1
|
Brinker EJ, Hardcastle MR, Dittmer KE, Graff EC. Endocrine fibroblast growth factors in domestic animals. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2024; 89:106872. [PMID: 39059301 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2024.106872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a group of structurally homologous yet functionally pleiotropic proteins. Canonical and intracellular FGFs have primarily autocrine or paracrine effects. However, the FGF19 subfamily, composed of FGF15/19, FGF21, and FGF23, act as endocrine hormones that regulate bile acid, metabolic, and phosphorus homeostasis, respectively. Current research in human and rodent models demonstrates the potential of these endocrine FGFs to target various diseases, including disorders of inherited hypophosphatemia, chronic liver disease, obesity, and insulin resistance. Many diseases targeted for therapeutic use in humans have pathophysiological overlaps in domestic animals. Despite the potential clinical and economic impact, little is known about endocrine FGFs and their signaling pathways in major domestic animal species compared with humans and laboratory animals. This review aims to describe the physiology of these endocrine FGFs, discuss their current therapeutic use, and summarize the contemporary literature regarding endocrine FGFs in domestic animals, focusing on potential future directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Brinker
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, 166 Greene Hall, Auburn University, AL, USA 36849; Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA, USA 01536
| | - Michael R Hardcastle
- IDEXX Laboratories Pty. Ltd., 20A Maui Street, Pukete, Hamilton 3200, New Zealand
| | - Keren E Dittmer
- School of Veterinary Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Emily C Graff
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, 166 Greene Hall, Auburn University, AL, USA 36849; Scott-Ritchey Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Auburn University, 1265 HC Morgan, AL, USA 36849.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Amadeo E, Foti S, Camera S, Rossari F, Persano M, Lo Prinzi F, Vitiello F, Casadei-Gardini A, Rimini M. Developing targeted therapeutics for hepatocellular carcinoma: a critical assessment of promising phase II agents. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2024; 33:839-849. [PMID: 39039690 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2024.2377321] [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: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the first for primary liver tumors. In recent years greater therapeutic advancement was represented by employment of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) either in monotherapy or in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). AREAS COVERED Major attention was given to target therapies in the last couple of years, especially in those currently under phase II trials. Priority was given either to combinations of novel ICI and TKIs or those targeting alternative mutations of major carcinogenic pathways. EXPERT OPINION As TKIs are playing a more crucial role in HCC therapeutic strategies, it is fundamental to further expand molecular testing and monitoring of acquired resistances. Despite the recent advancement in both laboratory and clinical studies, further research is necessary to face the discrepancy in clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Amadeo
- Department of Oncology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 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
| | - 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
| | - Mara Persano
- Medical Oncology, University and University Hospital of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Federica Lo Prinzi
- Operative Research Unit of Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Vitiello
- Department of Oncology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute Hospital, Milan, 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
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ghanem M, Archer G, Crestani B, Mailleux AA. The endocrine FGFs axis: A systemic anti-fibrotic response that could prevent pulmonary fibrogenesis? Pharmacol Ther 2024; 259:108669. [PMID: 38795981 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2024.108669] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal disease for which therapeutic options are limited, with an unmet need to identify new therapeutic targets. IPF is thought to be the consequence of repeated microlesions of the alveolar epithelium, leading to aberrant epithelial-mesenchymal communication and the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins. The reactivation of developmental pathways, such as Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs), is a well-described mechanism during lung fibrogenesis. Secreted FGFs with local paracrine effects can either exert an anti-fibrotic or a pro-fibrotic action during this pathological process through their FGF receptors (FGFRs) and heparan sulfate residues as co-receptors. Among FGFs, endocrine FGFs (FGF29, FGF21, and FGF23) play a central role in the control of metabolism and tissue homeostasis. They are characterized by a low affinity for heparan sulfate, present in the cell vicinity, allowing them to have endocrine activity. Nevertheless, their interaction with FGFRs requires the presence of mandatory co-receptors, alpha and beta Klotho proteins (KLA and KLB). Endocrine FGFs are of growing interest for their anti-fibrotic action during liver, kidney, or myocardial fibrosis. Innovative therapies based on FGF19 or FGF21 analogs are currently being studied in humans during liver fibrosis. Recent data report a similar anti-fibrotic action of endocrine FGFs in the lung, suggesting a systemic regulation of the pulmonary fibrotic process. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the protective effect of endocrine FGFs during the fibrotic processes, with a focus on pulmonary fibrosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mada Ghanem
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Physiopathologie et Épidémiologie des Maladies Respiratoires, F-75018 Paris, France
| | - Gabrielle Archer
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Physiopathologie et Épidémiologie des Maladies Respiratoires, F-75018 Paris, France
| | - Bruno Crestani
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Physiopathologie et Épidémiologie des Maladies Respiratoires, F-75018 Paris, France; Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat, Service de Pneumologie A, FHU APOLLO, Paris, France
| | - Arnaud A Mailleux
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Physiopathologie et Épidémiologie des Maladies Respiratoires, F-75018 Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Shen L, Li Y, Zhao H. Fibroblast growth factor signaling in macrophage polarization: impact on health and diseases. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1390453. [PMID: 38962005 PMCID: PMC11219802 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1390453] [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: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a versatile family of peptide growth factors that are involved in various biological functions, including cell growth and differentiation, embryonic development, angiogenesis, and metabolism. Abnormal FGF/FGF receptor (FGFR) signaling has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple diseases such as cancer, metabolic diseases, and inflammatory diseases. It is worth noting that macrophage polarization, which involves distinct functional phenotypes, plays a crucial role in tissue repair, homeostasis maintenance, and immune responses. Recent evidence suggests that FGF/FGFR signaling closely participates in the polarization of macrophages, indicating that they could be potential targets for therapeutic manipulation of diseases associated with dysfunctional macrophages. In this article, we provide an overview of the structure, function, and downstream regulatory pathways of FGFs, as well as crosstalk between FGF signaling and macrophage polarization. Additionally, we summarize the potential application of harnessing FGF signaling to modulate macrophage polarization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luyao Shen
- The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children’s Hospital/The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yongsheng Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children’s Hospital/The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Huakan Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Xue Y, Ruan Y, Wang Y, Xiao P, Xu J. Signaling pathways in liver cancer: pathogenesis and targeted therapy. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2024; 5:20. [PMID: 38816668 PMCID: PMC11139849 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-024-00184-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer remains one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide with high incidence and mortality rates. Due to its subtle onset, liver cancer is commonly diagnosed at a late stage when surgical interventions are no longer feasible. This situation highlights the critical role of systemic treatments, including targeted therapies, in bettering patient outcomes. Despite numerous studies on the mechanisms underlying liver cancer, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the only widely used clinical inhibitors, represented by sorafenib, whose clinical application is greatly limited by the phenomenon of drug resistance. Here we show an in-depth discussion of the signaling pathways frequently implicated in liver cancer pathogenesis and the inhibitors targeting these pathways under investigation or already in use in the management of advanced liver cancer. We elucidate the oncogenic roles of these pathways in liver cancer especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as well as the current state of research on inhibitors respectively. Given that TKIs represent the sole class of targeted therapeutics for liver cancer employed in clinical practice, we have particularly focused on TKIs and the mechanisms of the commonly encountered phenomena of its resistance during HCC treatment. This necessitates the imperative development of innovative targeted strategies and the urgency of overcoming the existing limitations. This review endeavors to shed light on the utilization of targeted therapy in advanced liver cancer, with a vision to improve the unsatisfactory prognostic outlook for those patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yangtao Xue
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- Zhejiang Minimal Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Center of Severe Hepatobiliary Disease, Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Yeling Ruan
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- Zhejiang Minimal Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Center of Severe Hepatobiliary Disease, Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Yali Wang
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- Zhejiang Minimal Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Center of Severe Hepatobiliary Disease, Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Peng Xiao
- Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
| | - Junjie Xu
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
- Zhejiang Minimal Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Center of Severe Hepatobiliary Disease, Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Oh H, Kim J, Jung SH, Ha TH, Ahn YG, Nam G, Moon K, Singh P, Kim IS. Discovery of 2,6-Naphthyridine Analogues as Selective FGFR4 Inhibitors for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Med Chem 2024; 67:8445-8459. [PMID: 38706130 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer and is responsible for 90% of cases. Approximately 30% of patients diagnosed with HCC are identified as displaying an aberrant expression of fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19)-fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) as an oncogenic-driver pathway. Therefore, the control of the FGF19-FGFR4 signaling pathway with selective FGFR4 inhibitors can be a promising therapy for the treatment of HCC. We herein disclose the design and synthesis of novel FGFR4 inhibitors containing a 2,6-naphthyridine scaffold. Compound 11 displayed a nanomolar potency against Huh7 cell lines and high selectivity over FGFR1-3 that were comparable to that of fisogatinib (8) as a reference standard. Additionally, compound 11 demonstrated remarkable antitumor efficacy in the Huh7 and Hep3B HCC xenograft mouse model. Moreover, bioluminescence imaging experiments with the orthotopic mouse model support that compound 11 can be considered a promising candidate for treating HCC.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4/metabolism
- Humans
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis
- Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- Mice
- Naphthyridines/pharmacology
- Naphthyridines/chemical synthesis
- Naphthyridines/chemistry
- Naphthyridines/therapeutic use
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Structure-Activity Relationship
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemical synthesis
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemistry
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Drug Discovery
- Mice, Nude
- Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heesook Oh
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Hanmi Research Center, Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hwaseong 18469, Republic of Korea
| | - Jisook Kim
- Hanmi Research Center, Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hwaseong 18469, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hyun Jung
- Hanmi Research Center, Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hwaseong 18469, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Hee Ha
- Hanmi Research Center, Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hwaseong 18469, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Gil Ahn
- Hanmi Research Center, Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hwaseong 18469, Republic of Korea
| | - Gibeom Nam
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeongwon Moon
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Pargat Singh
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - In Su Kim
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ding K, Chen L, Levine K, Sikora M, Tasdemir N, Dabbs D, Jankowitz R, Hazan R, Shah OS, Atkinson JM, Lee AV, Oesterreich S. Estrogen regulation and functional role of FGFR4 in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.18.585626. [PMID: 38562741 PMCID: PMC10983957 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.18.585626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Background Resistance to endocrine therapy is a major challenge of managing estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer. We previously reported frequent overexpression of FGFR4 in endocrine resistant cell lines and breast cancers that recurred and metastasized following endocrine therapy, suggesting FGFR4 as a potential driver of endocrine resistance. In this study, we investigated the role of FGFR4 in mediating endocrine resistance and explored the therapeutic potential of targeting FGFR4 in advanced breast cancer. Methods A gene expression signature of FGFR4 activity was examined in ER+ breast cancer pre- and post-neoadjuvant endocrine therapy and the association between FGFR4 expression and patient survival was examined. A correlation analysis was used to uncover potential regulators of FGFR4 overexpression. To investigate if FGFR4 is necessary to drive endocrine resistance, we tested response to FGFR4 inhibition in long term estrogen deprived (LTED) cells and their paired parental cells. Doxycycline inducible FGFR4 overexpression and knockdown cell models were generated to examine if FGFR4 was sufficient to confer endocrine resistance. Finally, we examined response to FGFR4 monotherapy or combination therapy with fulvestrant in breast cancer cell lines to explore the potential of FGFR4 targeted therapy for advanced breast cancer and assessed the importance of PAM50 subtype in response to FGFR4 inhibition. Results A FGFR4 activity gene signature was significantly upregulated post neoadjuvant aromatase inhibitor treatment, and high FGFR4 expression predicted poorer survival in patients with ER+ breast cancer. Gene expression association analysis using TCGA, METABRIC and SCAN-B datasets uncovered ER as the most significant gene negatively correlated with FGFR4 expression. ER negatively regulates FGFR4 expression at both the mRNA and protein level across multiple ER+ breast cancer cell lines. Despite robust overexpression of FGFR4, LTED cells did not show enhanced responses to FGFR4 inhibition compared to parental cells. Similarly, FGFR4 overexpression, knockdown or hotspot mutations did not significantly alter response to endocrine treatment in ER+ cell lines, nor did FGFR4 and fulvestrant combination treatment show synergistic effects. The HER2-like subtype of breast cancer showed elevated expression of FGFR4 and an increased response to FGFR4 inhibition relative to other breast cancer subtypes. Conclusions Despite ER-mediated upregulation of FGFR4 post endocrine therapy, our study does not support a general role of FGFR4 in mediating endocrine resistance in ER+ breast cancer. Our data suggests that specific genomic backgrounds such as HER2 expression may be required for FGFR4 function in breast cancer and should be further explored.
Collapse
|
8
|
Cai J, Lian C, Lu Z, Shang Q, Wang L, Han Z, Gu Y. FGF19-Based Mini Probe Targeting FGFR4 for Diagnosis and Surgical Navigation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Med Chem 2024; 67:3764-3777. [PMID: 38385325 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a frequent malignancy that has a high death rate and a high rate of recurrence following surgery, owing to insufficient surgical resection. Furthermore, HCC is prone to peritoneal metastasis (HCC-PM), resulting in a significant number of tiny cancer lesions, making surgical removal more challenging. As a potential imaging target, FGFR4 is highly expressed in tumors, especially in HCC, but is less expressed in the normal liver. In this study, we used computational simulation approaches to develop peptide I0 derived from FGF19, a particular ligand of FGFR4, and labeled it with the NIRF dye, MPA, for HCC detection. In surgical navigation, the TBR was 9.31 ± 1.36 and 8.57 ± 1.15 in HepG2 in situ tumor and HCC-PM models, respectively, indicating considerable tumor uptake. As a result, peptide I0 is an excellent clinical diagnostic reagent for HCC, as well as a tool for surgically resecting HCC peritoneal metastases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxian Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Diagnostic Pharmacy, School of engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Chen Lian
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Diagnostic Pharmacy, School of engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China
| | - Zeyu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Diagnostic Pharmacy, School of engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Qian Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Diagnostic Pharmacy, School of engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Li Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Diagnostic Pharmacy, School of engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Zhihao Han
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Diagnostic Pharmacy, School of engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Yueqing Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Diagnostic Pharmacy, School of engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Jain NK, Tailang M, Thangavel N, Makeen HA, Albratty M, Najmi A, Alhazmi HA, Zoghebi K, Alagusundaram M, Jain HK, Chandrasekaran B. A comprehensive overview of selective and novel fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitors as a potential anticancer modality. ACTA PHARMACEUTICA (ZAGREB, CROATIA) 2024; 74:1-36. [PMID: 38554385 DOI: 10.2478/acph-2024-0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
The arrival of comprehensive genome sequencing has accelerated the understanding of genetically aberrant advanced cancers and target identification for possible cancer treatment. Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) gene alterations are frequent findings in various rare and advanced cancers refractive to mainstay chemo-therapy or surgical interventions. Several FGFR inhibitors have been developed for addressing these genetically altered FGFR-harboring malignancies, and some have performed well in clinical trials. In contrast, others are still being investigated in different phases of clinical trials. FDA has approved four anticancer agents such as erdafitinib, pemigatinib, infigratinib, and futibatinib, for clinical use in oncogenic FGFR-driven malignancies. These include cholangiocarcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, and myeloid/lymphoid malignancies. Pemigatinib is the only FGFR inhibitor globally approved (USA, EU, and Japan) and available as a targeted therapy for two types of cancer, including FGFR2 fusion or other rearrangements harboring cholangiocarcinoma and relapsed/refractory myeloid/lymphoid neoplasms with FGFR1 rearrangements. Myeloid/lymphoid neoplasm is the latest area of application added to the therapeutic armamentarium of FGFR inhibitors. Furthermore, futibatinib is the first-in-class covalent or irreversible pan-FGFR inhibitor that has received FDA approval for locally advanced or metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma harboring FGFR2 gene aberrations. This review highlights the current clinical progress concerning the safety and efficacy of all the approved FGFR-TKIs (tyrosine kinase inhibitors) and their ongoing investigations in clinical trials for other oncogenic FGFR-driven malignancies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nem Kumar Jain
- School of Pharmacy, ITM University Gwalior 474001, Madhya Pradesh, India
- School of Studies in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiwaji University Gwalior 474001, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Mukul Tailang
- School of Studies in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiwaji University Gwalior 474001, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Neelaveni Thangavel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, P.O. Box 114, Jazan 82912, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hafiz A Makeen
- Pharmacy Practice Research Unit Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, P.O. Box 114, Jazan 82912, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Albratty
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, P.O. Box 114, Jazan 82912, Saudi Arabia
| | - Asim Najmi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, P.O. Box 114, Jazan 82912, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hassan Ahmad Alhazmi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, P.O. Box 114, Jazan 82912, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid Zoghebi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, P.O. Box 114, Jazan 82912, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Hemant Kumar Jain
- Department of General Medicine Government Medical College Datia 475661, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Pessino G, Scotti C, Maggi M, Immuno-Hub Consortium. Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Old and Emerging Therapeutic Targets. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:901. [PMID: 38473265 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050901] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer, predominantly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), globally ranks sixth in incidence and third in cancer-related deaths. HCC risk factors include non-viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse, environmental exposures, and genetic factors. No specific genetic alterations are unequivocally linked to HCC tumorigenesis. Current standard therapies include surgical options, systemic chemotherapy, and kinase inhibitors, like sorafenib and regorafenib. Immunotherapy, targeting immune checkpoints, represents a promising avenue. FDA-approved checkpoint inhibitors, such as atezolizumab and pembrolizumab, show efficacy, and combination therapies enhance clinical responses. Despite this, the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a challenge, as the complex tumor ecosystem and the immunosuppressive microenvironment associated with it hamper the efficacy of the available therapeutic approaches. This review explores current and advanced approaches to treat HCC, considering both known and new potential targets, especially derived from proteomic analysis, which is today considered as the most promising approach. Exploring novel strategies, this review discusses antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T), and engineered antibodies. It then reports a systematic analysis of the main ligand/receptor pairs and molecular pathways reported to be overexpressed in tumor cells, highlighting their potential and limitations. Finally, it discusses TGFβ, one of the most promising targets of the HCC microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Greta Pessino
- Unit of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Claudia Scotti
- Unit of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Maristella Maggi
- Unit of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Immuno-Hub Consortium
- Unit of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
You Q, Li R, Yao J, Zhang YC, Sui X, Xiao CC, Zhang JB, Xiao JQ, Chen HT, Li H, Zhang J, Zheng J, Yang Y. Insights into lenvatinib resistance: mechanisms, potential biomarkers, and strategies to enhance sensitivity. Med Oncol 2024; 41:75. [PMID: 38381181 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02295-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Lenvatinib is a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor capable of promoting apoptosis, suppressing angiogenesis, inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, and modulating the immune response. In multiple cancer types, lenvatinib has presented manageable safety and is currently approved as an effective first-line therapy. However, with the gradual increase in lenvatinib application, the inevitable progression of resistance to lenvatinib is becoming more prevalent. A series of recent researches have reported the mechanisms underlying the development of lenvatinib resistance in tumor therapy, which are related to the regulation of cell death or proliferation, histological transformation, metabolism, transport processes, and epigenetics. In this review, we aim to outline recent discoveries achieved in terms of the mechanisms and potential predictive biomarkers of lenvatinib resistance as well as to summarize untapped approaches available for improving the therapeutic efficacy of lenvatinib in patients with various types of cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiang You
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University; Organ Transplantation Research Center of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation Medicine, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Biotherapy and Translational Medicine of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Rong Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Biotherapy and Translational Medicine of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Jia Yao
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University; Organ Transplantation Research Center of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation Medicine, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Biotherapy and Translational Medicine of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Ying-Cai Zhang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University; Organ Transplantation Research Center of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation Medicine, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Biotherapy and Translational Medicine of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Xin Sui
- Surgical ICU of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Cui-Cui Xiao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Jie-Bin Zhang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University; Organ Transplantation Research Center of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation Medicine, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Biotherapy and Translational Medicine of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Jia-Qi Xiao
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University; Organ Transplantation Research Center of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation Medicine, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Biotherapy and Translational Medicine of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Hai-Tian Chen
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University; Organ Transplantation Research Center of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation Medicine, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Biotherapy and Translational Medicine of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Hua Li
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University; Organ Transplantation Research Center of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation Medicine, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Biotherapy and Translational Medicine of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University; Organ Transplantation Research Center of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation Medicine, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Biotherapy and Translational Medicine of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Jun Zheng
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University; Organ Transplantation Research Center of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation Medicine, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Biotherapy and Translational Medicine of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University; Organ Transplantation Research Center of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation Medicine, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Biotherapy and Translational Medicine of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Yao J, Fan M, Peng J, Luo H, Lu J. Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel 99mTc-Labeled FGFR2-Targeting Peptides. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:895-903. [PMID: 38170629 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00998] [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] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
To develop radiolabeled FGFR2-targeting probes for visualizing fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) expression levels in the tumor microenvironment, four novel 99mTc-labeled FGFR2-targeting peptides ([99mTc]Tc-FGFR2-1, [99mTc]Tc-FGFR2-2, [99mTc]Tc-FGFR2-3, and [99mTc]Tc-FGFR2-4) with different amino acid linkers between the targeted peptide moiety and the 99mTc chelating group were designed and synthesized. The in vitro cellular inhibition, internalization, and efflux results demonstrated that the four 99mTc complexes exhibited FGFR2-specific binding and prolonged cellular retention in DU145 human prostate cancer cells, which indicated that modification from the glycine side (N-terminal) of CH02 was feasible. Among them, [99mTc]Tc-FGFR2-1 exhibited the highest in vitro cellular uptake and in vivo tumor uptake at 30 min postinjection, and tumor uptake could be significantly inhibited by the competitor CH02 (53% inhibited, p < 0.05), suggesting the tumor-specific targeting ability of [99mTc]Tc-FGFR2-1. The DU145-xenografted tumor lesions were clearly visualized by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT at 30 min postinjection of [99mTc]Tc-FGFR2-1, highlighting its potential as a SPECT imaging probe for tumor FGFR2 detection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Yao
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| | - Mingxuan Fan
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| | - Jiaying Peng
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| | - Hao Luo
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| | - Jie Lu
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Soutto M, Zhang X, Bhat N, Chen Z, Zhu S, Maacha S, Genoula M, El-Gazzaz O, Peng D, Lu H, McDonald OG, Chen XS, Cao L, Xu Z, El-Rifai W. Fibroblast growth factor receptor-4 mediates activation of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor-2 in gastric tumorigenesis. Redox Biol 2024; 69:102998. [PMID: 38154380 PMCID: PMC10787301 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102998] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the leading risk factor for gastric carcinogenesis. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) is a member of transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors that are activated in cancer. We investigated the role of FGFR4 in regulating the cellular response to H. pylori infection in gastric cancer. High levels of oxidative stress signature and FGFR4 expression were detected in gastric cancer samples. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) demonstrated enrichment of NRF2 signature in samples with high FGFR4 levels. H. pylori infection induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) with a cellular response manifested by an increase in FGFR4 with accumulation and nuclear localization NRF2. Knocking down FGFR4 significantly reduced NRF2 protein and transcription activity levels, leading to higher levels of ROS and DNA damage following H. pylori infection. We confirmed the induction of FGFR4 and NRF2 levels using mouse models following infection with a mouse-adapted H. pyloristrain. Pharmacologic inhibition of FGFR4 using H3B-6527, or its knockdown, remarkably reduced the level of NRF2 with a reduction in the size and number of gastric cancer spheroids. Mechanistically, we detected binding between FGFR4 and P62 proteins, competing with NRF2-KEAP1 interaction, allowing NRF2 to escape KEAP1-dependent degradation with subsequent accumulation and translocation to the nucleus. These findings demonstrate a novel functional role of FGFR4 in cellular homeostasis via regulating the NRF2 levels in response to H. pylori infection in gastric carcinogenesis, calling for testing the therapeutic efficacy of FGFR4 inhibitors in gastric cancer models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Soutto
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Xing Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, China
| | - Nadeem Bhat
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Shoumin Zhu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Selma Maacha
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Melanie Genoula
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Omar El-Gazzaz
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Oliver G McDonald
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Xi Steven Chen
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Science, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Longlong Cao
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zekuan Xu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China; Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Rodrigues SG, van der Merwe S, Krag A, Wiest R. Gut-liver axis: Pathophysiological concepts and medical perspective in chronic liver diseases. Semin Immunol 2024; 71:101859. [PMID: 38219459 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2023.101859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Susana G Rodrigues
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Schalk van der Merwe
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University hospital Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven, Belgium
| | - Aleksander Krag
- Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Centre for Liver Research, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Reiner Wiest
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Luo X, He X, Zhang X, Zhao X, Zhang Y, Shi Y, Hua S. Hepatocellular carcinoma: signaling pathways, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e474. [PMID: 38318160 PMCID: PMC10838672 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.474] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer with a high mortality rate. It is regarded as a significant public health issue because of its complicated pathophysiology, high metastasis, and recurrence rates. There are no obvious symptoms in the early stage of HCC, which often leads to delays in diagnosis. Traditional treatment methods such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and interventional therapies have limited therapeutic effects for HCC patients with recurrence or metastasis. With the development of molecular biology and immunology, molecular signaling pathways and immune checkpoint were identified as the main mechanism of HCC progression. Targeting these molecules has become a new direction for the treatment of HCC. At present, the combination of targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors is the first choice for advanced HCC patients. In this review, we mainly focus on the cutting-edge research of signaling pathways and corresponding targeted therapy and immunotherapy in HCC. It is of great significance to comprehensively understand the pathogenesis of HCC, search for potential therapeutic targets, and optimize the treatment strategies of HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Luo
- Department of Radiation OncologyZhuhai People's HospitalZhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan UniversityZhuhaiChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and TreatmentZhuhai People's HospitalZhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan UniversityZhuhaiChina
| | - Xin He
- Department of Radiation OncologyZhuhai People's HospitalZhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan UniversityZhuhaiChina
| | - Xingmei Zhang
- Department of NeurobiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Xiaohui Zhao
- Department of Radiation OncologyZhuhai People's HospitalZhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan UniversityZhuhaiChina
| | - Yuzhe Zhang
- Department of Radiation OncologyZhuhai People's HospitalZhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan UniversityZhuhaiChina
| | - Yusheng Shi
- Department of Radiation OncologyZhuhai People's HospitalZhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan UniversityZhuhaiChina
| | - Shengni Hua
- Department of Radiation OncologyZhuhai People's HospitalZhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan UniversityZhuhaiChina
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Lee YY, Ryu JY, Cho YJ, Choi JY, Choi JJ, Choi CH, Sa JK, Hwang JR, Lee JW. The anti-tumor effects of AZD4547 on ovarian cancer cells: differential responses based on c-Met and FGF19/FGFR4 expression. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:43. [PMID: 38273381 PMCID: PMC10811874 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03235-2] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The FGF/FGFR signaling pathway plays a critical role in human cancers. We analyzed the anti-tumor effect of AZD4547, an inhibitor targeting the FGF/FGFR pathway, in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and strategies on overcoming AZD4547 resistance. METHODS The effect of AZD4547 on cell viability/migration was evaluated and in vivo experiments in intraperitoneal xenografts using EOC cells and a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model were performed. The effect of the combination of AZD4547 with SU11274, a c-Met-specific inhibitor, FGF19-specific siRNA, or an FGFR4 inhibitor was evaluated by MTT assay. RESULTS AZD4547 significantly decreased cell survival and migration in drug-sensitive EOC cells but not drug-resistant cells. AZD4547 significantly decreased tumor weight in xenograft models of drug-sensitive A2780 and SKOV3ip1 cells and in a PDX with drug sensitivity but not in models with drug-resistant A2780-CP20 and SKOV3-TR cells. Furthermore, c-Met expression was high in SKOV3-TR and HeyA8-MDR cells, and co-administration of SU11274 and AZD4547 synergistically induced cell death. In addition, expressions of FGF19 and FGFR4 were high in A2780-CP20 cells. Combining AZD4547 with FGF19 siRNA or with a selective FGFR4 inhibitor led to significantly reduced cell proliferation in A2780-CP20 cells. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that AZD4547 has significant anti-cancer effects in drug-sensitive cells and PDX models but not in drug-resistant EOC cells. In drug-resistant cells, the expression level of c-Met or FGF19/FGFR4 may be a predictive biomarker for AZD4547 treatment response, and a combination strategy of drugs targeting c-Met or FGF19/FGFR4 together with AZD4547 may be an effective therapeutic strategy for EOC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoo-Young Lee
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - Ji-Yoon Ryu
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - Young-Jae Cho
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - Ju-Yeon Choi
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - Jung-Joo Choi
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - Chel Hun Choi
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - Jason K Sa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Ryoung Hwang
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea.
| | - Jeong-Won Lee
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea.
- Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Guo C, Zhou N, Lu Y, Mu M, Li Z, Zhang X, Tu L, Du J, Li X, Huang D, Xu Q, Zheng X. FGF19/FGFR4 signaling contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma survival and immune escape by regulating IGF2BP1-mediated expression of PD-L1. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 170:115955. [PMID: 38048735 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115955] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies have been widely used in clinical treatment of cancer patients, but only 20-30% of patients benefit from immunotherapy. Therefore, it is important to decipher the molecular mechanism of resistance to ICB and develop new combined treatment strategies. PD-L1 up-regulation in tumor cells contributes to the occurrence of immune escape. Increasing evidence shows that its transcription level is affected by multiple factors, which limits the objective response rate of ICB. Fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19), a member of the fibroblast growth factor family, is widely involved in the malignant progression of many tumors by binding to fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4). In this study, we confirmed that FGF19 acts as a driver gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression by binding to FGFR4. The up-regulation of FGF19 and FGFR4 in HCC is associated with poor prognosis. We found that FGF19/FGFR4 promoted the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells by driving IGF2BP1 to promote PD-L1 expression. Knockdown of FGFR4 significantly reduced the expression of IGF2BP1/PD-L1 and inhibited the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells. These biological effects are achieved by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway. The combination of FGFR4 knockdown and anti-PD-1 antibody greatly suppressed tumor growth and enhanced the sensitivity of immunotherapy, highlighting the clinical significance of FGF19/FGFR4 activation in immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chaoqin Guo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Nana Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Yisong Lu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Mingshan Mu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Zilin Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Linglan Tu
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Jingyang Du
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Xiangyu Li
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Dongsheng Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, China.
| | - Qiuran Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, China.
| | - Xiaoliang Zheng
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310053, China; Zhejiang Provincial Laboratory of Experimental Animal's & Nonclinical Laboratory Studies, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Shi L, Zhao T, Huang L, Pan X, Wu T, Feng X, Chen T, Wu J, Niu J. Engineered FGF19 ΔKLB protects against intrahepatic cholestatic liver injury in ANIT-induced and Mdr2-/- mice model. BMC Biotechnol 2023; 23:43. [PMID: 37789318 PMCID: PMC10548598 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-023-00810-9] [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: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The major safety concern of the clinical application of wild type FGF19 (FGF19WT) emerges given that its extended treatment causes hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, we previously generated a safer FGF19 variant - FGF19ΔKLB, which have same effects on glycemic control and bile acid production but much less mitogenic activity. However, it remains unclear as to whether FGF19ΔKLB ameliorates intrahepatic cholestasis. RESULTS We found that, similar to that of FGF19WT, the chronic administration of FGF19ΔKLB protects mice from cholestatic liver injury in these two models. The therapeutic benefits of FGF19ΔKLB on cholestatic liver damage are attributable, according to the following mechanistic investigation, to the reduction of BA production, liver inflammation, and fibrosis. More importantly, FGF19ΔKLB did not induce any tumorigenesis effects during its prolonged treatment. CONCLUSIONS Together, our findings raise hope that FGF19ΔKLB may represent a useful therapeutic strategy for the treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lu Shi
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tiantian Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lei Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaomin Pan
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tianzhen Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xin Feng
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Taoli Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiamin Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Jianlou Niu
- Pingyang Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325499, Zhejiang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Guo W, Li S, Qian Y, Li L, Wang F, Tong Y, Li Q, Zhu Z, Gao W, Liu Y. KDM6A promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression and dictates lenvatinib efficacy by upregulating FGFR4 expression. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1452. [PMID: 37846441 PMCID: PMC10580016 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the major causes of death from cancer and has a very poor prognosis with few effective therapeutic options. Despite the approval of lenvatinib for the treatment of patients suffering from advanced HCC, only a small number of patients can benefit from this targeted therapy. METHODS Diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-CCL4 mouse liver tumour and the xenograft tumour models were used to evaluate the function of KDM6A in HCC progression. The xenograft tumour model and HCC cell lines were used to evaluate the role of KDM6A in HCC drug sensitivity to lenvatinib. RNA-seq and ChIP assays were conducted for mechanical investigation. RESULTS We revealed that KDM6A exhibited a significant upregulation in HCC tissues and was associated with an unfavourable prognosis. We further demonstrated that KDM6A knockdown remarkably suppressed HCC cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Moreover, hepatic Kdm6a loss also inhibited liver tumourigenesis in a mouse liver tumour model. Mechanistically, KDM6A loss downregulated the FGFR4 expression to suppress the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signalling pathway, leading to a glucose and lipid metabolism re-programming in HCC. KDM6A and FGFR4 levels were positively correlated in HCC specimens and mouse liver tumour tissues. Notably, KDM6A knockdown significantly inhibited the efficacy of lenvatinib therapy in HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Our findings revealed that KDM6A promoted HCC progression by activating FGFR4 expression and may be an essential molecule for influencing the efficacy of lenvatinib in HCC therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenyun Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Songling Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Med‐X Research InstituteShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Yifei Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Linfeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Fan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Yu Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Qianyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Zijun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Wei‐Qiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Med‐X Research InstituteShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
| | - Yanfeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for CancerDepartment of Liver SurgeryRenji‐Med‐X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiP. R. China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and ImmonologyShanghai Institute of TransplantationShanghaiP. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Du S, Zhang Y, Xu J. Current progress in cancer treatment by targeting FGFR signaling. Cancer Biol Med 2023; 20:j.issn.2095-3941.2023.0137. [PMID: 37493315 PMCID: PMC10466438 DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2023.0137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sicheng Du
- Department of Graduate Administration, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Graduate Administration, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Jianming Xu
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100071, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Chen H, Li J, Pi C, Guo D, Zhang D, Zhou X, Xie J. FGF19 induces the cell cycle arrest at G2-phase in chondrocytes. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:250. [PMID: 37454120 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01543-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) has appeared as a new possible avenue in the treatment of skeletal metabolic disorders. However, the role of FGF19 on cell cycle progression in skeletal system is poorly understood. Here we demonstrated that FGF19 had the ability to reduce the proliferation of chondrocytes and cause cell cycle G2 phase arrest through its interaction with β-Klotho (KLB), an important accessory protein that helps FGF19 link to its receptor. FGF19-mediated cell cycle arrest by regulating the expressions of cdk1/cylinb1, chk1 and gadd45a. We then confirmed that the binding of FGF19 to the membrane receptor FGFR4 was necessary for FGF19-mediated cell cycle arrest, and further proved that FGF19-mediated cell cycle arrest was via activation of p38/MAPK signaling. Through inhibitor experiments, we discovered that inhibition of FGFR4 led to down-regulation of p38 signaling even in the presence of FGF19. Meanwhile, inhibiting p38 signaling reduced the cell cycle arrest of chondrocytes induced by FGF19. Furthermore, blocking p38 signaling facilitated to retain the expression of cdk1 and cyclinb1 that had been reduced in chondrocytes by FGF19 and decreased the expression of chk1 and gadd45a that had been enhanced by FGF19 in chondrocytes. Taking together, this study is the first to demonstrate that FGF19 induces cell cycle arrest at G2 phase via FGFR4-p38/MAPK axis and enlarges our understanding about the role of FGF19 on cell cycle progression in chondrocytes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiazhou Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Caixia Pi
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Daimo Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Demao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Xuedong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
- Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
| | - Jing Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Xie M, Lin Z, Ji X, Luo X, Zhang Z, Sun M, Chen X, Zhang B, Liang H, Liu D, Feng Y, Wang Y, Li Y, Liu B, Huang W, Xia L. FGF19/FGFR4-mediated elevation of ETV4 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis by upregulating PD-L1 and CCL2. J Hepatol 2023; 79:109-125. [PMID: 36907560 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.02.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Metastasis remains the major reason for the high mortality of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study was designed to investigate the role of E-twenty-six-specific sequence variant 4 (ETV4) in promoting HCC metastasis and to explore a new combination therapy strategy for ETV4-mediated HCC metastasis. METHODS PLC/PRF/5, MHCC97H, Hepa1-6, and H22 cells were used to establish orthotopic HCC models. Clodronate liposomes were used to clear macrophages in C57BL/6 mice. Gr-1 monoclonal antibody was used to clear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in C57BL/6 mice. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were used to detect the changes of key immune cells in the tumour microenvironment. RESULTS ETV4 expression was positively related to higher tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, poor tumour differentiation, microvascular invasion, and poor prognosis in human HCC. Overexpression of ETV4 in HCC cells transactivated PD-L1 and CCL2 expression, which increased tumour-associated macrophage (TAM) and MDSC infiltration and inhibited CD8+ T-cell accumulation. Knockdown of CCL2 by lentivirus or CCR2 inhibitor CCX872 treatment impaired ETV4-induced TAM and MDSC infiltration and HCC metastasis. Furthermore, FGF19/FGFR4 and HGF/c-MET jointly upregulated ETV4 expression through the ERK1/2 pathway. Additionally, ETV4 upregulated FGFR4 expression, and downregulation of FGFR4 decreased ETV4-enhanced HCC metastasis, which created a FGF19-ETV4-FGFR4 positive feedback loop. Finally, anti-PD-L1 combined with FGFR4 inhibitor BLU-554 or MAPK inhibitor trametinib prominently inhibited FGF19-ETV4 signalling-induced HCC metastasis. CONCLUSIONS ETV4 is a prognostic biomarker, and anti-PD-L1 combined with FGFR4 inhibitor BLU-554 or MAPK inhibitor trametinib may be effective strategies to inhibit HCC metastasis. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Here, we reported that ETV4 increased PD-L1 and chemokine CCL2 expression in HCC cells, which resulted in TAM and MDSC accumulation and CD8+ T-cell inhibition to facilitate HCC metastasis. More importantly, we found that anti-PD-L1 combined with FGFR4 inhibitor BLU-554 or MAPK inhibitor trametinib markedly inhibited FGF19-ETV4 signalling-mediated HCC metastasis. This preclinical study will provide a theoretical basis for the development of new combination immunotherapy strategies for patients with HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meng Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhuoying Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shangrao People's Hospital, Shangrao, China
| | - Xiaoyu Ji
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiangyuan Luo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zerui Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengyu Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoping Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, China
| | - Bixiang Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, China
| | - Huifang Liang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, China
| | - Danfei Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yangyang Feng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yijun Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiwei Li
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bifeng Liu
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenjie Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, China.
| | - Limin Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Puengel T, Tacke F. Efruxifermin, an investigational treatment for fibrotic or cirrhotic non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2023. [PMID: 37376813 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2023.2230115] [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: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease and strongly associated with metabolic disorders: obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease. Persistent metabolic injury results in inflammatory processes leading to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver fibrosis and ultimately cirrhosis. To date, no pharmacologic agent is approved for the treatment of NASH. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) agonism has been linked to beneficial metabolic effects ameliorating obesity, steatosis and insulin resistance, supporting its potential as a therapeutic target in NAFLD. AREAS COVERED Efruxifermin (EFX, also AKR-001 or AMG876) is an engineered Fc-FGF21 fusion protein with an optimized pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile, which is currently tested in several phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of NASH, fibrosis and compensated liver cirrhosis. EFX improved metabolic disturbances including glycemic control, showed favorable safety and tolerability, and demonstrated antifibrotic efficacy according to FDA requirements for phase 3 trials. EXPERT OPINION While some other FGF-21 agonists (e.g. pegbelfermin) are currently not further investigated, available evidence supports the development of EFX as a promising anti-NASH drug in fibrotic and cirrhotic populations. However, antifibrotic efficacy, long-term safety and benefits (i.e. cardiovascular risk, decompensation events, disease progression, liver transplantation, mortality) remain to be determined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Puengel
- Department of Hepatology & Gastroenterology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology & Gastroenterology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Iguchi K, Sada R, Matsumoto S, Kimura H, Zen Y, Akita M, Gon H, Fukumoto T, Kikuchi A. DKK1-CKAP4 signal axis promotes hepatocellular carcinoma aggressiveness. Cancer Sci 2023; 114:2063-2077. [PMID: 36718957 PMCID: PMC10154837 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent malignant liver neoplasm. Despite the advances in diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis of HCC patients remains poor. Cytoskeleton-associated membrane protein 4 (CKAP4) is a receptor of the glycosylated secretory protein Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), and the DKK1-CKAP4 axis is activated in pancreatic, lung, and esophageal cancer cells. Expression of DKK1 and CKAP4 has been examined in HCC in independent studies that yielded contradictory results. In this study, the relationship between the DKK1-CKAP4 axis and HCC was comprehensively examined. In 412 HCC cases, patients whose tumors were positive for both DKK1 and CKAP4 had a poor prognosis compared to those who were positive for only one of these markers or negative for both. Deletion of either DKK1 or CKAP4 inhibited HCC cell growth. In contrast to WT DKK1, DKK1 lacking the CKAP4 binding region did not rescue the phenotypes caused by DKK1 depletion, suggesting that binding of DKK1 to CKAP4 is required for HCC cell proliferation. Anti-CKAP4 Ab inhibited HCC growth, and its antitumor effect was clearly enhanced when combined with lenvatinib, a multikinase inhibitor. These results indicate that simultaneous expression of DKK1 and CKAP4 is involved in the aggressiveness of HCC, and that the combination of anti-CKAP4 Ab and other therapeutics including lenvatinib could represent a promising strategy for treating advanced HCC.
Collapse
Grants
- 16H06374 Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan
- 18975691 Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan
- 18K06956 Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan
- 21K07121 Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan
- 20K16330 Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan
- 22K15511 Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan
- Ichiro Kanehara Foundation of the Promotion of Medical Science and Medical Care
- Integrated Frontier Research for Medical Science Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives (OTRI)
- 18cm0106132h0001 Project for Cancer Research And Therapeutic Evolution (P-CREATE) from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and development, AMED
- 20cm0106152h0002 Project for Cancer Research And Therapeutic Evolution (P-CREATE) from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and development, AMED
- 22am0401003h0004 Science and Technology Platform Program for Advanced Biological Medicine from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and development, AMED
- 22ym0126039h0002 Translational Research Program from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and development, AMED
- Yasuda Memorial Foundation
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Iguchi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Graduate School of MedicineOsaka UniversitySuitaJapan
- Department of Surgery, Division of Hepato‐Biliary‐Pancreatic SurgeryKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Ryota Sada
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Graduate School of MedicineOsaka UniversitySuitaJapan
- Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives (OTRI)Osaka UniversitySuitaJapan
| | - Shinji Matsumoto
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Graduate School of MedicineOsaka UniversitySuitaJapan
- Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives (OTRI)Osaka UniversitySuitaJapan
| | - Hirokazu Kimura
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Graduate School of MedicineOsaka UniversitySuitaJapan
- The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, Department of PathologyThe Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Yoh Zen
- Division of Diagnostic PathologyKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Masayuki Akita
- Department of Surgery, Division of Hepato‐Biliary‐Pancreatic SurgeryKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Hidetoshi Gon
- Department of Surgery, Division of Hepato‐Biliary‐Pancreatic SurgeryKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Takumi Fukumoto
- Department of Surgery, Division of Hepato‐Biliary‐Pancreatic SurgeryKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Akira Kikuchi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Graduate School of MedicineOsaka UniversitySuitaJapan
- Center of Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER)Osaka UniversitySuitaJapan
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Vonderohe C, Guthrie G, Burrin DG. Fibroblast growth factor 19 secretion and function in perinatal development. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2023; 324:G190-G195. [PMID: 36648144 PMCID: PMC9942882 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00208.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Limited work has focused on fibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF19) secretion and function in the perinatal period. FGF19 is a potent growth factor that coordinates development of the brain, eye, inner ear, and skeletal system in the embryo, but after birth, FGF19 transitions to be an endocrine regulator of the classic pathway of hepatic bile acid synthesis. FGF19 has emerged as a mediator of metabolism and bile acid synthesis in aged animals and adults in the context of liver disease and metabolic dysfunction. FGF19 has also been shown to have systemic insulin-sensitizing and skeletal muscle hypertrophic effects when induced or supplemented at supraphysiological levels in adult rodent models. These effects could be beneficial to improve growth and nutritional outcomes in preterm infants, which are metabolically resistant to the anabolic effects of enteral nutrition. Existing clinical data on FGF19 secretion and function in the perinatal period in term and preterm infants has been equivocal. Studies in pigs show that FGF19 expression and secretion are upregulated with gestational age and point to molecular and endocrine factors that may be involved. Work focused on FGF19 in pediatric diseases suggests that augmentation of FGF19 secretion by activation of gut FXR signaling is associated with benefits in diseases such as short bowel syndrome, parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease, and biliary atresia. Future work should focus on characterization of FGF19 secretion and the mechanism underpinning the transition of FGF19 function as an embryological growth factor to metabolic and bile acid regulator.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin Vonderohe
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, Texas, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Gregory Guthrie
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, Texas, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Douglas G Burrin
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, Texas, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Miranda de Souza Duarte-Filho LA, Ortega de Oliveira PC, Yanaguibashi Leal CE, de Moraes MC, Picot L. Ligand fishing as a tool to screen natural products with anticancer potential. J Sep Sci 2023:e2200964. [PMID: 36808885 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.202200964] [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: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world and its incidence is expected to increase with the aging of the world's population and globalization of risk factors. Natural products and their derivatives have provided a significant number of approved anticancer drugs and the development of robust and selective screening assays for the identification of lead anticancer natural products are essential in the challenge of developing personalized targeted therapies tailored to the genetic and molecular characteristics of tumors. To this end, a ligand fishing assay is a remarkable tool to rapidly and rigorously screen complex matrices, such as plant extracts, for the isolation and identification of specific ligands that bind to relevant pharmacological targets. In this paper, we review the application of ligand fishing with cancer-related targets to screen natural product extracts for the isolation and identification of selective ligands. We provide critical analysis of the system configurations, targets, and key phytochemical classes related to the field of anticancer research. Based on the data collected, ligand fishing emerges as a robust and powerful screening system for the rapid discovery of new anticancer drugs from natural resources. It is currently an underexplored strategy according to its considerable potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cíntia Emi Yanaguibashi Leal
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Pós-Graduação em Biociências (PGB) Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina, Brazil
| | - Marcela Cristina de Moraes
- Departamento de Química Orgânica, Laboratório BIOCROM, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Laurent Picot
- UMR CNRS 7266 LIENSs, Département de Biotechnologie, La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Nevens F, Trauner M, Manns MP. Primary biliary cholangitis as a roadmap for the development of novel treatments for cholestatic liver diseases †. J Hepatol 2023; 78:430-441. [PMID: 36272496 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of nuclear receptors and transporters has contributed to the development of new drugs for the treatment of cholestatic liver diseases. Particular progress has been made in the development of second-line therapies for PBC. These new drugs can be separated into compounds primarily targeting cholestasis, molecules targeting fibrogenesis and molecules with immune-mediated action. Finally, drugs aimed at symptom relief (pruritus and fatigue) are also under investigation. Obeticholic acid is currently the only approved second-line therapy for PBC. Drugs in the late phase of clinical development include peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists, norursodeoxycholic acid and NADPH oxidase 1/4 inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frederik Nevens
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital KU Leuven, Belgium; Centre of ERN RARE-LIVER.
| | - Michael Trauner
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; Centre of ERN RARE-LIVER
| | - Michael P Manns
- Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Centre of ERN RARE-LIVER
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Zhou M, Zhu S, Xu C, Liu B, Shen J. A phase Ib/II study of BLU-554, a fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 inhibitor in combination with CS1001, an anti-PD-L1, in patients with locally advanced or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. Invest New Drugs 2023; 41:162-167. [PMID: 36763233 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-023-01335-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Targeted therapy combined with immunotherapy has become the main treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This trial assessed the safety and efficacy of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 inhibitor (BLU-554) in combination with the anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody (CS1001) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic HCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS This Phase Ib/II trial enrolled patients with locally advanced or metastatic HCC who were FGF19-positive. The patients were intravenously administered with CS1001 (1200 mg) every three weeks and orally administered with BLU-554 (600 mg) daily. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR), as assessed according to RECISTv1.1. RESULTS Four patients were treated with BLU-554 combined with CS1001. The trial revealed a 50% ORR and 100% DCR. The main adverse reactions that were attributed to BLU-554 in combination with CS1001 were diarrhoea, liver function impairments and skin rashes. Only one patient had immune-related adverse reactions. CONCLUSION Preliminary data showed that BLU-554 in combination with CS1001 is safe and effective for treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhen Zhou
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, 321 Zhongshan Road, 210008, Nanjing, China
| | - Sihui Zhu
- International Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chen Xu
- International Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Baorui Liu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, 321 Zhongshan Road, 210008, Nanjing, China
| | - Jie Shen
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, 321 Zhongshan Road, 210008, Nanjing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Moreau F, Brunao BB, Liu XY, Tremblay F, Fitzgerald K, Avila-Pacheco J, Clish C, Kahn RC, Softic S. Liver-specific FGFR4 knockdown in mice on an HFD increases bile acid synthesis and improves hepatic steatosis. J Lipid Res 2023; 64:100324. [PMID: 36586437 PMCID: PMC9871743 DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2022.100324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease with increased risk in patients with metabolic syndrome. There are no FDA-approved treatments, but FXR agonists have shown promising results in clinical studies for NAFLD management. In addition to FXR, fibroblast growth factor receptor FGFR4 is a key mediator of hepatic bile acid synthesis. Using N-acetylgalactosamine-conjugated siRNA, we knocked down FGFR4 specifically in the liver of mice on chow or high-fat diet and in mouse primary hepatocytes to determine the role of FGFR4 in metabolic processes and hepatic steatosis. Liver-specific FGFR4 silencing increased bile acid production and lowered serum cholesterol. Additionally, we found that high-fat diet-induced liver steatosis and insulin resistance improved following FGFR4 knockdown. These improvements were associated with activation of the FXR-FGF15 axis in intestinal cells, but not in hepatocytes. We conclude that targeting FGFR4 in the liver to activate the intestinal FXR-FGF15 axis may be a promising strategy for the treatment of NAFLD and metabolic dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francois Moreau
- Section of Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bruna Brasil Brunao
- Section of Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xiang-Yu Liu
- Section of Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Julian Avila-Pacheco
- Metabolomics Platform of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Clary Clish
- Metabolomics Platform of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ronald C Kahn
- Section of Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samir Softic
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, and Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Xu J, Cui J, Jiang H, Zeng Y, Cong X. Phase 1 dose escalation study of FGFR4 inhibitor in combination with pembrolizumab in advanced solid tumors patients. Cancer Med 2023; 12:7762-7771. [PMID: 36622048 PMCID: PMC10134273 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5532] [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: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Inhibition of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19-FGF Receptor 4 (FGFR4) signaling demonstrates potent anticancer activity. EVER4010001 is a highly selective FGFR4 inhibitor and pembrolizumab is approved for the treatment of several solid tumors. This study determined the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D), pharmacokinetics, safety, and preliminary efficacy of EVER4010001 plus pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors. METHODS This Phase 1, multicenter, open-label study enrolled 19 Asian-Chinese patients (57.9% male: median age 58 years) with advanced solid tumors. For "3+3" dose escalation, 3-6 patients received treatment at each dose level (EVER4010001 40, 60, 80, or 100 mg twice daily [BID] plus pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks). RESULTS At the data cutoff (August 12, 2021), no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were reported at 40 mg-80 mg. At 100 mg, 2 (40.0%) patients had 3 DLTs within the 28-day DLT observation period after first administration. Median time to peak EVER4010001 concentration (Tmax ) was 0.55-1.03 hours. Mean terminal EVER4010001 half-life (T1/2 ) was 4.00-4.92 hours. The area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-t ) and maximum observed concentration (Cmax ) ranged from 2370.87-5475.77 hour*ng/ml and 606.07-1348.86 ng/ml, respectively. The most common EVER4010001-related treatment-emergent adverse events were diarrhea (94.7%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (57.9%), and increased alanine aminotransferase (47.4%). CONCLUSION Eighty milligrams BID was the MTD and RP2D for EVER4010001 plus pembrolizumab. Efficacy results were promising, and no new safety risks were reported, justifying the Phase 2 portion of this study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianming Xu
- Oncology Department, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiuwei Cui
- Oncology Department, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Haiping Jiang
- Oncology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yan Zeng
- EverNov Medicines (Zhuhai Hengqin) Co., Ltd, Zhuhai, China
| | - Xiuyu Cong
- EverNov Medicines (Zhuhai Hengqin) Co., Ltd, Zhuhai, China
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Wäse K, Bartels T, Schwahn U, Kabiri M. Investigation of the Proliferative Potential of FGF21 or FGF19 in Liver-Specific FGFR4-Deficient Mice. Toxicol Pathol 2023; 51:27-38. [PMID: 37098695 DOI: 10.1177/01926233231164097] [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] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and FGF15/FGF19 belong to the same subgroup of FGFs and are believed to have therapeutic potential in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and associated metabolic dysfunctionalities and pathological conditions. FGF19 has been proposed to induce hyperplasia and liver tumors in FVB mice (named after its susceptibility to Friend leukemia virus B), mediated by the FGF receptor 4 (FGFR4). The goal of this work was to investigate whether FGF21 might also have a potential proliferative effect mediated via FGFR4 using liver-specific Fgfr4 knockout (KO) mice. We conducted a mechanistic 7-day study involving female Fgfr4 fl/fl and Fgfr4 KO mice with a treatment regimen of twice daily or daily subcutaneous injections of FGF21 or FGF19 (positive control), respectively. The Ki-67 liver labeling index (LI) was evaluated by a semi-automated bioimaging analysis. The results showed a statistically significant increase in FGF21- and FGF19-treated Fgfr4 fl/fl mice. Interestingly, in Fgfr4 KO mice, this effect was absent following both treatments of FGF19 and FGF21, indicating that not only the FGFR4 receptor is pivotal for the mediation of hepatocellular proliferation by FGF19 leading finally to liver tumors but it seems also that FGFR4/FGF21 signaling has an impact on the hepatocellular proliferative activity, which does not promote the formation of hepatocellular liver tumors based on the current knowledge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Wäse
- Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | - Uwe Schwahn
- Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Zhang W, Zhang Y, Wan Y, Liu Q, Zhu X. A bile acid-related prognostic signature in hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Rep 2022; 12:22355. [PMID: 36572736 PMCID: PMC9792463 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26795-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the high mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), its prognostic models are urgently needed. Bile acid (BA) metabolic disturbance participates in hepatocarcinogenesis. We aim to develop a BA-related gene signature for HCC patients. Research data of HCC were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) online databases. After least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis, we developed a BA-related prognostic signature in TCGA cohort based on differentially expressed prognostic BA-related genes. Then, the predictive performance of the signature was evaluated and verified in TCGA and ICGC cohort respectively. We obtained the risk score of each HCC patient according to the model. The differences of immune status and drug sensitivity were compared in patients that were stratified based on risk score. The protein and mRNA levels of the modeling genes were validated in the Human Protein Atlas database and our cell lines, respectively. In TCGA cohort, we selected 4 BA-related genes to construct the first BA-related prognostic signature. The risk signature exhibited good discrimination and predictive ability, which was verified in ICGC cohort. Patients were classified into high- and low-risk groups according to their median scores. The occurrence of death increased with increasing risk score. Low-risk patients owned favorable overall survival. High-risk patients possessed high immune checkpoint expression and low IC50 values for sorafenib, cisplatin and doxorubicin. Real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical results validate expression of modeling genes in the signature. We constructed the first BA-related gene signature, which might help to identify HCC patients with poor prognosis and guide individualized treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wang Zhang
- grid.412604.50000 0004 1758 4073Department of Gastroenterology, Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- grid.412604.50000 0004 1758 4073Department of Gastroenterology, Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yipeng Wan
- grid.412604.50000 0004 1758 4073Department of Gastroenterology, Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Qi Liu
- grid.412604.50000 0004 1758 4073Department of Gastroenterology, Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xuan Zhu
- grid.412604.50000 0004 1758 4073Department of Gastroenterology, Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Yang L, Zhen L, Li Z, Zhu S, Xu W, Luo Q, Peng L, Xie C. Human liver tissue transcriptomics revealed immunometabolic disturbances and related biomarkers in hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1080484. [PMID: 36532504 PMCID: PMC9752073 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1080484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a major cause of liver-related death worldwide, but its key pathological features remain incompletely defined. This study aimed to reveal the molecular basis of hepatitis B virus-related ACLF (HBV-ACLF) by transcriptome sequencing of human liver tissue. A total of 18 human liver tissues from patients with different stages of HBV-related disease were collected for RNA sequencing, and liver tissues from patients and mouse models with ACLF were used for subsequent validation. Specifically, 6,853 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 5,038 differentially expressed transcripts were identified in patients with ACLF compared to patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and normal controls (NCs). Investigation of functional by KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed prominent immune and metabolic dysregulation at the ACLF stage. We found that the key genes FGF19, ADCY8 and KRT17, which are related to immunometabolic disturbances, were significantly upregulated in the progression of ACLF. The three key genes were validated in human and mouse samples, indicating their prognostic and therapeutic potential in ACLF. In summary, our work reveals that immunometabolic disorder is involved in HBV-ACLF pathogenesis and indicates that FGF19, ADCY8 and KRT17 may be sensitive biomarkers for HBV-related ACLF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luo Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Limin Zhen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhihui Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shu Zhu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenxiong Xu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiumin Luo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liang Peng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chan Xie
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Wang Q, Liu J, Yin W, Sun D, Man Z, Jiang S, Ran X, Su Y, Wang Y, Dong J. Generation of multicellular tumor spheroids with micro-well array for anticancer drug combination screening based on a valuable biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1087656. [PMID: 36532586 PMCID: PMC9751422 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1087656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. More than 30% of patients with diagnosed HCC have abnormally high expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4). Currently, clinical trials for a variety of FGFR4-specific inhibitors have started. However, the effect of these inhibitors is not ideal, and it is necessary to find a drug combination to synergistically exert anti-tumor effects. We found strong correlations between FGFR4 and HCC clinicopathological characteristics in the present study. After grouping patients according to FGFR4 expression, the key gene signatures were inputted the drug-gene related databases, which predicted several potential drug candidates. More importantly, to achieve the reliable and high throughput drug cytotoxicity assessment, we developed an efficient and reproducible agarose hydrogel microwells to generate uniform-sized multicellular tumor spheroids, which provide better mimicry of conventional solid tumors that can precisely represent anticancer drug candidates' effects. Using high content screening, we quickly evaluated the enhanced anti-tumor effects of these combinations. Finally, we demonstrated that Parthenolide is a potential drug that can significantly enhance the clinical efficacy of FGFR4 receptor inhibitors. In general, we offered a new therapeutic way for FGFR4 positive HCC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Juan Liu
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Precision Hepatobiliary Surgery Paradigm, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenzhen Yin
- Clinical Translational Science Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Dawei Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhongsong Man
- Department of General Surgery, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shangwei Jiang
- Clinical Translational Science Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiufeng Ran
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuxin Su
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunfang Wang
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Precision Hepatobiliary Surgery Paradigm, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Clinical Translational Science Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiahong Dong
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Precision Hepatobiliary Surgery Paradigm, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
López‐Cánovas JL, Hermán‐Sánchez N, Moreno‐Montilla MT, del Rio‐Moreno M, Alors‐Perez E, Sánchez‐Frias ME, Amado V, Ciria R, Briceño J, de la Mata M, Castaño JP, Rodriguez‐Perálvarez M, Luque RM, Gahete MD. Spliceosomal profiling identifies EIF4A3 as a novel oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma acting through the modulation of FGFR4 splicing. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e1102. [PMID: 36419260 PMCID: PMC9684617 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Altered splicing landscape is an emerging cancer hallmark; however, the dysregulation and implication of the cellular machinery controlling this process (spliceosome components and splicing factors) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is poorly known. This study aimed to comprehensively characterize the spliceosomal profile and explore its role in HCC. METHODS Expression levels of 70 selected spliceosome components and splicing factors and clinical implications were evaluated in two retrospective and six in silico HCC cohorts. Functional, molecular and mechanistic studies were implemented in three cell lines (HepG2, Hep3B and SNU-387) and preclinical Hep3B-induced xenograft tumours. RESULTS Spliceosomal dysregulations were consistently found in retrospective and in silico cohorts. EIF4A3, RBM3, ESRP2 and SRPK1 were the most dysregulated spliceosome elements in HCC. EIF4A3 expression was associated with decreased survival and greater recurrence. Plasma EIF4A3 levels were significantly elevated in HCC patients. In vitro EIF4A3-silencing (or pharmacological inhibition) resulted in reduced aggressiveness, and hindered xenograft-tumours growth in vivo, whereas EIF4A3 overexpression increased tumour aggressiveness. EIF4A3-silencing altered the expression and splicing of key HCC-related genes, specially FGFR4. EIF4A3-silencing blocked the cellular response to the natural ligand of FGFR4, FGF19. Functional consequences of EIF4A3-silencing were mediated by FGFR4 splicing as the restoration of non-spliced FGFR4 full-length version blunted these effects, and FGFR4 inhibition did not exert further effects in EIF4A3-silenced cells. CONCLUSIONS Splicing machinery is strongly dysregulated in HCC, providing a source of new diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic options in HCC. EIF4A3 is consistently elevated in HCC patients and associated with tumour aggressiveness and mortality, through the modulation of FGFR4 splicing.
Collapse
|
36
|
Pemigatinib in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Work in Progress. Curr Oncol 2022; 29:7925-7931. [PMID: 36290903 PMCID: PMC9600707 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol29100626] [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: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the second most frequent primary liver cancer, following hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Progress in the molecular understanding of CCA has led to the development of several agents, including FGFR inhibitors, such as pemigatinib, whose approval has marked a new era in this hepatobiliary malignancy. However, a number of questions remain unanswered, including the development of secondary resistance and the role of combination therapies, including FGFR inhibitors. Herein, we specifically focus on the current challenges and future research directions of pemigatinib use in CCA patients.
Collapse
|
37
|
Yang C, Song D, Zhao F, Wu J, Zhang B, Ren H, Sun Q, Qin S. Comprehensive analysis of the prognostic value and immune infiltration of FGFR family members in gastric cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:936952. [PMID: 36147913 PMCID: PMC9487308 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.936952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) modulate numerous cellular processes in tumor cells and tumor microenvironment. However, the effect of FGFRs on tumor prognosis and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in gastric cancer (GC) remains controversial. Methods The expression of four different types of FGFRs was analyzed via GEPIA, TCGA-STAD, and GTEX databases and our 27 pairs of GC tumor samples and the adjacent normal tissue. Furthermore, the Kaplan–Meier plot and the TCGA database were utilized to assess the association of FGFRs with clinical prognosis. The R software was used to evaluate FGFRs co-expression genes with GO/KEGG Pathway Enrichment Analysis. In vitro and in vivo functional analyses and immunoblotting were performed to verify FGFR4 overexpression consequence. Moreover, the correlation between FGFRs and cancer immune infiltrates was analyzed by TIMER and TCGA databases. And the efficacy of anti-PD-1 mAb treatment was examined in NOG mouse models with overexpressed FGFR1 or FGFR4. Results The expression of FGFRs was considerably elevated in STAD than in the normal gastric tissues and was significantly correlated with poor OS and PFS. ROC curve showed the accuracy of the FGFRs in tumor diagnosis, among which FGFR4 had the highest ROC value. Besides, univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that FGFR4 was an independent prognostic factor for GC patients. According to a GO/KEGG analysis, the FGFRs were implicated in the ERK/MAPK, PI3K-AKT and extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor signaling pathways. In vivo and in vitro studies revealed that overexpression of FGFR4 stimulated GC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. In addition, FGFR1 expression was positively correlated with infiltrating levels of CD8+ T-cells, CD4+ T-cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells in STAD. In contrast, FGFR4 expression was negatively correlated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Interestingly, overexpression of FGFR1 in the NOG mouse model improved the immunotherapeutic impact of GC, while overexpression of FGFR4 impaired the effect. When combined with an FGFR4 inhibitor, the anti-tumor effect of anti-PD-1 treatment increased significantly in a GC xenograft mouse model with overexpressed FGFR4. Conclusions FGFRs has critical function in GC and associated with immune cell infiltration, which might be a potential prognosis biomarker and predictor of response to immunotherapy in GC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chengcheng Yang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Dingli Song
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Fengyu Zhao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Boxiang Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Hong Ren
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Qi Sun
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Sida Qin, ; Qi Sun,
| | - Sida Qin
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Sida Qin, ; Qi Sun,
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Zhang X, Soutto M, Chen Z, Bhat N, Zhu S, Eissmann MF, Ernst M, Lu H, Peng D, Xu Z, El-Rifai W. Induction of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 4 by Helicobacter pylori via Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 With a Feedforward Activation Loop Involving SRC Signaling in Gastric Cancer. Gastroenterology 2022; 163:620-636.e9. [PMID: 35588797 PMCID: PMC9629135 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2022.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection is the main risk factor for gastric cancer. The role of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGRFs) in H pylori-mediated gastric tumorigenesis remains largely unknown. This study investigated the molecular and mechanistic links between H pylori, inflammation, and FGFR4 in gastric cancer. METHODS Cell lines, human and mouse gastric tissue samples, and gastric organoids models were implemented. Infection with H pylori was performed using in vitro and in vivo models. Western blot, real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter assays were used for molecular, mechanistic, and functional studies. RESULTS Analysis of FGFR family members using The Cancer Genome Atlas data, followed by validation, indicated that FGFR4 messenger (m)RNA was the most significantly overexpressed member in human gastric cancer tissue samples (P < .001). We also detected high levels of Fgfr4 mRNA and protein in gastric dysplasia and adenocarcinoma lesions in mouse models. Infection with J166, 7.13, and PMSS1 cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA)+ H pylori strains induced FGFR4 mRNA and protein expression in in vitro and in vivo models. This was associated with a concordant activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Analysis of the FGFR4 promoter suggested several putative binding sites for STAT3. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and an FGFR-promoter luciferase reporter containing putative STAT3 binding sites and their mutants, we confirmed a direct functional binding of STAT3 on the FGFR4 promoter. Mechanistically, we also discovered a feedforward activation loop between FGFR4 and STAT3 where the fibroblast growth factor 19–FGFR4 axis played an essential role in activating STAT3 in a SRC proto-oncogene non-receptor tyrosine kinase dependent manner. Functionally, we found that FGFR4 protected against H pylori-induced DNA damage and cell death. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrated a link between infection, inflammation, and FGFR4 activation, where a feedforward activation loop between FGFR4 and STAT3 is established via SRC proto-oncogene non-receptor tyrosine kinase in response to H pylori infection. Given the relevance of FGFR4 to the etiology and biology of gastric cancer, we propose FGFR4 as a druggable molecular vulnerability that can be tested in patients with gastric cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xing Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mohammed Soutto
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Nadeem Bhat
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Shoumin Zhu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Moritz F Eissmann
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthias Ernst
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Zekuan Xu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, Florida; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Garcia-Monaco RD, Chung JW, Vilgrain V, Bouattour M, Covey AM. Summary of key guidelines for locoregional treatment of HCC in Asia, Europe, South and North America. Br J Radiol 2022; 95:20220179. [PMID: 35848758 PMCID: PMC9815746 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20220179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide accounting for over 800,000 new cases in 2018, with the highest incidence in Asia and Africa where hepatitis B is the most common risk factor. In Europe, Japan, and the United States, hepatitis C chronic alcohol abuse and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are more common risk factors. Five-year survival is low, less than 20% worldwide. HCC is a particularly challenging disease to treat because therapeutic options and prognosis must also consider hepatitis or cirrhosis independent of the malignancy. Locoregional therapies (LRT) including ablation, arterially directed therapy and external beam radiation are the preferred treatments for patients with good performance status, unresectable disease limited to the liver and preserved liver function. In practice, patients with portal vein tumor thrombus and limited extrahepatic disease may also be considered candidates for LRT. There are several guidelines developed by expert panels provide recommendations on treating this challenging disease including the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer, European Association for the Study of the Liver, European Society for Medical Oncology, American Association for the Study of the Liver Diseases, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. The purpose of this paper is to review the guidelines as they are applied clinically in regions with high incidence of HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo D Garcia-Monaco
- Vascular and Interventional Radiology Hospital Italiano, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jin Wook Chung
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Valérie Vilgrain
- Department of Radiology, Department of OncHepatology Hopital Beaujon, APHP.Nord, Clichy, France
| | - Mohamed Bouattour
- Department of Radiology, Department of OncHepatology Hopital Beaujon, APHP.Nord, Clichy, France
| | - Anne M Covey
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Professor of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, United States
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Liu Y, Liu T, Zhao X, Gao Y. New insights into the bile acid-based regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives in alcohol-related liver disease. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:486. [PMID: 35978227 PMCID: PMC11073206 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04509-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Cholestasis is a key causative factor in alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) and variable degrees of cholestasis occur in all stages of ALD. However, the pathogenetic mechanisms and biomarkers associated with cholestasis are not well characterized. Cholestatic disease is marked by the disruption of bile acids (BA) transport and homeostasis. Consequently, in both human and experimental ALD, the disease shows a direct correlation with an imbalance in BA equilibrium, which in turn may also affect the severity of the disease. Modulation of BA metabolism or signaling pathways is increasingly considered as a potential therapeutic strategy for ALD in humans. In this paper, we highlight the key advances made in the past two decades in characterizing the molecular regulatory mechanisms of BA synthesis, enterohepatic circulation, and BA homeostasis. We summarize recent insights into the nature of the linkage between BA dysregulation and ALD, including the abnormal expression of genes involved in BA metabolism, abnormal changes in receptors that regulate BA metabolism, and disturbance in the gut flora engaged in BA metabolism caused by alcohol consumption. Additionally, we provide novel perspectives on the changes in BAs in various stages of ALD. Finally, we propose potential pharmacological therapies for ALD targeting BA metabolism and signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yali Liu
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Xu Zhao
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Yanhang Gao
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
- Center of Infectious Diseases and Pathogen Biology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Ornitz DM, Itoh N. New developments in the biology of fibroblast growth factors. WIREs Mech Dis 2022; 14:e1549. [PMID: 35142107 PMCID: PMC10115509 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family is composed of 18 secreted signaling proteins consisting of canonical FGFs and endocrine FGFs that activate four receptor tyrosine kinases (FGFRs 1-4) and four intracellular proteins (intracellular FGFs or iFGFs) that primarily function to regulate the activity of voltage-gated sodium channels and other molecules. The canonical FGFs, endocrine FGFs, and iFGFs have been reviewed extensively by us and others. In this review, we briefly summarize past reviews and then focus on new developments in the FGF field since our last review in 2015. Some of the highlights in the past 6 years include the use of optogenetic tools, viral vectors, and inducible transgenes to experimentally modulate FGF signaling, the clinical use of small molecule FGFR inhibitors, an expanded understanding of endocrine FGF signaling, functions for FGF signaling in stem cell pluripotency and differentiation, roles for FGF signaling in tissue homeostasis and regeneration, a continuing elaboration of mechanisms of FGF signaling in development, and an expanding appreciation of roles for FGF signaling in neuropsychiatric diseases. This article is categorized under: Cardiovascular Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology Neurological Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology Congenital Diseases > Stem Cells and Development Cancer > Stem Cells and Development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David M Ornitz
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Nobuyuki Itoh
- Kyoto University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Role of bile acids and their receptors in gastrointestinal and hepatic pathophysiology. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 19:432-450. [PMID: 35165436 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-021-00566-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Bile acids (BAs) can regulate their own metabolism and transport as well as other key aspects of metabolic homeostasis via dedicated (nuclear and G protein-coupled) receptors. Disrupted BA transport and homeostasis results in the development of cholestatic disorders and contributes to a wide range of liver diseases, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatocellular and cholangiocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, impaired BA homeostasis can also affect the intestine, contributing to the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and colorectal and oesophageal cancer. Here, we provide a summary of the role of BAs and their disrupted homeostasis in the development of gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders and present novel insights on how targeting BA pathways might contribute to novel treatment strategies for these disorders.
Collapse
|
43
|
Bai Y, Hu X, Ren Z, Hisai T, Yusa W, Weng L, Shiba S, Takase T. A phase I pharmacokinetic study of lenvatinib in Chinese patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Future Oncol 2022; 18:2413-2424. [PMID: 35674480 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2022-0229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: This phase I study assessed the pharmacokinetic profile, safety and antitumor activity of lenvatinib in Chinese patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Materials & methods: Bodyweight-based lenvatinib dosing was administered (patients <60 kg: 8 mg/day, n = 13; patients ≥60 kg: 12 mg/day, n = 12). Pharmacokinetic sampling was performed during the first cycle. Efficacy and safety were assessed. Results: There was considerable overlap between individual exposure values at steady-state in the 8 and 12 mg groups. The most common adverse events were increased blood bilirubin and decreased platelet count (48.0%). Two patients had partial responses, and 16 patients attained stable disease. Conclusion: No significant pharmacokinetic differences between dose groups were detected. Lenvatinib was tolerable, showing promising antitumor activities in Chinese patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuxian Bai
- Harbin Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Xichun Hu
- Fudan University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenggang Ren
- Fudan University Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Zanotti S, Boot GF, Coto-Llerena M, Gallon J, Hess GF, Soysal SD, Kollmar O, Ng CKY, Piscuoglio S. The Role of Chronic Liver Diseases in the Emergence and Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Omics Perspective. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:888850. [PMID: 35814741 PMCID: PMC9263082 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.888850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) typically develops from a background of cirrhosis resulting from chronic inflammation. This inflammation is frequently associated with chronic liver diseases (CLD). The advent of next generation sequencing has enabled extensive analyses of molecular aberrations in HCC. However, less attention has been directed to the chronically inflamed background of the liver, prior to HCC emergence and during recurrence following surgery. Hepatocytes within chronically inflamed liver tissues present highly activated inflammatory signaling pathways and accumulation of a complex mutational landscape. In this altered environment, cells may transform in a stepwise manner toward tumorigenesis. Similarly, the chronically inflamed environment which persists after resection may impact the timing of HCC recurrence. Advances in research are allowing an extensive epigenomic, transcriptomic and proteomic characterization of CLD which define the emergence of HCC or its recurrence. The amount of data generated will enable the understanding of oncogenic mechanisms in HCC from the CLD perspective and provide the possibility to identify robust biomarkers or novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of primary and recurrent HCC. Importantly, biomarkers defined by the analysis of CLD tissue may permit the early detection or prevention of HCC emergence and recurrence. In this review, we compile the current omics based evidence of the contribution of CLD tissues to the emergence and recurrence of HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Zanotti
- Anatomic Pathology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas University Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Gina F. Boot
- Visceral Surgery and Precision Medicine Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mairene Coto-Llerena
- Visceral Surgery and Precision Medicine Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - John Gallon
- Visceral Surgery and Precision Medicine Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gabriel F. Hess
- Clarunis, University Center for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, St. Clara Hospital and University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Savas D. Soysal
- Clarunis, University Center for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, St. Clara Hospital and University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Otto Kollmar
- Clarunis, University Center for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, St. Clara Hospital and University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Charlotte K. Y. Ng
- Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Bern Center for Precision Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Salvatore Piscuoglio
- Visceral Surgery and Precision Medicine Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Salvatore Piscuoglio
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Chan SL, Schuler M, Kang YK, Yen CJ, Edeline J, Choo SP, Lin CC, Okusaka T, Weiss KH, Macarulla T, Cattan S, Blanc JF, Lee KH, Maur M, Pant S, Kudo M, Assenat E, Zhu AX, Yau T, Lim HY, Bruix J, Geier A, Guillén-Ponce C, Fasolo A, Finn RS, Fan J, Vogel A, Qin S, Riester M, Katsanou V, Chaudhari M, Kakizume T, Gu Y, Porta DG, Myers A, Delord JP. A first-in-human phase 1/2 study of FGF401 and combination of FGF401 with spartalizumab in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma or biomarker-selected solid tumors. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2022; 41:189. [PMID: 35655320 PMCID: PMC9161616 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02383-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deregulation of FGF19-FGFR4 signaling is found in several cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), nominating it for therapeutic targeting. FGF401 is a potent, selective FGFR4 inhibitor with antitumor activity in preclinical models. This study was designed to determine the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), characterize PK/PD, and evaluate the safety and efficacy of FGF401 alone and combined with the anti-PD-1 antibody, spartalizumab. METHODS Patients with HCC or other FGFR4/KLB expressing tumors were enrolled. Dose-escalation was guided by a Bayesian model. Phase 2 dose-expansion enrolled patients with HCC from Asian countries (group1), non-Asian countries (group2), and patients with other solid tumors expressing FGFR4 and KLB (group3). FGF401 and spartalizumab combination was evaluated in patients with HCC. RESULTS Seventy-four patients were treated in the phase I with single-agent FGF401 at 50 to 150 mg. FGF401 displayed favorable PK characteristics and no food effect when dosed with low-fat meals. The RP2D was established as 120 mg qd. Six of 70 patients experienced grade 3 dose-limiting toxicities: increase in transaminases (n = 4) or blood bilirubin (n = 2). In phase 2, 30 patients in group 1, 36 in group 2, and 20 in group 3 received FGF401. In total, 8 patients experienced objective responses (1 CR, 7 PR; 4 each in phase I and phase II, respectively). Frequent adverse events (AEs) were diarrhea (73.8%), increased AST (47.5%), and ALT (43.8%). Increase in levels of C4, total bile acid, and circulating FGF19, confirmed effective FGFR4 inhibition. Twelve patients received FGF401 plus spartalizumab. RP2D was established as FGF401 120 mg qd and spartalizumab 300 mg Q3W; 2 patients reported PR. CONCLUSIONS At biologically active doses, FGF401 alone or combined with spartalizumab was safe in patients with FGFR4/KLB-positive tumors including HCC. Preliminary clinical efficacy was observed. Further clinical evaluation of FGF401 using a refined biomarker strategy is warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT02325739 .
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen L Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Department of Clinical Oncology, Sir YK Pao Centre for Cancer, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Martin Schuler
- West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Germany & German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner site University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Yoon-Koo Kang
- Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Chia-Jui Yen
- Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Julien Edeline
- Centre Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France and ARPEGO (Accès à La Recherche Précoce Dans Le Grand-Ouest) Network, Rennes, France
| | - Su Pin Choo
- National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chia-Chi Lin
- National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | | | - Teresa Macarulla
- Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), IOB Quirón, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Kyung-Hun Lee
- Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | | | | | - Eric Assenat
- Hôpital Saint-Eloi Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Andrew X Zhu
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Jiahui International Cancer Center, Jiahui Health, Shanghai, China
| | | | | | - Jordi Bruix
- Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) Group, Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Jia Fan
- Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Shukui Qin
- No. 81th PLA Hospital Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Markus Riester
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Yi Gu
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Andrea Myers
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Physiological and pathophysiological role of endocrine fibroblast growth factors. POSTEP HIG MED DOSW 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/ahem-2022-0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The endocrine subfamily of fibroblast growth factors (FGF) includes three factors: FGF19, FGF21, FGF23. They act on distal tissues through FGF receptors (FGFRs). The FGFR activation requires two cofactors: α- and β-Klotho, which are structurally related single-pass transmembrane proteins. The endocrine FGFs regulate various metabolic processes involved in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism as well as bile acid circulation, vitamin D modulation, and phosphate homeostasis. The FGF-FGFR dysregulation is widely implicated in the pathogenesis of various disorders. Significant alterations in plasma FGF concentration are associated with the most prevalent chronic diseases, including dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, diseases of the biliary tract, chronic kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, osteomalacia, various malignancies, and depression. Therefore, the endocrine FGFs may serve as disease predictors or biomarkers, as well as potential therapeutic targets. Currently, numerous analogues and inhibitors of endocrine FGFs are under development for treatment of various disorders, and recently, a human monoclonal antibody against FGF23 has been approved for treatment of X-linked hypophosphatemia. The aim of this review is to summarize the current data on physiological and pathophysiological actions of the endocrine FGF subfamily and recent research concerning the therapeutic potential of the endocrine FGF pathways.
Collapse
|
47
|
Li X, Yao Q, Liu C, Wang J, Zhang H, Li S, Cai P. Macrotrabecular-Massive Hepatocellular Carcinoma: What Should We Know? J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2022; 9:379-387. [PMID: 35547829 PMCID: PMC9084381 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s364742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies globally. Recently, a newly identified histological subtype, designated as "macrotrabecular-massive hepatocellular carcinoma" (MTM-HCC), has been associated with an aggressive phenotype and has received extensive attention. MTM-HCC was a strong independent prognostic predictor of early and overall recurrence because it is closely related to tumor molecular subclass, gene mutation, carcinogenesis pathways, and immunohistochemical markers. In addition, preoperative imaging examination can potentially provide an essential clue for diagnosing MTM-HCC, intratumor necrosis or ischemia is an independent predictor for MTM-HCC on Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI or CT. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of MTM-HCC could prove beneficial for preventing early recurrence and could improve outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Li
- Department of Radiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Military Medical University), Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Radiology, The First People’s Hospital of Zunyi, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiandong Yao
- Department of Radiology, Sichuan Science City Hospital, Mianyang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chen Liu
- Department of Radiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Military Medical University), Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Radiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Military Medical University), Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huarong Zhang
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Third Military Medical University (Army Military Medical University), Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shiguang Li
- Department of Radiology, The First People’s Hospital of Zunyi, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, People’s Republic of China
- The Second People's Hospital of Guiyang (Jinyang Hospital), Guiyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Cai
- Department of Radiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Military Medical University), Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Abstract
Metabolic rewiring is one of the hallmarks of cancer. Altered de novo lipogenesis is one of the pivotal metabolic events deregulated in cancers. Sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1 (SREBP1) controls the transcription of major enzymes involved in de novo lipogenesis, including ACLY, ACACA, FASN, and SCD. Studies have shown the increased de novo lipogenesis in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples. Multiple mechanisms, such as activation of the AKT/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, lead to high SREBP1 induction and the coordinated enhanced expression of ACLY, ACACA, FASN, and SCD genes. Subsequent functional analyses have unraveled these enzymes' critical role(s) and the related de novo lipogenesis in hepatocarcinogenesis. Importantly, targeting these molecules might be a promising strategy for HCC treatment. This paper comprehensively summarizes de novo lipogenesis rewiring in HCC and how this pathway might be therapeutically targeted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Junyan Tao
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Xin Chen
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, California
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Abstract
Cholestatic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) share several key pathophysiological mechanisms which can be targeted by novel therapeutic concepts that are currently developed for both areas. Nuclear receptors (NRs) are ligand-activated transcriptional regulators of key metabolic processes including hepatic lipid and glucose metabolism, energy expenditure and bile acid (BA) homoeostasis, as well as inflammation, fibrosis and cellular proliferation. Dysregulation of these processes contributes to the pathogenesis and progression of cholestatic as well as fatty liver disease, placing NRs at the forefront of novel therapeutic approaches. This includes BA and fatty acid activated NRs such as farnesoid-X receptor (FXR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, respectively, for which high affinity therapeutic ligands targeting specific or multiple isoforms have been developed. Moreover, novel liver-specific ligands for thyroid hormone receptor beta 1 complete the spectrum of currently available NR-targeted drugs. Apart from FXR ligands, BA signalling can be targeted by mimetics of FXR-activated fibroblast growth factor 19, modulation of their enterohepatic circulation through uptake inhibitors in hepatocytes and enterocytes, as well as novel BA derivatives undergoing cholehepatic shunting (instead of enterohepatic circulation). Other therapeutic approaches more directly target inflammation and/or fibrosis as critical events of disease progression. Combination strategies synergistically targeting metabolic disturbances, inflammation and fibrosis may be ultimately necessary for successful treatment of these complex and multifactorial disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Trauner
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Claudia Daniela Fuchs
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Liu D, Liu W, Chen X, Yin J, Ma L, Liu M, Zhou X, Xian L, Li P, Tan X, Zhao J, Liao Y, Cao G. circKCNN2 suppresses the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma at least partially via regulating miR-520c-3p/methyl-DNA-binding domain protein 2 axis. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e662. [PMID: 35051313 PMCID: PMC8775140 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recurrence is the major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) death. We aimed to identify circular RNA (circRNA) with predictive and therapeutic value for recurrent HCC. METHODS Tissue samples from recurrent and non-recurrent HCC patients were subjected to circRNA sequencing and transcriptome sequencing. circKCNN2 was identified through multi-omics analyses. The effects of circKCNN2 on HCC were evaluated in cells, animals, database of The Cancer Genome Atlas, and a cohort with 130 HCC patients. circRNA precipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, RNA pull-down, luciferase assay, and cell experiments were applied to evaluate the interaction of circKCNN2 with miRNAs and proteins. The association between circKCNN2 and the therapeutic effect of lenvatinib was investigated in HCC cell lines and HCC tissue-derived organoids. RESULTS The expression of circKCNN2 was downregulated in HCC tissues and predicted a favorable overall survival and recurrence-free survival. The expression of circKCNN2 was positively correlated with the parental gene, potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily N member (KCNN2). Nuclear transcription factor Y subunit alpha (NFYA) was proven to inhibit the promoter activity of KCNN2, downregulate the expression of KCNN2 and circKCNN2, and predict an unfavorable recurrence-free survival. Ectopic expression of circKCNN2 inhibited HCC cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and tumor formation in a mouse model. miR-520c-3p sponged by circKCNN2 could reverse the inhibitory effect of circKCNN2 on HCC cells and down-regulate the expression of methyl-DNA-binding domain protein 2 (MBD2). The intratumoral expression of MBD2 predicted a favorable recurrence-free survival. circKCNN2 down-regulated the expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), which can be reversed by miR-520c-3p and knockdown of MBD2. Lenvatinib inhibited the expression of FGFR4 and upregulated the expression of circKCNN2 and MBD2. Ectopic expression of circKCNN2 in HCC cells enhanced the therapeutic effect of lenvatinib. However, the high inherent level of circKCNN2 in HCC cells was associated with lenvatinib resistance. CONCLUSIONS circKCNN2, transcriptionally repressed by NFYA, suppresses HCC recurrence via the miR-520c-3p/MBD2 axis. Inherent level of circKCNN2 in HCC cells predisposes anti-tumor effect of lenvatinib possibly because both circKCNN2 and lenvatinib repress the expression of FGFR4. circKCNN2 may be a promising predictive biomarker and therapeutic agent for HCC recurrence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Donghong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious DiseasesMinistry of EducationChongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
- Institute for Viral HepatitisChongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
- Department of Infectious Diseasesthe Second Affiliated HospitalChongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Wenbin Liu
- Department of EpidemiologySecond Military Medical UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of EpidemiologySecond Military Medical UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jianhua Yin
- Department of EpidemiologySecond Military Medical UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Longteng Ma
- Department of EpidemiologySecond Military Medical UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Mei Liu
- Department of EpidemiologySecond Military Medical UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xinyu Zhou
- Department of EpidemiologySecond Military Medical UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Linfeng Xian
- Department of EpidemiologySecond Military Medical UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Peng Li
- Department of EpidemiologySecond Military Medical UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xiaojie Tan
- Department of EpidemiologySecond Military Medical UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jun Zhao
- Department of Hepatic SurgeryEastern Hepatobiliary Surgery HospitalSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yong Liao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious DiseasesMinistry of EducationChongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
- Institute for Viral HepatitisChongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
- Department of Infectious Diseasesthe Second Affiliated HospitalChongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Guangwen Cao
- Department of EpidemiologySecond Military Medical UniversityShanghaiChina
| |
Collapse
|