Molecular mechanism underlying the functional loss of cyclindependent kinase inhibitors p16 and p27 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Expression of p16 Tumor Suppressor Protein in Malignant Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors; Immunohistochemical Study

BACKGROUND

Malignant ovarian germ cell tumors represent small percentage of malignant ovarian neoplasms but they affect significantly young age group.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the immunohistochemical expression of p16 tumor suppressor protein in malignant ovarian germ cell tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-two malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (five dysgerminoma, eight immature teratoma, and nine yolk sac tumors), twenty mature cystic teratoma tumors and twenty normal ovarian tissue were immunohistochemically stained with p16 monoclonal antibody. Ki67 immunohistochemical staining was done for malignant ovarian germ cell tumors to assess proliferation.

RESULTS

We found that p16 tumor suppressor protein is overexpressed in all malignant ovarian germ cell tumors in both nuclear and cytoplasmic locations compared to control and to mature cystic teratoma (p-value <0.001). Cytoplasmic p16 expression was significantly correlated to Ki67 proliferation index in malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (p-value = 0.033, r = 0.445).

CONCLUSION

Overexpression of p16 in malignant ovarian germ cell tumors denotes that dysfunction of the cyclin dependent kinase pathway is involved in tumorigenesis of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors.

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and Their Natural Flavonoid Compounds in the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer: A Review

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common types of cancer in women with a high mortality rate, and the treatment of OC is prone to high recurrence rates and side effects. Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) is a herbal medicine with good anti-cancer activity, and several studies have shown that SB and its flavonoids have some anti-OC properties. This paper elucidated the common pathogenesis of OC, including cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation, cell invasion and metastasis, apoptosis and autophagy, drug resistance and angiogenesis. The mechanisms of SB and its flavonoids, wogonin, baicalein, baicalin, Oroxylin A, and scutellarein, in the treatment of OC, are revealed, such as wogonin inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis, inhibits invasion and metastasis, and increases the cytotoxicity of the drug. Baicalein also inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression etc. Analyzing their advantages and disadvantages in treating OC provides a new perspective on the role of SB and its flavonoids in OC treatment. It serves as a resource for future OC research and development.

NIPSNAP1 directs dual mechanisms to restrain senescence in cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Although the executive pathways of senescence are known, the underlying control mechanisms are diverse and not fully understood, particularly how cancer cells avoid triggering senescence despite experiencing exacerbated stress conditions within the tumor microenvironment.

METHODS

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomic screening was used to identify differentially regulated genes in serum-starved hepatocellular carcinoma cells and RNAi employed to determine knockdown phenotypes of prioritized genes. Thereafter, gene function was investigated using cell proliferation assays (colony-formation, CCK-8, Edu incorporation and cell cycle) together with cellular senescence assays (SA-β-gal, SAHF and SASP). Gene overexpression and knockdown techniques were applied to examine mRNA and protein regulation in combination with luciferase reporter and proteasome degradation assays, respectively. Flow cytometry was applied to detect changes in cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and in vivo gene function examined using a xenograft model.

RESULTS

Among the genes induced by serum deprivation, NIPSNAP1 was selected for investigation. Subsequent experiments revealed that NIPSNAP1 promotes cancer cell proliferation and inhibits P27-dependent induction of senescence via dual mechanisms. Firstly, NIPSNAP1 maintains the levels of c-Myc by sequestering the E3 ubiquitin ligase FBXL14 to prevent the proteasome-mediated turnover of c-Myc. Intriguingly, NIPSNAP1 levels are restrained by transcriptional repression mediated by c-Myc-Miz1, with repression lifted in response to serum withdrawal, thus identifying feedback regulation between NIPSNAP1 and c-Myc. Secondly, NIPSNAP1 was shown to modulate ROS levels by promoting interactions between the deacetylase SIRT3 and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2). Consequent activation of SOD2 serves to maintain cellular ROS levels below the critical levels required to induce cell cycle arrest and senescence. Importantly, the actions of NIPSNAP1 in promoting cancer cell proliferation and preventing senescence were recapitulated in vivo using xenograft models.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, these findings reveal NIPSNAP1 as an important mediator of c-Myc function and a negative regulator of cellular senescence. These findings also provide a theoretical basis for cancer therapy where targeting NIPSNAP1 invokes cellular senescence.

Effect of 5'-fluoro-2'-deoxycytidine, 5-azacytidine, and 5-aza-2'–deoxycytidine on DNA Methyltransferase 1, CIP/KIP Family, and INK4a/ARF in Colon Cancer HCT-116 Cell Line

Background: Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs) are the negative regulator of cell cycle progression, which inhibits cyclin-cdk complexes, resulting in cell cycle arrest. Recently, we evaluated the effect of 5-Aza-CdR on DNMT1 gene expression in the WCH-17 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line. Objectives: The current study was designed to analyze the effects of 5-aza-2'–deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR, decitabine), 5-azacytidine (5-AzaC, vidaza), and 5'-fluoro-2'-deoxycytidine (FdCyd) on INK4a/ARF, CIP/KIP, and DNA methyltransferase 1 gene expression, apoptosis induction, and cell growth inhibition in colon cancer HCT-116 cell line. Methods: The colon cancer HCT-116 cell line was treated with 5-azaC, 5-Aza-CdR, and FdCyd at 24 and 48h. To determine colon cancer HCT-116 cell viability, cell apoptosis, and the relative expression level of the INK4a/ARF, CIP/KIP, and DNA methyltransferase 1 genes, MTT assay, flow cytometry, and qRT-PCR were done, respectively. Results: 5-azaC, 5-Aza-CdR, and FdCyd significantly inhibited colon cancer HCT-116 cell growth and induced apoptosis. Besides, they significantly increased CIP/KIP (p21CIP1, p27KIP1, and p57KIP2) and INK4 (p14ARF, p15INK4b, and p16INK4a) and decreased DNMT1 gene expression. Besides, minimal and maximal apoptosis were seen in the groups treated with FdCyd and 5-Aza-CdR, respectively. The IC50 for CAF for FdCyd was 1.72 ± 0.23 and 1.63 ± 0.21μM at 24 and 48h, respectively. The IC50 for CAF for 5-AzaC was 2.18 ± 0.33 and 1.98 ± 0.29 μM at 24 and 48h, respectively. The IC50 for CAF for 5-Aza-CdR was 4.08 ± 0.61 and 3.18 ± 0.50 μM at 24 and 48h, respectively. Conclusions: The 5-azac, 5-Aza-CdR, and FdCyd can reactivate the INK4a/ARF and CIP/KIP families through inhibition of DNMT1 activity.

Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant and antiproliferation potential of Euphorbia milii var.: Experimental analysis and in-silico validation

This study was aimed to investigate the anticancer potential of Euphorbia milii (E. milii) using an exquisite combination of phytopharmacological and advanced computational techniques. The chloroform fraction (Em-C) of E. milii methanol extract showed the highest antioxidant activity (IC50: 6.41 ± 0.99 µg/ml) among all studied fractions. Likewise, Em-C also showed significant cytotoxicity (IC50: 11.2 ± 0.8 µg/ml) when compared with that of standard compound 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (IC50: 4.22 ± 0.6 µg/ml) against hepatocarcinoma cell line (HepG2). However, in a human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa), Em-C demonstrated a non-significant difference in cytotoxicity (22.1 ± 0.8 µg/ml) when compared with that of 5-FU (IC50: 6.87 ± 0.5 µg/ml). Furthermore, Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the suppression of HepG2 cells was the consequence of a tremendous decrease in CDK2 and E2F1 protein expression. The GC-MS analysis of Em-C revealed the unique presence of cyclobarbital (CBT) and benzodioxole derivative (BAN) as major constituents. Furthermore, molecular docking of compounds BAN, CBT, and MBT into the binding site of different molecular targets i.e. cyclin dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), thymidylate synthase (TS), caspase 3, BCL2 and topoisomerase II was carried out. Compounds BAN and CBT have demonstrated remarkable binding affinity towards CDK2 and thymidylate synthase, respectively. Molecular dynamic simulation studies have further confirmed the finding of docking analysis, suggesting that CDK2 and TS can act as an attractive molecular target for BAN and CBT, respectively. It can be concluded that these E. milii phytoconstituents (BAN and CBT) may likely be responsible for anti-invasive activity against HepG2 cells.

Aberrant p16 methylation as an early diagnostic marker in blood of hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Background

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is currently used for serologic screening in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but with low sensitivity ranging 41–65% with a high rate of false-negative and false-positive results. For the hypermethylation of the p16 inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (p16INK4A), a tumor suppressor gene results in the uncontrolled division of cells. This suggests that the loss of p16INK4A function due to promoter methylation may be an early event in HCC pathogenesis so the study aimed to assess aberrant p16INK4A gene methylation as an early diagnostic marker in HCC patients.

Results

Our study revealed a highly significant increase of p16INK4A methylation in patients versus controls (Fisher, 36.11; p < 0.01). P16INK4A methylation was detected in 86.6% (26/30) and none of the controls were methylated (100% specificity) compared to the low sensitivity of AFP 65.38% at a cutoff value of 28 ng/mL. Data revealed non-significant difference of p16INK4A methylation status between different HCC Barcelona stages (Fisher, 0.055; p > 0.05). While, AFP levels were statistically significantly higher in stages B and C (median = 243,400 ng/mL, respectively, when compared to stage A (median = 10 ng/mL) (H:16.667, p < 0.01)).

Conclusion

Early diagnosis of HCC can be achieved through the detection of p16INK4A gene methylation in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients with normal serum AFP especially in known cirrhotic patients that deteriorate clinically without apparent etiology.

Prediction of a miRNA-mRNA functional synergistic network for cervical squamous cell carcinoma

Cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) accounts for a significant proportion of cervical cancer; thus, there is a need for novel and noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers for this malignancy. In this study, we performed integrated analysis of a dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus database to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) between CSCC, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and healthy control subjects. We further established protein-protein interaction and DEmiRNA-target gene interaction networks, and performed functional annotation of the target genes of DEmiRNAs. In total, we identified 1375 DEGs and 19 DEmiRNAs in CIN versus normal control, and 2235 DEGs and 33 DEmiRNAs in CSCC versus CIN by integrated analysis. Our protein-protein interaction network indicates that the common DEGs, Cyclin B/cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), CCND1, ESR1 and Aurora kinase A (AURKA), are the top four hub genes. P53 and prostate cancer were identified as significantly enriched signaling pathways of common DEGs and DEmiRNA targets, respectively. We validated that expression levels of three DEGs (TYMS, SASH1 and CDK1) and one DEmiRNA of hsa-miR-99a were altered in blood samples of patients with CSCC. In conclusion, a total of four DEGs (TYMS, SASH1, CDK1 and AURKA) and two DEmiRNAs (hsa-miR-21 and hsa-miR-99a) may be involved in the pathogenesis of CIN and the progression of CIN into CSCC. Of these, TYMS is predicted to be regulated by hsa-miR-99a and SASH1 to be regulated by hsa-miR-21.

Role of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) in hepatocellular carcinoma: Therapeutic potential of targeting the CDK signaling pathway

Liver cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer related mortality in the world, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) representing the most common primary subtype. Two-thirds of HCC patients have advanced disease when diagnosed, and for these patients, treatment strategies remain limited. In addition, there is a high incidence of tumor recurrence after surgical resection with the current treatment regimens. The development of novel and more effective agents is required. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) constitute a family of 21 different protein kinases involved in regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, and drug resistance, and are evaluated in preclinical and clinical trials as chemotherapeutics. To summarize and discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting CDKs in HCC, recent published articles identified from PubMed were comprehensively reviewed. The key words included hepatocellular carcinoma, cyclin-dependent kinases, and CDK inhibitors. This review focuses on the emerging evidence from studies describing the genetic and functional aspects of CDKs in HCC. We also present an overview of CDK inhibitors that have shown efficacy in laboratory studies of HCC. Although many of the studies assessing CDK-targeting therapies in HCC are at the preclinical stage, there is significant evidence that CDK inhibitors used alone or in combination with established chemotherapy drugs could have significant applications in HCC.

Experimental Models to Define the Genetic Predisposition to Liver Cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a frequent human cancer and the most frequent liver tumor. The study of genetic mechanisms of the inherited predisposition to HCC, implicating gene-gene and gene-environment interaction, led to the discovery of multiple gene loci regulating the growth and multiplicity of liver preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions, thus uncovering the action of multiple genes and epistatic interactions in the regulation of the individual susceptibility to HCC. The comparative evaluation of the molecular pathways involved in HCC development in mouse and rat strains differently predisposed to HCC indicates that the genes responsible for HCC susceptibility control the amplification and/or overexpression of c-Myc, the expression of cell cycle regulatory genes, and the activity of Ras/Erk, AKT/mTOR, and of the pro-apoptotic Rassf1A/Nore1A and Dab2IP/Ask1 pathways, the methionine cycle, and DNA repair pathways in mice and rats. Comparative functional genetic studies, in rats and mice differently susceptible to HCC, showed that preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of resistant mouse and rat strains cluster with human HCC with better prognosis, while the lesions of susceptible mouse and rats cluster with HCC with poorer prognosis, confirming the validity of the studies on the influence of the genetic predisposition to hepatocarinogenesis on HCC prognosis in mouse and rat models. Recently, the hydrodynamic gene transfection in mice provided new opportunities for the recognition of genes implicated in the molecular mechanisms involved in HCC pathogenesis and prognosis. This method appears to be highly promising to further study the genetic background of the predisposition to this cancer.

Angiotensin receptor blocker telmisartan inhibits cell proliferation and tumor growth of cholangiocarcinoma through cell cycle arrest

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is at an advanced stage at the time of its diagnosis, and developing a more effective treatment of CCA would be desirable. Angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor blocker (ARB), telmisartan may inhibit cancer cell proliferation, but the mechanisms by which telmisartan affects various cancers remain unknown. In this study, we evaluated the effects of telmisartan on human CCA cells and to assess the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs). We studied the effects of telmisartan on CCA cells using two cell lines, HuCCT-1 and TFK-1. In our experiments, telmisartan inhibited the proliferation of HuCCT-1 and TFK-1 cells. Additionally, telmisartan induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest via blockade of the G0 to G1 cell cycle transition. Notably, telmisartan did not induce apoptosis in HuCCT-1 cells. This blockade was accompanied by a strong decrease in cell cycle-related protein, especially G1 cyclin, cyclin D1, and its catalytic subumits, Cdk4 and Cdk6. Telmisartan reduced the phosphorylation of EGFR (p-EGFR) and TIMP-1 by using p-RTK and angiogenesis array. Furthermore, miRNA expression was markedly altered by telmisartan in HuCCT-1. Telmisartan inhibits tumor growth in CCA xenograft model in vivo. In conclusion, telmisartan was shown to inhibit human CCA cell proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest.

Telmisartan inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation in vitro by inducing cell cycle arrest

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignancy of the liver and the third leading cause of cancer-related death. Telmisartan, a widely used antihypertensive drug, is an angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor blocker (ARB) that might inhibit cancer cell proliferation, but the mechanisms through which telmisartan affects various cancers remain unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of telmisartan on human HCC and to assess the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs). We studied the effects of telmisartan on HCC cells using the HLF, HLE, HepG2, HuH-7 and PLC/PRF/5 cell lines. In our experiments, telmisartan inhibited the proliferation of HLF, HLE and HepG2 cells, which represent poorly differentiated types of HCC cells. However, HuH-7 and PLC/PRF/5 cells, which represent well-differentiated types of HCC cells, were not sensitive to telmisartan. Telmisartan induced G₀/G₁ cell cycle arrest of HLF cells by inhibiting the G₀-to-G₁ cell cycle transition. This blockade was accompanied by a marked decrease in the levels of cyclin D1, cyclin E and other cell cycle-related proteins. Notably, the activity of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway was increased, and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway was inhibited by telmisartan treatment. Additionally, telmisartan increased the level of caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18 (cCK18), partially contributed to the induction of apoptosis in HLF cells and reduced the phosphorylation of ErbB3 in HLF cells. Furthermore, miRNA expression was markedly altered by telmisartan in vitro. In conclusion, telmisartan inhibits human HCC cell proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest.

Interaction of Cx43 with Hsc70 regulates G1/S transition through CDK inhibitor p27

Connexin 43 (Cx43) functions as a cell growth suppressor. We have demonstrated that Cx43 interacts with heat shock cognate protein 70 (Hsc70) for regulating cell proliferation. Hsc70 interacts with CDK inhibitor p27, which regulates the assembly and subcellular localization of cyclin D1-CDK4-p27 complex. However, the involvement of p27 with Cx43-mediated cell cycle suppression is still poorly understood. Here, we report that nuclear accumulation of p27 is reduced by overexpression of Cx43, and that this reduction is restored by co-overexpression with Hsc70. We found that Cx43 competes with p27 for binding to Hsc70, and as a result, decreases the level of Hsc70 in cyclin D1-CDK4-p27 complex, leading to prevention of the nuclear translocation of the complex and the G1/S transition. Collectively, our findings suggest that, in Cx43 up-regulation, which is most likely an emergency measure, Cx43-Hsc70 interaction regulates cell cycle G1/S progression through a novel mechanism by which Cx43-Hsc70 interaction prevents the nuclear accumulation of p27 through controlling the nuclear translocation of cyclin D1-CDK4-p27 complex.

Genetic polymorphisms in apoptosis-related genes and the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

The apoptotic pathway is important in the control of vital processes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the current study, we aimed to determine whether apoptotic gene-related polymorphisms modified HCC prognosis. We genotyped 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 10 core genes (TP53, TP53INP1, TP53BP1, CDKN2A, CDKN1A, CDKN1B, MDM2, BAX, CCDN1 and BCL2) in the apoptotic pathway by using DNA from blood samples of 362 HCC patients receiving surgical resection of HCC tumor. The associations between genotypes/haplotypes of the 10 genes and overall survival (OS) of HCC patients were assessed using the Cox proportional hazards model. We found one CDKN1B haplotype CCT/ACT (constructed by rs36228499 C>A, rs34330 C>T and rs2066827 T>G) significantly associated with decreased OS of HCC patients, compared to the common haplotype ACT/CTT both in univariate analysis (P=0.013, HR=1.198, 95% CI: 1.039-1.381) and multivariate analysis (P=0.006, HR=1.224, 95% CI: 1.059-1.413). We also find two SNPs (rs560191 G>C and rs2602141 T>G) in TP53BP1 shown to be marginally significantly associated with decreased OS of HCC patients. However, none of the other SNPs or haplotypes were significantly associated with HCC OS. Our results illustrated the potential use of CDKN1B haplotype as a prognostic marker for HCC patients with surgical resection of tumor.

Management of hepatocellular carcinoma: Predictive value of immunohistochemical markers for postoperative survival

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for over 90% of all primary liver cancers. With an ever increasing incidence trend year by year, it has become the third most common cause of death from cancer worldwide. Hepatic resection is generally considered to be one of the most effective therapies for HCC patients, however, there is a high risk of recurrence in postoperative HCC. In clinical practice, there exists an urgent need for valid prognostic markers to identify patients with prognosis, hence the importance of studies on prognostic markers in improving the prediction of HCC prognosis. This review focuses on the most promising immunohistochemical prognostic markers in predicting the postoperative survival of HCC patients.

Suppression of C6 gliomas via application of rat hyperplasia gene

BACKGROUND

Among all neurological tumors, tumor incidence of the neuroepithelial tissue is the highest, where 50% are gliomas. Treatment for gliomas has traditionally included surgery and adjuvant therapy. With advancements in medicine, gene therapy has entered the clinical setting, in which control of tumor growth, tumor volume and decrease of supply of blood to the tumor have been observed. Rat hyperplasia suppressor gene (rHSG) has been proven to inhibit the injury-mediated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells.

METHODS

A recombinant adenovirus, Adv-rHSG-GFP, was constructed and characterized by in vitro and in vivo studies. The function of rHSG on cell proliferation was determined in vitro by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) exclusion assay and plate clone formation, while a C6/Sprague Dawley rat glioma model was established to observe the effect of rHSG in vivo.

RESULTS

Overexpression of rHSG displayed a strong effect on suppressing C6 cells proliferation in vitro and growth of glioma in vivo, which suggests the use of rHSG as a possible treatment strategy for glioma. p21Cip1, p27Kip1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen were found to be involved in the tumor suppression mechanism of rHSG.

CONCLUSIONS

rHSG can markedly inhibit of the growth of rat glioma cells. The suppression mechanism of rHSG may be related to cell cycle regulation, which shows that rHSG is a potential therapeutic target of glioma tumor. This preclinical study supports a further in-depth study on the effect of rHSG on cell proliferation, migration and change in the extracellular matrix component of glioma cells.

Aberrant p16INK4A methylation: Relation to viral related chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma

Background:

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is currently the fifth most common solid tumor worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer related deaths. Several studies have shown that the tumor suppressor gene p16INK4A is frequently downregulated by aberrant methylation of the 5’-cytosine-phosphoguanine island within the promoter region.

Aim:

To find out the frequency of methylated p16INK4A in the peripheral blood of HCC and cirrhotic patients and to evaluate its role in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Patients and Methods:

This study was performed on 58 subjects: 30 HCC patients, 20 cirrhotic patients, and eight healthy volunteers. Methylation of p16INK4A was examined using methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (MSP). Comparison of quantitative variables between the study groups was done using Mann-Whitney U test for independent samples when not normally distributed. For comparing categorical data, Chi-square (χ²) test was performed. Exact test was used instead when the expected frequency was less than 5.

Results:

Methylation of p16INK4A was found in 6.7% of HCC patients, 5% of liver cirrhosis (LC) patients, and none of the healthy volunteers; 66.67% of the p16INK4A-methylated cases (2/3) were positive for anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies (one of them had HCC). All HCC cases with aberrant p16INK4A methylation show very high serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) level (9,080; 30,000 μg/mL). There were no significant associations between the status of p16INK4A methylation and tumor size.

Conclusion:

Hypermethylation of p16INK4A was found to be infrequent among Egyptian patients with HCC.

Therapeutic effects of lentivirus-mediated shRNA targeting of cyclin D1 in human gastric cancer

Background

Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in males and the fourth in females. Traditional treatment has poor prognosis because of recurrence and systemic side effects. Therefore, the development of new therapeutic strategies is an important issue. Lentivirus-mediated shRNA stably inhibits target genes and can efficiently transduce most cells. Since overexpressed cyclin D1 is closely related to human gastric cancer progression, inhibition of cyclin D1 using specific targeting could be an effective treatment method of human gastric cancer.

Methods

The therapeutic effect of lentivirus-mediated shRNA targeting of cyclin D1 (ShCCND1) was analyzed both in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Results

In vitro, NCI-N87 cells with downregulation of cyclin D1 by ShCCND1 showed significant inhibition of cell proliferation, cell motility, and clonogenicity. Downregulation of cyclin D1 in NCI-N87 cells also resulted in significantly increased G1 arrest and apoptosis. In vivo, stable NCI-N87 cells expressing ShCCND1 were engrafted into nude mice. Then, the cancer-growth inhibition effect of lentivirus was confirmed. To assess lentivirus including ShCCND1 as a therapeutic agent, intratumoral injection was conducted. Tumor growth of the lentivirus-treated group was significantly inhibited compared to growth of the control group. These results are in accordance with the in vitro data and lend support to the mitotic figure count and apoptosis analysis of the tumor mass.

Conclusion

The lentivirus-mediated ShCCND1 was constructed, which effectively inhibited growth of NCI-N87-derived cancer both in vitro and in vivo. The efficiency of shRNA knockdown and variation in the degree of inhibition is mediated by different shRNA sequences and cancer cell lines. These experimental results suggest the possibility of developing new gastric cancer therapies using lentivirus-mediated shRNA.

CDK/CCN and CDKI alterations for cancer prognosis and therapeutic predictivity

The regulation of cell growth and division occurs in an accurate sequential manner. It is dictated by the accumulation of cyclins (CCNs) and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) complexes and degradation of CCNs. In human tumors, instead, the cell cycle is deregulated, causing absence of differentiation and aberrant cell growth. Oncogenic alterations of CCNs, CDKs, and CDKIs have been reported in more than 90% of human cancers, and the most frequent are those related to the G1 phase. Several molecular mechanisms, including gene overexpression, chromosomal translocations, point mutations, insertions and deletions, missense and frame shift mutation, splicing, or methylation, may be responsible for these alterations. The cell cycle regulators are involved in tumor progression given their association with cancers characterized by higher incidence of relapses and chemotherapy resistance. In the last decade anticancer drug researches focused on new compounds, able to target molecules related to changes in genes associated with tumor status. Recently, the studies have focused on the restoration of cell cycle control modulating molecular targets involved in cancer-cell alterations. This paper aims to correlate alterations of cell cycle regulators with human cancers and therapeutic responsivity.

New insights on the role of epigenetic alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma

Emerging evidence assigns to epigenetic mechanisms heritable differences in gene function that come into being during cell development or via the effect of environmental factors. Epigenetic deregulation is strongly involved in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It includes changes in methionine metabolism, promoter hypermethylation, or increased proteasomal degradation of oncosuppressors, as well as posttranscriptional deregulation by microRNA or messenger RNA (mRNA) binding proteins. Alterations in the methylation of the promoter of methyl adenosyltransferase MAT1A and MAT2A genes in HCC result in decreased S-adenosylmethionine levels, global DNA hypomethylation, and deregulation of signal transduction pathways linked to methionine metabolism and methyl adenosyltransferases activity. Changes in S-adenosylmethionine levels may also depend on MAT1A mRNA destabilization associated with MAT2A mRNA stabilization by specific proteins. Decrease in MAT1A expression has also been attributed to miRNA upregulation in HCC. A complex deregulation of miRNAs is also strongly involved in hepatocarcinogenesis, with up-regulation of different miRNAs targeting oncosuppressor genes and down-regulation of miRNAs targeting genes involved in cell-cycle and signal transduction control. Oncosuppressor gene down-regulation in HCC is also induced by promoter hypermethylation or posttranslational deregulation, leading to proteasomal degradation. The role of epigenetic changes in hepatocarcinogenesis has recently suggested new promising therapeutic approaches for HCC on the basis of the administration of methylating agents, inhibition of methyl adenosyltransferases, and restoration of the expression of tumor-suppressor miRNAs.

MIF4G domain containing protein regulates cell cycle and hepatic carcinogenesis by antagonizing CDK2-dependent p27 stability

The CDK inhibitor p27(kip1) plays crucial roles in cell cycle regulation and cancer progression. Through yeast two-hybrid screening, we identified MIF4G domain containing protein (MIF4GD) as a novel binding partner for p27. The association of MIF4GD and p27 was verified using immunoprecipitation and glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assays. Interaction with MIF4GD led to the stabilization of p27 both in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells as a result of suppressed phosphorylation of p27 by CDK2 at threonine187. Serum stimulation decreased the levels of MIF4GD and p27 simultaneously. In addition, MIF4GD overexpression resulted in increased p27 levels and reduced cell proliferation, while knockdown of MIF4GD promoted cell cycle progression with decreased p27 levels in cells. Furthermore, overexpression of MIF4GD reduced colony formation and inhibited xenograft tumor growth in nude mice. Finally, we found that both MIF4GD and p27 were expressed at low levels in HCC tissues compared to non-cancerous tissues, and that low expression levels of MIF4GD and p27 were associated with significantly worse prognosis in HCC patients. Our results suggest that MIF4GD is a potential regulator of p27-dependent cell proliferation in HCC. These findings provide a rational framework for the development of potential HCC therapy by targeting the MIF4GD-p27 interaction.

p27 Is a critical prognostic biomarker in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a recently identified chronic liver disease, which progresses to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As the number of patients studied to date has been limited, clinically useful prognostic biomarkers of NASH-related HCC have not been available. In this study, we investigated the status of a cell-cycle regulator, p27, in NASH-related HCC. p27 has been regarded as a prognostic factor in various types of cancer patients. A total of 22 cases with NASH-related HCC were analyzed for p27 protein expression, and phosphorylation at threonine 157 (T157) and serine 10 (S10) by immunohistochemical analysis. The correlation of p27 with tumor characteristics, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival was analyzed. p27 expression was decreased in 13 HCCs (59%), and was significantly correlated with enlarged tumor size (p = 0.01) and increased cell proliferation (p < 0.01). Phospho-p27 at T157 and S10 was detected in four (18%) and seven (32%) cases, respectively, and patients positive for phospho-p27 (S10) showed reduced DFS (hazard ratio 7.623, p = 0.016) by univariate analysis. Further studies with more patients are required to verify the usefulness of p27 as a biomarker for predicting tumor recurrence in NASH patients.

Tuberin and p27 expression in breast cancer patients with or without BRCA germline mutations

BACKGROUND

Tuberin, the protein product of tuberous sclerosis gene 2 (TSC2), is the functional component of the TSC1/TSC2 complex and regulates cell cycle through activation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27. The transcriptional regulation of p27 is, however, also linked to a functional BRCA protein, since in BRCA1 mutant breast cancer cells, which lack the ability to repair DNA damages by homologous recombination, p27 is down-regulated. We have therefore investigated the expression of both tuberin and p27 in normal breast tissue, and in malignant epithelium from women with and without a BRCA mutation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

immunohistochemistry was used to compare p27 and tuberin protein expression in 26 BRCA1 and 2 mutation carriers, in 53 matched breast cancer patients without a family history, and in 74 benign breast tissues in a case-control study.

RESULTS

Tuberin and p27 protein expression were significantly more common in benign when compared to malignant breast tissue (p = 0.01 and p = 0.03), but no difference was observed when sporadic and BRCA-mutated breast cancer specimen were compared. Tuberin and p27 were positively correlated with each other (p = 0.0017, r = 0.2527). Furthermore, p27 expression was positively correlated with ER and PR, and negatively correlated with tumor size. The expression of tuberin and p27 in breast cancer was not correlated with clinical outcome.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that tuberin and p27 are aberrantly expressed in malignant tissue, but their expression does not appear to be dependent on the BRCA mutation state of a breast cancer patient.

Clinical significance of cell cycle inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma

It is well accepted that cell cycle regulators are strongly implicated in the progression of cancer development. p16 and p27 are potent cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors involved in G1 phase progression, and are regarded as adverse prognostic biomarkers for various types of cancers. It has been reported that the main mechanism for p16 inactivation is aberrant DNA methylation, while p27 is exclusively inactivated by proteasome-mediated protein degradation. We have found that p27 is decreased in around half of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), and in some cases p27 is inactivated by inappropriate interaction with cyclin D1/CDK4 complexes. In such cases, p16 is concomitantly inactivated through DNA methylation. Taking into consideration the complex interaction between p16 and p27, a comprehensive analysis including p16 and p27 would be useful for predicting the prognosis of HCC patients.

Deregulation of signalling pathways in prognostic subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma: novel insights from interspecies comparison

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a frequent and fatal disease. Recent researches on rodent models and human hepatocarcinogenesis contributed to unravel the molecular mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma dedifferentiation and progression, and allowed the discovery of several alterations underlying the deregulation of cell cycle and signalling pathways. This review provides an interpretive analysis of the results of these studies. Mounting evidence emphasises the role of up-regulation of RAS/ERK, P13K/AKT, IKK/NF-kB, WNT, TGF-ß, NOTCH, Hedgehog, and Hippo signalling pathways as well as of aberrant proteasomal activity in hepatocarcinogenesis. Signalling deregulation often occurs in preneoplastic stages of rodent and human hepatocarcinogenesis and progressively increases in carcinomas, being most pronounced in more aggressive tumours. Numerous changes in signalling cascades are involved in the deregulation of carbohydrate, lipid, and methionine metabolism, which play a role in the maintenance of the transformed phenotype. Recent studies on the role of microRNAs in signalling deregulation, and on the interplay between signalling pathways led to crucial achievements in the knowledge of the network of signalling cascades, essential for the development of adjuvant therapies of liver cancer. Furthermore, the analysis of the mechanisms involved in signalling deregulation allowed the identification of numerous putative prognostic markers and novel therapeutic targets of specific hepatocellular carcinoma subtypes associated with different biologic and clinical features. This is of prime importance for the selection of patient subgroups that are most likely to obtain clinical benefit and, hence, for successful development of targeted therapies for liver cancer.

The Predictive and Prognostic Significance of c-erb-B2, EGFR, PTEN, mTOR, PI3K, p27, and ERCC1 Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common fatal cancer and an important healthcare problem worldwide. There are many studies describing the prognostic and predictive effects of epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (c-erb-B2) and epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR), transmembrane tyrosine kinases that influence cell growth and proliferation in many tumors.

OBJECTIVES

The current study aimed to investigate the expression levels of c-erb-B2, EGFR, PTEN, mTOR, PI3K, p27, and ERCC1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their correlation with other clinicopathologic features.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fifty HCC cases were stained immunohistochemically with these markers. Correlations between the markers and clinicopathologic characteristics and survival rates were analyzed.

RESULTS

No membranous c-erb-B2 staining was seen, whereas cytoplasmic positivity was present in 92% of HCC samples, membranous EGFR was observed in 40%, PI3K was found in all samples, and mTOR was seen in 30%, whereas reduced or absent PTEN expression was observed in 56% of samples and loss of p27 was seen in 92% of the cases. c-erb-B2 and mTOR overexpression, as well as reduced expression of p27, all correlated with multiple tumors (P = 0.041, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). P27 loss, and mTOR and EGFR positivity were significantly correlated with AFP (P = 0.047, P = 0.004, and P = 0.008, respectively). Angiolymphatic invasion was more commonly seen in EGFR- and ERCC1-positive cases (P = 0.003 and P = 0.005). EGFR was also correlated with histological grade (P = 0.039). No significant correlations were found among PTEN , PI3K, and the clinicopathological parameters. Disease-free or overall survival rates showed significant differences among therapy modalities, AFP levels, angiolymphatic or lymph node invasions, and ERCC1 and p27 expression levels (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

c-erb-B2, EGFR, mTOR, ERCC1 overexpression levels, and loss of p27 may play roles in hepatocarcinogenesis and may be significant predictors of aggressive tumor behavior. These markers were found to be correlated with certain clinicopathologic features, therapy modalities, and survival rates in the current study. These findings may help in planning new, targeted treatment strategies .

Prevention of liver carcinogenesis by amarogentin through modulation of G1/S cell cycle check point and induction of apoptosis

Amarogentin, a secoiridoid glycoside, is an active component of the medicinal plant Swertia chirata. In this study, chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic actions of amarogentin were evaluated in a carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))/N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA)-induced liver carcinogenesis mouse model system during continuous and posttreatment schedule. Better survival, no toxicity and increased body weight were noted in amarogentin-treated mice. Reduction in proliferation and increase in apoptosis frequency were evident in amarogentin-treated groups. In carcinogen control group moderate dysplasia, severe dysplasia and hepatocellular carcinoma were evident at 10th, 20th and 30th week, respectively. Amarogentin was found to prevent progression of liver carcinogenesis at mild dysplastic stage. Exposure to CCl(4)/NDEA resulted in upregulation of ppRb807/811, cyclinD1 and cdc25A at 10th week and additional activation of cMyc and mdm2 along with downregulation of LIMD1, p53 and p21 at 20th week. This was followed by activation of ppRb567 and downregulation of Rbsp3 at 30th week. Prevention of carcinogenesis by amarogentin in both groups might be due to cumulative upregulation of LIMD1, RBSP3, p16 and downregulation of cdc25A at 10th week along with activation of p53 and p21 and downregulation of ppRb807/811 and ppRb567 at 20th week, followed by downregulation of cyclinD1, cMyc and mdm2 at 30th week. During carcinogenesis reduction of apoptosis was evident since 20th week. However, amarogentin treatment could significantly induce apoptosis through upregulation of the Bax-Bcl2 ratio, activation of caspase-3 and poly ADP ribose polymerase cleavage. This is the first report of chemopreventive/therapeutic role of amarogentin during liver carcinogenesis through modulation of cell cycle and apoptosis.

Promoter and histone methylation and p16(INK4A) gene expression in colon cancer

The inactivation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16^INK4A gene by hypermethylation is observed in numerous types of cancer. New findings indicate that DNA and histone methylation act in concert in gene silencing. In this study, we investigated the methylation status of the p16^INK4A gene promoter and the histone 3 lysine 9 residue in the tumors and matched normal tissue samples from patients with colorectal cancer and analyzed their association with gene expression. The methylation and expression of the p16^INK4A gene were analyzed by real-time PCR, and histone methylation was analyzed by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by real-time PCR. p16^INK4A expression was significantly higher in the tumors compared to normal tissue. Mono-, di- and trimethylation levels of the H3K9 residue were similar in the tumor and normal tissue samples. We did not observe any significant correlation between p16^INK4A methylation or expression and clinical parameters. Our results suggest that epigenetic modifications of the p16^INK4A gene and histone lysine methylation do not play a major role in colon carcinogenesis.

Water extract of Hedyotis Diffusa Willd suppresses proliferation of human HepG2 cells and potentiates the anticancer efficacy of low-dose 5-fluorouracil by inhibiting the CDK2-E2F1 pathway

Hedyotis Diffusa Willd (HDW), a Chinese herbal medicine, has been widely used as an adjuvant therapy against various cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the underlying anticancer mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. In the present study, the anticancer effects of HDW were evaluated and the efficacy and safety of HDW combined with low-dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) were investigated. HepG2 cells were cultured in vitro and nude mouse xenografts were established in vivo. The proliferation of HepG2 cells was measured using the MTT method and flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expression levels of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), cyclin E and E2F1 were examined using relative quantitative real-time PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. The results showed that water extract of HDW remarkably inhibited HepG2 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner via arrest of HepG2 cells at the G0/G1 phase and induction of S phase delay. This suppression was accompanied by a great decrease of E2F1 and CDK2 mRNA expression. In addition, HDW remarkably potentiated the anticancer effect of low-dose 5-FU in the absence of overt toxicity by downregulating the mRNA and protein levels of CDK2, cyclin E and E2F1. Our findings support the use of HDW as adjuvant therapy of chemotherapy and suggest that HDW may potentiate the efficiency of low-dose 5-FU in treating HCC.

An integrative model links multiple inputs and signaling pathways to the onset of DNA synthesis in hepatocytes

During liver regeneration, quiescent hepatocytes re-enter the cell cycle to proliferate and compensate for lost tissue. Multiple signals including hepatocyte growth factor, epidermal growth factor, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-6, insulin and transforming growth factor β orchestrate these responses and are integrated during the G₁ phase of the cell cycle. To investigate how these inputs influence DNA synthesis as a measure for proliferation, we established a large-scale integrated logical model connecting multiple signaling pathways and the cell cycle. We constructed our model based upon established literature knowledge, and successively improved and validated its structure using hepatocyte-specific literature as well as experimental DNA synthesis data. Model analyses showed that activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathways was sufficient and necessary for triggering DNA synthesis. In addition, we identified key species in these pathways that mediate DNA replication. Our model predicted oncogenic mutations that were compared with the COSMIC database, and proposed intervention targets to block hepatocyte growth factor-induced DNA synthesis, which we validated experimentally. Our integrative approach demonstrates that, despite the complexity and size of the underlying interlaced network, logical modeling enables an integrative understanding of signaling-controlled proliferation at the cellular level, and thus can provide intervention strategies for distinct perturbation scenarios at various regulatory levels.

RB and p53 cooperate to prevent liver tumorigenesis in response to tissue damage

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The tumor suppressors retinoblastoma (RB) and p53 are important regulators of the cell cycle. Although human cancer cells inactivate RB and p53 by many mechanisms, the cooperative roles of these proteins in tumorigenesis are complex and tissue specific. We analyzed the cooperation of RB and p53 in liver development and pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

Spontaneous and carcinogen-induced (diethylnitrosamine) tumorigenesis were studied in mice with liver-specific deletions of Rb and/or p53 (Rbf/f;albcre+, p53f/f;albcre+ and Rbf/f; p53f/f;albcre+ mice). Genotype, histologic, immunohistochemical, microarray, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunoblot, and comparative genomic hybridization analyses were performed using normal and tumor samples. Comparative microarray analyses were performed against publicly available human microarray data sets.

RESULTS

Deletion of RB and p53 from livers of mice deregulated the transcriptional programs associated with human disease. These changes were not sufficient for spontaneous tumorigenesis; potent quiescence mechanisms compensated for loss of these tumor suppressors. In response to hepatocarcinogen-induced damage, distinct and cooperative roles of RB and p53 were revealed; their loss affected cell cycle control, checkpoint response, and genome stability. In damaged tissue, combined loss of RB and p53 resulted in early lesion formation, aggressive tumor progression, and gene expression signatures and histologic characteristics of advanced human hepatocellular carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

The effects RB and p53 loss are determined by the tissue environment; cell stresses that promote aggressive disease reveal the functions of these tumor suppressors.

Possible down regulation of the p16 gene promoter in individuals with hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The p16 tumor suppressor gene is an important negative regulator of the cell cycle. Inactivation of p16, especially via promoter hypermethylation, has been found in numerous human cancers such as breast, lung, colorectal, and liver.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the role of epigenetic methylation in p16 regulation in Iranian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The methylation pattern in the p16 gene promoter was analyzed by bisulfite direct sequencing in 43 paraffin-embedded formalin-fixed tissues from patients with HCC. In addition, normal specimens from liver graft donors were used as the control group.

RESULTS

The bisulfite direct sequencing showed heterozygous hypermethylation in 13.9% of individuals with HCC. Homozygous methylation within the GC-box IV was detected in another 58.1% of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

It is proposed that methylation, but not necessarily hypermethylation, may play a role in the down-regulation of the p16 gene promoter at least in some Iranian patients with HCC.

Special diaphragm-like strictures of small bowel unrelated to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

AIM: To summarize clinical, endoscopic, radiologic and pathologic features of special diaphragm-like strictures found in small bowel, with no patient use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2009, 5 cases (2 men and 3 women, with a mean age of 41.6 years) were diagnosed as having diaphragm-like strictures of small bowel on imaging, operation and pathology. All the patients denied the use of NSAIDs. The clinical, endoscopic, radiologic and pathologic findings in these 5 patients were retrospectively reviewed from the hospital database. Images of capsule endoscopy (CE) and small bowel follow-through (SBFT) obtained in 3 and 3 patients, respectively, and images of double-balloon enteroscopy and computed tomography enterography (CTE) obtained in all 5 patients were available for review.

RESULTS: All patients presented with long-term (2-16 years) symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding and varying degrees of anemia. There was only one stricture in four cases and three lesions in one case, and all the lesions were located in the middle or distal segment of ileum. Circumferential stricture was shown in the small bowel in three cases in the CE image, but the capsule was retained in the small bowel of 2 patients. Routine abdomen computed tomography scan showed no other abnormal results except gallstones in one patient. The lesions were shown as circumferential strictures accompanied by dilated small bowel loops in the small bowel on the images of CTE (in all 5 cases), SBFT (in 2 cases) and double-balloon enteroscopy (in all cases). On microscopy, a chronic inflammatory infiltrate and circumferential diaphragm were found in all lesions.

CONCLUSION: Diaphragm-like strictures of small bowel might be a special consequence of unclear damaging insults to the intestine, having similar clinical, endoscopic, radiologic and pathologic features.

Combined inhibitors of angiogenesis and histone deacetylase: efficacy in rat hepatoma

AIM

To evaluate the antitumoral effect of combined inhibitors of angiogenesis and histone deacetylases in an experimental rat hepatoma model.

METHODS

MH7777A hepatoma cells were injected into the liver of male Buffalo rats. After 7 d treatment with the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor antagonist PTK787/ZK222584 (PTK/ZK), the histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275, tamoxifen (TAM) and/or retinoic acid was initiated (n ≥ 8 animals/group). Natural tumor development was shown in untreated control groups (control 1 with n = 12, control 2 with n = 8). The control groups were initiated at different time points to demonstrate the stability of the hepatoma model. For documentation of possible side effects, we documented any change in body weight, loss of fur and diarrhea. After 21 d treatment, the rats were euthanized. Main target parameters were tumor size and metastasis rate. Additionally, immunohistochemistry for the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay were performed.

RESULTS

The control groups developed large tumor nodules with extrahepatic tumor burden in the lung and abdominal organs (control 1: 6.18 cm(3) ± 4.14 cm(3) and control 2: 8.0 cm(3) ± 4.44 cm(3) 28 d after tumor cell injection). The tumor volume did not differ significantly in the control groups (P = 0.13). As single agents MS-275 and PTK/ZK reduced tumor volume by 58.6% ± 2.6% and 48.7% ± 3.2% vs control group 1, which was significant only for MS-275 (P = 0.025). The combination of MS-275 and PTK/ZK induced a nearly complete and highly significant tumor shrinkage by 90.3% ± 1% (P = 0.005). Addition of TAM showed no further efficacy, while quadruple therapy with retinoic acid increased antitumoral efficacy (tumor reduction by 93 ± 1%) and side effects. PCNA positive cells were not significantly reduced by the single agents, while dual therapy (MS-275 and PTK/ZK) and quadruple therapy reduced the PCNA-positive cell fraction significantly by 9.1 and 20.6% vs control 1 (P < 0.05). The number of TUNEL-positive cells, markers for ongoing apoptosis, was increased significantly by the single agents (control 1: 6.9%, PTK/ZK: 11.4%, MS-275: 12.2% with P < 0.05 vs control 1). The fraction of TUNEL-positive cells was upregulated highly significantly by dual therapy (18.4%) and quadruple therapy (24.8%, P < 0.01 vs control 1). For the proliferating (PCNA positive) and apoptotic cell fraction, quadruple therapy was significantly superior to dual therapy (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Combined PTK/ZK and MS-275 were highly effective in this hepatoma model. Quadruple therapy enhanced the effects microscopically, but not macroscopically. These results should be investigated further.

P16 gene hypermethylation and hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM: To quantitatively investigate the effect of p16 hypermethylation on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatocirrhosis using a meta-analysis of available case-control studies.

METHODS: Previous studies have primarily evaluated the incidence of p16 hypermethylation in HCC and corresponding control groups, and compared the incidence of p16 hypermethylation in tumor tissues, pericancer liver tissues, normal liver tissues and non-tumor liver tissues with that in other diseases. Data regarding publication information, study characteristics, and incidence of p16 hypermethylation in both groups were collected from these studies and summarized.

RESULTS: Fifteen studies, including 744 cases of HCC and 645 non-tumor cases, were identified for meta-analysis. Statistically significant odds ratios (ORs) of p16 hypermethylation were obtained from tumor tissues and non-tumorous liver tissues of HCC patients (OR 7.04, 95% CI: 3.87%-12.78%, P < 0.0001), tumor tissues of HCC patients and healthy liver tissues of patients with other diseases (OR 12.17, 95% CI: 6.64%-22.31%, P < 0.0001), tumor tissues of HCC patients and liver tissues of patients with non-tumorous liver diseases (OR 6.82, 95% CI: 4.31%-10.79%, P < 0.0001), and cirrhotic liver tissues and non-cirrhotic liver tissues (OR 4.96, 95% CI: 1.45%-16.96%, P = 0.01). The pooled analysis showed significantly increased ORs of p16 hypermethylation (OR 6.98, 95% CI: 4.64%-10.49%, P < 0.001) from HCC tissues and cirrhotic tissues.

CONCLUSION: P16 hypermethylation induces the inactivation of p16 gene, plays an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis, and is associated with an increased risk of HCC and liver cirrhosis.

Uropathogenic E. coli infection provokes epigenetic downregulation of CDKN2A (p16INK4A) in uroepithelial cells

Host cell and bacterial factors determine severity and duration of infections. To allow for bacteria pathogenicity and persistence, bacteria have developed mechanisms that modify expression of host genes involved in cell cycle progression, apoptosis, differentiation and the immune response. Recently, Helicobacter pylori infection of the stomach has been correlated with epigenetic changes in the host genome. To identify epigenetic changes during Escherichia coli induced urinary tract infection (UTI), we developed an in vitro model of persistent infection of human uroepithelial cells with uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), resulting in intracellular bacteria colonies. Cells inoculated with FimH-negative E. coli (N-UPEC) that are not internalized and non-inoculated cells were used as controls. UPEC infection significantly induced de novo methyltransferase (DNMT) activity (12.5-fold P=0.002 UPEC vs non-inoculated and 250-fold P=0.001 UPEC vs N-UPEC inoculated cells) and Dnmt1 RNA expression (6-fold P=0.04 UPEC vs non-inoculated cells) compared with controls. DNMT1 protein levels were significantly increased in three uroepithelial cell lines (5637, J82, HT-1197) in response to UPEC infection as demonstrated by confocal analysis. Real-time PCR analysis of candidate genes previously associated with bacteria infection and/or innate immunity, revealed UPEC-induced downregulation of the tumor suppressor gene CDKN2A (3.3-fold P=0.007 UPEC vs non-inoculated and 3.3-fold P=0.001 UPEC vs N-UPEC) and the DNA repair gene MGMT (9-fold P=0.03 UPEC vs non-inoculated). Expression of CDH1, MLH1, DAPK1 and TLR4 was not affected. Pyrosequencing of CDKN2A and MGMT CpG islands revealed increased methylation in CDKN2A exon 1 (3.8-fold P=0.04 UPEC vs N-UPEC and UPEC vs non-inoculated). Methylation of MGMT was not affected. UPEC-induced methylation of CDKN2A exon 1 may increase bladder cancer and presage UTI risk, and be useful as a biological marker for UTI susceptibility or recurrence.

Global gene profiling of spontaneous hepatocellular carcinoma in B6C3F1 mice: similarities in the molecular landscape with human liver cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although the risk factors of human HCC are well known, the molecular pathogenesis of this disease is complex, and in general, treatment options remain poor. The use of rodent models to study human cancer has been extensively pursued, both through genetically engineered rodents and rodent models used in carcinogenicity and toxicology studies. In particular, the B6C3F1 mouse used in the National Toxicology Program (NTP) two-year bioassay has been used to evaluate the carcinogenic effects of environmental and occupational chemicals, and other compounds. The high incidence of spontaneous HCC in the B6C3F1 mouse has challenged its use as a model for chemically induced HCC in terms of relevance to the human disease. Using global gene expression profiling, we identify the dysregulation of several mediators similarly altered in human HCC, including re-expression of fetal oncogenes, upregulation of protooncogenes, downregulation of tumor suppressor genes, and abnormal expression of cell cycle mediators, growth factors, apoptosis regulators, and angiogenesis and extracellular matrix remodeling factors. Although major differences in etiology and pathogenesis remain between human and mouse HCC, there are important similarities in global gene expression and molecular pathways dysregulated in mouse and human HCC. These data provide further support for the use of this model in hazard identification of compounds with potential human carcinogenicity risk, and may help in better understanding the mechanisms of tumorigenesis resulting from chemical exposure in the NTP two-year carcinogenicity bioassay.

The etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma and consequences for treatment

Most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have liver cirrhosis, which develops following long periods of chronic liver disease. Cirrhosis is characterized by a decrease in hepatocyte proliferation, indicating an exhaustion of the regenerative capacity of the liver, and results in an increase in fibrous tissue and a destruction of liver cells, which may ultimately lead to the development of cancerous nodules. Half of all cases of HCC are associated with hepatitis B virus infection, with a further 25% associated with hepatitis C virus. Other risk factors for developing HCC include alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, intake of aflatoxin-contaminated food, diabetes, and obesity. There are multiple factors involved in the etiology of HCC, all of which have a direct impact on patient characteristics and disease course, and although a causative agent can often be identified, HCC remains an extremely complex condition associated with a poor prognosis. Additionally, the geographic variation in etiology means that information from different countries is needed in order to optimize surveillance methods and develop effective chemoprevention strategies. Unfortunately, there are still many gaps in our current understanding, and further research efforts are needed to fully elucidate the diverse mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of HCC and offer optimal prevention strategies for those at risk.

The elements of human cyclin D1 promoter and regulation involved

Cyclin D1 is a cell cycle machine, a sensor of extracellular signals and plays an important role in G1-S phase progression. The human cyclin D1 promoter contains multiple transcription factor binding sites such as AP-1, NF-қB, E2F, Oct-1, and so on. The extracellular signals functions through the signal transduction pathways converging at the binding sites to active or inhibit the promoter activity and regulate the cell cycle progression. Different signal transduction pathways regulate the promoter at different time to get the correct cell cycle switch. Disorder regulation or special extracellular stimuli can result in cell cycle out of control through the promoter activity regulation. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation may involved in cyclin D1 transcriptional regulation.

Cell cycle biology of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma

CONTEXT

fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLHCC) has a better prognosis than conventional hepatocellular carcinoma. Nevertheless, FLHCC has a propensity to recur with limited responsiveness to chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to provide insight into the cell cycle biology of FLHCC, as it relates to FLHCC's relatively indolent nature and lack of chemoresponsiveness.

DESIGN

in seven cases of FLHCC, we assessed: 1. immunoexpression of protein analytes indicating cell cycle progression including Ki-67 (G1, S, G2 and M phases) and S-phase kinase-associated protein (Skp) 2 along with the mitotic index (MI); 2.immunoreactivity for cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors of cell cycle progression from G1 to S phase, p27Kip1 and p16INK4.

RESULTS

the mean percentage of Ki-67 nuclear positivity in neoplastic hepatocytes ranged from 1.0% to 29.7%. Nuclear Skp2 immunoexpression was not observed in any of the cases. The mitotic index was very low (0-1 mitotic figure / 10 high-power fields). All cases showed moderate to strong nuclear p16INK4 positivity (diffuse in five and focal in two). Contras-tively, the adjacent non-neoplastic hepatocytes expressed only mild (2 cases) to no (3 cases) p16INK4.

CONCLUSION

our analysis has revealed that cell cycle arrest in FLHCC occurs in G0G1 phase and is associated with overexpression of the cell cycle regulator, p16INK4 in tumoral cell nuclei compared with non-neoplastic hepatocytes. In conjunction with our previous immunohistochemical demonstration of a constitutively activated nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB pathway and stemness characteristics of FLHCC with limited differentiation, this cell cycle arrest elucidates the biology of FLHCC's indolent nature and relative chemoresistance.

Major heat shock protein Hsp72 controls oncogene-induced senescence

Various heat shock proteins, including Hsp72, are strongly upregulated in cancers, but their significance for tumor emergence and growth is poorly understood. Here we review recent data from several labs to indicate that Hsps, including Hsp72, are critical for growth of transformed but not normal cells. By manipulating expression and activity of Hsp72 and several oncogenes, it was shown that Hsp72 suppresses oncogene-induced senescence, thus allowing proliferation of cancer cells. Importantly, Hsp72 is able to suppress both p53-dependent and p53-independent senescence pathways. We propose that targeting Hsp72 may be a promising approach toward development of novel cancer therapies.

Epigenetic mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of hepatobiliary malignancies

Primary tumors of the liver and biliary tree are increasing in frequency and portend a miserable prognosis. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression has emerged as a fundamental aspect of cancer development and progression. The molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma involve a complex interplay of both genetic and epigenetic factors. Recent studies investigating the possible epigenetic mechanisms induced in the disease have shed new light on the molecular underpinnings of hepatobiliary cancers. In addition, epigenetic modifications of DNA in cancer and precancerous lesions offer hope and the promise of novel biomarkers for early cancer detection, prediction, prognosis and response to treatment. Furthermore, the reversal of epigenetic changes represents a potential target for novel therapeutic strategies and medication design.

Differential expression of cell cycle regulators in HCV-infection and related hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM

To investigate cell cycle proteins in chronic hepatitis C virus infection in order to analyze their role in the process of hepatocyte transformation and to characterize their prognostic properties.

METHODS

Subjects of the current study included 50 cases of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) without cirrhosis, 30 cases of CHC with liver cirrhosis (LC), and 30 cases of hepatitis C-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) admitted to the Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute (TBRI), Giza, Egypt. Fifteen wedge liver biopsies, taken during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, were also included as normal controls. Laboratory investigations including urine and stool analysis, liver function tests and prothrombin concentration; serologic markers for viral hepatitis and ultrasonography were done for all cases of the study together with immunohistochemical analysis using primary antibodies against Cyclin D1, Cyclin E, p21, p27 and Rb/p105 proteins.

RESULTS

Normal wedge liver biopsies didn't express Cyclin E or Rb/p105 immunostaining but show positive staining for Cyclin D1, p21 and p27. Cyclin D1 expressed nuclear staining that was sequentially increased from CHC to LC (P < 0.01) to HCC (P < 0.001) cases; meanwhile, Cyclin E revealed nuclear positivity only in the case of HCCs patients that was directly correlated to Rb/p105 immuno-reactivity. The expression of p21 and p27 was significantly increased in CHC and LC cases compared to normal controls and HCCs with no significant difference between well- and poorly-differentiated tumors. p21 showed only a nuclear pattern of staining, while, p27 presented with either cytoplasmic and/or nuclear reactivity in all studied cases. Correlation analysis revealed a direct relation between Cyclin D1 and p21 in CHC cases (P < 0.001), between Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E in HCCs (P < 0.01); however, an inverse relationship was detected between Cyclin D1 and p21 or p27 (P < 0.001) and between p21 and Rb/p105 (P < 0.05) in HCCs.

CONCLUSION

Upregulation of Cyclin D1 in CHC plays a vital role in the development and differentiation of HCC; while, Cyclin E may be a useful marker formonitoring tumor behavior. p21 and p27 can be used as predictive markers for HCC. Furthermore, higher expression of Rb/p105 as well as inverse relation with p21 and histologic grades suggests its important role in hepatic carcinogenesis.

HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma: From chronic inflammation to cancer

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a worldwide health problem because of its incidence and pathogenicity. It might evolve into chronic disease, cirrhosis, and/or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the outcome is mainly determined by the host immune response. For viral clearance, combined innate and adaptive immune responses are required; resolution requires a vigorous, durable, polyclonal CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell response, with an increase in virus-specific CD8(+) T cells or cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Failure of efficient immune response can lead to chronic inflammation, tissue remodeling through cell growth, apoptosis and/or necrosis and induction of oxidative stress. Development of fibrosis and/or cirrhosis plus a microenvironment conducive to genomic instability mutations will promote neoplastic transformation. System governance derives from cellular (regulatory cells) and humoral (cytokines and chemokines) immune networks. Therefore, HCC pathogenesis may be a model to study the disease progression from chronic inflammation to cancer allowing design of new strategies targeting the immune response, thereby modifying disease outcome.

SKP2 and CKS1 promote degradation of cell cycle regulators and are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The cell cycle regulators P21(WAF1), P27(KIP1), P57(KIP2), P130, RASSF1A, and FOXO1 are down-regulated during hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathogenesis. We investigated the role of the ubiquitin ligase subunits CKS1 and SKP2, which regulate proteasome degradation of cell cycle regulators, in HCC progression.

METHODS

Human HCC tissues from patients with better (HCCB, >3 years survival) and poorer prognosis (HCCP, <3 years survival) and HCC cell lines were analyzed.

RESULTS

The promoters of P21(WAF1), P27(KIP1), and P57(KIP2) were more frequently hypermethylated in HCCP than HCCB. Messenger RNA levels of these genes were up-regulated in samples in which these genes were not methylated; protein levels increased only in HCCB because of CKS1- and SKP2-dependent ubiquitination of these proteins in HCCP. The level of SKP2 expression correlated with rate of HCC cell proliferation and level of microvascularization of samples and was inversely correlated with apoptosis and survival. In HCCB, SKP2 activity was balanced by degradation by the ubiquitin ligase anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C)-CDH1 and up-regulation of SKP2 suppressor histidine triad nucleotide binding protein 1 (HINT1). In HCCP, however, SKP2 was not degraded because of down-regulation of the phosphatase CDC14B, CDK2-dependent serine phosphorylation (which inhibits interaction between CDH1 and SKP2), and HINT1 inactivation. In HCC cells, small interfering RNA knockdown of SKP2 reduced proliferation and ubiquitination of the cell cycle regulators, whereas SKP2 increased proliferation and reduced expression of cell cycle regulators.

CONCLUSIONS

Ubiquitination and proteasome degradation of P21WAF1, P27KIP1, P57KIP2, P130, RASSF1A, and FOXO1 and mechanisms that prevent degradation of SKP2 by APC/C-CDH1 contribute to HCC progression. CKS1-SKP2 ligase might be developed as a therapeutic target or diagnostic marker.

Novel therapeutic approaches for hepatocellulcar carcinoma: fact and fiction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and accounts for 80%-90% of this class of malignancy. So far, understanding of its pathogenesis and effective therapeutic methods are rather limited. In this issue, 11 invited review articles are published to address current advance of underlying molecular mechanisms for the development of HCC, and novel therapeutic approaches for HCC. This series of review articles provide an in-depth unders-tanding of HCC that has led to or may lead to the development of novel therapies for HCC.