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Niu Q, Ye S, Zhao L, Qian Y, Liu F. The role of liver cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis. Cancer Biol Ther 2024; 25:2321768. [PMID: 38393655 PMCID: PMC10896152 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2024.2321768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Metastasis accounts for the vast majority of cancer deaths; however, this complex process has yet to be fully explained. To form metastases, cancer cells must undergo a series of steps, known as the "Metastatic cascade", each of which requires a specific functional transformation. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a vital role in tumor metastasis, but their dynamic behavior and regulatory mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Based on the "Metastatic cascade" theory, this review summarizes the effect of liver CSCs on the metastatic biological programs that underlie the dissemination and metastatic growth of cancer cells. Liver CSCs have the capacity to initiate distant organ metastasis via EMT, and the microenvironment transformation that supports the ability of these cells to disseminate, evade immune surveillance, dormancy, and regenerate metastasis. Understanding the heterogeneity and traits of liver CSCs in these processes is critical for developing strategies to prevent and treat metastasis of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghui Niu
- Liver Disease Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Susu Ye
- Liver Disease Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Liu Zhao
- Liver Disease Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yanzhi Qian
- School Hospital, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Fengchao Liu
- Liver Disease Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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Wu Y, Liang H, Luo A, Li Y, Liu Z, Li X, Li W, Liang K, Li J, Liu Z, Du Y. Gelatin-based 3D biomimetic scaffolds platform potentiates culture of cancer stem cells in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Biomaterials 2023; 302:122323. [PMID: 37717405 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are crucial for tumorigenesis, metastasis, and therapy resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). To further elucidate the mechanism underlying characteristics of CSCs and develop CSCs-targeted therapy, an efficient culture system that could expand and maintain CSCs is needed. CSCs reside in a complex tumor microenvironment, and three-dimensional (3D) culture systems of biomimetic scaffolds are expected to better support the growth of CSCs by recapitulating the biophysical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Here, we established gelatin-based 3D biomimetic scaffolds mimicking the stiffness and collagen content of ESCC, which could enrich ESCC CSCs efficiently. Biological changes of ESCC cells laden in scaffolds with three different viscoelasticity emulating physiological stiffness of esophageal tissues were thoroughly investigated in varied aspects such as cell morphology, viability, cell phenotype markers, and transcriptomic profiling. The results demonstrated the priming effects of viscoelasticity on the stemness of ESCC. The highly viscous scaffolds (G': 6-403 Pa; G'': 2-75 Pa) better supported the enrichment of ESCC CSCs, and the TGF-beta signaling pathway might be involved in regulating the stemness of ESCC cells. Compared to two-dimensional (2D) cultures, highly viscous scaffolds significantly promoted the clonal expansion of ESCC cells in vitro and tumor formation ability in vivo. Our findings highlight the crucial role of biomaterials' viscoelasticity for the 3D culture of ESCC CSCs in vitro, and this newly-established culture system represents a valuable platform to support their growth, which could facilitate the CSCs-targeted therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yenan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Haiwei Liang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Aiping Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yong Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Zhiqiang Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Wenxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Kaini Liang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Junyang Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Zhihua Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Yanan Du
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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Chen X, Xu Z, Tang K, Hu G, Du P, Wang J, Zhang C, Xin Y, Li K, Zhang Q, Hu J, Zhang Z, Yang M, Wang G, Tan Y. The Mechanics of Tumor Cells Dictate Malignancy via Cytoskeleton-Mediated APC/Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling. Research (Wash D C) 2023; 6:0224. [PMID: 37746658 PMCID: PMC10513157 DOI: 10.34133/research.0224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Tumor cells progressively remodel cytoskeletal structures and reduce cellular stiffness during tumor progression, implicating the correlation between cell mechanics and malignancy. However, the roles of tumor cell cytoskeleton and the mechanics in tumor progression remain incompletely understood. We report that softening/stiffening tumor cells by targeting actomyosin promotes/suppresses self-renewal in vitro and tumorigenic potential in vivo. Weakening/strengthening actin cytoskeleton impairs/reinforces the interaction between adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and β-catenin, which facilitates β-catenin nuclear/cytoplasmic localization. Nuclear β-catenin binds to the promoter of Oct4, which enhances its transcription that is crucial in sustaining self-renewal and malignancy. These results demonstrate that the mechanics of tumor cells dictate self-renewal through cytoskeleton-APC-Wnt/β-catenin-Oct4 signaling, which are correlated with tumor differentiation and patient survival. This study unveils an uncovered regulatory role of cell mechanics in self-renewal and malignancy, and identifies tumor cell mechanics as a hallmark not only for cancer diagnosis but also for mechanotargeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, China
- Research Institute of Smart Ageing,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zichen Xu
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants,
Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kai Tang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Guanshuo Hu
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, China
- Research Institute of Smart Ageing,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pengyu Du
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Junfang Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Cunyu Zhang
- Research Institute of Smart Ageing,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ying Xin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Keming Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Qiantang Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants,
Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Jianjun Hu
- Department of Pathology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550002, China
| | - Zhuxue Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550002, China
| | - Mo Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Guixue Wang
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants,
Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Youhua Tan
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, China
- Research Institute of Smart Ageing,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
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Wu H, Liu Y, Liao Z, Mo J, Zhang Q, Zhang B, Zhang L. The role of YAP1 in liver cancer stem cells: proven and potential mechanisms. Biomark Res 2022; 10:42. [PMID: 35672802 PMCID: PMC9171972 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-022-00387-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
YAP1 (Yes-associated protein 1) is one of the principal factors that mediates oncogenesis by acting as a driver of gene expression. It has been confirmed to play an important role in organ volume control, stem cell function, tissue regeneration, tumorigenesis and tumor metastasis. Recent research findings show that YAP1 is correlated with the stemness of liver cancer stem cells, and liver cancer stem cells are closely associated with YAP1-induced tumor initiation and progression. This article reviews the advancements made in research on the mechanisms by which YAP1 promotes liver cancer stem cells and discusses some potential mechanisms that require further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haofeng Wu
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Institute of Hepato-Pancreato-Bililary Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Yachong Liu
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Institute of Hepato-Pancreato-Bililary Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhibin Liao
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Institute of Hepato-Pancreato-Bililary Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Mo
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Institute of Hepato-Pancreato-Bililary Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiaofeng Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Institute of Hepato-Pancreato-Bililary Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Bixiang Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Institute of Hepato-Pancreato-Bililary Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Lei Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Institute of Hepato-Pancreato-Bililary Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University; Shanxi Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan, 030032, China.
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