Role of MicroRNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

MicroRNA 21as a novel biomarker in hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma is considered one of the most common cancers occurring in human population all over the world. It became an increasingly threatening malignancy due to both morbidity and mortality. Chronic viral hepatitis B and hepatitis C are two risk factors, which account for 80–90% of all HCC cases worldwide. Alfa Feto protien is used as a tumor marker for HCC diagnosis and prognosis prediction; however, its false negative rate when used alone is as high as 40% for patients with early-stage HCC. AFP levels remain normal in 15–30% of all the patients, even patients with advanced HCC. It has been demonstrated that miRNAs (MicroRNAs) are an important class of non-coding RNAs. They act as tumor oncogenes or suppressors and are involved in the HCC development. MiRNAs are endogenous nucleotides that can be found in intra- and extracellular spaces, such as the blood, urine, and saliva.

The study evaluated the miRNA 21 as a novel biomarker in patients with HCV related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Results

The study was conducted on three groups. Group (1) included 25 patients with liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus infection. Group (2) included 25 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on top of liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus infection. Group (3) included 10 normal control subjects. There was a significant difference in the mean level of miRNA between the three groups with p value < 0.001 with the highest value in group 2 ( 8.28 ± 2.55), then in group1 (5.04 ± 2.11) and the lowest in group 3 (control) (1.02 ± 0.07). MiRNA 21 has a sensitivity of 68% and a specificity of 96%, to differentiate between the liver cirrhosis group and HCC group.

Conclusion

miRNA 21 can be a promising marker for detection of patients with HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma, with higher specificity compared to α feto protein; however, its cost is higher.

Role of circulating microRNAs to predict hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence in patients treated with radiofrequency ablation or surgery

BACKGROUND

Loco-regional treatments have improved the survival of patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but tumor relapse is a frequent event and survival rates remain low. Moreover, conflicting evidences address early HCC patients to surgery or radiofrequency ablation (RFA), with the clinical need to find predictive non-invasive biomarkers able to guide treatment choice and define patients survival.

METHODS

Two independent case series of treatment-naïve HCC patients treated with local RFA, and a cohort of 30 HCC patients treated with liver surgery were enrolled. On the basis of literature evidence, we customized a panel of 21 miRNAs correlated with relapse and prognosis after local curative treatment of HCC.

RESULTS

Expression levels of let-7c predict tumor relapse after RFA; we also investigated the same panel in a small cohort of HCC patients undergoing surgery, finding no statistically significance in predicting tumor relapse or survival. Moreover, interaction test indicated that let-7c expression levels are predictive for identifying a subset of patients that should be addressed to surgery.

CONCLUSION

Results from this study could predict prognosis of early HCC patients, helping to address early HCC patients to surgery or RFA treatment.

Sufentanil Inhibits Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Upregulating miRNA-204

Sufentanil is a powerful analgesic that acts on μ-receptors, but there are few studies on sufentanil in cancer. The biological function and underlying mechanisms of sufentanil on the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells were explored in the present study. HCC cells were first treated with different concentrations of sufentanil and the most optimum concentration of sufentanil was determined. The expression of miR-204 in HCC cells was changed by transfected with miR-204 inhibitor and the transfection efficiency was assessed by qRT-PCR. CCK-8, wound-healing and Transwell assays were performed to evaluate the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells, respectively. The level of AKT and PI3K phosphorylation (p-AKT and p-PI3K) were assessed by western blot analysis. Our results demonstrated that sufentanil effectively inhibited cell proliferation,migration and invasion in both Huh7 and Hep3B cells, and significantly decreased the expression of p-AKT and p-PI3K. In addition, miR-204 was upregulated in Huh7 and Hep3B cells treated with sufentanil, and low expression of miR-204 attenuated the damage of sufentanil on the viability of Huh7 and Hep3B cells. Taken together, sufentanil suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells via inhibiting AKT/PI3K signaling pathway by targeting miR-204.

MicroRNA-4651 represses hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and facilitates apoptosis via targeting FOXP4

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) belong to the subgroup of small noncoding RNAs, which typically serve as important gene regulators to participate in different biological events, such as tumor cell growth and apoptosis. Recent studies indicated microRNA-4651 (miR-4651) was involved in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. The certain role of miRNA-4651 during the progression of HCC, however, remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the mRNA expression level of miR-4651 in HCC tissues and HCC cell lines and found miR-4651 was noticeably down-regulated compared with the normal liver tissues and QSG-7701 cell line, respectively. Then, miR-4561 overexpression obviously repressed the proliferation and promoted apoptosis in two HCC cell lines. Interestingly, we further identified that miR-4561 could directly interact with FOXP4 in HCC cells by using bio-informatic method and report assay. Moreover, forced expression of FOXP4 showed an opposite effect compared with miR-4561 in HCC cell lines. Hence, our findings strongly indicated that miR-4561 regulated the HCC cell growth and apoptosis mainly through targeting the FOXP4 genes. Clinically, the miR-4561/FOXP4 axis might be a potential target for therapeutic application of HCC patient treatment.

Correlations between microRNA-146a and immunoglobulin and inflammatory factors in Guillain-Barré syndrome

Objective

To study correlations between expression of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) and immunoglobulin and inflammatory cytokines in serum of patients with Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS).

Methods

Eighty-four patients with GBS were selected as the experimental group and 50 healthy individuals as controls. Reverse transcription-PCR was used to detect expression of miR-146a in peripheral blood of all participants. Immunoturbidometric assay was used to detect immunoglobulins (Ig)G, IgA, and IgM in peripheral blood of all participants. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were measured by ELISA in peripheral blood. The expression of miR-146a was compared between the two groups and Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze correlations between miR-146a and immunoglobulin and inflammatory factors.

Results

Expression of miR-146a was higher in the GBS group than in controls. Expression of IL-6, CRP, TNF-α, and IgG was significantly higher in the GBS group than in controls. miR-146a was significantly and positively correlated with IL-6, CRP, TNF-α, and IgG but not with IgA and IgM.

Conclusion

The expression profile of miR-146a in patients with GBS differs from that in healthy individuals. Thus, miR-146a may participate in the pathogenesis of GBS by regulating immune and inflammatory responses.

Acoustically Driven Microbubbles Enable Targeted Delivery of microRNA-Loaded Nanoparticles to Spontaneous Hepatocellular Neoplasia in Canines

Spatially localized microbubble cavitation by ultrasound offers an effective means of altering permeability of natural barriers (i.e. blood vessel and cell membrane) in favor of nanomaterials accumulation in the target site. In this study, a clinically relevant, minimally invasive ultrasound guided therapeutic approach is investigated for targeted delivery of anticancer microRNA loaded PLGA-b-PEG nanoparticles to spontaneous hepatocellular neoplasia in a canine model. Quantitative assessment of the delivered microRNAs revealed prominent and consistent increase in miRNAs levels (1.5-to 2.3-fold increase (p<0.001)) in ultrasound treated tumor regions compared to untreated control regions. Immunohistology of ultrasound treated tumor tissue presented a clear evidence for higher amount of nanoparticles extravasation from the blood vessels. A distinct pattern of cytokine expression supporting CD8+ T cells mediated "cold-to-hot" tumor transition was evident in all patients. On the outset, proposed platform can enhance delivery of miRNA-loaded nanoparticles to deep seated tumors in large animals to enhance chemotherapy.

MicroRNA-490-3p suppresses the proliferation and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via targeting TMOD3

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignancy of the liver. It has been reported that microRNAs (miRs) play important roles in the progression and development of HCC. The expression of miR-490-3p has been shown to be downregulated in HCC tissues. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of miR-490-3p on HCC cells and the underlying mechanism. Cell Counting Kit-8, flow cytometry, and Transwell migration and invasion assays were performed to determine the viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion of HCC cells, respectively. Furthermore, a luciferase activity assay was used to verify the association between miR-490-3p and its predicted target tropomodulin 3 (TMOD3). In addition, the protein levels of Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved caspase-3, TMOD3, phosphorylated (p)-p38 and p-ERK in HCC cells were detected using western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that the overexpression of miR-490-3p via transfection with miR-490-3p mimics significantly inhibited the proliferation of Huh-7 and HEP 3B2.1-7 cells. In addition, overexpression of miR-490-3p markedly suppressed the migration and invasion abilities of Huh-7 cells. miR-490-3p mimics significantly induced liver cancer cell apoptosis via upregulating Bax and cleaved caspase-3 and downregulating anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Additionally, a luciferase activity assay indicated that TMOD3 is a downstream target gene of miR-490-3p. The protein levels of TMOD3, p-p38 and p-ERK were significantly downregulated in Huh-7 cells following transfection with miR-490-3p mimics, and the overexpression of TMOD3 attenuated these effects. In conclusion, the aforementioned results suggest that the overexpression of miR-490-3p inhibited the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells by targeting TMOD3. Therefore, the miR-490-3p/TMOD3 axis may be a potent target for the treatment of HCC.

lncRNA TUG1 Promotes Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Regulating miR-29c-3p/COL1A1 Axis

Background

Taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) has been recognized as a novel oncogenic gene. The current study was established to explore the function and regulatory mechanism of TUG1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of TUG1, miR-29c-3p, and COL1A1 in tissues and cell lines. MTT assay, wound-healing and transwell assay were utilized for the detection of cell viability, migration and invasion, respectively. The interactions between miR-29c-3p and TUG1/COL1A1 were predicted by starBase v2.0 (http://starbase.sysu.edu.cn/) and verified by the dual-luciferase reporter or RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Western blot assay was performed to determine the protein levels of COL1A1, cyclin D1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Bcl-2, and Bax.

Results

Dramatically increased expression of TUG1 was noticed in HCC tissues and cell lines. TUG1 knockdown restrained the proliferation, migration, and invasion, and promoted the apoptosis of HCC cells. TUG1 targeted miR-29c-3p and inhibited miR-29c-3p expression. Overexpression of miR-29c-3p inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. MiR-29c-3p directly targeted COL1A1 and down-regulated COL1A1 expression. In addition, downregulation of miR-29c-3p and upregulation of COL1A1 both reversed the effects of TUG1 knockdown on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of HCC cells.

Conclusion

TUG1 could promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells through regulating miR-29c-3p/COL1A1 axis. This novel finding might provide a latent target for the treatment of HCC.

MicroRNA-98-5p Inhibits Tumorigenesis of Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Targeting NF-κB-Inducing Kinase

PURPOSE

MicroRNAs play key regulatory roles in the tumorigenesis of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC). This study aimed to explore the regulatory effects of microRNA-98-5p (miR-98-5p) on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of HBV-HCC cells, as well as the underlying mechanisms involving nuclear factor-κB-inducing kinase (NIK).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The expressions of miR-98-5p and NIK in HBV-HCC tissues and cells, and the level of HBV DNA in HBV-HCC cells were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of HBV-HCC cells were analyzed by cell counting kit-8, wound healing, transwell, and flow cytometry assay, respectively. The targeting relationship between miR-98-5p and NIK was predicted by StarBase3.0 and verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. HBV-HCC xenograft tumor model was constructed in mice to observe the tumor growth in vivo.

RESULTS

The expression of miR-98-5p was declined in HBV-HCC tissues and cells. Overexpression of miR-98-5p markedly reduced the level of HBV DNA; inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion; and promoted the apoptosis of HBV-HCC cells. NIK was a target of miR-98-5p. Overexpression of miR-98-5p markedly decreased the protein expression of NIK in MHCC97H-HBV cells. NIK reversed the tumor-suppressing effect of miR-98-5p on HBV-HCC cells. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-98-5p significantly inhibited the xenograft tumor growth and decreased the expression of NIK in mice.

CONCLUSION

MiR-98-5p inhibits the secretion of HBV, proliferation, migration, and invasion of HBV-HCC cells by targeting NIK.

MicroRNA-639 is Down-Regulated in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tumor Tissue and Inhibits Proliferation and Migration of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Through the KAT7/Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway

Background

This study aimed to investigate the expression of microRNA-639 (miR-639) in tumor tissue from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its effects on patient outcome, to identify the targets for miR-639 using bioinformatics and luciferase reporter analysis, and the effects of miR-639 in human HCC cells in vitro to identify the molecular pathways involved.

Material/Methods

Expression levels of miR-639 were compared in tumor tissue and adjacent normal liver tissue from 50 patients with HCC, and Kaplan-Meier curves identified the association with overall survival (OS). miR-639 expression was measured in HCC cells cultured in vitro using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot. HCC cells were studied using the MTT assay, the colony formation assay, and the transwell assay. Bioinformatics and luciferase reporter analysis identified the role of the histone acetyltransferase gene, KAT7, in HCC.

Results

The expression of miR-639 was significantly reduced in HCC tissues compared with normal adjacent liver tissues, and inhibited cell proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC cells. Bioinformatics and luciferase reporter analysis showed that miR-639 directly targeted KAT7 and inhibit its expression. KAT7 expression promoted cell proliferation, and migration of human HCC cells in vitro, and miR-639 inhibited cell proliferation and EMT by down-regulating the KAT7/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Conclusions

miR-639 was down-regulated in HCC tumor tissue, and inhibited proliferation and migration of HCC cells by the down-regulation of KAT7/Wnt/β-catenin signaling and was associated with reduced OS. These findings supported the potential role of miR-639 as a tumor suppressor.

Roles of microRNAs as non-invasive biomarker and therapeutic target in colorectal cancer

MicroRNAs are endogenous, short non-coding RNA molecules that function as critical regulators of various biological processes. There is a strong functional evidence linking the involvement of dysregulated miRNAs to the occurrence, development and progression of colorectal cancer. Studies indicate that while overexpression of oncomiRs, and repression of tumor suppressor miRNAs tends to drive the overall tumorigenic process, the global picture of aberrant miRNA expression in colorectal cancer can classify the disease into multiple molecular phenotypes. Moreover, the expression pattern of miRNAs in colorectal cancer make them viable disease determinants as well as potential therapeutic targets. Through this review, we will summarize the importance of miRNAs in the etiology and progression of colorectal cancer. Specifically, we will explore the key role played by these RNA molecules as likely therapeutic avenues and the strategies presently available to target them. Finally, we will investigate the role of miRNAs as potential non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in colorectal cancer.

microRNA-605 inhibits the oncogenicity of non-small-cell lung cancer by directly targeting Forkhead Box P1

Background and aims: microRNA-605 (miR-605) is dysregulated in multiple cancers and plays crucial roles in regulating cancer progression. However, little is known about the expression pattern and detailed roles of miR-605 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Thus, in this study, we evaluated miR-605 expression in NSCLC along with its clinical significance. More importantly, the detailed roles and the underlying molecular mechanisms of miR-605 in NSCLC were explored.

Material and methods: Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was employed to detect miR-605 expression in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. A series of experiments were performed to determine the effects of miR-605 upregulation on NSCLC cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. In addition, the downstream regulatory mechanisms of miR‐605 action in NSCLC cells were explored.

Results: Decreased expression of miR-605 was frequently detected in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Low expression of miR-605 was significantly correlated with the tumor size, TNM stage, and distane metastasis in NSCLC patients. Exogenous miR-605 expression inhibited proliferation, increased apoptosis, and inhibited metastasis of NSCLC cells in vitro. Additionally, miR-605 overexpression hindered the growth of NSCLC cells in vivo. Furthermore, Forkhead Box P1 (FOXP1) was identified as a direct target gene of miR-605 in NSCLC cells. Moreover, FOXP1 was highly expressed in NSCLC cells and showed an inverse correlation with miR-605 expression levels. Besides, silencing of FOXP1 simulated roles similar to miR-605 upregulation in NSCLC cells. FOXP1 reintroduction partially abolished the anticancer effects of miR-605 in NSCLC cells.

Conclusion: Our results revealed that miR-605 inhibited the oncogenicity of NSCLC cells in vitro and in vivo by directly targeting FOXP1, suggesting the importance of the miR-605/FOXP1 pathway in the malignant development of NSCLC.

microRNA-944 inhibits the malignancy of hepatocellular carcinoma by directly targeting IGF-1R and deactivating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Purpose: Recent studies have identified microRNA-944 (miR-944) as a cancer-related miRNA, but its expression and precise functions in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown.

Patients and methods: miR-944 expression in HCC tissues and cell lines were detected by RT-qPCR. A series of functional assays were utilized to examine the influence of miR-944 on the malignant phenotypes of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. More importantly, the associated mechanisms underlying the activity of miR-944 in HCC cells were investigated using bioinformatics, luciferase reporter assays, RT-qPCR, and western blot analysis.

Results: In this study, we report for the first time, a significant downregulation of miR-944 in HCC tissues and cell lines and the correlation between its downregulation and malignant clinical parameters, including Edmondson-Steiner grade, TNM stage, and venous infiltration. Low miR-944 expression predicted poorer overall survival rate and disease-free survival rate in patients with HCC. Functionally, exogenous miR-944 expression attenuated cell proliferation, clone formation, metastasis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition and increased apoptosis in HCC, whereas miR-944 knockdown produced the opposite results. In addition, ectopic miR-944 expression hindered HCC tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) was demonstrated to be the direct target gene of miR-944 in HCC cells. Furthermore, the expression level of miR-944 was inversely correlated with IGF-1R expression in HCC tissues. Rescue experiments showed that IGF-1R was at least partially responsible for the effects of miR-944 on the malignant phenotypes of HCC cells. In addition, the PI3K/Akt pathway was notably deactivated, both in vitro and in vivo, upon miR-944 upregulation.

Conclusion: This study provides the first evidence that miR-944 directly targets IGF-1R and inhibits the aggressiveness of HCC, in vitro and in vivo, by decreasing PI3K/Akt signaling. Hence, targeting miR-944 may open a new avenue for the treatment of patients with HCC.

Circulating MiR-210 and MiR-1246 as Potential Biomarkers for Differentiating Hepatocellular Carcinoma from Metastatic Tumors in the Liver

Background

To date few reports have pointed out the role of circulating miRNAs in discriminating metastatic liver tumors from primary hepatocellular (HCC) tumors. Such discrimination will have significant therapeutic and prognostic implications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential value of a panel of HCC-related circulating miRNAs (miR-142, miR-182, miR-200a, mir-210, miR-211, miR-302b, miR-324, miR-338, miR-340 and miR-1246) as noninvasive biomarkers for discriminating primary HCC from metastatic tumors in the liver.

Methods

The expression level of the selected miRNAs was quantified by quantitative real time PCR in 33 patients with HCC, 22 patients with metastatic tumors in the liver, and 30 healthy volunteers as control. Mann-Whitney U test was used to evaluate the difference in miRNAs expression between primary and metastatic liver tumors and to study the associations between their relative expression levels and the clinicopathological factors. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of the individual miRNAs.

Results

Statistical analyses revealed a differential expression in the level of serum miR-210 and miR-1246 between the two groups of patients. The sensitivity and specificity of miR-210, for differentiating HCC from metastatic malignancies in the liver were found to be 73.7% and 64.28%, respectively. Whilst, of miR-1246 were 72.2% and 67.8%, respectively. In addition, the differential expression of the two miRNAs was also found to be associated with clinicopathological parameters in the two studied groups.

Conclusions

Serum miR-210 and miR-1246 have some diagnostic value for discriminating patients with metastatic tumors to patients with primary HCC

Identification of genes and pathways, including the CXCL2 axis, altered by DNA methylation in hepatocellular carcinoma

PURPOSE

Recent genetic studies have suggested that tumor suppressor genes are often silenced during carcinogenesis via epigenetic modification caused by methylation of promoter CpG islands. Here, we characterized genes inactivated by DNA methylation in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to identify the genes and pathways involved in DNA methylation in hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

Eight HCC-derived cell lines were treated with a DNA demethylating agent, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. Additionally, 100 pairs of primary HCC and adjacent non-cancerous tissues as well as 15 normal liver tissues were analyzed by comprehensive gene expression analysis using microarrays. Moreover, gene set enrichment analysis identified the major molecular pathways associated with DNA methylation. Validation of gene expression and DNA methylation status was performed by real-time PCR after bisulfite modification.

RESULTS

We showed that CXCL2, an immune-related chemokine, expression was significantly downregulated in tumor tissues and also significantly upregulated by DAC treatment in cell lines. Furthermore, we observed a statistically significant difference in methylation status between normal liver tissues and tumor tissues (P < 0.05). In addition, tumors with higher CXCL2 expression included significantly more numbers of multiple tumors than the lower expression group.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified CXCL2, an immune-related chemokine, decreased in hepatocellular carcinoma and the regulation mechanism may be controlled by methylation. Further studies should be warranted to examine if and to what extent the gene is actually suppressed by methylation and if there is a possibility that the CXCL2 axis plays a role for diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Micro RNA-4651 Serves as a Potential Biomarker for Prognosis When Selecting Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients for Postoperative Adjuvant Transarterial Chemoembolization Therapy

Our previous reports have shown that microRNA-4651 is a potential early diagnostic and prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma. We aimed to investigate whether microRNA-4651 modified postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization (pa-TACE) to improve the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. A hospital-based retrospective study, including 302 patients with advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma who received tumor resection or tumor resection plus pa-TACE as an initial therapy, was conducted to assess the effects of microRNA-4651 on pa-TACE treatment. MicroRNA-4651 expression in tumor tissues was tested using the TaqMan-PCR technique. The sensitivity of tumor cells to doxorubicin (an anticancer drug used in pa-TACE procedure) was analyzed by the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). Upregulated microRNA-4651 expression in tumor tissues can improve the therapeutic response of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma on pa-TACE (hazard ratios [95% confidence intervals] = 0.32 [0.22-0.46] for death risk and 0.39 [0.28-0.56] for tumor-recurrence risk, respectively), but downregulated expression cannot. Functional analyses-displayed microRNA-4651 mimics decreased while its inhibitor increased the IC50 of tumor cells to doxorubicin (0.65 [0.61-0.69] versus 2.17 [1.98-2.37] µM). Cytochrome P450 2W1 was shown as a possible target of microRNA-4651. Additionally, dysregulation of microRNA-4651 also affected the clinical pathological features of hepatocellular carcinoma and was an independent prognostic factor for this cancer. Conclusion: These results indicate that increasing microRNA-4651 expression may be beneficial for pa-TACE in improving hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis.

Updates on the hepatocyte growth factor/c-Met axis in hepatocellular carcinoma and its therapeutic implications

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer death. Since the diagnosis of HCC is difficult, in many cases patients with HCC are diagnosed advanced stage of development. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition receptor (c-Met) axis is a key signaling pathway in HCC, either via canonical or non-canonical pathways. Available treatments against HCC based upon HGF/c-Met inhibition can increase patient lifespan, but do not reach the expected therapeutic benefits. In HCC, c-Met monomers can bind other receptor monomers, activating several noncanonical signaling pathways, leading to increased cell proliferation, invasion, motility, and drug resistance. All of these processes are enhanced by the tumor microenvironment, with stromal cells contributing to boost tumor progression through oxidative stress, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Novel treatments against HCC are being explored to modulate other targets such as microRNAs, methyltransferases, and acetyltransferases, which are all involved in the regulation of gene expression in cancer. This review compiles basic knowledge regarding signaling pathways in HCC, and compounds already used or showing potential to be used in clinical trials.

miR-570 Inhibits Proliferation, Angiogenesis, and Immune Escape of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one common malignancy. The authors previously demonstrated that miR-570 regulates the development of HCC. This study detected the effect of miR-570 on cell apoptosis, angiogenesis, T cell activation, and proliferation in a tumorigenicity assay in nude mice. miR-570 mimics and negative control (NC) were transfected into SMMC7721 cells, and then, the cells were subcutaneously injected in the right flank in nude mice. Six weeks later, the dissected tumors and peripheral blood were collected. Tumor weight and volume were measured, and expression of miR-570 and apoptosis-related gene Bax/Bcl-2 was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Hematoxylin and eosin, immunohistochemistry of CD31 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), TUNEL assay, and flow cytometry detection of CD4 and CD8 in peripheral blood were performed. miR-570 mimics suppressed tumor growth compared with the NC, with decreases in tumor weight and tumor volume. Very few CD31 and VEGF were found in tumor sections in miR-570 mimics group. Bax level was significantly increased, while Bcl-2 level was significantly downregulated. Significant lower ratio of CD3⁺CD4⁺ T cells and higher ratio of CD8⁺IFN-γ⁺ T cells were found in peripheral blood and tumor tissues in miR-570 mimics than NC. Collectively, miR-570 plays an important role in the proliferation, angiogenesis, and immune escape of HCC, which might be potential diagnostic and predictive biomarkers.

miR-944 inhibits cell migration and invasion by targeting MACC1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common disease in Southern China with high prevalence. miR-944 has been reported to play a vital role in progression of a variety of cancers. The present study aimed to investigate the potential role of miR-944 in NPC cell migration and invasion through elucidating the interaction with its target genes, MACC1. Expression of miR-944 in NPC tissues and cell lines was examined with quantitative RT-PCR. Overexpressed miR-944 and suppressed miR-944 were established with miR-944 mimics and miR-944 inhibitor, respectively. The effect of miR-944 on cell migration and invasion was determined using Transwell cell migration and Matrigel invasion assay. Luciferase assay was used to determine the target of miR-944. Knocked down of MACC1 was done by MACC1 siRNA. Expression of MET related-markers was examined using Western blot analysis. The expression level of miR-944 was downregulated in NPC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-944 significantly inhibited the cell migration and invasion in NPC 6-10B cells. In contrast, suppression of miR-944 promoted cell migration and invasion in NPC C-6661 cells. MACC1 is a direct target of miR-944. MACC1 expression was repressed in miR-944 mimic transfected cells while it was enhanced in miR-944 inhibitor transfected cells. MACC1 knock down inhibited cell migration and invasion. Either miR-944 restoration or MACC1 knockdown caused enhanced E-cadherin, reduced N-cadherin, and vimentin expression. In conclusion, miR-944 could inhibit MET and metastasis of NPC by targeting MACC1. This study suggests that miR-944 has anti-tumor and anti- metastatic properties and could thus be a novel therapeutic agent for NPC treatment.

miR-449a promotes liver cancer cell apoptosis by downregulation of Calpain 6 and POU2F1

Our previous study shows that Calpain 6 (CAPN6) expression is regulated by PI3K-Akt in liver cancer through POU2F1 and CAPN6 which promote cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of liver cancer cells. microRNAs (miRNAs) plays important roles in regulation of gene expression. However, whether miRNAs regulates CAPN6 expression and its cellular function is still unknown. This study aims to investigate how miRNAs regulate liver cancer apoptosis through POU2F1-CAPN6. It was verified that POU2F1 could promote cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis through CAPN6. Using methods of bioinformatics, miR-449a was predicted as a potential regulator of both CAPN6 and POU2F1. It was verified that CAPN6 and POU2F1 were the target genes of miR-449a by luciferase assay. CAPN6 and POU2F1 protein and mRNA levels decreased in liver cancer cells with miR-449a overexpression using western blot and real time RT-PCR assays. miR-449a expression was lower in liver cancer tissues compared with their normal ones, so did the cells. Overexpression of miR-449a inhibited cell proliferation, induced G1 phase arrest and cell apoptosis in liver cancer. Further research demonstrated that miR-449a inhibited cancer cell proliferation and induced apoptosis via suppressing both POU2F1 and CAPN6. The study indicated that miR-449a functions as a tumor inhibitor in liver cancer by decreasing POU2F1 and CAPN6 expression in liver cancer.

Diagnostic, Predictive, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Molecular Biomarkers in Third Millennium: A Breakthrough in Gastric Cancer

Introduction

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the third cause of cancer death. The clinical outcomes of the patients are still not encouraging with a low rate of 5 years' survival. Often the disease is diagnosed at advanced stages and this obviously negatively affects patients outcomes. A deep understanding of molecular basis of gastric cancer can lead to the identification of diagnostic, predictive, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers.

Main Body

This paper aims to give a global view on the molecular classification and mechanisms involved in the development of the tumour and on the biomarkers for gastric cancer. We discuss the role of E-cadherin, HER2, fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), MET, human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), microsatellite instability (MSI), PD-L1, and TP53. We have also considered in this manuscript new emerging biomarkers as matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), microRNAs, and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs).

Conclusions

Identifying and validating diagnostic, prognostic, predictive, and therapeutic biomarkers will have a huge impact on patients outcomes as they will allow early detection of tumours and also guide the choice of a targeted therapy based on specific molecular features of the cancer.

MicroRNAs and clinical implications in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM

To assess the role of some circulating miRNAs (miR-23a, miR-203, miR338, miR-34, and miR-16) as tumor markers for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

One hundred and seventy-one subjects were enrolled, 57 patients with HCC, 57 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 57 healthy subjects as control group. Severity of liver disease was assessed by Child Pugh score. Tumor staging was done using Okuda staging system. Quantification of Micro RNA (miR-23a, miR-203, miR338, miR-34, and miR-16) was performed.

RESULTS

All studied miRNA showed significant difference between HCC and cirrhotic patients in comparison to healthy control. miR-23a showed statistically significant difference between HCC and cirrhotic patients being higher in HCC group than cirrhotic. miR-23a is significantly higher in HCC patients with focal lesion size equal or more than 5 cm, patients with multiple focal lesions and Okuda stage III. At cutoff value ≥ 2¹⁰, miR-23a showed accuracy 79.3% to diagnose HCC patients with sensitivity 89.47% and specificity about 64.91%. At cut off level ≥ 200 ng/mL, serum alpha fetoprotein had 73.68% sensitivity, 52.63% specificity, 43.75% PPV, 80% NPV for diagnosis of HCC.

CONCLUSION

MicroRNA 23a can be used as a screening test for early detection of HCC. Also, it is related to larger size of tumour, late Okuda staging and multiple hepatic focal lesions, so it might be a prognostic biomarker.

MicroRNA-144-3p suppresses tumor growth and angiogenesis by targeting SGK3 in hepatocellular carcinoma

In our previous studies, the Illumine Soledad massively parallel signature sequencing of miRNomes in non-tumor and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues revealed that microRNA (miR)-144-3p was significantly downregulated in HCC, but its role in HCC development, especially angiogenesis, remains unclear. In this investigation, we found recovering miR-144-3p expression can significantly suppress the growth, migration and induced angiogenic capacity of HCC cells through both in vivo and in vitro experiments. Moreover, clinical correlation analysis showed that low expression of miR-144-3p was positively correlated to poor disease-free survival (DFS) of HCC patients. Mechanistically, serum and glucocorticoid kinase 3 (SGK3), the putative targets of miR-144-3p, was predicted by Target Scan database and identified to be suppressed by miR-144-3p so that inhibiting the activation of mTOR-VEGF downstream signals was activated by the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-independent pathway. Hence, we concluded that miR-144-3p, which is frequently downregulated in HCC, can inhibit proliferation, migration and repress angiogenesis by regulating SGK3 activation with PI3K independent signal pathway, and acts as a prognostic factor for HCC patients.

miR-944 inhibits metastasis of gastric cancer by preventing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition via MACC1/Met/AKT signaling

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are reported to play vital roles in tumor progression. Recently, miR-944 was reported to play either an oncogenic or tumor suppressive role in human cancers. However, the expression of miR-944 and its exact role in gastric cancer (GC) remain unknown. This study aimed to evaluate whether loss of miR-944 could promote the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of GC. Reduced expression of miR-944 was identified in 40 pairs of human GC and matched normal tissues by qRT-PCR. Reduced expression of mi-944 was also observed in GC cell lines. Restoration of miR-944 inhibited cell migration and invasion in MGC-803 cells, while its loss facilitated metastasis of SGC-7901 and BGC-823 cells. Notably, miR-944 overexpression prohibited EMT of GC cells in vitro, while miR-944 knockdown had the opposite effect. Bioinformatics software predicted that MACC1 was a direct target of miR-944. We observed negative regulation of miR-944 on MACC1 expression, and direct binding between miR-944 and MACC1 was verified by dual-luciferase assays in HEK293T cells. Restoration of MACC1 resulted in promoted EMT and metastasis in miR-944-overexpressing MGC-803 cells. Loss of MACC1 abrogated the effects of miR-944 knockdown on EMT and metastasis of SGC-7901 cells. We also found that the Met-AKT pathway might be involved in MACC1-mediated EMT. In conclusion, miR-944 acts as an inhibitor of EMT and metastasis of GC by targeting MACC1. This study highlights the potential effects of miR-944 in the prognosis and treatment of GC.

Expression and prognostic significance of miR-375 and miR-221 in liver cancer

The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of miR-375 and miR-221 in liver cancer, and examine the correlations with pathological parameters and prognosis. We collected tumors and tumor-adjacent normal tissue from 70 patients with liver cancer admitted to the Department of General Surgery of Zhejiang Hospital. The expression of miR-375 by RT-qPCR was significantly lower in liver cancer tissues than that in the tumor-adjacent normal tissues, and the low expression was correlated with the lymphatic metastasis and TNM stage. By contrast, the expression of miR-221 was significantly higher in liver cancer than that in the tumor-adjacent tissues, and the high expression was correlated with the lymphatic metastasis and TNM stage. The overall 5-year survival rate of patients was 12.9% (9/70). Single-factor survival analysis revealed that miR-375 and miR-221 were the factors affecting the overall survival rate of liver cancer (P<0.05) and multivariate survival analysis by Cox proportional hazards model showed that miR-375 and miR-221 were the independent factors affecting the survival time of patients with liver cancer. Low expression of miR-375 and high expression of miR-221 are closely correlated with the occurrence and development of liver cancer, especially lymphatic metastasis and TNM stage. Thus, miR-375 and miR-221 can serve as reference biomarkers for guiding the treatment of liver cancer and for estimating prognosis.

miR-345 inhibits tumor metastasis and EMT by targeting IRF1-mediated mTOR/STAT3/AKT pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to play critical roles in tumor progression including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus, the underlying mechanisms need further investigation. Previous study reported that loss of miR-345 expression indicated a poor prognosis of HCC patients. This study evaluated whether loss of miR-345 could promote the tumor metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT) of HCC by targeting interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1)-mediated mTOR/STAT3/AKT signaling. Underexpression of miR-345 was identified in 65 cases of human HCC compared to matched tumor-adjacent tissues by qRT-PCR. Moreover, we found that reduced expression of mi-345 was observed in HCC cell lines. The restoration of miR-345 inhibited cell migration and invasion in HCCLM3 cells, while its loss facilitated the cell mobility of HepG2 cells. Furthermore, miR-345 over-expression reduced lung metastases of HCC cells in nude mice. Notably, miR-345 overexpression prohibited, while its knockdown enhanced the EMT process of HCC cell lines in vitro. Bioinformatics software predicted that IRF1 was a direct target of miR-345. We then observed the negative regulation of miR-345 on IRF1 protein expression and the direct binding between them was further verified by dual-luciferase assays in HCC cells. In addition, over-expression of IRF1 mRNA was inversely correlated with the level of miR-345 in HCC specimens. Restoration of IRF1 resulted in promoted EMT and cell mobility in miR-345 overexpressing HCCLM3 cells. It was found that mTOR/STAT3/AKT pathway and its downstream targets including Slug, Snail and Twist may be involved in IRF1 mediated EMT process. In conclusion, miR-345 acts as an inhibitor of EMT process in HCC cells by targeting IRF1 and this study highlights the potential effects of miR-345 on prognosis and treatment of HCC.

The roles of microRNAs related with progression and metastasis in human cancers

Metastasis is an important factor in predicting the prognosis of the patients with cancers and contributes to high cancer-related mortality. Recent studies indicated that microRNAs (miRNAs) played a functional role in the initiation and progression of human malignancies. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs of about 22 nucleotides in length that can induce messenger RNA (mRNA) degradation or repress mRNA translation by binding to the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of their target genes. Overwhelming reports indicated that miRNAs could regulate cancer invasion and metastasis via epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related and/or non-EMT-related mechanisms. In this review, we concentrate on the underlying mechanisms of miRNAs in regulating cancer progression and metastasis.

Let-7 inhibits self-renewal of hepatocellular cancer stem-like cells through regulating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the Wnt signaling pathway

Background

Tumor suppressive let-7 miRNAs are universally down-regulated in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) versus normal tissues; however, the roles and related molecular mechanisms of let-7 in HCC stem cells are poorly understood.

Methods

We examined the inhibitory effect of let-7 miRNAs on the proliferation of MHCC97-H and HCCLM3 hepatic cancer cells by using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, which was further confirmed by apoptosis and cell cycle studies. The sphere-forming assay was used to study the effects of let-7a on stem like cells. Through western blot, immunofluorescence and the luciferase-reporter assay, we explored the activity of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling factors in HCC cells. qRT-PCR was applied to detect miRNA expression levels in clinical tissues.

Results

Let-7a effectively repressed cell proliferation and viability, and in stem-like cells, also let-7a decreased the efficiency of sphere formation.in stem-like cells. The suppression of EMT signaling factors in HCC cells contributed to let-7’s induced tumor viability repression and Wnt activation repression. Besides, Wnt1 is critical and essential for let-7a functions, and the rescue with recombinant Wnt1 agent abolished the suppressive roles of let-7a on hepatospheres. In clinical HCC and normal tissues, let-7a expression was inversely correlated with Wnt1 expression.

Conclusions

Let-7 miRNAs, especially let-7a, will be a promising therapeutic strategy in the treatment of HCC through eliminating HCC stem cells, which could be achieved by their inhibitory effect on the Wnt signaling pathway.

Prognostic significance of miR-1268a expression and its beneficial effects for post-operative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma

Our recent investigation has shown that the variables of microRNA-1268a may involve in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumorigenesis. Here, we attempted to identify the prognostic significance of microRNA-1268a expression in tumor tissues by a retrospective analysis in 411 patients with HCC, and analyze its effects on post-operative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) improving HCC prognosis. All cases received tumor resection or tumor resection plus post-operative adjuvant TACE as an initial treatment. Logistical regression analysis exhibited that microRNA-1268a expression was significantly correlated with tumor stage, tumor grade, tumor size, and microvessel density. Cox regression analysis showed that microRNA-1268a expression was an independent prognostic factor for HCC, and TACE treatment had no effects on prognosis of HCC patients with high microRNA-1268a expression. More intriguingly, TACE improved the prognosis of HCC patients with low microRNA-1268a expression. Functionally, overexpression of microRNA-1268a inhibited while its inhibitor enhanced doxorubicin-induced the death of cancer cells. These results suggest that microRNA-1268a may be an independent prognostic factor for HCC patients, and that decreasing microRNA-1268a expression may be beneficial for post-operative adjuvant TACE treatment in HCC.

WNT1 Gene from WNT Signaling Pathway Is a Direct Target of miR-122 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an invasive form of hepatic cancer arising from the accumulation of multiple genetic alterations. In this study, the causal role of disturbed canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway was approved, and some of HCC-driven important gene candidates were determined. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs, are the key regulators of important cancer genes, and their participation in tumorigenesis has been shown. By reviewing literature, WNT1 gene with functional significance was selected to approve miRNAs as new subjects for targeted therapy.For proper and fast miRNA detection and also confirmation of the role of bioinformatics in obtaining practical data, we benefited from different bioinformatics tools such as TargetScan, miRanda, and DIANA. In order to use an HCC model, we used HepG2 cell line. Luciferase assay was applied to assess the ability of the selected miRNAs in targeting WNT1 3'-UTR. To overexpress the selected miRNA in HepG2 cell line, viral construct was prepared. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to evaluate selected miRNA and target gene expression levels. miR-122 was selected according to data concerning various bioinformatics tools.miR-122 was downregulated and WNT1 gene expression was upregulated in HepG2 cell line. After viral construct transduction, miR-122 expression was elevated and WNT1 expression was notably declined. Finally, we introduced WNT1 gene as one of the important genes in HCC, and also, we showed that miR-122 can regulate WNT1 gene expression.Moreover, our study determines the potential of bioinformatics analyses in providing accurate and reliable data for miRNA: messenger RNA (mRNA) prediction.

Molecular alterations in the carcinogenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma: Tumor factors and background liver factors

Although hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with poor prognosis worldwide, the molecular mechanisms underlying the carcinogenesis and progression of this disease remain unclear. Several tumor characteristics have previously been demonstrated to be prognostic factors of survival following hepatic resection, or the recurrence of HCC or other types of cancer. Comparisons of normal tissues and HCC tumor tissues have revealed the presence of numerous molecular alterations in HCC, including genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, particularly mutations in certain genes and DNA methylation in the promoter regions of tumor-suppressor genes. A number of studies have previously used array analysis to detect variations in the expression levels of cancer-associated genes and microRNAs, and in DNA methylation. However, an investigation of HCC tumor tissues may not determine the effect of noncancerous liver tissues (background liver) in patients with HCC. As HCC may recur multicentrically following resection, a damaged or chronically diseased HCC background liver may be considered as a pre-cancerous organ. Therefore, the influence of the background liver on HCC requires further study. Detailed studies regarding the background liver may be essential for the improved understanding of the carcinogenesis and progression of this malignancy; however only a few studies have investigated the microenvironment of the HCC background liver. The present review discusses prior molecular studies of hepatocarcinogenesis that focus on HCC and background liver tissues.

Diagnosis of HCC for patients with cirrhosis using miRNA profiles of the tumor-surrounding tissue - A statistical model based on stepwise penalized logistic regression

The presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant complication of cirrhosis because it changes the prognosis and the treatment of the patients. By now, contrast-enhanced CT and MR scans are the most reliable tools for the diagnosis of HCC; however, in some cases, a biopsy of the tumor is necessary for the final diagnosis. The aim of the study was to develop a diagnostic tool using the microRNA (miRNA) profiles of the tissue surrounding the HCC tumor combined with clinical parameters in statistical models. At a transplantation setting, 32 patients with HCC and cirrhosis (B) were compared to 22 patients suffering from cirrhosis only (A). The diagnosis and exclusion of HCC was confirmed following the histopathological examination of the explanted liver. The HCC patients were significantly older than the patients with cirrhosis only (B: 60.6 and A: 49.9, p<0.001) and showed higher levels of ALT (A: 0.76μkat/l, B: 1.02μkat/, p=0.006) and AFP (A: 5.8ng/ml, B: 70.3ng/ml, p<0.001), whereas the bilirubin levels were higher in the cirrhosis only group (p=0.002). Using age (cut-off 50.23years) and AFP (cut-off 4.2ng/ml) thresholds, the levels of expression of miR-1285-3p and miR-943 differentiated between the patients with HCC and cirrhosis from those with cirrhosis only with an accuracy of 96.3%. This is the first report about the use of stepwise penalized logistic regression and decision tree analyses of miRNA expressions in the tumor-surrounding tissue combined with clinical parameters for the diagnosis of HCC.

Gastric biomarkers: a global review

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer is an aggressive disease with a poor 5-year survival and large global burden of disease. The disease is biologically and genetically heterogeneous with a poorly understood carcinogenesis at the molecular level. Despite the many prognostic, predictive, and therapeutic biomarkers investigated to date, gastric cancer continues to be detected at an advanced stage with resultant poor clinical outcomes.

MAIN BODY

This is a global review of gastric biomarkers with an emphasis on HER2, E-cadherin, fibroblast growth factor receptor, mammalian target of rapamycin, and hepatocyte growth factor receptor as well as sections on microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, matrix metalloproteinases, PD-L1, TP53, and microsatellite instability.

CONCLUSION

A deeper understanding of the pathogenesis and biological features of gastric cancer, including the identification and characterization of diagnostic, prognostic, predictive, and therapeutic biomarkers, hopefully will provide improved clinical outcomes.

The clinicopathological significance of miR-149 and PARP-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma and their roles in chemo/radiotherapy

Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) are commonly diagnosed at an advanced stage with unresectable tumors. Although numerous non-surgical approaches have been developed to treat HCC, the prognosis of patients with HCC is still poor. This study investigated the expression of miR-149 and PARP-2 in HCC tumor tissues and their roles in sensitizing chemo/radiotherapy. The expression of miR-149 was measured by real-time PCR, and PARP-2 protein was measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The xenograft HCC mouse model was established by inoculating Hep G2 cells. Increased PARP-1 and decreased miR-149 expression was observed in HCC tissues compared to peritumoral tissues. Positive PARP-2 and low miR-149 expression correlated with larger tumor mass size (P < 0.001), capsular and vascular invasion (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.02), high histological grade (P < 0.001), TNM (P < 0.001), and BCLC grade (P = 0.001). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a negative correlation between high PARP-2 expression or low miR-149 expression in HCC tissues with the survival of patients. High PARP-2 and low miR-149 correlated with a low 5-year survival rate and are poor prognosis factors. Overexpression of miR-149 or inhibition of PARP-2 expression could inhibit tumor growth but was more effective in sensitizing chemotherapy and radiotherapy in xenograft HCC animal models. Increased PARP-2 expression and loss of miR-149 expression are involved in the pathogenesis of HCC and are poor prognosis factors in patients with HCC. Although both miR-149 overexpression and PARP-2 inhibitor exert some antitumoral effect, PARP-2 inhibitor is a chemo/radio sensor and can be used to enhance chemotherapy and radiotherapy in patients with HCC.

Polymorphisms in the precursor microRNAs and aflatoxin B1-related hepatocellular carcinoma

The altered expression of some microRNAs (miRNAs) is observed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the genetic polymorphisms in the precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs) in aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-related HCC have not yet been investigated. A hospital-based case-control study, including 1,706 HCC cases and 2,270 controls without any liver diseases or tumors, was conducted in a high AFB1 exposure area of China to assess the relationship between 48 polymorphisms in the pre-miRNAs and AFB1-related HCC risk and prognosis. Among 48 polymorphisms, only rs28599926 (in the miRNA 1268a) affected HCC risk. Compared with the homozygote of rs28599926C alleles (rs28599926-CC), the genotypes of rs28599926 T alleles (namely rs28599926-CT or -TT) increased HCC risk (odds ratio [OR]: 1.63 and 5.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.40-1.90 and 4.27-7.14, respectively). Significant interactive effects between risk genotypes and AFB1 exposure status were also observed in the joint effects analysis. This polymorphism was associated not only with larger tumor size, higher portal vein tumor risk, and tumor dedifferentiation, but also with higher AFB1 adducts levels and increasing the mutation risk of TP53 gene. Furthermore, rs28599926 modified the tumor recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.86, 95% CI: 2.36-3.43) and overall survival (HR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.86-2.41) of cases. Additionally, one target of miR-1268a was show to be the ADAMTS4 mRNA and rs28599926 polymorphism might modify ADAMTS4 expression. These findings indicate that polymorphisms in the pre-miRNAs may be risk and prognostic biomarkers of AFB1-related HCC, and rs28599926 in miR-1268a is such a potential candidate. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sulforaphane inhibits TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via the reactive oxygen species-dependent pathway

Sulforaphane is recognized as a safe antitumor agent derived from various cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli. It has been demonstrated that sulforaphase is a potent antitumor agent in diverse cancers. However, its effect on hepatocellular carcinoma remains largely unknown. Here, we show that sulforaphane inhibits TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition of hepatocellular carcinoma cell via the reactive oxygen species-dependent pathway. We found sulforaphane inhibited hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Sulforaphane induced G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest and promoted cell apoptosis. A set of experiments showed that sulforaphase inhibited hepatocellular carcinoma cell migration and invasion, inhibited the formation of fibroblast like mesenchymal cells and the expression of Vimentin, but increased the expression of E-cadherin, suggesting sulforaphane suppresses epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Cotreatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine inhibited sulforaphane-inhibited invasion and upregulation of E-cadherin and almost completely abolished the sulforaphane-induced expression of Vimentin. The effect of sulforaphane on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells was confirmed by a xenograft tumor growth model. All our finding indicated that sulforaphane is a promising and safe strategy for treating hepatocellular carcinoma.

Knockdown of TMEM16A suppressed MAPK and inhibited cell proliferation and migration in hepatocellular carcinoma

TMEM16A plays an important role in cell proliferation in various cancers. However, less was known about the expression and role of TMEM16A in hepatocellular carcinoma. We screened the expression of TMEM16A in patients' hepatocellular carcinoma tissues, and also analyzed the biological function of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by knockdown of TMEM16A, as well as the expression of MAPK signaling proteins, including p38, p-p38, ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, JNK, and p-JNK, and cell cycle regulatory protein cyclin D1 in TMEM16A siRNA-transfected SMMC-7721 cells by Western blot. Our results showed that TMEM16A was overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. Inhibition of TMEM16A suppressed the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and cell cycle progression but did not influence the cell apoptosis. TMEM16A siRNA-suppressed cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth were accompanied by a reduction of p38 and ERK1/2 activation and cyclin D1 induction, and were not influenced by other tested MAPK signaling proteins. In addition, inhibition of TMEM16A suppressed tumorigenicity in vivo. TMEM16A is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma, and that inhibition of TMEM16A suppressed MAPK and growth of hepatocellular carcinoma. TMEM16A could be a potentially novel therapeutic target for human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma.

MicroRNA-101 sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma cells to doxorubicin-induced apoptosis via targeting Mcl-1

MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are important regulators of multiple cellular processes, and their dysregulation is a common event in tumorigenesis, including the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Studies have shown that certain miRNAs are associated with resistance to chemotherapy or drug sensitization; however, the underlying mechanisms have largely remained elusive. Multiple drug resistance is a major barrier for the treatment of advanced HCC. In the present study, miR-101 was observed to be downregulated in a panel of HCC cell lines, suggesting that it has a tumor suppressor role. Furthermore, transfection of miR-101 significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin to HepG2 cells. While overexpression of miR-101 did not influence the accumulation of doxorubicin, it promoted the apoptosis-inducing effect of doxorubicin in HepG2 cells. A bioinformatics analysis predicted that miR-101 directly targeted the 3'-untranslated region of myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1), which was verified by a luciferase reporter assay. Finally, transfection of HepG2 cells with Mcl-1 expression plasmid inhibited apoptosis caused by doxorubicin plus miR-101 expression. In conclusion, the present study showed that miR-101 is a negative regulator of Mcl-1 in HCC, and the combination of miR-101 expression with doxorubicin may represent a novel approach for the treatment of HCC.

Loss of miR-532-5p in vitro promotes cell proliferation and metastasis by influencing CXCL2 expression in HCC

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been widely reported, which play important roles in cancer development. CXCL2 acts as an oncogene, however, its regulation by miRNAs is not clear in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In our research, it is aimed to study the role of CXCL2 in HCC and the regulation of its expression by miRNAs. Firstly, we found that CXCL2 was up-regulated in the blood of patients with HCC and cell lines compared with the normal controls. CXCL2 could enhance HCC cell proliferation and metastasis. miR-532-5p was predicted as a regulatory miRNA of CXCL2 in HCC, and negatively associated with CXCL2 in HCC samples. It was also verified that miR-532-5p inhibited cell proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells by inhibition CXCL2. Collectively, our findings suggested that miR-532-5p may function as a tumor suppressor in HCC by targeting CXCL2.

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma - factors influencing outcome and disease-free survival

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Liver transplantation can be a curative treatment in selected patients. However, there are several factors that influence disease-free survival after transplantation. This review addresses the pre-, intra- and postoperative factors that influence the risk of tumor recurrence after liver transplantation.

Roles of microRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA molecules consisting of 22 nucleotides, regulating the expression of target genes at the post-transcriptional or translational level. miRNAs play important roles in several physiological and physiopathological processes such as individual development, cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and tumorigenesis. miRNAs may promote the development of malignant tumors by participating in the regulation of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, or they may function as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes themselves. Studies have indicated that miRNAs are closely associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) formation and progression. In this review, we summarize the recent knowledge about the roles of miRNAs in the occurrence and development of HCC, as well as the value of miRNAs in the diagnosis and therapy of HCC.

MicroRNA-485-5p suppresses cell proliferation and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting stanniocalcin 2

Increasing evidences indicate that dys-regulation of MicroRNAs contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the roles of miR-485-5p in HCC are still largely unexplored. In the present study, our quantitative real-time PCR analysis found that miR-485-5p was significantly down-regulated in 50 pairs of human HCC tissues. Moreover, the reduced expression of miR-485-5p was significantly correlated with larger tumor size and more tumor number in patients with HCC. In vitro studies further showed that overexpression of miR-485-5p mimics could inhibit, while its antisense oligos promote cell proliferation and invasion. Results from the dual-luciferase reporter gene assays and western blot further showed that stanniocalcin 2 was a direct target of miR-485-5p. Therefore, our data suggest a novel role for miR-485-5p in the regulation of HCC progression.

miR-128 modulates hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibition of ITGA2 and ITGA5 expression

Dysregulation of miRNAs is a common feature in human cancers, but this phenomenon has not been studied extensively in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). miR-128 has been found to be downregulated in cancer. However its role in HCC remains unclear. miR-128 was underexpressed in HCC tissues and cell lines compared with their normal controls. Additionally, ITGA2 and ITGA5 were predicted as the target genes of miR-128. ITGA2 and ITGA5 were inversely correlated with the expression of miR-128 in HCC cells. Importantly, we demonstrate that the overexpression of miR-128 significantly inhibits HCC cell metastasis and stem-cell like properties via ITGA2 and ITGA5. Our results suggest the existence of a novel miR-128-ITGA pathway and indicate that miR-128 acts as a tumor suppressor during hepatocellular carcinogenesis. These results may provide a promising alternative strategy for the therapeutic treatment of HCC.

Circulating microRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic tools for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Conventional biomarkers exhibit poor performance in the surveillance, diagnosis, and prognosis of HCC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of evolutionarily conserved small non-coding RNAs that are involved in the regulation of gene expression and protein translation, and they play critical roles in cell growth, differentiation, and the development of various types of cancers, including HCC. Recent evidence revealed the role of miRNAs as potential novel and ideal biomarkers for HCC. miRNAs are released to extracellular spaces, and they are extremely stable in bodily fluids, including serum or plasma, where they are packaged into various microparticles or associated with RNA-binding proteins. Numerous studies have demonstrated that circulating miRNAs have potential applications as minimally invasive biomarkers for HCC diagnosis and prognosis. The present review highlights current understanding of miRNA biogenesis and the origins and types of circulating miRNAs. We summarize recent progress in the use of circulating miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for HCC. We also discuss the challenges and perspectives of the clinical utility of circulating miRNAs in HCC.

Deep sequencing identifies deregulation of microRNAs involved with vincristine drug-resistance of colon cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Vincristine (VCR) is a chemical that is widely used in tumor therapy. While long-term use can make tumor cells resistant to VCR, the underlying mechanisms of this resistance are still unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed at investigating the role of microRNA (miRNA) in colon cancer drug resistance.

METHODS

HCT-8 colon carcinoma cells were cultured and treated with different VCR concentrations to establish an HCT-8/VCR resistant cell line. Whole-genome screens, HiSeq 2500 sequencing, and bioinformatics methods were used to detect and analyze differences in miRNA expression between the drug-resistant HCT-8/VCR cells and non-resistant HCT-8 cells. Differential expression profiles of miRNAs were constructed based on sequencing result.

RESULTS

The HCT-8/VCR resistant colon carcinoma cell line was established. With regard to the difference in drug resistance between HCT-8/VCR and HCT-8 cells, 24 miRNAs showed statistically significant differences in their expression (fold change > 4), of which 17 were up-regulated. Seven miRNAs were down-regulated.

CONCLUSION

As abnormal expression of miRNAs was associated with VCR resistance of colon carcinoma cells, differences in miRNA expression may play a key role in VCR resistance of colon cancer cells.

MicroRNA-212 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and induces apoptosis by targeting FOXA1

MircroRNA-212 (miR-212) is proposed as a novel tumor-related miRNA and has been found to be significantly deregulated in human cancers. In this study, the miR-212 expression was found to be obviously downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues as compared with adjacent nontumor tissues. Clinical association analysis indicated that low expression of miR-212 was prominently correlated with poor prognostic features of HCC, including high AFP level, large tumor size, high Edmondson-Steiner grading, and advanced tumor-node-metastasis tumor stage. Furthermore, the miR-212 expression was an independent prognostic marker for predicting both 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival of HCC patients. Our in vitro studies showed that upregulation of miR-212 inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. On the contrary, downregulation of miR-212 promoted cell proliferation and suppressed apoptosis in Huh7 cells. Interestingly, we found that upregulation of miR-212 decreased FOXA1 expression in HepG2 cells. Significantly, FOXA1 was identified as a direct target of miR-212 in HCC. FOXA1 was downregulated in HCC tissues as compared with noncancerous tissues. An inverse correlation between FOXA1 and miR-212 expression was observed in HCC tissues. Notably, FOXA1 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, miR-212 is a potent prognostic marker and may suppress HCC tumor growth by inhibiting FOXA1 expression.

Plasma miR-15b-5p, miR-338-5p, and miR-764 as Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Recently, increasing research evidence indicates that miRNA plays important roles in oncogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of plasma miRNAs as biomarkers for HCC determination.

Material/Methods

This trial included 4 phases: (i) miRNAs in tumor tissues were screened with a miRNA array for determining candidate miRNAs. (ii) Candidate miRNAs were measured by RT-qPCR in plasma of 10 HCC patients before and after surgery (7–10 days) for target miRNAs that displayed a pattern of postoperative decrease. (iii) Plasma levels of target miRNAs in 37 HCC patients, 29 cirrhosis patients, and 31 healthy controls were measured by RT-qPCR for determining potential biomarkers. (iv) The powers of biomarkers for differentiating HCC were validated and the correlations with clinicopathological variables of HCC patients were analyzed.

Results

miRNA array demonstrated an abnormal expression of 92 miRNAs in tumor tissues compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues. Of those molecules with an over-expressed level in tumor tissues and preoperative plasmas, a decrease in postoperative plasma was observed in miR-15b-5p, miR-338-5p, and miR-764. Plasma levels of these miRNAs in HCC patients were higher than in the other 2 groups (P<0.05). Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses suggested these plasma miRNAs could be useful biomarkers for determining HCC. miR-338-5p yielded an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.799 (74.5% sensitivity and 82.8% specificity) and 0.909 (72.3% sensitivity and 99.68% specificity) to discriminate HCC patients from cirrhosis patients and healthy controls, respectively. The expression level of miR-338-5p was negatively correlated with the level of AFP (r=−0.306, P=0.036), and the expression level of miR-764 was positively correlated with the tumor size (r=0.371, P=0.01).

Conclusions

Circulating miR-15b-5p, miR-338-5p, and miR-764 may be biomarkers for diagnosis of HCC.

MiR-570 inhibited the cell proliferation and invasion through directly targeting B7-H1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

A recent study reported that miR-570 was the most important microRNA in the microRNA gene networks of alcoholic liver disease that has the potential of progressing to hepatocellular carcinoma. However, litter is known regarding the expression and specific function of miR-570 in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma, especially its molecular mechanisms by which miR-570 exerts its functions and modulates the malignant phenotypes of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Here, we observed that miR-570 was highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (Bel-7404, Huh-7, and HepG2), while B7-H1 was lowly expressed, compared to nonmalignant cell line (L-02 and HL-7702). Transfection of miR-570 mimics or knockdown of B-H1 suppressed the expression of B7-H1, which promotes cell apoptosis and inhibits the cell proliferation and invasion. Using a dual-luciferase reporter system, we verified that B7-H1 is a direct target of miR-570. The overexpression of B7-H1 reversed the inhibition of proliferation and invasion by miR-570. In addition, miR-570 suppressed tumorigenicity in vivo. Hence, our observation confirmed that miR-570 works as proliferation and metastatic suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma cells through directly targeting B7-H1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell and rationally presents that miR-570 has the potential to be a useful clinical noninvasive diagnostics or predictive marker in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

MiRNA-139 regulates oral cancer Tca8113 cells apoptosis through Akt signaling pathway

Oral cancer threats people's life and health seriously. Traditional treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine treatment) is lack of pertinence that affects curative effect and prognosis. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the specific targets for oral cancer treatment. MiRNA-139 was transfected into oral cancer Tca8113 cells. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) was applied to test cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to detect oral cancer Tca8113 cells apoptosis. miR-139 significantly inhibits oral cancer Tca8113 cells proliferation and induces cell apoptosis. SH-5 obviously weakened the cell apoptosis caused by miR-139. miR-139 could induce Tca8113 cell apoptosis through Akt signaling pathway. It may develop a more effective method for oral cancer treatment by this target.