Chen HC, Jeng YM, Yuan RH, Hsu HC, Chen YL. SIRT1 promotes tumorigenesis and resistance to chemotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma and its expression predicts poor prognosis.
Ann Surg Oncol 2011;
19:2011-9. [PMID:
22146883 DOI:
10.1245/s10434-011-2159-4]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
SIRT1 is a NAD+-dependent deacetylase that plays crucial roles in many biological processes, including stress response, apoptosis, cellular metabolism, adaptation to calorie restriction, aging, and tumorigenesis. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the clinicopathological and functional significance of SIRT1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
METHODS
SIRT1 expression in HCC was determined by immunohistochemical staining. The results were correlated with clinicopathological parameters. SIRT1 was overexpressed in HCC cell line SK-Hep1 to study its role in tumorigenesis and resistance to chemotherapy.
RESULTS
SIRT1 was overexpressed in 95 of 172 HCCs (55%). SIRT1 overexpression was associated with higher α-fetoprotein level, higher tumor grade, and absence of β-catenin mutation. SIRT1 expression predicted poor long-term survival for patients with resected HCC. The elevated SIRT1 protein level in HCC was not attributable to the elevation of mRNA level. The half-life of SIRT1 protein was longer in cell lines with higher expression of SIRT1. We further demonstrated that SIRT1 was degraded by the 26S proteasome in an ubiquitin-dependent manner. Overexpression of SIRT1 promoted tumorigenesis and resistance to chemotherapeutical agent and sorafenib.
CONCLUSIONS
SIRT1 is an oncogenic protein for HCC and is a predictor of worse outcome after surgical resection of HCC.
Collapse