Proteomics approaches for early detection and targeted therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma

Liver cancer-associated changes to the proteome: what deserves clinical focus?

INTRODUCTION

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is recognized as the fifth most common neoplasm and currently represents the second leading form of cancer-related death worldwide. Despite great progress has been done in the understanding of its pathogenesis, HCC represents a heavy societal and economic burden as most patients are still diagnosed at advanced stages and the 5-year survival rate remain below 20%. Early detection and revolutionary therapies that rely on the discovery of new molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets are therefore urgently needed to develop precision medicine strategies for a more efficient management of patients. Areas covered: This review intends to comprehensively analyse the proteomics-based research conducted in the last few years to address some of the principal still open riddles in HCC biology, based on the identification of molecular drivers of tumor progression and metastasis. Expert commentary: The technical advances in mass spectrometry experienced in the last decade have significantly improved the analytical capacity of proteome wide studies. Large-scale protein and protein variant (post-translational modifications) identification and quantification have allowed detailed dissections of molecular mechanisms underlying HCC progression and are already paving the way for the identification of clinically relevant proteins and the development of their use on patient care.

Effect and Mechanism of Sophoridine to suppress Hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and vivo

AIM

The aim of this study is to explain effect and mechanism of Sophoridine to suppress Hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and vivo.

METHODS

In vitro experiment, the HepG2 cells were divided into 5 groups: 0μg/mL Sophoridine treated group (0 μg/mL group); 10μg/mL matrine treated group (10μg/mL group); 20μg/mL matrine treated group (20μg/mL group) and 10μg/mL Paclitaxel treated group (Positive drug group). Measuring the cell proliferation of difference groups by MTS assay; evaluating cell apoptosis of difference by flow cytometry; the cell invasion and migration abilities of difference HepG2 cells were measured by transwell and wound healing testing; measuring the relative proteins expression in difference groups. In vovo experiment, the nude mice were divided into 5 groups: 0μg/mL, 5μg/mL, 10μg/mL, 20μg/mL and Positive drug groups, after executing, taking the tumor tissue from nude mice of difference groups, measuring the tumor volume and weight; evaluating the PTEN protein expression in tumor tissue by Immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS

In the cell experiments, Compared with 0μg/mL group, cell proliferation rates were significantly reduced, cell aopotosis were significantly increased and invasion and wound healing abilities were significantly decreased in marine treated groups with dose-dependent (P<0.05, respectively). In the nude mice experiment, the tumor volume and weight of matrine treated groups were significantly decreased compared with 0 μg/mL group with dose-dependent (P<0.05, respectively). And the PTEN protein expression of Sophoridine treated groups were significantly decreased compared with 0μg/mL group with dose-dependent (P<0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Sophoridine had anti-cance effects to suppress HepG2 activities by regulation PTEN/PI3K/AKT, Caspase-3/-9 and MMP-2/-9 signaling pathway.