1
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Wang Z, Li R, Yang G, Wang Y. Cancer stem cell biomarkers and related signalling pathways. J Drug Target 2024; 32:33-44. [PMID: 38095181 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2023.2295222] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a distinct subset of neoplastic cells characterised by their heightened capacity for tumorigenesis. These cells are implicated in the facilitation of cancer metastasis, recurrence, and resistance to conventional therapeutic interventions. Extensive scientific research has been devoted to the identification of biomarkers and the elucidation of molecular mechanisms in order to improve targeted therapeutic approaches. Accurate identification of cancer stem cells based on biomarkers can provide a theoretical basis for drug combinations of malignant tumours. Targeted biomarker-based therapies also offer a silver lining for patients with advanced malignancies. This review aims comprehensively to consolidate the latest findings on CSCs biomarkers, targeted agents as well as biomarkers associated signalling pathways in well-established cancer types, thereby contributing to improved prognostic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Wang
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Rui Li
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guilin Yang
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yijin Wang
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
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2
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Bomfim LM, Neves SP, Coelho AMRM, Nogueira ML, Dias RB, Valverde LDF, Rocha CAG, Soares MBP, Batista AA, Correa RS, Bezerra DP. Ru(II)-based complexes containing 2-thiouracil derivatives suppress liver cancer stem cells by targeting NF-κB and Akt/mTOR signaling. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:270. [PMID: 38830859 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-02036-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are defined as a rare population of cancer cells related to tumor initiation and maintenance. These cells are primarily responsible for tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, recurrence, and resistance to chemotherapy. In this paper, we demonstrated the ability of Ru(II)-based complexes containing 2-thiouracil derivatives with the chemical formulas trans-[Ru(2TU)(PPh3)2(bipy)]PF6 (1) and trans-[Ru(6m2TU)(PPh3)2(bipy)]PF6 (2) (where 2TU = 2-thiouracil and 6m2TU = 6-methyl-2-thiouracil) to suppress liver CSCs by targeting NF-κB and Akt/mTOR signaling. Complexes 1 and 2 displayed potent cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines and suppressed liver CSCs from HepG2 cells. Increased phosphatidylserine exposure, loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, increased PARP (Asp214) cleavage, DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation and cytoplasmic shrinkage were detected in HepG2 cells treated with these complexes. Mechanistically, complexes 1 and 2 target NF-κB and Akt/mTOR signaling in HepG2 cells. Cell motility inhibition was also detected in HepG2 cells treated with these complexes. Complexes 1 and 2 also inhibited tumor progression in mice with HepG2 cell xenografts and exhibited tolerable systemic toxicity. Taken together, these results indicate that these complexes are new anti-HCC drug candidates that can suppress liver CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa M Bomfim
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Sara P Neves
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Amanda M R M Coelho
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Mateus L Nogueira
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Rosane B Dias
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
- Department of Propedeutics, School of Dentistry of the Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, 40110-909, Brazil
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 44036-900, Brazil
| | - Ludmila de F Valverde
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
- Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Sergipe, Lagarto, Sergipe, 49400-000, Brazil
| | - Clarissa A G Rocha
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
- Department of Propedeutics, School of Dentistry of the Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, 40110-909, Brazil
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine of the Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, 40110-909, Brazil
- Center for Biotechnology and Cell Therapy, D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Salvador, Bahia, 41253-190, Brazil
| | - Milena B P Soares
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems, University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador, Bahia, 41650-010, Brazil
| | - Alzir A Batista
- Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, São Paulo, São Carlos, 13561-901, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo S Correa
- Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Daniel P Bezerra
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil.
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3
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Peng H, Feng K, Jia W, Li Y, Lv Q, Zhang Y. An integrated investigation of sulfotransferases (SULTs) in hepatocellular carcinoma and identification of the role of SULT2A1 on stemness. Apoptosis 2024; 29:898-919. [PMID: 38411862 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-024-01938-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
The cytosolic sulfotransferases (SULTs) are phase II conjugating enzymes, which are widely expressed in the liver and mainly mediate the sulfation of numerous xenobiotics and endogenous compounds. However, the role of various SULTs genes has not been reported in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aims to analyze the expression and potential functional roles of SULTs genes in HCC and to identify the role of SULT2A1 in HCC stemness as well as the possible mechanism. We found that all of the 12 SULTs genes were differentially expressed in HCC. Moreover, clinicopathological features and survival rates were also investigated. Multivariate regression analysis showed that SULT2A1 and SULT1C2 could be used as independent prognostic factors in HCC. SULT1C4, SULT1E1, and SULT2A1 were significantly associated with immune infiltration. SULT2A1 deficiency in HCC promoted chemotherapy resistance and stemness maintenance. Mechanistically, silencing of SULT2A1 activated the AKT signaling pathway, on the one hand, promoted the expression of downstream stemness gene c-Myc, on the other hand, facilitated the NRF2 expression to reduce the accumulation of ROS, and jointly increased HCC stemness. Moreover, knockdown NR1I3 was involved in the transcriptional regulation of SULT2A1 in stemness maintenance. In addition, SULT2A1 knockdown HCC cells promoted the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), thereby exerting a potential stroma remodeling effect. Our study revealed the expression and role of SULTs genes in HCC and identified the contribution of SULT2A1 to the initiation and progression of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Peng
- Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Kun Feng
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Weilu Jia
- Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yunxin Li
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Qingpeng Lv
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yewei Zhang
- Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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4
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Yin J, Wang M, Chen J, Li H, Zhuo J, Lu B, Cai Y. CircZCCHC2 (hsa_circ_0000854) promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression through modulating miR-936/BTBD7 axis and activating Rho/ROCK2 pathway. Noncoding RNA Res 2024; 9:437-446. [PMID: 38511064 PMCID: PMC10950570 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2023.12.004] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most aggressive and refractory cancers due to its high propensity to metastasize and the unavailability of efficacious treatments. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) participate in diverse biological activities in human cancers. Here, we detected the upregulation of a novel circRNA, circZCCHC2 (hsa_circ_0000854), in HCC samples and cells. The upregulation indicated an unfavorable prognosis in HCC patients. CircZCCHC2 accelerated cell growth and metastasis in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. Mechanistic investigations revealed that circZCCHC2 regulated BTBD7 expression by sponging miR-936. Moreover, the suppression of malignancy caused by circZCCHC2 knockdown could be sufficiently reversed by miR-936 inhibition. Additionally, the suppressed Rho/ROCK2 pathway conferred by circZCCHC2 knockdown could be restored by inhibiting miR-936 expression. Collectively, our findings reveal that circZCCHC2 plays an oncogenic role of in HCC progression by modulating the miR-936/BTBD7/Rho/ROCK2 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Yin
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of medicine, Westlake university, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Mian Wang
- Department of Geriatric, Zhejiang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of medicine, Westlake university, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Huigang Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of medicine, Westlake university, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Jianyong Zhuo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of medicine, Westlake university, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Bei Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of medicine, Westlake university, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Yang Cai
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of medicine, Westlake university, Hangzhou, 310006, China
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5
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Shaban NZ, Hegazy WA, Abu-Serie MM, Talaat IM, Awad OM, Habashy NH. Seedless black Vitis vinifera polyphenols suppress hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo by targeting apoptosis, cancer stem cells, and proliferation. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116638. [PMID: 38688169 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116638] [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: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive tumor and one of the most challenging cancers to treat. Here, we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo ameliorating impacts of seedless black Vitis vinifera (VV) polyphenols on HCC. Following the preparation of the VV crude extract (VVCE) from seedless VV (pulp and skin), three fractions (VVF1, VVF2, and VVF3) were prepared. The anticancer potencies of the prepared fractions, compared to 5-FU, were assessed against HepG2 and Huh7 cells. In addition, the effects of these fractions on p-dimethylaminoazobenzene-induced HCC in mice were evaluated. The predicted impacts of selected phenolic constituents of VV fractions on the activity of essential HCC-associated enzymes (NADPH oxidase "NADPH-NOX2", histone deacetylase 1 "HDAC1", and sepiapterin reductase "SepR") were analyzed using molecular docking. The results showed that VVCE and its fractions induced apoptosis and collapsed CD133+ stem cells in the studied cancer cell lines with an efficiency greater than 5-FU. VVF1 and VVF2 exhibited the most effective anticancer fractions in vitro; therefore, we evaluated their influences in mice. VVF1 and VVF2 improved liver morphology and function, induced apoptosis, and lowered the fold expression of various crucial genes that regulate cancer stem cells and other vital pathways for HCC progression. For most of the examined parameters, VVF1 and VVF2 had higher potency than 5-FU, and VVF1 showed more efficiency than VVF2. The selected phenolic compounds displayed competitive inhibitory action on NADPH-NOX2, HDAC1, and SepR. In conclusion, these findings declare that VV polyphenolic fractions, particularly VVF1, could be promising safe anti-HCC agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Z Shaban
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21511, Egypt.
| | - Walaa A Hegazy
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21511, Egypt.
| | - Marwa M Abu-Serie
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering, and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg EL-Arab, Alexandria 21934, Egypt
| | - Iman M Talaat
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; Clinical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Olfat M Awad
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21511, Egypt.
| | - Noha H Habashy
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21511, Egypt
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Daks A, Parfenyev S, Shuvalov O, Fedorova O, Nazarov A, Melino G, Barlev NA. Lysine-specific methyltransferase Set7/9 in stemness, differentiation, and development. Biol Direct 2024; 19:41. [PMID: 38812048 PMCID: PMC11137904 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-024-00484-z] [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: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The enzymes performing protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) form a critical post-translational regulatory circuitry that orchestrates literally all cellular processes in the organism. In particular, the balance between cellular stemness and differentiation is crucial for the development of multicellular organisms. Importantly, the fine-tuning of this balance on the genetic level is largely mediated by specific PTMs of histones including lysine methylation. Lysine methylation is carried out by special enzymes (lysine methyltransferases) that transfer the methyl group from S-adenosyl-L-methionine to the lysine residues of protein substrates. Set7/9 is one of the exemplary protein methyltransferases that however, has not been fully studied yet. It was originally discovered as histone H3 lysine 4-specific methyltransferase, which later was shown to methylate a number of non-histone proteins that are crucial regulators of stemness and differentiation, including p53, pRb, YAP, DNMT1, SOX2, FOXO3, and others. In this review we summarize the information available to date on the role of Set7/9 in cellular differentiation and tissue development during embryogenesis and in adult organisms. Finally, we highlight and discuss the role of Set7/9 in pathological processes associated with aberrant cellular differentiation and self-renewal, including the formation of cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Daks
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Russian Federation, 194064.
| | - Sergey Parfenyev
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Russian Federation, 194064
| | - Oleg Shuvalov
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Russian Federation, 194064
| | - Olga Fedorova
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Russian Federation, 194064
| | - Alexander Nazarov
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Russian Federation, 194064
| | - Gerry Melino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Nickolai A Barlev
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Russian Federation, 194064.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, 001000, Astana, Kazakhstan.
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7
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Li W, Huang C, Qiu L, Tang Y, Zhang X, Zhang L, Zhao H, Miyagishi M, Kasim V, Wu S. p52-ZER6/IGF1R axis maintains cancer stem cell population to promote cancer progression by enhancing pro-survival mitophagy. Oncogene 2024:10.1038/s41388-024-03058-5. [PMID: 38773262 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-03058-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are distinct subpopulations of tumor cells, have a substantially higher tumor-initiating capacity and are closely related to poor clinical outcomes. Damage to organelles can trigger CSC pool exhaustion; however, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. ZER6 is a zinc-finger protein with two isoforms possessing different amino termini: p52-ZER6 and p71-ZER6. Since their discovery, almost no study reported on their biological and pathological functions. Herein, we found that p52-ZER6 was crucial for CSC population maintenance; p52-ZER6-knocking down almost abolished the tumor initiation capability. Through transcriptomic analyses together with in vitro and in vivo studies, we identified insulin like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) as the transcriptional target of p52-ZER6 that mediated p52-ZER6 regulation of CSC by promoting pro-survival mitophagy. Moreover, this regulation of mitophagy-mediated CSC population maintenance is specific to p52-ZER6, as p71-ZER6 failed to exert the same effect, most possibly due to the presence of the HUB1 domain at its N-terminus. These results provide a new perspective on the regulatory pathway of pro-survival mitophagy in tumor cells and the molecular mechanism underlying p52-ZER6 oncogenic activity, suggesting that targeting p52-ZER6/IGF1R axis to induce CSC pool exhaustion may be a promising anti-tumor therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfang Li
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Institute of Materia Medica, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, 830017, China
| | - Can Huang
- Metabolic Disease Research Center, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
| | - Li Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Yu Tang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Xia Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Hezhao Zhao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Makoto Miyagishi
- Life Science Innovation, School of Integrative and Global Majors, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0006, Japan
| | - Vivi Kasim
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China.
| | - Shourong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China.
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Li T, Liu L, Li L, Yao X, Hu X, Cheng J, Chen Z, Guo J, Li R, Ge C, Lin MCM, Yao H. HGFK1 Enhances the Anti-Tumor Effects of Angiogenesis Inhibitors via Inhibition of CD90+ CSCs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:645. [PMID: 38794215 PMCID: PMC11125149 DOI: 10.3390/ph17050645] [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: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The combination of anti-angiogenesis agents with immune-checkpoint inhibitors is a promising treatment for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, therapeutic resistance caused by cancer stem cells present in tumor microenvironments remains to be overcome. In this study, we report for the first time that the Kringle 1 domain of human hepatocyte growth-factor α chain (HGFK1), a previously described anti-angiogenesis peptide, repressed the sub-population of CD90+ cancer stem cells (CSCs) and promoted their differentiation and chemotherapy sensitivity mainly through downregulation of pre-Met protein expression and inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin and Notch pathways. Furthermore, we showed that the i.p. injection of PH1 (a tumor-targeted and biodegradable co-polymer), medicated plasmids encoding Endostatin (pEndo), HGFK1 genes (pEndo), and a combination of 50% pEndo + 50% pHGFK1 all significantly suppressed tumor growth and prolonged the survival of the HCC-bearing mice. Importantly, the combined treatment produced a potent synergistic effect, with 25% of the mice showing the complete clearance of the tumor via a reduction in the microvessel density (MVD) and the number of CD90+ CSCs in the tumor tissues. These results suggest for the first time that HGFK1 inhibits the CSCs of HCC. Furthermore, the combination of two broad-spectrum anti-angiogenic factors, Endo and HGFK1, is the optimal strategy for the development of effective anti-HCC drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Li
- Cancer Biotherapy Center & Cancer Research Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650106, China; (T.L.)
| | - Ling Liu
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, China
| | - Li Li
- Cancer Biotherapy Center & Cancer Research Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650106, China; (T.L.)
| | - Xiaoxuan Yao
- Cancer Biotherapy Center & Cancer Research Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650106, China; (T.L.)
| | - Xiaoyuan Hu
- Cancer Biotherapy Center & Cancer Research Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650106, China; (T.L.)
| | - Jiaxing Cheng
- Cancer Biotherapy Center & Cancer Research Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650106, China; (T.L.)
| | - Zhenpu Chen
- Cancer Biotherapy Center & Cancer Research Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650106, China; (T.L.)
| | - Jiyin Guo
- Cancer Biotherapy Center & Cancer Research Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650106, China; (T.L.)
| | - Ruilei Li
- Cancer Biotherapy Center & Cancer Research Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650106, China; (T.L.)
| | - Chunlei Ge
- Cancer Biotherapy Center & Cancer Research Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650106, China; (T.L.)
| | - Marie Chia-Mi Lin
- Cancer Biotherapy Center & Cancer Research Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650106, China; (T.L.)
| | - Hong Yao
- Cancer Biotherapy Center & Cancer Research Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650106, China; (T.L.)
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, China
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9
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Wang X, Wang X. The regulation of hypoxia-related lncRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:144. [PMID: 38713276 PMCID: PMC11076439 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01002-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still a public health disease with its high prevalence and morbidity. Short of early diagnosis biomarkers and effective therapy, the treatment of HCC patients hasn't achieved ideal effect. Hypoxia is a hallmark of HCC, which is mainly induced by imbalance of tumor cell proliferation and insufficient supply of oxygen. Recently, amounting evidence suggested lncRNAs, especially hypoxia-related lncRNAs play a pivotal role in regulating HCC. Hypoxia-related lncRNAs are involved in altering glucose metabolism, maintaining of cancer stem cell-like properties (CSCs), cell apotosis, proliferation and immune escape, which all contribute to the poor prognosis of HCC patients. The novel identified hypoxia-related lncRNAs could be the potential target or biomarkers of HCC, which are beneficial to the clinical treatment. Herein, we summarized currently reported hypoxia-related lncRNAs and their related mechanisms, providing potential application and future perspective of hypoxia-related lncRNAs as a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejing Wang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Xiaojun Wang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
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10
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Qin Y, Han S, Yu Y, Qi D, Ran M, Yang M, Liu Y, Li Y, Lu L, Liu Y, Li Y. Lenvatinib in hepatocellular carcinoma: Resistance mechanisms and strategies for improved efficacy. Liver Int 2024. [PMID: 38700443 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most prevalent and destructive causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, approximately 70% of patients with HCC exhibit advanced disease at diagnosis, limiting the potential for radical treatment. For such patients, lenvatinib, a long-awaited alternative to sorafenib for first-line targeted therapy, has become a key treatment. Unfortunately, despite some progress, the prognosis for advanced HCC remains poor because of drug resistance development. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying lenvatinib resistance and ways to relief drug resistance in HCC are largely unknown and lack of systematic summary; thus, this review not only aims to explore factors contributing to lenvatinib resistance in HCC, but more importantly, summary potential methods to conquer or mitigate the resistance. The results suggest that abnormal activation of pathways, drug transport, epigenetics, tumour microenvironment, cancer stem cells, regulated cell death, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and other mechanisms are involved in the development of lenvatinib resistance in HCC and subsequent HCC progression. To improve the therapeutic outcomes of lenvatinib, inhibiting acquired resistance, combined therapies, and nano-delivery carriers may be possible approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongqing Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University (Zhuhai People's Hospital), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Shisong Han
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University (Zhuhai People's Hospital), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Yahan Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University (Zhuhai People's Hospital), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Ding Qi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University (Zhuhai People's Hospital), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Mengnan Ran
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University (Zhuhai People's Hospital), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Mingqi Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University (Zhuhai People's Hospital), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanyan Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University (Zhuhai People's Hospital), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Yunyi Li
- Department of Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ligong Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University (Zhuhai People's Hospital), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University (Zhuhai People's Hospital), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Yong Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University (Zhuhai People's Hospital), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
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11
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Zhao H, Ling Y, He J, Dong J, Mo Q, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Yu H, Tang C. Potential targets and therapeutics for cancer stem cell-based therapy against drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Drug Resist Updat 2024; 74:101084. [PMID: 38640592 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2024.101084] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common digestive malignancyin the world, which is frequently diagnosed at late stage with a poor prognosis. For most patients with advanced HCC, the therapeutic options arelimiteddue to cancer occurrence of drug resistance. Hepatic cancer stem cells (CSCs) account for a small subset of tumor cells with the ability of self-renewal and differentiationin HCC. It is widely recognized that the presence of CSCs contributes to primary and acquired drug resistance. Therefore, hepatic CSCs-targeted therapy is considered as a promising strategy to overcome drug resistance and improve therapeutic outcome in HCC. In this article, we review drug resistance in HCC and provide a summary of potential targets for CSCs-based therapy. In addition, the development of CSCs-targeted therapeuticsagainst drug resistance in HCC is summarized in both preclinical and clinical trials. The in-depth understanding of CSCs-related drug resistance in HCC will favor optimization of the current therapeutic strategies and gain encouraging therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxing Zhao
- Department of Radiology, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yuhang Ling
- Central Laboratory, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Huzhou Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jie He
- Department of Hepatology, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jinling Dong
- Department of Hepatology, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Qinliang Mo
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yao Wang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Central Laboratory, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Hepatology, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Hongbin Yu
- Department of General Surgery, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Chengwu Tang
- Huzhou Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, First affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
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12
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Wang C, Dong R, Yang F, Zheng L, Liu Y, Yan Y, Zhang M, Ni B, Li J. LARP4B promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression and impairs sorafenib efficacy by activating SPINK1-mediated EGFR pathway. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:208. [PMID: 38693111 PMCID: PMC11063073 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01985-6] [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: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
La-related proteins (LARPs) regulate gene expression by binding to RNAs and exhibit critical effects on disease progression, including tumors. However, the role of LARP4B and its underlying mechanisms in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain largely unclear. In this study, we found that LARP4B expression is upregulated and correlates with poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Gain- and loss-of-function assays showed that LARP4B promotes stemness, proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, LARP4B inhibition enhances the antitumor effects of sorafenib and blocks the metastasis-enhancing effects of low sorafenib concentrations in HCC. Mechanistically, LARP4B expression is upregulated by METTL3-mediated N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-IGF2BP3-dependent modification in HCC. RNA- and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP)- sequencing uncovered that LARP4B upregulates SPINK1 by binding to SPINK1 mRNA via the La motif and maintaining mRNA stability. LARP4B activates the SPINK1-mediated EGFR signaling pathway, which supports stemness, progression and sorafenib resistance in HCC. Additionally, a positive feedback loop with the LARP4B/SPINK1/p-AKT/C/EBP-β axis is responsible for the sorafenib-therapeutic benefit of LARP4B depletion. Overall, this study demonstrated that LARP4B facilitates HCC progression, and LARP4B inhibition provides benefits to sorafenib treatment in HCC, suggesting that LARP4B might be a potential therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanxu Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Rui Dong
- Department of Pathophysiology, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing International Institute for Immunology, Chongqing, China
| | - Feicheng Yang
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University (Hunan Provincial People's Hospital), Changsha, China
| | - Lu Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yingling Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yue Yan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Mengjie Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Bing Ni
- Department of Pathophysiology, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China.
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China.
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Li L, Song Q, Zhou J, Ji Q. Controllers of histone methylation-modifying enzymes in gastrointestinal cancers. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 174:116488. [PMID: 38520871 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116488] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers have been considered primarily genetic malignancies, caused by a series of progressive genetic alterations. Accumulating evidence shows that histone methylation, an epigenetic modification program, plays an essential role in the different pathological stages of GI cancer progression, such as precancerous lesions, tumorigenesis, and tumor metastasis. Histone methylation-modifying enzymes, including histone methyltransferases (HMTs) and demethylases (HDMs), are the main executor of post-transcriptional modification. The abnormal expression of histone methylation-modifying enzymes characterizes GI cancers with complex pathogenesis and progression. Interactions between upstream controllers and histone methylation-modifying enzymes have recently been revealed, and have provided numerous opportunities to elucidate the pathogenesis of GI cancers in depth and clearly. Here we focus on the association between histone methylation-modifying enzymes and their controllers, aiming to provide a new perspective on the molecular research and clinical management of GI cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Li
- Department of Medical Oncology & Cancer Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qing Song
- Department of Medical Oncology, Suzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215007, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology & Cancer Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Liver Disease Department of Integrative Medicine, Ningbo No.2 Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315000, China.
| | - Qing Ji
- Department of Medical Oncology & Cancer Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
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14
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Yu X, Feng B, Wu J, Li M. A novel anoikis-related gene signature can predict the prognosis of hepatocarcinoma patients. Transl Cancer Res 2024; 13:1834-1847. [PMID: 38737687 PMCID: PMC11082671 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-23-2096] [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: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem with more than 850,000 cases per year worldwide. This cancer is now the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and the number is rising. Cancer cells develop anoikis resistance which is a vital step during cancer progression and metastatic colonization. However, there is not much research that specifically addresses the role of anoikis in HCC, especially in terms of prognosis. Methods This study obtained gene expression data and clinical information from 371 HCC patients through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Program and The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. A total of 516 anoikis-related genes (ANRGs) were retrieved from GeneCard database and Harmonizome portal. Differential expression analysis identified 219 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and univariate Cox regression analysis was utilized to select 99 ANRGs associated with the prognosis of HCC patients. A risk scoring model with seven genes was established using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model, and internal validation of the model was performed. Results The identified 99 ANRGs are closely associated with the prognosis of HCC patients. The risk scoring model based on seven characteristic genes demonstrates excellent predictive performance, further validated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. The study reveals significant differences in immune cell infiltration, gene expression, and survival status among different risk groups. Conclusions The prognosis of HCC patients can be predicted using a unique prognostic model built on ANRGs in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohan Yu
- General Surgery Department, Dandong Central Hospital, China Medical University, Dandong, China
| | - Bo Feng
- General Surgery Department, Dandong Central Hospital, China Medical University, Dandong, China
| | - Jinge Wu
- General Surgery Department, Dandong Central Hospital, China Medical University, Dandong, China
| | - Meng Li
- General Surgery Department, Dandong Central Hospital, China Medical University, Dandong, China
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Chen L, Hu M, Chen L, Peng Y, Zhang C, Wang X, Li X, Yao Y, Song Q, Li J, Pei H. Targeting O-GlcNAcylation in cancer therapeutic resistance: The sugar Saga continues. Cancer Lett 2024; 588:216742. [PMID: 38401884 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216742] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
O-linked-N-acetylglucosaminylation (O-GlcNAcylation), a dynamic post-translational modification (PTM), holds profound implications in controlling various cellular processes such as cell signaling, metabolism, and epigenetic regulation that influence cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. From the therapeutic perspective, O-GlcNAc modulates drug efflux, targeting and metabolism. By integrating signals from glucose, lipid, amino acid, and nucleotide metabolic pathways, O-GlcNAc acts as a nutrient sensor and transmits signals to exerts its function on genome stability, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell stemness, cell apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle. O-GlcNAc also attends to tumor microenvironment (TME) and the immune response. At present, several strategies aiming at targeting O-GlcNAcylation are under mostly preclinical evaluation, where the newly developed O-GlcNAcylation inhibitors markedly enhance therapeutic efficacy. Here we systematically outline the mechanisms through which O-GlcNAcylation influences therapy resistance and deliberate on the prospects and challenges associated with targeting O-GlcNAcylation in future cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Chen
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China; Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, 20057, USA.
| | - Mengxue Hu
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Luojun Chen
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yihan Peng
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Cai Zhang
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Xiangpan Li
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yi Yao
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Qibin Song
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Jing Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of DNA Damage Response and College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048, China.
| | - Huadong Pei
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, 20057, USA.
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16
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Liu L, Zhang M, Cui N, Liu W, Di G, Wang Y, Xi X, Li H, Shen Z, Gu M, Wang Z, Jiang S, Liu B. Integration of single-cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq to construct liver hepatocellular carcinoma stem cell signatures to explore their impact on patient prognosis and treatment. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298004. [PMID: 38635528 PMCID: PMC11025768 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298004] [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: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is a prevalent form of primary liver cancer. Research has demonstrated the contribution of tumor stem cells in facilitating tumor recurrence, metastasis, and treatment resistance. Despite this, there remains a lack of established cancer stem cells (CSCs)-associated genes signatures for effectively predicting the prognosis and guiding the treatment strategies for patients diagnosed with LIHC. METHODS The single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA transcriptome data were obtained based on public datasets and computerized firstly using CytoTRACE package and One Class Linear Regression (OCLR) algorithm to evaluate stemness level, respectively. Then, we explored the association of stemness indicators (CytoTRACE score and stemness index, mRNAsi) with survival outcomes and clinical characteristics by combining clinical information and survival analyses. Subsequently, weighted co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and Cox were applied to assess mRNAsi-related genes in bulk LIHC data and construct a prognostic model for LIHC patients. Single-sample gene-set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), Cell-type Identification By Estimating Relative Subsets Of RNA Transcripts (CIBERSORT) and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) analysis were employed for immune infiltration assessment. Finally, the potential immunotherapeutic response was predicted by the Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE), and the tumor mutation burden (TMB). Additionally, pRRophetic package was applied to evaluate the sensitivity of high and low-risk groups to common chemotherapeutic drugs. RESULTS A total of four genes (including STIP1, H2AFZ, BRIX1, and TUBB) associated with stemness score (CytoTRACE score and mRNAsi) were identified and constructed a risk model that could predict prognosis in LIHC patients. It was observed that high stemness cells occurred predominantly in the late stages of LIHC and that poor overall survival in LIHC patients was also associated with high mRNAsi scores. In addition, pathway analysis confirmed the biological uniqueness of the two risk groups. Personalized treatment predictions suggest that patients with a low risk benefited more from immunotherapy, while those with a high risk group may be conducive to chemotherapeutic drugs. CONCLUSION The current study developed a novel prognostic risk signature with genes related to CSCs, which provides novel ideas for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of LIHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixia Liu
- Department of Ultrasound and Hebei Key Laboratory of Precise Imaging of Inflammation Related Tumors, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 071052, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 071052, China
| | - Naipeng Cui
- Department of Breast Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 071052, China
| | - Wenwen Liu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 071052, China
| | - Guixin Di
- Department of Ultrasound, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 071052, China
| | - Yanan Wang
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 071052, China
| | - Xin Xi
- Central Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Cancer Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 071052, China
| | - Hao Li
- Central Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Cancer Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 071052, China
| | - Zhou Shen
- Central Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Cancer Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 071052, China
| | - Miaomiao Gu
- Department of Ultrasound, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 071052, China
| | - Zichao Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 071052, China
| | - Shan Jiang
- Central Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Cancer Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 071052, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Central Laboratory, Hebei Key Laboratory of Cancer Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 071052, China
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Chen E, Zou Z, Wang R, Liu J, Peng Z, Gan Z, Lin Z, Liu J. Predictive value of a stemness-based classifier for prognosis and immunotherapy response of hepatocellular carcinoma based on bioinformatics and machine-learning strategies. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1244392. [PMID: 38694506 PMCID: PMC11061862 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1244392] [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: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Significant advancements have been made in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapeutics, such as immunotherapy for treating patients with HCC. However, there is a lack of reliable biomarkers for predicting the response of patients to therapy, which continues to be challenging. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are involved in the oncogenesis, drug resistance, and invasion, as well as metastasis of HCC cells. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to create an mRNA expression-based stemness index (mRNAsi) model to predict the response of patients with HCC to immunotherapy. Methods We retrieved gene expression and clinical data of patients with HCC from the GSE14520 dataset and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Next, we used the "one-class logistic regression (OCLR)" algorithm to obtain the mRNAsi of patients with HCC. We performed "unsupervised consensus clustering" to classify patients with HCC based on the mRNAsi scores and stemness subtypes. The relationships between the mRNAsi model, clinicopathological features, and genetic profiles of patients were compared using various bioinformatic methods. We screened for differentially expressed genes to establish a stemness-based classifier for predicting the patient's prognosis. Next, we determined the effect of risk scores on the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and the response of patients to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Finally, we used qRT-PCR to investigate gene expression in patients with HCC. Results We screened CSC-related genes using various bioinformatics tools in patients from the TCGA-LIHC cohort. We constructed a stemness classifier based on a nine-gene (PPARGC1A, FTCD, CFHR3, MAGEA6, CXCL8, CABYR, EPO, HMMR, and UCK2) signature for predicting the patient's prognosis and response to ICBs. Further, the model was validated in an independent GSE14520 dataset and performed well. Our model could predict the status of TIME, immunogenomic expressions, congenic pathway, and response to chemotherapy drugs. Furthermore, a significant increase in the proportion of infiltrating macrophages, Treg cells, and immune checkpoints was observed in patients in the high-risk group. In addition, tumor cells in patients with high mRNAsi scores could escape immune surveillance. Finally, we observed that the constructed model had a good expression in the clinical samples. The HCC tumor size and UCK2 genes expression were significantly alleviated and decreased, respectively, by treatments of anti-PD1 antibody. We also found knockdown UCK2 changed expressions of immune genes in HCC cell lines. Conclusion The novel stemness-related model could predict the prognosis of patients and aid in creating personalized immuno- and targeted therapy for patients in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erbao Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhilin Zou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Rongyue Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhen Peng
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhe Gan
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zewei Lin
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jikui Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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Zhang X, Du W, Huang X, Zhong H, Hu N. An overview of current research on cancer stem cells: a bibliometric analysis. Clin Transl Oncol 2024:10.1007/s12094-024-03486-5. [PMID: 38625493 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-024-03486-5] [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: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a potential mechanism contributing to tumorigenesis, metastasis, recurrence, and drug resistance. The objective of this study is to investigate the status quo and advancements in CSC research utilizing bibliometric analysis. METHODS Publications related to CSCs from 2010 to 2022 were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Various analytical tools including CiteSpace, VOSviewer, Scimago Graphica, and GraphPad Prism were used to visualize aspects such as co-authorship, co-occurrence, and co-citation within CSC research to provide an objective depiction of the contemporary status and developmental trajectory of the CSC field. RESULTS A total of 22,116 publications were included from 1942 journals written by 95,992 authors. Notably, China emerged as the country with the highest number of publications, whereas the United States exerted the most significant influence within the field. MD Anderson Cancer Center emerged as the institution making the most comprehensive contributions. Wicha M.S. emerged as the most prolific and influential researcher. Among journals, Cancers emerged as a focal point for CSC research, consistently publishing a wealth of high-quality papers. Furthermore, it was observed that most journals tended to approach CSC research from molecular, biological, and immunological perspectives. The research into CSCs encompassed a broad array of topics, including isolation and enrichment techniques, biomarkers, biological characteristics, cancer therapy strategies, and underlying biological regulatory mechanisms. Notably, exploration of the tumor microenvironment and extracellular vesicles emerged as burgeoning research frontiers for CSCs. CONCLUSION The research on CSCs has garnered growing interest. A trend toward multidisciplinary homogeneity is emerging within the realm of CSCs. Further investigation could potentially center on the patients of extracellular vesicles and the tumor microenvironment in relation to CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyang Zhang
- International Medical College, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Wenbo Du
- International Medical College, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Xizhi Huang
- International Medical College, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Haoting Zhong
- International Medical College, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Ning Hu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 of Youyi Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China.
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19
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Ma Y, Lv H, Xing F, Xiang W, Wu Z, Feng Q, Wang H, Yang W. Cancer stem cell-immune cell crosstalk in the tumor microenvironment for liver cancer progression. Front Med 2024:10.1007/s11684-023-1049-z. [PMID: 38600350 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-023-1049-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Crosstalk between cancer cells and the immune microenvironment is determinant for liver cancer progression. A tumor subpopulation called liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) significantly accounts for the initiation, metastasis, therapeutic resistance, and recurrence of liver cancer. Emerging evidence demonstrates that the interaction between liver CSCs and immune cells plays a crucial role in shaping an immunosuppressive microenvironment and determining immunotherapy responses. This review sheds light on the bidirectional crosstalk between liver CSCs and immune cells for liver cancer progression, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms after presenting an overview of liver CSCs characteristic and their microenvironment. Finally, we discuss the potential application of liver CSCs-targeted immunotherapy for liver cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Ma
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Hongwei Lv
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
- International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Fuxue Xing
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Wei Xiang
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Zixin Wu
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Qiyu Feng
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Hongyang Wang
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China.
- International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hepato-biliary Tumor Biology, Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| | - Wen Yang
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China.
- International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hepato-biliary Tumor Biology, Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200438, China.
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Wang X, Zhao Y, Li X, Zhang Q, He J, Liu Y, Li M, Luo Z. Liposomal STAT3-Degrading PROTAC Prodrugs Promote Anti-Hepatocellular Carcinoma Immunity via Chemically Reprogramming Cancer Stem Cells. NANO LETTERS 2024. [PMID: 38598369 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) with hyperactivated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) are a major driver of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, we report a nanointegrative proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC)-based STAT3 degradation strategy that enables efficient chemical reprogramming of HCC-associated CSCs, which potently inhibits CSC growth while evoking anti-HCC immune responses. The PROTAC prodrug was synthesized by conjugating the STAT3 binding domain (inS3) with a thioketal-caged E3 ligase ligand (VL-TK) via an oligo(ethylene glycol) linker (OEG) with tuned length and flexibility and encapsulating it in cRGD-modified cationic liposomes for CSC-targeted delivery while facilitating their lysosomal escape. The PROTAC prodrugs were activated by the upregulated ROS levels in CSCs and efficiently degraded STAT3 for chemical reprogramming, which would not only impair their stemness features but also remodel the immunosuppressive TME into an immunosupportive state to boost anti-HCC immunity. This strategy provides an approach for improving HCC treatment in clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Wang
- School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Youbo Zhao
- Center for Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xin Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Qiqi Zhang
- School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Jinming He
- School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Yingqi Liu
- School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Menghuan Li
- School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Zhong Luo
- School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
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21
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Zhang X, Lu X, Shi J, Li Y, Li Y, Tao R, Huang L, Tang Y, Zhu X, Li M, Gao Y, Feng H, Yu Z. Bufalin suppresses hepatocellular carcinogenesis by targeting M2 macrophage-governed Wnt1/β-catenin signaling. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 126:155395. [PMID: 38340578 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The interplay of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and tumor cells plays a key role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and provides an important target for HCC therapy. The communication between them is still on the investigation. Bufalin, the active component derived from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Chansu, has been evidenced to possess anti-HCC activity by directly suppressing tumor cells, while its immunomodulatory effect on the tumor microenvironment (TME) is unclear. PURPOSE To explore the mechanism of M2 TAM-governed tumor cell proliferation and the inhibitory effect of bufalin on HCC growth by targeting M2 macrophages. METHODS Morphology and marker proteins were detected to evaluate macrophage polarization via microscopy and flow cytometry. Cellular proliferation and malignant transformation of HCC cells cultured with macrophage conditioned medium (CM) or bufalin-primed M2-CM, were assessed by cell viability, colony formation and soft agar assays. Regulations of gene transcription and protein expression and release were determined by RT-qPCR, immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, ELISA and immunofluorescence. Tumorigenicity upon bufalin treatment was verified in orthotopic and diethylnitrosamine-induced HCC mouse model. RESULTS In this study, we first verified that M2 macrophages secreted Wnt1, which acted as a mediator to trigger β-catenin activation in HCC cells, leading to cellular proliferation. Bufalin suppressed HCC cell proliferation and malignant transformation by inhibiting Wnt1 release in M2 macrophages, and dose-dependently inhibited HCC progression in mice. Mechanistically, bufalin specially targeted to block Wnt1 transcription, thus inactivating β-catenin signaling cascade in HCC cells and leading to tumor regression in HCC mouse model. CONCLUSION These results clearly reveal a novel potential of bufalin to suppress HCC through immunomodulation, and shed light on a new M2 macrophage-based modality of HCC immunotherapy, which additively enhances direct tumor-inhibitory efficacy of bufalin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Zhang
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiaona Lu
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jia Shi
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yuyao Li
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ru Tao
- Department of Nursing, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Lingying Huang
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yifei Tang
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiaojun Zhu
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Man Li
- Laboratoy of Cellular Immunity, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yueqiu Gao
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Institute of Infectious Disease, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Hai Feng
- Institute of Infectious Disease, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Zhuo Yu
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
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Fan G, Xie T, Li L, Tang L, Han X, Shi Y. Single-cell and spatial analyses revealed the co-location of cancer stem cells and SPP1+ macrophage in hypoxic region that determines the poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:75. [PMID: 38521868 PMCID: PMC10960828 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00564-3] [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: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), classical cancer stem cells (CSC) markers were shared by normal stem cells, targeting which may hinder hepatic regeneration and cause liver failure. Additionally, the spatial structure of CSC still remained elusive. To address these limitations, we undertook a comprehensive study combining single-cell data (56,022 cells from 20 samples) and spatial data (38,191 spots from eight samples) to obtain CSC signature and uncover its spatial structure. Utilizing the CytoTRACE algorithm, we discretely identified CSC, which displayed upregulated proliferation pathways regulated by HIF1A. A CSC signature of 107 genes was then developed using Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA). Notably, HCC patients with high CSC levels exhibited an accumulation of SPP1+ macrophages (Macro_SPP1) expressing metalloproteinases (MMP9, MMP12, and MMP7) regulated by HIF1A, suggesting a hypoxic tumor region connecting Macro_SPP1 and CSC. Both CSC and Macro_SPP1 correlated with worse prognosis and undesirable immunotherapy response. Spatial analysis revealed the co-location of CSC and Macro_SPP1, with CD8 T cells excluded from the tumor region. The co-location area and non-tumor area of boundary exhibited a high level of hypoxia, with the HAVRC2 checkpoint highly expressed. Within the co-location area, the SPP1 signaling pathway was most active in cell-cell communication, with SPP1-CD44 and SPP1-ITGA/ITGB identified as the main ligand-receptor pairs. This study successfully constructed a CSC signature and demonstrated the co-location of CSC and Macro_SPP1 in a hypoxic region that exacerbates the tumor microenvironment in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyu Fan
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Study on Anticancer Molecular Targeted Drugs; No. 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Tongji Xie
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Study on Anticancer Molecular Targeted Drugs; No. 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Le Tang
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Study on Anticancer Molecular Targeted Drugs; No. 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Xiaohong Han
- Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, NMPA Key Laboratory for Clinical Research and Evaluation of Drug, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical PK & PD Investigation for Innovative Drugs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; No.1, Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Yuankai Shi
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Study on Anticancer Molecular Targeted Drugs; No. 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China.
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23
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Li L, Zhu G, Gong C, Hu M, Tan K, Jiang L, Li Y, Zhu X, Xie P, Chen X, Yang X. Histone demethylase KDM5D represses the proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma through the E2F1/TNNC1 axis. Antioxid Redox Signal 2024. [PMID: 38504588 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2023.0448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study focused on investigating the mechanism in which the KDM5D/E2F1/TNNC1 axis affected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. METHODS At first, we determined HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis, as well as SOD activity, MDA content, and ROS level. ChIP assay was subsequently conducted to examine H3K4me3 modification in the E2F1 promoter region and the binding of E2F1 to the TNNC1 promoter region after KDM5D overexpression. Meanwhile, we performed western blot for testing KDM5D, H3K4me3, and E2F1 expression after KDM5D overexpression in Huh-7 cells. The binding of transcription factor E2F1 to the TNNC1 promoter region was assessed by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. We further observed the tumor growth ability in nude mice transplanted tumor models. RESULTS Overexpressed KDM5D suppressed HCC proliferation, migration, and invasion, promoted the apoptosis, suppressed SOD activity, elevated MDA content and ROS level, and promoted ferroptosis. KDM5D suppressed H3K4me3 modification in the E2F1 promoter region and suppressed E2F1 expression in HCC cells. Reduced KDM5D, H3K4me3, and E2F1 expression was found after KDM5D overexpression in Huh-7 cells. Overexpressing E2F1 reversed the inhibitory effects of KDM5D on HCC cell proliferative, migratory, and invasive behaviors. KDM5D repressed TNNC1 transcription by inhibiting E2F1 binding to the TNNC1 promoter. In vivo KDM5D overexpression inhibited HCC development via the E2F1/TNNC1 axis. CONCLUSION KDM5D inhibits E2F1 expression by suppressing H3K4me3 modification in the E2F1 promoter region, which in turn suppresses the binding of E2F1 to the TNNC1 promoter region, thus leading to the inhibition of HCC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Li
- Anhui Wanbei Coal Electricity Group General Hospital, 645365, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China;
| | - Genbao Zhu
- Anhui Wanbei Coal Electricity Group General Hospital, 645365, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China;
| | - Chen Gong
- Anhui Wanbei Coal Electricity Group General Hospital, 645365, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China;
| | - Mengxue Hu
- Anhui Wanbei Coal Electricity Group General Hospital, 645365, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China;
| | - Kemeng Tan
- Anhui Wanbei Coal Electricity Group General Hospital, 645365, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China;
| | - La Jiang
- Anhui Wanbei Coal Electricity Group General Hospital, 645365, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China;
| | - Yafen Li
- Anhui Wanbei Coal Electricity Group General Hospital, 645365, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China;
| | - Xiaohong Zhu
- Anhui Wanbei Coal Electricity Group General Hospital, 645365, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China;
| | - Peng Xie
- Anhui Wanbei Coal Electricity Group General Hospital, 645365, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China;
| | - Xilan Chen
- Anhui Wanbei Coal Electricity Group General Hospital, 645365, 125 Huaihe West Road. Yongqiao District, Suzhou, China, 234000;
| | - Xianfen Yang
- Anhui Wanbei Coal Electricity Group General Hospital, 645365, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China;
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Safri F, Nguyen R, Zerehpooshnesfchi S, George J, Qiao L. Heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma: from mechanisms to clinical implications. Cancer Gene Ther 2024:10.1038/s41417-024-00764-w. [PMID: 38499648 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-024-00764-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common types of primary liver cancer. Current treatment options have limited efficacy against this malignancy, primarily owing to difficulties in early detection and the inherent resistance to existing drugs. Tumor heterogeneity is a pivotal factor contributing significantly to treatment resistance and recurrent manifestations of HCC. Intratumoral heterogeneity is an important aspect of the spectrum of complex tumor heterogeneity and contributes to late diagnosis and treatment failure. Therefore, it is crucial to thoroughly understand the molecular mechanisms of how tumor heterogeneity develops. This review aims to summarize the possible molecular dimensions of tumor heterogeneity with an emphasis on intratumoral heterogeneity, evaluate its profound impact on the diagnosis and therapeutic strategies for HCC, and explore the suitability of appropriate pre-clinical models that can be used to best study tumor heterogeneity; thus, opening new avenues for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatema Safri
- Storr Liver Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Romario Nguyen
- Storr Liver Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Shadi Zerehpooshnesfchi
- Storr Liver Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Jacob George
- Storr Liver Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia.
| | - Liang Qiao
- Storr Liver Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia.
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25
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Zhang X, Su T, Wu Y, Cai Y, Wang L, Liang C, Zhou L, Wang S, Li XX, Peng S, Kuang M, Yu J, Xu L. N6-Methyladenosine Reader YTHDF1 Promotes Stemness and Therapeutic Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Enhancing NOTCH1 Expression. Cancer Res 2024; 84:827-840. [PMID: 38241695 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-1916] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification is the most common and conserved epigenetic modification in mRNA and has been shown to play important roles in cancer biology. As the m6A reader YTHDF1 has been reported to promote progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), it represents a potential therapeutic target. In this study, we evaluated the clinical significance of YTHDF1 using human HCC samples and found that YTHDF1 was significantly upregulated in HCCs with high stemness scores and was positively associated with recurrence and poor prognosis. Analysis of HCC spheroids revealed that YTHDF1 was highly expressed in liver cancer stem cells (CSC). Stem cell-specific conditional Ythdf1 knockin (CKI) mice treated with diethylnitrosamine showed elevated tumor burden as compared with wild-type mice. YTHDF1 promoted CSCs renewal and resistance to the multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors lenvatinib and sorafenib in patient-derived organoids and HCC cell lines, which could be abolished by catalytically inactive mutant YTHDF1. Multiomic analysis, including RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing, m6A methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing, ribosome profiling, and RNA sequencing identified NOTCH1 as a direct downstream of YTHDF1. YTHDF1 bound to m6A modified NOTCH1 mRNA to enhance its stability and translation, which led to increased NOTCH1 target genes expression. NOTCH1 overexpression rescued HCC stemness in YTHDF1-deficient cells in vitro and in vivo. Lipid nanoparticles targeting YTHDF1 significantly enhanced the efficacy of lenvatinib and sorafenib in HCC in vivo. Taken together, YTHDF1 drives HCC stemness and drug resistance through an YTHDF1-m6A-NOTCH1 epitranscriptomic axis, and YTHDF1 is a potential therapeutic target for treating HCC. SIGNIFICANCE Inhibition of YTHDF1 expression suppresses stemness of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and enhances sensitivity to targeted therapies, indicating that targeting YTHDF1 may be a promising therapeutic strategy for liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tianhong Su
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yifan Wu
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The First Afliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuhong Cai
- Center of Hepato-Pancreate-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lina Wang
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cong Liang
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Zhou
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shiyan Wang
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Xing Li
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sui Peng
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The First Afliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Trials Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ming Kuang
- Center of Hepato-Pancreate-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Trials Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Lixia Xu
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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26
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Shi J, Wen K, Mui S, Li H, Liao H, He C, Yan Y, Zhou Z, Xiao Z. Integrated analysis reveals an aspartate metabolism-related gene signature for predicting the overall survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Transl Oncol 2024:10.1007/s12094-024-03431-6. [PMID: 38472558 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-024-03431-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deregulating cellular metabolism is one of the prominent hallmarks of malignancy, with a critical role in tumor survival and growth. However, the role of reprogramming aspartate metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are largely unknown. METHODS The multi-omics data of HCC patients were downloaded from public databases. Univariate and multivariate stepwise Cox regression were used to establish an aspartate metabolism-related gene signature (AMGS) in HCC. The Kaplan-Meier and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to evaluate the predictive ability for overall survival (OS) in HCC patients. Gene set enrichment analysis and immune infiltration analysis were operated to determine the potential mechanisms underlying the AMGS. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of liver cancer stem cells were visualized by t-SNE algorithm. In vivo and in vitro experiments were implemented to investigate the biological function of CAD in HCC. In addition, a nomogram based on the AMGS and clinicopathologic characteristics was constructed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. RESULTS Patients in the high-AMGS subgroup exerted advanced tumor status and poor prognosis. Mechanistically, the high-AMGS subgroup patients had significantly enhanced proliferation and stemness-related pathways, increased infiltration of regulatory T cells and upregulated expression levels of suppressive immune checkpoints in the tumor immune microenvironment. Notably, scRNA-seq data revealed CAD, one of the aspartate metabolism-related gene, is significantly upregulated in liver cancer stem cells. Silencing CAD inhibited proliferative capacity and stemness properties of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Finally, a novel nomogram based on the AMGS showed an accurate prediction in HCC patients. CONCLUSIONS The AMGS represents a promising prognostic value for HCC patients, providing a perspective for finding novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanyi Shi
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Kai Wen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Sintim Mui
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Huoming Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Hao Liao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Chuanchao He
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Yongcong Yan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China.
| | - Zhenyu Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China.
| | - Zhiyu Xiao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China.
- Shenshan Medical Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shanwei, 516621, Guangdong, China.
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Li J, Jiang H, Zhu Y, Ma Z, Li B, Dong J, Xiao C, Hu A. Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) induces the stem cell-like properties of hepatocellular carcinoma by activating ROS/Nrf2/Keap1-mediated autophagy. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 272:116052. [PMID: 38325274 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been linked to an increased incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the impact of PM2.5 exposure on HCC progression and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PM2.5 exposure on the stem cell-like properties of HCC cells. Our findings indicate that PM2.5 exposure significantly enhances the stemness of HCC cells (p < 0.01). Subsequently, male nude mice were divided into two groups (n = 8/group for tumor-bearing assay, n = 5/group for metastasis assay) for control and PM2.5 exposure. In vivo assays revealed that exposure to PM2.5 promoted the growth, metastasis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC cells (p < 0.01). Further exploration demonstrated that PM2.5 enhances the stemness of HCC cells by inducing cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation (p < 0.05). Mechanistic investigation indicated that elevated intracellular ROS inhibited kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) levels, promoting the upregulation and nucleus translocation of NFE2-like bZIP transcription factor 2 (Nrf2). This, in turn, induced autophagy activation, thereby promoting the stemness of HCC cells (p < 0.01). Our present study demonstrates the adverse effects of PM2.5 exposure on HCC development and highlights the mechanism of ROS/Nrf2/Keap1-mediated autophagy. For the first time, we reveal the impact of PM2.5 exposure on the poor prognosis-associated cellular phenotype of HCC and its underlying mechanism, which is expected to provide new theoretical basis for the improvement of public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiujiu Li
- Hefei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Haoqi Jiang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yu Zhu
- Hefei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Zijian Ma
- Hefei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Bin Li
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Jun Dong
- Hefei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Changchun Xiao
- Hefei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei 230032, China.
| | - Anla Hu
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
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Zhou XQ, Li YP, Dang SS. Precision targeting in hepatocellular carcinoma: Exploring ligand-receptor mediated nanotherapy. World J Hepatol 2024; 16:164-176. [PMID: 38495282 PMCID: PMC10941735 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v16.i2.164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and poses a major challenge to global health due to its high morbidity and mortality. Conventional chemotherapy is usually targeted to patients with intermediate to advanced stages, but it is often ineffective and suffers from problems such as multidrug resistance, rapid drug clearance, nonspecific targeting, high side effects, and low drug accumulation in tumor cells. In response to these limitations, recent advances in nanoparticle-mediated targeted drug delivery technologies have emerged as breakthrough approaches for the treatment of HCC. This review focuses on recent advances in nanoparticle-based targeted drug delivery systems, with special attention to various receptors overexpressed on HCC cells. These receptors are key to enhancing the specificity and efficacy of nanoparticle delivery and represent a new paradigm for actively targeting and combating HCC. We comprehensively summarize the current understanding of these receptors, their role in nanoparticle targeting, and the impact of such targeted therapies on HCC. By gaining a deeper understanding of the receptor-mediated mechanisms of these innovative therapies, more effective and precise treatment of HCC can be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia-Qing Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Ya-Ping Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Shuang-Suo Dang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China.
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29
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Wang H, Zhou Q, Xie DF, Xu Q, Yang T, Wang W. LAPTM4B-mediated hepatocellular carcinoma stem cell proliferation and MDSC migration: implications for HCC progression and sensitivity to PD-L1 monoclonal antibody therapy. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:165. [PMID: 38388484 PMCID: PMC10884007 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06542-8] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), immunotherapy is vital for advanced-stage patients. However, diverse individual responses and tumor heterogeneity have resulted in heterogenous treatment outcomes. Our mechanistic investigations identified LAPTM4B as a crucial gene regulated by ETV1 (a transcription factor), especially in liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs). The influence of LAPTM4B on LCSCs is mediated via the Wnt1/c-Myc/β-catenin pathway. CXCL8 secretion by LAPTM4B drove myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) migration, inducing unfavorable patient prognosis. LAPTM4B affected PD-L1 receptor expression in tumor microenvironment and enhanced tumor suppression induced by PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies in HCC patients. LAPTM4B up-regulation is correlated with adverse outcomes in HCC patients, sensitizing them to PD-L1 monoclonal antibody therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haojun Wang
- Department of Urology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100020, Beijing, China
- Capital Medical University, 100071, Beijing, China
| | - Quanwei Zhou
- The National Key Clinical Specialty, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ding Fang Xie
- The Second Department of Medical Oncology, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, China
| | - Qingguo Xu
- Department of Organ Transplant Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Tongwang Yang
- The Hunan Provincial University Key Laboratory of the Fundamentaland Clinical Research on Functional Nucleic Acid, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, China.
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Urology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100020, Beijing, China.
- Capital Medical University, 100071, Beijing, China.
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30
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Sun QH, Kuang ZY, Zhu GH, Ni BY, Li J. Multifaceted role of microRNAs in gastric cancer stem cells: Mechanisms and potential biomarkers. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024; 16:300-313. [PMID: 38425402 PMCID: PMC10900144 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i2.300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have received much attention in the past decade as potential key epigenomic regulators of tumors and cancer stem cells (CSCs). The abnormal expression of miRNAs is responsible for different phenotypes of gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs). Some specific miRNAs could be used as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the identification of GCSCs. This review summarizes the coding process and biological functions of miRNAs and demonstrates their role and efficacy in gastric cancer (GC) metastasis, drug resistance, and apoptosis, especially in the regulatory mechanism of GCSCs. It shows that the overexpression of onco-miRNAs and silencing of tumor-suppressor miRNAs can play a role in promoting or inhibiting tumor metastasis, apart from the initial formation of GC. It also discusses the epigenetic regulation and potential clinical applications of miRNAs as well as the role of CSCs in the pathogenesis of GC. We believe that this review may help in designing novel therapeutic approaches for GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian-Hui Sun
- Department of Oncology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Zi-Yu Kuang
- Graduate College, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Guang-Hui Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Bao-Yi Ni
- Department of Oncology, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Oncology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
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31
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Zhang R, Wang F, You Z, Deng D, He J, Yan W, Quan J, Wang J, Yan S. Approved immune checkpoint inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma: a large-scale meta-analysis and systematic review. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:82. [PMID: 38319412 PMCID: PMC10847200 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05539-8] [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: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
A meta-analysis was performed to assess the benefits and safety profile of approved immune checkpoint inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Eligible studies were searched from Cochrane, Embase, and PubMed databases based on a well-established strategy. Following the exclusion of ineligible studies, 12 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with control group, immune checkpoint inhibitors were associated with improved ORR (OR 3.03, 95% CI 2.26-4.05, P < 0.00001), SD (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.62-0.95, P = 0.02), OS (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.68-0.83, P < 0.00001), and PFS (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.63-0.87, P < 0.0003). However, no significant differences were observed in DCR (OR 1.33, 95% CI 0.97-1.81, P = 0.07), PD (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.67-1.21, P = 0.48), and all caused any-grade adverse events (OR 1.22, 95% CI 0.62-2.39, P = 0. 57), all caused ≥ grade 3 adverse events (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.97-1.25, P = 0.14), treatment-related any-grade adverse events (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.55-2.32, P = 0.73), and treatment-related ≥ grade 3 events (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.34-1.97, P = 0.65) between the two groups. After subgroup analysis conducted, patients in the immune checkpoint inhibitor group compared with targeted drug group showed significant improvements in OS (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.66-0.84, P < 0.00001) and PFS (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61-0.91, P = 0.004). Immune checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated peculiar benefits in the treatment of HCC with an acceptable safety profile. Compared to targeted drugs, immune checkpoint inhibitors still offer advantages in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, there is still considerable room for further improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruyi Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guizhou, 550001, China
- Center for Eugenics Research, First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550001, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Center for Eugenics Research, First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550001, China
| | - Zhiyu You
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guizhou, 550001, China
| | - Dongyang Deng
- Center for Eugenics Research, First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550001, China
| | - Jiangyan He
- Center for Eugenics Research, First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550001, China
| | - Wentao Yan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guizhou, 550001, China
| | - Jian Quan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Anshun Hospital of Guizhou Aviation Industry Group, Guizhou, 561099, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Orthopedic, Kunming Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, 650051, China
| | - Shujuan Yan
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Center, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, Tianhe District, No.9 Jinsui Road, Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou, 510623, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550000, Guizhou Province, China.
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Wu J, Tan HY, Chan YT, Lu Y, Feng Z, Yuan H, Zhang C, Feng Y, Wang N. PARD3 drives tumorigenesis through activating Sonic Hedgehog signalling in tumour-initiating cells in liver cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:42. [PMID: 38317186 PMCID: PMC10845773 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-02967-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Par-3 Family Cell Polarity Regulator (PARD3) is a cellular protein essential for asymmetric cell division and polarized growth. This study aimed to study the role of PARD3 in hepatic tumorigenesis. METHODS The essential role of PARD3 in mediating hepatic tumorigenesis was assessed in diet-induced spontaneous liver tumour and syngeneic tumour models. The mechanism of PARD3 was delineated by bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing. The clinical significance of PARD3 was identified by tissue array analysis. RESULTS PARD3 was overexpressed in tumour tissues and PARD3 overexpression was positively correlated with high tumour stage as well as the poor prognosis in patients. In models of spontaneous liver cancer induced by choline-deficient, amino acid-defined (CDAA) and methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diets, upregulation of PARD3 was induced specifically at the tumorigenesis stage rather than other early stages of liver disease progression. Site-directed knockout of PARD3 using an adeno-associated virus 8 (AAV8)-delivered CRISPR/Cas9 single-guide RNA (sgRNA) plasmid blocked hepatic tumorigenesis, while PARD3 overexpression accelerated liver tumour progression. In particular, single-cell sequencing analysis suggested that PARD3 was enriched in primitive tumour cells and its overexpression enhanced tumour-initiating cell (TICs). Overexpression of PARD3 maintained the self-renewal ability of the CD133+ TIC population within hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and promoted the in vitro and in vivo tumorigenicity of CD133+ TICs. Transcriptome analysis revealed that Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signalling was activated in PARD3-overexpressing CD133+ TICs. Mechanistically, PARD3 interacted with aPKC to further activate SHH signalling and downstream stemness-related genes. Suppression of SHH signalling and aPKC expression attenuated the in vitro and in vivo tumorigenicity of PARD3-overexpressing CD133+ TICs. Tissue array analysis revealed that PARD3 expression was positively associated with the phosphorylation of aPKC, SOX2 and Gli1 and that the combination of these markers could be used to stratify HCC patients into two clusters with different clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival prognoses. The natural compound berberine was selected as a potent suppressor of PARD3 expression and could be used as a preventive agent for liver cancer that completely blocks diet-induced hepatic tumorigenesis in a PARD3-dependent manner. CONCLUSION This study revealed PARD3 as a potential preventive target of liver tumorigenesis via TIC regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyu Wu
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hor-Yue Tan
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Chinese Medicine Drug Development, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yau-Tuen Chan
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yuanjun Lu
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zixin Feng
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hongchao Yuan
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yibin Feng
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ning Wang
- School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Wei J, Wang J, Chen X, Zhang L, Peng M. Novel application of the ferroptosis-related genes risk model associated with disulfidptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis and immune infiltration. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16819. [PMID: 38317842 PMCID: PMC10840499 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16819] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as the prevailing manifestation of primary liver cancer and continues to pose a formidable challenge to human well-being and longevity, owing to its elevated incidence and mortality rates. Nevertheless, the quest for reliable predictive biomarkers for HCC remains ongoing. Recent research has demonstrated a close correlation between ferroptosis and disulfidptosis, two cellular processes, and cancer prognosis, suggesting their potential as predictive factors for HCC. In this study, we employed a combination of bioinformatics algorithms and machine learning techniques, leveraging RNA sequencing data, mutation profiles, and clinical data from HCC samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases, to develop a risk prognosis model based on genes associated with ferroptosis and disulfidptosis. We conducted an unsupervised clustering analysis, calculating a risk score (RS) to predict the prognosis of HCC using these genes. Clustering analysis revealed two distinct HCC clusters, each characterized by significantly different prognostic and immune features. The median RS stratified HCC samples in the TCGA, GEO, and ICGC cohorts into high-and low-risk groups. Importantly, RS emerged as an independent prognostic factor in all three cohorts, with the high-risk group demonstrating poorer prognosis and a more active immunosuppressive microenvironment. Additionally, the high-risk group exhibited higher expression levels of tumor mutation burden (TMB), immune checkpoints (ICs), and human leukocyte antigen (HLA), suggesting a heightened responsiveness to immunotherapy. A cancer stem cell infiltration analysis revealed a higher similarity between tumor cells and stem cells in the high-risk group. Furthermore, drug sensitivity analysis highlighted significant differences in response to antitumor drugs between the two risk groups. In summary, our risk prognostic model, constructed based on ferroptosis-related genes associated with disulfidptosis, effectively predicts HCC prognosis. These findings hold potential implications for patient stratification and clinical decision-making, offering valuable theoretical insights in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayan Wei
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jinsong Wang
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xinyi Chen
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Min Peng
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Liu Y, He M, Ke X, Chen Y, Zhu J, Tan Z, Chen J. Centrosome amplification-related signature correlated with immune microenvironment and treatment response predicts prognosis and improves diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma by integrating machine learning and single-cell analyses. Hepatol Int 2024; 18:108-130. [PMID: 37154991 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-023-10538-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Centrosome amplification is a well-recognized oncogenic driver of tumor initiation and progression across a variety of malignancies and has been linked with tumor aggressiveness, metastasis, and adverse prognosis. Nevertheless, the significance of centrosome amplification in HCC is not well understood. METHODS The TCGA dataset was downloaded for centrosome amplification-related signature construction using the LASSO-penalized Cox regression algorithm, while the ICGC dataset was obtained for signature validation. Single-cell RNA sequencing from GSE149614 was analyzed to profile gene expression and the liver tumor niche. RESULTS A total of 134 centrosome amplification-related prognostic genes in HCC were detected and 6 key prognostic genes (SSX2IP, SPAG4, SAC3D1, NPM1, CSNK1D, and CEP55) among them were screened out to construct a signature with both high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis and prognosis of HCC patients. The signature, as an independent factor, was associated with frequent recurrences, high mortality rates, advanced clinicopathologic features, and high vascular invasions. Moreover, the signature was intimately associated with cell cycle-related pathways and TP53 mutation profile, suggesting its underlying role in accelerating cell cycle progression and leading to liver cancer development. Meanwhile, the signature was also closely correlated with immunosuppressive cell infiltration and immune checkpoint expression, making it a vital immunosuppressive factor in the tumor microenvironment. Upon single-cell RNA sequencing, SSX2IP and SAC3D1 were found to be specially expressed in liver cancer stem-like cells, where they promoted cell cycle progression and hypoxia. CONCLUSIONS This study provided a direct molecular link of centrosome amplification with clinical characteristics, tumor microenvironment, and clinical drug-response, highlighting the critical role of centrosome amplification in liver cancer development and therapy resistance, thereby providing valuable insights into prognostic prediction and therapeutic response of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanli Liu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Nano-Biomedical Technology for Diagnosis and Therapy & Guangdong Provincial Education Department Key Laboratory of Nano-Immunoregulation Tumour Microenvironment, Department of Oncology & Translational Medicine Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510260, People's Republic of China
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510260, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Min He
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Nano-Biomedical Technology for Diagnosis and Therapy & Guangdong Provincial Education Department Key Laboratory of Nano-Immunoregulation Tumour Microenvironment, Department of Oncology & Translational Medicine Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510260, People's Republic of China
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510260, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinrong Ke
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Nano-Biomedical Technology for Diagnosis and Therapy & Guangdong Provincial Education Department Key Laboratory of Nano-Immunoregulation Tumour Microenvironment, Department of Oncology & Translational Medicine Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510260, People's Republic of China
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510260, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuting Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The Second Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510180, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The Second Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510180, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziqing Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The Second Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510180, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingqi Chen
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Nano-Biomedical Technology for Diagnosis and Therapy & Guangdong Provincial Education Department Key Laboratory of Nano-Immunoregulation Tumour Microenvironment, Department of Oncology & Translational Medicine Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510260, People's Republic of China.
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Du CL, Wei SY, Chen YH, Chen KJ. A robust genomic-based prognostic model for the assessment of cancer stemness and survival for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2024; 23:97-102. [PMID: 37709605 DOI: 10.1016/j.hbpd.2023.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Li Du
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Shen-Yu Wei
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Yun-Hao Chen
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Kang-Jie Chen
- Division of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.
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Ding G, Yu H, Jin J, Qiao X, Ma J, Zhang T, Cheng X. Reciprocal relationship between cancer stem cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells: implications for tumor progression and therapeutic strategies. Future Oncol 2024; 20:215-228. [PMID: 38390682 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2023-0907] [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] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Recently, there has been an increased focus on cancer stem cells (CSCs) due to their resilience, making them difficult to eradicate. This resilience often leads to tumor recurrence and metastasis. CSCs adeptly manipulate their surroundings to create an environment conducive to their survival. In this environment, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play a crucial role in promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and bolstering CSCs' stemness. In response, CSCs attract MDSCs, enhancing their infiltration, expansion and immunosuppressive capabilities. This interaction between CSCs and MDSCs increases the difficulty of antitumor therapy. In this paper, we discuss the interplay between CSCs and MDSCs based on current research and highlight recent therapeutic strategies targeting either CSCs or MDSCs that show promise in achieving effective antitumor outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiqing Ding
- Institute of Clinical Immunology, Yue-yang Hospital of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China
| | - Hua Yu
- Institute of Clinical Immunology, Yue-yang Hospital of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China
| | - Jason Jin
- Institute of Clinical Immunology, Yue-yang Hospital of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China
| | - Xi Qiao
- Institute of Clinical Immunology, Yue-yang Hospital of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China
| | - Jinyun Ma
- Institute of Clinical Immunology, Yue-yang Hospital of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Institute of Clinical Immunology, Yue-yang Hospital of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Institute of Clinical Immunology, Yue-yang Hospital of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China
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Yang CL, Song R, Hu JW, Huang JT, Li NN, Ni HH, Li YK, Zhang J, Lu Z, Zhou M, Wang JD, Li MJ, Zhan GH, Peng T, Yu HP, Qi LN, Wang QY, Xiang BD. Integrating single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing reveals CK19 + cancer stem cells and their specific SPP1 + tumor-associated macrophage niche in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatol Int 2024; 18:73-90. [PMID: 38159218 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-023-10615-9] [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: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cytokeratin 19-positive cancer stem cells (CK19 + CSCs) and their tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have not been fully explored yet in the hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on the viable cells obtained from 11 treatment-naïve HBV-associated HCC patients, including 8 CK19 + patients, to elucidate their transcriptomic landscape, CK19 + CSC heterogeneity, and immune microenvironment. Two in-house primary HCC cohorts (96 cases-related HBV and 89 cases with recurrence), TCGA external cohort, and in vitro and in vivo experiments were used to validate the results. RESULTS A total of 64,581 single cells derived from the human HCC and adjacent normal tissues were sequenced, and 11 cell types were identified. The result showed that CK19 + CSCs were phenotypically and transcriptionally heterogeneous, co-expressed multiple hepatics CSC markers, and were positively correlated with worse prognosis. Moreover, the SPP1 + TAMs (TAM_SPP1) with strong M2-like features and worse prognosis were specifically enriched in the CK19 + HCC and promoted tumor invasion and metastasis by activating angiogenesis. Importantly, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) derived from TAM_SPP1, as the hub gene of CK19 + HCC, was activated by the VEGFA signal. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed the heterogeneity and stemness characteristics of CK19 + CSCs and specific immunosuppressive TAM_SPP1 in CK19 + HCC. The VEGFA signal can activate TAM_SPP1-derived MMP9 to promote the invasion and metastasis of CK19 + HCC tumors. This might provide novel insights into the clinical treatment of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Lei Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Rui Song
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Jun-Wen Hu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Jun-Tao Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Nan-Nan Li
- Department of Ultrasound, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Workers' Hospital, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Hang-Hang Ni
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Yuan-Kuan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Zhan Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Min Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Jun-Duo Wang
- The First Clinical Medical School, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Min-Jun Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Guo-Hua Zhan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Tao Peng
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Hong-Ping Yu
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
- Research Department, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Lu-Nan Qi
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China.
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China.
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China.
| | - Qiu-Yan Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China.
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuang Yong Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China.
| | - Bang-De Xiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Qingxiu District, 71 He Di Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China.
- Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China.
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China.
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Velázquez-Enríquez JM, Cerna R, Beltrán-Ramírez O, Piña-Vázquez C, Villa-Treviño S, Vásquez-Garzón VR. DCLK1 is Overexpressed and Associated with Immune Cell Infiltration in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Biochem Genet 2024:10.1007/s10528-024-10667-y. [PMID: 38294590 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-024-10667-y] [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: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Recent research has shown that Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is overexpressed in different types of cancer. It has recently been described as a cancer stem cells (CSCs) marker, is associated with carcinogenesis, and positively correlates with infiltration of multiple immune cell types in some cancers. However, studies focused on assessing DCLK1 expression in HCC are limited, and the role of DCLK1 in HCC tumor immunity remains to be determined. In this study, we used a modified model of the resistant hepatocyte (MRHM) to evaluate DCLK1 expression in HCC. Furthermore, DCLK1 expression in HCC was analyzed using TIMER 2.0, UALCAN, GEPIA, GEO, and HPA web-based tools. Correlations between DCLK1 expression and clinicopathological factors in patients were analyzed using the UALCAN web-based tool. Finally, correlations between DCLK1 and immune infiltrates were investigated using the TIMER 2.0 and TISIDB web-based tools. The results showed that DCLK1 is significantly overexpressed during progression of the HCC carcinogenic process in the MRHM. DCLK1 is overexpressed in HCC according to multiple publics web-based tools, and its overexpression is associated with cancer stage. Furthermore, DCLK1 expression was correlated with infiltration levels of multiple immune cells, immunomodulatory factors, immunoinhibitors, MHC molecules, chemokines, receptors, and immune cell-specific markers. These results suggest that DCLK1 is a potential prognostic biomarker that determines cancer progression and correlates with immune cell infiltration in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Manuel Velázquez-Enríquez
- Laboratorio de Fibrosis y Cáncer, Facultad de Medicina y Cirugía, Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca, Ex Hacienda de Aguilera S/N, Sur, San Felipe del Agua, C.P. 68020, Oaxaca, México
| | - Renata Cerna
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, C.P. 07360, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Olga Beltrán-Ramírez
- Universidad Estatal de Sonora, Unidad Académica Navojoa, Boulevard Manlio Fabio Beltrones 810, Colonia Bugambilias, C.P. 85875, Navojoa, Sonora, México
| | - Carolina Piña-Vázquez
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, C.P. 07360, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Saúl Villa-Treviño
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, C.P. 07360, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Verónica Rocío Vásquez-Garzón
- CONACYT-Facultad de Medicina y Cirugía, Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca, Ex Hacienda de Aguilera S/N, Sur, San Felipe del Agua, C.P. 68020, Oaxaca, México.
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Chen Y, Zhang X, Zhang M, Fan W, Lin Y, Li G. UTP11 promotes the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma by enhancing the mRNA stability of Oct4. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:93. [PMID: 38233795 PMCID: PMC10795422 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11794-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several publications suggest that UTP11 may be a promising gene engaged for involvement of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathology. However, there are extremely limited biological, mechanistic and clinical studies of UTP11 in HCC. METHODS To anayze the UTP11 mRNA expression in HCC and normal clinical samples and further investigate the correlation between UTP11 expression and pathology and clinical prognosis via the Cancer Tissue Gene Atlas (TCGA) database. The protein levels of UTP11 were checked using the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database. GO-KEGG enrichment was performed from Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) database and TCGA dataset. The levels of UTP11 were tested with qRT-PCR and western blotting assays. Cell viability, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry assays and animal models were used to explore the potential involvement of UTP11 in regulating HCC growth in vitro and in vivo. The correlation of UTP11 and tumor stemness scores and stemness-associated proteins from TCGA database. The mRNA stability was treated with Actinomycin D, followed by testing the mRNA expression using qRT-PCR assay. RESULTS UTP11 was highly expressed in HCC samples compared to normal tissues from TCGA database. Similarly, UTP11 protein expression levels were obviously elevated in HCC tissue samples from HPA database. Furthermore, UTP11 levels were correlated with poor prognosis in HCC patient samples in TCGA dataset. In addition, the UTP11 mRNA levels was notably enhanced in different HCC cell lines than in normal liver cells and knocking down UTP11 was obviously reduced the viability and cell death of HCC cells. UTP11 knockdown suppressed the tumor growth of HCC in vivo experiment and extended the mice survival time. GO-KEEG analysis from CCLE and TCGA database suggested that UTP11 might involve in RNA splicing and the stability of mRNA. Further, UTP11 was positively correlated with tumor stemness scores and stemness-associated proteins from TCGA database. Knockdown of UTP11 was reduced the expression of stem cell-related genes and regulated the mRNA stability of Oct4. CONCLUSIONS UTP11 is potentially a diagnostic molecule and a therapeutic candidate for treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Tai an City, China
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Tai an City, China
| | - Mingcheng Zhang
- Department of Endoscopy Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Tai an City, China
| | - Wenting Fan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, 271000, Tai an City, China
| | - Yueyue Lin
- Department of Endoscopy Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Tai an City, China
| | - Guodong Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, 271000, Tai an City, China.
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Cong T, Yang C, Cao Q, Ren J, Luo Y, Yuan P, Zheng B, Liu Y, Yang H, Kang W, Ou A, Li X. The Role of GNMT and MMP12 Expression in Determining TACE Efficacy: Validation at Transcription and Protein Levels. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:95-111. [PMID: 38250306 PMCID: PMC10800115 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s441179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) represents a significant therapeutic modality for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to develop a gene signature to accurately predict patient TACE response and explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods Three independent datasets were utilized, including GSE104580, GSE14520 and external validation from the Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. GSE104580 was randomly partitioned into a training set and a validation set, whereas GSE14520 was categorized into a resection group and a TACE group. Logistic regression was used to develop a TACE effectiveness model. Immunohistochemistry is utilized to confirm the protein expression trends of the signature genes. Immune infiltration and functional enrichment analyses were conducted to investigate the potential underlying mechanisms. Results A 2-gene signature consisting of glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) and matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP12) was constructed, and based on this, all the patients were assigned TACE effectiveness scores and categorized into high effectiveness (HE) and low effectiveness (LE) groups. The HE group exhibited a better prognosis than the LE group in the various cohorts (p < 0.05). In the external validation set, immunohistochemistry confirmed the expression of the signature genes exhibiting an upregulated trend of GNMT in the HE group and MMP12 in the LE group, the LE group also exhibited a poorer prognosis [for overall survival (OS), HE group: 881 days vs LE group: 273 days (p < 0.05), and for progression-free survival (PFS), HE group: 458 days vs LE group: 136 days (p < 0.05)]. Multivariate analysis in all the datasets identified LE status as an independent risk factor for OS, disease-free survival (DFS) and PFS. The infiltration level of M0 macrophages and activated mast cells in the LE group was significantly higher than in the HE group. The hypoxia signaling pathway and glycolysis pathway were significantly enriched in the LE group. Conclusion The loss of GNMT and the overexpression of MMP12 may be critical factors influencing TACE efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhao Cong
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chao Yang
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qi Cao
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jinrui Ren
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yingen Luo
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Pei Yuan
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bo Zheng
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongcai Yang
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wendi Kang
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Aixin Ou
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Interventional Therapy, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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Lin Q, Tang Z, Qin Y, Deng X, Wei C, Liu F, Pan X, Liu D, Zhan T, Fang M. Clonorchis sinensis infection amplifies hepatocellular carcinoma stemness, predicting unfavorable prognosis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011906. [PMID: 38285640 PMCID: PMC10824460 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011906] [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: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extensive evidence links Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis) to cholangiocarcinoma; however, its association with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is less acknowledged, and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate the association between C. sinensis infection and HCC and reveal the relationship between C. sinensis infection and cancer stemness. METHODS A comprehensive analysis of 839 HCC patients categorized into C. sinensis (-) HCC and C. sinensis (+) HCC groups was conducted. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to assess the association between C. sinensis infection and clinical factors. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate survival outcomes. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine CK19 and EpCAM expression in HCC specimens. RESULTS Compared to C. sinensis (-) HCC patients, C. sinensis (+) HCC patients exhibited advanced Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage, higher male prevalence and more liver cirrhosis as well as elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), eosinophil, complement 3 (C3), and complement 4 (C4) values. C. sinensis infection correlated with shorter overall survival (OS) (p < 0.05) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Cox multivariate analysis revealed that C. sinensis infection was an independent prognostic factor for OS in HCC patients. Importantly, C. sinensis infection upregulated the expression of HCC cancer stem cell markers CK19 and EpCAM. CONCLUSION HCC patients with C. sinensis infection exhibit a poor prognosis following hepatectomy. Moreover, C. sinensis infection promotes the acquisition of cancer stem cell-like characteristics, consequently accelerating the malignant progression of HCC. AUTHOR SUMMARY Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis) is a prominent food-borne parasite prevalent in regions such as China, particularly in Guangxi. C. sinensis has been associated with various hepatobiliary system injuries, encompassing inflammation, periductal fibrosis, cholangiocarcinoma and even hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A substantial body of evidence links C. sinensis to cholangiocarcinoma, However, the connection between C. sinensis and HCC and the intricate mechanisms underlying its contribution to HCC development remain incompletely elucidated. Our study demonstrates clear clinicopathological associations between C. sinensis and HCC, such as gender, BCLC stage, liver cirrhosis, MVI, AFP, CA19-9, circulating eosinophils and complements. Furthermore, we found that the co-occurrence of C. sinensis exhibited a significant association with shorter OS and RFS in patients diagnosed with HCC. A major finding was that C. sinensis infection promotes the acquisition of cancer stem cell-like characteristics, consequently accelerating the malignant progression of HCC. Our results provide a more comprehensive comprehension of the interplay between C. sinensis and HCC, shedding fresh light on the carcinogenic potential of C. sinensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiumei Lin
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zeli Tang
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuling Qin
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xueling Deng
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People’s Republic of China
| | - Caibiao Wei
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fengfei Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaolan Pan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dengyu Liu
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tingzheng Zhan
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People’s Republic of China
| | - Min Fang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, People’s Republic of China
- Engineering Research Center for Tissue & Organ Injury and Repair Medicine, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, People’s Republic of China
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Zhang B, Ding Z, Wen X, Song G, Luo Q. Salinomycin and IR780-loaded upconversion nanoparticles influence biological behavior of liver cancer stem cells by persistently activating the MAPK signaling pathway. Exp Cell Res 2024; 434:113865. [PMID: 38052337 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2023.113865] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
The combination of chemotherapy and phototherapy has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for enhancing the efficacy of cancer treatment and mitigating drug resistance. Salinomycin (SAL), a polyether antibiotic, exhibits potent cytotoxicity against chemotherapy-resistant cancer cells. IR780 iodide, a novel photosensitive reagent with excellent near-infrared (NIR) light absorption and photothermal conversion abilities, is suitable for use in photothermal therapy for cancers. However, both SAL and IR780 exhibit hydrophobic properties that limit their clinical applicability. Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are an emerging class of fluorescent probe materials capable of emitting high-energy photons upon excitation by low-energy NIR light. The UCNPs not only function as nanocarriers for drug delivery but also serve as light transducers to activate photosensitizers for deep-tissue photodynamic therapy. Here, to enhance the targeting and bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs in liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs), we employ distearoyl phosphorethanolamine-polyethylene glycol (DSPE-PEG) to encapsulate SAL and IR780 on the surface of UCNPs. Cell viability was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. Cell migration was assessed by the Transwell Boyden Chamber. The activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was measured via western blot. The results demonstrated successful loading of both IR780 and SAL onto the UCNPs, and the SAL and IR780-loaded UCNPs (UISP) exhibited a robust photothermal effect under NIR light irradiation. The UISP effectively inhibited the viability of HCCLM3 and LCSCs. Under NIR light irradiation, the UISP further suppressed HCCLM3 viability but had no impact on LCSC viability; however, it could further inhibit LCSC migration. Meanwhile, under NIR light irradiation, the UISP persistently activated the MAPK pathway more significantly in LCSCs. These findings suggest that exposure to NIR light results in persistent activation of the MAPK pathway by UISP, thereby influencing the biological behavior of LCSCs and enhancing their therapeutic efficacy against liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingyu Zhang
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Medical Electronics and Information Technology, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 400065, China
| | - Zhongjie Ding
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Xianxin Wen
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Medical Electronics and Information Technology, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 400065, China
| | - Guanbin Song
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Qing Luo
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China.
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Sun L, Wan AH, Yan S, Liu R, Li J, Zhou Z, Wu R, Chen D, Bu X, Ou J, Li K, Lu X, Wan G, Ke Z. A multidimensional platform of patient-derived tumors identifies drug susceptibilities for clinical lenvatinib resistance. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:223-240. [PMID: 38261805 PMCID: PMC10793100 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Lenvatinib, a second-generation multi-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved by the FDA for first-line treatment of advanced liver cancer, facing limitations due to drug resistance. Here, we applied a multidimensional, high-throughput screening platform comprising patient-derived resistant liver tumor cells (PDCs), organoids (PDOs), and xenografts (PDXs) to identify drug susceptibilities for conquering lenvatinib resistance in clinically relevant settings. Expansion and passaging of PDCs and PDOs from resistant patient liver tumors retained functional fidelity to lenvatinib treatment, expediting drug repurposing screens. Pharmacological screening identified romidepsin, YM155, apitolisib, NVP-TAE684 and dasatinib as potential antitumor agents in lenvatinib-resistant PDC and PDO models. Notably, romidepsin treatment enhanced antitumor response in syngeneic mouse models by triggering immunogenic tumor cell death and blocking the EGFR signaling pathway. A combination of romidepsin and immunotherapy achieved robust and synergistic antitumor effects against lenvatinib resistance in humanized immunocompetent PDX models. Collectively, our findings suggest that patient-derived liver cancer models effectively recapitulate lenvatinib resistance observed in clinical settings and expedite drug discovery for advanced liver cancer, providing a feasible multidimensional platform for personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Sun
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, National Engineering Research Center for New Drug and Druggability (Cultivation), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Arabella H. Wan
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Shijia Yan
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, National Engineering Research Center for New Drug and Druggability (Cultivation), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ruonian Liu
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, National Engineering Research Center for New Drug and Druggability (Cultivation), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jiarui Li
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, National Engineering Research Center for New Drug and Druggability (Cultivation), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhuolong Zhou
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Ruirui Wu
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, National Engineering Research Center for New Drug and Druggability (Cultivation), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Dongshi Chen
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Xianzhang Bu
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, National Engineering Research Center for New Drug and Druggability (Cultivation), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jingxing Ou
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, Third Affiliated Hospital, Organ Transplantation Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Organ Transplantation Research Center of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation Medicine, Guangzhou 510630, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Kai Li
- Department of Ultrasound, Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Xiongbin Lu
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Guohui Wan
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, National Engineering Research Center for New Drug and Druggability (Cultivation), Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zunfu Ke
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
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Luo J, Gong L, Yang Y, Zhang Y, Liu Q, Bai L, Fang X, Zhang B, Huang J, Liu M, Liu B, Tang Y, Wong CN, Huang J, Liu S, Li S, Ding T, Man K, Lee VHF, Li Y, Ma S, Guan XY. Enhanced mitophagy driven by ADAR1-GLI1 editing supports the self-renewal of cancer stem cells in HCC. Hepatology 2024; 79:61-78. [PMID: 36683360 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Deregulation of adenosine-to-inosine editing by adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) leads to tumor-specific transcriptome diversity with prognostic values for HCC. However, ADAR1 editase-dependent mechanisms governing liver cancer stem cell (LCSC) generation and maintenance have remained elusive. APPROACH AND RESULTS RNA-seq profiling identified ADAR1-responsive recoding editing events in HCC and showed editing frequency of GLI1 , rather than transcript abundance was clinically relevant. Functional differences in LCSC self-renewal and tumor aggressiveness between wild-type (GLI1 wt ) and edited GLI1 (GLI1 edit ) were elucidated. We showed that overediting of GLI1 induced an arginine-to-glycine (R701G) substitution, augmenting tumor-initiating potential and exhibiting a more aggressive phenotype. GLI1 R701G harbored weak affinity to SUFU, which in turn, promoted its cytoplasmic-to-nuclear translocation to support LCSC self-renewal by increased pluripotency gene expression. Moreover, editing predisposed to stabilize GLI1 by abrogating β-TrCP-GLI1 interaction. Integrative analysis of single-cell transcriptome further revealed hyperactivated mitophagy in ADAR1-enriched LCSCs. GLI1 editing promoted a metabolic switch to oxidative phosphorylation to control stress and stem-like state through PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy in HCC, thereby conferring exclusive metastatic and sorafenib-resistant capacities. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate a novel role of ADAR1 as an active regulator for LCSCs properties through editing GLI1 in the highly heterogeneous HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Luo
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lanqi Gong
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of recurrent metastatic cancer and personalized therapy, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuma Yang
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qin Liu
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lu Bai
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of recurrent metastatic cancer and personalized therapy, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaona Fang
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Baifeng Zhang
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of recurrent metastatic cancer and personalized therapy, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiao Huang
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ming Liu
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Beilei Liu
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of recurrent metastatic cancer and personalized therapy, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ying Tang
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ching Ngar Wong
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jinlin Huang
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shan Liu
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shanshan Li
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of recurrent metastatic cancer and personalized therapy, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Advanced Energy Science and Technology Guangdong Laboratory, Huizhou, China
| | - Tao Ding
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kwan Man
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Victor Ho-Fun Lee
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of recurrent metastatic cancer and personalized therapy, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Stephanie Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xin-Yuan Guan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of recurrent metastatic cancer and personalized therapy, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- Advanced Energy Science and Technology Guangdong Laboratory, Huizhou, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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He J, Wu F, Li J, Deng Q, Chen J, Li P, Jiang X, Yang K, Xu S, Jiang Z, Li X, Jiang Z. Tumor suppressor CLCA1 inhibits angiogenesis via TGFB1/SMAD/VEGF cascade and sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma cells to Sorafenib. Dig Liver Dis 2024; 56:176-186. [PMID: 37230858 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2023.05.010] [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: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly vascularized tumor with a poor prognosis. Novel vascular-related therapeutic targets and prognostic markers remain urgently needed. AIMS To investigate the role and mechanism of CLCA1 in hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS Immunofluorescence, Co-immunoprecipitation and rescue experiment were used to determine the specific mechanisms of CLCA1. Chemosensitivity assay was used to measure the impact of CLCA1 on Sorafenib. RESULTS CLCA1 was dramatically downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and tissues. Ectopic expression of CLCA1 induced cell apoptosis and G0/G1 phase arrest while suppressed cell growth, inhibited migration and invasion, reversal of epithelial mesenchymal transition in vitro and reduced xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, CLCA1 could co-localize and interact with TGFB1, thereby suppressing HCC angiogenesis through the TGFB1/SMAD/VEGF signaling cascade in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, CLCA1 also enhanced the sensitivity of HCC cells to the first-line targeted therapy, Sorafenib. CONCLUSION CLCA1 sensitizes HCC cells to Sorafenib and suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma angiogenesis through downregulating TGFB1 signaling cascade. This newly identified CLCA1 signaling pathway may help guide the anti-angiogenesis therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma. We also support the possibility of CLCA1 being a prognostic biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin He
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Fan Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Junfeng Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Qianxi Deng
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Pengtao Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Xianyao Jiang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Hainan General Hospital, Haikou 570100, China
| | - Kun Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Shuman Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Zhongxiang Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Xiaoqing Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Zheng Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
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Sukowati CH, El-Khobar K, Jasirwan COM, Kurniawan J, Gani RA. Stemness markers in hepatocellular carcinoma of Eastern vs. Western population: Etiology matters? Ann Hepatol 2024; 29:101153. [PMID: 37734662 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2023.101153] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers with a high mortality rate. HCC development is associated with its underlying etiologies, mostly caused by infection of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), alcohol, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and exposure to aflatoxins. These variables, together with human genetic susceptibility, contribute to HCC molecular heterogeneity, including at the cellular level. HCC initiation, tumor recurrence, and drug resistance rates have been attributed to the presence of liver cancer stem cells (CSC). This review summarizes available data regarding whether various HCC etiologies may be associated to the appearance of CSC biomarkers. It also described the genetic variations of tumoral tissues obtained from Western and Eastern populations, in particular to the oncogenic effect of HBV in the human genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caecilia Hc Sukowati
- Liver Cancer Unit, Fondazione Italiana Fegato ONLUS, AREA Science Park campus Basovizza, SS14 km 163.5, Trieste 34149, Italy; Eijkman Research Center for Molecular Biology, National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN), B.J. Habibie Building, Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 8, Jakarta Pusat 10340, Indonesia.
| | - Korri El-Khobar
- Eijkman Research Center for Molecular Biology, National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN), B.J. Habibie Building, Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 8, Jakarta Pusat 10340, Indonesia
| | - Chyntia Olivia Maurine Jasirwan
- Hepatobiliary Division, Medical Staff Group of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia - Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jl. Pangeran Diponegoro No.71, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
| | - Juferdy Kurniawan
- Hepatobiliary Division, Medical Staff Group of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia - Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jl. Pangeran Diponegoro No.71, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
| | - Rino Alvani Gani
- Hepatobiliary Division, Medical Staff Group of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia - Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jl. Pangeran Diponegoro No.71, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
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47
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Liu Y, Wang H. Biomarkers and targeted therapy for cancer stem cells. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2024; 45:56-66. [PMID: 38071088 PMCID: PMC10842814 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2023.11.006] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subpopulation of cancer cells with capabilities of self-renewal, differentiation, and tumorigenicity, and play a critical role in driving tumor heterogeneity that evolves insensitivity to therapeutics. For these reasons, extensive efforts have been made to identify and target CSCs to potentially improve the antitumor efficacy of therapeutics. While progress has been made to uncover certain CSC-associated biomarkers, the identification of CSC-specific markers, especially the targetable ones, remains a significant challenge. Here we provide an overview of the unique signaling and metabolic pathways of CSCs, summarize existing CSC biomarkers and CSC-targeted therapies, and discuss strategies to further differentiate CSCs from non-stem cancer cells and healthy cells for the development of enhanced CSC-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusheng Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL), Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Carle College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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48
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Guo J, Zhao J. USP22-JMJD8 axis promotes Lenvatinib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2024; 1871:119617. [PMID: 37898375 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2023.119617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Lenvatinib is the first-line treatment for patients with advanced HCC, however, drug resistance cannot be avoided during the treatment process, limiting the efficacy of Lenvatinib. We constructed drug-resistant HCC cells by gradually increasing the dose of Lenvatinib. The study found for the first time that USP22 and JMJD8 are upregulated in Lenvatinib resistant HCC cells. In addition, the expression level of stemness related proteins (CD133, C-MYC, BMI1, β-CATENIN) in drug-resistant cells was higher than that in wild-type HCC cells. Knockdown of USP22 in drug-resistant HCC cells could reduce the invasion, migration and stemness of cells. Next, we explored the mechanism of USP22 in Lenvatinib resistance of HCC cells. Under the treatment of Lenvatinib, USP22 knockdown inhibited the cell viability of drug-resistant HCC cells and promoted the apoptosis of drug-resistant cells. Animal experiments in nude mice further demonstrated the important role of USP22 in inducing the resistance of HCC to Lenvatinib in vivo. More importantly, we found that USP22 and JMJD8 constitute a functional axis regulating the drug resistance of Lenvatinib in HCC. In the rescue experiment, the overexpression of JMJD8 could reduce the apoptosis induced by USP22 knockdown. In general, this study shows that USP22-JMJD8 is a drug design target for the mechanism of Lenvatinib resistance in HCC, which may improve the long-term efficacy of Lenvatinib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhui Guo
- Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Jie Zhao
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.
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Yi S, Zhang C, Li M, Qu T, Wang J. Machine learning and experiments identifies SPINK1 as a candidate diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma. Discov Oncol 2023; 14:231. [PMID: 38093163 PMCID: PMC10719188 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00849-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Machine learning techniques have been widely used in predicting disease prognosis, including cancer prognosis. One of the major challenges in cancer prognosis is to accurately classify cancer types and stages to optimize early screening and detection, and machine learning techniques have proven to be very useful in this regard. In this study, we aimed at identifying critical genes for diagnosis and outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients using machine learning. The HCC expression dataset was downloaded from GSE65372 datasets and TCGA datasets. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between 39 HCC and 15 normal samples. For the purpose of locating potential biomarkers, the LASSO and the SVM-RFE assays were performed. The ssGSEA method was used to analyze the TCGA to determine whether there was an association between SPINK1 and tumor immune infiltrates. RT-PCR was applied to examine the expression of SPINK1 in HCC specimens and cells. A series of functional assays were applied to examine the function of SPINK1 knockdown on the proliferation of HCC cells. In this study, 103 DEGs were obtained. Based on LASSO and SVM-RFE analysis, we identified nine critical diagnostic genes, including C10orf113, SPINK1, CNTLN, NRG3, HIST1H2AI, GPRIN3, SCTR, C2orf40 and PITX1. Importantly, we confirmed SPINK1 as a prognostic gene in HCC. Multivariate analysis confirmed that SPINK1 was an independent prognostic factor for overall survivals of HCC patients. We also found that SPINK1 level was positively associated with Macrophages, B cells, TFH, T cells, Th2 cells, iDC, NK CD56bright cells, Th1 cells, aDC, while negatively associated with Tcm and Eosinophils. Finally, we demonstrated that SPINK1 expression was distinctly increased in HCC specimens and cells. Functionally, silence of SPINK1 distinctly suppressed the proliferation of HCC cells via regulating Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The evidence provided suggested that SPINK1 may possess oncogenic properties by inducing dysregulated immune infiltration in HCC. Additionally, SPINK1 was identified as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiming Yi
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Chunlei Zhang
- Department of Colorectal and Anus Surgery, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Tianyi Qu
- Emergency Department, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Jiafeng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated Taian City Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Taian, China.
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50
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Wang WD, Guo YY, Yang ZL, Su GL, Sun ZJ. Sniping Cancer Stem Cells with Nanomaterials. ACS NANO 2023; 17:23262-23298. [PMID: 38010076 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c07828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance due to their self-renewal and differentiation capabilities. Despite encouraging progress in cancer treatment, conventional approaches often fail to eliminate CSCs, necessitating the development of precise targeted strategies. Recent advances in materials science and nanotechnology have enabled promising CSC-targeted approaches, harnessing the power of tailoring nanomaterials in diverse therapeutic applications. This review provides an update on the current landscape of nanobased precision targeting approaches against CSCs. We elucidate the nuanced application of organic, inorganic, and bioinspired nanomaterials across a spectrum of therapeutic paradigms, encompassing targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and multimodal synergistic therapies. By examining the accomplishments and challenges in this potential field, we aim to inform future efforts to advance nanomaterial-based therapies toward more effective "sniping" of CSCs and tumor clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Da Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Yan-Yu Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Zhong-Lu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Guang-Liang Su
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial-Head Neck Oncology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
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