SETD1A augments sorafenib primary resistance via activating YAP in hepatocellular carcinoma

Sorafenib resistance and therapeutic strategies in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the most prevalent and lethal cancers globally. While surgical resection and liver transplantation offer potential cures for early-stage HCC, the majority of patients are diagnosed at advanced stages where such interventions are not viable. Sorafenib, a multi-target kinase inhibitor, has been a cornerstone in the treatment of advanced HCC since its approval in 2007. Despite its significant clinical impact, less than half of the treated patients derive long-term benefits due to the emergence of resistance and associated side effects. This review focuses on the role of sorafenib, an FDA-approved multi-target kinase inhibitor, in treating advanced HCC, discusses the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects and associated resistance, and explores additional therapeutic strategies being investigated to improve patient outcomes.

Advancements in elucidating the mechanisms of Sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma

Primary liver cancer is a major global health challenge, of which hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common. For patients with advanced liver cancer, Sorafenib is a first-line targeted drug that occupies a dominant position in clinical applications. Sorafenib is a multi-kinase inhibitor commonly used in clinical practice, which can effectively inhibit tumor cell proliferation, promote cell apoptosis, and inhibit angiogenesis. However, the emergence of drug resistance has hindered the development of treatment programs, which is an urgent problem to be solved. Recent studies have revealed many mechanisms and influencing factors of Sorafenib resistance (such as epigenetic regulation, programmed cell death, metabolic reprogramming, and tumor microenvironment changes). This review not only summarizes the above mechanisms, but also summarizes the combined application of Sorafenib with other drugs (such as molecular targeted drugs, other anti-angiogenesis drugs, cytotoxic drugs, immunotherapy drugs, etc .). Finally, potential strategies and research directions to overcome drug resistance (such as targeting epigenetic pathways or metabolic reprogramming) are discussed to provide suggestions for future in-depth research and clinical applications.

Drug resistance in TKI therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: Mechanisms and strategies

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are such as sorafenib the first-line therapeutic drugs for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. However, patients with TKI-resistant advanced liver cancer are insensitive to TKI treatment, resulting in limited survival benefits. This paper comprehensively reviewed the mechanisms underlying TKI resistance in hepatocytes, investigating activation of tumor signaling pathways, epigenetic regulation, tumor microenvironment, and metabolic reprogramming. Based on resistance mechanisms, it also reviews preclinical and clinical studies of drug resistance strategies and summarizes targeted therapy combined with immunotherapy currently in investigational clinical trials. Understanding the interactions and clinical studies of these resistance mechanisms offers new hope for improving and prolonging patient survival.

Potential mechanism of circKIAA1429 accelerating the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

This study investigates the underlying mechanism of circKIAA1429 (hsa_circ_0084922) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression.

METHODS

circKIAA1429, SETD1A, NAP1L3, and GLIS2 expressions in HCC cells were detected by RT-qPCR or western blot. The stability of circKIAA1429 was tested after treatment with actinomycin D and Rnase R enzyme. circKIAA1429 expression was knocked down, followed by detection of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration/invasion using CCK-8, flow cytometry, and transwell. RIP and RNA pull-down were performed to validate the binding between circKIAA1429 and SETD1A, while ChIP analysis determined the enrichment of SETD1A and H3K4me3 or H3K27me3 on GLIS2 or NAP1L3 promoter. A nude mouse xenograft tumor model was establish to test the effect of circKIAA1429 on tumorigenicity.

RESULTS

circKIAA1429 and NAP1L3 were highly expressed in HCC cells, while GLIS2 was poorly expressed. Knockdown of circKIAA1429 repressed cell proliferation/invasion/migration and facilitated apoptosis. Mechanistically, circKIAA1429 directly interacted with SETD1A to reduce the enrichment of SETD1A and H3K4me3 or H3K27me3 on GLIS2 or NAP1L3 promoter, thus diminishing GLIS2 expression and elevating NAP1L3 expression. In vivo, circKIAA1429 promotes tumorigenesis via GLIS2/NAP1L3.

CONCLUSION

circKIAA1429 interacts with SETD1A to inhibit the enrichment of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 on GLIS2 or NAP1L3 promoter, thus inhibiting/promoting the expression of GLIS2/NAP1L3 and accelerating the progression of HCC.

Positive feedback between arginine methylation of YAP and methionine transporter SLC43A2 drives anticancer drug resistance

Yes-associated protein (YAP) activation confers resistance to chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Methionine participates in cellular processes by converting to methyl donor for the methylation of DNA, RNA and protein. However, it remains unclear whether methionine affects drug resistance by influencing YAP activity. In this study, we report that methionine deprivation remarkably suppresses the transcriptional activity of YAP-TEAD in cancer cells. Methionine promotes PRMT1-catalyzed asymmetric dimethylation at R124 of YAP (YAP R124me2a). Mimicking of YAP methylation abolishes the reduction effect of methionine-restricted diet on YAP-induced drug resistance. YAP activates the transcription of SLC43A2, the methionine transporter, to increase methionine uptake in cancer cells. Knockdown of SLC43A2 decreases the level of YAP R124me2a. BCH, the inhibitor of SLC43A2, sensitizes tumors to anticancer drugs. Thus, our results unravel the positive feedback between YAP R124 methylation and SLC43A2 that contributes to anticancer drug resistance. Disrupting this positive feedback could be a potential strategy for cancer therapy.

Therapeutic targeting potential of the protein lysine and arginine methyltransferases to reverse cancer chemoresistance

Cancer treatments have continued to improve tremendously over the past decade, but therapy resistance is still a common, major factor encountered by patients diagnosed with cancer. Chemoresistance arises due to various circumstances and among these causes, increasing evidence has shown that enzymes referred to as protein methyltransferases (PMTs) play a significant role in the development of chemoresistance in various cancers. These enzymes are responsible for the methylation of different amino acids, particularly lysine and arginine, via protein lysine methyltransferases (PKMTs) and protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs), respectively. Various PMTs have been identified to be dysregulated in the development of cancer and chemoresistance. Nonetheless, the functional role of these PMTs in the development of chemoresistance is poorly characterised. This advocates the need for innovative approaches and technologies suitable for better characterisation of these PMTs and their potential clinical inhibitors. In the case of a handful of PMTs, inhibitory small molecules which can function as anticancer drugs have been developed and have also entered clinical trials. Considering all this, PMTs have become a promising and valuable target in cancer chemoresistance related research. This review will give a small introduction on the different PKMTs and PRMTs families which are dysregulated in different cancers and the known proteins targeted by the respective enzymes. The focus will then shift towards PMTs known to be involved in chemoresistance development and the inhibitors developed against these, together with their mode of action. Lastly, the current obstacles and future perspectives of PMT inhibitors in cancer chemoresistance will be discussed.

Mechanism and application of feedback loops formed by mechanotransduction and histone modifications

Mechanical stimulation is the key physical factor in cell environment. Mechanotransduction acts as a fundamental regulator of cell behavior, regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and exhibiting specific signature alterations during the pathological process. As research continues, the role of epigenetic science in mechanotransduction is attracting attention. However, the molecular mechanism of the synergistic effect between mechanotransduction and epigenetics in physiological and pathological processes has not been clarified. We focus on how histone modifications, as important components of epigenetics, are coordinated with multiple signaling pathways to control cell fate and disease progression. Specifically, we propose that histone modifications can form regulatory feedback loops with signaling pathways, that is, histone modifications can not only serve as downstream regulators of signaling pathways for target gene transcription but also provide feedback to regulate signaling pathways. Mechanotransduction and epigenetic changes could be potential markers and therapeutic targets in clinical practice.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane Protein Complex Regulates Cancer Stem Cells and is Associated with Sorafenib Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic targets. This study aimed to elucidate the role of endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein complex subunit 1 (EMC1) in HCC progression and its therapeutic potential.

Methods

Publicly available sequencing data and biopsy specimens were analyzed to assess EMC's clinical value and functions in HCC. In vitro experiments validated EMC functions, and multiplex immunofluorescence analysis examined EMC-associated sorafenib resistance mechanisms. EMC1 expression was knocked down in HCC cell lines, followed by cell viability, wound healing, and transwell migration assays. Tumor growth and response to sorafenib treatment were evaluated in mouse models. Metabolomic analysis assessed changes in the TCA cycle.

Results

EMC genes were aberrantly expressed in HCC, and high EMC1 expression correlated with poorer survival rates. EMC1 disruption enhanced HCC cells' sensitivity to sorafenib, reducing cell viability, increasing apoptosis, and decreasing tumor size and weight. EMC1 maintained cancer cell stemness and promoted M2 macrophage infiltration. Metabolomic analysis revealed significant changes in the TCA cycle, indicating EMC1's role in HCC metabolic reprogramming. Importantly, EMC1 is highly associated with sorafenib resistance, potentially linked to CTNNB1 mutation or activation.

Conclusion

EMC1 plays a critical role in regulating the sorafenib resistance in HCC. Targeting EMC1 may improve HCC treatment efficacy.

LINC00540 promotes sorafenib resistance and functions as a ceRNA for miR-4677-3p to regulate AKR1C2 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Sorafenib resistance is one of the main causes of poor prognosis in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) function as suppressors or oncogenic factors during tumor progression and drug resistance. Here, to identify therapeutic targets for HCC, the biological mechanisms of abnormally expressed lncRNAs were examined in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. Specifically, we established sorafenib-resistant HCC cell lines (Huh7-S and SMMC7721-S), which displayed an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed to established differential lncRNA expression profiles for sorafenib-resistant cells. Through this analysis, we identified LINC00540 as significantly up-regulated in sorafenib-resistant cells and a candidate lncRNA for further mechanistic investigation. Functionally, LINC00540 knockdown promoted sorafenib sensitivity and suppressed migration, invasion, EMT and the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells, whereas overexpression of LINC00540 resulted in the opposite effects in parental cells. LINC00540 functions as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by competitively binding to miR-4677-3p , thereby promoting AKR1C2 expression. This is the first study that demonstrates a role for LINC00540 in enhancing sorafenib resistance, migration and invasion of HCC cells through the LINC00540/miR-4677-3p/AKR1C2 axis, suggesting that LINC00540 may represent a potential therapeutic target and prognosis biomarker for HCC.

Histone methyltransferase SETD1A interacts with notch and promotes notch transactivation to augment ovarian cancer development

BACKGROUND

High expression of SETD1A, a histone methyltransferase that specifically methylates H3K4, acted as a key oncogene in several human cancers. However, the function and underlying molecular mechanism of SETD1A in ovarian cancer (OV) remain markedly unknown.

METHODS

The expression of SETD1A in OV were detected by Western blot and analyzed online, and the prognosis of STED1A in OV were analyzed online. The protein and mRNA levels were determined by Western blot and RT-qPCR. The cell proliferatin, migration and invasion were measured by CCK-8 and transwell assays. The protein interaction was detected by co-IP assay. The interaction between protein and DNA was performed by ChIP assay. The tumor growth in vivo was performed by xenograft tumor model.

RESULTS

SETD1A was overexpressed in OV and a predictor of poor prognosis. Overexpression of SETD1A augmented the abilities of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in MRG1 and OVCAR5 cells. In comparison, SETD1A knockdown suppressed cell growth, migration, and invasion in SKOV3 and Caov3 cells. Specifically, SETD1A enhanced Notch signaling by promoting the expression of Notch target genes, such as Hes1, Hey1, Hey2, and Heyl. Mechanistically, SETD1A interacted with Notch1 and methylated H3K4me3 at Notch1 targets to enhance Notch signaling. In addition, restoration of Notch1 in SETD1A-knockdown OV cells recovered cell proliferation, migration and invasion, which was inhibited by SETD1A knockdown. Furthermore, reduction of SETD1A suppressed tumorigenesis in vivo.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our results highlighted the key role of SETD1A in OV development and proved that SETD1A promotes OV development by enhancing Notch1 signaling, indicating that SETD1A may be a novel target for OV treatment.

SETD1A promotes the proliferation and glycolysis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is one of the common malignant tumors that the pathogenesis has not yet been completely defined. SETD1A (histone lysine methyltransferase SET domain-containing 1A) is related to the occurrence of various cancers. However, the role of SETD1A in nasopharyngeal carcinoma remains unclear. The SETD1A overexpression vector, si-NC, si-SETD1A#1, and si-SETD1A#2 were transfected into nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells to overexpress or knockdown SETD1A expression. The assay of biofunction was used to explore the role of SETD1A in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. The assay of glucose uptake, lactate release, ATP level, western blot, cell proliferation, and cellular apoptosis analysis were performed to investigate the potential mechanism of SETD1A regulation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This study was the first to show that SETD1A was upregulated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells and the overexpression of SETD1A significantly promoted the cell proliferation and glycolysis and suppressed the cellular apoptosis. Moreover, SETD1A enhances aerobic glycolysis and cell biological function of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. SETD1A induced PI3K/AKT activation and subsequently prevented cellular apoptosis. In conclusion, this study identified overexpressed SETD1A as a positive regulator of proliferation that induced nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells’ aerobic glycolysis via PI3K/AKT signaling activation in vitro. This study laid a strong foundation for unveiling the precise anticancer mechanism of SETD1A. The SETD1A may become a novel biomarker for further inhibitor design to obstruct the PI3K/AKT-dependent nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression.

Link of sorafenib resistance with the tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma: Mechanistic insights

Sorafenib, a multi-kinase inhibitor with antiangiogenic, antiproliferative, and proapoptotic properties, is the first-line treatment for patients with late-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the therapeutic effect remains limited due to sorafenib resistance. Only about 30% of HCC patients respond well to the treatment, and the resistance almost inevitably happens within 6 months. Thus, it is critical to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and identify effective approaches to improve the therapeutic outcome. According to recent studies, tumor microenvironment (TME) and immune escape play critical roles in tumor occurrence, metastasis and anti-cancer drug resistance. The relevant mechanisms were focusing on hypoxia, tumor-associated immune-suppressive cells, and immunosuppressive molecules. In this review, we focus on sorafenib resistance and its relationship with liver cancer immune microenvironment, highlighting the importance of breaking sorafenib resistance in HCC.

KAT6A is associated with sorafenib resistance and contributes to progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting YAP

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent solid cancer worldwide and sorafenib is a common treatment. Nevertheless, sorafenib resistance is a severe clinical problem. In the present study, we identified that epigenetic regulator, KAT6A, was overexpressed in clinical HCC tissues and sorafenib-resistant HCC samples. The depletion of KAT6A repressed the cell viability and Edu-positive cell numbers of HCC cells. The IC50 value of sorafenib was increased in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. In addition, the expression of KAT6A was induced in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. The depletion of KAT6A suppressed the IC50 of sorafenib. Mechanically, YAP was decreased by the depletion of KAT6A. KAT6A was able to enrich in the promoter of YAP. The silencing of KAT6A reduced the enrichment of histone H3 lysine 23 acetylation (H3K23ac) and RNA polymerase II (RNA pol II) on the promoter of YAP in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. KAT6A inhibitor WM-1119 repressed the cell proliferation of sorafenib-resistant HCC cells, while overexpression of KAT6A or YAP could reverse the effect in the cells. Meanwhile, the treatment of sorafenib inhibited the viability of sorafenib-resistant HCC cells, while the co-treatment of WM-1119 could improve the effect of sorafenib. Collectively, KAT6A was associated with sorafenib resistance and contributes to progression of HCC by targeting YAP. Targeting KAT6A may be served as a promising therapeutic approach for HCC.

An SETD1A/Wnt/β-catenin feedback loop promotes NSCLC development

Background

SETD1A, a member of SET1/MLL family H3K4 methyltransferases, is involved in the tumorigenesis of numerous cancers. However, the biological role and mechanism of SETD1A in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain to be elucidated.

Methods

The expression of SETD1A, NEAT1, EZH2, and β-catenin in NSCLC tissues and cell lines was detected by qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The regulatory mechanisms were validated by chromatin immunoprecipitation, co-immunoprepitation and luciferase reporter assay. The self-renewal, cisplatin sensitivity and tumorigenesis of NSCLC cells were analyzed using sphere formation, CCK-8, colony formation assays and xenograft tumor models.

Results

SETD1A expression was significantly increased in NSCLC and its overexpression predicted a poor prognosis of patients with NSCLC. Functional experiments showed that SETD1A positively regulated cancer stem cell property and negatively regulated cisplatin sensitivity in NSCLC cells via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Next, we found that SETD1A positively regulated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway via interacting with and stabilizing β-catenin. The SET domain is dispensable for the interaction between SETD1A and β-catenin. Furthermore, we identified that SETD1A bound to the promoters of NEAT1 and EZH2 to activate gene transcription by inducing H3K4me3 enrichment. Rescue experiments showed that SETD1A promoted the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and exerted its oncogenic functions in NSCLC, at least, partly through NEAT1 and EZH2 upregulation. In addition, SETD1A was proven to be a direct target of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, thus forming a positive feedback loop in NSCLC cells.

Conclusion

SETD1A and Wnt/β-catenin pathway form a positive feedback loop and coordinately contribute to NSCLC progression.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-02119-x.

Histone H3K4 Methyltransferases as Targets for Drug-Resistant Cancers

The KMT2 (MLL) family of proteins, including the major histone H3K4 methyltransferase found in mammals, exists as large complexes with common subunit proteins and exhibits enzymatic activity. SMYD, another H3K4 methyltransferase, and SET7/9 proteins catalyze the methylation of several non-histone targets, in addition to histone H3K4 residues. Despite these structural and functional commonalities, H3K4 methyltransferase proteins have specificity for their target genes and play a role in the development of various cancers as well as in drug resistance. In this review, we examine the overall role of histone H3K4 methyltransferase in the development of various cancers and in the progression of drug resistance. Compounds that inhibit protein-protein interactions between KMT2 family proteins and their common subunits or the activity of SMYD and SET7/9 are continuously being developed for the treatment of acute leukemia, triple-negative breast cancer, and castration-resistant prostate cancer. These H3K4 methyltransferase inhibitors, either alone or in combination with other drugs, are expected to play a role in overcoming drug resistance in leukemia and various solid cancers.

Histone Methyltransferase SETD1A Induces Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition to Promote Invasion and Metastasis Through Epigenetic Reprogramming of Snail in Gastric Cancer

Aberrant epigenetic modification induces oncogene expression and promotes cancer development. The histone lysine methyltransferase SETD1A, which specifically methylates histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4), is involved in tumor growth and metastasis, and its ectopic expression has been detected in aggressive malignancies. Our previous study reported that SETD1A promotes gastric cancer (GC) proliferation and tumorigenesis. However, the function and molecular mechanisms of SETD1A in GC metastasis remain to be elucidated. In this study, we found that overexpression of SETD1A promoted GC migration and invasion, whereas knockdown of SETD1A suppressed GC migration and invasion in vitro. Moreover, knockdown of SETD1A suppressed GC epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by increasing the expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin and decreasing the expression of mesenchymal markers, including N-cadherin, Fibronectin, Vimentin, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Mechanistically, knockdown of SETD1A reduced the EMT key transcriptional factor snail expression. SETD1A was recruited to the promoter of snail, where SETD1A could methylate H3K4. However, knockdown of SETD1A decreased the methylation of H3K4 on the snail promoter. Furthermore, SETD1A could be a coactivator of snail to induce EMT gene expression. Rescue of snail restored SETD1A knockdown-induced GC migration and invasion inhibition. In addition, knockdown of SETD1A suppressed GC metastasis in vivo. In summary, our data revealed that SETD1A mediated the EMT process and induced metastasis through epigenetic reprogramming of snail.