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Mazzocca A, Fransvea E, Dituri F, Lupo L, Antonaci S, Giannelli G. Down-regulation of connective tissue growth factor by inhibition of transforming growth factor beta blocks the tumor-stroma cross-talk and tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2010; 51:523-34. [PMID: 19821534 DOI: 10.1002/hep.23285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Tumor-stroma interactions in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are of key importance to tumor progression. In this study, we show that HCC invasive cells produce high levels of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and generate tumors with a high stromal component in a xenograft model. A transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) receptor inhibitor, LY2109761, inhibited the synthesis and release of CTGF, as well as reducing the stromal component of the tumors. In addition, the TGF-beta-dependent down-regulation of CTGF diminished tumor growth, intravasation, and metastatic dissemination of HCC cells by inhibiting cancer-associated fibroblast proliferation. By contrast, noninvasive HCC cells were found to produce low levels of CTGF. Upon TGF-beta1 stimulation, noninvasive HCC cells form tumors with a high stromal content and CTGF expression, which is inhibited by treatment with LY2109761. In addition, the acquired intravasation and metastatic spread of noninvasive HCC cells after TGF-beta1 stimulation was blocked by LY2109761. LY2109761 interrupts the cross-talk between cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts, leading to a significant reduction of HCC growth and dissemination. Interestingly, patients with high CTGF expression had poor prognosis, suggesting that treatment aimed at reducing TGF-beta-dependent CTGF expression may offer clinical benefits. CONCLUSION Taken together, our preclinical results indicate that LY2109761 targets the cross-talk between HCC and the stroma and provide a rationale for future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Mazzocca
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, Policlinico, Bari, Italy
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202
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Kim SM, Han JH, Park SM. The Role of Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition in the Gastroenterology. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY 2010; 56:69-77. [DOI: 10.4166/kjg.2010.56.2.69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sung Moo Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Joung-Ho Han
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Seon Mee Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea
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Yang MH, Chen CL, Chau GY, Chiou SH, Su CW, Chou TY, Peng WL, Wu JC. Comprehensive analysis of the independent effect of twist and snail in promoting metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2009; 50:1464-74. [PMID: 19821482 DOI: 10.1002/hep.23221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 301] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is critical for induction of invasiveness and metastasis of human cancers. In this study we investigated the expression profiles of the EMT markers, the relationship between EMT markers and patient/tumor/viral factors, and the interplay between major EMT regulators in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Reduced E-cadherin and nonmembranous beta-catenin expression, the hallmarks of EMT, were shown in 60.2% and 51.5% of primary HCC samples, respectively. Overexpression of Snail, Twist, or Slug, the major regulators of EMT, was identified in 56.9%, 43.1%, and 51.4% of primary HCCs, respectively. Statistical analysis determined that Snail and Twist, but not Slug, are major EMT inducers in HCC: overexpression of Snail and/or Twist correlated with down-regulation of E-cadherin, nonmembranous expression of beta-catenin, and a worse prognosis. In contrast, there were no such significant differences in samples that overexpressed Slug. Coexpression of Snail and Twist correlated with the worst prognosis of HCC. Hepatitis C-associated HCC was significantly correlated with Twist overexpression. HCC cell lines with increased Snail and Twist expression (e.g., Mahlavu) exhibited a greater capacity for invasiveness/metastasis than cells with low endogenous Twist/Snail expression (e.g., Huh-7). Overexpression of Snail or/and Twist in Huh-7 induced EMT and invasiveness/metastasis, whereas knockdown of Twist or Snail in Mahlavu reversed EMT and inhibited invasiveness/metastasis. Twist and Snail were independently regulated, but exerted an additive inhibitory effect to suppress E-cadherin transcription. CONCLUSION Our study provides a comprehensive profile of EMT markers in HCC, and the independent and collaborative effects of Snail and Twist on HCC metastasis were confirmed through different assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muh-Hwa Yang
- Institutes of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
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204
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205
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Mazzocca A, Fransvea E, Lavezzari G, Antonaci S, Giannelli G. Inhibition of transforming growth factor beta receptor I kinase blocks hepatocellular carcinoma growth through neo-angiogenesis regulation. Hepatology 2009; 50:1140-51. [PMID: 19711426 DOI: 10.1002/hep.23118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Curative therapies for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are mainly invasive, and with the exception of sorafenib, no medical treatments are available for advanced or metastatic stages of HCC. We investigated the antitumoral effect of blocking the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) signaling pathway in HCC with LY2109761, a kinase inhibitor of TGF-beta receptor I kinase. The antitumor activity of LY2109761 was associated with inhibition of molecular pathways involved in neo-angiogenesis and tumor growth of HCC. This anti-angiogenic effect is more effective than that of bevacizumab, which specifically targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We found that the paracrine cross-talk between HCC and endothelial cells is blocked by LY210976, inhibiting blood vessel formation. This effect was mediated by SMAD2/3 and affected the secretion of VEGF. Finally, LY2109761 does not show significant effects on physiological angiogenetic development. CONCLUSION These data support the rationale for targeting TGF-beta signaling in patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Mazzocca
- Department of Internal Medicine, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
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206
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Caja L, Sancho P, Bertran E, Iglesias-Serret D, Gil J, Fabregat I. Overactivation of the MEK/ERK pathway in liver tumor cells confers resistance to TGF-{beta}-induced cell death through impairing up-regulation of the NADPH oxidase NOX4. Cancer Res 2009; 69:7595-602. [PMID: 19773433 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-09-1482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) induces apoptosis in hepatocytes, being considered a liver tumor suppressor. However, many human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells escape from its proapoptotic effects, gaining response to this cytokine in terms of malignancy. We have recently reported that the apoptosis induced by TGF-beta in hepatocytes requires up-regulation of the NADPH oxidase NOX4, which mediates reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. TGF-beta-induced NOX4 expression is inhibited by antiapoptotic signals, such as the phosphatydilinositol-3-phosphate kinase or the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways. The aim of the present work was to analyze whether resistance to TGF-beta-induced apoptosis in HCC cells is related to the impairment of NOX4 up-regulation due to overactivation of survival signals. Results indicate that inhibition of the MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK)/ERK pathway in HepG2 cells, which are refractory to the proapoptotic effects of TGF-beta, sensitizes them to cell death through a mitochondrial-dependent mechanism, coincident with increased levels of BIM and BMF, decreased levels of BCL-XL and MCL1, and BAX/BAK activation. Regulation of BMF, BCL-XL, and MCL1 occurs at the mRNA level, whereas BIM regulation occurs post-transcriptionally. ROS production and glutathione depletion are only observed in cells treated with TGF-beta and PD98059, which correlates with NOX4 up-regulation. Targeting knockdown of NOX4 impairs ROS increase and all the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic features by a mechanism that is upstream from the regulation of BIM, BMF, BCL-XL, and MCL1 levels. In conclusion, overactivation of the MEK/ERK pathway in liver tumor cells confers resistance to TGF-beta-induced cell death through impairing NOX4 up-regulation, which is required for an efficient mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Caja
- Laboratori de Oncologia Molecular and Departament de Ciències Fisiològiques II, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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207
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208
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Huang XH, Wang Q, Chen JS, Fu XH, Chen XL, Chen LZ, Li W, Bi J, Zhang LJ, Fu Q, Zeng WT, Cao LQ, Tan HX, Su Q. Bead-based microarray analysis of microRNA expression in hepatocellular carcinoma: miR-338 is downregulated. Hepatol Res 2009; 39:786-94. [PMID: 19473441 DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2009.00502.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
AIM Recent studies have underlined causative links between microRNA (miRNA) deregulation and cancer development. However, the relevance of abnormally expressed miRNA to tumor biology has not been well understood in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS A bead-based miRNA expression profiling method was performed on 20 pairs of surgically removed HCC and adjacent non-tumorous tissue (NT). Special miR-338 downregulations and miR-338 associated with clinical characteristics was validated in an extended samples set of 36 paired HCC and adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. RESULTS Out of our bead-based microarray data, 12 upregulated and 19 downregulated miRNA were found to be associated with HCC. Further characterization of miRNA-338, in which 20 pairs of the samples were clustered clearly into two groups according to expression of miR-338, revealed that the level of miR-338 expression can be associated with clinical aggressiveness, such as, tumor size, tumor-node-metastasis stage, vascular invasion and intrahepatic metastasis. These results were validated by real-time RT-PCR analysis. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that miRNA expression could have relevance to the clinical behavior of HCC and that the bead-based miRNA expression profiling method might be a suitable system to assay miRNA expression in large-scale diagnostic trails.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Hui Huang
- Surgical Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
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209
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Role of CXCR4/SDF-1 alpha in the migratory phenotype of hepatoma cells that have undergone epithelial-mesenchymal transition in response to the transforming growth factor-beta. Cell Signal 2009; 21:1595-606. [PMID: 19586611 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2009.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2009] [Revised: 05/27/2009] [Accepted: 06/26/2009] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of FaO rat hepatoma cells with TGF-beta selects cells that survive to its apoptotic effect and undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMT). We have established a cell line (T beta T-FaO, from TGF-beta-treated FaO) that shows a mesenchymal, de-differentiated, phenotype in the presence of TGF-beta and is refractory to its suppressor effects. In the absence of this cytokine, cells revert to an epithelial phenotype in 3-4 weeks and recover the response to TGF-beta. T beta T-FaO show higher capacity to migrate than that observed in the parental FaO cells. We found that FaO cells express low levels of CXCR4 and do not respond to SDF-1 alpha. However, TGF-beta up-regulates CXCR4, through a NF kappaB-dependent mechanism, and T beta T-FaO cells show elevated levels of CXCR4, which is located in the presumptive migration front. A specific CXCR4 antagonist (AMD3100) attenuates the migratory capacity of T beta T-FaO cells on collagen gels. Extracellular SDF-1 alpha activates the ERKs pathway in T beta T-FaO, but not in FaO cells, increasing cell scattering and protecting cells from apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. Targeted knock-down of CXCR4 with specific siRNA blocks the T beta T-FaO response to SDF-1 alpha. Thus, the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis might play an important role in mediating cell migration and survival after a TGF-beta-induced EMT in hepatoma cells.
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210
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Zhang B, Halder SK, Zhang S, Datta PK. Targeting transforming growth factor-beta signaling in liver metastasis of colon cancer. Cancer Lett 2009; 277:114-20. [PMID: 19147275 PMCID: PMC2776056 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2008.11.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2008] [Revised: 11/19/2008] [Accepted: 11/27/2008] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Despite a primary tumor suppressor role, there is compelling evidence suggesting that TGF-beta can promote tumor growth, invasion and metastasis in advanced stages of colorectal cancer. Blocking these tumor-promoting effects of TGF-beta provides a potentially important therapeutic strategy for the treatment of colorectal cancer. However, little is known about how the inhibitors of TGF-beta receptor kinases affect colorectal carcinogenesis in vivo. Here, we have observed that a novel dual kinase inhibitor of TGF-beta type I and type II receptors, LY2109761, inhibits TGF-beta-mediated activation of Smad and non-Smad pathways in CT26 colon adenocarcinoma cells having K-Ras mutation. The inhibitor attenuates the oncogenic effects of TGF-beta on cell migration, invasion and tumorigenicity of CT26 cells. Furthermore, LY2109761 decreases liver metastases and prolongs survival in an experimental metastasis model. These findings suggest that the dual kinase inhibitor LY2109761 has potential therapeutic value for metastatic colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bixiang Zhang
- Departments of Surgery and Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Sunil K. Halder
- Departments of Surgery and Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Sanguo Zhang
- Departments of Surgery and Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Pran K. Datta
- Departments of Surgery and Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
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211
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Nishimura T, Azuma T, Yokoyama A, Ochiai H, Saito H, Hibi T. New mechanism of transforming growth factor-beta signaling in hepatoma: Dramatic up-regulation of tumor initiating cells and epidermal growth factor receptor expression. Hepatol Res 2009; 39:501-9. [PMID: 19261001 DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2008.00480.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
AIM Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has dual activity in tumor cells. We studied the effect of TGF-beta on tumor-initiating cells (TICs), which are similar in self-renewal and differentiation features to normal adult stem cells. METHODS We used side population (SP) cells that exclude DNA binding dye Hoechst 33342 to obtain TICs, studied the differences in the kinetics of the SP cell response to TGF-beta treatment between hepatic tumor cell lines, and performed gene analysis. RESULTS SP cells from all cell lines have higher proliferative ability compared to non-SP cells and they are drug resistant. TGF-beta treatment increased the percentage of SP cells (%SP) and the survival rate; chemotherapeutic drug resistance developed only in K-251 SP cells. Gene analysis showed that TGF-beta up-regulated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) only in K-251 cells. There were no EGFR mutations in K-251, which had been reported in lung cancer. Knockdown of Smad4 using the small-interfering RNA technique in K-251 cells inhibited EGFR overexpression and significantly decreased the %SP. In contrast, the JNK inhibitor had little effect on EGFR expression or the %SP. CONCLUSION TGF-beta treatment of K-251 cells causes tumor progression and the anti-cancer drug resistant phenotype by increasing SP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Nishimura
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Keio University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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212
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Tanaka S, Mogushi K, Yasen M, Noguchi N, Kudo A, Kurokawa T, Nakamura N, Inazawa J, Tanaka H, Arii S. Surgical contribution to recurrence-free survival in patients with macrovascular-invasion-negative hepatocellular carcinoma. J Am Coll Surg 2009; 208:368-374. [PMID: 19317998 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2008.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2008] [Revised: 10/09/2008] [Accepted: 10/29/2008] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Macroscopic vascular invasion (MVI) is a well-known indicator of recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) even after curative hepatectomy, but the clinicopathologic and molecular features of the recurrence remain unclear in MVI-negative HCC. STUDY DESIGN Two hundred seven consecutive patients with confirmed primary MVI-negative HCC were retrospectively assessed after curative resection, with special emphasis on the importance of anatomically systematized hepatectomy. HCC tissues were also analyzed for genome-wide gene expression profile of each tumor using a microarray technique. RESULTS Univariant analysis of HCC recurrence revealed multiple tumors (p < 0.001), moderate to poor differentiation (p = 0.044), Child-Pugh B/C (p = 0.047), alpha-fetoprotein elevation (p = 0.007), and nonanatomic hepatectomy (p = 0.010) as risk factors. According to Cox hazard multivariant analysis, multiple tumors (p = 0.002), alpha-fetoprotein elevation (p < 0.001), and nonanatomic hepatectomy (p = 0.002) were identified as independent factors of the recurrence. In the recurrent cases after anatomic hepatectomy for HCC, local recurrence was significantly infrequent compared with those after nonanatomic hepatectomy (p < 0.001). Network expression analysis using cDNA microarray revealed distinct signaling pathways of epithelial-mesenchymal transitions are associated with recurrence after anatomically systematized hepatectomy. CONCLUSIONS Anatomically systematized hepatectomy might contribute to recurrence-free survival of HCC patients of HCC without MVI. Local recurrence could be mostly averted by anatomic hepatectomy, although specific epithelial-mesenchymal transitions signaling might regulate the biologic aggressiveness of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Tanaka
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
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213
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Fransvea E, Mazzocca A, Antonaci S, Giannelli G. Targeting transforming growth factor (TGF)-betaRI inhibits activation of beta1 integrin and blocks vascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2009; 49:839-50. [PMID: 19115199 DOI: 10.1002/hep.22731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Vascular invasion is one of the major negative prognostic factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), leading to cancer recurrence. To invade, HCC cells must penetrate the vessel wall, consisting of endothelial cells and extracellular matrix components, including fibronectin and fibrinogen. Employing invasive and noninvasive HCC cells, we studied the mechanism underlying vascular invasion. We show that HCC cells invade blood vessels via alpha5beta1, that is equally expressed in invasive and noninvasive cells. However, in the former, the intracytoplasmic tail of beta1 integrin is constitutively phosphorylated at threonine 788-789 and the extracellular part is conformationally activated. In noninvasive cells, beta1 integrin is not activated. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 specifically phosphorylates beta1 integrin (threonine 788-789) via Smad-2 and Smad-3, causing a conformational change of the extracellular component with an inside-out mechanism. This leads noninvasive HCC cells to behave like invasive cells. A selective TGF-betaRI inhibitor inhibits phosphorylation of the beta1 integrin intracytoplasmic tail, and blocks invasion of HCC cells, both constitutively invasive and with acquired invasive properties. In human HCC tissues with microvascular invasion, phospho-beta1 integrin was detected as well as TGF-beta1, p-Smad-2, and E-cadherin. CONCLUSION TGF-beta1 promotes vascular invasion by activating beta1 integrin. This suggests a rationale for targeting TGF-betaRI in future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Fransvea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine; University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy.
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214
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Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem, being the sixth most common cancer world-wide. Dysregulation of the balance between proliferation and cell death represents a pro-tumorigenic principle in human hepatocarcinogenesis. This review updates the recent relevant contributions reporting molecular alterations for HCC that induce an imbalance in the regulation of apoptosis. Alterations in the expression and/or activation of p53 are frequent in HCC cells, which confer on them resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. Many HCCs are also insensitive to apoptosis induced either by death receptor ligands, such as FasL or TRAIL, or by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Although the expression of some pro-apoptotic genes is decreased, the balance between death and survival is dysregulated in HCC mainly due to overactivation of anti-apoptotic pathways. Indeed, some molecules involved in counteracting apoptosis, such as Bcl-XL, Mcl-1, c-IAP1, XIAP or survivin are over-expressed in HCC cells. Furthermore, some growth factors that mediate cell survival are up-regulated in HCC, as well as the molecules involved in the machinery responsible for cleavage of their pro-forms to an active peptide. The expression and/or activation of the JAK/STAT, PI3K/AKT and RAS/ERKs pathways are enhanced in many HCC cells, conferring on them resistance to apoptotic stimuli. Finally, recent evidence indicates that inflammatory processes, as well as the epithelial-mesenchymal transitions that occur in HCC cells to facilitate their dissemination, are related to cell survival. Therefore, therapeutic strategies to selectively inhibit anti-apoptotic signals in liver tumor cells have the potential to provide powerful tools to treat HCC.
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215
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Chen JS, Wang Q, Fu XH, Huang XH, Chen XL, Cao LQ, Chen LZ, Tan HX, Li W, Bi J, Zhang LJ. Involvement of PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway in invasion and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma: Association with MMP-9. Hepatol Res 2009; 39:177-86. [PMID: 19208038 DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2008.00449.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 275] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AIM To investigate the status of Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/PTEN/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and its correlation with clinicopathological features and matrix metalloproteinase-2, -9 (MMP-2, 9) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS PTEN, Phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT), Phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR), MMP-2, MMP-9 and Ki-67 expression levels were evaluated by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays containing 200 HCCs with paired adjacent non-cancerous liver tissues. PTEN, MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA levels were determined by real-time RT-PCR in 36 HCCs. The relationships between PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway and clinicopathological factors and MMP-2, 9 were analyzed in HCC. RESULTS In HCC, PTEN loss and overexpression of p-AKT and p-mTOR were associated with tumor grade, intrahepatic metastasis, vascular invasion, TNM stage and high Ki-67 labeling index (P < 0.05). PTEN loss was correlated with p-AKT, p-mTOR and MMP-9 overexpression. Furthermore, PTEN and MMP-2, 9 mRNA levels were down-regulated and up-regulated in HCC compared with paired non-cancerous liver tissues, respectively (P < 0.01). PTEN, MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA levels were correlated with tumor stage and metastasis. There was an inverse correlation between PTEN and MMP-9 mRNA expression. However, PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway was not correlated with MMP-2. CONCLUSIONS PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway, which is activated in HCC, is involved in invasion and metastasis through up-regulating MMP-9 in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Song Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery , The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
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216
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Lee SJ, Yang JW, Cho IJ, Kim WD, Cho MK, Lee CH, Kim SG. The gep oncogenes, Galpha(12) and Galpha(13), upregulate the transforming growth factor-beta1 gene. Oncogene 2009; 28:1230-40. [PMID: 19151758 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2008.488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1) plays a role in neoplastic transformation and transdifferentiation. Galpha(12) and Galpha(13), referred to as the gep oncogenes, stimulate mitogenic pathways. Nonetheless, no information is available regarding their roles in the regulation of the TGFbeta1 gene and the molecules linking them to gene transcription. Knockdown or knockout experiments using murine embryonic fibroblasts and hepatic stellate cells indicated that a Galpha(12) and Galpha(13) deficiency reduced constitutive, auto-stimulatory or thrombin-inducible TGFbeta1 gene expression. In contrast, transfection of activated mutants of Galpha(12) and Galpha(13) enabled the knockout cells to promote TGFbeta1 induction. A promoter deletion analysis suggested that activating protein 1 (AP-1) plays a role in TGFbeta1 gene transactivation, which was corroborated by the observation that a deficiency of the G-proteins decreased the AP-1 activity, whereas their activation enhanced it. Moreover, mutation of the AP-1-binding site abrogated the ability of Galpha(12) and Galpha(13) to induce the TGFbeta1 gene. Transfection of a dominant-negative mutant of Rho or Rac, but not Cdc42, prevented gene transactivation and decreased AP-1 activity downstream of Galpha(12) and Galpha(13). In summary, Galpha(12) and Galpha(13) regulate the expression of the TGFbeta1 gene through an increase in Rho/Rac-dependent AP-1 activity, implying that the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-Galpha(12) pathway is involved in the TGFbeta1-mediated transdifferentiation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Lee
- Innovative Drug Research Center for Metabolic and Inflammatory Disease, College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Kwanak-Gu, Seoul, Korea
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Yao DF, Gu WJ, Li YM. Expression and dynamic alteration of hepatoma-related growth factors during malignant transformation of hepatocytes. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2008; 16:2570-2575. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v16.i23.2570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common hepatic malignancy worldwide. Its nature of rapid growth results in a grave prognosis. Its treatment is challenging because the mechanisms underlying tumor progression are still largely unknown. Recently, new molecular targets have been confirmed and various targeted agents are now being investigated for the treatment of HCC. The progression of HCC is closely associated with expression of hepatic growth factors that may be molecular targets for HCC treatment. This paper concludes the expression characters and dynamic changes of several hepatoma-related growth factors such as IGF-Ⅱ, VEGF, TGF-β1 and HGF.
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