tumor model constructed with sorafenib-resistant cells, MCS NPs demonstrated superior tumor imaging ability and excellent biocompatibility. The tumor inhibition rate of the MCS NPs group without laser irradiation was 53.4 %, while the MCS NPs group with laser irradiation was as high as 100 %. The novel smart TME-responsive nano-platform shows great potential for overcoming sorafenib resistance and realizes multimodality imaging and therapy of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Meng Yang
- Department of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Wenning Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210003, China
| | - Weilu Jia
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Haidong Zhang
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yewei Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210003, China
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9
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Luo T, Chen X, Pan W, Zhang S, Huang J. The sorafenib resistance-related gene signature predicts prognosis and indicates immune activity in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Cycle 2024; 23:150-168. [PMID: 38444181 PMCID: PMC11037289 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2024.2309020] [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: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Most patients with advanced HCC acquire sorafenib resistance. Drug resistance reflects the heterogeneity of tumors and is the main cause of tumor recurrence and death.We identified and validated sorafenib resistance related-genes (SRGs) as prognostic biomarkers for HCC. We obtained SRGs from the Gene Expression Omnibus and selected four key SRGs using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, random forest, and Support Vector Machine-Recursive feature elimination machine learning algorithms. Samples from the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-HCC were segregated into two groups by consensus clustering. Following difference analysis, 19 SRGs were obtained through univariate Cox regression analysis, and a sorafenib resistance model was constructed for risk stratification and prognosis prediction. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, the risk score was an independent predictor of overall survival (OS). Patients classified as high-risk were more sensitive to other chemotherapy drugs and showed a higher expression of the common immune checkpoints. Additionally, the expression of drug-resistance genes was verified in the International Cancer Genome Consortium cohort. A nomogram model with a risk score was established, and its prediction performance was verified by calibration chart analysis of the TCGA-HCC cohort. We conclude that there is a significant correlation between sorafenib resistance and the tumor immune microenvironment in HCC. The risk score could be used to identify a reliable prognostic biomarker to optimize the therapeutic benefits of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, which can be helpful in the clinical decision-making for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianxin Luo
- School of Clinical Laboratory Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Xiaomei Chen
- School of Clinical Laboratory Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Wei Pan
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Shu Zhang
- School of Clinical Laboratory Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- Center for Clinical Laboratories, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jian Huang
- Center for Clinical Laboratories, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
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10
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Zhou H, Sun D, Miao C, Tao J, Ge C, Chen T, Li H, Hou H. The stage-dependent prognostic role of ARID1A in hepatocellular carcinoma. Transl Cancer Res 2023; 12:3088-3104. [PMID: 38130310 PMCID: PMC10731336 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-23-645] [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: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death. Although novel treatment currently achieves a better response, the majority of HCC patients develop resistance and cannot benefit. Hence, novel biomarkers for guiding therapy and predicting the prognosis are needed. Methods Tissue microarrays of 206 HCC patients were used, and ARID1A expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. Databases were used for the verification and expansion of our results. The "rms" package of R software was used for the construction of the nomogram. Results ARID family alterations were associated with disease-free survival (P=0.0325) and overall survival (OS) (P=0.0076). Subgroup analysis confirmed the prognostic effect of ARID1A, ARID1B, and ARID2 alterations. In addition, ARID family genomic alterations, especially ARID1A, were closely related to poor progression-free survival (ARID: P=0.0011; ARID1A: P=0.0082) and OS (ARID: P=0.0161; ARID1A: P=0.0220) after sorafenib treatment. ARID1A expression was found to display a stage-dependent effect on the prognosis, serving as a risk factor in stage I-II patients (P<0.0001) and a protective factor in stage III-IV patients (P=0.0180). Conclusions ARID1A has dual roles in HCC in a tumor stage-dependent manner, and further study is required to uncover the complex function of ARID1A in HCC development, disease progression, and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Zhou
- Precision Medicine Center of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Dantong Sun
- National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chunxiao Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Junyan Tao
- Precision Medicine Center of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Chao Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Hong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Helei Hou
- Precision Medicine Center of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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11
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Guo L, Hu C, Yao M, Han G. Mechanism of sorafenib resistance associated with ferroptosis in HCC. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1207496. [PMID: 37351514 PMCID: PMC10282186 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1207496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most familiar primary hepatic malignancy with a poor prognosis. The incidence of HCC and the associated deaths have risen in recent decades. Sorafenib is the first drug to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for routine use in the first-line therapy of patients with advanced HCC. However, only about 30% of patients with HCC will be benefited from sorafenib therapy, and drug resistance typically develops within 6 months. In recent years, the mechanisms of resistance to sorafenib have gained the attention of a growing number of researchers. A promising field of current studies is ferroptosis, which is a novel form of cell death differing from apoptosis, necroptosis, and autophagy. This process is dependent on the accumulation of intracellular iron and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, the increase in intracellular iron levels and ROS can be significantly observed in cells resistant to sorafenib. This article reviews the mechanisms of resistance to sorafenib that are related to ferroptosis, evaluates the relationship between ferroptosis and sorafenib resistance, and explores new therapeutic approaches capable of reversing sorafenib resistance in HCC through the modulation of ferroptosis.
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12
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Mosca N, Russo A, Potenza N. Making Sense of Antisense lncRNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:8886. [PMID: 37240232 PMCID: PMC10219390 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptome complexity is emerging as an unprecedented and fascinating domain, especially by high-throughput sequencing technologies that have unveiled a plethora of new non-coding RNA biotypes. This review covers antisense long non-coding RNAs, i.e., lncRNAs transcribed from the opposite strand of other known genes, and their role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Several sense-antisense transcript pairs have been recently annotated, especially from mammalian genomes, and an understanding of their evolutionary sense and functional role for human health and diseases is only beginning. Antisense lncRNAs dysregulation is significantly involved in hepatocarcinogenesis, where they can act as oncogenes or oncosuppressors, thus playing a key role in tumor onset, progression, and chemoradiotherapy response, as deduced from many studies discussed here. Mechanistically, antisense lncRNAs regulate gene expression by exploiting various molecular mechanisms shared with other ncRNA molecules, and exploit special mechanisms on their corresponding sense gene due to sequence complementarity, thus exerting epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational controls. The next challenges will be piecing together the complex RNA regulatory networks driven by antisense lncRNAs and, ultimately, assigning them a function in physiological and pathological contexts, in addition to defining prospective novel therapeutic targets and innovative diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (N.M.); (A.R.)
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13
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Gu L, Jin X, Liang H, Yang C, Zhang Y. Upregulation of CSNK1A1 induced by ITGB5 confers to hepatocellular carcinoma resistance to sorafenib in vivo by disrupting the EPS15/EGFR complex. Pharmacol Res 2023; 192:106789. [PMID: 37149115 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Oral multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as sorafenib, which suppress tumor cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis, have been approved to treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Of note, only approximately 30% of patients can benefit from TKIs, and this population usually acquires drug resistance within 6 months. In this study, we intended to explore the mechanism associated with regulating the sensitivity of HCC to TKIs. We revealed that integrin subunit β 5 (ITGB5) is abnormally expressed in HCC and contributes to decreased the sensitivity of HCC to sorafenib. Mechanistically, unbiased mass spectrometry analysis using ITGB5 antibodies revealed that ITGB5 interacts with EPS15 to prevent the degradation of EGFR in HCC cells, which activates AKT-mTOR signaling and the MAPK pathway to reduce the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib. In addition, mass spectrometry analysis showed that CSNK1A1 binds to ITGB5 in HCC cells. Further study indicated that ITGB5 increased the protein level of CSNK1A1 through the EGFR-AKT-mTOR pathway in HCC. Upregulated CSNK1A1 phosphorylates ITGB5 to enhance the interaction between ITGB5 and EPS15 and activate EGFR in HCC cells. Thus, we identified a positive feedback loop between ITGB5-EPS15-EGFR-CSNK1A1 in HCC cells. This finding provides a theoretical basis for the future development of therapeutic strategies to improve the anti-HCC efficacy of sorafenib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Gu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xin Jin
- Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China; Uro-Oncology Institute of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Huaiyuan Liang
- Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China; Uro-Oncology Institute of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Chong Yang
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Organ Transplantation Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China.
| | - Yu Zhang
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China; Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China.
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14
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Yao M, Liang S, Cheng B. Role of exosomes in hepatocellular carcinoma and the regulation of traditional Chinese medicine. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1110922. [PMID: 36733504 PMCID: PMC9886889 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1110922] [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: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) usually occurs on the basis of chronic liver inflammatory diseases and cirrhosis. The liver microenvironment plays a vital role in the tumor initiation and progression. Exosomes, which are nanometer-sized membrane vesicles are secreted by a number of cell types. Exosomes carry multiple proteins, DNAs and various forms of RNA, and are mediators of cell-cell communication and regulate the tumor microenvironment. In the recent decade, many studies have demonstrated that exosomes are involved in the communication between HCC cells and the stromal cells, including endothelial cells, macrophages, hepatic stellate cells and the immune cells, and serve as a regulator in the tumor proliferation and metastasis, immune evasion and immunotherapy. In addition, exosomes can also be used for the diagnosis and treatment HCC. They can potentially serve as specific biomarkers for early diagnosis and drug delivery vehicles of HCC. Chinese herbal medicine, which is widely used in the prevention and treatment of HCC in China, may regulate the release of exosomes and exosomes-mediated intercellular communication. In this review, we summarized the latest progresses on the role of the exosomes in the initiation, progression and treatment of HCC and the potential value of Traditional Chinese medicine in exosomes-mediated biological behaviors of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Yao
- Oncology Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (The Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, China
| | - Shufang Liang
- Oncology Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (The Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, China
| | - Binbin Cheng
- Oncology Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (The Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, China,Faculty of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Naval Medical University (The Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Binbin Cheng,
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