Genetic variant in visfatin gene promoter contributes to reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in a Chinese population

Genetic Associations of Visfatin Polymorphisms with EGFR Status and Clinicopathologic Characteristics in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common histologic type of lung cancer. Mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene are among the most common genetic alterations in LUAD and are the targets of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The enzyme visfatin is involved in the generation of the oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) and regulation of intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP), critical processes in cancer cell survival and growth. This study explored the relationship between visfatin single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with EGFR status and the clinicopathologic development of LUAD in a cohort of 277 Taiwanese men and women with LUAD. Allelic discrimination of four visfatin SNPs rs11977021, rs61330082, rs2110385 and rs4730153 was determined using a TaqMan Allelic Discrimination assay. We observed higher prevalence rates of advanced (T3/T4) tumors and distant metastases in EGFR wild-type patients carrying the rs11977021 CT + TT and rs61330082 GA + AA genotypes, respectively, compared with patients carrying the CC and GG genotypes. EGFR wild-type patients carrying the rs11977021 CT + TT genotypes were also more likely to develop severe (stage III/IV) malignancy compared with patients carrying the CC genotype. An analysis that included all patients found that the association persisted between the rs11977021 CT + TT and rs61330082 GA + AA genotypes and the development of T3/T4 tumors compared with patients carrying the rs11977021 CC and rs61330082 GG genotypes. In conclusion, these data indicate that visfatin SNPs may help to predict tumor staging in LUAD, especially in patients with EGFR wild-type status.

Visfatin Polymorphisms, Lifestyle Risk Factors and Risk of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Cohort of Taiwanese Males

Oral cancer is the eighth greatest generally diagnosed cancer amongst males worldwide and the fourth most generally malignancy amongst Taiwanese males. The pro-inflammatory adipocytokine visfatin promotes tumor growth. Elevated plasma visfatin levels have been identified in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), although the biological mechanisms underlying the involvement of visfatin in the pathogenesis of OSCC are not well understood. Moreover, no information is available regarding associations between visfatin polymorphisms and carcinogenic lifestyle factors with OSCC. This study, therefore, investigated the effects of four visfatin gene polymorphisms (rs11977021, rs61330082, rs2110385, and rs4730153) and carcinogenic lifestyle factors (betel nut chewing, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking) on the risk of developing OSCC in 1,275 Taiwanese males with OSCC, and 1,195 healthy males (controls). We also examined the associations between these visfatin genotypes and OSCC histopathological prognostic factors (pathological stage, tumor status, lymph node status, and metastasis). We found that compared with subjects with the CC genotype of SNP rs11977021, those with the CT+TT genotype were less likely to progress OSCC. In addition, an association was found between the rs4730153 variant and lymph node metastasis in the OSCC cohort.

Hepatokines and adipokines in NASH-related hepatocellular carcinoma

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing in industrialised societies; this is likely secondary to the increasing burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), its progressive form non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and the metabolic syndrome. Cumulative studies suggest that NAFLD-related HCC may also develop in non-cirrhotic livers. However, prognosis and survival do not differ between NAFLD- or virus-associated HCC. Thus, research has increasingly focused on NAFLD-related risk factors to better understand the biology of hepatocarcinogenesis and to develop new diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic strategies. One important aspect thereof is the role of hepatokines and adipokines in NAFLD/NASH-related HCC. In this review, we compile current data supporting the use of hepatokines and adipokines as potential markers of disease progression in NAFLD or as early markers of NAFLD-related HCC. While much work must be done to elucidate the mechanisms and interactions underlying alterations to hepatokines and adipokines, current data support the possible utility of these factors - in particular, angiopoietin-like proteins, fibroblast growth factors, and apelin - for detection or even as therapeutic targets in NAFLD-related HCC.

Increased expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor predicts poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal disease worldwide. In this study, we sought to explore the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and its prognostic value in HCC.The expressions of IGF-1R mRNA and protein were estimated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry assays, respectively. The association between IGF-1R expression and clinicopathologic characteristic of patients with HCC was analyzed through Chi-squared test. Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox analysis were performed to analyze prognostic value of IGF-1R in HCC.The IGF-1R was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues at both mRNA and protein levels compared with adjacent normal ones (P < .01). Its expression was associated with tumor node metastasis stage (P = .037) and lymph node metastasis (P = .027) of patients with HCC. Patients with HCC with high expression of IGF-1R had worse overall survival than those with low expression. IGF-1R might be a potential prognostic biomarker for HCC (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.912, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.023-3.572, P = .042).The IGF-1R expression level is upregulated in HCC tissues and may act as a prognostic biomarker for the disease.