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Huang X, Dai Z, Zeng B, Xiao X, Zahid KR, Lin X, Liu T, Zeng T. KIN17 functions in DNA damage repair and chemosensitivity by modulating RAD51 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hum Cell 2024; 37:1489-1504. [PMID: 38935235 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-024-01096-5] [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: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
The limited response of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to chemotherapy drugs has always been a bottleneck in therapy. DNA damage repair is a major reason for chemoresistance. Previous studies have confirmed that KIN17 affects chemosensitivity. In this study, we examined the impact of KIN17 on chemotherapy response and DNA repair in HCC cells treated with oxaliplatin (L-OHP). We evaluated the expression and biological roles of KIN17 in HCC using bioinformatic analysis. The correlation between KIN17 and RAD51, particularly their nuclear expression levels, was evaluated using immunofluorescence, immunoblotting after nucleocytoplasmic separation in HCC cells, and immunohistochemistry of mouse xenograft tumors and human HCC tissues. The results indicated a significant increase in KIN17 expression in HCC tissues compared to normal tissues. The GSEA analysis revealed that upregulation of KIN17 was significantly associated with DNA damage repair. Knockdown of KIN17 led to increased DNA damage and reduced cellular survival after exposure to L-OHP. On the other hand, overexpression of KIN17 was linked to decreased DNA damage and improved cell survival following L-OHP treatment. Further experiments indicated that KIN17 affects the expression of RAD51, particularly in the nucleus. KIN17 plays a crucial role in influencing the sensitivity of HCC to chemotherapy by triggering the DNA repair response. Increased expression of KIN17 is associated with a poor prognosis for HCC patients, indicating that KIN17 could serve as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueran Huang
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524000, Guangdong, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Antibody Engineering of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Zichang Dai
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Biyun Zeng
- School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Xiangyan Xiao
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524000, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Kashif Rafiq Zahid
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Xiaocong Lin
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, Guangdong, P. R. China.
| | - Tiancai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Antibody Engineering of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, P. R. China.
| | - Tao Zeng
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524000, Guangdong, P. R. China.
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Marin JJG, Serrano MA, Herraez E, Lozano E, Ortiz-Rivero S, Perez-Silva L, Reviejo M, Briz O. Impact of genetic variants in the solute carrier ( SLC) genes encoding drug uptake transporters on the response to anticancer chemotherapy. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2024; 7:27. [PMID: 39143954 PMCID: PMC11322974 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2024.42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Cancer drug resistance constitutes a severe limitation for the satisfactory outcome of these patients. This is a complex problem due to the co-existence in cancer cells of multiple and synergistic mechanisms of chemoresistance (MOC). These mechanisms are accounted for by the expression of a set of genes included in the so-called resistome, whose effectiveness often leads to a lack of response to pharmacological treatment. Additionally, genetic variants affecting these genes further increase the complexity of the question. This review focuses on a set of genes encoding members of the transportome involved in drug uptake, which have been classified into the MOC-1A subgroup of the resistome. These proteins belong to the solute carrier (SLC) superfamily. More precisely, we have considered here several members of families SLC2, SLC7, SLC19, SLC22, SLCO, SLC28, SLC29, SLC31, SLC46, and SLC47 due to the impact of their expression and genetic variants in anticancer drug uptake by tumor cells or, in some cases, general bioavailability. Changes in their expression levels and the appearance of genetic variants can contribute to the Darwinian selection of more resistant clones and, hence, to the development of a more malignant phenotype. Accordingly, to address this issue in future personalized medicine, it is necessary to characterize both changes in resistome genes that can affect their function. It is also essential to consider the time-dependent dimension of these features, as the genetic expression and the appearance of genetic variants can change during tumor progression and in response to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose J. G. Marin
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca 37007, Spain
- Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Maria A. Serrano
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca 37007, Spain
- Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Elisa Herraez
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca 37007, Spain
- Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Elisa Lozano
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca 37007, Spain
- Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Sara Ortiz-Rivero
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca 37007, Spain
- Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Laura Perez-Silva
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca 37007, Spain
| | - Maria Reviejo
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca 37007, Spain
- Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Oscar Briz
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca 37007, Spain
- Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid 28029, Spain
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3
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Kipcak A, Sezan S, Karpat O, Kaya E, Baylan S, Sariyar E, Yandim C, Karagonlar ZF. Suppression of CTC1 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and enhances RHPS4 cytotoxicity. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:799. [PMID: 39001931 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09756-3] [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: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although DNA repair mechanisms function to maintain genomic integrity, in cancer cells these mechanisms may negatively affect treatment efficiency. The strategy of targeting cancer cells via inhibiting DNA damage repair has been successfully used in breast and ovarian cancer using PARP inhibitors. Unfortunately, such strategies have not yet yielded results in liver cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, is a treatment-resistant malignancy. Despite the development of guided therapies, treatment regimens for advanced HCC patients still fall short of the current need and significant problems such as cancer relapse with resistance still exist. In this paper, we targeted telomeric replication protein CTC1, which is responsible for telomere maintenance. METHODS CTC expression was analyzed using tumor and matched-tissue RNA-sequencing data from TCGA and GTEx. In HCC cell lines, q-RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect CTC1 expression. The knock-down of CTC1 was achieved using lentiviral plasmids. The effects of CTC1 silencing on HCC cells were analyzed by flow cytometry, MTT, spheroid and colony formation assays. RESULTS CTC1 is significantly downregulated in HCC tumor samples. However, CTC1 protein levels were higher in sorafenib-resistant cell lines compared to the parental groups. CTC1 inhibition reduced cell proliferation in sorafenib-resistant HCC cell lines and diminished their spheroid and colony forming capacities. Moreover, these cells were more sensitive to single and combined drug treatment with G4 stabilizer RHPS4 and sorafenib. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that targeting CTC1 might be a viable option for combinational therapies designed for sorafenib resistant HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arda Kipcak
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Izmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Sila Sezan
- Division of Bioengineering, Graduate School, İzmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Ozum Karpat
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Izmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Ezgi Kaya
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Izmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Sude Baylan
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Izmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Ece Sariyar
- Division of Bioengineering, Graduate School, İzmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG-Izmir), Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Cihangir Yandim
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Izmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Zeynep Firtina Karagonlar
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Izmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey.
- Division of Bioengineering, Graduate School, İzmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey.
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Lv X, Lan G, Zhu L, Guo Q. Breaking the Barriers of Therapy Resistance: Harnessing Ferroptosis for Effective Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:1265-1278. [PMID: 38974015 PMCID: PMC11227329 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s469449] [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: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a type of cell death that relies on iron and is distinguished by the occurrence of lipid peroxidation and the buildup of reactive oxygen species. Ferroptosis has been demonstrated to have a significant impact on the advancement and resistance to treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), thereby highlighting its potential as a viable therapeutic target. Ferroptosis was observed in HCC tissues in contrast to normal liver tissue. The inhibition of ferroptosis has been found to increase the viability of HCC cells and decrease their susceptibility to various anticancer therapies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immune checkpoint blockade. The administration of drugs that directly modulate ferroptosis regulators or induce excessive production of lipid-reactive oxygen species has demonstrated the potential to enhance the responsiveness of drug-resistant HCC cells to treatment. However, the precise mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains ambiguous. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the crucial role played by ferroptosis in enhancing the efficacy of treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The main aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of utilizing ferroptosis as a therapeutic approach to improve the efficacy of HCC treatment and overcome drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianmei Lv
- Department of Radiotherapy, Jinhua People’s Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321000, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, 362000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Gaochen Lan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lujian Zhu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiusheng Guo
- Department of Radiotherapy, Jinhua People’s Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321000, People’s Republic of China
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Marin JJG, Macias RIR, Asensio M, Romero MR, Temprano AG, Pereira OR, Jimenez S, Mauriz JL, Di Giacomo S, Avila MA, Efferth T, Briz O. Strategies to enhance the response of liver cancer to pharmacological treatments. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2024; 327:C11-C33. [PMID: 38708523 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00176.2024] [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: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
In contrast to other types of cancers, there is no available efficient pharmacological treatment to improve the outcomes of patients suffering from major primary liver cancers, i.e., hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. This dismal situation is partly due to the existence in these tumors of many different and synergistic mechanisms of resistance, accounting for the lack of response of these patients, not only to classical chemotherapy but also to more modern pharmacological agents based on the inhibition of tyrosine kinase receptors (TKIs) and the stimulation of the immune response against the tumor using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). This review summarizes the efforts to develop strategies to overcome this severe limitation, including searching for novel drugs derived from synthetic, semisynthetic, or natural products with vectorial properties against therapeutic targets to increase drug uptake or reduce drug export from cancer cells. Besides, immunotherapy is a promising line of research that is already starting to be implemented in clinical practice. Although less successful than in other cancers, the foreseen future for this strategy in treating liver cancers is considerable. Similarly, the pharmacological inhibition of epigenetic targets is highly promising. Many novel "epidrugs," able to act on "writer," "reader," and "eraser" epigenetic players, are currently being evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies. Finally, gene therapy is a broad field of research in the fight against liver cancer chemoresistance, based on the impressive advances recently achieved in gene manipulation. In sum, although the present is still dismal, there is reason for hope in the non-too-distant future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose J G Marin
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM) Group, University of Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rocio I R Macias
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM) Group, University of Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maitane Asensio
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM) Group, University of Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta R Romero
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM) Group, University of Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alvaro G Temprano
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM) Group, University of Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Olívia R Pereira
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Laboratório Associado para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal
- Research Centre for Active Living and Wellbeing (LiveWell), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Silvia Jimenez
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM) Group, University of Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
- Servicio de Farmacia Hospitalaria, Hospital de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Jose L Mauriz
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, Leon, Spain
| | - Silvia Di Giacomo
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Matias A Avila
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
- Hepatology Laboratory, Solid Tumors Program, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Universidad de Navarra, Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdisNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Oscar Briz
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM) Group, University of Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
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Rossari F, Foti S, Camera S, Persano M, Casadei-Gardini A, Rimini M. Treatment options for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: the potential of biologics. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2024; 24:455-470. [PMID: 38913107 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2024.2363234] [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: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a significant global health burden, whose treatment has been recently revolutionized by the advent of biologic treatments. Despite that, innovative therapeutic regimens and approaches, especially immune-based, remain to be explored aiming at extending the therapeutic benefits to a wider population of patients. AREAS COVERED This review comprehensively discusses the evolving landscape of biological treatment modalities for advanced HCC, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, antiangiogenic monoclonal antibodies, tumor-targeting monoclonal antibodies either naked or drug-conjugated, therapeutic vaccines, oncolytic viruses, adoptive cell therapies, and cytokine-based therapies. Key clinical trials and preclinical studies are examined, highlighting the actual or potential impact of these interventions in reshaping treatment paradigms for HCC. EXPERT OPINION Tailored and rational combination strategies, leveraging the synergistic effects of different modalities, represent a promising approach to maximize treatment efficacy in advanced HCC, which should aim at conversion endpoints to increase the fraction of patients eligible for curative approaches. The identification of predictive biomarkers holds the key to optimizing patient selection and improving therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Rossari
- Department of Oncology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute Hospital, Milan, Italy
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Foti
- Department of Oncology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Camera
- Department of Oncology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Mara Persano
- Medical Oncology, University and University Hospital of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Andrea Casadei-Gardini
- Department of Oncology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Margherita Rimini
- Department of Oncology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute Hospital, Milan, Italy
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Chava S, Ekmen N, Ferraris P, Aydin Y, Moroz K, Wu T, Thung SN, Dash S. Mechanisms of Sorafenib Resistance in HCC Culture Relate to the Impaired Membrane Expression of Organic Cation Transporter 1 (OCT1). J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:839-855. [PMID: 38741679 PMCID: PMC11090194 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s452152] [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: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Sorafenib, an FDA-approved drug for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment, encounters resistance in many patients. Deciphering the mechanisms underlying sorafenib resistance is crucial for devising alternative strategies to overcome it. Aim This study aimed to investigate sorafenib resistance mechanisms using a diverse panel of HCC cell lines. Methods HCC cell lines were subjected to continuous sorafenib treatment, and stable cell lines (Huh 7.5 and Huh 7PX) exhibiting sustained growth in its presence were isolated. The investigation of drug resistance mechanisms involved a comparative analysis of drug-targeted signal transduction pathways (EGFR/RAF/MEK/ERK/Cyclin D), sorafenib uptake, and membrane expression of the drug uptake transporter. Results HCC cell lines (Huh 7.5 and Huh 7PX) with a higher IC50 (10μM) displayed a more frequent development of sorafenib resistance compared to those with a lower IC50 (2-4.8μM), indicating a potential impact of IC50 variation on initial treatment response. Our findings reveal that activated overexpression of Raf1 kinases and impaired sorafenib uptake, mediated by reduced membrane expression of organic cation transporter-1 (OCT1), contribute to sorafenib resistance in HCC cultures. Stable expression of the drug transporter OCT1 through cDNA transfection or adenoviral delivery of OCT1 mRNA increased sorafenib uptake and successfully overcame sorafenib resistance. Additionally, consistent with sorafenib resistance in HCC cultures, cirrhotic liver-associated human HCC tumors often exhibited impaired membrane expression of OCT1 and OCT3. Conclusion Intrinsic differences among HCC cell clones, affecting sorafenib sensitivity at the expression level of Raf kinases, drug uptake, and OCT1 transporters, were identified. This study underscores the potential of HCC tumor targeted OCT1 expression to enhance sorafenib treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinivas Chava
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Nergiz Ekmen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Pauline Ferraris
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Yucel Aydin
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Krzysztof Moroz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Tong Wu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Swan N Thung
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Srikanta Dash
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, LA, USA
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Zertuche-Martínez C, Velázquez-Enríquez JM, González-García K, Baltiérrez-Hoyos R, Carrasco-Torres G, García-Román R, Romero-Díaz RI, Pérez-Hernández JL, Muriel P, Villa-Treviño S, Arellanes-Robledo J, Vásquez-Garzón VR. Identification of ABCC3 and its isoforms as potential biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma. Toxicol Mech Methods 2024; 34:398-407. [PMID: 38083799 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2023.2294475] [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: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Liver diseases preceding the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) play a crucial role in the progression and establishment of HCC, a malignancy ranked as the third deadliest cancer worldwide. Late diagnosis, alongside ineffective treatment, leads patients to a poor survival rate. This scenario argues for seeking novel alternatives for detecting liver alterations preceding the early occurrence of HCC. Experimental studies have reported that ABCC3 protein increases within HCC tumors but not in adjacent tissue. Therefore, we analyzed ABCC3 expression in public databases and investigated the presence of ABCC3 and its isoforms in plasma, urine and its release in extracellular vesicles (EVs) cargo from patients bearing cirrhosis and HCC. The UALCAN and GEPIA databases were used to analyze the expression of ABCC3 in HCC. The results were validated in a case-control study including 41 individuals bearing cirrhosis and HCC, and the levels of ABCC3 in plasma and urine samples, as well as EVs, were analyzed by ELISA and western blot. Our data showed that ABCC3 expression was higher in HCC tissues than in normal tissues and correlated with HCC grade and stage. ABCC3 protein levels were highly increased in both plasma and urine and correlated with liver disease progression and severity. The isoforms MRP3A and MRP3B of ABCC3 were significantly increased in both EVs and plasma/urine of patients bearing HCC. ABCC3 expression gradually increases in HCC tissues, and its protein levels are increased in both plasma and urine of patients with cirrhosis and HCC. MRP3A and MRP3B isoforms have the potential to be prognostic biomarkers of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Zertuche-Martínez
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Laboratory of Fibrosis and Cancer, 'Benito Juarez' Autonomous University of Oaxaca-UABJO, Oaxaca, Mexico
| | - Juan Manuel Velázquez-Enríquez
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Laboratory of Fibrosis and Cancer, 'Benito Juarez' Autonomous University of Oaxaca-UABJO, Oaxaca, Mexico
| | - Karina González-García
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Laboratory of Fibrosis and Cancer, 'Benito Juarez' Autonomous University of Oaxaca-UABJO, Oaxaca, Mexico
| | - Rafael Baltiérrez-Hoyos
- CONACYT-Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Autonomous University "Benito Juarez" of Oaxaca-UABJO, Oaxaca, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Carrasco-Torres
- Centre for Research in Applied Science and Advanced Technology, Morelos Unit, National Polytechnic Institute, Atlacholoaya, Mexico
| | | | | | | | - Pablo Muriel
- Department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Experimental Hepatology, Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute - CINVESTAV-IPN, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Saúl Villa-Treviño
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute - CINVESTAV-IPN, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jaime Arellanes-Robledo
- CONACYT-Laboratory of Liver Diseases, National Institute of Genomic Medicine - INMEGEN, Mexico City, Mexico
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Papadakos SP, Chatzikalil E, Arvanitakis K, Vakadaris G, Stergiou IE, Koutsompina ML, Argyrou A, Lekakis V, Konstantinidis I, Germanidis G, Theocharis S. Understanding the Role of Connexins in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Molecular and Prognostic Implications. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1533. [PMID: 38672615 PMCID: PMC11048329 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16081533] [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: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Connexins, a family of tetraspan membrane proteins forming intercellular channels localized in gap junctions, play a pivotal role at the different stages of tumor progression presenting both pro- and anti-tumorigenic effects. Considering the potential role of connexins as tumor suppressors through multiple channel-independent mechanisms, their loss of expression may be associated with tumorigenic activity, while it is hypothesized that connexins favor the clonal expansion of tumor cells and promote cell migration, invasion, and proliferation, affecting metastasis and chemoresistance in some cases. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), characterized by unfavorable prognosis and limited responsiveness to current therapeutic strategies, has been linked to gap junction proteins as tumorigenic factors with prognostic value. Notably, several members of connexins have emerged as promising markers for assessing the progression and aggressiveness of HCC, as well as the chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity of hepatocellular tumor cells. Our review sheds light on the multifaceted role of connexins in HCC pathogenesis, offering valuable insights on recent advances in determining their prognostic and therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavros P. Papadakos
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (S.P.P.); (E.C.)
| | - Elena Chatzikalil
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (S.P.P.); (E.C.)
| | - Konstantinos Arvanitakis
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, First Department of Internal Medicine, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece; (K.A.); (G.V.)
- Basic and Translational Research Unit, Special Unit for Biomedical Research and Education, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Georgios Vakadaris
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, First Department of Internal Medicine, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece; (K.A.); (G.V.)
| | - Ioanna E. Stergiou
- Pathophysiology Department, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (I.E.S.); (M.-L.K.)
| | - Maria-Loukia Koutsompina
- Pathophysiology Department, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (I.E.S.); (M.-L.K.)
| | - Alexandra Argyrou
- Academic Department of Gastroenterology, Laikon General Hospital, Athens University Medical School, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (V.L.)
| | - Vasileios Lekakis
- Academic Department of Gastroenterology, Laikon General Hospital, Athens University Medical School, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (V.L.)
| | | | - Georgios Germanidis
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, First Department of Internal Medicine, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece; (K.A.); (G.V.)
- Basic and Translational Research Unit, Special Unit for Biomedical Research and Education, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stamatios Theocharis
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (S.P.P.); (E.C.)
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10
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Baek M, Kim M, Choi HI, Binas B, Cha J, Jung KH, Choi S, Chai YG. Identification of differentially expressed mRNA/lncRNA modules in acutely regorafenib-treated sorafenib-resistant Huh7 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301663. [PMID: 38603701 PMCID: PMC11008899 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The multikinase inhibitor sorafenib is the standard first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but many patients become sorafenib-resistant (SR). This study investigated the efficacy of another kinase inhibitor, regorafenib (Rego), as a second-line treatment. We produced SR HCC cells, wherein the PI3K-Akt, TNF, cAMP, and TGF-beta signaling pathways were affected. Acute Rego treatment of these cells reversed the expression of genes involved in TGF-beta signaling but further increased the expression of genes involved in PI3K-Akt signaling. Additionally, Rego reversed the expression of genes involved in nucleosome assembly and epigenetic gene expression. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed four differentially expressed long non-coding RNA (DElncRNA) modules that were associated with the effectiveness of Rego on SR cells. Eleven putative DElncRNAs with distinct expression patterns were identified. We associated each module with DEmRNAs of the same pattern, thus obtaining DElncRNA/DEmRNA co-expression modules. We discuss the potential significance of each module. These findings provide insights and resources for further investigation into the potential mechanisms underlying the response of SR HCC cells to Rego.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Baek
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjae Kim
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae In Choi
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Bert Binas
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Junho Cha
- Department of Applied Artificial Intelligence, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung Hwa Jung
- Department of Biopharmaceutical System, Gwangmyeong Convergence Technology Campus of Korea Polytechnic II, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungkyoung Choi
- Department of Applied Artificial Intelligence, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
- Department of Mathematical Data Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Gyu Chai
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
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11
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Wen X, Huang Z, Yang X, He X, Li L, Chen H, Wang K, Guo Q, Liu J. Development of an aptamer capable of multidrug resistance reversal for tumor combination chemotherapy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2321116121. [PMID: 38557176 PMCID: PMC11009676 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321116121] [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: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major factor in the failure of many forms of tumor chemotherapy. Development of a specific ligand for MDR-reversal would enhance the intracellular accumulation of therapeutic agents and effectively improve the tumor treatments. Here, an aptamer was screened against a doxorubicin (DOX)-resistant human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2/DOX) via cell-based systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment. A 50 nt truncated sequence termed d3 was obtained with high affinity and specificity for HepG2/DOX cells. Multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) is determined to be a possible recognition target of the selected aptamer. Aptamer d3 binding was revealed to block the MDR of the tumor cells and increase the accumulation of intracellular anticancer drugs, including DOX, vincristine, and paclitaxel, which led to a boost to the cell killing of the anticancer drugs and lowering their survival of the tumor cells. The aptamer d3-mediated MDR-reversal for effective chemotherapy was further verified in an in vivo animal model, and combination of aptamer d3 with DOX significantly improved the suppression of tumor growth by treating a xenograft HepG2/DOX tumor in vivo. This work demonstrates the feasibility of a therapeutic DNA aptamer as a tumor MDR-reversal agent, and combination of the selected aptamer with chemotherapeutic drugs shows great potential for liver cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
| | - Zhixiang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
| | - Xiaohai Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
| | - Xiaoxiao He
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
| | - Lie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
| | - Haiyan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
| | - Kemin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
| | - Qiuping Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
| | - Jianbo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha410082, China
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12
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Ladd AD, Duarte S, Sahin I, Zarrinpar A. Mechanisms of drug resistance in HCC. Hepatology 2024; 79:926-940. [PMID: 36680397 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
HCC comprises ∼80% of primary liver cancer. HCC is the only major cancer for which death rates have not improved over the last 10 years. Most patients are diagnosed with advanced disease when surgical and locoregional treatments are not feasible or effective. Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor targeting cell growth and angiogenesis, was approved for advanced unresectable HCC in 2007. Since then, other multikinase inhibitors have been approved. Lenvatinib was found to be noninferior to sorafenib as a first-line agent. Regorafenib, cabozantinib, and ramucirumab were shown to prolong survival as second-line agents. Advances in immunotherapy for HCC have also added hope for patients, but their efficacy remains limited. A large proportion of patients with advanced HCC gain no long-term benefit from systemic therapy due to primary and acquired drug resistance, which, combined with its rising incidence, keeps HCC a highly fatal disease. This review summarizes mechanisms of primary and acquired resistance to therapy and includes methods for bypassing resistance. It addresses recent advancements in immunotherapy, provides new perspectives on the linkage between drug resistance and molecular etiology of HCC, and evaluates the role of the microbiome in drug resistance. It also discusses alterations in signaling pathways, dysregulation of apoptosis, modulations in the tumor microenvironment, involvement of cancer stem cells, changes in drug metabolism/transport, tumor hypoxia, DNA repair, and the role of microRNAs in drug resistance. Understanding the interplay among these factors will provide guidance on the development of new therapeutic strategies capable of improving patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra D Ladd
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Sergio Duarte
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Ilyas Sahin
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Ali Zarrinpar
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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13
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Marin JJG, Cives-Losada C, Macias RIR, Romero MR, Marijuan RP, Hortelano-Hernandez N, Delgado-Calvo K, Villar C, Gonzalez-Santiago JM, Monte MJ, Asensio M. Impact of liver diseases and pharmacological interactions on the transportome involved in hepatic drug disposition. Biochem Pharmacol 2024:116166. [PMID: 38527556 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116166] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
The liver plays a pivotal role in drug disposition owing to the expression of transporters accounting for the uptake at the sinusoidal membrane and the efflux across the basolateral and canalicular membranes of hepatocytes of many different compounds. Moreover, intracellular mechanisms of phases I and II biotransformation generate, in general, inactive compounds that are more polar and easier to eliminate into bile or refluxed back toward the blood for their elimination by the kidneys, which becomes crucial when the biliary route is hampered. The set of transporters expressed at a given time, i.e., the so-called transportome, is encoded by genes belonging to two gene superfamilies named Solute Carriers (SLC) and ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC), which account mainly, but not exclusively, for the uptake and efflux of endogenous substances and xenobiotics, which include many different drugs. Besides the existence of genetic variants, which determines a marked interindividual heterogeneity regarding liver drug disposition among patients, prevalent diseases, such as cirrhosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and several cholestatic liver diseases, can alter the transportome and hence affect the pharmacokinetics of drugs used to treat these patients. Moreover, hepatic drug transporters are involved in many drug-drug interactions (DDI) that challenge the safety of using a combination of agents handled by these proteins. Updated information on these questions has been organized in this article by superfamilies and families of members of the transportome involved in hepatic drug disposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose J G Marin
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Candela Cives-Losada
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rocio I R Macias
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta R Romero
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rebeca P Marijuan
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain
| | | | - Kevin Delgado-Calvo
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Carmen Villar
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Jesus M Gonzalez-Santiago
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Maria J Monte
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maitane Asensio
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
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14
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Feng X, Song D, Liu X, Liang Y, Jiang P, Wu S, Liu F. RNF125‑mediated ubiquitination of MCM6 regulates the proliferation of human liver hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Oncol Lett 2024; 27:105. [PMID: 38298426 PMCID: PMC10829068 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2024.14238] [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: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. Minichromosome maintenance proteins (MCMs), particularly MCM2-7, are upregulated in various cancers, including HCC. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of MCM2-7 in human liver HCC (LIHC) and the regulation of the protein homeostasis of MCM6 by a specific E3 ligase. Bioinformatics analyses demonstrated that MCM2-7 were highly expressed in LIHC compared with corresponding normal tissues at the mRNA and protein levels, and patients with LIHC and high mRNA expression levels of MCM2, MCM3, MCM6 and MCM7 had poor overall survival rates. Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation assays revealed that the knockdown of MCM2, MCM3, MCM6 or MCM7 in Huh7 and Hep3B HCC cells inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation. In addition, pull-down, co-immunoprecipitation and ubiquitination assays demonstrated that RNF125 interacts with MCM6 and mediates its ubiquitination. Furthermore, co-transfection experiments indicated that RNF125 promoted the proliferation of HCC cells mainly through MCM6. In summary, the present study suggests that the RNF125-MCM6 axis plays an important role in the regulation of HCC cell proliferation and is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of LIHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyi Feng
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, P.R. China
- Department of General Surgery, Lu'an Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Lu'an, Anhui 237005, P.R. China
| | - Dongqiang Song
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Xiaolan Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, P.R. China
| | - Yongkang Liang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, P.R. China
- Department of General Surgery, Lu'an Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Lu'an, Anhui 237005, P.R. China
| | - Pin Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Lu'an Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Lu'an, Anhui 237005, P.R. China
| | - Shenwei Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Lu'an Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Lu'an, Anhui 237005, P.R. China
| | - Fubao Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, P.R. China
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15
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Hussain Y, Singh J, Meena A, Sinha RA, Luqman S. Escin-sorafenib synergy up-regulates LC3-II and p62 to induce apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024; 39:840-856. [PMID: 37853854 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common solid cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Sorafenib is the first drug used to treat HCC but its effectiveness needs to be improved, and it is important to find ways to treat cancer that combine sorafenib with other drugs. Synergistic therapies lower effective drug doses and side effects while enhancing the anticancer effect. PURPOSE In the present study, the therapeutic potential of sorafenib in combination with escin and its underlying mechanism in targeting liver cancer has been established. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS The IC50 of sorafenib and escin against HepG2, PLC/PRF5 and Huh7 cell lines were determined using MTT assay. The combination index, dose reduction index, isobologram and concentrations producing synergy were evaluated using the Chou-Talaly algorithm. The sub-effective concentration of sorafenib and escin was selected to analyze cytotoxic synergistic potential. Cellular ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential, annexin V and cell cycle were evaluated using a flow-cytometer, and autophagy biomarkers were determined using western blotting. Moreover, autophagy was knocked down using ATG5 siRNA to confirm its role. A DEN-induced liver cancer rat model was developed to check the synergy of sorafenib and escin. RESULTS Different concentrations of escin reduced the IC50 of sorafenib in HepG2, PLC/PRF5 and Huh7 cell lines. Chou-Talaly algorithm determined cytotoxic synergistic concentrations of sorafenib and escin in these cell lines. Mechanistically, this combination over-expressed p62 and LC-II, reflecting autophagy block and induced late apoptosis, further reconfirmed by ATG5 knockdown. Sorafenib and escin combination reduced HCC serum biomarker α-feto protein (α-FP) by 1.5 folds. This combination restricted liver weight, tumor number and size, also, conserved morphological features of liver cells. The combination selectively targeted the G0 /G1 phase of cancer cells. CONCLUSION Escin and sorafenib combination potentially up-regulates p62 to block autophagy to induce late apoptosis in liver cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuf Hussain
- Bioprospection and Product Development Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Jyoti Singh
- Bioprospection and Product Development Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, India
- Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Abha Meena
- Bioprospection and Product Development Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Rohit Anthony Sinha
- Department of Endocrinology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Suaib Luqman
- Bioprospection and Product Development Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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16
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Gazzillo A, Volponi C, Soldani C, Polidoro MA, Franceschini B, Lleo A, Bonavita E, Donadon M. Cellular Senescence in Liver Cancer: How Dying Cells Become "Zombie" Enemies. Biomedicines 2023; 12:26. [PMID: 38275386 PMCID: PMC10813254 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer represents the fourth leading cause of cancer-associated death worldwide. The heterogeneity of its tumor microenvironment (TME) is a major contributing factor of metastasis, relapse, and drug resistance. Regrettably, late diagnosis makes most liver cancer patients ineligible for surgery, and the frequent failure of non-surgical therapeutic options orientates clinical research to the investigation of new drugs. In this context, cellular senescence has been recently shown to play a pivotal role in the progression of chronic inflammatory liver diseases, ultimately leading to cancer. Moreover, the stem-like state triggered by senescence has been associated with the emergence of drug-resistant, aggressive tumor clones. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have emerged to investigate senescence-associated hepatocarcinogenesis and its derived therapies, leading to promising results. In this review, we intend to provide an overview of the recent evidence that unveils the role of cellular senescence in the most frequent forms of primary and metastatic liver cancer, focusing on the involvement of this mechanism in therapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurora Gazzillo
- Cellular and Molecular Oncoimmunology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy; (A.G.); (C.V.); (E.B.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Italy;
| | - Camilla Volponi
- Cellular and Molecular Oncoimmunology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy; (A.G.); (C.V.); (E.B.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Italy;
| | - Cristiana Soldani
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy; (C.S.); (M.A.P.); (B.F.)
| | - Michela Anna Polidoro
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy; (C.S.); (M.A.P.); (B.F.)
| | - Barbara Franceschini
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy; (C.S.); (M.A.P.); (B.F.)
| | - Ana Lleo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Italy;
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy; (C.S.); (M.A.P.); (B.F.)
- Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy
| | - Eduardo Bonavita
- Cellular and Molecular Oncoimmunology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy; (A.G.); (C.V.); (E.B.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Italy;
| | - Matteo Donadon
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy; (C.S.); (M.A.P.); (B.F.)
- Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
- Department of General Surgery, University Maggiore Hospital della Carità, 28100 Novara, Italy
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17
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Shi Y, Feng Y, Qiu P, Zhao K, Li X, Deng Z, Wang J. Identifying the programmed cell death index of hepatocellular carcinoma for prognosis and therapy response improvement by machine learning: a bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1298290. [PMID: 38170006 PMCID: PMC10759150 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1298290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Despite advancements in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatments, the prognosis for patients remains suboptimal. Cumulative evidence suggests that programmed cell death (PCD) exerts crucial functions in HCC. PCD-related genes are potential predictors for prognosis and therapeutic responses. Methods A systematic analysis of 14 PCD modes was conducted to determine the correlation between PCD and HCC. A novel machine learning-based integrative framework was utilized to construct the PCD Index (PCDI) for prognosis and therapeutic response prediction. A comprehensive analysis of PCDI genes was performed, leveraging data including single-cell sequencing and proteomics. GBA was selected, and its functions were investigated in HCC cell lines by in vitro experiments. Results Two PCD clusters with different clinical and biological characteristics were identified in HCC. With the computational framework, the PCDI was constructed, demonstrating superior prognostic predictive efficacy and surpassing previously published prognostic models. An efficient clinical nomogram based on PCDI and clinicopathological factors was then developed. PCDI was intimately associated with immunological attributes, and PCDI could efficaciously predict immunotherapy response. Additionally, the PCDI could predict the chemotherapy sensitivity of HCC patients. A multilevel panorama of PCDI genes confirmed its stability and credibility. Finally, the knockdown of GBA could suppress both the proliferative and invasive capacities of HCC cells. Conclusion This study systematically elucidated the association between PCD and HCC. A robust PCDI was constructed for prognosis and therapy response prediction, which would facilitate clinical management and personalized therapy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanxin Shi
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery/Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunxiang Feng
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery/Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Peng Qiu
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery/Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kai Zhao
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery/Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiangyu Li
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery/Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhengdong Deng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jianming Wang
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery/Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Affiliated Tianyou Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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18
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Yoo W, Kim S, Noh K. SAMD13 serves as a useful prognostic biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur J Med Res 2023; 28:514. [PMID: 37968735 PMCID: PMC10648382 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01347-5] [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: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer and the 5-year relative overall survival (OS) rate is less than 20%. Since there are no specific symptoms, most patients with HCC are diagnosed in an advanced stage with poor prognosis. Therefore, identifying novel prognostic biomarkers to improve the survival of patients with HCC is urgently needed. In the present study, we attempted to identify SAMD13 (Sterile Alpha Motif Domain-Containing Protein 13) as a novel biomarker associated with the prognosis of HCC using various bioinformatics tools. SAMD13 was found to be highly expressed pan-cancer; however, the SAMD13 expression was significantly correlated with the worst prognosis in HCC. Clinicopathological analysis revealed that SAMD13 upregulation was significantly associated with advanced HCC stage and high-grade tumor type. Simultaneously, high SAMD13 expression resulted in association with various immune markers in the immune cell subsets by TIMER databases and efficacy of immunotherapy. Methylation analysis showed SAMD13 was remarkably associated with prognosis. Furthermore, a six-hub gene signature associated with poor prognosis was correlated with the cell cycle, transcription, and epigenetic regulation and this analysis may support the connection between SAMD13 expression and drug-resistance. Our study illustrated the characteristics of SAMD13 role in patients with HCC using various bioinformatics tools and highlights its potential role as a therapeutic target and promising biomarker for prognosis in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonbeak Yoo
- Personalized Genomic Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Seokho Kim
- Department of Health Sciences, The Graduate School of Dong-A University, Busan, 49315, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Health Sciences, Dong-A University, 37, Nakdong-daero 550 beon-gil, Saha-gu, Busan, 49315, Republic of Korea.
| | - KyungHee Noh
- Bionanotechnology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
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19
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Nguyen TH, Nguyen TM, Ngoc DTM, You T, Park MK, Lee CH. Unraveling the Janus-Faced Role of Autophagy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Implications for Therapeutic Interventions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16255. [PMID: 38003445 PMCID: PMC10671265 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying autophagy and mitophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Autophagy is an essential cellular process in maintaining cell homeostasis. Still, its dysregulation is associated with the development of liver diseases, including HCC, which is one of leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. We focus on elucidating the dual role of autophagy in HCC, both in tumor initiation and progression, and highlighting the complex nature involved in the disease. In addition, we present a detailed analysis of a small subset of autophagy- and mitophagy-related molecules, revealing their specific functions during tumorigenesis and the progression of HCC cells. By understanding these mechanisms, we aim to provide valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies to manipulate autophagy effectively. The goal is to improve the therapeutic response of liver cancer cells and overcome drug resistance, providing new avenues for improved treatment options for HCC patients. Overall, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians interested in the complex role of autophagy in HCC and its potential as a target for innovative therapies aimed to combat this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi Ha Nguyen
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea
| | - Tuan Minh Nguyen
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Taesik You
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Kyung Park
- Department of Cancer Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy National Cance Center, Goyang 10408, Republic of Korea
- Department of Bio-Healthcare, Hwasung Medi-Science University, Hwaseong-si 18274, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Hoon Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea
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20
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Xiu M, Bao W, Wang J, Chen J, Li Y, Hai Y. High USP32 expression contributes to cancer progression and is correlated with immune infiltrates in hepatocellular carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:1105. [PMID: 37957631 PMCID: PMC10644423 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11617-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ubiquitin-specific protease 32 (USP32) is a highly conserved gene that promotes cancer progression. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not well understood. The aim of this project is to explore the clinical significance and functions of USP32 in HCC. METHODS The expression of USP32 in HCC was evaluated using data from TCGA, GEO, TISCH, tissue microarray, and human HCC samples from our hospital. Survival analysis, PPI analysis and GSEA analysis were performed to evaluate USP32-related clinical significance, key molecules and enrichment pathways. Using the ssGSEA algorithm and TIMER, we investigated the relationships between USP32 and immune infiltrates in the TME. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were then used to identify key USP32-related immunomodulators and constructed a USP32-related immune prognostic model. Finally, CCK8, transwell and colony formation assays of HCC cells were performed and an HCC nude mouse model was established to verify the oncogenic role of USP32. RESULTS USP32 is overexpressed in HCC and its expression is an independent predictive factor for outcomes of HCC patients. USP32 is associated with pathways related to cell behaviors and cancer signaling, and its expression is significantly correlated with the infiltration of immune cells in the TME. We also successfully constructed a USP32-related immune prognostic model using 5 genes. Wet experiments confirmed that knockdown of USP32 could repress the proliferation, colony formation and migration of HCC cells in vitro and inhibit tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSION USP32 is highly expressed in HCC and closely correlates with the TME of HCC. It is a potential target for improving the efficacy of chemotherapy and developing new strategies for targeted therapy and immunotherapy in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxi Xiu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Wenfang Bao
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Jialin Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Jingde Chen
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Yandong Li
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China.
| | - Yanan Hai
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China.
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21
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Herraez E, Al-Abdulla R, Soto M, Briz O, Bettinger D, Bantel H, Del Carmen S, Serrano MA, Geier A, Marin JJG, Macias RIR. Role of organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3) in the response of hepatocellular carcinoma to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 217:115812. [PMID: 37722628 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115812] [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: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Impaired function of organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been associated with unsatisfactory response to sorafenib. However, some patients lacking OCT1 at the plasma membrane (PM) of HCC cells still respond to sorafenib, suggesting that another transporter may contribute to take up this drug. The aim of this study was to investigate whether OCT3 could contribute to the uptake of sorafenib and other tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and whether OCT3 determination can predict HCC response to sorafenib. Cells overexpressing OCT3 were used to determine the ability of this carrier to transport sorafenib. Immunostaining of OCT3 was performed in HCC samples obtained in the TRANSFER study. Considering the intensity of staining and the number of OCT3-positive cells, tumors were classified as having absent, weak, moderate, or strong OCT3 expression and were also categorized according to the presence or absence of PM staining. Functional in vitro studies revealed that OCT3 is also able to mediate sorafenib uptake. Other TKIs, such as regorafenib, lenvatinib, and cabozantinib can also interact with this transporter. In silico studies suggested that the expression of OCT3 is better preserved in HCC than that of OCT1. In HCC samples, OCT3 was expressed at the PM of cancer cells, and its presence, detected in 26% of tumors, was associated with better outcomes in patients treated with sorafenib. In conclusion, analysis by immunohistochemistry of OCT3 in the PM of tumor cells may help to predict the response of HCC patients to sorafenib and potentially to other TKIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Herraez
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ruba Al-Abdulla
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Institut für Medizinische Biochemie und Molekularbiologie (IMBM), Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Meraris Soto
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Oscar Briz
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dominik Bettinger
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Heike Bantel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sofia Del Carmen
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (CSIC-Universidad de Salamanca) and CIBERONC, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Maria A Serrano
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andreas Geier
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jose J G Marin
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Rocio I R Macias
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
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22
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Ge L, Jin T, Zhang W, Zhang Z, Zhang Y, Hu X, Zhang W, Song F, Huang P. Identification of potential pseudogenes for predicting the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:14255-14269. [PMID: 37553422 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05241-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a highly deadly malignant tumor with high recurrence and metastasis rates. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are involved in tumor metastasis, recurrence, and resistance to drugs, which have attracted widespread attention in recent years. Research has shown that pseudogenes may regulate stemness to promote the progression of HCC, but its specific mechanisms and impact on prognosis remain unclear. METHODS In this study, clinical prognosis information of HCC was first downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Then we calculated the mRNA expression-based stemness index (mRNAsi) of HCC. We also screened the differentially expressed pseudogene (DEPs) and conducted univariate Cox regression analysis to investigate their effect on the prognosis of HCC. Further, genomic mutation frequency analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were performed to compare the role of pseudogenes and stemness in promoting the progression of HCC. Finally, we conducted the correlation analysis to examine the potential mechanism of pseudogenes regulating stemness to promote the progression of HCC and detected the possible pathways through the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. RESULTS Herein, we revealed that the high stemness of HCC correlated with an unfavorable prognosis. We obtained 31 up-regulated and 8 down-regulated DEPs in HCC and screened CTB-63M22.1, a poor prognostic indicator of HCC. In addition, CTB-63M22.1 had a mutation frequency similar to mRNAsi and acted in a module similar to that of mRNAsi on HCC. We then screened two RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) LIN28B and NOP56 with the highest correlation with stemness. We also discovered that they were primarily enriched in the biological process as examples of mitotic nuclear division and cell cycle. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, these results revealed that pseudogenes CTB-63M22.1 may regulate cancer stemness by regulating RBPs, suggesting that CTB-63M22.1 may serve as an innovative therapeutic target and a reliable prognostic marker for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luqi Ge
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
- Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tiefeng Jin
- Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wanli Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
- Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
- Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yiwen Zhang
- Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoping Hu
- Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Feifeng Song
- Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Ping Huang
- Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.
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23
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Wang J, Zhu G. Silencing of keratin 15 impairs viability and mobility while facilitating the doxorubicin chemosensitivity by inactivating the β‑catenin pathway in liver cancer. Oncol Lett 2023; 26:447. [PMID: 37720670 PMCID: PMC10502946 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.14034] [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: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Keratin 15 (KRT15) regulates the invasion as well as the stemness and is associated with tumor size and metastasis of several gastrointestinal cancers apart from liver cancer. The present study aimed to explore the effect of KRT15 knockdown on liver cancer malignant behaviors and its interaction with the β-catenin pathway. Small interfering (si)-KRT15 and si-negative control (NC) were transfected into liver cancer cell lines, followed by the addition or not of CHIR-99021 (a β-catenin agonist). Cell viability, invasion, apoptosis, and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of doxorubicin (Dox) were then assessed. The present study illustrated that KRT15 gene and protein expression levels were upregulated in most liver cancer cell lines (Huh7, PLC, Hep3B and HepG2) compared to the normal liver cell line THLE-2. si-KRT15 reduced cell viability and invasive cell count while promoting the apoptosis rate in Huh7 and HepG2 cells. In addition, si-KRT15 also reduced the IC50 value of Dox. Furthermore, si-KRT15 inactivated the β-catenin pathway as reflected by β-catenin, cyclin D1 and c-Myc expression levels in Huh7 and HepG2 cells. Subsequently, CHIR-99021 treatment increased the cell viability and invasive cell count while reducing the apoptosis rate in Huh7 and HepG2 cells. Concurrently, the IC50 value of Dox was also increased. Notably, CHIR-99021 treatment attenuated the effect of si-KRT15 on mediating the aforementioned Huh7 and HepG2 cell malignant behaviors and Dox chemosensitivity. In conclusion, KRT15 knockdown suppressed viability and mobility but facilitated Dox chemosensitivity via inactivating the β-catenin pathway in liver cancer, suggesting its potential as a target for liver cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junying Wang
- Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, P.R. China
| | - Guangyu Zhu
- Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, P.R. China
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24
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Demir AB, Baris E, Kaner UB, Alotaibi H, Atabey N, Koc A. Toll-interacting protein may affect doxorubicin resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:8551-8563. [PMID: 37644370 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08737-2] [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: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer. Transarterial interventions are among the chemotherapeutic approaches used in hardly operable regions prior to transplantation, and in electrochemotherapy, where doxorubicin is used. However, the efficacy of treatment is affected by resistance mechanisms. Previously, we showed that overexpression of the CUE5 gene results in doxorubicin resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae). In this study, the effect of Toll-interacting protein (TOLLIP), the human ortholog of CUE5, on doxorubicin resistance was evaluated in HCC cells to identify its possible role in increasing the efficacy of transarterial interventions. METHODS AND RESULTS The NIH Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and Oncomine datasets were analyzed for HCC cell lines with relatively low and high TOLLIP expression, and SNU449 and Hep3B cell lines were chosen, respectively. TOLLIP expression was increased by plasmid transfection and decreased by TOLLIP-siRNA in both cell lines and evaluated by RT-PCR and ELISA. Cell proliferation and viability were examined using xCELLigence and MTT assays after doxorubicin treatment, and growth inhibitory 50 (GI 50) concentrations were evaluated. Doxorubicin GI 50 concentrations decreased approximately 2-folds in both cell lines upon silencing TOLLIP after 48 h of drug treatment. CONCLUSIONS Our results showed for the first time that silencing TOLLIP in hepatocellular carcinoma cells may help sensitize these cells to doxorubicin and increase the efficacy of chemotherapeutic regimens where doxorubicin is used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Banu Demir
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Izmir University of Economics, Sakarya Street, No:156, Balcova, Izmir, 35330, Turkey.
| | - Elif Baris
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Pharmacology, Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Umay Bengi Kaner
- Faculty of Medicine, Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Hani Alotaibi
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylül University Health Campus, Izmir, Turkey
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Nese Atabey
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology & Galen Research Center, Izmir Tinaztepe University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Koc
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
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25
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Foy V, McNamara MG, Valle JW, Lamarca A, Edeline J, Hubner RA. Current Evidence for Immune Checkpoint Inhibition in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Curr Oncol 2023; 30:8665-8685. [PMID: 37754543 PMCID: PMC10529518 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30090628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The treatment of advanced unresectable HCC (aHCC) remains a clinical challenge, with limited therapeutic options and poor prognosis. The results of IMbrave150 and HIMALAYA have changed the treatment paradigm for HCC and established immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI), either combined with anti-angiogenic therapy or dual ICI, as preferred first-line therapy for eligible patients with aHCC. Numerous other combination regimens involving ICI are under investigation with the aim of improving the tumour response and survival of patients with all stages of HCC. This review will explore the current evidence for ICI in patients with advanced HCC and discuss future directions, including the unmet clinical need for predictive biomarkers to facilitate patient selection, the effects of cirrhosis aetiology on response to ICI, and the safety of its use in patients with impaired liver function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Foy
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Wilmslow Rd., Manchester M20 4BX, UK
| | - Mairéad G. McNamara
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Wilmslow Rd., Manchester M20 4BX, UK
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Rd., Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Juan W. Valle
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Wilmslow Rd., Manchester M20 4BX, UK
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Rd., Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Angela Lamarca
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Wilmslow Rd., Manchester M20 4BX, UK
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Rd., Manchester M13 9PL, UK
- Department of Oncology, OncoHealth Institute, Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Avenida de los Reyes Catolicos 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Julien Edeline
- Centre Eugène Marquis, Av. de la Bataille Flandres Dunkerque-CS 44229, CEDEX, 35042 Rennes, France;
| | - Richard A. Hubner
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Wilmslow Rd., Manchester M20 4BX, UK
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Rd., Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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Breitenecker K, Hedrich V, Pupp F, Chen D, Řezníčková E, Ortmayr G, Huber H, Weber G, Balcar L, Pinter M, Mikulits W. Synergism of the receptor tyrosine kinase Axl with ErbB receptors mediates resistance to regorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1238883. [PMID: 37746265 PMCID: PMC10514905 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1238883] [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: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients at advanced stages receive immunotherapy or treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as Sorafenib (Sora) or Lenvatinib in frontline as well as Regorafenib (Rego) or Cabozantinib in second-line. A major hindrance of TKI therapies is the development of resistance, which renders drug treatment futile and results in HCC progression. Methods In this study, we addressed the impact of the receptor tyrosine kinase Axl binding to its ligand Gas6 in acquiring refractoriness to TKIs. The initial responses of Axl-positive and Axl-negative cell lines to different TKIs were assessed. Upon inducing resistance, RNA-Seq, gain- and loss-of-function studies were applied to understand and intervene with the molecular basis of refractoriness. Secretome analysis was performed to identify potential biomarkers of resistance. Results We show that HCC cells exhibiting a mesenchymal-like phenotype were less sensitive to drug treatment, linking TKI resistance to changes in epithelial plasticity. Gas6/Axl expression and activation were upregulated in Rego-resistant HCC cells together with the induction of ErbB receptors, whereas HCC cells lacking Axl failed to stimulate ErbBs. Treatment of Rego-insensitive HCC cells with the pan-ErbB family inhibitor Afatinib rather than with Erlotinib blocking ErbB1 reduced cell viability and clonogenicity. Genetic intervention with ErbB2-4 but not ErbB1 confirmed their crucial involvement in refractoriness to Rego. Furthermore, Rego-resistant HCC cells secreted basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) depending on Axl expression. HCC patients treated with Sora in first-line and with Rego in second-line displayed elevated serum levels of bFGF, emphasizing bFGF as a predictive biomarker of TKI treatment. Discussion Together, these data suggest that the inhibition of ErbBs is synthetic lethal with Rego in Axl-expressing HCC cells, showing a novel vulnerability of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Breitenecker
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Viola Hedrich
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Franziska Pupp
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Doris Chen
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Perutz Labs Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Řezníčková
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Gregor Ortmayr
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Heidemarie Huber
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard Weber
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lorenz Balcar
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Pinter
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Mikulits
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Sanchez-Martin A, Sanchon-Sanchez P, Romero MR, Marin JJG, Briz O. Impact of tumor suppressor genes inactivation on the multidrug resistance phenotype of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115209. [PMID: 37499450 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The response of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to pharmacological treatments is unsatisfactory and heterogeneous. Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) by genetic and epigenetic events is frequent in HCC. This study aimed at investigating the impact of frequently altered TSGs on HCC chemoresistance. TSG alterations were screened by in silico analysis of TCGA-LIHC database, and their relationship with survival was investigated. These TSGs were silenced in HCC-derived cell lines using CRISPR/Cas9. TLDA was used to determine the expression of a panel of 94 genes involved in the resistome. Drug sensitivity, cell proliferation, colony formation and cell migration were assessed. The in silico study revealed the down-regulation of frequently inactivated TSGs in HCC (ARID1A, PTEN, CDH1, and the target of p53, CDKN1A). The presence of TP53 and ARID1A variants and the low expression of PTEN and CDH1 correlated with a worse prognosis of HCC patients. In PLC/PRF/5 cells, ARID1A knockout (ARID1AKO) induced increased sensitivity to cisplatin, doxorubicin, and cabozantinib, without affecting other characteristics of malignancy. PTENKO and E-CadKO showed minimal changes in malignancy, resistome, and drug response. In p53KO HepG2 cells, enhanced malignant properties and higher resistance to cisplatin, doxorubicin, sorafenib, and regorafenib were found. This was associated with changes in the resistome. In conclusion, the altered expression and function of several TSGs are involved in the heterogeneity of HCC chemoresistance and other features of malignancy, contributing to the poor prognosis of these patients. Individual identification of pharmacological vulnerabilities is required to select the most appropriate treatment for each patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabel Sanchez-Martin
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Paula Sanchon-Sanchez
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta R Romero
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose J G Marin
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Oscar Briz
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
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Song A, Ding T, Wei N, Yang J, Ma M, Zheng S, Jin H. Schisandrin B induces HepG2 cells pyroptosis by activating NK cells mediated anti-tumor immunity. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2023; 472:116574. [PMID: 37271225 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Pyroptosis, an inflammatory programmed cell death, has been suggested as a novel molecular mechanism for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with chemotherapeutic agents. Recent studies showed that natural killer (NK) cells could inhibit apoptosis and regulate the progression of pyroptosis in tumor cells. Schisandrin B (Sch B), a lignan isolated from Schisandrae chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (Schisandraceae) Fructus, has various pharmacological activities including anti-cancer effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of NK cells on Sch B's regulation of pyroptosis in HCC cells and the molecular mechanisms implicated. The results showed that Sch B alone could decrease cell viability and induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells. However, Sch B induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells was transformed into pyroptosis in the presence of NK cells. The mechanisms underlying NK cell's effect on pyroptosis in Sch B-treated HepG2 cells was related to its activation of caspase 3-Gasdermin E (GSDME). Further studies revealed that NK cell induced caspase 3 activation was derived from its activation of perforin-granzyme B pathway. This study explored the effect of Sch B and NK cells on pyroptosis in HepG2 cells and revealed that perforin-granzyme B-caspase 3-GSDME pathway is involved in the process of pyroptosis. These results proposed an immunomodulatory mechanism of Sch B on HepG2 cells pyroptosis and suggested Sch B as a promising immunotherapy combination partner for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anping Song
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, China
| | - Tingting Ding
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, China
| | - Na Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, China
| | - Jieren Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, China
| | - Mingyue Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, China
| | - Shuguo Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, China; Laboratory of Pharmacology of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, China.
| | - Huanhuan Jin
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, China; Laboratory of Pharmacology of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, China.
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Bakrania A, To J, Zheng G, Bhat M. Targeting Wnt-β-Catenin Signaling Pathway for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Nanomedicine. GASTRO HEP ADVANCES 2023; 2:948-963. [PMID: 39130774 PMCID: PMC11307499 DOI: 10.1016/j.gastha.2023.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a high-fatality cancer with a 5-year survival of 22%. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway presents as one of the most upregulated pathways in HCC. However, it has so far not been targetable in the clinical setting. Therefore, studying new targets of this signaling cascade from a therapeutic aspect could enable reversal, delay, or prevention of hepatocarcinogenesis. Although enormous advancement has been achieved in HCC research and its therapeutic management, since HCC often occurs in the context of other liver diseases such as cirrhosis leading to liver dysfunction and/or impaired drug metabolism, the current therapies face the challenge of safely and effectively delivering drugs to the HCC tumor site. In this review, we discuss how a targeted nano drug delivery system could help minimize the off-target toxicities of conventional HCC therapies as well as enhance treatment efficacy. We also put forward the current challenges in HCC nanomedicine along with some potential therapeutic targets from the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway that could be used for HCC therapy. Overall, this review will provide an insight to the current advances, limitations and how HCC nanomedicine could change the landscape of some of the undruggable targets in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Bakrania
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Ajmera Transplant Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jeffrey To
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Ajmera Transplant Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gang Zheng
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mamatha Bhat
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Ajmera Transplant Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Sciences, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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30
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Asensio M, Herraez E, Macias RIR, Lozano E, Muñoz-Bellvís L, Sanchez-Vicente L, Morente-Carrasco A, Marin JJG, Briz O. Relevance of the organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B3 (OATP1B3) in the personalized pharmacological treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochem Pharmacol 2023:115681. [PMID: 37429423 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115681] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Although pharmacological treatment is the best option for most patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), its success is very limited, partly due to reduced uptake and enhanced efflux of antitumor drugs. Here we have explored the usefulness of vectorizing drugs towards the organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B3 (OATP1B3) to enhance their efficacy against HCC cells. In silico studies (RNA-Seq data, 11 cohorts) and immunohistochemistry analyses revealed a marked interindividual variability, together with general downregulation but still expression of OATP1B3 in the plasma membrane of HCC cells. The measurement of mRNA variants in 20 HCC samples showed the almost absence of the cancer-type variant (Ct-OATP1B3) together with marked predominance of the liver-type variant (Lt-OATP1B3). In Lt-OATP1B3-expressing cells, the screening of 37 chemotherapeutical drugs and 17 tyrosine kinase receptors inhibitors (TKIs) revealed that 10 classical anticancer drugs and 12 TKIs were able to inhibit Lt-OATP1B3-mediated transport. Lt-OATP1B3-expressing cells were more sensitive than Mock parental cells (transduced with empty lentiviral vectors) to some Lt-OATP1B3 substrates (paclitaxel and the bile acid-cisplatin derivative Bamet-UD2), but not to cisplatin, which is not transported by Lt-OATP1B3. This enhanced response was abolished by competition with taurocholic acid, a known Lt-OATP1B3 substrate. Tumors subcutaneously generated in immunodeficient mice by Lt-OATP1B3-expressing HCC cells were more sensitive to Bamet-UD2 than those derived from Mock cells. In conclusion, Lt-OATP1B3 expression should be screened before deciding the use of anticancer drugs substrates of this carrier in the personalized treatment of HCC. Moreover, Lt-OATP1B3-mediated uptake must be considered when designing novel anti-HCC targeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maitane Asensio
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisa Herraez
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rocio I R Macias
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisa Lozano
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Muñoz-Bellvís
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain; Service of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red del Cáncer (CIBERONC), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Sanchez-Vicente
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Ana Morente-Carrasco
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Area of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose J G Marin
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Oscar Briz
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain; Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
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Zheng Y, Gao K, Gao Q, Zhang S. Glycoproteomic contributions to hepatocellular carcinoma research: a 2023 update. Expert Rev Proteomics 2023; 20:211-220. [PMID: 37882248 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2023.2265064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a significant burden globally, which ranks sixth among the most frequently diagnosed cancers and stands as the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Glycoproteomics, as an important branch of proteomics, has already made significant achievements in the field of HCC research. Aberrant protein glycosylation has shown to promote the malignant transformation of hepatocytes by modulating a wide range of tumor-promoting signaling pathways. The glycoproteome provides valuable information for understanding cancer progression, tumor immunity, and clinical outcome, which could serve as potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic tools in HCC. AREAS COVERED In this review, recent advances of glycoproteomics contribute to clinical applications (diagnosis and prognosis) and molecular mechanisms (hepatocarcinogenesis, progression, stemness and recurrence, and drug resistance) of HCC are summarized. EXPERT OPINION Glycoproteomics shows promise in HCC, enhancing early detection, risk stratification, and personalized treatments. Challenges include sample heterogeneity, diverse glycans structures, sensitivity issues, complex workflows, limited databases, and incomplete understanding of immune cell glycosylation. Addressing these limitations requires collaborative efforts, technological advancements, standardization, and validation studies. Future research should focus on targeting abnormal protein glycosylation therapeutically. Advancements in glycobiomarkers and glycosylation-targeted therapies will greatly impact HCC diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingqi Zheng
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ke Gao
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Gao
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Hendi Z, Asadi Sarabi P, Hay D, Vosough M. XBP1 as a novel molecular target to attenuate drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:1207-1215. [PMID: 38078890 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2293746] [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: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite improvements in clinical management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), prognosis remains poor with a 5-year survival rate less than 40%. Drug resistance in HCC makes it challenging to treat; therefore, it is imperative to develop new therapeutic strategies. Higher expression of X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) in tumor cells is highly correlated with poor prognosis. In tumor cells, XBP1 modulates the unfolded protein response (UPR) to restore homeostasis in endoplasmic reticulum. Targeting XBP1 could be a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome HCC resistance and improve the survival rate of patients. AREAS COVERED This review provides the recent evidence that indicates XBP1 is involved in HCC drug resistance via DNA damage response, drug inactivation, and inhibition of apoptosis. In addition, the potential roles of XBP1 in inducing resistance in HCC cells were highlighted, and we showed how its inhibition could sensitize tumor cells to controlled cell death. EXPERT OPINION Due to the diversity in molecular mechanism of multidrug-resistance, targeting one specific pathway is inadequate. XBP1 inhibition could be a potential therapeutic target to overcome verity of resistance mechanisms. The main function of this transcription factor in HCC treatment response is an attractive area for further studies and should be discussed more.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Hendi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
- Department of Animal Biology-Cell and Developmental, Faculty of Basic Sciences and Advanced Technologies in Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pedram Asadi Sarabi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
| | - David Hay
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Massoud Vosough
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
- Experimental Cancer Medicine, Institution for Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital-Huddinge, Huddinge, Sweden
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Abid F, Khan K, Badshah Y, Ashraf NM, Shabbir M, Hamid A, Afsar T, Almajwal A, Razak S. Non-synonymous SNPs variants of PRKCG and its association with oncogenes predispose to hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:123. [PMID: 37344815 PMCID: PMC10286404 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-02965-z] [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: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND PRKCG encodes PKC γ, which is categorized under the classical protein kinase C family. No studies have specifically established the relationship between PRKCG nsSNPs with structural and functional variations in PKC γ in the context of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study aims to uncover this link through in-silico and experimental studies. METHODS The 3D structure of PKC γ was predicted. Molecular Dynamic (MD) Simulations were run and estimates were made for interactions, stability, conservation and post-translational alterations between wild and mutant structures. The association of PRKCG levels with HCC survival rate was determined. Genotyping analyses were conducted to investigate the deleterious PRKCG nsSNP association with HCC. mRNA expression of PKC γ, HIF-1 alpha, AKT, SOCS3 and VEGF in the blood of controls and HCC patients was analyzed and a genetic cascade was constructed depicting these interactions. RESULTS The expression level of studied oncogenes was compared to tumour suppressor genes. Through Alphafold, the 3D structure of PKC γ was explored. Fifteen SNPs were narrowed down for in-silico analyses that were identified in exons 5, 10 and 18 and the regulatory and kinase domain of PKC γ. Root mean square deviation and fluctuation along with the radius of gyration unveiled potential changes between the wild and mutated variant structures. Mutant genotype AA (homozygous) corresponding to nsSNP, rs386134171 had more frequency in patients with OR (2.446), RR (1.564) and P-values (< 0.0029) that highlights its significant association with HCC compared to controls in which the wild genotype GG was found more prevalent. CONCLUSION nsSNP rs386134171 can be a genetic marker for HCC diagnosis and therapeutic studies. This study has laid down a road map for future studies to be conducted on HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fizzah Abid
- Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, 44010, Pakistan
| | - Khushbukhat Khan
- Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, 44010, Pakistan
| | - Yasmin Badshah
- Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, 44010, Pakistan
| | - Naeem Mahmood Ashraf
- School of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 54590, Pakistan
| | - Maria Shabbir
- Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, 44010, Pakistan.
| | - Arslan Hamid
- LIMES Institute (AG-Netea), University of Bonn, Carl-Troll-Str. 31, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tayyaba Afsar
- Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Almajwal
- Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suhail Razak
- Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Karaś K, Karwaciak I, Chałaśkiewicz K, Sałkowska A, Pastwińska J, Bachorz RA, Ratajewski M. Anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor AT7519. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 164:115002. [PMID: 37311277 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115002] [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] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancerous tumors and one of the leading causes of death among cancer-related disorders. Chemotherapy is ineffective in HCC patients, and the number of drugs that are in use is limited. Thus, new molecules are needed that could increase the effectiveness of anti-HCC regimens. Here, we show that AT7519, a CDK inhibitor, exerts positive effects on HCC cells: it inhibits proliferation, migration and clonogenicity. Detailed analysis of the transcriptomes of cells treated with this compound indicated that AT7519 affects a substantial portion of genes that are associated with HCC development and progression. Moreover, we showed that the concomitant use of AT7519 with gefitinib or cabozantinib sensitized HCC cells to these drugs. Thus, our research indicates that AT7519 is worth considering in monotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma patients or in combination with other drugs, e.g., gefitinib or cabozantinib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaja Karaś
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodowa 106, 93-232 Lodz, Poland
| | - Iwona Karwaciak
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodowa 106, 93-232 Lodz, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Chałaśkiewicz
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodowa 106, 93-232 Lodz, Poland
| | - Anna Sałkowska
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodowa 106, 93-232 Lodz, Poland
| | - Joanna Pastwińska
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodowa 106, 93-232 Lodz, Poland
| | - Rafał A Bachorz
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodowa 106, 93-232, Lodz, Poland
| | - Marcin Ratajewski
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodowa 106, 93-232 Lodz, Poland.
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Wójcik B, Zawadzka K, Jaworski S, Kutwin M, Sosnowska M, Ostrowska A, Grodzik M, Małolepszy A, Mazurkiewicz-Pawlicka M, Wierzbicki M. Dependence of diamond nanoparticle cytotoxicity on physicochemical parameters: comparative studies of glioblastoma, breast cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Nanotoxicology 2023:1-28. [PMID: 37262345 DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2023.2218925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Reports on the cytotoxicity of diamond nanoparticles (ND) are ambiguous and depend on the physicochemical properties of the material and the tested cell lines. Thus, the aim of this research was to evaluate the influence of thirteen types of diamond nanoparticles, differing in production method, size, and surface functional groups, on their cytotoxicity against four tumor cell lines (T98G, U-118 MG, MCF-7, and Hep G2) and one non-tumor cell line (HFF-1). In order to understand the dependence of diamond nanoparticles on physicochemical properties, the following parameters were analyzed: viability, cell membrane damage, morphology, and the level of intracellular general ROS and mitochondrial superoxide. The performed analyses revealed that all diamond nanoparticles showed no toxicity to MCF-7, Hep G2, and HFF-1 cells. In contrast, the same nanomaterials were moderately toxic for the glioblastoma T98G and U-118 MG cell lines. In general, the effect of the production method did not influence ND toxicity. Some changes in cell response after treatment with modified nanomaterials were observed, with the presence of carboxyl groups having a more detrimental effect than the presence of other functional groups. Although nanoparticles of different sizes caused similar toxicity, nanomaterials with bigger particles caused a more pronounced effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Wójcik
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biology, University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Zawadzka
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biology, University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sławomir Jaworski
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biology, University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Kutwin
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biology, University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Malwina Sosnowska
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biology, University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Ostrowska
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biology, University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Grodzik
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biology, University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Artur Małolepszy
- Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Mateusz Wierzbicki
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biology, University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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Shi Y, Qiu P, Zhao K, Li X, Feng Y, Deng Z, Wang J. Identifying a novel cuproptosis-related necroptosis gene subtype-related signature for predicting the prognosis, tumor microenvironment, and immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1165243. [PMID: 37287752 PMCID: PMC10242026 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1165243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Cuproptosis and necroptosis represent two distinct programmed cell death modalities implicated in neoplastic progression; however, the role of combining cuproptosis and necroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be elucidated. Methods: A total of 29 cuproptosis-related necroptosis genes (CRNGs) were identified, followed by an extensive analysis of their mutational characteristics, expression patterns, prognostic implications, and associations with the tumor microenvironment (TME). Subsequently, a CRNG subtype-related signature was developed, and its value of prognostic prediction, TME, and therapeutic responses in HCC were thoroughly investigated. Last, quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting were employed for investigating the signature gene expression in 15 paired clinical tissue samples. Results: Two distinct CRNG subtypes were discerned, demonstrating associations between CRNG expression patterns, clinicopathological attributes, prognosis, and the TME. A CRNG subtype-related prognostic signature, subjected to external validation, was constructed, serving as an independent prognostic factor for HCC patients, indicating poor prognosis for high-risk individuals. Concurrently, the signature's correlations with an immune-suppressive TME, mutational features, stemness properties, immune checkpoint genes, chemoresistance-associated genes, and drug sensitivity were observed, signifying its utility in predicting treatment responses. Subsequently, highly accurate and clinically convenient nomograms were developed, and the signature genes were validated via quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting, further substantiating the stability and dependability of the CRNG subtype-related prognostic signature. Conclusion: Overall, this investigation presented an extensive panorama of CRNGs and developed the CRNG subtype-related prognostic signature, which holds potential for implementation in personalized treatment strategies and prognostic forecasting for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanxin Shi
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Peng Qiu
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kai Zhao
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiangyu Li
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunxiang Feng
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhengdong Deng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jianming Wang
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Affiliated Tianyou Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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37
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Zhang L, Tian H, Guo Y, Yu S, Sun J, Wang H, Zhao Y, Chen X, Shen H, Geng J, Kong G, Wang F, Li Z. A Glucose Metabolic Intervention Nanoplatform for Enhanced Chemodynamic Therapy and Sensitized Photothermal Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023. [PMID: 37200589 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c04038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Traditional treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still lack effectiveness. Recently, the combined mode of chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) has shown great potential against HCC. However, insufficient Fenton reaction rates and hyperthermia-induced heat shock responses greatly impair their efficiency, hindering their further clinical application. Here, we constructed a cascade-amplified PTT/CDT nanoplatform by coating an IR780-embedded red blood cell membrane on glucose oxidase (GOx)-loaded Fe3O4 nanoparticles for effective HCC treatment. On the one hand, the nanoplatform interfered with glucose metabolism through the action of GOx to reduce the synthesis of ATP, which reduced the expression of heat shock proteins, thereby sensitizing the IR780-mediated PTT. On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide generated during GOx catalysis and the thermal effect of PTT accelerated the Fe3O4-mediated Fenton reaction, realizing enhanced CDT. Consequently, the sensitized PTT and enhanced CDT for HCC management could be simultaneously achieved by interfering with glucose metabolism, providing an alternative strategy for the effective treatment of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Zhang
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnosis and Biotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, China
- Institute of Cancer and Immunology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, P. R. China
| | - Hongwei Tian
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnosis and Biotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, China
- Shaanxi Provincial Clinical Medical Research Center for Liver and Spleen Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, P. R. China
| | - Ying Guo
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnosis and Biotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, China
- Shaanxi Provincial Clinical Medical Research Center for Liver and Spleen Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, P. R. China
| | - Shuo Yu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, China
| | - Jin Sun
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnosis and Biotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, China
- Shaanxi Provincial Clinical Medical Research Center for Liver and Spleen Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, P. R. China
| | - Hong Wang
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnosis and Biotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, China
- Institute of Cancer and Immunology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, P. R. China
| | - Yang Zhao
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnosis and Biotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, China
- Shaanxi Provincial Clinical Medical Research Center for Liver and Spleen Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, P. R. China
| | - Xi Chen
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnosis and Biotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, China
- Institute of Cancer and Immunology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, P. R. China
| | - Huan Shen
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnosis and Biotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, China
- Institute of Cancer and Immunology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, P. R. China
| | - Jing Geng
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnosis and Biotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, China
| | - Guangyao Kong
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnosis and Biotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, China
| | - Fu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, P. R. China
| | - Zongfang Li
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnosis and Biotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, China
- Shaanxi Provincial Clinical Medical Research Center for Liver and Spleen Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, P. R. China
- Institute of Cancer and Immunology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, P. R. China
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Papadakos SP, Arvanitakis K, Stergiou IE, Lekakis V, Davakis S, Christodoulou MI, Germanidis G, Theocharis S. The Role of TLR4 in the Immunotherapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Can We Teach an Old Dog New Tricks? Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2795. [PMID: 37345131 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15102795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer and is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Immunotherapy has emerged as the mainstay treatment option for unresectable HCC. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays a crucial role in the innate immune response by recognizing and responding primarily to bacterial lipopolysaccharides. In addition to its role in the innate immune system, TLR4 has also been implicated in adaptive immunity, including specific anti-tumor immune responses. In particular, the TLR4 signaling pathway seems to be involved in the regulation of several cancer hallmarks, such as the continuous activation of cellular pathways that promote cell division and growth, the inhibition of programmed cell death, the promotion of several invasion and metastatic mechanisms, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, drug resistance, and epigenetic modifications. Emerging evidence further suggests that TLR4 signaling holds promise as a potential immunotherapeutic target in HCC. The aim of this review was to explore the multilayer aspects of the TLR4 signaling pathway, regarding its role in liver diseases and HCC, as well as its potential utilization as an immunotherapy target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavros P Papadakos
- First Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Arvanitakis
- First Department of Internal Medicine, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Basic and Translational Research Unit (BTRU), Special Unit for Biomedical Research and Education (BRESU), Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ioanna E Stergiou
- Pathophysiology Department, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Vasileios Lekakis
- Department of Gastroenterology, Laiko General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Spyridon Davakis
- First Department of Surgery, Laiko General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Maria-Ioanna Christodoulou
- Tumor Immunology and Biomarkers Laboratory, Basic and Translational Cancer Research Center, Department of Life Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus
| | - Georgios Germanidis
- First Department of Internal Medicine, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Basic and Translational Research Unit (BTRU), Special Unit for Biomedical Research and Education (BRESU), Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stamatios Theocharis
- First Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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Strobl M, Martin AL, West J, Gallaher J, Robertson-Tessi M, Gatenby R, Wenham R, Maini P, Damaghi M, Anderson A. Adaptive therapy for ovarian cancer: An integrated approach to PARP inhibitor scheduling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.22.533721. [PMID: 36993591 PMCID: PMC10055330 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.22.533721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Toxicity and emerging drug resistance are important challenges in PARP inhibitor (PARPi) treatment of ovarian cancer. Recent research has shown that evolutionary-inspired treatment algorithms which adapt treatment to the tumor's treatment response (adaptive therapy) can help to mitigate both. Here, we present a first step in developing an adaptive therapy protocol for PARPi treatment by combining mathematical modelling and wet-lab experiments to characterize the cell population dynamics under different PARPi schedules. Using data from in vitro Incucyte Zoom time-lapse microscopy experiments and a step-wise model selection process we derive a calibrated and validated ordinary differential equation model, which we then use to test different plausible adaptive treatment schedules. Our model can accurately predict the in vitro treatment dynamics, even to new schedules, and suggests that treatment modifications need to be carefully timed, or one risks losing control over tumour growth, even in the absence of any resistance. This is because our model predicts that multiple rounds of cell division are required for cells to acquire sufficient DNA damage to induce apoptosis. As a result, adaptive therapy algorithms that modulate treatment but never completely withdraw it are predicted to perform better in this setting than strategies based on treatment interruptions. Pilot experiments in vivo confirm this conclusion. Overall, this study contributes to a better understanding of the impact of scheduling on treatment outcome for PARPis and showcases some of the challenges involved in developing adaptive therapies for new treatment settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Strobl
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Alexandra L. Martin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, West Cancer Center and Research Institute, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jeffrey West
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jill Gallaher
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Mark Robertson-Tessi
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Robert Gatenby
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
- Cancer Biology and Evolution Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Robert Wenham
- Gynecologic Oncology Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Philip Maini
- Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Mehdi Damaghi
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook Medicine, SUNY, NY, USA
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook Medicine, SUNY, NY, USA
| | - Alexander Anderson
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
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40
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Seydi H, Nouri K, Rezaei N, Tamimi A, Hassan M, Mirzaei H, Vosough M. Autophagy orchestrates resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 161:114487. [PMID: 36963361 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114487] [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] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment resistance is one of the major barriers for therapeutic strategies in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Many studies have indicated that chemotherapy and radiotherapy induce autophagy machinery (cell protective autophagy) in HCC cells. In addition, many experiments report a remarkable crosstalk between treatment resistance and autophagy pathways. Thus, autophagy could be one of the key factors enabling tumor cells to hinder induced cell death after medical interventions. Therefore, extensive research on the molecular pathways involved in resistance induction and autophagy have been conducted to achieve the desired therapeutic response. The key molecular pathways related to the therapy resistance are TGF-β, MAPK, NRF2, NF-κB, and non-coding RNAs. In addition, EMT, drug transports, apoptosis evasion, DNA repair, cancer stem cells, and hypoxia could have considerable impact on the hepatoma cell's response to therapies. These mechanisms protect tumor cells against various treatments and many studies have shown that each of them is connected to the molecular pathways of autophagy induction in HCC. Hence, autophagy inhibition may be an effective strategy to improve therapeutic outcome in HCC patients. In this review, we further highlight how autophagy leads to poor response during treatment through a complex molecular network and how it enhances resistance in primary liver cancer. We propose that combinational regimens of approved HCC therapeutic protocols plus autophagy inhibitors may overcome drug resistance in HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Homeyra Seydi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Kosar Nouri
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Niloufar Rezaei
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran; Department of Biotechnology, School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Atena Tamimi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Moustapha Hassan
- Experimental Cancer Medicine, Institution for Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hamed Mirzaei
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Islamic Republic of Iran.
| | - Massoud Vosough
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran; Experimental Cancer Medicine, Institution for Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
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41
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Samavarchi Tehrani S, Esmaeili F, Shirzad M, Goodarzi G, Yousefi T, Maniati M, Taheri-Anganeh M, Anushiravani A. The critical role of circular RNAs in drug resistance in gastrointestinal cancers. Med Oncol 2023; 40:116. [PMID: 36917431 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-01980-4] [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: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, drug resistance (DR) in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, as the main reason for cancer-related mortality worldwide, has become a serious problem in the management of patients. Several mechanisms have been proposed for resistance to anticancer drugs, including altered transport and metabolism of drugs, mutation of drug targets, altered DNA repair system, inhibited apoptosis and autophagy, cancer stem cells, tumor heterogeneity, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Compelling evidence has revealed that genetic and epigenetic factors are strongly linked to DR. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) interferences are the most crucial epigenetic alterations explored so far, and among these ncRNAs, circular RNAs (circRNAs) are the most emerging members known to have unique properties. Due to the absence of 5' and 3' ends in these novel RNAs, the two ends are covalently bonded together and are generated from pre-mRNA in a process known as back-splicing, which makes them more stable than other RNAs. As far as the unique structure and function of circRNAs is concerned, they are implicated in proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, and DR. A clear understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for circRNAs-mediated DR in the GI cancers will open a new window to the management of GI cancers. Hence, in the present review, we will describe briefly the biogenesis, multiple features, and different biological functions of circRNAs. Then, we will summarize current mechanisms of DR, and finally, discuss molecular mechanisms through which circRNAs regulate DR development in esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadra Samavarchi Tehrani
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fataneh Esmaeili
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Moein Shirzad
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Golnaz Goodarzi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Tooba Yousefi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmood Maniati
- Department of English, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mortaza Taheri-Anganeh
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
| | - Amir Anushiravani
- Digestive Disease Research Center, Digestive Disease Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Huang PS, Wang LY, Wang YW, Tsai MM, Lin TK, Liao CJ, Yeh CT, Lin KH. Evaluation and Application of Drug Resistance by Biomarkers in the Clinical Treatment of Liver Cancer. Cells 2023; 12:cells12060869. [PMID: 36980210 PMCID: PMC10047572 DOI: 10.3390/cells12060869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most lethal cancers in the world, mainly owing to the lack of effective means for early monitoring and treatment. Accordingly, there is considerable research interest in various clinically applicable methods for addressing these unmet needs. At present, the most commonly used biomarker for the early diagnosis of liver cancer is alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), but AFP is sensitive to interference from other factors and cannot really be used as the basis for determining liver cancer. Treatment options in addition to liver surgery (resection, transplantation) include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. However, even more expensive targeted drug therapies have a limited impact on the clinical outcome of liver cancer. One of the big reasons is the rapid emergence of drug resistance. Therefore, in addition to finding effective biomarkers for early diagnosis, an important focus of current discussions is on how to effectively adjust and select drug strategies and guidelines for the treatment of liver cancer patients. In this review, we bring this thought process to the drug resistance problem faced by different treatment strategies, approaching it from the perspective of gene expression and molecular biology and the possibility of finding effective solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Shuan Huang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; (P.-S.H.); (C.-J.L.)
| | - Ling-Yu Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Wen Wang
- School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
| | - Ming-Ming Tsai
- Department of Nursing, Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Department of General Surgery, New Taipei Municipal Tu Cheng Hospital, New Taipei 236, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Kang Lin
- Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 24205, Taiwan;
- Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, New Taipei City 24352, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Jung Liao
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; (P.-S.H.); (C.-J.L.)
| | - Chau-Ting Yeh
- Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
| | - Kwang-Huei Lin
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; (P.-S.H.); (C.-J.L.)
- Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +886-3-2118263
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Raina K, Forbes CD, Stronk R, Rappi JP, Eastman KJ, Gerritz SW, Yu X, Li H, Bhardwaj A, Forgione M, Hundt A, King MP, Posner ZM, Denny A, McGovern A, Puleo DE, Garvin E, Chenard R, Zaware N, Mousseau JJ, Macaluso J, Martin M, Bassoli K, Jones K, Garcia M, Howard K, Smith LM, Chen JM, De Leon CA, Hines J, Kayser-Bricker KJ, Crews CM. Regulated Induced Proximity Targeting Chimeras (RIPTACs): a Novel Heterobifunctional Small Molecule Therapeutic Strategy for Killing Cancer Cells Selectively. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.01.522436. [PMID: 36711980 PMCID: PMC9881854 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.01.522436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
While specific cell signaling pathway inhibitors have yielded great success in oncology, directly triggering cancer cell death is one of the great drug discovery challenges facing biomedical research in the era of precision oncology. Attempts to eradicate cancer cells expressing unique target proteins, such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), T-cell engaging therapies, and radiopharmaceuticals have been successful in the clinic, but they are limited by the number of targets given the inability to target intracellular proteins. More recently, heterobifunctional small molecules such as Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTACs) have paved the way for protein proximity inducing therapeutic modalities. Here, we describe a proof-of-concept study using novel heterobifunctional small molecules called Regulated Induced Proximity Targeting Chimeras or RIPTACs, which elicit a stable ternary complex between a target protein selectively expressed in cancer tissue and a pan-expressed protein essential for cell survival. The resulting cooperative protein:protein interaction (PPI) abrogates the function of the essential protein, thus leading to cell death selectively in cells expressing the target protein. This approach not only opens new target space by leveraging differentially expressed intracellular proteins but also has the advantage of not requiring the target to be a driver of disease. Thus, RIPTACs can address non-target mechanisms of resistance given that cell killing is driven by inactivation of the essential protein. Using the HaloTag7-FKBP model system as a target protein, we describe RIPTACs that incorporate a covalent or non-covalent target ligand connected via a linker to effector ligands such as JQ1 (BRD4), BI2536 (PLK1), or multi-CDK inhibitors such as TMX3013 or dinaciclib. We show that these RIPTACs exhibit positive co-operativity, accumulate selectively in cells expressing HaloTag7-FKBP, form stable target:RIPTAC:effector trimers in cells, and induce an anti-proliferative response in target-expressing cells. We propose that RIPTACs are a novel heterobifunctional therapeutic modality to treat cancers that are known to selectively express a specific intracellular protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanak Raina
- co-corresponding authors
- Halda Therapeutics OpCo Inc, New Haven CT USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Xinheng Yu
- Halda Therapeutics OpCo Inc, New Haven CT USA
| | - Hao Li
- Halda Therapeutics OpCo Inc, New Haven CT USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kelli Jones
- Halda Therapeutics OpCo Inc, New Haven CT USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Cesar A De Leon
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology, Yale University New Haven CT USA
| | - John Hines
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology, Yale University New Haven CT USA
| | | | - Craig M Crews
- co-corresponding authors
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology, Yale University New Haven CT USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University New Haven CT USA
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University New Haven CT USA
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Kurma K, Zeybek Kuyucu A, Roth GS, Sturm N, Mercey-Ressejac M, Abbadessa G, Yu Y, Lerat H, Marche PN, Decaens T, Macek Jilkova Z. Effect of Novel AKT Inhibitor Vevorisertib as Single Agent and in Combination with Sorafenib on Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Cirrhotic Rat Model. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232416206. [PMID: 36555845 PMCID: PMC9784348 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232416206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The AKT pathway is often activated in HCC cases, and a longer exposure to tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as sorafenib may lead to over-activation of the AKT pathway, leading to HCC resistance. Here, we studied the efficacy of a new generation of allosteric AKT inhibitor, vevorisertib, alone or in combination with sorafenib. To identify specific adverse effects related to the background of cirrhosis, we used a diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced cirrhotic rat model. Vevorisertib was tested in vitro on Hep3B, HepG2, HuH7 and PLC/PRF cell lines. Rats were treated weekly with intra-peritoneal injections of DEN for 14 weeks to obtain cirrhosis with fully developed HCC. After that, rats were randomized into four groups (n = 7/group): control, sorafenib, vevorisertib and the combination of vevorisertib + sorafenib, and treated for 6 weeks. Tumor progression was followed by MRI. We demonstrated that the vevorisertib is a highly potent treatment, blocking the phosphorylation of AKT. The tumor progression in the rat liver was significantly reduced by treatment with vevorisertib + sorafenib (49.4%) compared to the control group (158.8%, p < 0.0001). Tumor size, tumor number and tumor cell proliferation were significantly reduced in both the vevorisertib group and vevorisertib + sorafenib groups compared to the control group. Sirius red staining showed an improvement in liver fibrosis by vevorisertib and the combination treatment. Moreover, vevorisertib + sorafenib treatment was associated with a normalization in the liver vasculature. Altogether, vevorisertib as a single agent and its combination with sorafenib exerted a strong suppression of tumor progression and improved liver fibrosis. Thus, results provide a rationale for testing vevorisertib in clinical settings and confirm the importance of targeting AKT in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keerthi Kurma
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, 38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Ayca Zeybek Kuyucu
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, 38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Gaël S. Roth
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, 38700 Grenoble, France
- Hepato-Gastroenterology and Digestive Oncology Department, CHU Grenoble Alpes, 38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Nathalie Sturm
- Pathology and Cytology Department, CHU Grenoble Alpes, 38700 Grenoble, France
- T-RAIG, TIMC, University Grenoble-Alpes/CNRS UMR5525, 38700 La Tronche, France
| | - Marion Mercey-Ressejac
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, 38700 Grenoble, France
- Hepato-Gastroenterology and Digestive Oncology Department, CHU Grenoble Alpes, 38700 Grenoble, France
| | | | - Yi Yu
- ArQule Inc., Burlington, MA 01803, USA
| | - Herve Lerat
- Unité Mixte de Service hTAG, Grenoble Alpes University, Inserm US046, CNRS UAR2019, 38700 La Tronche, France
| | - Patrice N. Marche
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, 38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Thomas Decaens
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, 38700 Grenoble, France
- Hepato-Gastroenterology and Digestive Oncology Department, CHU Grenoble Alpes, 38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Zuzana Macek Jilkova
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, 38700 Grenoble, France
- Hepato-Gastroenterology and Digestive Oncology Department, CHU Grenoble Alpes, 38700 Grenoble, France
- Correspondence:
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Resistance to Antiangiogenic Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Impact. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14246245. [PMID: 36551730 PMCID: PMC9776845 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246245] [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: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Antiangiogenic drugs were the only mainstay of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment from 2007 to 2017. However, primary or secondary resistance hampered their efficacy. Primary resistance could be due to different molecular and/or genetic characteristics of HCC and their knowledge would clarify the optimal treatment approach in each patient. Several molecular mechanisms responsible for secondary resistance have been discovered over the last few years; they represent potential targets for new specific drugs. In this light, the advent of checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has been a new opportunity; however, their use has highlighted other issues: the vascular normalization compared to a vessel pruning to promote the delivery of an active cancer immunotherapy and the development of resistance to immunotherapy which leads to a better selection of patients as candidates for ICIs. Nevertheless, the combination of antiangiogenic therapy plus ICIs represents an intriguing approach with high potential to improve the survival of these patients. Waiting for results from ongoing clinical trials, this review depicts the current knowledge about the resistance to antiangiogenic drugs in HCC. It could also provide updated information to clinicians focusing on the most effective combinations or sequential approaches in this regard, based on molecular mechanisms.
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Cornel AM, Dunnebach E, Hofman DA, Das S, Sengupta S, van den Ham F, Wienke J, Strijker JGM, van den Beemt DAMH, Essing AHW, Koopmans B, Engels SAG, Lo Presti V, Szanto CS, George RE, Molenaar JJ, van Heesch S, Dierselhuis MP, Nierkens S. Epigenetic modulation of neuroblastoma enhances T cell and NK cell immunogenicity by inducing a tumor-cell lineage switch. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2022-005002. [PMID: 36521927 PMCID: PMC9756225 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunotherapy in high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NBL) does not live up to its full potential due to inadequate (adaptive) immune engagement caused by the extensive immunomodulatory capacity of HR-NBL. We aimed to tackle one of the most notable immunomodulatory processes in neuroblastoma (NBL), absence of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) surface expression, a process greatly limiting cytotoxic T cell engagement. We and others have previously shown that MHC-I expression can be induced by cytokine-driven immune modulation. Here, we aimed to identify tolerable pharmacological repurposing strategies to upregulate MHC-I expression and therewith enhance T cell immunogenicity in NBL. METHODS Drug repurposing libraries were screened to identify compounds enhancing MHC-I surface expression in NBL cells using high-throughput flow cytometry analyses optimized for adherent cells. The effect of positive hits was confirmed in a panel of NBL cell lines and patient-derived organoids. Compound-treated NBL cell lines and organoids were cocultured with preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma (PRAME)-reactive tumor-specific T cells and healthy-donor natural killer (NK) cells to determine the in vitro effect on T cell and NK cell cytotoxicity. Additional immunomodulatory effects of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) were identified by transcriptome and translatome analysis of treated organoids. RESULTS Drug library screening revealed MHC-I upregulation by inhibitor of apoptosis inhibitor (IAPi)- and HDACi drug classes. The effect of IAPi was limited due to repression of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) pathway activity in NBL, while the MHC-I-modulating effect of HDACi was widely translatable to a panel of NBL cell lines and patient-derived organoids. Pretreatment of NBL cells with the HDACi entinostat enhanced the cytotoxic capacity of tumor-specific T cells against NBL in vitro, which coincided with increased expression of additional players regulating T cell cytotoxicity (eg, TAP1/2 and immunoproteasome subunits). Moreover, MICA and MICB, important in NK cell cytotoxicity, were also increased by entinostat exposure. Intriguingly, this increase in immunogenicity was accompanied by a shift toward a more mesenchymal NBL cell lineage. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates the potential of combining (immuno)therapy with HDACi to enhance both T cell-driven and NKcell-driven immune responses in patients with HR-NBL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelisa M Cornel
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands,Center for Translational Immunology, Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ester Dunnebach
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands,Center for Translational Immunology, Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Damon A Hofman
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sanjukta Das
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Satyaki Sengupta
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Femke van den Ham
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Judith Wienke
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Denise A M H van den Beemt
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands,Center for Translational Immunology, Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anke H W Essing
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bianca Koopmans
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sem A G Engels
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Vania Lo Presti
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands,Center for Translational Immunology, Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Celina S Szanto
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rani E George
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jan J Molenaar
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - S Nierkens
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands,Center for Translational Immunology, Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Zhang J, Xun M, Li C, Chen Y. The O-GlcNAcylation and its promotion to hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188806. [PMID: 36152903 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
O-GlcNAcylation is a posttranslational modification that attaches O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to the serine and threonine residues of proteins. Such a glycosylation would alter the activities, stabilities, and interactions of target proteins that are functional in a wide range of biological processes and diseases. Accumulating evidence indicates that O-GlcNAcylation is tightly associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in its onset, growth, invasion and metastasis, drug resistance, and stemness. Here we summarize the discoveries of the role of O-GlcNAcylation in HCC and its function mechanism, aiming to deepen our understanding of HCC pathology, generate more biomarkers for its diagnosis and prognosis, and offer novel molecular targets for its treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhang
- Institute of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, University of South China, Hengyang 410001, China
| | - Min Xun
- Institute of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, University of South China, Hengyang 410001, China
| | - Chaojie Li
- Institute of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, University of South China, Hengyang 410001, China
| | - Yuping Chen
- Institute of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, University of South China, Hengyang 410001, China.
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48
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Barot S, Stephenson OJ, Priya Vemana H, Yadav A, Bhutkar S, Trombetta LD, Dukhande VV. Metabolic alterations and mitochondrial dysfunction underlie hepatocellular carcinoma cell death induced by a glycogen metabolic inhibitor. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 203:115201. [PMID: 35926650 PMCID: PMC10039449 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. There is an urgent need for new targets to treat HCC due to limited treatment options and drug resistance. Many cancer cells are known to have high amount of glycogen than their tissue of origin and inhibition of glycogen catabolism induces cancer cell death by apoptosis. To further understand the role of glycogen in HCC and target it for pharmacotherapy, we studied metabolic adaptations and mitochondrial function in HepG2 cells after pharmacological inhibition of glycogen phosphorylase (GP) by CP-91149 (CP). GP inhibition increased the glycogen levels in HepG2 cells without affecting overall glucose uptake. Glycolytic capacity and importantly glycolytic reserve decreased significantly. Electron microscopy revealed that CP treatment altered mitochondrial morphology leading to mitochondrial swelling with less defined cristae. A concomitant decrease in mitochondrial oxygen consumption and mitochondria-linked ATP generation was observed. Metabolomics and enzyme activity / expression studies showed a decrease in the pentose phosphate pathway. In addition, CP treatment decreased the growth of HepG2 3D tumor spheroids in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Taken together, our study provides insights into metabolic alterations and mitochondrial dysfunction accompanying apoptosis in HepG2 cells upon GP inhibition. Our study can aid in the understanding of the mechanism and development of metabolic inhibitors to treat HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shrikant Barot
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | - Olivia J Stephenson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | - Hari Priya Vemana
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | - Anjali Yadav
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | - Shraddha Bhutkar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | - Louis D Trombetta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | - Vikas V Dukhande
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA.
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CircFMN2 Boosts Sorafenib Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells via Upregulating CNBP by Restraining Ubiquitination. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:2674163. [PMID: 35909906 PMCID: PMC9334069 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2674163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Noncoding RNAs exert critical biological effects in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The role of circFMN2, a newly discovered functional RNA in prostate cancer and colorectal cancer, was investigated for the first time in sorafenib-resistance HCC cells. Methods The level of circFMN2 was assessed via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Cell proliferation was detected via CCK-8 and colony formation assay. Cell apoptosis was measured via the TUNEL assay and flow cytometry analysis. A Western blot assay was conducted to detect the CCHC-type zinc finger nucleic acid binding protein (CNBP) level and ubiquitination. RNA pull-down assay and RNA immunoprecipitation were carried out to explore the interaction between circFMN2 and CNBP. Results CircFMN2 was highly expressed in multidrug-resistant (MDR) cells. CircFMN2 overexpression exerted pro-proliferation effects in sorafenib-treated HCC cells, while depletion of circFMN2 displayed negative effect on sorafenib-treated MDR cells. Moreover, CNBP was verified as the binding protein of circFMN2. CNBP was upregulated in MDR cells, which was achieved by inhibition of ubiquitination by circFMN2. Besides, CNBP overexpression was found to boost sorafenib resistance in HCC cells. Conclusions CircFMN2 is aberrantly expressed in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells and contributes to sorafenib resistance in HCC cells via upregulation of CNBP by restraining ubiquitination.
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50
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Marin JJG, Monte MJ, Macias RIR, Romero MR, Herraez E, Asensio M, Ortiz-Rivero S, Cives-Losada C, Di Giacomo S, Gonzalez-Gallego J, Mauriz JL, Efferth T, Briz O. Expression of Chemoresistance-Associated ABC Proteins in Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic and Gastrointestinal Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14143524. [PMID: 35884584 PMCID: PMC9320734 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14143524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary One-third of the approximately 10 million deaths yearly caused by cancer worldwide are due to hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and gastrointestinal tumors. One primary reason for this high mortality is the lack of response of these cancers to pharmacological treatment. More than 100 genes have been identified as responsible for seven mechanisms of chemoresistance, but only a few of them play a critical role. These include ABC proteins (mainly MDR1, MRP1-6, and BCRP), whose expression pattern greatly determines the individual sensitivity of each tumor to pharmacotherapy. Abstract Hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and gastrointestinal cancers account for 36% of the ten million deaths caused by cancer worldwide every year. The two main reasons for this high mortality are their late diagnosis and their high refractoriness to pharmacological treatments, regardless of whether these are based on classical chemotherapeutic agents, targeted drugs, or newer immunomodulators. Mechanisms of chemoresistance (MOC) defining the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype of each tumor depend on the synergic function of proteins encoded by more than one hundred genes classified into seven groups (MOC1-7). Among them, the efflux of active agents from cancer cells across the plasma membrane caused by members of the superfamily of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) proteins (MOC-1b) plays a crucial role in determining tumor MDR. Although seven families of human ABC proteins are known, only a few pumps (mainly MDR1, MRP1-6, and BCRP) have been associated with reducing drug content and hence inducing chemoresistance in hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and gastrointestinal cancer cells. The present descriptive review, which compiles the updated information on the expression of these ABC proteins, will be helpful because there is still some confusion on the actual relevance of these pumps in response to pharmacological regimens currently used in treating these cancers. Moreover, we aim to define the MOC pattern on a tumor-by-tumor basis, even in a dynamic way, because it can vary during tumor progression and in response to chemotherapy. This information is indispensable for developing novel strategies for sensitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose J. G. Marin
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM) Group, University of Salamanca, IBSAL, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.J.M.); (R.I.R.M.); (M.R.R.); (E.H.); (M.A.); (S.O.-R.); (C.C.-L.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-G.); (J.L.M.)
- Correspondence: (J.J.G.M.); (O.B.); Tel.: +34-663182872 (J.J.G.M.); +34-663056225 (O.B.)
| | - Maria J. Monte
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM) Group, University of Salamanca, IBSAL, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.J.M.); (R.I.R.M.); (M.R.R.); (E.H.); (M.A.); (S.O.-R.); (C.C.-L.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-G.); (J.L.M.)
| | - Rocio I. R. Macias
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM) Group, University of Salamanca, IBSAL, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.J.M.); (R.I.R.M.); (M.R.R.); (E.H.); (M.A.); (S.O.-R.); (C.C.-L.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-G.); (J.L.M.)
| | - Marta R. Romero
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM) Group, University of Salamanca, IBSAL, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.J.M.); (R.I.R.M.); (M.R.R.); (E.H.); (M.A.); (S.O.-R.); (C.C.-L.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-G.); (J.L.M.)
| | - Elisa Herraez
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM) Group, University of Salamanca, IBSAL, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.J.M.); (R.I.R.M.); (M.R.R.); (E.H.); (M.A.); (S.O.-R.); (C.C.-L.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-G.); (J.L.M.)
| | - Maitane Asensio
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM) Group, University of Salamanca, IBSAL, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.J.M.); (R.I.R.M.); (M.R.R.); (E.H.); (M.A.); (S.O.-R.); (C.C.-L.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-G.); (J.L.M.)
| | - Sara Ortiz-Rivero
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM) Group, University of Salamanca, IBSAL, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.J.M.); (R.I.R.M.); (M.R.R.); (E.H.); (M.A.); (S.O.-R.); (C.C.-L.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-G.); (J.L.M.)
| | - Candela Cives-Losada
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM) Group, University of Salamanca, IBSAL, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.J.M.); (R.I.R.M.); (M.R.R.); (E.H.); (M.A.); (S.O.-R.); (C.C.-L.)
| | - Silvia Di Giacomo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “Vittorio Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Javier Gonzalez-Gallego
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-G.); (J.L.M.)
- Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of León, Campus of Vegazana s/n, 24071 Leon, Spain
| | - Jose L. Mauriz
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-G.); (J.L.M.)
- Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of León, Campus of Vegazana s/n, 24071 Leon, Spain
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Oscar Briz
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM) Group, University of Salamanca, IBSAL, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.J.M.); (R.I.R.M.); (M.R.R.); (E.H.); (M.A.); (S.O.-R.); (C.C.-L.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-G.); (J.L.M.)
- Correspondence: (J.J.G.M.); (O.B.); Tel.: +34-663182872 (J.J.G.M.); +34-663056225 (O.B.)
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